wildcat the
Vol. 82, Issue 5 March 8, 2013
est. 1930
Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way, Brea, CA 92821
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batter up! 27
baseball swings into action with 3-1 start to season
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The Wildcat
What's inside bohswildcat.com
March 8, 2013
Wildcat Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way, Brea, CA 92821 bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com www.bohswildcat.com
Our Mission
We, the Wildcat, are the voice for the student body of Brea Olinda High School. The purpose of our publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as to highlight campus life and student achievement. Our energy is dedicated to the research of facts and opinions, and focusing on issues that concern the high school experience.
Editorial Policy
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The Wildcat encourages expression of reader opinion in the form of letters to the editor. We believe our purpose in pursuing the truth requires an open forum among students. Letters must be signed with a name and title and submitted online at www.bohswildcat. com or emailed to bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com.
bowler
Kylie Shishima competes in national bowling tournaments By noelle gracia staff writer
new garden
APES, Best Buddies, and Disney Friends for Change plant victory garden by david kang staff writer
don’t stop at sadies
Sadies should not be the only time girls ask guys to dances by audrey moon opinion editor
Scouts forever Students spend lifetimes as Girl Scouts, await Gold Awards By selina che design manager
Letter to the Editor
To Mr. Halpin and the Brea Olinda community.
On behalf of the student body of Servite High School, we would like to formally apologize for our student section’s behavior on Feb. 19. Our actions did not accurately represent what Servite High School stands for. As a community founded upon the teachings of Christ, we always aim to uphold certain standards which, we believe, exemplify faith-filled leaders. As the leaders of both the school and student section, we would like to sincerely apologize on behalf of each student who contributed to the destruction of the bleachers. We firmly believe that it is our
During the Feb. 19 CIF boys’ basketball game against Servite High School, members of Servite’s student section damaged bleachers in the BOHS gym. Servite students respond:
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military moms
Laurel Batchelor, Debra Camacho send sons to Middle East By joy kim editor-in-chief
fools
Play Production hosts ‘comedic’ love story set in 19th century Ukraine By AKSHay verma MANAGING EDITOR
CIF BOYS’ basketball
Team ends season at third round of CIF with 22-8 record By noelle gracia staff writer
responsibility to right our wrongs. Consequently, we would like to finance the repair of all broken bleachers. The money will be raised exclusively by the student body in an effort to help them realize the severity of their actions. Once again, we are truly sorry and hope that the mistakes of a few individuals do not alter your perception of Servite High School and what we stand for. We wish Coach Sink and your men’s basketball team the best of luck throughout the rest of the playoffs.
Any opinions stated in the Wildcat do not necessarily belong to Brea Olinda High School administration, faculty, and students. Unsigned editorials reflect views of the majority of the staff while bylined columns and stories reflect views of the writer.
Advertising Policy The Brea Olinda Unified School District has not reviewed, nor does it endorse, the products or services advertised. Purchasing of advertisements can be requested through email. We reserve the right to refuse to place an advertisement if it contains overly controversial material or promotes illegal behavior.
Wildcat Staff JULIA EBERHARDT MICHELLE SUH AMORETTE VALERO Photo Editors
Joy Kim Editor-in-Chief AKSHAY VERMA Managing Editor
EUNICE CHO JOHN SERNA RISHI PATEL trent preston Photographers
SELINA CHE Design Manager Feature Editor SHARON CHO News Editor
Jessica yim Cartoonist Photographer
AUDREY MOON Opinion Editor KEVIN KIM JOSEPH YIM Arts Co-editors EMIKO KANEOKA Sports Editor GRACE CHUNG Business Manager
NOELLE GRACIA DAVID KANG LAUREN LEE KAITLIN MARTINEZ rishi patel lauren smith Staff Writers
ALEX KOERS Adviser
Credo. Arvind Pendurthi, Vicar General Nicholas Gallogly, Treasurer Brian Francke, Student Section Leader Vincent Garcia, Student Section Leader Read principal Jerry Halpin’s response on page 7.
ON THE COVER
At varsity baseball’s first league game on Feb. 28, Mitch Miralaie, senior, pitches to a Cathedral hitter. The Wildcats defeated the Phantoms, 3-1.
Cover photo by trent preston Cover design by Joy Kim
NEWS
The Wildcat
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March 8, 2013
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runners participate in 22nd annual brea 8k classic by Lauren Lee, Staff Writer
More than 300 runners participated in this year’s 22nd Annual Brea 8K Classic on Feb. 24 to fundraise for education programs at BOHS. The race consisted of a five mile run which started at 8 a.m. on East Birch Street and Brea Mall Road and ended at the east parking section at the Brea Mall. The event ended approximately at 11 a.m. with entertainment, food from local restaurants, and an award ceremony for the participants. The funds raised from the race will support extracurricular activities such as Speech and Debate and the Academic Decathlon through the Academic Booster Clubs, band, choir, and GITA. “I was mostly excited when I waiting for the race to begin,” Lauren Naval, senior, said. “I think the best part of it was being able to cheer on all the other runners with my friends and how it looked like the community came together to participate in one event. My friends and I literally cheered on all the runners next to us and the people watching us run.” Locals and community members attended the race to encourage runners, distribute water, and guide the runners on the correct route. Businesses within the city such as Snails Pace and Jamba Juice also contributed to the race by giving out free samples of their products. Christian Cushing-Murray, 45, maintained his top runner status from last year by placing 3rd in the Men’s division. The other top five runners included Brandon Bethke, 26, Roosevelt Cook, 33, Austin Tamagno, freshman, and Jared Daedler, senior. Erika Alufi, a 36-year old from Los Angeles, also retained her first place position in the women’s division but by coming in 35th, compared to last year when she finished the race in 46th place.
BRIEFLY BITA WINS AT SKILLS USA by Joseph Yim, Arts Co-Editor At the 49th SkillsUSA Regional Competition held at LA Trade Tech, BITA students brought home several victories in various categories. These students demonstrated skills in their choice of trade, such as carpentry, woodworking, plumbing, and electrical, through written tests and projects. After the evaluation, in the carpentry category, Aron Dixon, junior, won a gold medal; Spencer Smith, senior, won silver; and Jonnie Rose Villanueva, senior, won bronze. Robert Sellers, junior, will advance to the State competition. After the state competition, state winners will then move onto
the SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City. In the other categories, Evan Jensen, senior, received first place in the plumbing category. Matthew Lochridge, senior, placed third in the electrical category. Finally, in the “Introduction to Woodworking” category, Colin Williams, junior, and Lindsey Mortenson, senior, will also advance to the state competition. Students that placed in the regional competition will travel to Town and Country Convention Center in San Diego April 4-7 to advance to nationals.Winners will receive scholarships for tuition and education, tools of trade, software, and other awards.
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UP AND RUNNING: Over 300 participants begin the 5 mile race at the 22nd Annual Brea 8K Classic on Feb. 24. “I am always doing marathons and running. It felt good to be able to cross that finish line and be the first women done because I felt accomplished. Hopefully next year I could place even higher,” said Alufi. Tamagno placed fourth overall in the men’s division and qualified as one of the youngest to place in the top ten in the history of Brea’s 8K. Tamagno made the varsity team in cross country this year and won All
League, All State, All CIF and is currently the number one runner on the varsity cross country team. Jeremy Mattern, cross country coach, said, “[Tamagno] is a determined runner and always strives to do his best and we are very lucky to have him. He is only a freshman but he runs like he has been running since he was born.” Along with Tamagno, Daedler, placed fifth overall in the same division. “It was a good race and I just tried to pace myself. It was a tough race but it was good and this was a good time for me since [my high school] cross country [career has] ended,” said Daedler. Locally, Tamagno, Daedler, and Kevin Broady, 51, were the top three in the men’s division, and Lucy Takahashi, 33, Carly Halm, freshman, and Elizabeth Anderson, 32, were the top three in the women’s division. Individual awards were presented to Bethke and Alufi for coming in first in their division, while four teams were awarded team plaques for first, second, and third place. The Eric Burton Team Spirit Award was also given to the team based upon the numbers of runners and all participants in the Fun Run 1K received a finisher medal. The Fun Run 1K took place for kids up to ten years old in the mall’s parking lot, allowing children to also be a part of the 8K. Choir was in charge of this event. “It was a lot of fun leading the kids especially because we were wearing flashy outfits and it was a great way to keep the kids motivated and have fun,” said Megan Strom, senior, and one of the choir members in charge of the Fun Run 1K.
SPRING RALLY POSSIBLY POSTPONED
8TH GRADE ELECTIVE FAIR TODAY
by Sharon Cho, News Editor
by Emiko Kaneoka, Sports Editor
The annual Spring Rally may be postponed due to the damaged bleachers in the junior section of the gym. After the CIF game between boys’ varsity basketball and Servite High School, Servite students broke several of the bleachers, causing up to an approximate amount of $10,000 in damage. The repair of the undercarriage of the bleachers began yesterday and boards will be fixed soon after. Servite will pay for the entire expense of the broken bleachers, which will be fundraised personally by the student body in order “to help them realize the severity of their actions,” according to a letter sent to Jerry Halpin, principal, from Servite student government members.
The rally was originally scheduled for March 14, but ASB is tentatively looking at moving the rally to March 28, in the event that the bleachers will not be repaired in time. The exact date will be confirmed once the construction schedule is officually set and followed. This year’s spring rally will be Hollywood-themed, with a special performance from the seniors in choir and drumline. “The spring rally is the last rally of the year for the seniors so we are working hard to make it great,” Katherine Gwaltney, senior and ASB pep commissioner, said. The annual prom dance theme will also be revealed at the rally. Other videos that will be shown will include a belly-flop contest video.
Eighth grade students from Brea Junior High will browse through the various extracurricular activities on campus during the elective fair held today in the quad. Before lunch, next year’s freshmen will visit 26 different elective tables to learn about the clubs and activities that they can participate in during high school. “I think it’s a good experience for the incoming eighth graders because it gives them a chance to see some of the things that they can be a part of in high school,” Pam Valenti, ASB adviser, said. Electives such as art, choir, yearbook, ASB, cheer, Link Crew, BITA, the Wildcat, and various student-run clubs will be represented at the fair. Each elective will have a table that is expected to be decorated
“all out“ for the students’ enjoyment, according to Valenti. Informational fliers will also be provided at each table to promote each activity to the soon-to-be freshman. The elective fair is included in the freshman orientation and visit to the high school, which also includes performances by Masquerade, drama, and cheer in the Main Gym. Once the eighth graders leave by lunchtime, the elective fair will also be open to high school students who may be interested in becoming more involved in their academic community available on campus. Since course selection has begun, the fair will also provide information needed in order to make final class decisions for the 2013-2014 school year. /theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
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NEWS
The Wildcat
bohswildcat.com
March 8, 2013
students awarded at 2nd stem fair ACAdemic decathlon team wins awards
by Kevin Kim, Co-Arts Editor
In order to celebrate Brea’s 50th anniversary, the Chamber of Commerce hosted the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Expo on Feb. 21. Bryan Clark, senior, was named the first place winner of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Fair, and Vikram Sriram and Tony Kim, juniors, placed second and third. The winners won $500, $250, and $100, respectively. Compared to last year where the STEM Fair was only available for students, a Salute to Education Art Contest was hosted. The theme for this year’s art contest was the Spirit of Salute to Education, meaning the relationship between education and the future. Yazin Dibavar, junior, won first place for her piece, “Our Glass”, judged by the Brea Cultural Arts commissioners. Megan Moberly, junior, was a runner-up for her entry “The Future is an Open Book.” Dibavar will receive a $250 scholarship and her artwork was used to promote all events for this year’s Salute to Education Month. The STEM Fair encouraged student contestants to demonstrate skills needed to excel in an increasingly technology-based business environment. For this public event, participants were encouraged to pick a project within the subjects of science, technology, engineering, or math that interests them and to display what they learned. Six projects were presented in the Global IT Academy (GITA) hallway at Open House, ranging from cyber safety tutorials to physics demonstrations. “The whole fair put on by Mrs. Karalee Watson, Brea Chamber of Commerce’s Member Services/Workforce Development,” Bryan Clark, senior, said. Clark worked on a computer database system—called “People Search”—that stored people’s information and helped users find the same information based on what they needed; similar to a simplified version of the social networking site, Facebook. “’People Search’ is primarily useful for searching and identifying other people’s information. Users can submit their information at ease,
by Sharon Cho, News Editor
JOHN SERNA / the wildcat
BRAIN POWER: Louis Orleans, junior, explains the mechanics of his project to an observing parent at the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fair. too, without worrying about privacy concerns,” Clark said. “The STEM Fair is definitely a good showcase for GITA students who are motivated to apply what they have learned in the Academy into this contest and their projects.” Other participants included Michelle Tjoa and Louis Orleans, juniors, who created what they called a “Picture Menu.” The electronic menu incorporated a visual image, rather than words, for others to quickly order food without any trouble, especially for people suffering with memory loss. “We were inspired to create this menu because we wanted to help seniors struggling with dementia, a loss of brain function that affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior,” Tjoa said. “They have a hard time remembering foods by name or word, so we thought a comprehendible and convenient visual menu would suffice.”
