Sunrise October 2009

Corona del Sol

October 8, 2009 Vol. 36, No. 2

1001 E. Knox Road Tempe, AZ • 85284

Homecoming game unites students

SHELBY GRIMNES

The Corona del Sol varsity football team lost Homecoming game, 19-14, to Mesquite High School on Sept. 25 in front of an active student section. The Aztecs were down throughout the entire game but staged a near comeback in the final five minutes. To read about senior Kyle Benson, who is being recruited by several Division I schools and is ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the state, see Sports page 12.

Open enrollment could be solution to budget crisis

BY JANAE MARI Editor in Chief

Corona is home to nearly 2,500 students living in the Chandler-Tempe area. For years Corona has had closed boundaries, but the district is looking into opening the borders for next year.

The district is investigating all potential sources of increasing revenue because the schools are funded by the state based on Average Daily Enrollment (ADM).

By opening enrollment at Corona and having more students, the district could earn more money from the state if enrollment increased.

“The intent of opening enrollment at Corona is to recruit students from outside our District boundaries because that increases out ADM,” said Linda Littell, Director of Communications.

All TUHSD schools are currently open with the exception of Corona and Desert Vista. According to Corona Principal Susan Edwards, state law requires schools operating below capacity to offer open enrollment. Corona was built to hold 2,500 students when it initially opened. Since then Corona has added more rooms making the current capacity roughly 2,800 students.

“We’re under capacity,” Edwards said. “The law says if

Life & Times The Nest: One of America’s Best Haunts in your backyard Page 8

you’re not at capacity you need to be open.”

Though Edwards said she has no real opinion of open enrollment that she’s willing to share, it’s ultimately a district decision.

“There wouldn’t be a reason not to have it,” Edwards said. “It’s going to have some negatives, you accept all students. It’s hard to say we accept this student and this student can’t.”

Last year Corona lost 14 teachers due to low enrollment and budget. If open enrollment was offered next year, and enrollment increased significantly, teachers that were involuntarily transferred might have the option to return to Corona.

Chemistry teacher and Robotics club sponsor DJ Moran was one of the 14 teachers who left Corona last year. This year, Moran is working at Compadre High School after she was involuntarily transferred.

“I’ve worked many industries, I treat working at Compadre like that,” Moran said. “It’s not better or worse, it’s different. I work at the Evans site and I don’t get over to Compadre’s main campus very often.”

Moran enjoys working at Compadre, but she would prefer Corona.

“I really enjoy working with the staff here at Evans and have made new friends,” Moran said. “I would like

INSIDE Sunrise News

Park at your own risk: Alternative parking and the risks involved Page 2

to come back to Corona. Corona is where I first started teaching; I coached several clubs over the past few years and enjoy working with the students.”

Moran supports open enrollment for not only Corona but all schools.

“I actually don’t understand why open enrollment doesn’t exist everywhere,” Moran said. “I believe that if the school has the capacity then it should be allowed.

I think students that come in under open enrollment should be considered guests and that if they become administrative problems then the students would have to return to their home school.”

English teacher Jennifer Bart, worries about the class sizes if they open enrollment next year.

“If open enrollment means bringing more kids and not enough teachers I wouldn’t support it,” Bart said.

“But if the district were to give us more staff then I would whole heartedly support it.”

Although the district has reason to open enrollment, they have no official plans to open enrollment at Corona next year.

“We do not have a specific date as to when a decision would be made,” Littell said. “It will be discussed with staff, administration and the Governing Board. Corona will be included in those discussions.”

Sports Triathlon team created in honor of former USAT All-American triathlete Page 11

2 • News

CdS Sunrise • October 8, 2009

Buckling down on parking

BY PRESLIE HIRSCH Staff Writer

Driving, which becomes a necessity of everyday life, starts off as a new experience for high school students, sometimes as early as sophomore year.

But another aspect of driving is parking, and parking at school, if desired. This luxury comes at a price, though. A $100 price tag to be exact, and many students think that is way too expensive. But, don’t hold your breath with the hope that the price of parking at Corona will go down. “(We would only lower prices) if the demand were to drop,” athletic director Dan Nero said.

The demand is very high. All spots are currently purchased, and there is a waiting list of students still hoping for a space.

“I don’t park at school because it’s too expensive,” senior Tyler Campbell said.

“The only part that sucks about it is the walking.” Campbell parks off campus, outside the Avalon Cleaners just behind the senior parking lot.

Some of the students who did not get one of the 650 on-campus spots try to park in the Avalon Cleaners (better known as the “$2.25 Cleaners”) lot. But, parking there is a risk.

A sign displayed on a brick wall above the spaces clearly warns “Authorized Parking Only. Tow Away Zone.” In addition, the small print states that you could be fined up to $500 for the tow and $15 for each following day you don’t pick up your vehicle.

“I can’t say students should park farther away (from the front of the store) because then it would be affecting the other businesses,” said Calop Brown, manager and

owner of the $2.25 Cleaners. “Please don’t park here. We don’t want to have to tow someone. We had to do that last year.”

Fry’s Marketplace, located on Rural Road across from Corona, has a large parking lot in the plaza. If you park your car there in the mornings, you’re facing some risks, but not necessarily a fine or tow.

“I would recommend parking in the blue spaces farther away from the front.” said Chris Bartholdi, manager at Fry’s Marketplace. “However, there have been reports of employee’s cars being broken into while parked there because criminals think those people won’t return to their vehicle for a while.”

The blue spaces, aren’t assigned to employees. If you park there to avoid parking near the Fry’s entrance, you run that risk of a thief thinking you will be gone a long period of time.

“You’re asking for trouble by parking in spots marked: 15 minute only, expectant parent, and handicapped,” Bartholdi said. “Try to not block anything. You can try to avoid confrontation with someone, such as a property manager who notices the pattern of your car being there, by purchasing something in the morning or after-school.”

“I’ve worked here seven months, and we haven’t had an incident where we have had to tow someone,” Bartholdi said.

The Arizona Community Church (ACC) is another popular place for students to park.

“We let students park in our lot, we have about 60-65 spots,” Pastor Dan Kauff said. “All you need to park here (ACC) is a pass, and we hand those out at a big event at the beginning of the year.”

KIWI CONWAY

Parking in the LDS church’s lot is limited to those with parking permits only. This year, only students who are parish members have access to permits.

Students who attend the first Youth Group meeting through ACC are given passes first. Then, all the leftovers are given away. This school year, the first Youth Group meeting took place the second week of school. If you’re interested in parking at this church, students are expected to follow up in the first couple of weeks with Pastor Kauff by going to the church.

The other church in close proximity to Corona is the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which is just beyond the junior parking lot.

“We don’t have a serious problem (with students parking here),” Bishop Craig Webb said.

The reoccurring announcements stating you can’t park at LDS makes students think otherwise.

