High Tide Feb. 22, 2013

HIGH

TIDE Feb. 22, 2013 // Vol. XCIII // Edition 10 Redondo Beach, CA // Redondo Union High School

Students giving service

by Savannah Stern and Karissa Taylor

They give up time with friends to help those in need. They feed the homeless, hand out care packages and help build houses for those who are unable to provide for themselves. Senior Hannah Vorndran and junior Abby Attig are encouraged by their churches to help the less fortunate.

Vorndran travels with her church to many different places to volunteer, including Skid Row in Los Angeles.

According to Vorndran, Skid Row smells of urine and garbage and has sleeping bags littered on the sidewalk. Homeless men, women and children wear layers of clothing, despite the warm weather, so they do not have to carry their clothes separately as they walk from shelter to shelter. Although Skid Row is a “devastating” area, it leaves Vorndran feeling grateful.

“Skid Row is definitely a depressing place. [But] it’s places like Skid Row that make me so much more thankful to live where I do and to have a roof over my head,” she said. [continued on p.20]

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The winner of battle of the bands, Sioux, relishes the spotlight.

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Senior Courtney Bowen works to earn her Gold Award.

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Athlete of the Issue Alyssa Crenshaw leads the cheer team.

The

week in

Academic Decathlon moves on to state level competion after sixth place finish

photos

by Deborah Chang

District Concert PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

The sound of music. Sophomores Ben Gosney, Christopher Martsolf and junior Sydney Holt performed as part of the percussion section with the Wind Ensemble at the District Band Concert last Wednesday. This concert featured the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, as well as Parras and Adams’s Wind Ensemble. This concert was to show what the art program has done over the past year as well as give the middle schools a chance to perform in front of an audience.

Boys’ Soccer PHOTO BY AHMAD KABBANI

Upset. Senior David Alexander tries to beat his defender in a game against Ventura. Boys’ soccer beat Ventura, a team who was ranked 21st in the the nation, according to MaxPreps. com. After the 3-2 win, Ventura’s ranking dropped by two spots. After conceding a goal only two minutes into the match, senior Colin Jackson scored the equalizer and junior Dustin Herold and senior Dagmay Demsay’s goals were enough to let Redondo gain and keep the lead for the rest of the game.

Senior Barbecue PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

No free lunches. Junior Sam Arrow serves senior Ethan Pezzolo during the Senior Barbeque. According to ASB member Emil Shallon, the Senior Barbecue was “a way of rewarding seniors for all the hard work they have done over their four year high school career.” Shallon also believes that the barbecue was successful and went well. “The lines were relatively short. There was enough food to get seconds, and I think people really enjoyed the event,” Shallon said.

2 HIGH TIDE . NEWS

The Academic Decathlon team felt confident in their county competitions Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 after placing 6th out of 30 teams in the earlier scrimmage match in November.

“The students studied their hearts out.

I know that they have been extremely focused. They clearly want to do well and win,” Academic Decathlon teacher Aimie Gauvreau said.

“To prepare, we practice 15 hours a week in and out of school,” senior Amanda Caceres said. “This year we are spending much more time on the more dry subjects such as math, music theory, and history.”

There are ten events: three are subjective and seven are objective. The students studied various subjects in their curriculum such as statistics, space exploration, science, Russia, art and literature. They took multiple exams in their Academic Decathlon class.

“When I look at the exams from November and the results of the exams we have been taking now there’s improvement across the board,” Gauvreau said. “The amount of effort put in is directly related to the percentage improved.”

The team felt confident in the interview and speech portion. The students have practiced interviews with staff members such as chemistry teacher Linda Dillard, principal Nicole Wesley, and several English teachers.

“This year everybody was confident with their performance [on Jan. 26] in the interviews,” junior Luke Murphy said. “For speeches, one of our team members made

the judges laugh a lot, which is great.”

The team placed 6th out of 46 schools in the January competition, qualifying them for the state competition. Their stronger sections were interview, language and literature, while their weaker sections were essay and math.

“We were kind of disappointed because last year we got 3000 points higher and placed second place, but we’re going to do better in state,” Murphy said.

The following weekend on Feb. 2, Academic Decathlon took the second part of their exam, which includes the Super Quiz.

“The Super Quiz was easier than I expected because I got more questions right on the honors section, which is supposed to be the hardest,” Murphy said.

The Super Quiz includes questions on economics, social science, science, art, music, and language and literature. There are 12 questions total, two from each category. Each grade division of each team is given 12 questions.

“I did not do well on the Super Quiz. I didn’t get as many questions right as I was hoping for,” Caceres said. “I’m going to try harder so we can do better at state.”