This year’s Varsity Academic Decathlon team placed 3rd overall in the county and received individual awards from different categories that focused on the theme Russia. “The Varsity Academic Decathlon team did pretty well this year. Most of the team members participated last year, so it helped that we had some experience with the competition and knew more about what to expect,” Pat Humphrey, faculty adviser, said. In the math portion, which covered permutations and combinations, algebra, and statistics, Christine Fang and Erik Benavides, seniors, placed 1st, and Vivian Lee, senior, placed 3rd. Spencer Rogers, senior, and Anthony Schwenker, junior, placed 4th, and Amanda Dewell, freshman, placed 5th. For social science, the students were to focus on an introduction to the history of Russia. Fang, Karen Her, junior, and Schwenker won 4th and Benavides, 5th. The art curriculum included art fundamentals and Russian art and architecture. Schwenker and Her both placed 2nd, and Benavides placed 4th. The music category covered basic elements of music theory and the music of Russia and Russian composers. Lee placed 2nd while Benavides, Her, and Schwenker placed 5th. Benavides and Schwenker also both placed 2nd in science and Language and Literature. In addition to those awards, they won 1st in Economics, and 2nd in speech, respectively. Alongside Benavides and Schwenker, Her placed 3rd in Language and Literature, which was about critical readings by Russian authors, including the novel Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. The team won 3rd place in the Super Quiz Relay, which is an oral, 50 multiple choice question relay from six different subjects: art, economics, language and literature, music, science, and social science. The team is still open for students to participate in next year’s decathlon. Meetings take place on Mondays and Wednesdays in Room 233 from 3:20 to 4:20 p.m.
Girl’s athletic association attends ‘women in sports’ conference by Michelle Suh, Photo Editor
15 students from the Girl’s Athletic Association (GAA) attended the 13th annual “Women in Sports” Conference at Mariners Campus on Feb. 27. The event was organized by the Orange County Athletic Directors Association and hosted a gathering of over a thousand athletic directors and girls from two hundred GAAs from different Orange County high schools. “The Women in Sports Conference is a great opportunity for female high school athletes to learn about Title IX and the doors now open to women in sports,” said Jill Matyuch, GAA adviser. “It’s my hope that the lessons learned from this experience are taken to heart and shared with teammates. Some of the most important messages are be a good teammate, expect your own best effort, set lofty goals, harness positive thinking, and persevere.” Guest speakers such as world-renowned motivational speaker and former UCLA softball coach Sue Enquist, cycling national champion Dotsie Bausch, Olympic gold medalist and water polo player Brenda Villa, Olympic gold medalist and softball player Amanda Freed, and Notre Dame soccer player and humanitarian Lindsay Brown spoke theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
about their experiences in professional sports and former life hardships to encourage the audience to persevere through their obstacles to achieve success. Bausch suffered severe eating disorders during her modeling career and was advised to take up a sport as a form of recovery. She won two national titles the same year she began track cycling and continued to win seven more awards. Villa delivered a speech on her inability to receive a gold medal until her fourth attempt at competing in water polo at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Brown used her passion for soccer to work with the Girl Effect, an organization that helps girls in third world counties with health and education. “This year’s conference was by far my favorite. All the speakers, especially Coach Enquist, had such great energy and confidence. I never felt so motivated and proud to be an athlete,” Stacey Jung, senior, said. “This was an experience that not only GAA should participate in, but that everyone should be able to attend to listen to all the women who come and speak.”
Photo courtesy of JILL MATYUCH
MOVING TOGETHER: Members of the Girl’s Athletic Association attend the “Women in Sports” Conference at Mariners Campus.
NEWS
The Wildcat
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March 8, 2013
garden gives hands-on experience THE WILDCAT WORLD
by David Kang, Staff Writer
AP Environmental Science (APES), BITA, Life Skills, Consumer Science, and Disney’s Friends for Change joined together to create a campus garden for a “hands-on” learning experience. The garden, located outside the weight room, will have several specific uses upon its completion. The majority of the garden will consist of produce, such as herbs, that will be used in classes like Consumer Science. APES will use the garden to learn about soil quality, crop growing, pest maintenance, watering practices, and composting. “A garden incorporates many AP Environmental Science topics so students will be able to have hands-on experiences while learning important concepts for the AP Test,” Andrea Ramos, APES teacher, said. “Also, everyone should understand where their food comes from and how difficult it is to grow. With education, we can gain a better appreciation for all that our planet does for us.” The garden project is sponsored by grants from Disney and Starbucks. These grants were received through Inside the Outdoors, an organization administered by the Orange County Department of Education that hosts field trips for children to the natural environment. John Weber, Best Buddies adviser, first introduced Ramos to the organization. The school garden project began with the removal of bushes on Feb. 9, and April 20 has been marked as a potential planting day in celebration of Earth Day. Children from the local Boys and Girls Clubs will also be present to help with the planting. Each participating class will be contributing to the project in a
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Compiled by DAVID KANG
POPE BENEDICT XVI RESIGNS FROM PAPACY
TRENT PRESTON / the wildcat
WORKING THE GREENS: Jacob Santucci and Nikki Barker, sophomores, participate in clearing the planter for the new campus garden. unique way. Disney’s Friends for Change, APES, and Life Skills are in charge of the removal of bushes, and BITA will design the garden and construct raised planter beds. “The garden represents an opportunity for us as environmental science students to apply the information we’re learning in class. By planting the garden, we can observe concepts such as soil and air quality and their effects on plant growth in the environment,” Patrick Garrido, senior and APES student, said.
Pope Benedict XVI officially resigned on Feb. 28 after announcing his intention to step down, becoming the first pope to do so since Celestine V in December 1294. The Cardinals have made no public announcement on when they will begin to vote for the new pontiff. According to The New York Times, Benedict will be resigning because of his physical and mental deterioration. “After examining [my] conscience before God… I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise,” Benedict read in a statement. Benedict gave his final Sunday blessing on Feb. 24 at the Vatican from his studio window in St. Peter’s Square. He reassured the thousands of people attending the service that he “was not abandoning the church but that God is calling him to even more prayer and meditation.” He will do so in a monastery behind Vatican’s city walls, according to The New York Times
film studies to watch dr. phil tapings by Lauren Lee, Staff Writer
45 Film Studies students will travel to Paramount Studios in Hollywood to watch two tapings of the Dr. Phil Show on March 19. Laurel Batchelor, AP Literature and Film Studies teacher, received an email from Sarah Whitman, Dr. Phil Show audience coordinator, inviting Film Studies students to be a part of the audience. The show, which has held this program for high school students for five years, will provide free transportation for the students. “It was a complete shock. I thought it was a fake spam email but when I opened it up and read through I was excited. I hope my film students will benefit from this and learn the different camera angles and the film industry atmosphere,” Batchelor, said. All students attending the tapings will have to follow strict guidelines to be able to sit in the audience during filming. They must comply to a dark, solid color business attire dress code in order to be “camera ready.” Cell phones, cameras, or any type of electronics will not be allowed inside the studio. Before entering, students will go through a security check and metal detector. “We started this program to show students who are interested in this type of industry what it really is like and how what it looks like when it all comes together. We hope to continue bringing students to watch and learn and hopefully want to come into this industry more,” Whitman said. Each student is required to bring two cans to donate to
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WHAT IS FILM STUDIES?
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Students learn different aspects of movies, such as camera shots and angles and will create their own film project. Students watch movies from a wide variety of time periods and genres.
Feeding America, a nationwide charity to feed America’s hungry and encourage the country to fight to end hunger, according to the Dr. Phil Foundation. The Dr. Phil Foundation partnered with this organization and created a goal to supply 10 million meals. Including the viewing, students will also get a brief tour of the Paramount Lot at Paramount Studios before they leave. “I think the most important part is that we are going to be walking into the actual Paramount Studios because some of the movies we watch [in class] are actually set on the Lot. So perhaps we will see some other people from the industry. To be able to see that, is enough,” Batchelor, said.
nydailynews.com
LAST FAREWELL: Pope Benedict XVI gives his final Sunday blessing at the Vatican in St. Peter’s Square from his studio office window.
VENEZUELA EXPELS U.S. EMBASSY DIPLOMATS Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Maduro expelled two U.S. diplomats Tuesday. Maduro accused David del Monaco, an Air Force Attaché, and Devlin Costal, Assistant Air Attache, of spying on the Venezuelan army and worsening President Hugo Chavez’s cancerstricken health. According to The New York Times, Maduro called for an emergency cabinet member meeting in Caracas and presented a televised speech regarding the president’s failing health. Maduro also declared the U.S. as an imperialist enemy. Monaco was charged of attempting to turn Venezuelan forces into conspirators against the country. After the removal of del Monaco, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua announced that Costal would also be forced to leave the country. Chavez had his fourth operation on Dec. 11 and is said to have a “new, severe infection,” according to Venezuelan officials. Maduro claimed that Chavez’s illness was heightened by rumors of American intervention.
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NEWS
The Wildcat
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March 8, 2013
wildcat named ‘best of show’ in county competition by Joy Kim, Editor-in-Chief
After a day of competing against high school newspaper staffs in onthe-spot writing and photography, the Wildcat won first place in Division One “Best of Show” at the Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Offs on Saturday. The Write-Offs are held annually at Fullerton College to recognize the best of high school journalism in the county. Approximately 15 schools’ newspaper and yearbook staffs, including Sweepstakes winner Troy High School, participated in this year’s competition. In the Best of Show category, judges evaluated newspaper staffs’ completed publications for story content and design. Wildcat staff members also brought home awards in individual categories. Approximately 30 students competed in each category, including news, editorial, feature, sports, critical review, and photography. In the on-the-spot writing and photography competition, five Wildcat members placed in the top ten for their respective categories, among the seven that attended. Akshay Verma, senior, won third place in critical review of a film. Noelle Gracia, sophomore, took eighth place in sports writing, and Selina Che, junior, took eighth place in feature writing. “The experience was interesting because I felt the pressure of competing against so many qualified high school journalists,” said Verma. “When I heard my name called for third place, I was absolutely astonished.” Writers were given one hour to draft a story after attending a press conference regarding the subject of their stories. Judges then read and scored the stories, with the top ten writers receiving certificates and the top three in every category receiving trophies.
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AWARDS RECEIVED 1ST PLACE OVERALL 2013 OC Best of Show Award 3RD PLACE IN CRITICAL REVIEW Akshay Verma, managing editor 8TH PLACE IN SPORTS FEATURE Noelle Gracia, staff writer 7TH PLACE IN PHOTOGRAPHY Amorette Valero, photo editor 8TH PLACE IN PHOTOGRAPHY Michelle Suh, photo editor Photographers were also evaluated for the work they produced during the competition. They were not allowed to use Photoshop or any type of photo editing programs. Amorette Valero, senior, won seventh place and Michelle Suh, senior, took eighth place in news photography. Judges scored their photos from the competition and awarded the top ten winners. “I was honored to be recognized for my photography since I have become really passionate about it. I have come to respect all photographers and any type of work they accomplish. It was also incredible seeing our entire staff be recognized among all the other students we met at the Write-Offs,” said Valero.
ALEXANDER KOERS / the wildcat
A WILDCAT VICTORY: Members of the Wildcat staff display their awards on Saturday at the OCJEA Write-Offs, held at Fullerton College. Jerry Halpin, principal, said, “As a former editor-in-chief of my junior high newspaper and my high school newspaper for two years, I am extremely proud of the designation of our staff and the Wildcat as the best in show newspaper in orange county. The fact that we’re picked the best in all of Orange County, there are a lot of schools with a lot of papers, I could not be more proud of the work that the staff members and [adviser Alex] Koers have done.”
OPINION
The Wildcat
bohswildcat.com
March 8, 2013
TAKE PRIDE IN BEING A WILDCAT
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by Noelle Gracia, Staff Writer
A game is never just a game at BOHS. The big games, the ones that get the entire school amped up for the taste of victory and gets that B-town pride flowing, these are not just games, they are events. So what about these games get us so psyched? Is it the outstanding athletes or the high stakes that these games can have? While these components are all very important factors of a great game, there is one, very obvious factor that is overlooked: the fans. The fans, especially the ones at BOHS, can make the difference between a win or loss in a game. The boys’ basketball game against Servite on Feb. 19 is the perfect example of what a supportive fan base is capable of. The energy that night was so intense that you had to be a heartless cyborg not to get excited. But let’s not be mistaken, these games don’t happen every weekend. It’s actually pretty rare for our school to be as excited for a game. Even with a periodically ranked Ladycats team, it’s not often that we see a crowd of that size pack into the gym. And it’s not just basketball that suffers from fair weather fans. This last football season, crowd excitement was obviously apathetic, even during some games on our own territory. Understandably, it is difficult to get pumped for a game but on the other hand, when the Wildcats are on a winning streak and we do cram the Den, does it really make it that genuine? We are only there because we know that we have a chance of winning. For a lot of people who attended the Servite game, it wasn’t a regular event for them. But because it was a CIF game, and boys’ basketball was on a winning streak, everyone suddenly realized their great passion for the sport. It is the equivalent of never talking to your friend except when you need a ride. Also, there was a huge discrepancy between the enthusiasm of our football Den last year, when the team had a 9-3 record, and this year’s lukewarm crowd when we had a 5-5 record. I’m not saying you should go to every single game, home or away, adorned with green and gold, killing your voice for your team. Just show some consistent support, whether or not the team you’re rooting for is on a winning streak or has chances of going to CIF. Go to the games because this is our school and because we’re Wildcats. We should be proud of that. Support the school by supporting our athletes. And after all, the bigger of a fan base a sport has, the more confidence its players have on game day, which leads to better playing, which in turn leads to victories, and what do victories lead to? Bragging rights for all.
TRENT PRESTON / the wildcat
B-TOWN BEATDOWN: Richie Main, junior, and the student section, The Den, cheer on the boys’ varsity basketball team at the Feb. 19 CIF game against Servite High School.