“We need our parking spaces for funerals, which take place during the week and during school hours. So we place announcements at the school (Corona) ask-

ing for students to not park there for the following day,” Webb said. “Our only problem is we don’t like when students leave a mess; things like pop bottles and wrappers.

Volunteers have to come on Saturdays and clean it up. All we ask is that you keep the parking lot clean and be respectful.”

Parking in neighborhood streets is also not allowed near the school. The City of Tempe has signs on many of the nearby streets, all of which stat that you cannot park there on weekdays. Parking anywhere with these signs may result in towing.

There are options of where to park during school hours, but by not parking at Corona it’s taking a chance. You can try to get on the list early to park at Corona if you’re willing to pay the $10 a month to have a convenient spot. The meeting to do so will be held second semester.

“The announcements on the intercom are your warning (about getting towed),” Nero said.®

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The Aztec mascot salutes the flag during the presentation of the National Anthem at the Homecoming assembly. The assembly was organized to introduce Homecoming royalty and get Aztecs fired up for the football game against Mesquite High School.

News • 3

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

ASU’s Barrett opens new dorms

BY KAITIE EDEL Copy Editor

Arizona State University’s Barrett the Honors College recently finished construction on its brand new campus.

Barrett is the largest public honors college in the United States, is comprised of seven total buildings and is now housing over 1,700 students.

The new campus was built to create a convenient community that offers everything students could possibly need right next to their dormitories. Located on the northwest corner of Apache Boulevard and Rural Road, the nine-acre building offers its students a 20,000 square-foot dining hall, five courtyards, a fitness center, a computer lab and a recreational lounge complete with flat-screen televisions.

The three-story dorm building is complete with energy efficient rooms, low-consumption plumbing and an organic garden. Students can also choose between a number of dorm styles ranging from four-bedroom suites to single rooms with a private bathroom. The cost of dorms varies between $6,291 and $8,091 per year with another $4,700 for a freshman meal plan.

Although the price is much greater than the price of staying in the other dorms available at ASU, most students are in agreement that living on the new Barrett campus is well worth the difference in costs.

“This is really impressive, they really outdid themselves,” said Justin Topliff, an ASU junior who is currently a resident of one of Barrett’s new four-bedroom units. “ I considered moving off campus, but having all the benefits at my fingertips have kept me here.”®

ERIN BLEVINS

Senior Mike Howard auditions for March of Dime’s Corona’s Got Talent on Sept. 29.

BY KIWI CONWAY Graphics Editor

Photos by ALEX BERNAL

The dorm at Barrett Honors College has multiple recreational lounges and a 20,000 square-foot dining hall.

HYPNOSIS: MoD holds fundraiser

BY JANAE MARI Editor in Chief

March of Dimes held a fundraising event on Sept. 18 that caused frenzy for some.

Michael Swenson from San Diego, California is a certified hypnotist, who hosted the comedy hypnosis show. As a self-help hypnosis teacher for clients on personal and professional growth, he has written several books and is the founder of the Swenson Company.

Swenson invited 30 members of the audience on stage to be hypnotized. Some of the participants were sent back to the audience if they could not be hypnotized.

“Anyone can be hypnotized,” Swenson said. “But not everyone can be hypnotized on stage.”

According to Swenson there are nine signs that a person has been hypnotized.

“The easiest to detect is the hand,” Swenson said.

When a person has been hypnotized their hands become somewhat clammy and sweaty. This happens because of the relaxed state of the body. If a person did not exhibit these signs on stage, Swenson sent them back to the audience.

Many participants went in and out of the hypnosis state. Senior Daniel Crawford was hypnotized but sent back to the audience after being woken up.

“Well it basically just really relaxed me,” senior Daniel Crawford said. “It made me really tired but you don’t actually have to do anything he tells you.”

Though the event was not profitable, those who attended enjoyed themselves.®

Corona’s Got Talent takes off

ERIN BLEVINS

At the event on Sept. 18, Michael Swenson invited 30 audience members on stage to be hypnotized.

March of Dimes is holding its third annual talent show of Corona’s Got Talent Nov. 3.

“We have a really unique group,” said Tiffany Dayton, one of the event’s planners. “It’s going to be a very interesting year.”

Dayton and fellow talent show coordinator Payal Parikh hope to attract more members through the talent show this year. Since the talent show is not money oriented, the club’s goal is to raise awareness.

“We set different goals to help raise awareness,” Dayton said. “The more members we have, the more involvement we get.”

One of Parikh’s goals is to have Channel 12 present for the talent show. Although it is not determined whether it will happen, Parikh continues to try to make it happen.

“They called me back and told me they would see what they could do,” Parikh said.

This year there is a variety of talent auditioning for a spot in the show, from a ventriloquist act to a dance act. One aspiring senior, Mike Howard, hopes his talent in piano will land him a spot in his first ever talent show.

“I’ve been playing for 11 years,” Howard said.

“I started composing my own music about two months ago.”

Since Howard first started playing, he could play music by ear. It wasn’t until his second teacher that he was taught how to read music.

“I would just listen to my first music teacher play, and then copy him,” Howard said. “He didn’t know I couldn’t read music.”

Along with Howard, freshman Madison Hudson hopes to make it in the talent show. With the support of her friends and family, Hudson will dance in her first talent show in four years.

“It’s nerve wracking,” Hudson said.

Hudson has danced for Tempe Dance Academy and is currently dancing for Bender, formerly known as Elite. Even with her experience in dance, Hudson has been practicing for about a month and hopes to gain a lot from Corona’s Got Talent.

“I hope that I’ll get in and have a bunch of fun, overcome my fear of dancing in front of people and gain confidence,” Hudson said.

A third hopeful is senior Becca Maxwell. Although new to Corona, Maxwell plans to make an impact for her first year at the talent show by singing.

“I didn’t take choir, so I figured I’d do this,” she said.

With the support of her family and friends, Maxwell hopes to one day become a singer.

“They want me to audition for American Idol,” Maxwell said.

March of Dimes members hope the variety of talent this year will encourage students to become more involved with their club.

“I hope that everyone can come out and support their fellow students that are participating and come and support March of Dimes,” said Nafisah Ahmad, who is also helping to plan the event. “It will definitely be an amazing night full of talents.”®

4 • News

CdS Sunrise • October 8, 2009

CURRENT EVENTS

BY JESSICA HYDUKE Editor in Chief

for

Dummies

THE ISSUE: Body found on Yale Campus Yale University lab technician Raymond Clark, 24, was arrested on Sept. 17 and charged with murdering Yale graduate student Annie Le, police said. Clark’s bond was set at $3 million.

Le’s body was found in the basement wall of an off-campus medical research building after she was last seen on Sept. 8 on a surveillance video entering the fourstory lab about 10 blocks from the main campus. Her body was found on Sept. 13, which was supposed to be her wedding day.

Clark was arrested at 8:10 a.m. on Sept. 17 in Cromwell, Conn., at a Super 8 motel after he was released on Sept. 16 from DNA testing. Clark appeared in court hours after his arrest and did not enter a plea, while an official court date was set for Oct. 6.

