CdS Sunrise
Corona del Sol High School | Tempe, AZ | Vol. 37, No. 6
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CHEATING
April 2015
THE SYSTEM
Take a look at how Corona students define cheating, what class they are most likely to cheat in and more.
Story by Katelyn Stys pages 12-13
Inside this issue of CdS Sunrise... 3
Concerts are perfect for experiencing great music live. Find out which of your favorite artists will be performing in the valley.
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Binge-watching TV is rising in popularity among teenagers. Take a look at what shows are the most watched.
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EVIT offers many opportunities to Corona students. Check out what some students are doing to further their career while in high school.
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Josh Onwordi and Sam Shoultz are high jumpers for track and field. Find out what they have in store for this season.
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Softball player Jessica Lynch is playing on the varsity team as a freshman. Check out her goals for her first year as an Aztec. Front cover photo by Courtney Baldenegro
Corona del Sol Sunrise Staff Editor-in-Chief Aashini Choksi Online Editor-in-Chief Carson Pyatt Managing Editor Andrew Eversden Online Managing Editor Katelyn Stys
News Editor Nikki Hinshaw Opinions Editor Megan Marples Life & Times Editor Brenna Bochenek Sports Editor Johnny Waddell Clubs Editor Zein Sy Photo Editor Max Butler Graphics Editor Patrick Dietz Social Media Editor Katelyn Stys
Staff Courtney Baldenegro, Lily Corona, Anita Daryanani, Kajal Dave, Juliana Edwards, Tanner Kujawa, Maria Martin, Hailey Myers, Kasey Ruthardt, Joshua Staples, Patricia Stoica Cartoonist Lindsi Kerrigan Adviser Kris Urban
The Sunrise is an open forum for student expression and welcomes letters on all matters. The staff reserves the right to edit as required. All materials submitted for publication must be signed. Views and opinions contained herein are those of the author and not considered to be the opinions of the staff, adviser, administration or the Tempe Union High School District. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the editorial reflect the views of the editorial board. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.
Corona del Sol High School | 1001 E. Knox Road | Tempe, AZ 85284
2 | April 2015
Letter from an Editor My senior year is almost over. As I begin to process the fact that next year I will be living on my own far away from home, I start to look back on my past four years as an Aztec. The past four years have certainly not been easy. I have worked tirelessly, stayed up late perfecting research papers, studied long and hard for tests and, at the same time, competed at a high level in track and cross country. During times of incredible frustration, I would get so down, wondering why I tried so hard when it seemed like it wasn’t paying off. Of course, at the time, it felt like it wasn’t paying off. I thought that hard work would pay its dividends right away. Now, as a senior getting into the school I’ve always wanted to go to, I realize that I couldn’t have been more wrong. High school is a stepping stone for success. Everything you put into your education, you will get out. I understand that school is frustrating and stressful. But I’m now starting to reap the benefits of the work I put in. All the studying and late nights that seemed so pointless and ridiculous at the time benefit you as look toward the future. You may not realize it, but Corona provides its students with opportunities that many other students around the country and the globe are not lucky enough to have both. To you underclassmen, as a senior speaking from experience, the best way to reap the benefits of Corona is to get involved. Play sports and join clubs. Find stuff you are passionate about. Through sports, I have made some friends that I will remain in touch with the rest of my life. These kids have taught me to push myself every day, both academically and physically. I have had the opportunity to learn from and train with some of the best runners Arizona has ever produced. Through these athletes I was able to see what success looked like and how the only way to get there was through hard work. I also had the pleasure of joining the Sunrise staff. Through the paper I have decided that I absolutely want to major in and pursue a career in journalism. Through the Sunrise, I have gotten the opportunity to cover one of the nation’s high school top basketball teams, sitting on press row among professional sports writers and getting a taste of what my future career can be like. If you get involved in high school it can give you a lot. I’m proud to say that I will have graduated from Corona del Sol High School. It set me up for success in the future and provided me the resources and opportunities to get there. s
Andrew Eversden
Upcoming Concerts Brenna Bochenek | Life & Times Editor
When spring finally comes around and the weather warms up to just the right temperature, many fun opportunities come to Arizona. One of the most exciting opportunities you can take advantage of in the spring is going to a concert. All you have to do is pick a date, buy some tickets, grab a few friends and enjoy a fun night of great music. These are some of the talented artists coming to our state this spring: Who: Ok Go When: Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. Where: Rialto Theatre, Tucson Cost: Tickets start at $39
Who: Country Thunder, featuring Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Big & Rich, Love and Theft and many more country stars. When: Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12; showtimes may vary Where: Florence Cost: Four-day general admission is $160; individual dates range from $50 - $75
Who: Matt & Kim When: Monday, April 27 at 8 p.m. Where: Marquee Theatre, Tempe Cost: Tickets start at $48 Who: Train, The Fray and Matt Nathanson When: Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. Where: Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $23
Who: Hozier When: Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. Where: Marquee Theatre, Tempe Cost: Tickets start at $82 Hozier
Flikr Commons
Who: U2 When: Friday and Saturday, May 22-23 at 7:30 p.m. Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $57 Who: Ariana Grande and Rixton When: Monday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix Cost: Â Tickets start at $36
Iggy Azalea
Flikr Commons
Who: Iggy Azalea, Nick Jonas and Tinashe When: Sunday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale Cost: Tickets start at $52 Who: Lana del Rey and Courtney Love When: Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $32 April 2015 | 3
Popular Substitutes: Mr. Castillo Juliana Edwards | Staff Writer Eric Castillo (who is also referred to as “Bonkresher”) is one of the most popular subs on campus. NHe is one of the subs that are always in high demand. Students and teachers really like him because he always has an interesting story to tell and works great with students. Bonkresher has been a sub for 19 years and mostly subs for Corona. He likes the variety of the students and opportunities subbing has to offer. He used to work as a full time teacher before becoming a sub and triple majored in psychology, P.E. and biology. His siblings were into business and went to law school so they weren’t fond of the idea of him becoming a teacher. “I always try to get Bonkresher,” biology teacher Lynette Chapman said. “He’s one of my good friends and he knows how to teach the students exactly how I would. It helps that he has a biology degree and was a former teacher. The students love him.” He was also a martial arts fighter in his college days up until
his 40s. Castillo prefers to be called “Bonkresher” because his role model was a martial arts Castillo fighter named Bonecrusher Smith (fighter name). Smith was a great encouragement to Castillo so he wanted to use Bonecrusher as his nickname and spell it a unique way to make it his own. Bonekresher became a sub because his brothers taught him a little bit about banking and investing. Being a full time teacher, it was hard for him to keep up with grades as well as martial arts. Bonekresher decided to become a substitute to open up room in his schedule so that he would be able to continue both teaching and martial arts. Bonkresher loves subbing at Corona and wouldn’t want to teach anywhere else. s
Choksi named Arizona Journalist of the Year Brenna Bochenek | Life & Times Editor Each year, high school journalists across the state compete for the title of Arizona Journalist of the Year. This year’s recipient was senior Aashini Choksi. This recognition allows the winning journalist to compete for the Journalist of the Year scholarship on a national level. “I’ve had friends who’ve applied in the past so I was really interested,” Choksi said. “I thought it would be fun to try.” For the competition, Choksi had to submit a self-analytical essay, her transcript, resume and two letters of recommendation. Choksi also had to compile a portfolio of all of the work she has done for journalism over the course of her high school career. This included her favorite project, which was the Senior Superlatives for the class of 2014. “Last year when I designed (Senior Superlatives) I chose to make it in an Instagram theme, which was really difficult because I wanted to use emojis,” Choksi said. “They weren’t working right with the software that we use so I had to work around all those programs, but in the end I really liked it.” Choksi hopes that competing on a national level will help her toward her goals to continue journalism at ASU. “Now I’m exposed to different people, different types of work and different media,” Choksi said. “It has just boosted my confidence as a journalist, and I know that it’s something that I really want to do.” s
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Behind the scenes with the Corona staff Megan Marples | Opinions Editor In the February issue of the Sunrise, security and cafeteria staff were highlighted as exemplary individuals who help make Corona a better place. This time, bookstore employees and front office staff are being recognized as other hard working people at Corona.