Principal Halpin responds to Servite’s apology by Jerry Halpin
The Brea Olinda-Servite CIF Playoff Quarterfinal game held on Feb. 19, 2013, in our gym had the most electrifying crowd at any boys’ basketball game in my ten years as principal at BOHS. Both student sections came ready to support their schools and in the end, the “good guys” (BOHS) won. As a result of jumping up and down on the bleachers, Servite students broke several boards and bent the framing, which we are currently waiting to get repaired. Immediately after the game, both the Servite principal and their school president informed me that Servite would pay for any repairs. In addition, four students and a dean visited our school soon after the game to deliver the letter (which is included in this issue of the Wildcat) and to offer their sincerest
apologies for their actions. I had a good discussion with them indicating that I did not believe they maliciously broke our bleachers and that our school and district was appreciative of their prompt response to take full financial responsibility. During this meeting, I also had the opportunity to discuss how proud I was of our student body and they agreed that they had never been “outcheered” by an opposing school this year until this game. Our players executed coach Jeff Sink’s game plan almost perfectly, but our student section made all the difference in the world in helping us win and then almost assisting us in upsetting Royal in the semifinal game. It was a very exciting boys’ basketball season, the best season at BOHS in over a decade.
BREABabble
Do you think students are too apathetic at sport events? “They can be. But when we’re winning, the school’s pretty good about it.”
“I think our school has good loyalty. Even when we’re losing, we’re still pretty school spirited.”
Gavin Gray
Michelle Krizo
Freshman
Sophomore
“Yes, when the team’s losing. But when the team’s winning, they’re pretty good.”
Jonathan Wallace
Junior
“No. Everyone is all dressed up to show school spirit during the sport events and everyone also chants.”
Tyler Inman
Senior
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The Wildcat
OPINION
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
Girls shouldn’t stop at Sadies by Audrey Moon, Opinion Editor
It is the time of the year when girls are pining over who but it has much to do with money. to ask to the special dance that is around the corner. For most After all, it is understood that the one who asks has to other dances, the guys endure this nerve-racking experience pay. High school boys might not have all the money in the of asking the girl to a dance. But this time it is different. It world to spend on flowers, pictures or food. is Sadie Hawkins. Sadies is near and girls should use the experience and Why does asking guys have to stop at Sadies? We have the courage as a stepping stone toward other future dances. a dance set aside just for girls to ask guys, but girls should They should realize that times have changed and people are feel free to do this for any dance. less inclined to label them. Girls should not sit passively hoping to be asked to Don’t lose the opportunity to have the time of a lifetime Homecoming and Prom. Rather, we should take the matter at a dance because you’re afraid to ask. Ladies, ask your into our own hands and ask first, just as Sadie did. men, and not just to Sadies. Sadie Hawkins originated from a comic strip based on Miss Sadie, who set the trend for unmarried women to chase after eligible bachelors as future husbands. As the comic grew popular, a special dance was named after her that allowed girls to break the tradition and do the asking. “Sadies is a good time for the girls to ask the boys because if a guy is too scared to make the first move, the girls can be the ones to step it up. It’s a good chance for everyone and it changes things up,” Samy West, sophomore, said. Sadies can be a stepping stone for girls to ask guys to dances. After all, it is the 21st century and women certainly have to power to decide who to go to a dance with. Girls asking boys to dances can also be a life-saver for the boys, who can experience getting asked. Lorenzo Casas, sophomore, said, “I think it’s a great idea because in other dances, guys have to ask the girls and it’s nice to be asked instead of asking. Also, I think it’s great so guys can relax and girls can do the work for a change. There should be more dances like Sadies.” Perhaps one might consider it to not be chivalrous for guys to want to be asked by Photos courtesy of ALEXA FISHMAN, ANNA BLAHO, girls. However, wanting to be asked does AUTUMN ROH, and NICOLE MACENTEE. not mean that men are losing their sense of chivalry. It merely means that they are giving STEP UP TO THE PLATE: (left to right, clockwise) Alexa Fishman, senior, girls the opportunity to take the matter into asks Luke Lee, senior, at the Wildcats baseball game. Autumn Roh, sophomore, asks Joshua Lee, sophomore, with a candy poster. Nicole their own hands. It is not just about the burden of mustering MacEntee, senior, asks Jared Love, senior, with a pizza box. Anna the courage to ask a girl or the fear of rejection, Blaho, junior, asks Michael Rodrigez, senior with a plate of cookies.
History of the Sadie Sadie Hawkins was based on a character in Lil’ Abner’s comic strip. Her father appointed a day called “Sadie Hawkins” where Sadie could chase eligible bachelors who would eventually become her future husband. In her honor, Sadie Hawkins Dance was started in 1937. AUDREY MOON
Verbal Verma
don’t fret over colleges by Akshay Verma, Managing Editor
College applications are essentially love letters— as seniors, we spend hours upon hours sculpting our perfect essays, ensuring that each phrase screams out to our prospective colleges, “Accept me!” Thus, the college application season is all the more stressful for seniors because of the vulnerability we feel with it. As we send off our supposed love letters (laden with a sweet $80 application fee and countless attempts at gathering teacher recommendations, transcripts, and supplements on time, of course), we feel vulnerable knowing that our “love letters” will be the ultimate deciding factors of our acceptances or rejections in the hands of a college admissions committee. And this vulnerability, I feel, now lies at the heart of our worries and anxiety. For the past few months, there has been an unspoken aura of anxiety transpiring around me, largely due to the constant ticking on the back of my fellow seniors’ minds reminding them of impending college decisions in the next few weeks. As a surefire victim to this anxiety, it is fairly easy for me to now glean that ultimately all of my fellow seniors are nervous. Most of us have a vision of our “dream” school, whether it be a local school to commute to or even one on the other side of the country—and this vision makes these “love letters” all the more real, and ultimately, amplify our vulnerability. So here is my proposition: in the upcoming months, in order to lessen this sense of anxiety that seems to be permeating amongst my fellow seniors, do not take your college rejections personally. From experience, I can speak of how hurtful it can be to take college decisions personally. After all, after we spill our hearts out to these colleges in our love letters, how are we supposed to not take college rejections as personal? Upon having my application to my “dream school” be deferred a few months back, I (shamelessly, I admit) agonized and cried as I saw my Facebook news feed explode with both my close friends and acquaintances proudly sharing their acceptances to the very school which deferred me. Yet, in the cold months of winter break, as I found myself amid a sea of blankets and pillows to drown out my low selfesteem which came with my deferral, the only thing which kept me going was the realization that college decisions are not to be taken personally. Sure, the same admissions officer may have read both my application and the application of my later accepted friends, but the admissions committee is not to blame—after all, it is just doing its job, and not everyone can be accepted. And it was no worth blaming myself, either. So who do we blame? Blame chance. College decisions are, ultimately, pure luck. There are so many external and subjective factors dictating these decisions that they are quite far from being personal attacks from admissions committees. Ultimately, in the next few months, just hope for the best and believe in serendipity. College decisions are not an ultimate reflection on your worth, and neither are they personal attacks on you from college admissions officers. They are, rather, pure luck, which we personally don’t have much control over—so lay off the anxiety for now, and breathe. Read this story online! Visit bohswildcat.com
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The Wildcat
OPINION
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
9
choose the right courses for you
Staff Editorial Cluttered backpacks, far-too-edited proofs and drafts of pages, stories, photos, and layouts, and a mess of papers are evident in the backroom of Room 201 during the final week of layouts for each issue of the Wildcat. In just the past few days, as the paper is being edited and finalized, much of the staff will agree that there is far too much anxiety transpiring in this cramped and stuffy backroom. Yet, in this stressful and anxiety-inducing time, the Wildcat staff has one very crucial piece of advice: take time out for yourself to avoid the terrible feeling of being far too overwhelmed and stressed, or feeling as though the world is crashing down upon you. At this time of the year, freshmen are undoubt stressed about their transition into high school and their desire to finish off their first year in high school strong. Sophomores are invariably worrying about their first AP exams or juggling many honors and AP classes, sports, and other extracurriculars. Juniors are panicking taking the SAT for the first time and preparing for college applications. Seniors are petrified about college decisions and are constantly hoping to be accepted into their “dream schools,” while warding off the senioritis creeping in. However, amid all this anxiety and stress, it is imperative for all of us to take a bit of time off and not worry about anything once in a while. Perhaps take a Saturday off and catch a matinee movie with your best friend, have a picnic and a (free!) hot air balloon ride at the Irvine Great Parks, or chat with your friends over dinner at a new or exotic restaurant. Or, if anything, take a day to yourself and read a book for fun at Fullerton Barnes and Noble watch far too many reruns of your favorite television show, and eat food that you might regret eating the next day. Being stressed and worried in high school can often lead to more developed and serious health issues later, including high cholesterol, obesity, neck pains, and long-term anxiety disorder. Ultimately, there really is no point in worrying so much in high school. After all, we have so much of our lives ahead of us—so for now, explore and dream every once in a while rather than being a stressed-out, worried mess. So, tell yourself: “It’s all going to be just fine.” While it may seem cliché and contrived, it can do wonders when it seems as the world is crashing down and when you are far too stressed, overwhelmed, and worried. Go out, breathe, and enjoy.
However, amid all this anxiety and stress, it is imperative for all of us to take a bit of time off and not worry about anything once in a while.
by Joy Kim, Editor-in-Chief
I
t is that time of year again, when all underclassmen are scrambling to get their registration forms signed and enroll in the classes that would compose a perfect schedule for the next school year. Just a short year ago, I knew this phenomenon all too well. I frantically asked my upperclassmen friends about the workload and stress-level of each class, and what would look best on my college applications. Now that I am a senior being asked those same questions, I have one message to declare to all the underclassmen out there: relax. Relax because the classes you take do not define who you are, nor will they make or break your future. AP classes, though they can flesh out a challenging academic record and offer invaluable college credit, should not be taken merely for their name. Choose the courses that interest you and that you can handle. The course selection process will be a lot more enjoyable when you are not obsessing over creating the perfect schedule for your college admissions officers. Furthermore, because of the limited class sizes brought on by budget cuts, we all need to be a little flexible with the classes we choose. My senior schedule could not fit all the classes I had signed up for, and I ended up having to abandon AP Calculus, AP Spanish, or Journalism. I wish that someone had told me while I was panicking over dropping AP Spanish to just relax. Someone should have told me that one less AP class was not the end of the world.
This is not to say that you should not be careful in choosing your future classes. Don’t put your counselor through frantically switching your schedule in September because you gave no thought in the registration process to what is best for you. The point is, change your perspective when filling out those registration forms. Do not pile on AP classes you know you will despise just for the sake of impressing colleges. But on the other hand, do not shy away from the challenge of AP’s. The classes you take do not define who you are, but they should be influenced by your interests and what you know about yourself. Think about your studying habits and thinking pattern, and see if it matches up to what you know about the class. And never depend on one person’s point of view of a course. We are all different people, and are all prone to bias. At the end of the day, colleges will look at your applications, essays, and transcripts and hope to see you reflected through those things. Thus, the smartest thing to do is to choose your passions and interests. Then, you can boast to schools about who you are, rather than conform yourself to who you think your dream schools want. As you are enrolling in your classes for next year, relieve yourself of the stress of creating the perfect schedule and embark on another year of refining your passions. Looking back now, after my college decision has been made and there are only a few months of high school left, high school is much more memorable when it is done in this way.
facebook.com/theBOHSwildcatnewspaper JOHN SERNA/ the wildcat /theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
10
The Wildcat
Feature
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
Overwhelmed
With the increasing pressure of school, anxiety levels among high school students are on the rise. by Emiko Kaneoka, Sports Editor
AMORETTE VALERO / the wildcat
The Wildcat
Feature bohswildcat.com
( anxiety
March 8, 2013
disorder (
a pattern of frequent, constant worry over many different activities and events. Social anxiety affects of a population at any given time.
1 5 in
students has felt too stressed to study or be with friends. . .
1 5
. . . and in have considered dropping out of school due to this
7% average Psychiatric patient
The average high schooler today has the same level of anxiety as the
from the 1950’s
Facts from adaa.org
a
All teens experience anxiety throughout high school, whether it is caused by academics, extracurricular activities, friends, or family. Some teens learn to roll with the punches and push through hard times, while others are mentally, and sometimes physically, paralyzed by their stress.
