IGH H
TIDE :
Y G R E
e s, c r ou ents s ad tud it b s , t s s e k e c is to g r t g 0
Go od a n s ou dw r are ha ta pa kin ge 1
EN
Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA February 6 , 2015 Vol. XCV Edition 9
COURTESY OF CHANDLER ROSS
Inside
pg. 4
pg. 8
pg. 18
Opinion: Arizona rightly recently made passing a citizenship test a graduation requirement
Feature: Girls soccer coach Phil Fisher played professional soccer in England
Sports: The surf team beat Palos Verdes in a competition at Hermosa on Wednesday
page 2
High Tide
news
News and Briefs
RU Ready Night
2. PHOTOS BY RAQUEL TAHVILDARI
RU In? 1. The arts department had a presentation set up in the lobby for freshmen and their families 1.
to peruse as they entered the auditorium. 2. Seniors Chandler Ross and Vivian Vy Lam represented The Nest at RU Ready Night on Wednesday. The event was held to teach the upcoming class of 2019 about the academics, athletics, culture and graduation requirements at RUHS.
New DMV law to increase wait times by Simrun Ursani The wait time to receive an appointment for taking the permit test has increased dramatically since the new immigrants are now able to test for their licenses. Behind the Wheel (BTW) is booked for scheduled tests until April, according to BTW Driving School’s Manager/Operator Ryan Stack. “We have been receiving complaints on a daily basis from students who call or visit our office. They are understandably frustrated by the wait time for an appointment to take their permit test. In the past, appointments were not required to take the permit test but as of January 1st that is no longer the case,” Stack said. Although the wait times have increased, he believes that the immigrants being able to drive legally will increase road safety. “Many have argued that it will make the roads safer by ensuring that all drivers are licensed and insured. I believe that road safety does improve by testing one’s driving ability. It is important to ensure that drivers are capable of driving safely enough to meet California DMV standards. Whether newly licensed drivers continue to pay for car insurance is something that may or may not happen,” Stack said. Stack also believes that many other drivers besides the immigrants will benefit from this law being passed. “Those who supported the passing of this law have argued that it will create safer drivers who are insured. If this is found to be true, then potentially all who travel on the roadways will benefit from this change. At Behind The Wheel Driving School we have felt an immediate impact of frustrated teens who are now being delayed to obtain their permit. The BTW staff has been working hard to help teens to find solutions on how to obtain their permit on the timeline
that they had planned,” Stack said. However, teens can take alternative measures by going to other driving schools around LA in order to prevent the long wait times. “In the meantime there are alternative solutions. Teen drivers can travel to a DMV outside of the Los Angeles area or go to the Stanton or Los Angeles/Granada Hills Drivers License Proficiency Centers (DLPC), which have quite a bit of availability but are a bit far from The South Bay,” Stack said. The DLPC is different from the DMV in that the DLPC only deals with driver licenses and does not require appointments during the week, so there is less wait time than at the BTW driving school. “Unlike local DMV’s the DLPC’s do not require appointments on Monday through Friday. However applicants will have to arrive early in the day to ensure that they are seen. Appointments are required on Saturdays at these DLPC locations,” Stack said. Traveling to a driving school outside the South Bay will be an inconvenience to most teens, according to Stack. “Therefore, many students will not be able to receive their permit by their 15 and a half birthday due to the lack of available appointments,” Stack said. The BTW driving school has warned their customers who come into their office on Aviation Blvd. “We advise all registering students that there are solutions that may help them,” Stack said. Stack hopes to help teens receive their permits and licenses as soon as possible and make the roads a safer place for everyone. “I know that some teens will be very disappointed by this delay. At Behind the Wheel Driving School we would be happy to help the student through the permitting or li-
censing process to make it as smooth as possible,” Stack said. “The DMV will continue to make any necessary arrangements so that all permit and drivers license applicants will have the opportunity to apply in a timely manner.”
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
‘Round the block. Lines are long at the Torrance DMV.
1 Burbank Glendale
Pasadena
Los Angeles Inglewood Anaheim 2 RUHS
Long Beach
Local DLPC Locations 2. 1. Los Angeles/Granada Hills DLPC 16201 San Fernando Mission Blvd Los Angeles, CA 91344
ILLUSTRATION BY KAITA PANNOR
Stanton DLPC 12645 Beach Blvd Stanton, CA 90680
Feb. 6, 2015
page 3
news
Teachers and staff help AcaDec succeed by Jason Rochlin
RUHS teachers and staff help the students get ready for many facets of their lives, and when Academic Decathalon (AcaDec) season rolls around, you can find them judging speeches and giving feedback. “I send out a mass email in January letting our staff, teachers, administrators, as well as the certificated staff like clerks and secretaries, letting them all know that we would welcome any and all willing to give feedback both positive and constructive,” said AcaDec Coach Aimiee Gauvreau. “This is my sixth or seventh year teaching AcaDec, and every single year I’ve had multiple people email back, willingly volunteering to participate in this.” Volunteers come from all different departments of the school, including English teacher Elizabeth Valentekovich, chemistry teacher Linda Dillard, Spanish teacher Sergio Navarro, and administrators Jens Brandt and Nicole Wesley this year. “I think that we all have something unique to offer as judges,” said College and Career Counselor Shannon Rodriguez, who has volunteered as an AcaDec judge on and off over the last 10 years. According to Rodriguez, AcaDec judges aim to help the Decathletes improve, rather than criticize, their speeches and interview presence. “I want to help give the kids some positive encouragement, because it’s about encouraging students to make some changes that might just benefit them in the competition,” Rodriguez said. “I think teachers can really give good feedback, because in the classroom they have a very different experience with students.”
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA BENDALL
Positive Reinforcement. Senior Luna Hijikata introduces herself to the judges she’ll be prac-
ticing her speech giving with. The judges include (from left to right) Spanish teacher Sergio Navarro, English and Psychology teacher Megan Gould and Link Crew Coordinator Keely Pompa.
Gauvreau also feels teachers can give great feedback, especially ones the AcaDec members know well. “They know these teachers, they respect them and want to emulate them, they want their teachers to be proud of them, so they pay attention even more so to make sure they do a good job,” Gauvreau said. While the AcaDec team is still currently practicing for their objective test and essay
competition this Saturday, they have already competed in the subjective competition on Jan. 31, where the staff judging helped prepare them for giving multiple speeches and participating in an interview. “There’s a certain level of uncertainty to the real event that you just can’t create when practicing with someone you’re familiar talking with, like me. Even if they know a lot of these teachers, this is a different
venue to see them in, so it’s tremendously beneficial,” Gauvreau said. “The best way to prep them for the two subjectives specifically is to give the students as many chances as possible to interact with various people.” AcaDec’s ‘A’ team captain, senior Samantha Karnes, agrees that varying opinions from multiple sources helps to improve the team’s performance. “Because we usually just practice with each other, we might not have the mentality that adult judges have - in fact, we tend to be more critical of each other,” Karnes said. “Having teachers and staff helping out usually gives us a more accurate gauge of our talents, and can even be a good morale boost.” Rodriguez was impressed with this year’s speech category. “This year’s speeches were the best I have heard in at least five years. Each was unique and really thought-provoking,” Rodriguez said. “The topics ranged from tattoos to depression. It takes a lot of courage to deliver those speeches, and I learn a lot about the kids, too.” Despite the amount of work AcaDec members put into preparing for competitions, Karnes agrees that Acadec as a whole has been beneficial for her, especially with the extra help from staff around campus. “The best thing I’ve gotten from Acadec are the friendships I’ve made. We study extensively together. It really becomes like a family. To be honest, one of the main reasons I strive to do well in AcaDec is to not disappoint anyone on the team. We do a lot together, and it feels unnatural when we don’t have study sessions,” Karnes said.
Solar Panel mini update Battle of the Bands rocks RUHS by Roxanne Labat Nearly nine months after their installment, the school’s solar panels have benefitted the school environmentally and financially. From January 4 to February 5, the solar panels have generated 39,226.56 kWh.
From May 2014 to February 2014, the solar panels have produced 415,395.38 kWh. In other words, over the course of its life, the school’s solar panel system has generated enough energy to power 320.2 homes, and in the course of a month, can take 490.1 cars off the road.
Kilowatts per hour (kWh)
Total lifetime energy generation 60,000
40,000
20,000
PHOTO BY KEELY TWITCHELL
Rockin’ Redondo. Different student bands performed in front of the Student Union over 0
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug Month
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RBUSD
the last week as part of ASB’s Battle of the Bands. The Captains perform above. “I like Battle of the Bands because I think it shows a diversity that our student population has, as well as the different types of talent that students have which you wouldn’t usually know about,” ASB Director Brooke Mata said.
page 4
High Tide
opinion
Around Graduating citizen-ready Redondo Arizona’s new law requiring a citizenship test to graduate high What are you going to do differently this semester?