“As long as Angela will have me!”
Front Office
Numerous people work in the front office to make sure the school is well organized and runs smoothly. Tucked away in the corner of the school lie some of the most influential people at Corona. Many staff work there every day completing important At one time or another, tasks most students don’t every Corona student has to even think about. visit the bookstore. Whether One of these signifiit is picking up their schedule, cant individuals is Nancy checking out books, or even Vermeer, the AdminisPhoto by Megan Marples buying tickets for fine arts trative Assistant for the performances, the bookstore “I like it here. It’s good because you find other people that Activities Director. She is the place students go. Little are like, ‘Ugh, I wish I didn’t have to work here’ I’m like, does everything from typis known about the people ‘Lets work!’” Sonja Laguna Green ing up the announcements behind the counter. Almost to scheduling fine arts everyone has interacted with concerts. Over the years, Angela Minerva or Sonia Laguna Green at some point this school she has traveled to 105 countries and all seven continents. Her dad year. Both of them are strong patrons of the arts. inspired her to travel at a young age. “My favorite memory from Corona would be watching the “My dad traveled when we were kids,” Vermeer said. “We would band,” Green said. “Since I was in high school I hadn’t seen the go with him during the school year when he was traveling. “ marching band. They’re pretty awesome. So I would say the fine arts Later she shared many of her travel adventures from kissing the would be my best memory because I come to all of them.” Blarney Stone in Ireland to visiting Antarctica. This is Vermeer’s last Green also played the clarinet in her high school marching year at Corona, but she already has travel plans for the future. One band. place she wants to go to after she retires is Holland to see the tulips “My family is pretty musically inclined so as soon as we could bloom. pick up an instrument, ‘here you go!’ My grandfather played clarinet Another individual who works extremely hard is Yolanda Garso that was the natural choice for me,” Green said. cia, Administrative Assistant to the Athletics Director. Every athlete Minerva played the trumpet in her high school marching band, has to go through her to register for a sport. Thousands of athletic but has since then moved on to singing and playing the guitar. papers are carefully tucked away behind her desk for safe keeping. “I was a music major in college and I’m involved at the music Garcia has been at Corona for 32 years, so she shared many memoprogram at my church,” Minerva said. ries about the school’s early days. Minerva has worked at Corona’s bookstore for almost eight “Rural was a dirt road, so every time we came here in the mornyears. She originally started as a rover for the district and ended up ing, it was pitch dark and there was nothing around,” Garcia said. choosing Corona. “On the way here in the morning, we would have to wait until the “Corona was my favorite place. I just like the school,” Minerva ranchers passed the cattle from one side (of the road) to the other.” said. “Actually, I like the campus and the diversity. Corona has someGarcia also shared her perspective on Tempe turning into a thing for every student regardless of what they like.” metropolitan area. The busiest time of year for the bookstore staff is during the “Gradually you started seeing the changes. People moving out, summer. They have to clean out every locker, check in every book, not so many ranch homes,” Garcia said. “It seemed like all of a sudand make sure everything stays organized. Fortunately, seasonal den I blinked and we had all this.” s workers help out, especially during schedule week. When asked how long she plans to stay at Corona, Green said,
Bookstore Employees
Look for maintenance staff in the May issue.
April 2015 | 5
Fresh ideas for spring
Kasey Ruthardt | Staff Writer
Spring is coming and that means that the weather is about to start getting very pleasant and enjoyable. It will no longer be too cold, but we’re not to the point where it’s super hot yet. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy outdoor activities and try new festivities.
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One of the most popular pastimes in Arizona for the springtime is baseball. The last spring training game is between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks at Phoenix on April 4 and the game starts at 1:10 p.m. If you didn’t make it to spring training games then you can always go to the regular-season Diamondback games and support your local team. The first regular season game for the Diamondback is April 6 starting at 6:40 p.m. at Chase Field. For more information on games and times you can go to the following website. http://arizona.diamondbacks. mlb.com
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People are always looking for cute date ideas and sometimes it’s hard to think of one. During the spring, a great idea for an outdoor date would be taking your significant other on a picnic. There are many parks that you can go to enjoy the scenery. One park is Tempe Town Lake located at 620 N. Mill Ave in Tempe. Another one is Civic Space park that’s located at 424 N. Central Ave Phoenix.
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Photo by Megan Marples
The State Fair won’t be back around until the fall, but Maricopa’s County Fair is fast approaching. Maricopa’s County Fair is located at the AZ Exposition and State Fairground 1826 W. McDowell Road in Phoenix. Fair dates are April 8-12 and times are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and on Fridays and Saturdays it’s open 10 a.m. to midnight. Admission is $9 for children 8 years and up and kids 7 and younger it’s free. Parking is $7 per vehicle. Daily entertainment includes Magician Terry Godfrey, the Wild West Turkey Stampede, Freckle Farm Petting Zoo and much more.
Photo by Max Butler
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Want to try being on the creative side? Try going to As You Wish and paint something pretty for your mom, sister, brother or significant other. As You Wish hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Adults pay $8 plus the cost of pottery and children 12 and under are $6 plus the cost of pottery. As You Wish is located at 2970 E. Germann Road #4 in Chandler.
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If the whole family is looking for something fun to do that’ll provide entertainment for the younger ones, you could go to an amusement park like Castles-n-Coasters. At Castles-n-Coasters there are many different activities to do including miniature golf, roller coasters, arcade, bumper boats and Go Karts. The entire park is open Fridays through Sundays but Monday through Thursdays the ride park is closed. Mini Golf is $7.99 and the arcade prices change depending on the games. The boats and Go Karts are $5.99 for one ride, $9.99 for two rides and $15.99 for four. Castles and Coasters is located at 9445 N Metro Pkwy E Phoenix.
StudCo bringing back MORP Carson Pyatt | Online Editor in Chief While the upcoming popular event of Prom is on everybody's mind, many people are not aware that Student Council will be hosting another dance prior to Prom. MORP, which is Prom spelled backwards, will be held April 11 from 7-10 p.m. in the large gym. MORP will be a casual dance that is the complete opposite of Prom. While Prom is formal, guys ask girls and heavy with decorations, MORP will be casual, themed, and girls ask guys. The theme for this year's MORP will be Dynamic Duos, where couples or friends go dressed as pairs. Examples include Superman and Superwoman or Batman and Robin. “It's a really fun dance that hasn't been around for a few years, so people don't really know about it,” senior Girls Rep Maggie Jackson said. “We are going to try to advertise it as much as we can.”w MORP will vary a little bit from other dances. Student Council is planning to bring in more substantial food versus the typical small desserts, and there will be multiple activities for people to do other than dance. “There is going to be a typical DJ and dance floor,” senior class sponsor Bailee Roth said. “The new things that we are going to have are corn hole, ping-pong, and ladder golf.” There will also be a photo booth similar to the one at Sadie's.