What is anxiety? “Anxiety is worrying about non-important life events, maybe things that you shouldn’t spend a lot of time worrying about. But, anxiety can also be more severe, and that’s when it becomes a disorder. At that point you would need to consider seeking professional help,” Jessica Dombrowski, health teacher, said. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults in the U.S. age 18 and older or 18 percent of U.S. population. Still, society remains relatively unaware of what exactly “anxiety” entails. “An anxiety disorder is excessive worry or preoccupation with real or imagined events,” Jill Matyuch, psychology teacher., said. “There are many different kinds of anxiety disorders. Symptoms can be psychological or physical and can be very different depending on the individual.” In general, anxiety is higher amongst adolescents, and anxiety is on the rise from generation to generation, according to Jean Twenge, psychologist and professor at San Diego State University. According to USA Today, five times as many high school and college students experience anxiety and other mental disorders similar to that of the youth of the Great Depression era. This level of anxiety can be attributed to the rise in divorce rates, social media distractions, and competition for college admission that many teens face today. While it may seem easy to pinpoint the cause of an anxiety disorder, various factors in someone’s life, ranging from minor to major, can come into play. It may not be simply school or family that is causing overwhelming anxiety or anxiety attacks, but a whole array of worries. “[Anxiety attacks] can happen when I care too much about something,” Rachel* said. “When someone jokingly insults me at school, later when I get home it replays in my head and it won’t stop. So basically it’s in the back of my head and it never goes away; I can’t do anything about it. On top of that, if I have more problems family-wise or friend-wise, I feel really overwhelmed.” Anxiety is an extremely complicated disorder, and it cannot be easily understood or treated. According to webmd.com, the symptoms and severity of the disorder vary, ranging from *Name has been changed for anonymity
anxiety-induced insomnia to dangerous panic attacks, which makes it complex and difficult to handle. Academic stress School is one of the most common causes of stress for teens and, if not balanced properly, can cause severe anxiety. Severe anxiety can include anxiety attacks, which can range from minor to dangerous. Some symptoms of anxiety attacks include hyperventilation, crying, faintness or temporary paralysis. “My heart rate gets really fast and I stop breathing,” Ashley* said. “It feels like you’re being drowned underwater. I start crying. Sometimes, if it’s really bad, I start screaming. The whole ‘perfection’ thing triggers it. Having all of your grades up and getting things done on time. I’m really bad at balancing everything, so I just have to deal with it, even though it’s hard.” For most teens with anxiety disorder, the pressure of academics can become so overwhelming that they completely shut down. “Several studies have revealed an increase in school avoidance in middle-school or junior-high years. With school avoidance, excessive worries about performance or social pressures at school may be at the root of the reluctance to attend school regularly . This leads to a cycle of anxiety, physical complaints, and school avoidance,” according to aacap.org. Ashley sometimes finds herself stuck in bed while caught up in the school-avoidance cycle that anxiety puts her in, causing her to fall behind in her academics. “At times it gets so bad that you just give up on yourself. For the past five days I was just in bed, and I couldn’t come to school because I was just awake all night over anxiety. It totally affects how you feel about school, because everyday I don’t want to be here. Sometimes I just want to be home-schooled because I just want to be alone. You just don’t feel motivated and you want to give up on yourself. It’s an everyday struggle,” Ashley said. popularity contest In addition to academic challenges and other worries, those with anxiety disorder often feel that it is difficult to connect with people on an emotional level, according to anxietybc.com. Some feel that it is hard to truly trust others whom they choose to share such a personal issue with. “I think it’s really hard for people with anxiety to open up and socialize with people because once you start talking to someone, you start letting your guard down, and that’s something we shouldn’t do so quickly since we know from past experience that people don’t care,” Rachel said. “There are people who actually want to know and who actually care, but some people are just curious.”
Ways to cope
11
Sing it out Singing naturally lengthens your exhale, which slows your breath and helps calm you.
Drink more water When your hydration level drops below 2-percent, your ability to think clearly lowers as well.
Laugh out loud Humor is the opposite of stress. Laughing is a quick escape from sources of stress. Illustrations by JESSICA YIM / the wildcat
Though it may be difficult for those with anxiety to trust in others and form relationships, oftentimes they do rely on those whom they can trust. According to Ashley, it is sometimes easier to open up to friends even more so than with family. “My family can be a support, but I feel like I’m battling it on my own. I feel like I have a better support system from my friends because they’re easier to open up to,” Ashley said. “My friend that doesn’t have anxiety is always there when I need her. She brought me a gift to make me feel better. It’s just the little things.” It is important for friends of those with anxiety to learn to not try to comfort with words, but with attentive listening and acts to show that they truly care. According to both Ashley and Rachel, it is much better to learn to understand the person instead of pretending that it is something that is easily understandable. “We are not qualified to solve their mental health problems, but we can be kind. If you have a friend who needs help, encourage them to seek the help they need and be a positive influence,” Matyuch said. How To Cope “One of the most important things any person can learn is to manage their stress before it can become crippling. We should all learn how to recognize stress and find ways to alleviate its toll. We can learn relaxation techniques, hang out with positive people, avoid alcohol and drugs, eat right, exercise, or have healthy sleep habits,” Matyuch said. According to Dombrowski, spending time with people who serve as a positive influence and surrounding one’s self with an overall positive environment can help to ease the struggles of an anxiety order that is mild. Seeking Help When one’s anxiety is extremely severe, it may be suggested to seek professional help, but that does not ensure that the situation will improve as it may take time to find the treatment that is best customized to one’s personal disorder, according to adaa.org. “I refused help for the past six years. I’m the type of person that doesn’t like to be helped. I was kind of forced into going to the psychiatrist. I was given medication, but I stop taking them because I don’t feel like I want to rely on drugs to make me happy,” Ashley said. As for those who experience stress and wonder if it is an anxiety disorder, it is important to remember that anxiety disorder is a mental issue, while stress is caused by the problems in one’s surroundings, as Matyuch stated. “To me, stress is the work that is on your plate,” Rachel said, “but anxiety is inside of your mind.” Read this story online! Visit bohswildcat.com
12
The Wildcat
Feature
March 8, 2013
EXPLORING ART: (left to right) One of Akin-Tewe’s watercolor paintings entitled “Salute to Education”. Another one of Akin-Tewe’s artworks which depicts the evils of, and condemns, graffiti.
bohswildcat.com
n o i t a r i p Ins r art
e o f d n i o i s w s a p d k l r Wor els spa v a r t s ’ e w e t Akin aging a, Man
ay Verm
Editor
Having lived in two completely different hemispheres, moving from place to place as a young boy, junior Akingbola Akin-Tewe has experienced more of this world than most people, and he shares those experiences through art. Born in Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city, Akin-Tewe lived in Africa for the first eight years of his life before moving to the state of Georgia until his freshman year of high school, when he moved to Brea. “My elementary school in Nigeria was very fancy. We had a cool pond with catfish in it, a swimming pool, bathrooms inside our actual classrooms, and a lot of other exciting things,” AkinTewe said. Beyond these luxuries, Akin-Tewe’s private elementary school was much more academically advanced than American elementary schools. At the age of four, Akin-Tewe was easily able to count the first hundred numbers, and in second grade, he took on learning both English and French. “School in Nigeria was a lot harder than American school. Many tests and exams I took in Nigeria I retook in America,” he shared. “I almost felt like I cheated my way through my American elementary school.” School life was different also because of the fact that AkinTewe’s teachers in Nigeria were legally allowed to whip their students, and moreover, his elementary school actually housed many students on-campus in dormitories. Nigerian life, however, was quite a bit more eccentric than life here in California, Akin-Tewe said. In particular, he now recalls quite a few interesting aspects of his life in Nigeria. “In Nigeria, you can simply pee on the side of the road. Life was completely different, and in a way, a lot more convenient.” Akin-Tewe particularly recalls the okata, which were essentially motorcycles that acted like taxis, but quite a bit cheaper and faster. In fact, the road was completely lawless for the most part, and Nigerians could do all they wanted on the road—such as the time
h by Aks
Read this story online! Visit bohswildcat.com
“
Moving from place to place really opened my eyes and my world view. Everyone experiences changes through their life, and my move to America really opened my eyes to art.” Akingbola Akin-Tewe, junior
when Akin-Tewe drove a car for the first time with his mother at the age of four. “Life in Georgia was so much simpler than life in Nigeria,” he said. Despite his varying experiences around the globe, art has acted as a source of inspiration for Akin-Tewe and has allowed him to assimiliate. “When I was one, my parents would give me crayons and I used to scribble on the walls on the sides of my bed. When I was four, I looked at the same scribbles on the wall and a yellow scribble on my bedside reminded me of Big Bird, which actually inspired me continue making art. My father was also an artist, so he taught me how to draw over the years,” Akin-Tewe said. His family vacation to New York at the age of six particularly sparked his current for art. In New York, Akin-Tewe saw much graffiti art that inspired him because of its “interesting and exciting” aesthetic. Later at the age of seven, Akin-Tewe took another day trip to New York on his way to Georgia. While on the Greyhound bus from New York to Georgia, he was enthralled by the beautiful scenery of cityscapes, mountains, and countrysides, which eventually sparked a love of art for him. Once in Georgia, art was Akin-Tewe’s escape from his awkward experiences as a Nigerian immigrant. “I used to be really talkative in Nigeria, but when I moved to Georgia, I was a lot quieter and felt really different and thought it was really hard for me to adapt. Art, for me, was a therapy and an escape from the real world.” In the future, Akin-Tewe hopes to stay in the art world as an architect, engineer, or a comic book artist. “Moving from place to place really opened my eyes and my world view. Everyone experiences changes through their life, and my move to America really opened my eyes to art,” he said.
Photos by AMORETTE VALERO / the wildcat
The Wildcat
Wildcat voices
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
13
an education in three continents Kim shares experiences of living in korea, panama, brazil
I
by Rebecca Kim, Guest Contributor was born in Korea and lived there until I was five years old. When I first heard we were moving because my dad was being transferred for work, I never would have imagined my new house would be located in Panama, Central America. A couple of weeks before we officially moved out of the country, a young woman came to our house and taught us Spanish using flashcards. Obviously, that didn’t do any good for me because I was five. When we got to Panama, the school was different from the playhouses or day-care centers in Korea. The International School of Panama seemed like a enormous facility with never-ending hallways and rooms. When I first got there it was really hard for me to interact with teachers and fellow classmates because I was just learning to read and write Korean. At first, they placed me in first grade, but I was too scared and not used to the new environment. My automatic reaction was to cry, to the point where school administrators had a talk with my parents and decided to place me in kindergarten. I loved my teachers, Mrs. Gutierrez and her assistant, Ms. Sun. They were so comfortable to be with, and helped me remove the layer of social awkwardness I had. The teachers taught in ways the students would be able to think beyond just classroom walls, by enforcing more field trips and activities that required for us to explore with our own eyes. At the end of seventh grade, I once again heard, unfortunately, that we were moving to another country. By the time I got to middle school, the materials and subjects became tougher to understand, but not to the point where it suffocated me. This is when I learned to speak English and Spanish. At this point I was twelve years old and when I heard we were moving to Brazil, I had more excitement to this great news than when I heard we were moving to Panama. The school I attended in Brazil was also a private and international school called the Graded American School of Sao Paulo. Most of the students were Brazilian, but they embraced foreigners more than my peers did in Panama. The materials and subjects were mostly taught in English, and I picked up a new language here, Portuguese. The school itself thrived to be the top school in Sao Paulo, so the subjects were rigorous. Despite that, I wished to stay longer and graduate from this school because of its respectable reputation and close connection it had with many colleges and Ivy Leagues. Unfortunately, after only two years, I was notified again by my parents that we were moving to California. At first, I was anxious, not excited, because although I have visited the U.S. several times before, I did not know what it was like to live in the States. I did not know how public schools worked, such as the district system. The only districts I had heard of were from the Hunger Games, so I pictured public school to be a little like that. After all the Google searches and researching life in California, and arranging our home and schools, we first started in Anaheim, then Irvine, then Troy, then Valencia, then Sunny Hills, and finally settled in Brea. Oftentimes before, when classmates hear about my moving story, the one thing they ask is, “Why Brea?” Honestly speaking, I didn’t have a choice to come here, but it’s definitely not a decision I regret. This has only been my second year here and so far, it has been pretty good. All the people I meet in my classes are unique in their own way and they remind me of my old homes. But that nostalgia slowly fades away after time because I’ve learned to make Brea my new home.
places kim has lived
California South Korea Brazil Panama
AROUND THE WORLD: (Clockwise from far left) Kim at the beach. At the International School of Panama, Kim plays outdoors with classmates. Kim sits with her teacher and classmate in Panama. Kim plays with a classmate in kindergarten in Seoul, Korea. Photos courtesy of rebecca kim
/theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
14
The Wildcat
Feature
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
Creamy Garlic Broccoli
Quick Bites
Ingredients:
The Wildcat cooks up simple, healthy, and fast t wo-ingredient recipes for busy and hungry students.
1/2 cup of creamy garlic hummus
+
3 1/2 cups of broccoli florets
What to do: 1. Steam, boil, roast, or grill the broccoli florets. 2. Toss the warm florets with the hummus. 3. Serve warm or place in the fridge to serve chilled. 4. Optional: Add black pepper and lemon juice for extra flavor.
Oatmeal Cookies Crescent Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
+
+
1 can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls Kraft Singles American cheese
What to do: 1. Pop open the can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and unwrap a slice of Kraft cheese. 2. Cut the cheese slices in half and place them on the crescent roll dough. Roll up the dough with the cheese inside. 3. Preheat oven to 350째 and coat the crescent rolls with melted butter. 4. Bake according to the directions on the crescent roll can and enjoy!
theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
Ingredients:
2 large old bananas 1 cup of quick oats *Optional add-ins: chocolate chips, cinnamon, raisins
What to do: 1. Preheat oven at 350째 and grease a cookie sheet. 2. Fill a mixing bowl 1/4 with oats. Peel two bananas and add them to the bowl. 3. With a fork, mash the bananas down and mix with the oats. At this point, mix in any optional add-ins. Mix until a chunky consistency is formed. Banana chunks should be apparent. 4. Scoop mixture onto greased cookie sheet in small clusters. 5. Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy! Compiled by SELINA CHE / the wildcat Photos by MICHELLE SUH and JOY KIM / the wildcat
The Wildcat
Feature
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
Simple Sweets
15
These dessert recipes are effortless and perfect for students seeking a sugar boost during study sessions.