Le, of Placerville, Calif., was to marry Jonathan Widawsky, a Columbia University graduate student, on Sept. 13. ®

THE ISSUE:

Contra Costa/MCT

Bones found on Garrido property Officials found bones on the property of kidnapping suspects Phillip and Nancy Garrido where they lived with Jaycee Dugard and her two daughters, police said on Sept.

16, along with bones of undetermined origin on the property next to the home.

“We can’t tell at this point if those bones are human or animal,” Lt. Chris Orrey of the Hayward Police Department told reporters.

Orrey told reporters that the evidence is currently at a laboratory for analysis.

Police are currently searching the Garrido’s property

Law enforcement searched the home of kidnapping suspects Phillip and Nancy Garrido in unincorporated Antioch, California, on Wednesday, September 16, 2009. Investigators discovered bones and removed three truckloads of trash, weeds and debris as they continued their search.

for evidence linking them to both the disappearances of Michaela Garecht’s and Illene Misheloff ’s. Garecht was 9 when she was last seen in 1988 and Misheloff was 13 when she disappeared in 1989.

However, initial findings and investigating would say that the Garridos were not responsible for Garecht’s and Misheloff ’s disappearances.

Together, the Garridos are facing 29 felony counts relating to the 1991 kidnapping of Dugard. Dugard was eleven when she was kidnapped from her South Lake Ta-

Speech and debate looking at a bright future this year

KATHRYN VALENTINE

Speech and Debate president Brittany Duong adresses members in preparation for their first tournament on Oct. 23 and 24.

BY SARAH DINELL Staff Writer

In past years, Speech and Debate has had its share of trials, from a dwindling membership to different teacher advisers every year.

However, this year Speech and Debate has new members with fresh talent. With more than 40 members, the team is large and very enthusiastic about the upcoming year.

“I’m excited about debate because I like to prove my point in a civilized and disciplined manner,” freshman Omar Eltohamy said.

The team meets on Wednesday afternoons in sponsor Andrew Price’s room, E264, where they practice the three different types of debate: Lincoln-Douglas, Policy and Public Forum. Lincoln-Douglas is a one-on-one debate that deals with issues concerning morality, justice and philosophy.

Policy debate has teams of two that debate on whether a governmental policy in the United States should be passed. Public

Forum debate also has teams of two, and the debates center more on current events and what is happening in the world right now.

Policy debate is club president Brittany Duong’s favorite category.

“I really enjoy it because it deals with foreign and domestic politics,” Duong said.

“It shows how what the U.S. does affects the world.”

Although Speech and Debate is one club, the two groups practice separately. The speech club is smaller than the debate club, and they practice their speeches individually rather than together as a group. Speech has many different categories that include poetry, drama, short stories, original oratory, persuasion, impromptu and humor.

Speech and Debate is practicing for its first tournament, Oct. 23 and 24 at Desert Vista, and Duong is optimistic about the team’s performance in the tournament.

“Our team looks fantastic,” Duong said.

“We’ve had a great turnout and I have a feeling we’ll do well this year.”®

hoe home in California.

Officials think that the couple held Dugard behind their home for 19 years and that registered sex offender Phillip Garrido fathered two children with Dugard. Dugard will testify against the Garridos if there is a trial. Dugard’s lawyer recently stated that the transition for Dugard and her two children has been difficult from being prisoners to living an every day life, but she knows that she was mistreated and that her captors must be held accountable.®

Life & Times • 5

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

Freshman contributes to drumline success

BY ERIC TILLEY Staff Writer

ERIN BLEVINS

Coronaʼs Varsity Drumline performed during the Sept. 25 Homecoming Assembly. Drumline participated in the Percussive Arts Society and received the highest possible rating on their performance.

Raquel “Rocky” Camarena is one of few girls to have ever made Corona’s Varsity Drumline. This is an especially impressive accomplishment considering that Camarena is a freshman.

“I was really nervous during the auditions,” Camarena said. “There were a lot of people watching in the band room. I thought I did pretty well though and, sure enough, I ended up making it. I was really happy when I found out.”

Much of Camarena’s success can be attributed to the amount of practice she does. Over the three years that she has been playing, she has spent a significant amount of time building skill and experience.

“I try to practice for at least an hour each day,” Camarena said. “I also have a private lesson every Saturday. This is really helpful because my teacher helps me with school pieces and gives me other exercises to work on.”

After making the squad, Camarena was assigned to play Bass 1, the smallest of the bass drums.

“It’s still fairly big and heavy to carry, but you get used to it after a while,” Camarena said. “Besides, when you’re really focused on the music, you forget about things like that.”

Corona’s Varsity Drumline members participated in a competition for the Percussive Arts Society. They received the highest possible rating overall and also scored perfectly in their bass section.

“It felt great to do so well,” Camarena said. “I think we will have a lot of success if we continue to try our best and show what we an do as a group.”

Scott Werner, Corona’s percussion teacher, also has high expectations for his squad.

“Rocky is one of many great kids in our program,” Werner said.

“Hopefully, we will continue to have talent like this in the future.” 

BY BREE PURDY | Special Projects Editor

Sunrise Staff Playlist

I think of these song choices as a reflection of both my life and my character but condensed in to music form, which comprise the most immaculate mix. This is not everything, since I feel as if I have cheated many bands, artists, and amazing songs that were not included, but it is my current 10 that comprise my perfect playlist:

6 • Life & Times

Preparing for the SAT: is it necessary?

BY SARAH DINELL Staff Writer

Students across the nation are preparing to take the Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT’s ) this fall. But is studying for the SAT’s really necessary?

“It depends where they (the students) want to go to college,” guidance counselor Dawn Milovich said. “If they want to go to a state university, probably not.”

Guidance counselor Marylee Fischer disagrees though.

“Absolutely, studying is necessary,” Fischer said. “I think the format of the SAT is important. Sometimes the format is different from how they (the students) think it is, so studying the format is very important.”

The SAT’s are supposed to measure the cumulative knowledge that a student has learned throughout high school, so in theory, studying will not help the score. However, many students disagree and choose to study anyway in order to get the best possible score.

“I study so I can get a good score on my SAT and get into a good college,” junior Shannon Wheeler said.

SAT classes are a common way to help students study. These classes can last from as short as a weekend to as long as several months, and the price ranges from $100$1,000. These classes can be helpful, but they usually teach test-taking tips as opposed to actual test questions. Senior Richa Date is taking a class, but she is not completely satisfied with the instructors’ method of teaching.

“It (the class) teaches you how to take the test but not how to bring up your score,” Date said.

SAT prep books are also fairly common to study with. Senior Achyut Patil only used books to study for the SAT, and he received a perfect score.

Patil did not study on weekdays, choosing instead to study four to five hours on the weekends. He believed he could study more efficiently by himself rather than enrolling in a class.