Compiled by Chris Paludi and Chandler Ross
Editorial
“
I’m going to make friends with my teachers.
”
Sarah Seixas, 11
“
I’m going to study harder for next finals, and get better in Chinese. Carly Stock, 9
” “
I’m going to bond with Mr. Sklarenko.
”
Patricia Pano, 10
“
I’m going to do my homework.
”
Keven Ordonez, 10
“
I’m going to experience classes more and have fun as I’m learning.
”
“
Salvatore Di Pietro, 11
I’m gonna try less hard.
”
school would lead to better participation in our democracy.
V
What is the Bill of Rights? Who was President during WWI? If you couldn’t answer those two and questions like these, you may not be able to graduate from high school in Arizona. California’s neighbor passed a law last month requiring all high school students to score a 60 out of 100 on a civics test in order to graduate. The test poses questions on national geography, symbols, holidays, and more. Arizona is the first state to adopt such a measure for its public education system — the first of what could be many, including, down the road, California. Although RUHS teaches civics and many aspects of what it means to be a U.S. citizen in its AP and CP Government classes, which are required for graduation, there is no law requiring high school students, entering into American society as legal adults, to have a certain standard of knowledge about their country and civic duties upon graduation. This needs to change. A test such as Arizona’s is being considered by states across the country — Arizona’s is simply the first. This is a test that all immigrants must pass to obtain American citizenship. If we’re already giving aspiring citizens a test to ensure their readiness to become a full naturalized member of the red white and blue, it absolutely makes sense to make sure our youngest citizens are held to at least the same standard of readiness to participate in and be a contributing member of our American democracy. The key part is “contributing.” Because famously, Americans don’t vote anymore, especially young ones. Just 36.4 percent of eligible voters turned out for last year’s midterms, according to PBS, and the apathy of young voters is well-documented, and unfortunately, pretty true. Many who don’t vote feel as though they have no reason to.
“
ILLUSTRATION BY LUMA WEGMAN
They’re tired of politics, of politicians twisting the truth while receiving money from special interest groups. They think their vote doesn’t matter. A basic civics course could change that perception with a curriculum designed not only to prepare students for the test to graduate, but also to teach the value of American citizenship: what it means, what its responsibilities are, and how you can influence your town, state, and country with it. In a recent RED Talk by Redondo Beach mayor Steve Aspel, he noted how high school students actually helped him win the election by encouraging their parents to ‘vote Aspel’ and by registering and voting themselves, if 18. Aspel won by 149 votes. RUHS’s senior class alone, two years ago, would have been capable of determining Redondo Beach’s mayoral election. This is just one example, of course, but it’s a very important case for why your vote matters. We need this test upon graduation to ensure everyone knows why their vote counts
“
“
I’m going to get an A in Ms. Bhare’s bio honors.
”
Poorna Sharma, 9
Sam White, 9
Editorial Board
vote
This test would be effective towards producing active young citizens.
agree
5
I’m going to work out more to get that prom bod.
I’m going to work harder and study more for Bhare.
Brandon Reyes, 12
and how exactly they can make a change in government, be it at the local level, as in this case, or subsequently at the state and federal levels. A civics test is a no-brainer as a prerequisite to graduation, as it could ensure that every fresh high school graduate — every new potential voter — entering fully into our democracy at 18 understands the value and responsibilities of American citizenship.
”
”
Cammy Gonzalez, 12
“
I’m going to get more sleep.
”
Matt Mercier, 10
disagree
4
A R
Feb. 6, 2015
page 5
opinion
Letters to the
Editor
If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com. We reserve the right to edit them for content, grammar, and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed. Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.
High Tide
staff
Editor in Chief: Allegra Peelor Managing Editor: Alejandro Quevedo News Editor: Jason Rochlin Opinion Editor: Christopher Paludi Features Editors: Yasmeen El-Hasan;
Vaidehi Gandhi; Caterina Hyneman; Shawn Mallen; Shaniya Markalanda
Sports Editors: Nina Gomez; Sophie Maguy
Design Editor: Grace Zoerner Writing Editors: Stella Gianoukakis; Kayla Nicholls
Photo Editors: Ted Cavus; Chandler Ross Copy Editors: Joseph Blakely; Kira Bowen Online Editors: Vivian Vy Lam; Romy Moreno
Photographers: Dinah Aiad; Samantha
Bendall; Jennifer Blanco; Madison Brooks; Erin Czulewicz; Daniel Green; Janelle Howe; Lexi Kleen; Carla Macar; Masha Pescheryakova; Laua’e Schweitzer
Illustrators: Steven Bell-Nixon; Kaita Pannor; Luma Wegman
Staff Writers: Gianna Aquilina; Malek
Chamas; Jason Clebowicz; Erin Czulewicz; Micah Ezzes; Lizzie Fauver; Yasamin Fazeli; Jason Fong; Daniel Green; Zach Hatakeyama; Kayla Hiken; Jessica Johnson; Jon Mallen; Marie Ona; Kaita Pannor; Samaya Rubio; Reema Saad; Mylene Silver; Simrun Ursani; Tyler Wunderli; Adam Yorke High Tide dedicates itself to producing a high-quality publication that both informs and entertains the entire student body. This is a wholly student-managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on school and community events. High Tide is published by the journalism class at Redondo Union High School, One Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons represent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist and in no way reflect the opinions of the rest of the staff.
O N R P CO
Micah Ezzes
Measure B will rezone the area on which the power plant stands, making space for residential and commercial purposes.
Everyone on both sides can agree that the plant itself is an eyesore, but that is where the similarities end. However, it is clear that the pros of getting rid of the power plant greatly outweigh the benefits of leaving it as it stands, and Measure B will accomplish this. Firstly, the city of Redondo Beach has spent $450,000 already just to legally intervene in AES’s attempts to remodel the property, according to Redondo Beach mayor Steve Aspel. That’s $450,000 down the drain. If we leave the power plant there, it will only lead to more controversy, and more formal intervention in the affairs of the power plant. Why would we let the plant continue to siphon away the city’s money? On top of this, the plant will have to be retired or remodeled by 2020, as it goes against California regulations that ban the use of ocean water to cool its turbines. Why don’t we seize the opportunity to get rid of the ugly behemoth and increase the property value of the surrounding area? Some say that the power plant is a necessary evil, as it supplies power to the area. However, by AES’s own admission, the plant is not needed to cover the energy requirements of the beach cities. Further improvements to AES plants in Huntington Beach and even Long Beach could reliably supply the area with power, even without the Redondo plant. On the land where the power plant once stood will be a revitalized shopping area, with areas for housing, hotels, and commercial space, as well as 10 acres of free space for parks. This will provide for more space for residents, and increase the property value of the surrounding area. What would you rather live next to, a modern-day shopping area or an outdated beast of a power plant? Plus, people would finally be able to get a nice view of the beach, something that has been denied to the residents since the plant has stood. Removing the plant will also help the environment. The cool ocean breeze can only blow away so much smog before it is unable to protect us. The plant contributes to the smog-ridden Los Angeles area, and the only reason we don’t take notice of it is because the ocean blows most of it inland, away from the coast. But how much longer will it be until there’s so much smog, it encapsulates us, too? We should do our part as a community to improve the air quality of the area. Let’s face it: With all the upside in Measure B, the only thing that will be missed is the massive whale mural on the side of the plant.
Cody Williams
In the spring of 2013, Redondo Beach’s proposed Measure A, which called for rezoning the land under the AES power plant to bee used for intitutional, commercial, and park spaces, was narrowly defeated at the polls. Seeing the community’s concerns about the power plant, AES set to work with the Redondo Beach city council and embers of the community to develop a plan to repurpose 50 acres of land unneeded by the power plant. The result of this collaboration is the proposed Measure B, which will be on Redondo’s March 3 ballots. If passed, Measure B will turn this 50 acres of land into a “Harbor Village” which would include a “careful balance of homes, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, shops, a hote, offices, lofts and at least ten acres of open space.” Measure B is presented by AES as being a generous gift to our community, claiming that it will create jobs, increase property values by revealing ocean views, protect private property rights and come with zero increase in taxes. The proponents of Measure B claim that it is a “fair and responsible plan that is a win-win for all sides.” Measure B seems like a reasonable compromise for use of the land; however, it is a last ditch effort by AES, a corporation based in Virginia, to keep its hand in the affairs of the Redondo Beach community. If passed, Measure B will burden the Redondo Beach community with service and infrastructure costs and give AES an unreasonable amount of leverage in Redondo Beach affairs. Despite the misleading wording, Measure B has absolutely no requirement for public park land despite voters’ demands. The 50 acres will be used almost entirely for housing developments, with the height of these units potentially reaching five stories and renewing the problem of an obstructed view of the beautiful oceanscape. Additionally, the so called “open space” proposed in the measure is composed mainly of perimitered paths, planted medians and drainage ditches -- a pitiful far cry from the desired park space. Finally, Measure B gives AES the power to veto any decision made by the Redondo Beach city council in limiting development on the land, a provision in the measure that is possibly illegal. This gives an unnecessary amount of influence on the community and leaves potential for excessive development of the 50 acres of land. The voters of Redondo Beach must not allow AES to decide the future of our community. Voters should wait for another proposal in which all the demands will be met.