Dynamic Duos Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl Fred and Daphne Spongebob and Patrick Bonnie and Clyde Kermit and Miss Piggy Antony and Cleopatra Mickey and Minnie Mouse MORP is not grade restrictive, so all classes are encouraged to go. If you are interested in attending a casual, energetic dance, then MORP may be what you are looking for. “It's a fun thing just if you want to go and have fun and get a group of people and just get to dress up,” Roth said. “People who don't want to dance might be able to do other things too. Giving that option I think is cool.” Tickets will be $10 per person and $15 for a couple. s
Footloose Prom 2015 Location and Time
Ticket Pricing
May 2 8 p.m. to midnight
$75 from April 13-17 for couples and $40 for sinlges $80 from April 20-May 2 for couples and $45 for singles (purchase tickets in the bookstore) $90 at the door for couples and $50 for singles
Schnepf Farms 24810 S Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek
April 2015 | 7
The binge-watching epidemic Television shows captivate audiences season after season, hour after hour Zein Sy | Clubs Editor The one aspect of my life that has had the biggest impact on me has got to be television. Some people have been practically brought up on television. Nowadays, people look to streaming sites like Hulu and Netflix in order to catch their favorite shows. Unlike traditional television, these services provide a compendium of TV shows and movies, stretching over the course of decades. They also provide users with easy access to a large variety of genres from foreign sitcoms to domestic dramas. Since years of these shows are stored up for instant viewing, watching via services like Netflix is much different from watching when they first aired. Traditionally, new shows would be released once a week. With Netflix, subscribers can watch years of television in the span of a weekend. All they need is some spare time, which seems to be in oddly high supply. It’s hard to beat searching for a TV show that you loved as a kid, or finding something entirely new and getting sucked into its world, watching hour after hour of episodes. The thing is, not all shows are great binge-watching material. There are many traits that make certain shows better than others. Stories that have deep plots are always a plus. No matter
what the story’s about, having a strong emotional connection to it makes it more relatable. Whether it’s a fantasy world like HBO’s “Game of Thrones” or the contemporary political intrigue of Netflix’s “House of Cards,” these stories are relatable to every day life no matter how mundane or bizarre. The characters also have to have a strong connection. I’ve watched shows that have made me sympathize with characters, made me feel sad when something bad happens to them and excited when it was something good. Needless to say, they must also be interesting. The story of a good show has to keep the audience hooked, after all; people are going to be spending hours watching them. The show has to change things up regularly, while still keeping the content interesting and paced. Most importantly, it has to have a lot of content available. Thankfully some series have upwards of 12 seasons with hundreds of episodes on tap, ready for your viewing. Everyone has a different opinion on what defines a good show. Here are what some Corona students and teachers consider to be the best shows to spend watching as well as the Sunrise staff’s top four picks. s
Staff Picks
The Sunrise staff selected some of its favorite shows to binge-watch “Michael Scott is such a brilliant character and all of the characters in the show are hilarious. The Office is just an all-around great show” RPatricia Stoica, Staff Writer
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“One Tree Hill is the perfect show to binge-watch because it is filled with constant drama and plot twists that keep you engaged” RNikki Hinshaw, News Editor
“Friends is a great show to binge-watch because the episodes are short so you can watch a lot at a time and it’s really funny and easy to like the characters” RBrenna Bochenek, Life & Times Editor
“Gossip Girl is a glamorous show that shows what life is like as a rich kid living in New York without parent supervision. It’s not a show to live by, but it’s entertainment” RKasey Ruthardt, Staff Writer
Sunrise Sol Search
Take a look at what students and staff around campus have to say about their favorite shows.
“Olivia Pope in Scandal and Claire Underwood in House of Cards have become my fashion icons. They are both strong and powerful women who always look fabulous.” R English teacher Karyn Dempsey “The Walking Dead is a fantastic show. It’s great because the characters in season one are not the same people in season five. Their personalities change, just like real people and it keeps things interesting.” R Senior Matthew Williams
“Supernatural is very suspenseful and proves that family matters. “The actors are amazing at playing their characters and they’re super hot! I once spent almost 975 dollars on a banner signed by the whole cast during a Supernatural convention this year!” R Sophmore Adrienne Noyes
“I have been binge watching Fringe lately. I’m obsessed with Walter Bishop and the whole FBI cover-up. This show is never predictable and takes twists at every corner. I also love all the science advancements.” R Senior Amberlie Schumann “My favorite T.V. show is Attack on Titan. I love the constant danger and high stakes that the characters experience... I remember when it was being released, my friends and I would get together once a week to hang out and watch the latest episode, hoping our favorite characters would live to see next week.” R Government student teacher Quinn Gates April 2015 | 9
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Surviving Group Projects No matter the situation, group projects present challenges Patrick Dietz | Graphics Editor Regardless of your grade, chances are you’ve done more than your fair share of group projects, and chances are you’ve either done your fair share or have slacked while your group carried you. Regardless of how much work you do, group projects are an unavoidable part of the high school experience. And regardless of your class, you’ve probably experienced the two types of group projects several times. The first revealed that the most important part of a group project is the group itself. There are two types of groups for every project. First is the “Choose Your Own” Group where the teacher decides to make it a free for all as students in the class rush to their friends to assemble the most unproductive ensemble of procrastination the class has ever known. Kids scramble into groups and begin to rattle off assignments and jobs for each member, but before long it becomes a cluster of uncertainty and more often than not, tasks get forgotten and the project is either incomplete or finished the period before. However, often the “Choose Your Own” group is formed of kids who all want to get an A, and a masterpiece of communication and research is produced. So while most choose -our -own-projects are often satisfactory, they are definitely entertaining and sometimes can be hidden gems in the quarry. The other group is the “Chosen for You” group.
There are two methods to this-either the teacher methodically selects the groups based on strengths and weaknesses the night before, or the less analytical method of numbering off people in the class. This method, while not liked at first by most students, is actually probably the more productive of the two groups. Students in these groups normally tend to have a slow beginning as they are often not familiar with the fellow classmates in their group, but once the gears start grinding and the work becomes productive, the group actually tends to form a leader and all flows well and a solid project is produced Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks to this method is sometimes a group is formed where nobody wants to do a single joule of work and nothing gets done. The day
of the project, the group shows up having not communicated with each other once with a pile of horrendous representation of the bare minimum. You could get stuck with many people who have no intention of doing the project whatsoever. So while the “Chosen for You” group can result in more productive projects, it can also be the generator of disasters. The two different groups for group projects can be very diverged, but often they end up very similar to each other. Both have their pros and cons, you can make friends or work well with your current ones. You can have no communication with your group or mess around with your friends in the pick your own group. Both types of groups have their similarities and differences, but it is possible to make the best of both. s
Cartoon by Lindsi Kerrigan
April 2015 | 11
Cheating
Students share why they feel the need to cheat in high school
Katelyn Stys | Online Managing Editor
* Student names in this story have been changed to protect their identities.