“Classes are overpriced, and you don’t get any value,” Patil said. “Having it selfpaced was really convenient.”

There are other available ways to study for the SAT. Numerous classes are offered online through companies like The Princeton Review and The College Board. Online classes can have live sessions where the student will study questions with the help of a tutor. Self-directed classes are also available for students to work at their own pace.

It is a myth that to get a good score on the SAT’s, students have to take a class.

“They are always an avenue to help students, but they are not a necessity.” Fischer said.

There is no right or wrong way to study for the SAT’s. Different methods work for different people. Students who are self-motivated may consider studying with a SAT prep book, while students who do well with a teacher should think about taking a class or receiving private tutoring. The secret is to find the best way to help you study, and stick with it.®

Nurse

Q & A with

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

Young:

Avoiding the

Flu

Compiled by Tatum Hartwig

Q: What are the symptoms of the flu?

A: The flu has more sudden symptoms than other illnesses like the cold. It also tends to have a high fever along with some respiratory symptoms.

Q: How can we prevent it?

A: The best way to prevent colds and flu is good hand washing. Also, don’t touch your face, nose or eyes after coughing or sneezing. Make sure to stay home when you’re sick. If everyone who was sick just stayed home then we wouldn’t spread it around as much.

Q: Have a lot of students come in with flulike symptoms?

A: We’ve had more students with flu this year than you’d expect to have, but not as much as other schools. The time you tend to see the most flu isn’t until about November and that lasts until around February, as where this year we’ve had flu all through the summer.

Q: What is difference between the regular flu and H1N1 virus?

A: It’s more contagious than the regular flu. The regular flu tends to thrive in colder temperatures, but the H1N1 virus is surviving in the warmer temperatures.

Q: Any other tips, advice or thoughts?

A: Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough, like into your arm or sleeve. That will prevent the virus from spreading any further.

Also, get the flu vaccination as soon as it becomes available, because it currently isn’t available yet, but when it is, everyone should get it.

Chang makes national honors orchestra

BY KELSEY LAWSON Life & Times Editor

Arizona has a great showing of orchestra representatives for the National High School Honors Orchestra (NHSHO) for the 2009-2010 school year. Corona’s junior Eric Chang is one of the nine Arizona students who have been chosen to perform at the National Orchestra Festival from Feb. 16-20.

Overall, 120 high school junior and senior musicians in the nation were chosen to perform in the Festival, which will be held in Santa Clara, Calif. Only 38 violinists were chosen.

“It’s fantastic,” Corona orchestra director Alex Dudley said. “Thousands of people try out, and for Eric to be chosen is a huge achievement.

Chang, who plays the violin, applied in June.

In order to make the cut, Chang had to send in an application along with an audiotape consisting of six minutes of him performing two songs.

He received his acceptance letter in the

mail in September.

“I was surprised, I didn’t think I would make it because it is so competitive,” Chang said. “I was also excited because I get to spend a week with the best musicians in the country.”

For the Festival, Chang has to learn how to play an hour-long violin piece, and two additional parts.

By being selected for the Honors Orchestra, Chang has accomplished something that very few high school musicians have.

“It helps my music resume and it makes me feel good,” Chang said.

Dudley has a different opinion on how being selected for the Honors Orchestra has affected Chang and Corona.

“It takes us up a notch,” Dudley said. “It shows other schools in the state how talented Corona is.”®

“Thousands of people try out, and for Eric to be chosen is a huge achievement.”

Life & Times • 7

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

Recruiting for an important life decision

BY KELSEY LAWSON Life & Times Editor

College, according to my tennis coach, is one of the most important decisions I will ever have to make in my life. Yet it seems to be much more. I try to remind myself, no matter where I go, I will end up with a great education and an experience I would not be able to get anywhere else.

Why then does it feel like my head is going to explode from the whole process of being recruited to play Division I college tennis?

Perhaps it is a combination of the stress of performing well and the constant change that has gone on for the last year. In this process things can change in an instant, and they have. When the process started my junior year, I was positive I wanted to go to a small school.

I literally jumped up and down and screamed when my first response from a college coach came back. Now getting emails does not faze me. It is when the coaches call me or actually meet with me in person that I get nervous.

The whole adventure really started this summer, the day coaches could officially start calling me per NCAA rules. On that first day, two coaches who were interested called. One was from University of Alabama at Birmingham. The coach was very nice and could obviously tell that this was my first phone call by my nervous tone of voice. I tried answering her questions with responses that she wanted to hear, rather than ones from the heart. The other call was from Boise State. The assistant coach was very nice, and I loved what she had to say. At the beginning of July, Boise State was my No. 1 choice.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, I played in a National Open in El Paso, Texas. This was the first tournament of the summer I had to play in front of college coaches. I was nervous. This was a hundred times worse than the phone calls.

The coaches were there. Watching me win and lose. Boise State was at the tournament and watched me play one of my best matches. I had to ruin that by playing my worst match the very next day in front of the same coach. I felt I had ruined my dream of playing tennis in college. I really felt that if I screwed up once it all would fall apart.

It took a lot for me to be able to move on from that tournament.

Two days after we returned home from El Paso, we had to hop back on a plane for Washington, DC, where I would be spending a week training on clay courts to prepare myself for the National Clay Court Championships. Did I really want to go across the country and play on a surface I did not feel comfortable on, wasting my time and energy for a sport I had no future in? I had to tell myself that this was what I had been training for and working hard toward for the past seven years. I wasn’t going to give it up just because of one mistake.

We headed off to Washington, and while there, my mom and I took an unofficial visit to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. I fell in love with the campus and all the talk about the food.

According to our tour guide, JMU has the fifth best campus food of any university in the country. We ended up having a long conversation with the coach. I left JMU convinced that I really did not want to go to Boise anymore; it was really JMU I was

destined to attend.

After we left Washington, we went straight to Memphis, Tenn. for the National Clay Courts Championships, where I experienced my first college forum. At the forum, coaches from different schools have booths set up and the athletes talk to the coaches they have been emailing and speaking with over the summer. At the threehour-long forum I talked to at least nine coaches.

By the end of the forum, I was tired, cranky and my face hurt from having to fake a smile so much. I also thought I had blown it with Iowa, who had asked me whether or not I had emailed them and my genius reply was, “Umm, I don’t know.”

The real answer was yes, but under the gaze of the coach I froze.

As the tournament began, the dynamics changed as well. I ended up losing both my singles matches, and only won one doubles match.

Many schools fell off my list after Clay Courts, but one new school was added. When I returned from my trip, I found an email from DePaul waiting for me. Apparently, I impressed him during Clays. I say this in a shocked manner because I honestly have never played that poorly and lost that badly in my entire life.

Yet something good came from that horrid tournament.

After Clays, James Madison offered me my first official visit. I accepted without even considering the consequences. I only had five official visits that I am allowed to take, per NCAA rules, and securing them before the summer was over might have been a bad move.