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
page 6
features
High Tide
Shaping up Senior Kris Hall shapes his own surfboards by Jessica Johnson
1.
2. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRIS HALL
Swell. 1. Hall foils his longboard. “I was really
just hyped because the board I was shaping was the board I later got to ride,” Hall said. “It was a giddy feeling, like Christmas.” 2. Hall rides a wave in Hermosa Beach. “It’s a passion. Surfing really is an addiction, and when I surf using the board that I build, it makes me feel like the wave and I become one with the wave,” Hall said. “I am so comfortable on the nose that I could eat a ham sandwich.” Hall began surfing when his father introduced him to the sport when he was two. Since then, he has continued to explore and expand his passion for surf.
Senior Kris Hall’s passion for shaping his own surfboards has turned into a potential career, with the creation of his own company. “Shaping is interesting because I have to look at a block and figure out how to make something from nothing,” Hall said. Hall first got into creating his own board sbecause he did not have enough money to buy a new one and it costs a lot less to make one than it does to buy one. “If someone were to walk into ET right now and try to buy a longboard, it would go for about $1200 while Kris sells his for $450700 because he knows he’s charging people a lot for a board and he wants them to enjoy it and not have to worry so much about the money,” junior Pheobe Mather said. Shaping surfboards takes an hour or two but he does not have his own bay, a shaping room or shop. His production depends on when he can use the bay. “It takes me a long time because I have a short period of time to work on the board each time I can go to Dan’s bay,” Hall said. The longest it has taken for Hall to shape a board was two hours. The time is “worth it” to Hall because it is his passion, not merely a money making venture. “Some people paint or write, I make surfboards,” Hall said. “Shaping isn’t a sport; it’s a passion—a way of life. I don’t do many activities besides surfing so it’s something that I can do, kinda like an escape, where I can focus on one thing that I love.” His dad also loves surfing and got Hall in-
terested in surfing when he was two years old. “My dad kept telling me how in the ‘50s and ‘60s most surfers made their own boards and how it was a cool way to experiment with ideas and get a better understanding of the wave,” Hall said. This idea caused him to try shaping boards, where he has had many “life-changing” experiences. “It’s a new experience that has taught me a ton of cool things that go on in the process and I have met many awesome people who I wouldn’t have met if I didn’t start shaping,” Hall said. Hall loves being able to share his passion for surfing with others. “Someone getting stoked on something you made, it’s a great feeling when you hand someone a board that you’ve made,” Hall said. “I gave this guy a board and his face lit up like a little kid on Christmas.” His surfboard company is called Flower Surfboards. He shapes and customizes the board to fulfill his orders, and has sold 10 boards so far. “I was thinking with my friend one day how sick it would be if a surf shop was also a florist and we agreed that Flower Surfboards would be a good name,” Hall said. His company makes T-shirts, patches and buttons for advertising, all with the flower logo on it. “The cool thing is that all my logos are hand drawn each time I shape a new board so they are all the same design but are a little
different in their own way,” he said. He plans to begin selling merchandise at ET Surf and Skate in Hermosa Beach. “Because I work at ET, I just kept bugging the manager and he finally said to bring a board in but I don’t have a board at the store yet,” Hall said. One “unique” thing that he does is make old-style single finned boards from the early days of surfing more contemporary. “I like making the single fin that no one else makes which was like a 6’-7’ with a single fin. I have been making them more modern where they are in between 5’10’’ and 6’,” Hall said. He loves shaping all boards but the one board style he does not make are called “thrusters,” or the short boards. “I do not like the vibe that thrusters bring into the water,” Hall said. His favorite boards to ride are the oldstyle long-boards called pigs which are “really hard to ride.” “I love to ride pigs because the hips and the tail, are super wide and the nose is cone shaped and flat and difficult to ride,” Hall said. “But I like the old school longboards. Shortboarding is very forced and everyone pushes and forces in turns but with longboarding you are more in tune with what the wave wants you to do and it’s kind of a dance in a way.” According to Hall, shaping his own boards has made his understanding of the wave better. “When I ride my own boards,” Hall said. “I
Feb. 6, 2015
features
Syrup and surfing
page 7
Sophomores Frank Volk and Todd Sander created their own surf clothing line by Zach Hatakeyama Pancakes and surf clothing are not normally related; however, sophomores Frank Volk and Todd Sander have brought the two together through Syrup Surf Co. Volk and Sander have been designing their own surf clothing for two months. The story behind their inspiration is almost as unique as their designs. “We would go surfing at dawn, chasing waves before the sun went up. After, we would hit up a local breakfast joint, order stacks of pancakes and drench them in syrup,” Volk said. “We would always have leftovers so we would give them to the homeless. This became a routine and that’s how Syrup Surf Co. was born.” The slogan of the brand makes for an interesting backstory, according to Volk and Sander. “Pancakes and syrup make our taste buds sweet and stoked, thats how we came up with ‘sweetly stoked’,” Volk said. Since then, the clothing company has expanded and creates many designs for both men and women. All of their shirts are handmade and screened themselves. “Putting on the logo takes five minutes but we have to wait for it to dry then iron it. So overall, one shirt could take up to 25 minutes,” Volk said. “Having a friend helping makes it a lot more fun. When we make mistakes, we come up with even better ideas for
our logos. Despite their hard work, making money is not the focus of the company at the moment. “Our business has just started so we’re not aiming to make a profit,” Volk said. “Right now, we are just spreading the ‘stokage’ by surfing and sharing some leftover pancakes with the local Hermosa Beach homeless.” The surfers find it fulfilling to feed the homeless and have turned it into a tradition every time they surf and eat at diners in Hermosa Beach. “It makes us feel like we have accomplished something, and we have. It just makes us smile when we share our pancakes,” Sander said. Aside from making the shirts, surfing and sharing leftover pancakes, they are ensuring that their company is ahead of competitors “We’re just trying to do something different and think of crazy logos rather than being plain and boring like other companies,” Volk said. On top of the stress of running the company and their extra curricular activities, the surfers find it difficult to juggle school as well. “It’s hard to find time to do both and still keep up with my homework,” Volk said. “When the homework is assigned, we get it done that day instead of waiting and having twice the homeworks from other classes.” Volk and Sander are currently selling their
clothing at a store on Artesia called Soul Performance and hope to see their company grow. “Hopefully once we get noticed a bit more, we can be seen in almost every surf shop you go to,” Sander said. To make sure they get noticed, the codesigners are working on improving their company and spreading the word. “We are looking for expansion in designs, new merchandise, and publicity,” Volk said. “We have an Instagram and we’re selling our shirts to get our name out there.” Sander is confident that through their hard work, their company will grow. “It’s a fun way to get our ideas out there,” he said. “I would love to build from this to bigger and better things, but you have to start somewhere.” Through the hard work, Volk finds it rewarding when designing surf clothing. “My favorite part of designing these shirts is seeing a dream finally becoming a reality,” he said.
