El Paisano Newspaper vol.58 issue 1 by El Paisano News Media

Thursday February 27, 2019

Serving the Rio Hondo Community

Volume 58 Issue 1

RHC’s Study Abroad Program In Taipei DIANA JUAREZ Managing Editor

Diana.juarez8805@my.riohondo.edu

DIANA JUAREZ / EL PAISANO NEWS Professor Liu and Emerald Rojas are excitedly prepare for this semester’s study abroad program to Taipei. Rojas is one of ﬁve Rio Hondo students in the program who will depart from Los Angeles March 3rd and arrive in Taipei March 5th.

Rio Hondo College is sending five students to Taipei University on full scholarships, March 3rd, 2019. Emerald Rojas, Nathan Schmidt, Daniel Cabezas, Daniel Aaron Davis, and Joseph Tustin will be travelling to Taipei for four months where they will get the opportunity to submerge themselves in the culture. The program, which is funded by the TAipei City Government is an all-expenses paid semester long internship. Students will be expected to teach English to elementary school children three days per week and spend the remaining days taking classes at the Taipei University or explore the city. “The students have a great opportunity for an adventure. It’s four months in Taipei where they get to explore life and learn things that they wouldn’t get to do here,” said professor Liu. Professor Liu is in charge of the program and helped develop it alongside school president Teresa Dreyfuss. Rojas, 21 and a Science and Continued Page 8

RHC Debate team Scores Nine Wins At Cerritos Tournament NOAH GARCIA Editor-in-Chief noah.garcia3720@my.riohondo.edu

Rio Hondo Colleges Forensics Speech and Debate Team rose high in the Tabor Vanitsky and Southern California NFA-LD and IPDA Championship hosted by Cerritos College, February 17-19, 2019. This was the 15th tournament of the debate season and the last tournament before the penultimate State competition. Winning in IPDA ( International Public Debate Association) was Brandon Leon, Ryutaro Miyamoto, Daniel Bassuro(gold),Carolina Campillo, Diana Laureano and Kimberly Soto(bronze). In the two person parliamentary Debate ( parli) was Diana Laureano & Cambria Pinal as Continued Page 8

ARTICLE AND PHOTO / EL PAISANO STAFF

Black Excellence At Rio Hondo’s Student Lounge “ Black history month is really a celebration of the contributions of the global, Pan African celebration. When you look at the context is the celebration amongst the black and brown communities . all we are doing is pausing to celebrate the deeds of those who were able to persevere , looking at those

deeds and hoping to emulate and give out to our community so others can be successful as well .. I think Rio Hondo gets the spirit of this moment, of history that it’s not necessarily about black folk but looking at examples and deeds. And what you’ve done is put together a

community, that’s majority populated with brown individuals, which i is exceptional. Understanding the solidarity between our communities and then listening and having conversations.” - Kirk Kirkwood Regional Director of Cal State Teach

NEWS Jorge Ramos Detained by President Nicolas Maduro

Snow Arrives in Malibu, Pasadena, & West Hollywood ERIKA SUAREZ Podcast Director

Erika.suarez7619@my.riohondo.edu

PHOTO / UNVISION NEWS TWITTER

Happy to report @jorgeramosnews and the @Univison team have been released. Here he is on his phone in his hotel after he was released this evening.

Jorge Ramos and his reporting team of five were brieﬂy detained by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. DIANA JUAREZ Managing Editor

Diana.juarez8805@my.riohondo.edu

Ramos, 60, and five other reporters were at the presidential palace to interview Maduro when they were forced into a dark room and had their equipment and belongings taken from this Feb. 25, 2019. Maduro “became upset

with the line of questioning and ordered the seizure of the video and Univision equipment, including TV and phones, as well as the detention of the journalists,” reported Univision. Venezuela is under a national crisis as famine and illness ravishes the country. Maduro, whose first term came to an end Jan. 10, 2019, refused to step down and was inaugurated by Maikel Moreno, Chief Justice of the Supreme Tribunal of Venezuela. As a result of this, the US and many other countries placed sanctions on Venezuela. All this while the country Assistant Secretary of State for Western Affairs, Kimberly Brier, tweet “.@StateDept has received word the journalist @