Cookies & Cream Oreo Bark Ingredients:
+ Soda Can Cupcakes Ingredients:
+
1 box of Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix 1 can of Sprite or any lemon-lime flavored soda
What to do: 1. Pour a can of room temperature soda into a bowl of dry Funfetti cake mix. 2. With a whisk, mix the cake mix and soda until a smooth consistency is achieved. 3. Preheat oven to 350째 and line the muffin pan. Fill each liner 1/2 to 2/3 full of batter. 4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Wait for cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Flourless Nutella Cake Ingredients:
12 ounces of white chocolate chips
+
18 Oreo cookies
4 large eggs 8 1/2 ounces of Nutella
What to do:
What to do: 1. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil or waxed paper. Coarsely chop the Oreos into small pieces. 2. Microwave the white chocolate chips in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Heat until white chocolate is melted and free of lumps. 3. Add Oreo pieces to the melted white chocolate, saving 1/2 cup to sprinkle on top of bark later. Stir cookies until completely covered with white chocolate. 4. Scrape mixture out completely onto baking sheet and spread into thin, even layer. 5. Sprinkle remaining cookie pieces on top of mixture and press down to adhere them into the chocolate. 6. Refrigerate bark for 30 minutes before serving. To keep bark from melting, keep bark refrigerated.
1. Grease a 6 or 7 inch round springform pan and line with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350째. 2. Beat eggs on highest speed with mixer for about 6 minutes until eggs are triple in volume. Egg consistency is crucial to this recipe, so do not try to save time on this step. 3. Measure out Nutella into a glass bowl and microwave for 20 seconds. Add in 1/3 of the egg mixture and mix thoroughly in a clockwise direction with spatula. Then add another 1/3 of egg mixture and fold again until no egg streaks remain. Pour in remaining third and make sure to scrape the foam that sticks to the mixing bowl into the batter and stir until no streaks remain. Make sure to do this in 3 batches because otherwise the whipped eggs may lose too much of the air that has been whipped into them. 4. Pour batter into springform pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
TIMELESS TREATS Minute Brownie
Two-minute Cookie
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
What to do:
2 tbsp of unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 tbsp of sugar 1 1/2 tbsp of brown sugar 2 tbsp beaten egg 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract 5 tbsp all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp baking soda
1. Mix butter and sugars in a bowl with fork. 2. Add beaten egg and vanilla extract to bowl. Stir to combine. 3. Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir again. 4. Stir in chocolate chips. 5. Pop into microwave oven and bake for 2 minutes. 6. Serve with ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate.
1/4 cup of sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup of flour 2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp of olive oil 3 tbsp of water
What to do:
1. Add all dry ingredients into a mug. 2. Add oil and water. 3. Mix until smooth consistency is reached. 4. Microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds. 5. Serve with ice-cream and enjoy!
pinch of salt 1/4 cup chocolate chips
16 The Wildcat
Centerspread
March 8, 2013
The Wildcat bohswildcat.com
ON MY HONOR
“
scouting over over the the years years scouting
Juniors achieve title of Ambassador Scout, work towards Gold Award by Selina Che, Design Manager and Feature Editor
F
rom their vests and sashes adorned with badges to their armfuls of colorful cookie boxes, Girl Scouts are symbols of the American childhood. During cookie season, young Girl Scouts can be seen across the country hauling and selling tons of boxes of cookies around their neighborhoods. Almost all Americans have experienced the nostalgic taste of a Thin Mint or a Peanut Butter Pattie, and for some, have even sold the beloved cookies themselves. While many girls withdraw from their troops as they continue on to middle school, some continue their title as Girl Scouts well into high school. Juniors Uche Ewenike, Amanda Garcia, and Megan Ortiz, members of Troop 2270, are a few of the students on campus who continue to remain Girls Scouts. “I joined Girl Scouts back in kindergarten,” said Ewenike. “My motivation joining back then was probably something along the lines of doing crafts with my friends and getting to wear the fashionable blue smock with the daisy petals on it. Currently, I am an Ambassador, which is the highest level of Girl Scouts and is achieved when you’re an upperclassman in high school.” Motivated by each other and the goal of achieving the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the girls meet with their troop each month to plan and discuss service projects and events. While scouting activities once consisted of building friendships and participating in troop excursions to Build-a-Bear, today, the girls must coordinate independent projects and bear much more responsibility. “As us girls got older in our troop, our dynamics changed,” said Ortiz. “Now that we’re older, we’re more outgoing in our activities and projects, which include the Bronze Award, the Silver Award, and then the highest award, the Gold Award.” All three girls have received the Bronze and Silver Awards. “For the Silver Award, I collected donations of food, blankets, and treats for the Orange County Animal Shelter,” said Garcia. According to girlscouts.org, in order for a Girl Scout to achieve her Gold Award, she must present a long-term solution to an issue in her community. Ortiz, who is in the process of receiving her Gold Award, chose to renovate an animal shelter. “I went to the [Orange County] Animal Shelter, and I am remodeling two cat rooms, which are very important rooms,” said Ortiz. “[The rooms] are where people who are thinking about adopting a cat meet the cat and socialize with them...I am also
1910 1912: Girl Scouts is founded by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Ga.
On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.” The Girl Scout Promise
organizing a cat fair to raise awareness about euthanasia, which is the problem I am addressing.” In addition to their individual work, the girls have also completed numerous community service projects as a troop. Troop 2270 has already participated in a monthly program called Creek Clean-up, in which the Girl Scouts cleaned and planted around a creek for a year. The Scouts also have participated in numerous tree planting projects. While participating in these projects has slightly interfered with school, due to the Girl Scouts’ demanding schedule, all of the girls agree that it has allowed them to grow as people. “I feel like every year we kind of grow as we do more, especially for me with the Bronze Award,” said Ortiz. “I had to organize something, and I had never done that before so I learned how to [organize events], and that [experience] prepared me to do everything else more easily.” After receiving their gold awards, the girls plan to continue as Girl Scouts until their senior year. Nevertheless, their time as Girl Scouts has given them skills in leadership, communication, and cooperation that they will carry with them throughout their lifetime.
1920: The American Girl, a monthly magazine for girls, is published. 1930: The first sale of commercially baked Girl Scout cookies takes place.
1956: The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace is opened as a museum and national Girl Scout center. 1980: The Daisy Girl Scout age-level is introduced.
1990: Nearly four million Girl Scouts, girls and adult leaders, tackle illiteracy alongside in the Right to Read service project.
history history of of Girl Girl Scouts Scouts We are scouts: Juniors Megan Ortiz and Amanda Garcia and senior Trianna Eichenger have been Scouts for more than a decade. (left to right) Juliette Gordon-Low, founder of GIrl Scouts, with her Girl Scout troop, the first Girl Scout troop in America. Gordon-Low awarding an Ambassador Scout her Gold Award. Illustration by JESSICA YIM / the wildcat AMORETTE VALERO / the wildcat
Photos from girlscouts.org
On March 12, 1912, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls in Savannah, Ga. for a local Girl Scout meeting with the goal of bringing girls out of the isolated home environment and to community service. Within a few years, Low’s dream for a girlcentered organization was realized. Today, Girl Scouts has a membership of 3.2 million girls and adults.
bronze award
silver award
gold award
The highest award a Junior Scout can receive
The highest award a Cadette can receive
The highest award an Ambassador can receive
Junior scouts must plan a project that will improve their communities.
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Cadettes must plan a project Ambassadors must that will improve their local plan a project that will communities (beyond the Girl permanently improve their Scout communities). communities and the world.
today Facts from girlscouts.org
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Wildcat voices
March 8, 2013
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Peace out, girl scout
seniors fleming and kimmel look back on 13 years of girl scouts by Taylor Fleming, Guest Contributor If I said the word “brownies,” you would probably think of a nice fudge treat. When I hear “brownies,” I picture little girls selling cookies in front of my local supermarket. I have been a Girl Scout for the past 13 years. I don’t know many people my age who can say they have been a part of something for more than a decade. I have met all kinds of Girl Scouts over the years at competitions or through volunteer events. Some look like the traditional image of a Girl Scout, some have tattoo sleeves, some have blue hair, some listen to Beethoven, some listen to Slipknot. The point is, I have been exposed to a community of different people with one solid common interest. Through Girl Scouts I have learned how to communicate with a wide variety of people, how to handle money, and most importantly, how to deal with rejection. I know that may sound ridiculous, but imagine asking the same 400 people to buy cookies for 13 years. After a while, you get used to hearing “no.” If you ever see me around school, you might not think I am a typical Girl Scout. I am loud, opinionated, I wear a lot of makeup, I have my tongue pierced, and I couldn’t even tell you what color my hair is this month. But I can tell you the story of how my troop flew to New York and saw Wicked on Broadway. I can tell you stories of Girl Scouts who have gone to Costa Rica, Australia, and Brazil before graduating high school. I could show you how to crochet an American flag sweater. I could even show you how to properly start a fire with no matches. Without Girl Scouts, none of these things would be possible for me. So to my Fellow Sisters, I close by saying: “Peace out, Girl Scout.”
by Amanda Kimmel, Guest Contributor It started out in kindergarten with monthly meetings with my Girl Scout troop after school. We did crafts and went on fun day trips to places such as the zoo and the beach. Eventually, my troop and I began going on weekend sleepovers to places such as the Discovery Science Center, the Wild Animal Park, and Big Bear. My favorite campout was at SeaWorld in third grade. We spent the night next to the manatee tank and I remember staying up all night watching the manatees float around because I thought they were so peaceful. A few years ago, I decided to start traveling with Girl Scouts rather than continue with a traditional troop experience. My first major trip was to New York City. I spent an entire week touring the city and even watched the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks on a boat in the Hudson River. During the summer of 2011, I was given the opportunity through a program called Destinations to travel alongside 14 other Girl Scouts from all across the U.S. to Costa Rica. I spent 16 days backpacking 80 miles and along the way, went white water rafting, waterfall repelling, and stayed at a few locals’ homes to experience the Costa Rican lifestyle. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to have another opportunity with the Destinations program and traveled to Australia with a few other Girl Scouts. I had an amazing experience living with aboriginals. They taught us how to hunt with a spear, make and play didgeridoos, throw boomerangs, and showed us how the aboriginal people lived. I also hiked, toured Sydney, slept in a sanctuary for kangaroos and wallabies, and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. These once in a lifetime experiences is why I love Girl Scouts and am thankful I kept with it for the past 13 years. Girl Scouts has given me lifelong friendships and memories I will hopefully never forget.
SCOUTS FOREVER:
(clockwise from top) Fleming at an outing on a farm. Fleming celebrates Christmas with her troop. Kimmel makes gingerbread houses with her Brownie troop. Kimmel works on a Rose Parade float.
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Wildcat Voices
March 8, 2013
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TECHNICAL EXPERTS: (left)
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Rachel Craig, senior, in the tech room. Craig is the Lightboard Operator in tech crew. (below) Jonathan Davis, senior, adjusts lighting on the technical keyboard. Despite having specific positions, members of tech crew work on all aspects of a show.
Photos by AMORETTE VALERO and JULIA EBERHARDT / the wildcat
Behind-the-scenes
success of school performances attributed to work of tech crew by Lauren Lee, Staff Writer
Students in choir, dance, and drama spend hours striving to master their performances. They go through rehearsals and try and perfect every move, song or act. Their goal: to put on an amazing show. But behind every great performance, there is theater teachnical crew, or tech crew, striving to make sure that the performers look and sound their best and that the show runs smoothly. Audiences never see what goes on back stage, as tech crew stays out of view before the show starts, to after the last person has walked out of the theater, making sure that every detail during the performance, and after, is perfect. Tech crew is in charge of the lighting, set, and sound. Each member is in charge of a different section and making sure that everything in their section is working and not malfunctioning. There are 13 people in tech crew, each holding a different position. Taylor Fleming, senior and stage manager, has been in tech crew since her freshman year. “Since freshman year I have loved the way that we get to see a creation of our own come to life. It is a lot of hard work setting up for one show and if a performance is going on at the end of a week we are there for seven or eight hours everyday before the end of the week prepping the lights, changing light bulbs, making sets and testing the sound,” Fleming said. Along with hours of preparation, tech crew does multiple run-throughs before a show is put on to make sure that no problems occur. If any problem arises, the crew stops and restarts the entire process. theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
Chris Nunley, senior and lighting manager, is in charge of all the lights and accents during a performance. “It’s a lot of work wearing the microphone and telling people which lights are supposed to go where and there are so many technical terms to remember it does get hectic, but after I give instructions and I see all the lights come together it really is an amazing feeling knowing that we pulled it off and that people are in awe and that much more pulled into a show,” Nunley said. Tech crew stays after every show to clean up and check all the equipment again to make sure that there is nothing broken or needs to be replaced before the next show, a process which sometimes can take up to six hours. According to tech crew members, the hardest shows to set up are those for drama and dance, for they have to make the props and sets for drama, and make sure that the lighting is on point for every dance number. “It is really tough when we are short staffed because people have to be in charge of multiple jobs then, but people who are watching the show don’t know all the hard work going in to produce the show. We enjoy what we do and that’s why we haven’t pulled out our hairs from all the stress of this,” Ashley Alger, junior and assistant stage manager and assistant set crew, said. Tech crew earns class credit, but since it does not have designated class time, the rehearsals, shows, and set -building days after school count as their credit. Through all the shows that have been put on, tech crew is there for each and every one putting it on and trying to be successful everytime
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March 8, 2013
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T Military Moms
Batchelor and Camacho, whose sons were stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, share pride in being military mothers by Joy Kim, Editor-in-Chief
here are few who experience the joy military moms do when they see an international phone number appearing on their cell, coming from their sons or daughters stationed overseas. That phone call not only provides mothers invaluable communication with their children, but informs them of their child’s safety and wellbeing. This was all too true for Debbie Camacho, principal’s assistant, whose son Ryan was stationed in Afghanistan two years ago. And Laurel Batchelor, English teacher, will experience those phone calls again when her son Joshua leaves for Afghanistan in August, after having served in Iraq twice already.