T
hroughout high school, students constantly feel the pressure to get good grades and succeed with aspirations of moving on to college; it is when students succumb to the pressure through cheating that they often put their entire grade on the line. “Cheating is doing anything that would put you ahead of where you deserve to be,” math teacher Donald Guess said. The Sunrise conducted an anonymous survey asking students from each grade about cheating. Six English classes from each grade level were surveyed and there was a variety of both honors and regular classes. Overall, 79 percent of students surveyed admitted to cheating. Cheating on homework, tests or quizzes will often result in a zero for that given assignment if caught. Students who cheat on assignments are putting themselves at risk of a bad grade, and more, in the class. Although students cheat on assignments, only 53 percent of students surveyed claimed they ever felt remorse after cheating. “I think if you know what you’re doing, cheating can get you a good grade, but there is always the possibility of getting caught,” junior regular student Susan Welles said. As the issue of cheating continues on campus, pressure seems to be the reason students cheat. “If you don’t get good grades you might get in trouble and lose privileges at home and (other privileges) that have to do with school, like eligibility with sports,” junior honors student Brian Swanson said. In order to be eligible to play a sport, students must be passing with a “C” average. However, many students will argue that is not the average goal they want to obtain throughout high school (usually A’s and B’s). Sometimes, time management is a factor. Students have an average of six classes daily, extra curricular activities, homework, studying and sleep to fit in a daily schedule. On top of that, students have constant nagging from parents to consistently get good grades. “I feel that a lot of kids have pressure put on them by their peers, parents and society as a whole to be a ‘perfect’ student and get nothing but A’s and B’s,” social studies teacher Teresa Hodge said. “For most kids it is within their nature to want to please the people in their lives— hence sometimes the student feels the need to ‘cheat’ to keep pleasing those around them.” Students also feel the pressure that Hodge described. “I think they might feel pressure at home or from their friends that they need to get good grades or they need to be at a certain standard,” freshman honors student Cecilia Price said. “The pressure might come from them; they feel they need to cheat to get the good grades.” Teachers state they do the best they can to prevent students from cheating in their classrooms.
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“I think it’s really smart to have (students’) phones out on the floor so I walk around and keep your eye on them,” Spanish teacher Michelle Lewis said. Even though teachers do their best to prevent cheating from taking place in the classroom, there is a cautionary way some teachers go about catching a cheater. Some teachers will take the paper (homework/class work/quiz/test) from the student right away, while others will simply approach the student afterwards. “I ask them questions that will lead to them admitting to cheating. ‘Is this your best work? Are you being honest on this?’” math teacher Donald Guess said. Some teachers determine how to handle the cheating depending on the given situation. “If it is a test and it will take the whole period, I will take it right away. If it’s a quiz, I might take it right away or I might give the zero after,” Lewis said. Students tend to blame the cheating on the level of class they are participating in. Although the data doesn’t necessarily support it, there is a common belief that honors kids cheat more. Eighty-one percent of
honors students cheat while only 78 percent of regular level class students said they’ve cheated. The added pressure of an honors class seems to limit the time students have to study. To some, this might warrant cheating. “When you’re an honors student, you are a lot more worried about the grades you get and where you want to go to college,” Swanson said. “Everyone is smart these days and people are overachievers. You have to be the one that stands out over everyone else, which includes getting perfect grades.” The “non-cheaters,” however, will blame other students cheating habits on their lack of preparation and laziness. “I think sometimes they are just lazy and they don’t want to study,” Price said. “I have heard kids saying ‘Oh no I didn’t study!’ and then they will cheat on a test, but I don’t think there are any benefits to cheating.” Why is there a perception that honors students cheat more? Students seem to think it is because they need the better grade. While the class is harder, they are not satisfied with what they believe they can achieve on their own. “Honors classes are harder, but at the same time, if you are in an honors class you should have more discipline and you should know that cheating is bad, but the work is harder so honors kids (cheat more),” honors freshman Michael Haynes said. The teachers of honors classes seem to expect you to do your own work. “I think the higher the class, the higher level of cheating is going on,” Guess said.
Students cheat because...
They do not have time to sudy
21%
They are not confident with their answers
37%
It is easier than doing their own work
8%
The people around them are smarter
7%
Other
7%
20% of students surveyed said they do not cheat
Guess also said that students cheat in their classes because they feel the grade is worth more than their integrity. Although cheating goes on at all levels of school, high school seems to have a high cheating rate. Seventy nine percent of the students surveyed claimed they had cheated before. Different variations of cheating may include copying homework/classwork, using their phones to complete an assignment, writing answers on their desks and looking off the person next to them. Overall, students stated they cheated the most in math. “I get annoyed with students who cheat in my class because I feel I cut enough slack with the guidelines established in my classroom— cheating on tests is my biggest pet peeve,” Hodge said. Teachers, while doing their best to prohibit cheating, are not able to catch everything. Different actions may be taken depending on what the type of cheating was. Both Lewis and Guess said that cheating on or copying homework is not nearly as big of an offense as a test or quiz. After catching a student cheating in their class, their opinion of a student tends to also change. “I feel embarrassed for (the student) and I can’t take the blame because I feel they have everything they need to do well,” Lewis said. “It just makes them seem so desperate and I guess I don’t understand the reason for it. You feel disappointed in them.” Teachers and students alike understand that the consequences of cheating seem to be very obvious. While some students may cheat more than others, they all seem to know that cheating is not always the best answer. s
Have you ever
cheated?
Students said they have cheated before.
492 130 Students said they have never cheated before.
The Sunrise conducted an anonymous survey among English classes across campus. Four classes from each grade level were given surveys asking them questions about cheating. The surveys were counted by Sunrise staff members and have given us the data portrayed through the story as well as the info graphics seen here.
April 2015 | 13
The psychology behind cheating Nikki Hinshaw | News Editor What compels humans to defy moral and legal laws and succumb to the ultimate sin as a student, to cheat? With huge risks combined with the possibility of enticing reward, cheating has become a problem that’s source derives from mental motivations. When a person cheats, that action and mindset is fueled by two major discrepancies in logic. “There’s a couple things going on,” psychology teacher Joe Maisel said. “Number one, (cheating is) based on insecurity in the self, so the person has the perception of lack of confidence.” Thirty eight percent of all students said the reason they cheat the most is because they are not confident in their answers. Other reasons they cheat is because the don’t have time to study, it is simply easier and the believe the people around them are smarter. “(Students cheat because) they don’t know what they are doing so they just think they will cheat off of someone else because they think they know what they are doing,” junior Susan Welles said.