Police Chase Ends With Fiery Crash in Uptown Whittier A police chase leads to a hot chaotic accident in uptown Whittier on Monday. The ﬁery commotion has killed an innocent civilian. DIANE CHAU Reporter

diane.chau2868@my.riohondo.edu

Trouble in Uptown Whittier It was just a typical Monday morning, roughly about

11 am when an officer saw an act of road rage. In addition, the officer tried to pull over the aggressive driver between Whittier Boulevard and Greenleaf Ave. The incident sent the suspect and motorist to the hospital. The person behind the wheel did not want to pull over, causing a brief chase that damaged the busy streets of uptown Whittier. “During the pursuit, the suspect attempted to ram at

jorgeramosnews and his team are being held against their will at Miraﬂores Palace by Nicolas Maduro. We insist on their immediate release; the world is watching. #Venezuela.” Ramos spoke to Univision upon his release and said that “[Maduro] didn’t like the things we were asking, about the lack of democracy in Venezuela, the torture of political prisoners, about the humanitarian crisis that they are living…[Maduro] got up and left after I showed him a video that I personally took of three young men eating out of a trash truck. He just couldn’t stand it. The communications minister, Jorge Rodriguez, came and told us that the interview wasn’t authorized and they confiscated all of our equipContinued on Page 8

Waking up to a cold toilet seat has been a morning routine and consistently having the heater on is not ideal for a broke college student living in Los Angeles. The real question is, when will this freezing cold weather stop? Because I’m missing our sunny California. Recently, Los Angeles is being blessed with rainy days, gloomy weather, and believe it or not, snow. We don’t get that quite often. Pasadena local Xavier Bias walked out of a Whole Foods and noticed a woman shocked at white ﬂakes covering the sidewalk. The woman wasn’t sure what she was looking at. But Bias knew exactly what it was, noted he

is from the East Coast. It was snow. In Pasadena. “People didn’t know what it was, ” Bias said to L.A Times. “I was like, no this is snow.” Snow fell in Malibu, Pasadena, West Hollywood, Northridge, San Bernardino, Thousand Oaks, and other places Thursday afternoon. The winter weather had forced the closure of the 5 freeway through the Grapevine, according to Times. “This is probably the coldest storm system I’ve seen in my time in California,” Said meteorologist David Sweet, with National Weather Service in Oxnard. The unusual storm system that started in Alberta, Canada, was moving over to Nevada and spread snow all over Las Vegas Early Thursday. By the Afternoon, it was snowing all across Southern California. Those who are not a fan of the cold, have to hold up a bit longer. Overnight lows will drop into the high 20’s in some areas, but the Southland will expect progressed warming through next week.

IRFAN KHAN/ LOS ANGELES TIMES A San Bernardino sign shows snow along the northbound 15 Freeway at the Cajon Pass

least three responding patrol cars. This caused them to take evasion action to avoid a collision, according to Whitter police officer John Scoggins. Moreover, the chase came to a stop after the suspect hit into another vehicle at Newlin Ave and Wardman Street. There is a video by one of the witnesses that simply shows the suspect’s car absorbed in ﬂames.

ed at the hospital due to his medical condition. The police have identified the person as 24 years old Kevin Vargas of Santa Fe Springs. These crimes consist of evading police and assault with a deadly weapon. Later on, the police have disclosed Vargas was 34. The other driver who was also involved in the incident, surrendered to his injuries at the hospital.