Their start
Camacho was 25 when he signed up for the Army, after graduating commercial diving school and realizing the lack of jobs in the field. His mother said joining the military was something he was interested in doing for a long time, and was further prompted to join at a pivotal point in his life. Yet, she expressed her initial fear in sending her only son away to the military, likely to be sent overseas. “At first, I was very scared, because times are not great around the world, and I feared for his safety,” said Camacho. “Combat and infantry is what he decided to do, and I knew that meant front lines, and that he would probably be going to Afghanistan.” After nine weeks of training in Georgia, Ryan was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., where he trained for another year before deploying to Afghanistan. Batchelor’s son, Joshua, also joined the Army at a pivotal point in his career when he was offered management training at his current job at RadioShack. However, after realizing that he did not see himself as a RadioShack manager in the future, he lived in Idaho for a year with college friends. It was during that year that Joshua realized the he had always wanted to be a pilot. He talked to an army recruiter and trained to become an Apache attack helicopter pilot. “He’s flying what he loves to fly,” Batchelor said. At 26 years old, Joshua trained in Fort Rutger, Ala. before he, and his helicopter, were deployed to Iraq.
Communicating abroad
The Internet, according to Camacho, drastically changed the way the military can communicate with family members. Camacho, whose brother fought in Vietnam when she was 15, said that families can now check Facebook updates daily instead of waiting for a monthly letter. “It was nice to know that everything was going okay,” Camacho said. On one occasion, Camacho saw a picture her son’s friend uploaded on Facebook of his injured hand after a door was smashed on it. Though it was shocking to see her son’s mangled hand in her news feed, Camacho is grateful. “The hand injury was the worst thing that ever happened to him nothing compared to what could’ve happened,” she said. Through Facebook, Camacho could also experience the joys of her son’s service in Afghanistan. She said one of Ryan’s favorite things was to visit the children in the local villages, who
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“have absolutely nothing.” Ryan described, through posted pictures, how the children flocked to him. Afghani children spurned the candy he and his comrades brought, but were exuberant at the sight of pencils. For them, pencils meant receiving an education. Communication was also essential for the Batchelors, who spoke with Joshua once a week via webcam or cell phone. Joshua served in Iraq twice, once for 16 months and another for one year. In his second stay, however, Batchelor shipped Softsoap and baby wipes to him because his ability to shower was taken away. His troops also endured a lack of food, since they were among the last to fight in Iraq. During his stay, Batchelor’s second child, Sarah, who teaches English at La Mirada High School, had her students mail letters to Joshua.
The men that returned
“I was very thrilled to hear his voice saying ‘I’m in Maine, on my way back to Kentucky’,” Camacho said. Ryan came back more grateful and appreciative of life in the United States in general, especially after meeting children who did not even know the existence of a United States, or only had sandals to walk in the snow with. “If you didn’t appreciate living in the U.S. before, you just know what a wonderful place we live in,” Camacho said. Batchelor said similarly about her son. “He’s definitely made a man out of hm. He’s very respectful, and appreciated things he hadn’t appreciated before. [The army] has turned him into a very respectful, thankful, gracious human being.” Batchelor was surprised by Joshua’s newfound organizational skills. She and her husband were in shock when they visited Joshua in Alabama, and witnessed his folding a jacket three times “until it was perfect.” The Joshua they had been used to often had a “chaotic” room. Though Ryan will remain in Kentucky and pursue a career in banking, Joshua is preparing to go to Afghanistan in August. He will remain there for 16 to 17 months. Batchelor said that although she “sleeps better knowing he’s in Kansas,” she is still proud of Joshua. “In spite of my personal feelings and political beliefs regarding the war, I absolutely support my son. I wish he wasn’t going, but I’m still proud of him.” Hannah Batchelor, freshman and Joshua’s youngest sister, said, “I don’t want him to go, but its his job. I think he’s really brave for what he does.” Whereas Ryan and Joshua sacrificed for their country by being in the service, their mothers sacrificed a feeling of peace and security by sending their sons away. Despite the worries Camacho and Batchelor experienced, they both expressed their support of their sons. Beyond the care packages and the phone calls answered, Camacho and Batchelor have an immense pride for their sons who spent years serving their country, and whose eyes were opened to the poverty of the Middle East. “[My mom] was always there when I would call from Afghanistan when I had a free moment, even if it was the middle of the night. I can’t thank her enough for all she has done and continues to do,” Ryan said.
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The Wildcat
March 8, 2013
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ARMY STRONG: (below, clockwise) Camacho with her son Ryan.
Ryan prepares to board an Afghani bus. Ryan visits children in Afghanistan villages. With his comrades, (right, clockwise) Batchelor with her son Joshua and daughter Hannah. Joshua stands in front of his Apache helicopter. Joshua stands with history teacher Hans Backer’s class last year after sharing military experiences. Photos courtesy of DEBRA CAMACHO, LAUREL BATCHELOR, and HANS BACKER
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Arts
March 8, 2013
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film production an aspiration for MORIAH BOHS graduate finds niche in Asian-American entertainment industry
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by Joy Kim, Editor-in-Chief hen Farah Moriah graduated from BOHS, she aspired to be a they, and the project’s assistant editor, Mark Anthony Gadia, noticed that Asian figures neurosurgeon and went on to study at the University of California, were more prominent on YouTube and other forms of social media. San Diego. Amidst her ambitious career goals, Moriah knew According to Moriah, the project focused on how Asian Americans “found their voice” little about Korean pop culture. Her friends strove to change this, in social media as a gateway to becoming visible in mainstream media. Such examples are pushing her head first into the world of Korean music. singer Christine Gambito, breakdancer Mike Song, and comedian KevJumba. Little did she know that this immersion into the realm of Asian “Digital media has allowed Asian Americans, and more so, people of color, to have entertainment would change her career path and eventually lead her to become an aspiring self-agency: we can produce our own content and broadcast to a global audience,” movie producer. Today, she has created a documentary and continues to work on movie said Kanara Ty, Associate Editor and Online Manager for Audrey Magazine, an Asian sets, all with the intention of bettering the entertainment industry for Asian Americans. American women’s lifestyle magazine. “In that sense, spaces like YouTube have Moriah first stepped into the world of Asian allowed Asian Americans to become more visible entertainment as a journalist. She said she avidly read and producing more opportunities in Hollywood. Popseoul.com, one of the first English-language Korean However, that doesn't change the fact that racism and entertainment websites, at first to gain insight into Asian discrimination, a lot of which is fueled by ignorance, entertainment. still exists in the entertainment industry.” Later, when the site announced openings for writing Following the documentary, Moriah embarked on positions, Moriah thought, “why not?” and applied for more recent projects. Among them is a short YouTube the job. Although she had been the Co-Editor-in-Chief video called “Fireflies”, which Moriah produced with of the Wildcat newspaper, she realized that she had never the Jubilee Project. The Jubilee Project is a non-profit written for the entertainment section. organization that creates videos supporting causes “My first ‘trial’ article became one of the top posts of such as deaf awareness, North Korean refugees, and that month. Through that I ended up being blessed with sex trafficking awareness. “Fireflies” focused on meeting the right people at events such as the San Diego autism awareness, and was released on the Internet Asian Film Festival, the Epik High Concert, and many in December. other events,” Moriah said. Moriah also served as the Key Production The reporting job took Moriah from San Diego to Los Manager for the K-town Reality Show, currently Angeles three times a week at times. But journalism also airing on the LOUD Channel. paved a path for Moriah to film production. She described She is also currently a Marketing and Online it as a “natural transition” from reporter to producer. Advertisement Manager for Audrey Magazine and uploadedteam.com Moriah began to work with film students to film its sister publication, Koream Magazine, both awardLIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Moriah (far right) stands with the interviews. Through this, she learned how to organize the winning and long-running publications in the Korean team that produced Uploaded: the Asian American Movement, “logistics of a shoot” and was eventually asked by the community. the documentary of which Moriah was the executive producer. students to be a production assistant in their projects. Moriah said her goal as a producer is to produce Through being a reporter, Moriah made connections with notable figures in the meaningful films. However, she said it is also common for other producers to give the entertainment industry such as Wongfu Productions, Jon M. Chu, Director of Step Up 2 and same response to merely “sell out” and “have a good image.” But Moriah hopes to help Step Up 3D, and Kevin Tancharoen, director of Fame and Mortal Kombat Legacy. Moriah Asian Americans rise in the entertainment industry. later interviewed these figures in her “first big producing job”—filming a documentary. “I'm not saying I don't want to make blockbuster films. These films will probably end The documentary, Uploaded: the Asian American Movement, was first conceived up being my bread and butter, but by doing so, it puts my name out there to help other when Julie Zhan, its executive producer and Moriah partner on another project, spoke aspiring Asian American filmmakers and artists who feel like nobody will give them a with Moriah about the lack of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry. However, chance because of their race,” said Moriah.
Moriah’s journey in the film industry theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
Producer
Journalist
Moriah produced a documentary called Uploaded: the Asian American Movement and a Jubilee Project short film entitled “Fireflies”.
Moriah’s entrance into the entertainment industry began by reporting for Popseoul.com. She is now the Marketing and Online Advertisement Manager for Audrey Magazine.
Production Manager Moriah is the Key Production Manager for the K-town Reality Show.
Illustrations by JESSICA YIM / the wildcat
FOOD
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March 8, 2013
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BATTLE OF THE PANCAKES
Tired of The average pancake? The wildcat samples local pancake restaurants by Joseph Yim, Arts Co-Editor Photos by JOSEPH YIM / the wildcat
International house of pancakes 151 W Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton, 92832
Pancake Platter ($8.95) Four sausages, butter, three buttermilk pancakes, old fashioned syrup
Early Bird Cafe 1000 E Bastanchury Rd, Fullerton, 92835
Griddle Cake ($7.50) Strawberries, home-made whipped cream, two buttermilk pancakes, old fashioned syrup
IHOP, compared to the other contenders, served the least appealing pancakes. The diner’s homely setting gave off a welcome feeling as I entered and waited for my simple, yet expensive ($8.95) breakfast dinner: buttermilk pancakes with sausages. Sadly, this wait was the beginning of IHOP’s downward spiral as I waited 30 minutes just for a single plate of food, though we were the only customers at that time. When the pancakes finally came out, the smell was invigorating, especially since IHOP was the only diner that offered four different types of syrup: maple, boysenberry, blueberry, and strawberry. Yet, after a couple large bites, I discovered that the pancakes were incredibly thick, thus causing me to drink large amounts of water. I then thought the variety of syrup flavors were given to mask the flavorless batter mixture. In the end, I could not finish the pancakes due to its extremely doughy texture, leading IHOP to be last in my picks.
rating: Due to its welcoming ambiance and spectacular tasting pancakes, Early Bird is the dark horse winner of this battle. Located on the border of Brea and Fullerton, a modern, refurbished diner lies with its amazing Griddle Cakes (buttermilk pancakes). While waiting for a seat, the hostess was kind enough to walk amongst the waiting line offering coffee. This token of kindness immediately gave me optimism. Once I received the pancakes, I was surprised by the generous amount of whipped cream and strawberries that came along with the meal. Although my waitress did not offer syrup until I asked, I tried the combination first without it and realized why: the pancakes tasted incredible without syrup. Perfectly cooked, each bite was fluffy and left a sweet after taste. Also, the powdered sugar gave a floury, inviting texture. Early Bird was a pleasant surprise for its appealing breakfast and lunch menus, which compelled me to place this establishment as this Battle’s winner.
rating:
Original Pancake House 18453 Yorba Linda Blvd, yorba linda, 92886
Butermilk Pancake ($6.15) Melted butter, six buttermilk pancakes, old fashioned syrup
Joseph’s house Bisquick Pancake ($2.95) Melted butter, six buttermilk pancakes, old fashioned syrup
As the name of this famous establishment suggests, this diner is the original place to dive into classic options and flavors. Already an American favorite, my initial thought was that this diner would sweep its competition away easily. The old, Western ambiance of the restaurant made me feel comfortable, as if I was resting in my home. Thankfully, the wait for their traditional buttermilk pancakes was short, even though the area was filled with hungry customers. Adding to this positive aspect was the enormous portion size of six pancakes for the lowest price out of all the eateries I visited. Each bite was packed with a rich flavor that actually let me taste the pancake itself instead of a dominant syrup flavor. The batter was also cooked perfectly, giving off a distinct, appetizing light brown color. Although I could not finish the plate, I was overall satisfied by the family-style serving, thus placing this memorable diner a close second in my battle.
rating: Although different from the other contenders, I decided to compare regular pancake mix to those made in restaurants. Due to its popularity, I chose Bisquick as the baking mixture, and followed the easy, step-by-step instructions labeled. Altogether, the cooking process took approximately 15 minutes, with only milk and two eggs needed as extra ingredients. Although lacking many “fancy” restaurant garnishes like fruit, whipped cream, and powdered sugar, the taste was surprisingly satisfying. Each pancake was a perfect level of thickness when following the instructions correctly, thus providing an overall delicious end result. Honestly, if IHOP or any other diner served Bisquick pancakes, I would have not known the difference; in fact, these pancakes were more appetizing compared to IHOP’s. So if you are searching for a quick, affordable morning meal, then Bisquick pancakes will not fail to satisfy your hunger pangs.