As a student, there is an abundance of homework, upcoming tests and quizzes that threaten GPA, as well as sanity. A lack of preparedness induces a lack of confidence, which leads to the belief that cheating will fix the insecurity. “Number two, there’s an area that they’re not satisfied with their self, so they believe that somebody else or some way of cheating will satisfy that, which it doesn’t, “ Maisel said. Despite the potential for reward, the effects of cheating will only solve the problem momentarily. “It’s very temporary, let’s say it’s a test, “ Maisel said. “Someone got a hundred because they cheated, but it just doesn’t really satisfy the whole thing, it doesn’t work.” When someone cheats, the brain becomes activated in specific areas dealing with logic, even though this logic is often incorrect. “The frontal lobes are really involved because we process what we reason,” Maisel
said. “We think we can’t do something or we think something will be easier if we do it this way, but it’s a false belief.” Once a person begins to justify the action of cheating through this misled logic, cheating transforms from a seemingly innocent, occasional action into a destructive behavior. “It’s very compulsive,” Maisel said. “It’s a behavior and it’s often rewarded because it’s thrilling. People enjoy the thrill of it, which is really more complicated.” Although cheating has become commonplace at the high school level, this action reflects childish behaviors. “Little children will cheat oftentimes because they just want to win or look good,” Maisel said. In order to stop cheating, coming to terms with oneself is essential. With confidence, cheating is unnecessary. “It’s a matter of maturation,” Maisel said. “As we get older we need to understand, ‘I am who I am’ and accept ourselves, that’s huge.” s
What class are students most likely to cheat in? 140 121 120
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leads into a second-year medical program such as Vet Tech or Nursing Assistant. “I’m taking a certified nursing assistant class, where we learn how to take care of people and then we apply that into the real world,” Simons said. Interships are offered through EVIT. “I’m working at a place called Scottsdale Village Square,” Simons said. “We get to work with a bunch of the patients, and with anything from people in rehabilitation to people with Alzheimer’s.” Kajal Dave | Copy Editor Working internships make students test the skills they’ve The East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) provides the learned, such as helping people change, walk, and bathe. The opportunity for students to not only learn specialized skills, but to experience isn’t all work; there are entertaining parts of the job too. get a certification in anything from nursing to cosmetology. “I’ve painted people’s nails, I get to braid their hair, and I just “You can be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), and you can spend time with them because they really like having visitors,” do it almost anywhere. They always need positions for that,” senior Simons said. “They have really cool stories.” Kayleigh Simons said. “It’s just a really good certification to have Taking a class at EVIT doesn’t come without some downfalls. under your belt.” Getting to campus can be a 40-minute bus ride for some, and some Students who get their certification can start working right after afternoon classes get out at 2:35 p.m. However, students can choose high school, or they can get more schooling. between afternoon and morning classes. EVIT creates security for students who “You do get back later from p.m. know that they have the qualifications to classes, and most of the teachers are find a job right out of high school. If they gone by the time you get back, so making decide to pursue further schooling, the up tests and such is a bit more difficult,” experience gained from EVIT provides an Alexander said. “I had to take summer advantage. school in order to meet my language “With my certification in Pharm Tech, requirements for college, but EVIT I plan to be able to have a job to put me reimbursed my parents for this, so it through schooling,” junior Macy Alexander wasn’t too big of a deal.” said. “That would give me more knowledge Making up tests, being distant from of what it might be like to be a pharmacist, clubs, and breaks not lining up are and be in that environment enough to be unfortunate side effects of EVIT. However, comfortable.” the classes are overall manageable. Some classes at EVIT are more hands“You get used to it,” Simons said. on than others. Entrance classes focus more Through EVIT’s culinary arts program, Senior Maddie EVIT is a feasible program for almost on learning the necessary information. anyone. If you are sure of what field you Heywood learns how to bake and decorate cakes. “We haven’t done much with skills work. EVIT programs include Aviation, Fire Fighting, Law wish to go into, the classes are a great But I have learned many ways of studying, Enforcement and more. Photo Courtesy of Maddie advantage. as this class is very similar to a college Heywood “I think it’s better than staying at lecture,” Alexander said. “We’ve actually Corona all day personally, because you get learned how to take blood pressure, using sphygmomanometers to go and do a lot of fun stuff,” Simons said. “It’s not just like general from the EMT kids. I’ve learned how to do input and output charts, stuff, it’s definitely specialized in what you want to do. So if you want read blood test results, memorized med terms, tell you about the to learn how to fly an airplane, you can do that there. It’s definitely body systems, and I have basic understanding of most disorders.” a place if you have a good idea of what you want to do or even if you Alexander attends the Anatomy and Physiology class, which don’t because you lose nothing by going there.” s
Opportunities at EVIT
28 Years April 2015 | 15
Chocolate vs. Vanilla Kajal Dave | Copy Editor It’s incredibly rare to find someone who does not enjoy chocolate, but I’ve stumbled upon one. Anita does not like chocolate. Of course, I knew that there were people in this world who just didn’t eat chocolate, but I never thought I’d meet one. It’s such a unique product. There are different types and uses that appeal to almost any palette. From rich, extra dark varieties to creamy, sweet milk chocolate, there’s something for everyone. Chocolate can be traced back to pre-Columbian Mexico. Native people such as the Olmecs used the beans of the cocoa tree to make a drink, which was brought back to Europe by Spain. But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that chocolate bars became popular. From there, it took off. Chocolate is such a great flavor because it’s diverse. It can be saccharine or bitter, and these flavors enhance different types of foods. Even better, you can infuse chocolate with other flavors. It can become spicy with chili or be infused with flavors like orange or lavender. We can add chocolate to a variety of foods. From traditional things like ice cream and strawberries to odder things like bacon, chocolate makes everything better. Fondue and chocolate fountains are creations that allow us to take anything we want and smother it in a delectable layer of chocolate. Immediately, it becomes five times better. Besides tasting like heaven in a convenient bar form, chocolate has health benefits. If eaten in moderation, chocolate can lower cholesterol, prevent memory decline, reduce heart disease risk, and prevent stroke. It is important to note that moderation is key. Eating a bar of Hershey’s a day isn’t going to lower your cholesterol. It’s going to give you diabetes. Dark chocolate is the best way to get these benefits, since it has a higher concentration of cocoa and flavanols, the antioxidants that actually provides the advantages. Chocolate is popular as a comfort food. No one reaches for a pint of vanilla ice cream when they have a bad day. We go for the rich triple chocolate fudge. Did someone betray or humiliate you? Eat the chocolate, and then smother his or her belongings with chocolate sauce. See? Chocolate fixes everything. It’s perfect for comfort and revenge. Anita may not prefer this timeless treat, but millions other of people do. Chocolate is here to stay as one of the most popular flavors of all time. s
16 | April 2015
Anita Daryanani | Staff Writer Between all the flavors that have been concocted, from bubble gum to cheesecake to butter pecan, vanilla remains a classic. A universally loved taste, having “bean” devoured for centuries, vanilla is the top ice cream flavor in America as of 2014; it’s admired more than chocolate is. Yet, Kajal still remains bittersweet on the topic, believing that vanilla isn’t as wonderful as chocolate is. But, I’m going to extract just a few reasons as to why vanilla tops its cocoa counterpart. Aside from the obvious, taste-related reasons, vanilla has a surplus of nutritional benefits. Fragrant rich vanilla beans are the fruit pods obtained from a tropical climbing orchid, containing the chief chemical component, vanillin. Its extract contains riboflavin and vitamin B-6. Additionally, the condiment spice also has small traces of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron and zinc; these nutrients help in enzyme synthesis, nervous system function and regulating body metabolism. On the other spectrum, chocolate is known for its potent decadence and richness. Although, sometimes things can be too rich (and I’m not talking about Oprah). Chocolate Sunrise file photo is heavy and much more dense in comparison to vanilla. A single bite of chocolate is overwhelming, leaving an unfortunate, waxy consistency in the mouth. In contrast, vanilla parallels a sweet, light and magical flavor. In terms of ice cream, vanilla is cool and refreshing to the taste, two luscious qualities that chocolate vastly lacks. Let’s further raise the bar on vanilla’s status with more morsels of information. Kajal claims that chocolate can be a unique addition to other things, including fruits and meat. Although, why would one want to ruin the perfect quality of these foods by mixing it with chocolate? It’s only going to make the original treat thicker and heavier than it needs to be. Although vanilla can be seen as a plain flavor, its simplicity isn’t a negative quality. In fact, it’s an advantage. If vanilla were to be mixed with other substances, such as fruits and spices, it enhances them instead of dominating the other flavors. Vanilla is simply a perfect addition, serving as a sweet, complimentary layer of goodness. If you’re having bad day, what’s wrong with grabbing a carton of vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate ice cream for comfort? Chocolate or vanilla, it’s simply a matter of individual desire. So, the final decision is up to you: Which do you prefer? s