Aftermath of the Incident The suspect leaped out of the burning car and tried to make a run for it. Fortunately, the suspect was captured by the police officers. The firefighters took the victims to the hospital and the suspect was being arrest-

Always Be Aware The California High way patrol is trying their best to handle the investigation. It is important for all citizens to be aware of their surroundings at all times. People also need to learn how to drive appropriate and

respect all signs on the roads. This should be a constant reminder that people should not do reckless things if it going to involve others and get them hurt; People should always take these situations into consideration. The last thing everyone wants to see another dead body on the news all because of a careless decision. Prayers are going towards to the victims family; Supporters are hoping that the police does not let this go because it is not fair to the people who were involved in this incident. The only thing that can help those people to move forward from this mess is time, and also to simply just be there for their loved ones and support one another.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Nintendo’s Fils-Aime Set to Retire

PHOTO / NINTENDO NEWS

For most of today’s generation, Fils-Aime has been helping to shape the dreams and experiences of many gamers as the President of Nintendo of America. Now with his successor taking up the mantle next month, Fils-Aime will enjoy much deserved time with both family and friends.

DAVID IBARRA Reporter david.ibarra4617@my.riohondo.edu

Nintendo of America’s President Reggie Fils-Aime has announced he will be retiring in April 2019 after 15 years. Current SVP of sales and marketing Doug Bowser will replace Fils-Aime as President, Nintendo announced Thursday. Fils-Aime spent 15 years under the North America division for Nintendo and was an important catalyst for much of the success Nintendo

has become in the United States. He began in late 2003 as a Vice President of Sales and Marketing and was responsible from changing the public perception of what Nintendo was about. At the time, Nintendo was stagnant in consumer appeal as they had fallen ﬂat on getting customers to attach to their products. It was Fils-Aime who shot life into the Nintendo brand at E3 in 2004. “My name is Reggie, I’m about kickin’ ass, I’m about

takin’ names, and we’re about makin’ games,” were the introductory words by FilsAime. His honesty and attentiveness to fi xing a brand that was losing its fire made consumers pay closer attention. What came to be was a birth of life to Nintendo and their sales. The Nintendo DS was selling fast, and the excitement for the incoming Wii was undying. This was solely attributed to the aura of FilsAime and his involvement

within the rebirth of Nintendo. He gave a face behind the brand, and always made it a priority to attend any event that had an inkling to do with Nintendo. Fils-Aime will be succeeded by Doug Bowser. Bowser became a part of Nintendo of America in 2015 as the Vice President of Sales. He then became the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2016. Bowser was at the forefront of the massive success of Nintendo’s video

game console, Nintendo Switch. The Switch became the fastest-selling console of the current generation. It is a fitting spot for Bowser, as he shares his surname with that of Nintendo’s most popular antagonist. Fils-Aime is set to retire April 15th, 2019 with Bowser then taking the helm at Nintendo of America.

2019 Oscars Recap The 2019 Academy Awards caught a little bit of controversy heading into the week of live taping. JAIME APARICIO A&E Editor

jaime.aparicio2474@my.riohondo.edu

Many on social media were wondering if the Academy would reverse their decision to award a few technical awards during commercial breaks. After the Academy’s original decision spread like wildfire on the Internet, directors Spike Lee and Guillermo del Doro expressed their disappointment and help ignite the #PresentAll24 movement on

JAIME APARICIO/EL PAISANO NEWS For many in the industry, the Academy Awards is the staple of which ﬁlms produced throughout the year are seen with the most admiration. From the backlash that the Academy received on the Internet, directors, producers, and others who work behind the camera helped sway the vote to include all categories being celebrated on live television.

social media. Thanks to the outcry of many professionals responsible for technical support on film making, the Academy reversed their decision and announced that all categories would be presented at the 2019 Academy Awards. Along with the controversy of reversing their decision, the Academy found their awards ceremony being hosted for the first time in 30 years since negotiations fell through to bring on comedian

Kevin Hart to hosting duties this year. But after all was said and done, the awards show went on as scheduled and without trouble. Here are all the categories and winners of this year’s Academy Awards:

Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma” Actor: Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Best Picture: “Green Book”

Supporting Actress: Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk”

Director:

Actress: Olivia Colman, “The Favorite” Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”

Original Screenplay: “Green Book” Adapted Screenplay: “BlackKklansman” Foreign Language Film: “Roma” Animated Feature: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Alcohol to be Served for the First Time on Disneyland Grounds to the General Public

PHOTO / DISNEY Despite Club 33 serving alcohol on the Disney grounds, it is mostly available through reservation that involves an extensive waiting list. Now with the future opening of Galaxy’s Edge, the general public will be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage on the grounds via Olga’s Cantina.