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guest contributors choose early bird’s griddle cake as favorite Spencer Rogers, senior
Andrew Hwang, senior
“The pancakes from Early Bird were by far the best of the three. In addition to the nice, sweet flavor accorded by the whipped cream, strawberries, and specialty syrup, the pancakes possessed a very appealing thickness. As our waitress claimed, the pancakes could be delightful all their own without that ‘bloated’ feeling that often follows most pancakes. I would definitely recommend Early Bird to anyone seeking a great breakfast. It has a mean BLT too.”
“Early Bird’s Griddle Cake tasted the most balanced out of all of the other pancakes. The quantity was not too much, but not too little. Powdered sugar and old fashioned syrup gave the buttermilk stack a more thick and rich flavor. The restaurant’s incorporation of sliced strawberries combined well with the overall flavor and gave the pancake a more healthy aftertaste. I would gladly revisit this restaurant to try its other recipes!”
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ARTS
The Wildcat
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March 8, 2013
Brea Idol 2013 to showcase more soloists by Rishi Patel, Staff Writer
Showcasing their musical talents, students will compete at Brea Idol tonight at 7 p.m. in the PAC. There will be several categories in the show, such as solo and duet singing, solo dancing, and band performances. Running Brea Idol this year is Rachel Gallegos, senior and last year’s winner, who is also president of the Brea Idol Committee. Gallegos explained that the categories are more “narrowed down” this year. Also, she said that today’s show will focus more on solo and solo with guitar performances instead of bands. She also said that “there will be some unexpected talents” that may surprise the audience. Judging Brea Idol will be experienced professionals that are believed to be in the Show Choir Circuit. All participants in the competition will be rewarded with a trophy, and the winner of this year’s Brea Idol will receive a larger trophy.
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Gallegos said, “Brea Idol is a great program to show the school how talented their peers are and [is] a great experience.” Daniel Dwyer, a contestant in the male solo category, will perform “The Gambler” by Fun. Dwyer said, “I’m in the choir and I have solos, so that is good preparation. At the last competition, I won Best Soloist.” Another contestant, Lirissa Tittle, sophomore, said, “I’m excited to see the competition. I know it is going to be tough because there are a lot other talented people, but I’m really excited to actually to compete as a soloist.” Tittle will be singing “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys. She said she has been practicing at choir and at her home, since she has a recording studio in her backyard. Tickets will be sold for $10 at the door.
Photo courtesy of RACHEL GALLEGOS
Photo by MICHELLE SUH / the wildcat
EMBRACING TWO ROLES: (left), Rachel Gallegos, senior and Brea Idol 2012 winner, will lead the preparation in this year’s competition. (Right) Brothers Louie, junior, and Vinchy Jota, sophomore, practice their duet at rehearsal.
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March 8, 2013
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Play Production shows comedic side in ‘Fools’ by Akshay Verma, Managing Editor
With a unique premise and with wonderful execution, Play Production’s Fools left many laughing as a hilarious and quirky story of a rustic Ukrainian village unfolded. Fools tells the tale of the inhabitants of Kulyenchikov, a remote Ukrainian village in the late nineteenth century, who have all been cursed with stupidity and an inability to love for the past 200 years. This curse can only be broken if Leon Tolchinsky, a schoolteacher, successfully educates Sophia Zubritsky, or if Sophia marries a descendant of the Yousekevitch family line, since it was a Yousekevitch who originally cursed the town. A notable character of the performance was Leon Tolchinsky (Justice Huynh), who enchanted the audience with his comedic performances and wonderful chemistry with his love interest, Sophia Zubritsky (Isabel Moskowitz). Johnny Williams, who played Count Gregor Yousekevitch, the villain who was more foolish than conniving, stole the show with his laugh-out-loud acting and fiery speeches. Moreover, Williams’s
frequent audience interaction as Count Yousekevitch added an interesting dynamic to the show, as the audience often felt as a part of the actual play with Williams directly addressing audience members. For the most part, the acting proved solid, and the show captivated the audience throughout with its quirky, plucky humor and fun plot. While the plot may not have been absolutely groundbreaking or memorable, it was nonetheless refreshing and lighthearted enough to be enjoyable. The simplistic sets of the play were well-fitting to the plot, from a rendition of the rural Ukrainian town to the house of the idiotic Zubritskys, complete with nonsensical clocks and messy couches. Furthermore, the sound and “special effects” of the occasional rainfall or thunder were right on cue and wonderfully executed, adding quite significantly to the overall execution of the play. Fools provided a night of wonderful entertainment with an energetic and exciting performance by the Play Production cast, as evident by the laughter and applause resonating throughout the theater.
MICHELLE SUH / the wildcat
A HUMOROUS APPROACH: (Left) Justice Huynh as teacher Leon Tolchinsky and Abby Ciencia, as mother Lenya Zubritski, teach Isabel Moskowitz as daughter Sophia Zubritsky, how to sit down properly in Fools.
Musical to take new approach with ‘Aladdin’ by Kevin Kim, Arts Co-Editor
Students who love musicals are in for a treat, as Choir is hosting a two-part musical entitled Aladdin throughout March. The musical will be held on March 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, and 30, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be sold for $12 each. The production will include classical songs from Disney’s Aladdin, such as “Arabian Nights,” “One Jump,” “Why Me?,” “Friend Like Me,” “Prince Ali,” and “A Whole New World.” Dave Willert, Doug Kuhl, Eric Hendrickson, Kurt Nielsen, Alex Willert, and Julia Dwyer are the six directors of the musical. Each member is said to hold an important part for the musical. “We run rehearsals throughout February and March,” Dave Willert, Choir director, said. “Aladdin is going to be a whole lot of fun, and this is my expectation for the musical.” Though many Choir members participate, the musical is not exclusive to just those members. Rather, Willert said the cast is selected through an audition, open to everyone who wish to partake in the performance. According to Uche Ewenike, junior, the practices are currently running smoothly, with all the cast working hard and having fun. “There’s magic and mystery. In comparison to Grease last year and Beauty and the Beast the
Wesley Mathews 7th grade
Genie
Jasmine
Aladdin
Rachel Gallegos senior
year before, this musical truly is a family musical,” Ewenike said. “We’re doing all the same songs from the movie so we’re hoping for the audience to sing along with us during the shows.” Rachel Gallegos, senior, said Aladdin will be a whole new approach, much different from previous years’ performances. “Compared to last year’s musical, Aladdin is on the opposite spectrum. It’s a lighthearted Disney fairytale with flying carpets, a magical genie, and pizzazz!” Gallegos said. “Last year’s musical, Grease, was an antsy teenage storyline that dealt with high school scenarios. Aladdin is a great musical that entertains the audience with its imaginative story line. Ewenike said she hopes the performance will uplift those who will attend the show. She said she is optimistic of the show’s success. “I expect a lot of memories from our musical. It’s always a lot of fun to work with everyone like this. And I hope to spread some joy to our audiences,” Ewenike said.
Izzy Perez senior
Iago
Jafar
Terry Dopson senior
Marysa Leite senior
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SPORTS 26 Boys’ BASKETBALl advances to CIF semis The Wildcat
bohswildcat.com
March 8, 2013
by Noelle Gracia, Staff Writer
T
hough their five game winning streak and 22-win season ended at CIF semifinals, head coach Jeff Sink considers this season “one of their most successful yet.” This season marked the first time in 15 years that boys’ basketball advanced to the semifinal round. The boys began their CIF journey against Murrieta Mesa High School on Feb. 15. The Wildcats kept ahead of the Rams from the opening tip and advanced to quarterfinals with the 50-38 win. The Wildcat defense limited the Rams to 14 first half points, and only 21 through three quarters. In the quarterfinal match-up against Servite High School, the Friars were running a matchup zone defense which the Wildcats had not seen before. Sink countered the zone by having the boys move the ball quickly, and guarding man-toman instead of marking up against a teammate’s defender, which was “unusual to the boys”. They also made extra passes that allowed the Wildcats to break down Servite’s defense. The Friars put up an even fight until the second quarter when the Wildcats started to pull ahead. “We did well early because we did the three things Coach always emphasizes, which are to play team defense, rebound on both sides of the court, and take care of the ball,” senior co-captain Jason Muehlhoff, said. “We were also hitting our shots and that, coupled with the great defense we were paying as a team, was the reason we took control of the game early.” Eventually, the clock ran its course and the game ended in a score of 55-39. Sink flashing a heart at the Den and dancing a victory jig on the court marked the end of this quarterfinal game, much to the excitement of the capacity crowd. “That was by far one of the greatest environments I have been in as a high school coach, State or CIF game aside, that energy was unbelievable. And coaching the Ladycats, I have been in a lot of high-energy games,” Sink said. “That game just exemplified what high school should be all about, kids coming together to cheer on a great team, bonding and having a good time screaming for their school. And I know my boys played harder because of it, I mean how could you not? It was pure joy coming from those kids that night, and that was something so amazing to witness.”
A
fter the Servite game, it was on to battle the Royal High School Highlanders. There were a pair of BOHS spirit busses for the game in which Wildcat fans could travel
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to Simi Valley to support the team. Though it was a home game for the Highlanders, the Wildcats student section was bigger than the host school’s, with over 150 students in attendance. The game started out with teams exchanging one and two point leads. However, near the end of the second quarter, the Wildcats began to fall behind by missing the majority of their shots and
boys fell further behind and Royal’s 6’10 center dominated the boards on both ends of the court. Eventually, the pace of the game began to pick up again near the end of the third quarter, after Vilius Viysniauskus, senior forward, drained a couple three pointers, which allowed the Wildcats to make a slight comeback. Despite being outsized in the paint, Turner
63-54 loss, ending BOHS’s furthest foray into CIF in the last fifteen years, and it’s best overall record in over a decade.
M
att Pace, senior guard and co-captain, said, “Obviously, we would have liked to make it to the finals, but it was a great year and we made it farther than a lot of people expected us to.
Photos by TRENT PRESTON / the wildcat
SLAM DUNK: (left) Michael Turner, shoots over a Servite defender during the Feb. 19 play-off game. (center) Matt Pace, senior, pulls up for a jump shot against Servite. (right) Chandler Ramos, junior, takes a long range shot against the Friars. The Wildcats defeated Servite 55-39 to advance to the CIF semi-finals.
BY THE
NUMBERS
Compiled by EMIKO KANEOKA
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not winning the boards. Their offense was limited to foul shots and a few two-pointers which resulted in an 11 point quarter, and a 29-24 deficit. “We just stopped making shots. In the first half, the shots were falling and our offense was flowing nicely. But in the second, the shots weren’t dropping and we turned over the ball too much,” Michael Turner, junior, said. Wildcat momentum began to slow as the
total wins over last two seasons under head coach Jeff Sink
9
Number of opponents held to 40 or fewer points against the wildcats this season
said, “Their center was a small factor. He wasn’t a huge problem for us, he was just really tall. We made it too easy for their point guard. He is a great player but we could have done a better job on him defensively.” Though the boys were gaining on the Highlanders, closing the 15 point gap third quarter gap behind the shooting of Viysniauskus, it was not enough to win the game. The match ended in a
13
first half points for servite in the feb. 19 CIF playoff game
It was a successful year because we worked hard and stuck together, and this is why we were able to make it to the semifinals.”
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SPORTS bohswildcat.com
March 8, 2013
Baseball TURNS CORNER WITH 3-1 START
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POISED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP by Emiko Kaneoka, Sports Editor
V
arsity baseball has kicked off its season with a 3-1 overall record. While striving to improve their performance before Century League play, the team’s goals for the season include improving on last season’s 16-14-1 overall record and sixth place finish in league, and winning a league championship. The Wildcats competed against Northwood High School on March 6 and notched a 4-0 victory behind a complete game shutout by senior Mitchell Miralaie. Although the game against Mission Viejo on March 4 ended in a 3-1 loss, the first loss of the season for the Wildcats, the team started the season with successful games against Cathedral and Irvine. The game against Cathedral on Feb. 28 ended 3-1. Miralaie struck out a season high 11 batters, and Jordan Vandergriff, senior, knocked in two runs with a double. The March 2 game against Irvine ended as an 8-4 victory, resulting in two consecutive preseason wins for the Wildcats. Andrew Brown, senior, earned the win in relief as the Wildcats scored four eighth inning runs to pull ahead of the Vaqueros. “Our season has started off well. We have made some key mistakes, but we have learned from them and won’t make them again. Our biggest weakness is most likely our defense, but we expect that to improve greatly over the next few weeks,” Jared Love, senior, said. The team has also been working closely with its pitching staff, fine-tuning its strengths to make up for its weaknesses in defense. “Our pitching staff is definitely our strength, so we will go as far as our pitching takes us. We can’t expect to win ball games making four or five errors per game. Defense cost us the last game,
Photos by TRENT PRESTON / the wildcat
SLIDING TO THE WIN: Devin Salgado, senior, slides onto home plate during their game at Irvine on March 2. The game ended 8-4, starting the Wildcats’ season with a victory. (below) Mitchell Miralaie, senior, pitches to a Cathedral opponent during their Feb. 28 game.
and I hope it doesn’t happen again,” said Luke Lee, senior, and an OC Varsity “player to watch.” Prior to the season, the team worked to improve their weaknesses and focused “primarily on strength and conditioning,” according to Love. As the boys prepared physically for the season, they also established team chemistry. “We started practice from the first day of school and worked hard. We focused on improving team chemistry and becoming a family. We are a family—just like brothers,” Vandergriff said. “The great quality that sets us apart from others would be our team chemistry. This year out team chemistry is the strongest it has ever been. We are one big family and everybody on the team
believes it,” said Lee. “No matter what happens, we have each other’s back and this is the way we are going to win our first league championship.” According to Vandergriff, “without any championship, the season would be considered a failure.” To ensure success throughout non-league play and into league play, the team established a default offensive strategy. “We focus on trying to score one run per inning. This offense is very efficient, and with solid pitching, should win us ballgames,” said Love. Although this strategy has worked for the Wildcats through four games so far, the team tends to make runs later in the game as opposed to early on, which presents challenges. 11 of the Wildcats’ 16 runs on the season have been scored in the fifth inning or later. “Our offense is doing a great job scoring runs later on in the game but, as a team, we still need to play better defense and score early,” said Lee. While looking toward the league games ahead, the team continues to work toward eliminating its flaws and keeping perspective. As the first league game approaches on March 13 against Villa Park,
the team stays calm and collected. “We are not focused on beating any team in particular. We play one team at a time. We have to focus on the games at hand. All we can do is win the games that we are faced with each day and not worry about other teams,” Devin Salgado, senior, said. In comparison to last year, the baseball team claims to have the “will to win and refusal to quit,” according to Love. “All eighteen guys just want to win. We wake up and get on the field and work hard. That’s all we do,” Salgado, said. The Wildcats are characterized by optimism, endurance, brotherhood, and hard work. Their determination to rise above their previously “mediocre” performance drives them forward. “We expect ourselves to be something special this year. We have outworked all our competition and have come together as a team and as a family,” said Love. “We are aiming to win a league championship as well as a CIF championship: perfection, in other words. What sets this team apart from teams from the past is that we believe in our capability to be a top team in Southern California.”