McBride shapes surfboards by Lizzie Fauver For someone who spends most of their time at the ocean surfing the waves, trying to find a surfboard that matches his style and needs can be a challenge. But for freshman Jesse McBride, this struggle is exactly what helped form his growing passion. “I always wanted something fast and that I can maneuver well, but not too small so that it is easy to paddle with. By making my own boards I can have something that matches all of my requirements,” McBride said. Thus far, McBride has just learned the basics on how to properly shape a board, but is excited to improve as he learns more skills and the proper techniques. “My dad’s friend, who has been shaping boards for 20 years, is teaching me,” McBride said. “So far I am just getting down the basics like techniques and how to motion the strokes for shaping. I have not done anything too complicated, and there is still so
much to learn.” McBride wants to shape his own boards to benefit himself and his surfing, but also hopes to expand and create boards for other surfers. “Although I haven’t fully learned yet, I can’t wait to learn everything there is to know about board shaping. By doing so, not only can I shape my own boards and use them, but I would also want to shape boards for my friends,” McBride said. McBride believes that every surfer should experience making his or her own boards because of the positive experience and benefits that come out of it. “For one thing, it will cost less money than to go out and buy boards. Personally, by making boards, I wouldn’t have to go to three different stores to get a board I like,” McBride said. “By making my own board, I can get one that fits my own style.” Although boardmaking is currently just a growing hobby for McBride, he can picture this as a future business opportunity and
career option. “For now it is just a fun hobby, but I don’t see why I wouldn’t start eventually selling them if I end up becoming really good at it,” McBride said. “Even though a good board can take quite a bit of time to make, it still would be something I would like to take up and pursue.” McBride’s love for the ocean and surfing started very early, since his parents based their children’s lives around the beach. “As a family we have always lived and formed our life around the ocean. Jesse has always been supplied with the necessary things needed to fuel his endeavors,” mother Jennifer Dessert-Mcbride said. His parents are willing to support McBride in whatever he plans to do in the future, especially if he decided to make boards as long as he remains a well-rounded person. “Jesse has spent his entire days down at the rocks fishing or we’ve taken him and his brother on surfing trips up and down the coast,” Dessert-McBride said. “As long
PHOTO BY TED CAVUS
as he demonstrates what it takes to be a good student and respects his teachers and his work at school we will help him pursue whatever it is that he wants to do in his life.” McBride plans to improve to the point where he can make any style surfboard to please anyone’s needs. To do this, he is willing to put in the time and dedication to continue the learning process. “In the future I want to be able to make any style surf board efficiently,” McBride said. “I want to make boards to fit other people’s styles as well. It will take hard work, but I am willing to do what it takes.” Overall, McBride is working hard on a hobby he loves, and hopes his dedication will pay off in the end. “It’s just exciting to know that I can make boards for myself and create something that is fitting for me. I plan on spending as much time as possible to improve my skill,” McBride said. “Within the next year I hope to be able to make a good looking board easily and completely on my own.”
Feb. 6, 2015
page 9
features
Investing in the future
Horoschak buys stocks to make money for college by Marie Ona
Making money is a job for most. For freshman Ethan Horoschak, it’s a hobby. He buys and sells stocks for public companies with the help of an online trading service. “It doesn’t take that much time out of your day. I don’t have to do much but maybe 30 minutes a day. I go on and look at how companies are doing, then maybe trade, and I can make money,” Horoschak said. Horoschak was introduced to stock trading by his uncle. “My uncle, who’s retired, wanted me to get into it because he said it’s basically free money if you know what to do. For two weeks he taught
me how to trade stocks. So I started getting into it,” Horoschak said. Horoschak has invested half of his own money and half from his father to a total of $4000 in stocks. “My dad says it’s my college fund. My sister’s in college and it’s expensive so I’m trying to save up money before I go,” he said. “If I take money out on personal use, they will charge you tax, educational use doesn’t charge tax.” According to Horoschak, making “really easy” money is “fun.” “I like that anyone can make money if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. It’s fun when you see a stock that you own
go up and you know you’ve made a good decision,” he said. Horoschak also states that there is, however, a risk factor involved. “Some people might say it’s an educated gamble. People like winning when there is a risk of losing, so in stocks there is equal risk,” he said. “It’s worth the risk because if you do the research, the chances of winning are better.” Horoschak’s largest earning was $700 from an Apple stock. He has made a total of $1000, making the rest of the money from GoPro and El Pollo Loco stocks. “I wouldn’t put all my money in one part of the market. You need variety so you don’t lose everything,” he said. “You can buy a
From seas to shining seas by Vivian Lam She was born an American, but she doesn’t feel like one. Junior Revere Wood has moved over twelve times all over the U.S. and across the world to Japan, Bahrain, Italy, and Singapore. After living in Singapore for four years, she moved back to America last June. “Because I had actually put roots down in Singapore, and I had gotten use to the culture and the way of life, then coming here it was hard because the cultures were so different and it made me feel like I wasn’t American,” Wood said. Wood was “confused” and “unsure” of her identity after her move to California. “I knew no American slang, I knew nothing of the culture, the people seemed foreign to me and I just didn’t feel like I fit in,” she said. “Sometimes I still don’t because I’ve spent half of my life outside of the U.S. or on the East Coast.” According to Wood, constantly moving around causes her to feel bothered to live in a place longer than two years. “I think the hardest move was from Singapore because I lived there for four years, but I had always had an easy time moving because I was always used to it,” she said. “I had never lived anywhere, besides Singapore, where I had lived there long enough to put down roots.” She never got the chance to call places
“home” because of how often she moved around for her father’s career in the military. “My dad is a retired Naval Captain who worked as a fighter pilot for over 30 years. The last move to Singapore was our only move where he wasn’t moving with the military. He was the Defense Attaché to Singapore serving at the U.S. Embassy,” Wood said. “Singapore was the best option. It is the cleanest, one of the world’s safest and richest countries.” While she lived in Singapore, Wood was a diplomat representing the U.S. “Any trouble I could have gotten in reflected on the US,” she said. “I was never one to get in trouble so it never bothered me.” One of the teachers who helped Wood feel “less lonely” when she first attended the school was English teacher John Burke. “Last year, I had a boy who also grew up overseas in Kuwait and it was his 18th school. I took special care of her knowing what he went through, so I really felt for her. I made sure she didn’t have to feel overwhelmed, nervous and, out of place in a new school,” Burke said. Woods may not stay in America for long. “I am not permanently anywhere,” Wood said. “Sometimes it’s hard to stay in contact with the friends I’ve made, but it’s always nice when you just like a post on Facebook or something about some great thing that has happened and it’s like an old friend congratulating the other.”
stock and then it goes down and you lose money. You might forget to check one day and boom the stock drops. But you never really gain or lose money until you sell the stock.” Horoschak uses a stock trading service called Scottrade. According to Scottrade’s website, the company is an online investing firm that offers an array of stock trading tools to help execute trades on an investor’s own terms. In addition, Scottrade offers mobile apps to help make self-directing trade “easier”. Horoschak believes he has always been cautious with money. He says stock trading has helped him be a more aware as a person and less naive. “I’ve become more involved in world events and learned connections between political events and businesses,” he said.
Revere Wood has moved 12 times to countries around the world
PHOTO COURTESY OF REVERE WOODS
World traveler. Woods (right) and her family stand in front of a directional sign in Istanbul, Turkey.
page 10
e g Ed
High Tide
center
Feb. 6, 2014
g n i p e e K that
page 11
center
With school work and extracurricular activities, some students turn to energy products, which may be both beneficial and detrimental, to keep them alert and focused throughout the day Withdrawal Symptoms Sluggishness Fatigue Mild Depression Headache Restlessness
Caffeine
g lertness, takin o a r fo n e k ta e en tw tanc common substo affect and lasting betwe ; caffeine t s o m e th is in cts Caffeine utes to come t without certain side affe lerance, in m 5 4 to 15 t no d to abou . However, it isl dependence and increase ty if over conrs u o h r u fo d an psychologica ttacks in those with anxiexisting ulcers. use can lead to panic a n worsen e may promote sumed, and ca
Energy Drinks
riptio
A comparison of the caffeine content in energy drinks and shots
WWW.EROWID.ORG
Do these other chemicals work?
80mg/can
9.5mg/floz
Monster
10mg/floz
160mg/can
Rockstar
10mg/floz
160mg/can
Nos
n
amon bloodeased agg g heart pressure ressivene , bod -par rate y temss, breath in perat -insoanoia ure, a g rate, m n nd i -dry m a Prolo -head outh nged lead t use c -imp ache aired vitam o malnutr an it speec skin d in deficien ion, h iso cie rde s, ssion rs, and .
depre
142mg/can
8.9mg/floz
WWW .ERO WID.O
160mg/can
10mg/floz
5-Hour Energy
icatio
in escrip n tion t the US w tains hich o use .