Former Corona football star Andrus Peat enters NFL Draft
Andrew Eversden | Managing Editor
It’s been a great year for the Peat family athletically: senior Cassius Peat signed with Michigan State to play Division I football and won a fourth straight basketball championship while sophomore Leilani Peat helped lead the girls basketball team into the second round of the playoffs. A big year just got bigger. Former Corona football offensive and defensive lineman Andrus Peat is looking to be the highest Corona player ever picked in the NFL draft, with many experts saying he will be picked in the top 15. Peat had never played organized football before his freshman year. His father, Todd Peat Sr., did not want his kids to play football at too young an age. “My dad kind of had a rule where he didn’t want me or my brothers to play, with the injuries and stuff like that,” Andrus Peat said at the NFL scouting combine. “Once I started playing, I just fell in love with the game.” Starting out his freshman year, former football assistant coach Tim Kelly said Peat was a great player for having never played before, but just lacked size at first. “He had great technique and may not have been the most athletic kid early on,” Kelly said. “But as he got older, he developed that. You can’t coach 6-foot-7 inches.” Peat’s will to compete at the highest level possible frustrated him at times during high school. Kelly points out one specific moment during Peat’s sophomore year. “He was really upset about not making varsity the first week of his sophomore year,” Kelly said. “I spent three hours on the phone with him saying ‘you’re going to come to the scrimmage, you’ll end up dominating and you’ll be with us on the varsity by the time it’s all said and done.’ From that point on he was a starter on varsity for three straight years and ended up dominating that side of the offensive line.” Standing at 6-feet-6 ½ inches and 300 pounds as an upperclassman, Andrus Peat was a force to be reckoned with in high school. Peat played both ways as he grew to be one of the best recruits ever to come out of Arizona. He ripped apart opposing offensive lines and dominated defensive lines while playing offense. By the time Peat was a senior, he had worked with three head coaches. The inconsistency at the head coaching position was a difficult time for many players, but Peat was able to overcome frustration and thrive. “I think it left him in a void that was hard to define at times,” Kelly said. “He just focused on what he had to do at his position. There was a huge turnaround going into his senior year with the things he did.” Despite the inconsistency with the coaching, he worked his way to a 5-star recruit label by multiple analysts, the sixth best player at offensive line and the 32nd best player in the country, according to Yahoo! Sports. Peat had offers from most of the nation’s top teams, most notably Alabama, Florida State, Notre Dame, Auburn and Ohio State. But on National Signing Day he made his college announcement on
Peat talks to the media at the NFL scouting combine. He is projected to be a mid-first round pick. Photo by Darren Urban
ESPN, in front of a national audience. He decided to continue his football career at Stanford University where he would play offensive tackle. He worked his way into the starting lineup and by the end of the 2014 season, he was a projected top five draft pick. But Peat decided to remain at Stanford for one more year. This last year, Stanford finished a disappointing 8-5 and Peat saw his draft stock drop outside the top 10. Going into this year’s draft, he is ranked in the top three in the offensive lineman position by many NFL analysts. Many analysts have said that Peat lacks the tenacity it takes to play in the NFL. “I’d beg to differ on that. I feel like I’m a tough player,” Peat said. “I just go out there and play as hard as I can.” Peat has NFL roots in the family as his father played for both the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals. Since Todd Peat Sr. played for the Cardinals, he was able to show his son NFL facilities and give him a taste of the professional level. Peat’s father has helped him in great ways throughout Andrus Peat’s football career and offers his son guidance as he goes on to the next level. “He’s really proud,” Peat said. “He’s given me a lot of advice to prepare me, just because he’s been where I want to go. He’s really helping me out.” The college game is drastically different than the professional style. Luckily for Peat, Stanford ran more of a professional style offense. “I think it’s really prepared me for the next level,” Peat said. “We did a lot of pro-style that I see in the NFL. I think my coaches did a really good job of preparing me for that.” Although Peat feels prepared to compete at the NFL level, he still knows that there are areas he needs to improve in. “My upper body strength is something I want to work on and refining some technique in my pass protection, too,” Peat said. No matter what areas Peat or NFL teams believe he needs to improve on, he hopes teams see a strong, intelligent football player. “I want them to see a tough player. Smart. Student of the game. A guy that’s going to work,” Peat said. s
April 2015 | 17
Jumping into action After playing basketball in the winter, Onwordi, Shoultz make immediate impact on track team
Hailey Myers | Staff Writer The bar has been set high this year for the CdS track team with predictions for the boys team repeating as state champions and, more specifically, two high jumpers finishing among the top at state. Senior Sam Shoultz and sophomore Josh Onwordi are setting their goals high and plan to compete with each other all the way to the top. Every athlete has motivation to do better and these two are no exception. “We both view it as a competition against each other,” Onwordi said. “We just go at it each day to out do each other.” Both of these talented high jumpers seem to agree on one thing. They make each
Sophomore Josh Onwordi practices his approach for high jump. He placed ninth in the state last year for Division 1 high jump. Photo By Megan Marples
18 | April 2015
other better by are actually out challenging each there doing the other. jumping. I think it’s “We are all better when they very competitive,” succeed because Shoultz said. “We then they have are both trying to the confidence one up each other needed to keep every chance we succeeding.” get.” Having to Both Shoultz share an athlete and Onwordi with multiple play basketball, events within and how they track can cause transition from one problems, but it sport to the next doesn’t seem to be can change from with this duo. person to person. “It’s a great “Basketball thing for Josh helps a lot for me,” to have another Shoultz said. “It is event besides high an easy transition jump,” Summers sport for me said. “It takes his because you jump mind off jumping. a lot in basketball.” Senior Sam Shoultz takes off for his jump. He High jump is a On the placed third in the state last year in Division 1 high very mental event contrary, because within track. It is jump. Photo by Max Butler Onwordi is also a probably the most sprinter, he feels it is a harder transition from mental event in track because you could basketball to track. have one thing go wrong and not be able to “Basketball was not an easy transition get off the ground.” for me because of sprinting and the shape But Summers realizes there’s more to you have to be in for basketball versus life than just sports. sprinting is very different,” Onwordi said. “I believe I have the best, most Shoultz and Onwordi plan to place at dedicated and passionate group of kids out state and for the track team to repeat as there,” Summers said. “I have always taken champions. Coach Tiffany Summers has her really good care of them and want them to own goals for the boys. be taken care of, not just in track, but school “I predict the boys will take the top two wise and in the future too. in state,” Summers said. “They are all very “And that is something very important competitive with each other. I want them to me because I had coaches like that and to become better jumpers this season—not that’s what got me into coaching and that’s necessarily focusing on the height they why I love coaching. They truly are fantastic are jumping but how they feel when they kids with a ton of talent.” s