However, I loved the campus, I loved the coach, I loved the mascot Duke Dog and I loved all the talk about their supposedly amazing food. Iowa also stayed on the list. The coach called me and offered me a visit as well.

Gone were two of my five visits.

I went to Berkeley, Calif. for the National Hard Court Championships during the first week of school. There, I attended another coaches’ forum where I talked to different coaches. I finally talked to the Boise State coach. He was quieter than I am. To completely throw me off, right after talking to the quietest man on the planet, I went to talk to the DePaul coach, the most talkative man on the planet. I had an hourlong conversation with him, in which he offered me a visit. Three down, two to go.

I finally played well at this tournament.

I won my first round and by Wednesday I was still in the tournament, which I was very proud to have achieved. It meant that I was playing with the big girls now, lasting four days into a week-long tournament consisting of the best juniors in the country.

Once I lost, the first thing that happened changed my recruiting process yet

“I try to remind myself, no matter where I go, I will end up with a great education and an experience I would not be able to get anywhere else.”

again. The LSU coach, who I recognized of the biggest decisions I will ever have to from a team event I had played that sum- make—based on all of that? The answer is, mer, pulled me aside to talk to me about I am just going to have to make it. Take a coming out for a visit. He said coaching leap of faith. Sure, it is going to change on against me at the team event showed him a daily basis now that the time for signing that I could be a good addition to his team. is looming. Sure it is going to be stressful.

Four visits secured, only one left.

But this is what I have been waiting for. My When I returned from Hard Courts, entire tennis career has been building to four days behind in school, I focused on this one pivotal point in my life where I ficatching up. That just was not going to nally take the reins and say, “This is where happen, though. The University of Ken- I am going to college.” ® tucky, No. 25 in the nation, emailed me that weekend, saying they had watched me play at Hard Courts and was interested in me. It took one phone call for me to have the last of my five visits secured.

This has all happened very fast.

One moment, I was so sure that Boise State was my favorite. The next, they are not even on my list The Corona del Sol Sunrise of schools I am considering. I never thought in my wildest dreams I newspaper has officially would ever consider a big school like LSU, which is ranked No. created an online edition.

24 in the nation and plays in the strongest tennis conference in the The Sunrise staff has worked country. Now it is one of my favorhard to produce a Web site that ites. Who would have thought that James Madison would still be on will be updated frequently with the list? I have had more than one school ask me why I am visiting sport scores, photos, articles James Madison, simply because their tennis is not as tough as LSU and a calendar of school or Kentucky’s. There is a lot more events. that goes into college than just tennis. Maybe I’m looking to focus on Check it out at www. academics in college, rather than tennis. It really is a tough choice cdssunrise.com. If you would that is based on many different factors. like us to add your event or if This whole college recruiting process is complicated. NCAA you have any suggestions about rules allow me 48 hours on each this newly founded Corona official visit to spend with the team and on campus, without my publication, please email us at parents. 48 hours to decide if I will spend my college years at that staff@cdssunrise.com. school. Is 48 hours long enough?

Are visits to five campuses enough - Jessica & Janae choices? How am I supposed to make an informed decision—one

Editors

From the

8 • Life & Times

Underground spirit week successful

BY SARAH DINELL Staff Writer

Corona students were puzzled over the two spirit weeks leading up to Homecoming: the regular one announced via intercom and the mysterious underground spirit week. Underground spirit week was hugely popular with students. However, how did it get started?

“It started because the real spirit week was made up in 10 minutes and it had really bad days,” senior Joey Rea said.

Seniors Jessica Cooper and Bethany Jorgensen made up the days for spirit week. They used input from other students to come up with their ideas.

When asked what she thought of underground spirit week being so popular, Jorgensen said, Photo Courtesy of MITCH STOVER “I thought it was cool, it Junior Mitch Stover and senior Brooke Allan seemed like it had a big turnout.” participate in ‘Underground’ spirit week with Student council adviser Ben their ‘Gothic’ attire.

Forbes received a text at eight on Sunday night, Sept. 20, telling him that student council was supposed to planning spirit week for the week of Sept. 21-25. There was not enough time for Student Council to come up with a spirit week, so council members Heather Crothers and Katherine Gatz planned an unofficial spirit week, calling it “underground.”

“We came up with it because Student Council didn’t have enough time to plan spirit week so the days weren’t good, so we decided to make up our own and send out a mass text,” Crothers said.

Underground spirit week consisted of three days: Nerd day on Tuesday, Thug day on Wednesday, and Goth day on Thursday. Crothers and Gatz decided on these days by taking a student poll in their sixth hour class.

“Heather and I have the same sixth hour, and we planned it there and discussed it with our class,” Gatz said. “We came up with Nerd day, Thug day and Goth day and asked everyone what they liked, and those were the ones we decided on.”

Students enjoyed the themes of underground spirit week and dressing up in complete outfits.

“I liked how you get to dress up in costume,” senior Sam Pfotenhauer said. “It was fun that no one knew what is was at first, then everyone figured it out.”

Junior Peter Rueckle also liked dressing up and showing his support for Corona.

“I like dressing up for a theme with school spirit,” Rueckle said. “The themes were cooler.”

Some students participated in both spirit weeks, depending on which day they wanted to dress up for. Senior Adrianna Konves dressed up on a day-to-day basis for whichever theme she liked better.

“I thought nerd day was better because it was funny, but I thought thug day was kind of dumb, but camouflage day really wasn’t better,” Konves said. “I liked jersey day, because jerseys are cute.”

Forbes has been supportive of underground spirit week, and especially the school spirit that council showed while planning it.

“Gilbert and I were enthusiastic about the fact that the students wanted to get spirited up, and whether or not it was underground, it didn’t really matter,” Forbes said.

Pfotenhauer shared Forbes’ sentiment that it did not matter whether underground spirit week was underground or not.

“I liked the themes better (than regular spirit week) but I don’t think it had to be underground to be good,” she said. ®

CdS Sunrise • October 8, 2009

The Nest: Christmas for horror fans

Based on an Arizonan legend about 15-year old serial killer Jacob Kell, the Nest was rated one of America’s Best Haunts in 2006 and features 20 acres of scares.

Photos by BREE PURDY

BY BREE PURDY Special Projects Editor

Arizona legend tells the tale of notorious 15-year old serial killer, Jacob Kell. It is rumored that Kell slaughtered 35 people who had previously mistreated him during the week after his sister, one of the few people kind to him, was murdered. On Oct. 31, 1945, his rampage ended when he was violently killed by a group of locals.

Now 64 years later, the Nest takes you throughout the violent week leading up to Kell’s death and the haunts of his victims.

The Nest is an extravaganza of its own.

It takes more than four months to set up the 20 acre walk-through haunt filled with gruesome sets, such as what appears to be a campground where a young girl was raped, injured and left to die. The Nest features more than $520,000 in special effects made by companies whose clients also include Disneyland and Universal Studios.