ALYSSA ESQUIVEL Reporter

alyssa.esquivel1890@my.riohondo.edu

For the first time ever, California’s “alcohol free” Disneyland will become semialcohol free. Since the park first opened in 1955, there was

no place inside Disneyland where anyone could purchase an alcoholic beverage. It wasn’t until California Adventure opened in 2001 that there was a Disney park in California where you could purchase alcohol. Disneyland, however, has always been

alcohol free. In the summer of 2019, Galaxy’s Edge is set to open which will feature a lot of nostalgic Star Wars themed attractions for all lovers of the franchise. One incentive to Galaxy’s Edge is a popular cantina

featured in the films, Olga’s Cantina. Here is where the first alcoholic beverage ever sold at the Disneyland park will take place. Though, with the freedom and excitement of acquiring alcohol comes

rules, of course. You’re only allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage at the Cantina. Bringing the beverage outside is strictly prohibited. Although the Cantina is geared towards adults, there will be kid friendly options.

First Poster and Featurette Released for Sir Elton John’s Biopic “Rocketman” SAMUEL GARCIA Reporter

samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu

For fans of Elton John, they won’t have to wait a long time for his upcoming biopic Rocketman. The film will be released May 31. The film was announced back in 2012. At that time, John wanted singer Justin Timberlake to portray him, but negotiations never happened. Then, in 2013 it was announced that Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) was set to direct, with Tom Hardy (Dunkirk) set to play the costumed singer. Fast forward to July 2017, and it was announced that Taron Egerton was in talks to replace Hardy. April 2018 came around and Dexter Fletcher was announced as the film’s new director, and Egerton was officially cast. Feb. 20, Paramount Studios released a new poster for the film, giving fans a wild new look at Taron Egerton as Elton John. We see Egerton donning one of the famed singer’s many stage costumes and frantically playing piano.

Unlike many musical biopics, Egerton (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) will be performing all the songs in the film. But fear not, fans. Egerton displayed his singing chops in 2016’s animated film Sing, where he voiced a gorilla -Johnny- who enters a local singing competition. Apparently, this played a factor in Tom Hardy being replaced, as he didn’t have the same musical chops as Egerton. Fun fact: near the end of the film, Egerton performs a rendition of John’s “I’m Still Standing” -yeah, yeah, yeah! Sorry, couldn’t help it. The film, which director Dexter Fletcher described as a “musical fantasy,” will follow Elton John from his time at the Royal Academy of Music to his emergence as a music superstar. Fletcher (Bohemian Rhapsody) will direct from a script by Lee Hall. Joining Egerton are Jaime Bell (Turn: Washington’s Spies), Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones). John will also serve

as a producer for the film, along with Matthew Vaughn, who worked with Egerton in the Kingsman films. Hello Yellow Brick Road!

“I’m Still Standing” - Sir Elton John IMAGE / IMDB

OPINION

Innocence Robbed at The Hands of R. Kellly ASHLEY LOZANO Staff Writer

ashley.lozano1408@my.riohomndo.edu

R&B singer, R.Kelly, has had trouble staying out the spotlight these past couple of months and for reasons not involving his record-breaking music, but allegations regarding his sexual misconduct. The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer/songwriter, now 41, hasn’t been able to avoid lawsuits since his first sexual allegations came into light in 1996. The seriousness of his inappropriate actions regarding under-aged girls ultimately gained more attention with the release of Lifetime’s docu-series “Surviving R.Kelly”. The six-episode show illustrates the horrific accounts of the many young women who survived years of sexual and mental assault by the world famous singer. While the rest of the world was praising Kelly for his top-charting hits, these girls were experiencing awful

PHOTO / CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT R. Kelly turned himself in Friday to the Chicago Police Department his bail has been set a $1 Million.

things. Most of his victims were under the age of 18 and were living a life that no person

should have to endure. They were robbed of their innocence and were betrayed by someone they looked up to

Will We Be Feeling The Bern In 2020?