Red Bull
Amp
n Med
RG
200mg/bottle
100mg/floz
Contains 40 to 60mg caffeine each Caf fe Pill ine s
Tea
Contain about 100mg caffeine each COFFEEFAQ.COM
The most prominent chemical felt from drinking Carnitine - Claimed to improve endurance, increase energy drinks and shots is caffeine, but because they fat metabolism and protect against cardiovascular disease; however, there is no evidence that it increases endurance are considered “dietary supplements” by the FDA, they or weight loss. It may protect against heart disease. are not subject to the same caffeine limitations as food Guarana - Supposedly increases energy, enhances and drinks. Because of this, they can contain much physical performance, and facilitates weight loss. This more caffeine than food and drinks, in addiis somewhat true, as a major component of guarana is caffeine, which suppresses apetite, increases energy tion to chemical additives such as and boosts physical performance. guarana and inositol. Taurine - Claimed to reduce the risk of diabetes, Some hypertension, and epilipsy; there is not enough s as ad tudents evidence to show it reduces the risk of epilepsy and d diabetes, but it may lower blood pressure. focus eral, vyv take pre there ed during anse, and scription Inositol - Supposedly reduces fat and cholesterol levels to lower risks of heart accomare neut school. A ritalin, to“focus” dr r disease, but there is no evidence to u a E s s p g l a ff t an s, a p ects o on us any th support this. e des d negativ rescriptioy alert andsuch e by l f Amp Posit NUTRITION.UCDAVIS.EDU ired e e side n me aw. hetam ive dicat ffect Legal e f f i n e c io s, as w ct re ines: ity: A -eup ased alert ell as s which n, mphe horia n e ss, m restr -posi amph tam otiva tive m iction tion, are o etamines ines N o o and s eutra d shif s nly av Adde , whic ociab t l r a a h A i ility l l f a a and v fects Meth ble b -redu re Sc t y y h h c v e p e e n y a d r d c e n e l u e r s s p a v l n r e cripti e ppet o t estl meth henid on. II Drugs i contain to tre us system ral ylphe a -dilat essness ite n the ;u at de nidat te - Rit e o p d pup US an besit ressio sed alin, o e, a S y N i d , n, l a s egati tt defic requi chedule r “conce it diso ention v e res a I r I o t d r thers a,” co der, rug incr pr
Presc
Coffee Limited to 72 mg per 12oz by FDA
WWW.CAFFEINEINFORMER.COM
PHOTOS BY CHANDLER ROSS
page 12
features
Transcendent love
High Tide
Senior Taylor Elrod looks beyond the biological gender when falling in love
by Mylene Silver
Having overcome adversity, transgender male alumnus Mitchel Wagner is now happier than ever with his new identity and confident in his relationship with senior Taylor Elrod. “He makes me feel so comfortable and safe all the time. I know I can always be myself around him,” Elrod said. The pair have been dating since last March. They met four years ago, while Elrod was a freshman and Wagner was a junior, Wagner had low self confidence and barely talked or made eye contact with anyone. “Since I transitioned, I feel awesome and more confident with myself,” Wagner said. “I’m not shy and afraid of what people are going to say about me because I’m just so comfortable in my own body now.” Wagner admits that his personality has greatly changed “for the better.” “Confidence is very attractive to me and I feel like it makes me feel more comfortable when the person I’m with is comfortable with themselves,” Elrod said. According to Elrod, the only negativity she’s received has been from people she has previously dated. Otherwise, family and friends have been supportive. “Everything’s been really positive,” Elrod said. “He and my mom are really close. We all have a really great relationship.” Wagner started his transition, involving hormone therapy and testosterone injections, six months before the two became a couple. “His transition changed his voice along with some physical aspects like facial hair
and muscles, but it didn’t change anything that I fell in love with,” Elrod said. “I fell in love with how he treats me and how he sees the world and how he just thinks everything in life is so beautiful.” According to Wagner, the controversy and negativity projected at the LGBT community is crazy and unfair. “I think people just think that it’s a choice; like some people think that it’s a choice to be gay,” Wagner said. “I can bet my life that most gay guys would choose to be straight if they could, but they can’t. I know that that’s the same thing with trans.” Wagner aims to help others by posting videos on a collaborative YouTube channel with other female-to-males. “People in the transgender community come to him for help,” Elrod said. “He’s striving to become a motivational speaker and he’s writing a book. He’s doing a lot. I’m so proud of him.” According to Elrod, she understands how transgenderism can be confusing to people. “I would say transgender is the state of physically being born one sex but not be-
PHOTO BY CHANDLER ROSS
Same love.
Taylor Elrod is dating Mitchel Wagner, a transgender man, which means he was born a woman but feels like a man.
ing able to associate with the given body,” Wagner said. “The individual feels as though they’re prisoner in their own body and strongly believe they’re the opposite sex despite what genitalia they may have.” Wagner spoke at the Gay-Straight Alliance Club before the end of last year. “Motivational speaking is what I want to do. I don’t know if it’s going to be my main thing but I want to talk in front of audienc-
es. I’m taking a communications study class right now and it’s all about speeches,” Wagner said. He would be “miserable” if he had not transitioned and was forced to live a “normal” life, according to Wagner. “I would be with him if he had transitioned or not,” Elrod said. “I fell in love with his personality and I would still love him as much as I do.”
SPONSORED CONTENT
RBEF funds college trips for students by Jon Mallen
A new outlook on the future, a new feeling of hopefulness, a new feeling of belonging. College field trips bring out fresh new ideas in teenagers of a brighter future in education. Thanks to the efforts of RBEF, RUHS students can attend a college field trip that helps them plan out their college goals and find schools that interest them. Annually, College and Career Counselor Shannon Rodriguez takes a group of up to 100 juniors and sophomores to the National College Fair. “There are hundreds of colleges represented in addition to various workshops that students can attend with various topics such as financial aid, college affordability, and getting into hyper competitive colleges,” Rodriguez said. This year will be the third year that Redondo students have attended the National College Fair, of which the most local location is at the Anaheim Conven-
tion Center, and is only there once a year. “The fair lasts for a few hours and time flies by very quickly,” Rodriguez said. There is always a large turnout of students who want to go, according to Rodriguez, especially this year. “We have had, on average, 85+ students attend, however, this year, we expect to have closer to our maximum capacity of 100,” Rodriguez said. Senior Chandler Ross speaks of his time at the college fair as a worthwhile experience. “It was a great experience, both fun and educational,” Ross said. According to Ross, the fair gave him an idea of what schools to apply for and also find schools that attracted him. “I was able to find some great colleges that were a good fit for me and also ones I was very interested in,” Ross said. Ross was also able to learn what colleges
focus on and which kinds of students are more likely to be accepted. “The best advice I got from the fair would definitely be that colleges are not just looking for good GPA’s and SAT scores,” Ross said, “They’re looking more for a well rounded student. The kind that gets more involved in school by doing more extracurricular activities, volunteering, being in different clubs and sports, or even getting a job in addition to getting good grades and test scores.” On return from the fair, Rodriguez gives out a mandatory anonymous survey in which students comment on how much they learned about colleges. “The results are extremely positive. Students learn about colleges they would have never considered before,” Rodriguez said. As well as learning about new colleges, students may also meet important people who can help in their college career, accord-
ing to Rodriguez. “Students can make admissions counselor contacts which become very valuable when they begin the college application process,” Rodriguez said, “It’s a great experience.” According to Ross, the best experience of the trip was talking to all the admissions counselors. “The best thing I got out of the trip was interacting and talking personally to the college admissions counselors and getting an idea of what they were looking for in their applications for that specific school,” Ross said. Any student interested in planning out a college education can attend thanks to RBEF, according to Rodriguez. “Admission is free to the fair itself,” Rodriguez said, “and RBEF is extremely generous in paying for the buses so that we can all attend together.”
Feb. 6, 2015
features
page 13
Kompost Kidz bond to help the environment by Malek Chamas After the school bell rings and students are dismissed, he grabs his camera equipment and walks over to Parras Middle School, spending about an hour there. Every Wednesday, freshman Kolby Holdsworth goes to Parras to help with Kompost Kidz, a student organization that collects raw fruit and vegetable scraps and composts them to feed garden boxes on campus. When Holdsworth is there, he helps by
taking pictures of them, shooting videos for their sponsors, making montages for them, and occasionally getting to set down his camera and help them with whatever they are doing. According to Holdsworth, working for Kompost Kidz allows him to connect to his “love for photography and videos”. “Hopefully, I’ll get to shoot for a surfer magazine,” Holdsworth said. “That is my big goal.” Jon Mallen, another freshman who attended Parras, also occasionally helps out
Coming together.
Jon Mallen and other Kompost Kidz members celebrate after winning a $1000 grant in the Grades of Green Trash Free Lunch Contest. “We already made some big change in the garden, and to win that contest almost brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t have asked for anything better, ” Mallen said. PHOTO COURTESY OF KOLBY HOLDSWORTH PHOTO COURTESY OF KOLBY HOLDSWORTH
with the program. “The last time I went was three months ago,” Mallen said. “I do not go very often, but I still feel that I am a part of its legacy, since I was there for three years, so I still feel a very close connection to it.” Parras staff member Clark Woods, who attended Parras himself twelve years ago, is the advisor to the Kompost Kidz group. Holdsworth says that Woods is very close with everybody in the group. “He is a great guy. He’s awesome. He’s nice to everybody, he’s really funny, and he’s a really easy person to get along with,” Holdsworth said. “He’s like an older brother.” Last school year, Parras won a $1,000 grant for their performance in the Grades of Green Trash Free Lunch Contest. Kompost Kidz and the Green Team, another student environmental organization at Parras, led the effort to decrease the amount of trash bags used at lunch every day from 24-35 to 2-4, beating several other schools in Los Angeles county. “It was so amazing. I could not believe all our hard work paid off like that,” Mallen said. “We were so happy.”