Butters carries on cousin’s legacy Nikki Hinshaw | News Editor One remarkable facet of sports is their ability to bring families together. Once a family member picks up a sport, it can soon become a lifestyle for the entire family. Senior Rhett Butters was inspired to play lacrosse by the success of his cousin and brother in the sport. “My cousin (Zeric Butters) used to play for Corona -he graduated back in ‘09.’” Butters said. “He got me and my brother into (lacrosse).” Zeric was a talented player who has set high standards for Rhett as well as the rest of the team. “I still bring up Zeric as an example for my players to learn from,” varsity coach Greg Baudo said. “From his leadership to play on the field, he is a great example of a coach’s ideal player. Specific to Rhett, I often find myself asking ‘what would Zeric do in that situation’ to Rhett to push him to become a better player.” Although related, Rhett and Zeric demonstrate different characteristics, all of which allow them to be impactful additions to Aztec lacrosse. “Rhett is a lot more introverted compared to Zeric, who was more extroverted,” Baudo said. “However, their play on the field is very similar. They are both natural leaders and I am happy to have coached them both.” Following in his cousin’s footsteps, Rhett has become an essential member of the defensive team and grown after seven years of being involved in Corona’s lacrosse program. “Rhett is the leader of our defense (captain),” Baudo said. “He
always has the responsibility of guarding the best attackman from the other team and we rely on him to communicate our objectives to the rest of team while on the field.” In addition to being an overall benefit to the team, Rhett has achieved personal accomplishments within the field of lacrosse. “Last year Rhett was awarded All-State Defense,” Baudo said. “I fully expect him to be there once again this year. He is a truly special player.” For Rhett, as well as the rest of the lacrosse team, the end goal is clear. “I want to win state,” Butters said. “That’s a personal and a team goal.” Baudo is confident that the team can achieve the coveted state title this year. “This year we see that overall the state competition is pretty even, so obtaining our goal is definitely within reach,” Baudo said. As for a future in lacrosse, Rhett hasn’t decided whether to continue lacrosse like Zeric, who played for West Point in college. “If the opportunity presents itself, yes (I will play in college), but I’m more focused on my degree,” Butters said. Overall, his involvement in lacrosse has resulted in both personal and team success. “(My favorite part about lacrosse is) the team and the people,” Butters said. “(I like) meeting new people that have the same passion you do.” s
Senior Rhett Butters carries the ball with pressure from a West Valley opponent. The Aztecs won, 15-8. Photo by Max Butler
April 2015 | 19
Tadepalli excels on, off the diamond Aashini Choksi | Editor-in-Chief Hardworking. Kind. Driven. Those are the words that varsity baseball coach David Webb used to describe senior pitcher Atreya Tadepalli. Anyone who knows him can agree that those three words are true, as Tadepalli has excelled both academically and athletically at Corona. Tadepalli, who has been playing baseball since he was 4 years old, currently serves as one of the pitcher on Corona’s team. “I have been playing for 13 years and have been a part of Corona’s program for all four years, with the last two coming on the varsity squad,” Tadepalli said. “As a pitcher, particularly, I think the biggest issue is staying positive in spite of pressure. Especially with runners on base, I have to stay focused, be confident in my pitches, and trust that I can hit my spots, even against the best of hitters.” Playing the sport from such a young age emphasizes his passion for baseball. From his freshman year, Tadepalli has continuously worked to improve his skills. “I have seen him grow a lot,” Webb
said. “As a freshman, he was very talented but a little raw. He is such an unbelievable human and also very coachable. He listens to everything you say, he is not afraid to try new things and he always wants to get better… (and) as a result he has responded to coaching and he has turned into a better pitcher by his senior year.” Tadepalli takes his role seriously on the field, but that doesn’t stop him from having a little fun. “My pitching warm-up song is ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire,” Tadepalli said. In the 2014 season, boys varsity baseball played Tolleson Union High School in the first round of playoffs on May 3. The Aztecs defeated the Tolleson Wolverines, 5-4, after nine innings. “The best memory (I have of baseball) would have to be our first round playoff win against Tolleson last year,” Tadepalli said. “The walk-off home-run in extra innings capped an otherwise tense and dramatic game. To win such a tight playoff ballgame on our home field with a walk-off, with many supporters on hand to cheer us on, was an amazing feeling.” The team then played Chaparral High School in the second round of playoffs and ended its season with a crushing loss of 5-4. With a new season in full swing, Tadepalli has high hopes for his team. “Like every season, our goal is to win it all, and I really feel that we have the foundation to make that happen this year,” Tadepalli said. “Personally, my goals are to minimize walks and to deliver a strong outing every time I step on the mound.” Baseball has been a large part of Tadepalli’s Tadepalli pitches during the Spring Invitational versus Meridian life but this season on March 24. The Aztecs defeated the Idaho team, 10-7. Photo by might be his final Courtney Baldenegro
20 | April 2015
season. “I am still looking into playing baseball in the future or proceeding to study without participating in baseball,” Tadepalli said. “I have received offers to play at schools such as Johns Hopkins and Amherst, and I’m still deciding whether to pursue those opportunities or to move on from the sport.” Although Tadepalli plans to pursue other interests, Webb said he sees a lot of potential in the senior and envisions a very successful future for him. “(I see Atreya) running the country in maybe 20 years,” Webb said. “People ask me that and I know whatever he does, he will be successful. He will do something that I know will be special because he is a special kid.” Overall, Webb has enjoyed coaching Tadepalli and views him as a role model to his teammates. “(He is) driven academically and athletically,” Webb said. “He’s a phenomenal teammate. We preach selflessness a lot and he is a very selfless person. He thinks of others a lot of times before himself a lot and he always wants to do the right thing.” When Tadepalli graduates in May, he will be leaving behind an impressive academic and athletic career. Tadepalli will be one of nine valedictorians for the class of 2015. “He makes us very proud,” Webb said. “As a coach, I tell my players, I really want them to realize that they are here to go to school first, not to play baseball first. He takes that to the Nth degree. Him being one of the valedictorians is one of the most special things for me as a coach. I think that is so awesome because I love student athletes–I hate the term ‘jock.’” On or off the field, Webb is confident that Tadepalli’s sincerity rubs off on the people around him. “He is so genuine,” Webb said. “I have never witnessed anybody being malicious towards him because he is so genuinely kind. I think he makes people around him better. He’s just a great person to model –younger players and other players want to live up to the standards he sets. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s one of my favorites.” s
April 2015 | 21
Fresh on the scene Freshman Jessica Lynch looks to make impact on the mound
Hailey Myers | Staff Writter Being verbally committed to play a sport in college as a freshman in high school is impressive. Freshman Jessica Lynch seems to be set for her future in softball, but first she has to get through what some say is the hardest and most fun years of their life. “It is kind of difficult being a freshman on varsity,” Lynch said. “It feels like the whole team kind of relies on you to up hold your part and you play a big part. They trust the freshman on varsity a lot, which puts a lot of pressure. The pressure is my motivation, though.” The pressure Lynch feels comes through her efforts and varsity coach Jeep Ray has definitely taken a notice of it. “I think she will be a quiet leader,” Ray said. “She is obviously an outstanding pitcher and she also plays first base. She has good skills and she will probably be number four or five batter as well. She leads by example. So far she isn’t really verbal but her actions are speaking louder than words.” Lynch’s talent didn’t come from nothing. She has been in love with the sport for many years. “I have been playing since I was 7,” Lynch said. “I started out with tee ball and rec ball, and then I started club when I was 10. I have just been in club ever since.” Growing up playing softball has helped Lynch build bonds with other freshmen, whom she will be playing with on varsity. “I think she will fit in really well,” Ray said. “I have a couple of other freshman on varsity as well and the returners have really embraced her and it’s a good group of kids. She will fit right in.” Lynch has high hopes for the team this year. “I plan on us getting farther than they did last year,” Lynch said. “We have a better team and we are more freshmanbased so I think we will go a lot farther simply with new energy.” Ray also has high hopes and plans for this season. “I think we will qualify for state and we will definitely make a good run for it,” Ray said. “We are strong. Strong pitching, catching, and many other places. I feel good about the team. I like their personality; I like their work ethic, and their commitment to each other. So it will be fun and interesting.” Lynch credits her parents in getting her to where she is now. “My family has played a huge part in my softball achievements between paying for everything club and school and being my number one supporters,” Lynch said. Ray is very excited Lynch is on her team. “She looks like she will be a pleasure to coach,” Ray said. “She will be fun to coach. I’m looking forward to the next four years with her.”s
22 | April 2015
“
Lynch
She leads by example. So far she isn’t really verbal but her actions are speaking louder than words.