Bernie Sanders during 2016 Presidential Campaign PHOTO / MARY ALTAFFER JESUS MANRIQUEZ Going to college is riStaff Writer diculously expensive, to the jesus.manriquez9661@my.riohondo.edu point that many people would rather not attend at all. Bernie Sanders an The ability to get a nounced that he is running higher education should be for the 2020 Presidential a right, not a luxury. Those Elections. Sanders released a whose families don’t make a video on YouTube on Feb.19 announcing his run for presi- lot of money should have the opportunity to attend college dency. for free or at least at a low In the YouTube video, he price. called people from all over Back in the 70s or 80s you the nation to join him in his movement towards building a were able to attend private better country. It is great that colleges for a lot less than today. The main problem is he is running for president once again, I personally agree that we live in a selfish country. Let’s be realistic, many with his stance on various people don’t see education as issues regarding our country. Healthcare and education an investment for the better of our country. should not be “ privileges” All they think about is that only people with money can afford but an unalienable how much money they have right for all citizens. To think to pay in taxes or how much they can save. Who is they? that it is almost impossible What does this have to do for some people to have good with Sanders healthcare is just nonsensiEducation is an investment cal. for the future.The more ed Education is one if not ucated people there are, the the most important things better for this country. that we need to work on in Many countries like this country, yet it seems like France, Sweden, Germany it is not a priority.

offer free college tuition to its students, yet of the richest countries in the world, if not the richest, has its students getting in debt that will hunt them for many years. Long are the days when America was the pioneer of the world. We used to want to learn and grow as a society, then we turned into a country that cares more about money than the well being of its citizens. Bernie Sanders is a strong believer about protecting the earth. There is many people who don’t believe that the earth should be taken care of and that is frightening. And when we have people of power such as presidents that don’t believe in global warming, then it does becomes a problem. Most people that do not believe in global warming don’t know the difference between climate and weather. We need to elect people who understand the important things. People need to get more educated on the important things.Even if Bernie Sanders was to become president, I find it hard that his policies about education, healthcare and the support to fight global warming pass. We live in a powerful country where it revolves around money, and I find it hard to believe the government would risk losing money for the better of its people. As ironic as it is, Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” was in fact wrong.

in the music industry. Most of these young women were aspiring artists themselves, which Kelly used to his advantage as he promised them aide in helping them launch their music and dancing careers. Even through all the countless stories and video-graphic evidence that has been shown, Kelly continues to deny all the allegations that are made towards him. He continues to plead not guilty to all his charges. It is truly unbelievable that he continues to claim that all the stories said are lies and many of the incidents never happened. Not only did he put these women through hell, he continues to belittle them with denying their stories. Now that these stories have gained so much attention, many artists that worked with Kelly have deleted their songs that were either featured or written by the singer. Hollywood has definitely

respected the stories being told and have disowned any association with the singer, as they should. On Friday, Kelly was arrested and charged with 10 counts of sexual abuse involving four victims, three of them being under-aged. Each count carries a maximum of seven years in prison. Once again he pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charges filed against him. His bail was set at $1 million but the judge granted him to pay 10% of that in order to be released before the start of his trial. Part of the conditions of being released restricts him from having any contact with females under the age of 18. Since his arrest, Kelly has not been able make bail and is still in Cook County Jail in Chicago. A trial date is still undetermined. Hopefully these women soon get justice and Kelly realizes that his actions affected many women’s lives with his twisted ways.