But it is not only these sets that paint such a vivid and lasting picture; the most memorable thing is the actors themselves who haunt the Nest. More than sixty actors and ten professional stunt men work there.

All actors are in full macabre costume; blood seems to be the fashionable choice for the year.

They are not ordinary actors though; it seems as if many believe they are really are the part the play, such as the memorable “Bug.” Bug is an otherwise nameless 27 year-old who has been working at events such as the Nest since she was 8 years old.

The scary part is that even when she is interviewed, the character she plays is who she really seems to be.

“This is my Christmas and I’ve been a very good girl,” Bug said. “I want my presents, my play things. People are my play things. Sometimes my play things

break, but that doesn’t mean my fun with them has to end. The play things’ fear is like a drug to us; we feed on it, and it’s what brings us the feeling of life.”

Being an avid horror movie lover, but always utterly scared of them, I adored the Nest. It was the right balance between gore, horror and fear. While, like many other haunted houses, the Nest did heavily rely on the surprise effect where actors suddenly appear, follow patrons, and objects jump out and in to your path- but the Nest plays off of fear itself. A neverending maze taunts many with strobe lights. To continue on the walk through Kell’s path of terror, one must walk through a claustrophobic’s enemy-- two inflatables touching, requiring one to squish through it single file line that seems to never end, and playing on all hints of claustrophobia.

But the Nest is not only composed of the walk through Kell’s terror, but also has the ‘Monster Midway’ which features live bands, concessions and, my personal favorite, zombie paintball.

As a long-time vegetarian, my favorite part had to be a gruesome blood bath of a scene in which a pig slaughters humans in what appears to be a reversed butcher shop, selling fresh human leggs, as opposed to fresh eggs.

The Nest is the only Arizona haunted house to receive the accolade of being one of America’s Best Haunts (as decided by www.AmericasBestHaunts.com in 2006) for a reason. It plays beautifully off of gore, horror, and the primal instinct of fear itself.

The Nest is open on specific weekend dates from Sept. 25 to Oct. 31; see www.

Frightened.com for specific dates, times and ticket prices.®

Opinions • 9

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

Goals are worth more than money Are people’s Goals help to drive a person through life and make them have something to STEPHEN KULURIS Opinions Editor live for, something to pursue. These goals can be specific or general, but whichever, they guide a person through their life.

If you were to ask any teenager what they hope to achieve in life, what would it be? Do they have a trip they have been hoping to take since they were a kid?

Would they tell you they always wanted to see New Zealand? Or would they just say they want to go to college and receive a degree?

Whatever it is, they have something they are aiming for and they will work throughout their life to attain.

But one goal is becoming more and more common. It’s one that sends chills down my spine. Why? Because it doesn’t give a person any direction to take their life. I hear the simple words of this goal too often: “get rich.”

I can’t even classify this as a goal; it’s a desire. I say this because a goal has a point, something you can reach because you can specifically point your life in the direction of that goal. But a desire is rather something that you want but can’t necessarily achieve. Many people have this desire to be rich; but it’s too general to make it into a goal. If you say, “I want to get rich,” where do you go from there? What are you going to do to get rich? And if you do get rich what are going to do with all the money

you make?

I mean, sure, you can have all the money you want, but what are you going to buy with it? You can’t buy happiness or a feeling of purpose.

So what can you buy? Well surely you can buy plenty of things. But that’s all: things. And where are these things going to get you in life?

Many just think that all there is to life is money. I strongly disagree with this belief because money can’t get anyone very far in life. Sure, money may or may not be need-

ed to reach your goal, but to have a sole purpose of making money is different than making enough to get by. Making money is not something I enjoy, but something I do in order to pursue goals that matter to me.My advice is to establish what you really enjoy and aim your life toward doing things that make you happy.

Sure that sounds general, but to those people who want to “get rich,” they need this advice because I fear that the desire to make money is going to run their life in circles.®

Big gym proves a better dance facility Over 2,500 students attend Corona del Sol, and yet we try and put all these students in KAELI LAW the small gym Photographer when it comes to dances. Even though not all of the students go to dances, the number that’s attends is by far too many to cram into the small gym. For years it had become tradition that the small gym was for the dance while the big gym held photo ops and portraits.

However, at Homecoming this year the tradition was broken. The dance was held in the big gym instead of the small

gym. This change that occurred seemed to benefit students more for there was a lot more room. The big gym was more airconditioned which helped to cool off students while they were dancing. In previous years, it seemed that the floor was more crowded but the big gym felt a lot roomier which made it not quite as hot throughout the entire dance.

There were many other outcomes that made this Homecoming dance more enjoyable.

There were more lights in the big gym than there are in the other one, which made it easier to find your way around the dance. The lights made it possible to navigate to the exit to relax, get refreshments, or use the facilities.

The dance also seemed way more con-

trolled and relaxed because of the chaperones. Having possessions stolen has been an issue in the previous years, but in the big gym there appeared to be more security around.

What I did not enjoy though, was the music selections by the DJ. Too many songs reoccurred from previous dances instead of the new hit music that high school students have been listening to this year.

All in all, the dance was the best dance I’ve attended so far, and I know the big gym had a large role on this outcome.

Many people enjoyed it was well as I did.

If we started using that gym for other dances, then maybe more people would start showing up and stay until the very end. I believe the rest of the school dances should occur in the big gym.®

Sunrise Staff

1001 E. Knox Road • Tempe, AZ • 85284

Editor in Chief | Jessica Hyduke & Janae Mari Managing Editor | Wade Hooke

News Editor Opinions Editor Life & Times Editor Special Projects Sports Editor Photo Editors

Digital Editor

Online Sports Editor Copy/Briefs Editor Business Manager

Tatum Hartwig Stephen Kuluris Kelsey Lawson Bree Purdy Luke Samuels Erin Blevins & John Magana Kiwi Conway Alex Bernal Kaitie Edel Bailey Wiegand

Staff Writers

Photographers Cartoonist Adviser

Leah Daley, Sarah Dinell, Preslie Hirsch, Mary Kate Eckles, Eric Smith, Eric Tilley Anthony Valderrama, Kathryn Valentine Alex Bernal, Kaeli Law, Kathryn Valentine Nishat Bhuiyan 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 Sunrise staff, the adviser, the Corona del Sol administration or the the Tempe Union High School District. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the editorial board. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

views too influenced?

JANAE MARI Editor in Chief

It seems everywhere you go today people are always talking about politics.

Race, gender, healthcare and even abortion are things that come up when talking about politics. Though I am moderately liberal, I have plenty of friends that are far right conservatives and we often get in debates about certain policies.

Global warming is just one thing I find myself defending daily. To me this isn’t even a political issue, yet somehow it has become one because people are pushing for a change in the world’s current state. Global warming can be scientifically proven and is a fact. It’s not some liberal’s “second attempt” at a hippy movement. This makes me wonder if we are really making decisions based on our own ideas or purely following the status quo of our certain political party?