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SPORTS
The Wildcat March 8, 2013
BOWLER SHISHIMA competes at the national level FOLLOWS in PARENTS’ FOOTStEPS
by Noelle Gracia, Staff Writer
H
er passion started rather innocently— handicaps, with the overall score being the just a sixth birthday party at the local basic game total, according to ten-pinbowling. bowling alley, an event almost all of com. A “handicap” is an equalizing factor in the us have gone through at one point or tournament that allows a wide range of players another. But, instead of just packing of different ages and skill levels to play in the up after a couple of games and same competition. The handicap is calculated heading out for birthday cake, something was by adding together all the score averages on the sparked in Kylie Shishima, freshman. A love team and then subtracting that total from a prefor the sport of bowling was born in Shishima determined scratch, usually 1000. One of the aspects that Shishima has enjoyed that day, a love that she carries to this day. After that fateful birthday party, Shishima most about competing at a higher level, are all began participating in junior recreational the new friends and connections she has made bowling leagues, with only the intention of with teens from all over the country. “Some of my closest friends I have met having a good time. However, starting last year, through bowling. It is really cool because even she began to compete at a higher level. “I do not know where it changed really. One day I was fine with just playing for fun, and then the next thing I knew I wanted to go to competitions and play for real, like my family did,” said Shishima. Both of Shishima’s parents, and her older brother, competed as well, with her dad still participating in an adult recreational league. Though her mother cannot play anymore due to a wrist injury, she was the one who pushed Shishima to compete at the national level. Both parents felt that bowling was an opportunity to earn scholarship money for college, even at such a young age. Scholarships and scholarship money is only offered to women in bowling tournaments, as most schools do not have a recruiting budget to ROLLING IN THE STRIKES: Shishima, freshman, holding her fund both men and women favorite bowling ball, one of the 30 plus balls in her collection. bowlers. Initially, Shishima was apprehensive about if they live in another state, we can still be close moving up her in her level of competition, as because more often than not, we will compete her family’s stories about their days competing at the same tournaments and be able to see each gave her a clear picture of what she was to other then,” said Shishima. It was last year that Shishima took her skill expect, and the “intense” level of competition. “I knew I was good, and that I had talent, to the next level and began traveling all over but just playing in a junior league for fun is Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada a completely different world than from the to compete in national tournaments. The age national tournaments. There was excitement, range for these bowlers can span anywhere but at the same time a lot of nervousness too, from 7 years old, all the way up to 18. Shishima especially at my first couple tournaments,” said remembers one “disappointing” tournament last year where she was beaten by a 7-year-old boy Shishima. There are two types of tournaments that from Arizona. Though Shishima was upset at herself for Shishima performs in, scratch and handicap. To play a scratch tournament means to play without being beaten out by someone so much younger
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she said, “it just goes to show how different a sport bowling is than others. It’s like golf in a way, with physical strength or ability not meaning nearly as much the mental aspect of the sport. It’s the players who are the most concentrated that win, not the ones who are always the most fit.” Despite the fact that bowling is more of a mental exercise than a physical one, Shishima finds herself dedicating the majority of her time to training. She currently spends four to five days a week training, playing anywhere between six to eight games every session. She is often surrounded by kids who are also preparing for their next junior tournament, the whole of them dominating the lanes. Though it may not be expected by many, Shishima says that bowling can get “as dirty as any other sport.” “There’s a lot of rivalry amongst the different teams and coaches. Some trash talk too,” said Shishima. Competing almost every weekend, Shishima often finds it hard to balance her social, academic, and athletic life. The agreement she currently has with her parents is that all grades must remain at a B or higher, or else she is not allowed to attend that weekend’s tournament. And to Shishima, that’s “the worst punishment there is.” “School has always been the top priority for Kylie. We encourage her to follow this passion, but there is responsibility to it as well. Grades equal bowling. It’s easy with her though, she loves it so much that she is pretty good about keeping up all her grades,” said Eric Shishima, Shishima’s father. It is because she loves this sport so much that Shishima has had to make some difficult decisions regarding her time commitment to bowling and time spent with friends. She found that when she began to play at a higher level and had to spend almost every weekend at the bowling alley, she lost some friends in the process. “It was disappointing sometimes when I wouldn’t be able to hang out with my friends because of bowling, but I found that it was my close friends that stuck with me, even when I was busy,” said Shishima. “Plus, bowling has given me so many more new friends from all these different states, who go through the same thing I do. So it kind of balanced out.” Shishima one day hopes to take her talents to the collegiate level and put all the scholarship money she has won from various tournaments to good use. But for now, she is focusing on this weekend’s tournament, adding to her evergrowing bowling ball collection, and passing her honors biology test. Read this story online! Visit bohswildcat.com
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The Wildcat
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March 8, 2013
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POISED TO STRIKE: Freshman Kylie Shishima, competitive bowler, discovered a passion for the sport after her sixth birthday party, which was held at a bowling alley. Photos by AMORETTE VALERO / the wildcat
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SPORTS
The Wildcat
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March 8, 2013
CIF WRAP-UP
CIF WRAP-UP
WRESTLER brown advances to master’s ladycats defeated in first round of CIF by Noelle Gracia, Staff Writer
Grant Brown, senior, competed in the Master’s segment for CIF wrestling on Feb. 22-23, the only competitor from BOHS in attendance. The Master’s Tournament, a competition held for the top CIF wrestlers, determined who would go on to GRANT State. The top four wrestlers BROWN advanced from league, with senior the last man being an alternate. From there, only the top five wrestlers in each weight class advanced to Masters from CIF. Brown was one of the five who advanced from the 200-pound weight division. Although he was not able to advance to the State Championships, Brown still counts this “as [his] most successful season yet. One of my goals from the beginning of the season
by Rishi Patel, Staff Writer
was to make it to Master’s, and the fact that I did makes me so happy.” Brown’s most nerve-wracking match this season was the last before Master’s. His opponent placed first in league in Brown’s weight class, adding to his anxiety. In the third period of the match, Brown was ahead by only a few points and would have to hold his opponent for thirty more seconds to win. “After the buzzer rang, I was filled with such a relieved kind of joy. I knew my hard work had paid off and I was moving on to Master’s,” said Brown. “After my match, I ran to my coaches and gave both of them big hugs, almost tearing up even.” Though Brown did not advance to state, he believes that his runs up and down Wildcat Way and his extra training paid off. “Even if I didn’t make it to State, my hard work paid off in CIF and that’s what I wanted,” said Brown, “I knew it was going to make the best of me, and it did.”
Starting off the season with an 8-0 record, the Ladycats remained undefeated until their last two games prior to CIF. After the first losses of the season, the Ladycats were knocked out of CIF against Great Oak High School. The game ended 59-49, ANNA KIM a loss for the Ladycats that senior knocked the team out of CIF in the first round, a step down from their journey to CIF finals in 2011-2012. Prior to their defeat in CIF, the Ladycats lost to El Dorado on Feb. 7, 37-36. “Even though we knew we were going to CIF, losing to El Dorado [was] disappointing, but we had to move on,” Anna Kim, senior and captain, said. The Ladycats also experienced a 39-19 loss
during their second game against the Foothill Knights on Feb. 5. Though the Ladycats ended their season with two losses, they had an overall league record of 10-2, and an overall record of 18-7. “The season ended the way it did because we just had too many distractions. The team was slowly falling apart as the season progressed with sickness, injuries, and other non-basketball related things,” Tori Bryant, senior, said. According to the Long Beach State-bound Kim, the team struggled to “find the passion and intensity [which] we had earlier in the season.” As the Ladycats’ season came to a disappointing end, Bryant reveals how they will move on and prepare for next season. “Though I am not going to be here next year, I hope the team takes this obstacle as an opportunity to improve and learn from the hard losses we had this year, so that they can again be successful next year.”
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March 8, 2013
undefeated GIRLS’ JV SOCCER takes championship by Noelle Gracia, Staff Writer
With a revamped training program and an “intense desire to win,” JV girls’ soccer ended its season with an undefeated record and an overall record of 23-0-5. They scored 82 goals total in their 28 matches, with 16 goals scored against them and a first place finish in Century League. According to Manny Toledo, girls’ JV soccer head coach, this has been the most successful season for girls’ soccer, for both varsity and JV. However, the success did not come easy, with Toledo reworking previous training programs, entering the team in more tournaments, and deciding to work the girls harder than he had before. He decided to do this after asking the girls at the beginning of the season, “Would you like to be trained and treated as varsity players, or JV?” In unison, and without hesitation, they replied, “varsity.” “We knew it was going to be tough going into the season, but we trusted [Toledo] and the fact that we had ten returning players was a bonus too. We wanted to be champions and [Toledo] knew how to get us there,” said Sophie Zambri, SOPHIE sophomore co-captain. ZAMBRI The season kicked sophomore off with the annual Ocean View Tournament, in which the girls dominated with a 4-0-1 record, ending up as Consolation Championships due to their 1-1 tie with Rosary High School. Next, it was on to the Sunny Hills Invitational Tournament where the team ALLY SCHADE again reigned as champions. sophomore They went the entire weekend with only one goal scored against them, which occurred in the final game versus Corona High School, ending 5-1. Toledo chose to enter as many pre-season tournaments as possible to train the team to work together and become used to each other’s playing style. “There’s no better way to do that than to play over and over,” said Toledo. After winning the North Orange County Classic Tournament, it was time for league games. Hoping to redeem their third place finish in league last year, the girls’ only intention was to “go in strong and keep up momentum.” “All our preseason wins were a big confidence boost, but at the same time, it got us all more anxious to keep the perfect record we had acquired.
The desire only increased throughout the season,” said Ally Schade, sophomore co-captain and goalie. Not only has the team been focusing on sharpening its tactical skills this season, there has also been an emphasis on team bonding and becoming as synergetic as possible on and off the field. Toledo implemented the use of what he called “the definition practices.” It was during these training sessions that instead of running drills or scrimmaging, Toledo would read aloud different words from the dictionary that he felt made up a successful team. Such words were “perseverance,” “family,” and “teamwork,” with each word being followed by a bout of running around the field. He did this to ingrain in the girls that
“success is not based solely on your skill as a player, that there are many other factors involved. And you must be willing to realize that if you ever want to be a champion,” said Toledo. The dictionary practices initially seemed “unconventional,” but the girls came to believe that it did bring them closer. That, combined with the fact that Toledo never revealed each girl’s personal stats, were major factors in the team’s success. Toledo recalls one incident in which he was congratulating the team’s top goal scorer, Emily Allemand, sophomore, asking her how many goals she thought she made so far in the season. Allemand looked at Toledo confusedly and replied, ”I don’t know, actually.” “That made me so happy to hear. It showed me
that she was truly playing for the team, and not out for her own personal glory,” said Toledo. The team ended its season with five consecutive shoot out games, earning the title of league champions. For all their late night practices and preparation, the girls feel like it “more than paid off” by the time the last game rolled around. “It definitely wasn’t all fun and games getting there, but in the end everything that we had to endure, and all our hard work was worth it. We were not only league champions, but also had an undefeated record —not something many JV teams can say. This season brought us closer, and made us better athletes as a whole. And that’s just an awesome feeling,” said Harlie Valentine, sophomore.
Boys’ varsity swim dives into season
TRENT PRESTON / the wildcat
QUICK START: Matt Munet (left), senior sprinter, Clay Simons (center) senior sprinter, and Kyle Muratta (right) senior butterflier, practice their starts at a recent practice at BOHS. Simons clocked in at 22 seconds for the 50 free during the Feb. 23 Wildcat Pentathlon.
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Flying Forward
Matt Munet, senior, performs the butterfly stroke at a recent practice. Munet clocked in at 27 seconds for the 50 fly during the team’s Feb. 23 Wildcat Pentathlon at BOHS.
inFocus by TRENT PRESTON
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