Empire Actor Set to See Jail Time

Jussie Smollett under investigation for false police report ALYSSA ESQUIVEL Staff Writer

elyssa.esquivel1890@my.riohondo.edu

Disgraced “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is being degraded with the accusations that he faked his racial attack and police report for attention. He’s accused of paying two actors to stage an attack which he later called “a racist hate crime”. Many people assumed he did this solely for publicity and fear he was being written off the show Empire. Smollett first tried to send a racist and homophobic letter to himself in hopes of rising some attention to himself. When that didn’t work it was reported that he paid up to $4,000 dollars to have actors stage an attack in Chicago. All this was revealed through a series of snap chats and direct messages and ride-share app receipts. After the investigations conducted by the Chicago Police Department, Smollett

PHOTO / MICHAEL MULLER

was found guilty for falsely making a police report and disorderly conduct. Smollett turned himself in and faced felony charges that amounted to about $100,000 dollars. Today Smollett is facing up to 3 years in prison. He is also facing charges to compensate at least 40 detectives who worked on his case for at least 3 weeks. Celebrities such as Cardi B had a lot to say about the situation. Cardi claimed Smollett is taking the voices of those who really do endure hate crimes. Celebrities and fans are torn about the situation it is a shame that Smollett ruined his career when he could have just worked harder to land another role. Racism is a very real issue our country is still dealing with and for him to take advantage of that is very disappointing and hurtful.

SPORTS

LOVE. SET. MATCH. THE ROADRUNNERS LOOK TO CONTINUE POSITIVE 2-1 START TO 2019 TUESDAY VS ECC SAM GARCIA Reporter

samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu

Rio Hondo women’s tennis season is in full swing. The Lady Roadrunners will take on the El Camino College Warriors Today, Feb. 26 at Rio Hondo College . Sophomore Jane Quoch has a lot of different emotions going through her. “Nervous,” said Quoch. “Same girls I competed against last year, but I’m excited.” Rio is coming off an impressive 8-1 win over the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles, so they will look to build on that momentum. They’ll have an extra few days to prepare for El Camino, since their Feb. 21 matchup against Mt San Antonio College was canceled. Coach Karen Unger likes the extra practice days, just not the weather. The 19-year head

coach mentioned it made it hard, but they worked around it. As for what she hopes for the season, Coach Unger simply wants her girls to improve as players. “Our goal is to keep improving, keep pushing. I want us to be the most improved team by the end of the season. I want our girls to keep getting better.” It’ll be an interesting season for Rio, as the team is dealing with injuries. Girls who were originally playing reserve roles will take center stage and compete. Coach Unger likes the challenge. “I love that every year is different,” says Coach Unger with a sly smile. “You get new personalities, different levels of experience. Keeps me on my toes.” Quoch is looking forward to the new season and getting to know her new teammates.

“It’s fun to meet new people and be inclusive,” says Quoch with a beaming smile. “We get to bond and get closer.” The matchup will be the Lady Roadrunners’ first South Coast Conference match-up. They’ll try to stay on top of their conference, as El Camino and Cerritos College each sport a 1-2 and 0-3 record, respectively. Despite the current records of her conference rivals, coach Unger’s not going to get too ahead of herself. “El Camino and Cerritos are pretty good this year,” she cautions. “Cerritos won the conference last year, so they’re a good team.” First things first: get a win over El Camino. The match will begin at 2 p.m and take place at Rio’s tennis courts. Singles READ MORE ON elpaisanoonline.com

The Rio Hondo women’s tennis team faced-off against the Cypress College Chargers Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Rio Hondo College. ABOVE Jane Quach is in her second year as a Roadrunner tennis player and this showdown was her first team win on home soil this season. Her serve here went into the corner for an ace that put her ahead 40-15 in the second set. LEFT Jesielle Valles blasted her backhand hit down the line and in for a point. She went on to beat her opponent as well, contributing to the Roadrunners’ 6-3 victory against the Chargers.

BRAYAN ALTAMIRANO / El PAISANO NEWS

SPORTS TEN CLASHES TO SEE

From the Pros to Rio and local. El Paisano Sports Staff compiled a list of ten games not to miss.