We all know of people out there who despise President Obama; there are some who even believe he’s the antiChrist. But I feel like if these people were looking purely at him, instead of his race or his political party, we wouldn’t have as many controversies.

This is why I blame political parties. George Washington accepted his presidential nomination because it was unanimous. His philosophy was to keep things united. Today I feel like we couldn’t be any more distant from that.

It’s so easy to listen to other people telling you how to live your life, but when does that go too far? The public has become so concerned with labels in politics that no one is really looking at the issues or the actual candidate anymore.

I recently watched President Obama give a speech on healthcare and tuned to Fox news afterwards. I was shocked to see people completely misconstrue his words so viciously. There had even been a direct quote about Obama hating insurance companies that was totally inaccurate. The media is just one aspect of the political chain. If people only listened to one side of the story, how could we ever expect to have a working system? We need to stop undermining each other and learn to accept people.

Having a difference of opinion is one thing, but hating someone without understanding a situation is unacceptable.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it is that things are never just black and white, there are shades of grey in between. The sooner America understands that, the sooner we will have a more balanced nation. Right now we’re in a perpetual state of chaos; there’s so much hatred coming from all parties and the future of politics isn’t looking too bright.

I’m sure I have looked at and taken the side of my political party before, but from now on I’m going to invest time in learning about the matter before making a judgment.

Independent thinking is part of free will and I’m grateful I have the option and right to think for myself.®

10 • Sports

Frosh get a fresh start in freshman tennis

Sandvig said. “Their doubles is improving and their shot selection is getting better.”

With Sandvig’s coaching, the team has The boys and girls freshman tennis a good shot of having an overall winning teams have started their seasons with season. promising results.

“She is a good coach and very involved,” The girls sport a 4-1 record as of press Pfotenhauer said. “She wants you to get time, having beaten better.”

Xavier, their tough“She pushes us est opponent, 7-2. really hard and be“A freshman tenlieves in us,” Castiglinis team has not one said. beaten Xavier in 10 The boys’ team years,” girls’ Coach has a 2-1 record.

Carol Sandvig said.

They started their “I was really pleased season with only four with the depth. It players and could not wasn’t just luck.” even fill a lineup.

The main reaNow however, son for the team’s they have nine boys KAELI LAW depth is that out of Hudson Dean prepares to serve during on the team. Only the 12 players, seven one of the freshman boy’s practices. the top four have of them have taken had lessons or played previous instruction. competitively before the freshman season.

The team’s No. 1 and 2 players, Maia “I’ve been very pleased with the progCastiglione and Hannah Pfotenhauer, have ress everyone has shown so far, especially both been instructed at the Ahwatukee the novice players,” Coach Rick Wanta Tennis Club. said. “It’s like night and day how much Castiglione and Pfotenhauer both went they’ve improved since our first practices out for the team to get more match play a month ago.” and meet new people.

One of the top four boys, Charles Wen, “It helped me meet a lot more people went out for freshman tennis for the pracat Corona,” Castiglione said. “I hoped to tice it provided on a daily basis. make my leadership skills better, improve “I hoped to get better and get good my tennis game and meet new people.” practice everyday,” Wen said. “It relieves The team is continuing to improve with stress after school and is something to each match they play. look forward to.”® “Each day they are getting better,”

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

Assessing Needs.

Increasing Scores.

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Get around Tempe without your mom.

Sick of having to ask your mom for a ride all the time? It’s time to leave the ‘rents at home and get around on your own. In Tempe, people between the ages of 6-18 can ride for free with the Tempe Youth Transit Pass.* That means it doesn’t cost anything to take the bus to school or hop on light rail to hang with friends. Oh yeah, it’s good for the environment too. This freedom thing just gets better all the time. Thanks anyway, Mom! To get your free pass to freedom, stop by the Tempe Transit Store at 200 E. Fifth St. with your parents. And to find bus routes, bikeways and light rail stops all around Tempe, visit tempe.gov/tim or call (480) 858-2350. *Must be a Tempe resident to qualify.

bus · bike · walk · rail

11 • Sports

CdS Sunrise • October 8, 2009

Triathlon team created after tragedy

Five Corona students are on the Arizona Junior Elite Triathlon Team, a team created after a tragedy.

The Arizona Junior Elite Team originated after the terrible accident and death of Dick Tomlin. A former USAT All-American triathlete, Tomlin resided in Kingman. He worked to make children less sedentary but was struck by a motor home and killed.

Soon after his death, the Junior Elite Triathlon Team was formed.

“The JR team was started after Dick's death in honor of him and what he stood for,” team manager Dennis Barr said.

Corona seniors Dylan Barr, Luke Samuels and Keith Wagner, and juniors Stephen Kuluris and Matt Hayhurst are all members of the team. They continue to honor Tomlin years after the tragedy by hosting events and wearing commemorative gear in races.

“Each November we host a triathlon in Kingman called ‘The Spirit of Triathlons’ in honor of Dick and the JR Team. The proceeds from the event go to the team for

support,” Dennis Barr said. “While at the JR Elite National Championships in Colorado Springs, in August we had four JR’s there with the symbol DT on their uniforms.”

Although the majority of the population might not know Tomlin’s story, the team does run into people who do know

and they are greatly appreciated.

“One of the USAT officials came up and asked if the DT (on the uniforms) was for Dick Tomlin,” Dennis Barr said. “ When we told him it was, he told us he was a personal friend of Dick and actually thanked each JR for the support.”

The team consists of nine juniors who live in various areas around Arizona. The team members live all around Arizona.

This lack of proximity leads difficulty arrang ing team practices.

“Since the JRs come from differERIN BLEVINS Corona has five triathletes on the team: (from left to right) Keith Wag- ent areas and cities, ner, Luke Samuels, Matt Hayhurst, Dylan Barr and Stephen Kuluris.

Corona athletes recognized for resilience, hard work

BY WADE HOOKE Managing Editor

BY ALEX BERNAL Online Sports Editor

Senior soccer player Julie Vande Burg was selected to win the 12 Sports Comeback Student Athlete of the Week award.

The award is given to young athletes who have returned from an injury and had great Vande Burg success in their sport.

Vande Burg was injured last January in a game against Xavier.

“I planted my foot, turned and my leg completely gave out,” Vande Burg said. “I was later told that my knee cap had slipped out.”

For six weeks after the injury, Vande Burg had to wear a knee brace that didn’t allow her lag to bend, let alone play soccer.

“When I found out I could not play soccer, I felt horrible and I was really worried that I might never play soccer the same ever again,” Vande Burg said.

Along with the brace came physical therapy. However, after hard work in therapy, Vande Burg was able to return to the Corona girls’ soccer team and play in the quarterfinals in the state tournament.

This is the comeback Vande Burg is being recognized for.

“When I found out I had been selected, I was happy,” Vande Burg said. “I was pretty surprised too.”

To Vande Burg, this award means more than just coming back to play soccer. “(It’s about) working hard for a sport you love,” Vande Burg said.