According to Mallen, working with the Kompost Kidz program at the middle school produces a unique sense of accomplishment and comaradery. “Knowing that I helped the legacy of Kompost Kidz, I feel that I wrote my name in Parras history,” Mallen said, “I can still help out and be a part of it, and that’s what is important. The ability for this bunch of kids to create a garden ecosystem is amazing.” Mallen also says that working with Kompost Kidz allows him to enhance his “passion for gardening”. “There’s something enjoyable about planting a seed and watching it grow to a blossoming plant. It’s a fun thing to do,” Mallen said. “I’ll probably have my own garden when I get my own place, and work on it.” Holdsworth also enjoys working in Kompost Kidz. According to him, it provides another benefit besides the sense of accomplishment: the social aspect of the work. “The best part is having fun. The whole time I am there, we are always laughing and joking around, and messing around with each other. So that makes it a really fun place to be,” Holdsworth said.
page 14
features
Strut down the runway
High Tide
by Yasamin Fazeli
For a girl who hopes to pursue a career in modeling, sophomore Amy Martin falls short of just one requirement. Martin enjoys working for different photographers and hopes to be signed with an agency soon. “I started when I was twelve but then I started getting serious during the past few months,” Martin said. Friends and family urged Martin to start modeling because they thought she would be great at it which led to her to begin. “People were always telling me I should model because I’m tall and skinny. I wasn’t sure at first, but then I started talking to different people, and then I actually got scouted by the owner of Photogenics, a modeling agency, and that really pushed me to become serious about modeling,” Martin said. Martin has not been signed to an agency yet, but she worked with photographers who are trying to get their portfolios together and has done shoots with clothing companies. “In order to model you have to get an agent. Right now I’m talking to an agency but they won’t sign me until my hips are 35 inches. Right now my hips are 37 inches,” Martin said. According to Martin, meeting the requirements for modeling can be “difficult.” “The measurements can be super hard because there’s such a small window for high fashion modeling and runway. You have to be a certain height, and certain bust, waist, and hips. It can be difficult to make sure you’re constantly within those measurements especially for a prolonged period of time,” she said. Along with the modeling agencies’ strict requirements for body measurements, there are several and challenges in modeling. “The agency I’m talking to right now wants me to get my hip [measurements] down two inches and it’s really tough. Sometimes I’m not so sure that my body will even be able to do that,” Martin said. “Right now I’m on a ketogenic diet where you eat high fat and a lot of protein, so sometimes it can get pretty hard. I also work out about four times a week.” One major setback that Martin must push through while modeling is her tendency to become nervous before and during the shoots. “I’m mainly nervous. I think, ‘Wow, do I look dumb right now?’ Along with being worried about looking dumb, I also worry about whether I’m ever going to get signed or get a job,” Martin said. “I get nervous thinking about whether I can actually do everything and I have to do it in a way that doesn’t cause me to become anorexic or unhealthy in another way.” Thinking positively throughout the duration of the shoots also prevents her from becoming too nervous. “I try to be confident. I think to myself, ‘you got this. They obviously picked you for a reason.’ I try to think about all the famous models and how they had to start somewhere too. They probably went through the exact same thing,” Martin said.
Runway model requirements: Height: min. 5’9”
Bust: max. 35”
Hips:
Waist: max. 25”
max. 35”
Age:
under 20
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY MARTIN
Amy Phillips, co-owner of Eye Model Management, the agency that Amy is talking to, also believes that the photographer is an important part of making the model feel comfortable. “Most photographers will have a story board of images that guide the inspiration of any shoot, this story board gives the model an idea of what the photographer is going for and usually helps to calm nerves as the model has more direction at that point,” Phillips said. “The photographer will also give some guidance when needed during a shoot to insure everything runs smoothly.” Her family has been really supportive along the way and her friends are there to help her out most of the time. “My parents are really supportive about my modeling. Sometimes my friends are and sometimes they’re not. There was this one time where I might have had to go to China to sign to an agency and my friends didn’t really want me to go. But other than that they’ve been pretty supportive. They want me to succeed,” Martin said. She hopes to pursue a career in modeling, preferably a runway model. “Right now what I really want to do is runway modeling and high fashion because that’s where all the taller models like me usually go. I just think that it’s really fun to meet new people who are super creative and have new ideas,” Martin said. However, if a career in modeling is not successful, she has an interest in other fashion related careers. “Obviously I would go to college, whether I modeled or not, but I honestly have no idea what I want to do after I graduate. Definitely not a desk job, I find that really boring. Probably something in a creative or fashion genre like fashion marketing, a fashion magazine, or even an interior designer,” Martin said. Although sticking with an agency is a big commitment, Martin feels that she is ready if it will help her achieve her modeling goals. “The agency I’m talking to right now is called a mother agency so when you sign with them, they develop you by training you and then sign you with bigger jobs because they have connections with bigger modeling agencies,” Martin said. “When you sign with the mother agency you usually stay with them for about five years which is a big commitment, but I’m definitely ready to make that commitment because I want to see if I have a chance.” Martin is grateful that she chose not to quit when it was difficult and advises others looking into modeling to do the same. “If people want to pursue a career in modeling they definitely shouldn’t be discouraged and you should definitely try,” Martin said. “For a long time I was getting rejected by lots of agencies. Every place I went would tell me I’m not the look they want, but I finally found one so I think if you really put your mind to it you can do it.”
Feb. 6, 2014 athlete of the issue: Seungnak Shin
page 15
features
Shin adapts to America through wrestling by Jason Fong
For most people growing up in America, playing football and basketball are memorable parts of an American childhood. However, for senior Seungnak Shin, it was wrestling that gave him an introduction to American culture. “When I came to America in my eighth grade year, we were doing a P.E. unit in wrestling, and I was taking everybody down. I thought it would be a good way to make friends and ‘buy into’ a new country, and kind of learn the culture. The coach, who was also the P.E. teacher, told me that I was pretty good, and should try out for the team,” Shin said. In his first year of wrestling, Shin won his weight class in the conference (league finals), and has continued to win since. With almost 20 wins in only 27 matches and a 3rd place finish at the John Glenn High Invitational, Shin has taken Redondo Wrestling by storm. Shin believes his success is due to the “great coaching” from Redondo along with the “mentally tough” attitude that he cultivated at his former high school. “At Conant, everyone was so focused on wrestling. They were completely dedicated to the sport, and wanted to win so much more than other people. Wrestling was all that they wanted to do. This is the kind
of attitude that I try to have,” Shin said. According to Shin, working out with his former teammates, several of whom were state qualifiers, taught him many important lessons. “Watching the way my former teammates worked in practice, and the way that they would come up with big wins was really inspiring to me when I was a younger wrestler.” Shin said. Shin’s most memorable match of the season took place was Tuesday’s dual meet against Mira Costa. “My favorite match this season was against a kid from Mira Costa, who was ranked first in jiu jitsu in the world in his age group. It was definitely a tough match, and even though I was down 10 points, I refused to give up. I was able to wrestle the whole six minutes hard, and I came back to pin him. It was awesome.” Shin said. Shin’s goals for the season include a trip to the CIF state tournament, and hopefully, placing.
1. Fighting back.
1. Shin wins in the Megatron tournament. 2. Shin has a decisive victory over a Poway High School wrestler who was from a school ranked 5th in the state.
2. PHOTOS BY KAMILA AOURAGH
page 16
High Tide
sports
Girls basketball stays persistent
After defeating Morningside on Tuesday, girls basketball uses their momentum to help them prepare for upcoming Peninsula game by Lizzie Fauver Girl’s basketball walked away with a 82-7 win against Morningside on Tuesday. “We played really well, and we were really patient in finding the right shot,” senior Elise Allison said. “Our defense played really well, and our guards were finding the post players a lot.” Moving on from this win gives the team an opportunity to practice plays that they can use in their upcoming game against Peninsula. “In order to play our best, the team needs to be very focused and give it our all in practice. We need to work on many things like our free throws,” Allison said. In preparation for the upcoming game, the team will be practicing certain plays that Allison believes will be beneficial in beating Peninsula. “Some specific areas we need to focus on to defeat Pen are closing out on the shooters, bowing out, rebounding, and keeping our composure,” Allison said. 1. “On the outside and all
around, we need to keep up our energy and enthusiasm.” Last time the team played Peninsula they defeated them 63-44 but according to senior Ami Nyingfa, they are now working harder than ever to keep the momentum they had in the previous game against Peninsula. “We did a good job against Pen last time we played them,” Nyingfa said. “Everybody had a great game and players who came off the bench came in on fire and hit a couple three pointers. We want to play as good if not better as we did then, and need to prepare by running new plays against their zone defense.” It is “critical” for the team to beat Peninsula in the next game to improve their chances of becoming Bay League champions, since currently they are tied with Peninsula and Costa for the first place spot. According to Allison, this win is exactly what the team needed to push them to play their best in upcoming games and pass Peninsula and Costa in the rankings. “Coming out of this win will motivate us for our game against Penn,” Allison said. “We have some unfinished business with Costa so beating Peninsula will definitely help our confidence in future games.” Nyingfa believes that each win will drive the team to work even harder and encour-
ages the girls to continue to play with maximum effort so they can end the season strong. “The win against Morningside made reaching our goal to become Bay League champs just a little bit closer,” Nyingfa said. “Knowing that makes us more hungry to beat Penn to achieve our goal.”