”RJeep Ray
Photo By Courtney Baldengro
Zhu leads girls varsity tennis team Kasey Ruthardt | Staff Writter When freshman Jocelyn Zhu stepped onto the court in the fall, she made an impression on Coach Carol Sanvig. Zhu is now No. 1 on the varsity squad. “I’ve been playing since fourth grade, but I started playing more seriously in seventh grade,” Zhu said, “I love the feeling when you know you’ve improved and just being able to win.” When you’re no. 1 on a team, you’re expected to be the leader. Being a freshman also brings a lot of pressure, especially if you’re a freshman like Zhu. “It’s pretty intimidating because I have a lot to work for and I have to do a lot for the team,” Zhu said. “I have to give up and sacrifice a lot of stuff like Internet time and TV time.” Zhu is taking six honors classes and is years ahead in math. Last year, as an eighth grader, she had to come to Corona for her math classes. While half her time is spent studying and the other half is spent
practicing, it can get a little stressful. Sandvig has high expectations of the players on her team. She expects them to work hard at everything they do, on and off the court, and she expects them to work together. During the freshman tennis season Sandvig noticed Zhu and her talent. Although the varsity team has three freshmen, Zhu is only the fourth freshman to ever be no. 1 on Sandvig’s tennis team in the 20 years she’s been coaching at Corona. She believes Zhu will contribute a lot to the team this year and grow as an athlete and a student. “Her workload is tremendous—not only does she have honors classes and tennis but she also has music. Balancing those three have probably been easier for her because she has good time management skills, but it’s still a learning process but I also know that Jocelyn is a high achiever, so I don’t think anything will get in her way.”
While Zhu may be a star player on the girl’s tennis team this year, she’s not the only one working hard. Zhu Photo by Maria Martin Juniors and seniors who have already been on the team are helping the team become better as well, teaching the younger girls and setting high standards. Every team has a goal, and that’s to become the best that they can be. Sandvig and her girls are no different from any other team as Corona that’s hoping to make it to state and return home at champions. “Number one, to get better everyday,” Sandvig said of her goals for the team. “Two, we want to be competitive in our league or division. Three, with lots of hard work hopefully, we’ll have an opportunity to compete at state.” s
Imadali stands out on the court
Tanner Kujawa | Staff Writter
Tennis is a sport that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Senior Eli Imadali exemplifies these qualities, as he has been committed to Corona tennis since freshman year. Imadali’s unpredictability is what truly sets him apart from other players on the team. “I’d say my biggest strength is that I’m unpredictable,” Imadali said. “I randomly will play great and surprise people.” Not only does Imadali possess the talent to be successful in the sport, but he also boasts the motivation and maturity that it takes to do well. “Number one, he’s a talented player so he helps us with his skill level,” Boy’s tennis coach Rick Wanta said. “Now, as he’s an upperclassman, he helps us with his maturity level.” As a senior, the underclassmen on the team look up to Imadali so it is very important for him to set an admirable example. “With his skill level, when he’s out there working hard, he’s a good role model for the younger players,” Wanta said. “That’s what I need from my seniors. I don’t really care if they’re my top players or not, I just need them setting good examples and good work ethics for the younger kids.” Not only does Imadali have the talent to keep him in competing, but he’s also in love Imadali Photo by Max Butler with the game.
“He’s passionate about tennis,” Wanta said. “That always helps because when you like what you’re doing, then it’s easy to motivate yourself to practice. In the summer when it’s 110 degrees, he’s still out there playing tennis.” However, it’s not just the love of the game that keeps him motivated. Imadali appreciates the comaraderie and the relationships that are built and kept from season to season. “My motivation to play is to have fun with my friends and support my teammates,” Imadali said. “I also like the competition.” Although he has committed himself to tennis for several years, Imadali does not see himself continuing to play competitively as he progresses into college. “I did want to play college (tennis) for a while, but I didn’t really want to have that kind of time constraint,” Imadali said. His junior year, Imadali won the city title for singles and was ranked in the top 16 at the state doubles championship with Zach Lawson. This year, both Imadali and Wanta look forward to an even better season. “Last year, we finished the season 11-4 and the teams we lost to were ranked first, second and third in the state,” Wanta said. “I’m hoping we can improve on that.” Although they lost some great seniors last year, Wanta believes that this year’s team has the talent to be as strong as ever. “With who we have coming back versus who we lost, we should be as strong, or stronger, as last year if everyone stays healthy,” Wanta said. s
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Freshmen stand out on varsity volleyball Kasey Ruthhardt | Staff Writer has experience with Aspire and has been playing since he was 9. Even though they’re both freshmen, they’re no strangers to the guys on their team. “Varsity is kind of made up of two different clubs. So half the team I’ve played with and the other half is the team I’ve played against,” Davis said. Freshman year can be a little difficult for some people, especially while you’re juggling sports and school. Davis and Pike are handling it pretty well. “Right now I’m a little bit overwhelmed, to be honest, but I’m just going to keep working at one thing at a time and trust that it’ll work out,” Pike said. Evans is hopeful that with seniors leaving after this year, the juniors will step up and be pushed Davis practices bumping the ball. He comes from a family line to work harder by the of volleyball players; his older brother played varsity volleyball all freshmen. The starting four years at Corona and his dad played in a adult recreational line up has yet to be league. Photo by Courtney Baldenegro decided, but Evans says that both boys will have game, for others, it’s about the wins. Both playing time. Even though Pike and Davis Pike and Davis have positive attitudes and made varsity as freshmen, they’re staying intentions for the team this year. hopeful, humble and eager to learn “One thing that I try to be is a really high things from the seniors and other players. energy player so if we’re down I try to keep “I hope to come in as a leader and the energy up and get everybody excited,” also a student and kind of just take in Pike said, when asked about his attitude as much as possible,” Davis said. “What towards the season. the coaches tell me and how seniors The team this year is comprised of and juniors that have been on this team excellent players that have been playing for already and how they can help coach me many years. Even though Pike and Davis to be better.” are freshmen, they still have plenty of Each member of the team has certain experience playing volleyball and what they goals for the year. They all come into the don’t know and what they’re not prepared season with an idea of what they want for, the older boys on the team will teach Pike bumps the ball around with a teammate. He to accomplish. Also, each boy brings them. They’re all coming together to form has been playing volleyball since he was 8 years a different attitude. Some are more not only a team, but a family where they old. Photo by Courtney Baldenegro upbeat and only care about playing the learn and grow together. s The varsity boys volleyball team is beginning a new season, and although the team lost some seniors from last year, it has gained two new freshman. Ryan Pike and Chris Davis impressed the coaches at the week and a half of tryouts. Even though it’s early in the season both boys and the coaches seem hopeful for a fantastic season. “I think that we have a really strong group,” head coach Brynn Evans said. “I think we’ve got some seniors that have a little bit more experience and then we’ve got younger players that are also very experienced.” For Davis, this season is something he’s been looking forward to for a long time. Both Davis’ father and his older brother have played volleyball. His brother, Alex Davis, was a four-year varsity player at Corona and his father played on an adult recreational team. Chris has been playing volleyball since he was 8 years old and has played with Aspire for three years. Pike also
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