Contributions from Nicholas Juarez, Christian Salinas,

Jesus Manriquez, David Ibarra, Jesus Marquez, and Ignacio Cervantes

Staples Center Hosts Clippers vs Lakers Early March

WOMEN’S TENNIS BATTLE ECC

The battle of Los Angeles is coming on March 4th with the Lakers versus Clippers. The last time the Lakers faced-off with the Clippers it ended with a Lakers nail biting overtime win on January 31st - Lakers 123-Clippers 120. A little background, the Lakers are currently 28-29 on the season and are riding a three game losing streak. The Lakers are currently without Lonzo Ball, a key player in their defense as well as their offense. It will be interesting to see how the Lakers play without Lonzo. The Clippers are looking better than the Lakers with a 32-37 record, they are ahead of the Lakers in the Western Conference as far as points for playoffs berth is concerned. The Clippers added some players from the Lakers that will be key in the match up. The Clippers got forward Michael Beasley and center Ivica Zubac who filled a key role for the Lakers when the Purple and Gold were down players. READ MORE ON elpaisanoonline.com

Of the local teams being affected most by the heavy rain on campus this past month, it has been women’s tennis. The Roadrunners have started 2-1 in their 2019 season after having to cancel or postpone three games. Tip-off is 2:00 p.m.

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BEACH TEAM WAVES INTO CONFERENCE IN GRANADA

Five matches, five wins for Rio’s women’s beach team to start the season. Friday, March 8 at 9 a.m. they’ll hope to continue the streak in conference play against Long Beach City. After defeating the likes of Orange Coast College, Fullerton College, and Santa Monica during preseason the Roadrunners will be seeking more of the same after a brilliant start to its season. Head coach Teddi Esko tells El Paisano the squad has transitioned well from indoor to beach to compete with confidence. Esko carries four returners and 11 student-athletics new to sand. Before the conference opener the Roadrunners will have a set of preseason matches to gain more game experience - a triple-header with West Valley, the University of Nebraska, and Mira Costa in Carlsbad, Ca.

BASEBALL SCC-N HOME OPENER

Tuesday, March 5 the Dirty Bird Baseball team will open South Coast Conference-North play when traveling to El Camino College to face the Warriors on the road before hosting ECC Thursday, March 7 at Rio. Following the match up with the Warriors, the Roadrunners will continue to feature in home-and-away segments with the rest of the SCC-N. Long Beach, Cerritos, Mt. SAC, and Pasadena City will follow

RIO SOFTBALL LOOKS TO GET OUT OF SKID

Rio Hondo’s softball team will play against Mt. San Antonio Today, Feb. 26 at Rio Hondo at 3:00 p.m.. The Roadrunners lost their last six matches in twelve days and they struggled to play defensively. Their performances this season have been inconsistent home and away. They lost 4-0 against LA Harbor away on Monday, Feb. 11. The next day, they were defeated by Compton City College 11-3. Just a week later, READ MORE ON elpaisanoonline.com

EUROPEAN SOCCER INTO QUARTERS WITH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

First legs of the Round of 16 portion of the UEFA Champions League were wrapped up Wednesday Feb. 20 and in March, we find out the eight quarter-finalist. March 5 & 6 and 12 & 13 are the fixture dates for the second legs which will determine who survives and will feature in the quarterfinal draw on March 15. Spanish side Atletico Madrid, French club Paris St-Germain, and English squad Tottenham enjoy multi-goal leads going into game two as Englishmen Liverpool and Spanish giants Barcelona sit level after one game.

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RIO SWIM & DIVE DIPS INTO RIO AQUATIC CENTER

The Rio Hondo Swim & Dive squad will be on full display at our Rio Hondo College Aquatic Center Friday, March 15 while they host a dual meet with South Coast Conference opponents Pasadena City College and El Camino College. The meet is set to begin at 12:30 p.m..

E ANGLES MEET DODGERS IN ARIZONA

As quickly and quietly as it arrived, the Winter Meetings have gone, and a new spring is upon us. The Los Angeles Dodgers have exited the offseason with slight renovations to the team that has appeared in back-to-back World Series. The team bid farewell to their General Manager Farhan Zaidi, who, since 2013, helped shape the team to be formidable October contenders. They also sent off a fan-favorite in Yasiel Puig with hopes to stay under the luxury tax threshold. Within that, they acquired former Dodger catcher Russell Martin to replace Yasmani Grandal, and former Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly. Now, with 2018 behind them, the Dodgers hope to make it three World Series appearances in a row READ