2. PHOTOS BY MATTHEW YONEMURA
Ahead of the game.
1. Senior Ami Nyingifa attempts to score against Costa. 2. Sophomore Nicole Swift scores on Morningside on Tuesday.
Boys soccer gears up for Peninsula by Jessica Johnson Boys soccer beat Morningside 5-0 on Tuesday and is now looking forward to their game against Peninsula today. “It’s going to be an intense game. Peninsula’s team is solid but the intensity we bring is hopefully going to stop them and scoring early and maintaining a lead throughout the game will give us the upper hand,” senior Ricky Olvera said. The last time the boys played Peninsula, they lost in overtime but they are focused on keeping the pace high throughout to beat them this time. “Our strategy is to come out with intensity and continue to play hard all game, not letting up until the game is over,” Junior Daniel Kelly said. The boys tried this strategy out in Tuesday’s game against Morningside to prepare themselves for
today’s game. “During Tuesday’s game we had to change our mentality in the second half because we knew it was not the way we wanted to play against Peninsula. We upped our game and got the result we were looking for,” Olvera says The team has had a fairly strong season so far and is still in the running for CIF, but this game is a “must win” for the team to be qualified for the CIF playoffs tournament. “We’re looking to move the ball around and connect passes. Keeping the ball moving and finishing our chances on goal is going to be vital,” Olvera says. Coming off of two wins, one being Tuesday’s game against Morningside and the other last week’s game against Lawndale, the team’s morale is high and the boys are hoping that it translates into today’s game and will give them that extra push to stay focused against
Peninsula. “It is definitely a confidence booster, but we can’t get get complacent,” Kelly says. The team had few mistakes in Tuesday’s game that they feel the need to correct for today’s game. “The thing I would fix is keeping the intensity and not let up on our attacking,” Olvera says,”but in order to beat Peninsula everyone is going to have to be working at 110 percent. The score will depend on how hard we work and how much we want it.” The team is looking forward to finishing off the season strong but they are focusing on keeping the intensity and focus up in games so they can move on to CIF as a strong team. “We need to play as a team and keep our game simple. If we’re gonna be a strong competitor we can’t afford to make mistakes,” Olvera says.
PHOTO BY KAMILA AOURAGH
Leave it to Leavitt. Senior Justin Leavitt steals the ball from a Morningside player in the game last Tuesday.
Feb. 6, 2015
page 17
sports
Pinned.
Wrestling hopeful for league finals by Romy Moreno With Bay League Finals around the corner, the boys wrestling team is hopeful and expecting the best as long as they stick to a few key components. “If everyone puts in the hard work during practice this week and makes it a high priority to get better, I think the team will do just fine,” junior Gabe Vialpando said. Junior Josh Martinez has more specific thoughts towards the League finals coming
up. “As a group we all need to practice our bottom position; being able to get out of bottom position quickly and breaking guys down,” Martinez said. According to Vialpando, everyone on the team should work on their wrestling, especially when they’re tired, because there will be many tough matches and this type of training would help.
Junior Raven McAuliffe attempts to escape a hold during a match last Tuesday.
Martinez has the same thoughts regarding how the team should prepare. “In order to prepare, we all need to really practice our moves and become mentally tough in times when we become tired and weak,” Martinez said. In addition to those thoughts, Martinez also has others. “We tend not to listen when we’re out on the mat and also forget our basics, so we’ve been practicing basic techniques that will help us be able to accomplish more,” Martinez said. Junior Justin Segura agrees. “Wrestling is not like other sports, its all about the basics and being able to stay mentally strong by remembering and putting the moves into action even when our bodies are exhausted,” Segura said. The team agrees that if they do these things they will accomplish a lot at Bay League and afterwards as well.
“We always try to win but its almost like we forget how to when we go out on our own during matches,” Martinez said. However, Martinez has high hopes for many of his teammates. “I believe that more than several people will make it to CIF next week and some of the new wrestlers definitely have the potential to make it this year, and if not next,” Vialpando said. One of the people Vialpando thought of was Senior Seungnak Shin. “I think he will because he shows up to most of the practices and puts in hard work every time he shows up,” Vialpando said. According to Shin in order to be a good wrestler and go far one has to be self motivated. “If we all motivate ourselves before and during our matches we will be able to go far and maybe even be able to go to state,” Shin said.
Polo prepping after Palos Verdes and Peninsula by Nina Gomez and Samaya Rubio
After the girls water polo team lost to Peninsula last Thursday and Palos Verdes on Wednesday, 14-8, the team is looking to improve before their last league games next week. According to the team, the last two games have been important to them because of the ongoing rivalry with both schools. “We’ve kind of formed a rivalry with Peninsula this season, we lost one game and
PHOTO BY SADIE PEARSON
Going for the goal.
Sophomore Kaitlin Harris attempts to pass in the game against PV.
won one game,” senior Megan Perez said. The game against PV proved especially difficult for the girls after their win against them the last time they played the game. “I think we played a good game and drew a lot of kickouts but we just couldn’t get our goals in,” senior Dinah Aiad said. Although they kept the game fairly close during the majority of the game, Aiad believes that the end of the game was “detrimental” to their success “Towards the end of the game we weren’t coming back on defense as much,” Aiad said. The girls agree they played fairly well in both games but had a few things they wanted to improve on before they play West on Monday. “We need to scrimmage more in practice and do more team bonding stuff to help us work better as a team,” senior Madison East said. According to East, they also need to work on their passing drills, their defense set-up, and watching for the ball and communicating with each other. “We need to be aware of who’s open and passing is really key,” East said. Despite the recent losses, the girls are very positive about their upcoming game
PHOTO BY MASHA PESCHERYAKOVA
Pass it on. Junior Ilene Guerrero attempts to shoot in the game last week against Peninsula. against West next Monday. “I think we are going to do well on Monday just going off past games against West. We need to improve on taking our time on offense, using the whole shot clock and taking good shots,” Aiad said. The team also believes that their new coach, Shelby Haroldson, has been key to helping them improve their skills during practice.
“Shelby knows a lot more about water polo, the game, and how water polo’s changed over the last few years, like old style versus new style so being a recent collegiate player she has helped us a lot,” East said. The team believes they can and need to improve all the aspects of their game in preparation for their game on Monday against West.
page 18
Girls soccer eyes the Bay League title by Adam Yorke
Just keep dribbling.
1. Sophomore Madi Kennel shoots the ball during a game against Peninsula. 2. Sophomore Lauren Schwartzer shields the ball from oncoming Peninsula defenders with junior Brittney Bravo coming in with an assist.
High Tide
sports
1.
Girls’ soccer, after defeating Mira Costa, Inglewood and Morningside still keeps the Bay League title in sight. Redondo defeated Mira Costa at home 2-0 on Jan. 27, finishing their first round of games. “Costa was tough competition, but we just outplayed them. We kept the ball, had excellent defense, and just finished the chances we got,” freshman Savannah Martinez said. They then defeated Inglewood 9-0 and Morningside 6-0. “The game wasn’t that challenging and we beat them by a lot. Even though it wasn’t tough competition we were able to get better by working on our possession and finishing,” freshman Ashley Herm said. Their next game is at Peninsula on Friday, Feb. 6. “If we want to beat Peninsula we will need to work together and communicate. The game will come down to the little things, so we just have to do those best,” sophomore Jesse Loren said. One of those “little things” is individual defending. “Peninsula is really physical. They have a few key players that we really need to put pressure on and shut down,” Martinez said. “Other than those key players they really don’t have anything against us.” RUHS will use Peninsula’s rough field to their advantage. “We have been working on team defending with the forwards since we know that
Peninsula’s field is not the best and we can then win the ball high up on the field which will allow us to go to goal right away,” Loren said. The last time RUHS and Peninsula met resulted in a 1-1 tie. “We played really well the first time we played them. Unfortunately we just couldn’t come out on top,” Herm said. “If we want to win we will need to keep the ball and create more dangerous attacks by waiting for the smart and right passes.” RUHS is currently in second place in Bay League with a 6-1-1 record. If they want to win the title they will need to win the rest of their games. “This year’s team has the potential to win Bay League and make a deep run in CIF,” Herm
2.
PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA BENDALL
said. “We just need to focus on little things, continue to work hard both on and off the field, and believe we will win.”
Surf team drowns Palos Verdes byJon Mallen
The surf team dealt another defeat Wednesday against Palos Verdes, beating them 98-68 at Hermosa. “We’re really strong and deep this year,” sophomore Hali Honea said. The wins come from the team’s effort as well as skill according to Honea. “We have so many talented surfers on our team who have been working really hard to do well,” Honea said. According to sophomore Kyle Beatty, the team rarely sees defeat. “We’ve won every contest except for one against Costa,” Beatty said.
The loss against Costa has done nothing but motivate the team to work harder and surf united. “We started to act more as a team by working together to win more points in heats and encourage our teammates from the beach,” Honea said. “I definitely believe if we surfed against Costa next week, it would be even more competitive and close in score.” Even Palos Verdes could not stop the success of the surf team, as they were defeated by Redondo for the first time in 7 years, Honea says. Improvements in technique have driven the success, according to Honea. “I’ve improved in getting more speed for turns and the like,” Honea said, “but mainly just getting farther down the line to score more points in heats.” As well as herself, Honea has seen improvement in her best friend and teammate Emma Waldinger. The friendship between the two has brought their 1. improvement, according to Ho-
nea. “We went to Hawaii together for a surf trip, and after that I think we became more confident in our skills,” Honea said, “This season we’ve been competing so closely with each other and getting better each session.
We really push each other to be better.” The season so far is looking good, according to both Beatty and Honea. “Our team just needs to keep on surfing and having fun and staying confident,” Honea said.
2.
PHOTOS BY KAMILA AOURAGH
Cruisin’. 1. Hall boogieboards into a wave. 2. Senior Chris Hall longboards at Hermosa pier at the team’s competition against Palos Verdes last week.
Feb. 6, 2015
page 19
sports
Basketball looks forward to rest of season after comeback against Morningside by Tyler Wunderli Boys basketball lost their first game of league play last Friday, but rebounded with a 20 point victory over Morningside on Tuesday. They will look to put the loss out of their minds and continue to win today at home against Peninsula. The team’s first loss in league came at the hands of Inglewood in a 57-54 defeat. While some players expected to do better, they know they must put it behind them according to senior Cameron High. “It’s in the past. I’m over it. We came out lazy and got beat, simple as that,” High said. He thought they responded to the loss well, and stepped it up in the next game against Morningside in their victory. “It was a good bounce back game for us. They were a scrappy team and that’s good for us to prepare for the playoffs,” High said. While a loss hurts the team, senior Isaiah Jackson thinks it could end up being a positive. “We don’t ever wanna lose, but it was a good loss and we learned that the day we don’t come out focused and ready to play is the day we’re gonna lose,” Jackson said. High echoes this statement, completely agreeing with Jackson that they need to always play hard. “I think it just helped us regroup and realize that if we don’t come to play then we will lose,” High said. Jackson is looking forward to the rest of the season, however, and is not deterred by
PHOTO BY MATTHEW YONEMURA
Hit me with your best shot. Junior Leland Green goes in for a layup against Morningside.
the loss. He instead thinks of it as something that could help them in the long run. “Our chances are still good. I have no doubt that we’re gonna win Bay League,” Jackson said. The loss was their first since the transfer of sophomore Billy Preston, 13th in the ESPN top 25 for the class of 2017, but Jackson is not worried. “We were doing good when he wasn’t here, so since he’s left I don’t think it’s really affected us, we’re still gonna continue to do what we do with or without him,” Jackson said. “Hopefully we can go far this year and take it all.” Looking ahead to the Peninsula game, RUHS won the last meeting 70-61, but that does not mean anything to the players according to Jackson. “It’ll be a good one, but this time it’ll be a whole different game,” Jackson said. High believes that to continue winning and to go far this season, they need work, not just for the upcoming game against Peninsula, but for the rest of the year. “We need to work on communication on the court, holding one another accountable, and execution,” High said. High is very confident moving forward, but said it is “all or nothing,” referring to the team’s future in league. “We have a great chance if we play together as a team and play for one another,” High said. “Everyone has stepped up this season. It’s a team effort. If somebody steps up it’s because they’re doing it for the team.”
Cheer prepares for Las Vegas nationals byJason Clebowicz As we enter the second week of February, Cheer too enters their second round of competition to “warm-up” for nationals. The Sharps sponsored competition will be held at Knotts Berry Farm on Feb. 14. “The main reason we entered the competition was to help practice and prepare us for nationals on the 20th, and there is no better way to do that then put us in a competitive atmosphere like that,” senior Keely Brooks said. Cheer placed third at the competition last year. “At the same time we are practicing for something more important, we also want to improve on how we did last year. I’d say our team has a self-driven will to improve on previous efforts,” Brooks said. In preparation for Jamz Nationals in Las Vegas, the team has made their stunts even harder, despite having practice only once a
week. According to sophomore Brooklyn Naravaez, the difficulties the team faces only brings them closer together. “We have become really close like a family and we’re really positive and encouraging toward each other,” Naravaez said. “We’re all really proud of ourselves and each other for pulling through and keeping up the energy that we’re known for.” Sophomore Lauryn Alejo agrees that their enthusiasm sets them apart from other teams. “At our last competition we were told on several occasions that we are a ‘head turner’ because when we cheered we were so loud,” Alejo said. Naravaez also believes that they have grown as a team. “We’ve had to learn to be supportive of each other and be better communicators so that we can still keep it together and put
on the show that everyone loves to watch,” Naravaez said. Sophomore Rosa Sciortina believes that the team has great chemistry. “We are working on hitting our motions sharper and cleaning up the technique in our routines, and our only weaknesses are the injuries that occur,” Sciortino said. “Still, we work through whatever is thrown at us.” According to Brooks, this has made it slightly more difficult to get ready for nationals, but the team has pulled together. “We all have the same goal: to win. We make the most of the time we get to spend together and accept the challenges of our limited time frame,” Brooks said. “But even with that said, I have so much confidence in my team to perform to their abilities.” The team practices for three to four hours to make sure the routine is clean and more “visually exciting.” “Our routines are definitely going to
PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKLYN NARAVAEZ
Victory. Sophomores Brooklyn Naravaez and
Lauryn Alejo hug after winning their competition in Long Beach.
be more difficult this time because all the teams we’re competing against are bringing their A game,” Naravaez said. “But we’re going to go out there and give it our all and show them how the Sea Hawks do it.”
page 20
High Tide | Feb. 6, 2014
features
2.
3.
Soccer Star. 1. One of Airie Gau-
ba’s pen-and-ink drawings. “This is a mermaid holding her throat because she’s drowning,” Gauba said. 2. Gauba likes drawing Disney scenes such as this one of Simba from The Lion King resting on a branch. 3. A pencil sketch of an eye. 4. Another one of Gauba’s Disney-themes sketches.
1.
Power of the pencil Senior Airie Gauba, who likes drawing mostly Disney characters, sells her art by Kayla Hiken What first started as a passion and something to do in her pastime soon became a way for senior Airie Gauba to earn some money. “I started selling my art because I wanted the money to buy certain things, such as video games. It’s a way for me to do something I love and get paid for doing it,” Gauba said. Gauba sells her artwork online at Etsy. She has only sold a few of her art pieces so far, at a price between $20 and $70, depending on how much time she put into that piece of work and what materials and tools were used. “I chose to sell my art on Etsy because my dad owns an account on there, so it’s just convenient for me to do so. The site is also a place where most artists sell their art,” Gauba said. She has been drawing for a long time and does it when she’s bored. She finds time
to draw when she’s at school, and when “there’s nothing to do in class”. “I started to draw as soon as I could hold a pencil in my hand. I realized I could draw well when my peers and other people started telling me that my drawings were really good. The reason I got into drawing is because my dad is an artist and I inherited his artistic talent,” Gauba said. Although Gauba’s dad is self-employed and he draws because it is his job, he also does it for fun. In addition to drawing, he sculpts and does digital art. Gauba also gets a lot of inspiration from other artists that she follows on Instagram. “I love looking at their art and seeing how well these artists can draw. It makes me want to do the same and draw even better than I can now,” Gauba said. As of now, most of Gauba’s artwork is of Disney characters. She finds that it is a “really nice style of art” to do.
“I love drawing Disney because the characters are really smoothly drawn out and it’s just a happy style. I remember when I was little I use to pause the movie and try to draw out fairies from Fantasia. It didn’t come out really well but ever since then I really love drawing Disney characters.” Gauba draws mostly female characters and a lot of disney princesses. She feels that male characters are more “boxy” while female characters are more “curvy.” “To me, art means expressing yourself,” Gauba said.
4. COURTESY OF AIRIE GAUBA