Vande Burg will be attending the University of Wyoming on a scholarship next year to play soccer for the Division program.®

Senior volleyball player Bethany Jorgensen was selected as the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Medicine Comeback Student Athlete of the Week.

Jorgensen was selected because of an injury last year when Jorgensen she dislocated her right shoulder and tore her labrum during a game.

“I was nominated for the award because I missed 19 games last season due to my shoulder,” Jorgensen said.

Jorgensne ofund it difficult not being able to play but found other ways to help.

“It was hard not to be able to contribute to the success of the team, so I just tried to cheer them on from the sidelines,” Jorgensen said.

After her shoulder injury, Jorgensen continued on to the National Junior Olympic Volleyball Tournament and played in the International Youth High Performance USA Championships last summer.

She currently has a 3.9 grade point average, and is a member of Student Council and National Honor Society.

Jorgensen is a captain on Corona’s varsity volleyball team, which currently has a record of 8-6.

“I consider myself a positive teammate,” Jorgensen said. “As the team captain, I try to be a good leader and encourage everyone.”

Jorgensen is also eligible to win the PCH Sports Medicine Comeback Student Athlete of the year and the Fan Fave Comeback Student Athelete of the Year in which she would recieve either $2,500 or $2,000. ®

training is pretty much left up to them,” Dennis Barr said.

With the lack of team practices, many of the athletes participate in school sports as a way to keep in shape and have another helping hand in their training.

“I am currently on both the Corona cross country team and the Corona swim team right now,” said Dylan Barr “Since we live so far apart, it becomes pretty challenging to train by yourself.”

As young adults, the juniors on the team have hectic lives and sometimes have trouble working races into their schedule.

The team usually has someone in five major triathlons each year.

“First race is usually Lake Havasu in March, then Tempe International, Carlsbad Triathlon, Nathan’s Tri, and The Spirit of Triathlons,” Dennis Barr said. “We usually pick one race as ‘The Team Race’ where we try to get every JR involved.”

The team brings thoughts and memories of Tomlin to each and every race they participate in, giving them an extra edge on their competition.

“I think of Mr. Tomlin every time I race,” Wagner said. “It makes me realize that life is bigger than the race.”®

George may earn scholarship to Minnesota school Senior Kaylee George has a possible scholarship in the works with Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

Macalester is interested in George for her skills and abilities in softball. The

college has told George that if she can score above 1600 on the SAT test, then there could possibly be a scholarship in the making. ®WADE HOOKE

stand out?

GEt InVoLVEd.

Want to Get in and

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12 • Sports

October 8, 2009 • CdS Sunrise

Corona ready for revenge

BY LUKE SAMUELS Sports Editor

On Oct. 16, Corona and Desert Vista will be matching up in one of the year’s most anticipated and favorite rival football games.

The game will be played at Desert Vista at 7 p.m. Both teams currently hold a record of 1-3, but by the time the Aztecs and Thunder match up, the teams will have played two more games.

However, due to the scheduled date of the game, it will take place during Tempe Union High School District’s fall break.

This means many students may be out of town. Whether they are players on the team or spectators in the stands, this lack of attendance could pose as a setback in team moral or talent on the field.

“I’m bummed the game is over fall break,” senior Anna Burkholder said. “I go to all the games ritually, but I’ll be out of town for the DV game. That’s always the best game to go to so I wasn’t happy when I found out when it was.”

The Corona marching band will also not be attending the

game. This will have an affect on the liveliness and intensity of the crowd.

“I know we provide a ton of support for the team in the stands,” said freshman Patrick Buck, a member of the drumline. “Without us there the game will definitely lack some of that traditional ‘football game feel.’ The team will pull through though. I feel like winning this game means a lot to our team so they’ll put everything they got into it regardless if there is a band behind them or not.”

Despite the possible lack of fan support and the vacancy of the band, the team feels strongly about their chances of coming out on top.

“We’ll all be there and ready to play to win,” senior Kyle Winstead said. “It’s about the game, not about how many people are in the stands.”®

Swimmer receives head injury at meet

BY TATUM HARTWIG News Editor

JOHN MAGANA

On Sept. 4, Benson, No. 20, tackles a member of the oppositing team, Red Mountain. The Aztecs lost the season opener, 28-56.

Benson is being recruited by several Division 1 colleges.

Benson ranked No. 1 linebacker in state

BY AHMED SOUSSI Staff Writer

The top 10 Arizona high school football players have been ranked by the Arizona Republic and Corona’s senior Kyle Benson is No. 9 in the state.

“It is an honor to be ranked that high,” Benson said.

Benson is the highest ranked player at Corona this year. He is also ranked the No .1 linebacker in the state. Through three games he has recorded 29 tackles and one interception. He also is starting tight end and has four receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Benson enjoys the change of on offense “ By putting me at tight end opens up our passing game a lot more,” he said.

Benson has the most game experience on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive coordinator Mark Rhiner said, “He is a three year starter and the leader of our defense.”

This year will be his third year starting as linebacker on the varsity level. He has two other brothers who played at Corona, Eric and Cory.

“I want to leave my legacy as a great football player and to be remembered as a dominant athlete,” Benson said.

Benson is exited about his senior year at Corona.

“We want to win our region and ultimately win state,” Benson said.

Benson has received college offers from U of A, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and

Brigham Young, but he hasn’t committed yet.

“Oregon and U of A are my top two choices right now,” Benson said.

Benson said his biggest achievement was seeing all his hard work pay off with all his Division 1 offers to play football.

Benson said ASU officials want to see if he can play middle linebacker before make him an offer.

“I actually really like playing middle linebacker because I’m a play maker and it gives me the opportunity to run from sideline to sideline,” Benson said.

Corona started 1-2 to open the season. , “We need to be more aggressive and we need to have more energy like we have had the last couple of years,” Benson said.®

The Sept. 3rd swim meet versus Brophy College Preparatory was one full of excitement injuries.

One Brophy diver was injured during his dive and paramedics were immediately called to the scene.

After the paramedics had arrived, another medical incident occurred.

Corona freshman Will Morgan, son of chemistry teacher Steve Morgan and social studies teacher Jane Morgan, was racing in the 200-meter freestyle relay race when he hit his head on the wall of the pool.

“I was second in the relay and when I dove in my nosepiece fell down and I couldn’t see, so I kept swimming and hit my head,” Morgan said.

Not knowing the extent of his injury, Morgan continued swimming to finish his portion of the relay.

“I didn’t think it was anything more than a scratch,” Morgan said.

But it wasn’t just a little scratch.

Morgan had cut on his head that was bleeding profusely once he took off his swim cap after his race.

“They made me sit down and wait for the paramedics to come over,” Morgan said. “And a lot of people were staring at me and asking me if I was all right.”

Luckily, Morgan was just fine after he went to Urgent Care and had three staples placed in his head to close the wound.

“It feels normal now,” Morgan said.

“Almost like it never happened.”®