Gauvreau has high hopes for this year’s team at the state competition, despite having only two returning decathletes from last year.

“Our two returners, Luke Murphy and Amanda Caceres, have had instrumental roles in helping prepare this year’s team.

They set great examples,” Gauvreau said.

“This year’s a young team but they have a lot of heart and they’re hard workers.”

R.U. Supplied? helps students afford school supplies

by Nageena Hamraz

A four pack of mechanical pencils can be bought for $5.99 at Office Depot, but at the new “RU Supplied?” student store, the same pack can be bought for just $0.50.

This ASB-sponsored store is designed to assist the students in handling costs rather than fundraising.

The supplies sold through this event is bought at wholesale prices and are further subsidized by ASB funds. Therefore, the prices available to the students are below wholesale prices.

“This provides a great benefit to the students and ensures that they have the tools necessary for a successful academic year,” ASB president and senior Emily Su said.

Su presented this idea to ASB for discussion and approval after she came up with it over the past summer. She wanted a way for ASB to connect on a more personal level with the students, so she thought of selling school supplies.

“We need school supplies all year round,

and being able to buy school supplies right on campus for extremely low prices saves students both time and money,” Su said.

According to Activities Director Sherie Gross, ASB saw a need and worked to fulfill it.

“Redondo families are not immune to budget issues. If cheap school supplies helps to lessen financial stress just a little, then we’ve done a good thing,” Gross said.

Originally, the student store on campus was planned to be opened one week per semester. However, because it is a new event, it took longer to prepare for and there was no time available in first semester.

Despite this, the first week of “RU Supplied?” was a “success,” and according to Su, students praised the event and expressed appreciation for what ASB is doing.

“It quickly became clear to those of us working in the store that we are doing good for the school community,” Su said. “It makes me feel happy and fulfilled to know that we can make a small difference in the lives of our students.”

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Cafeteria. 1. Samples of the table tops. 2. Design for the deli station 3. The booths except the attached structural sail(above the booths) will be removed 4. The expected design. Renderings courtesy of Palmer Hamilton LLC

Cafeteria to be finished in two weeks

by Hana Ghanim

After about 18 months of construction, the cafeteria will be finished on March 4. Designed with the help of administration and the Student Design Team, the cafeteria will be two stories with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The cafeteria will feature a variety of choices including Asian and South of the Border cuisines and foods made from a pizza oven, a grill, and a deli, all prepared by a group of cafeteria staff. Students will also have the option of separately buying Jamba Juice, frozen yogurt, and fruits.

The grand opening will be an invitation only event held on March 13 and will feature celebrity chef from the Biggest Loser, Devin Alexander, speaking about her experiences with weight challenges.

Administration is also planning a “soft opening” one week before spring break that will let in students one grade level at a time to anticipate how the cafeteria will work and prepare the cafeteria staff for when it is finally open to all.

Overall, administration looks forward to the new college-style cafeteria and believes the opening will be a big success among students and staff.

“Students will certainly appreciate [the cafeteria], especially in the wintertime with the weather the way it is. It’s nice to have an indoor facility to walk into and actually feel comfortable and cozy,” assistant principal Jens Brandt said. “It’s going to feel like you’re actually at a restaurant.”

RED Talks educate students STEM topics and careers

by Andrew Czuzak

An expectant hush falls over room 311 as Joey Gold, an engineer for Raytheon and subject of this RED Talk, begins speaking.

RED Talks is a club that invites speakers to RUHS to speak about current events and their career.

“We [wanted] to have a club that spreads our excitement for the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics] community,” club copresident and junior Luke Murphy said.

Based off TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Conferences, a program that has had speakers such as Bill Gates, Richard Dawkins, and Bill Clinton, junior and copresident Petra Grutzik wanted to get Redondo and South Bay residents to talk about their jobs.

“I know a lot of my friends have a lot of trouble figuring out what want to do when they grow up,” Grutzik said.

According to Grutzik, the South Bay is a “great” area for this program due to the proximity of UCLA, USC, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and other firms.

“We’ve had talks about global warming, genetics, and adversaries of the U.S., and so far, they’ve all been really interesting,” Grutzik said.

According to Grutzik, the talks have been “successful,” drawing about 60 students per talk.

“So far it’s been really successful. We try and cram as many people as possible into Mr. Baumgartner’s room. The desks fill up and people stand around the edge of the room. In fact we had to move to room 311 which is a lot bigger,” Grutzik said.

Due to the other students’ collective interest, Grutzik and Murphy are interested in continuing the club next year and after they graduate.

“We’d love for it to continue and grow,” Grutzik said. “This isn’t only for RUHS students, but for everyone else too.”

Baumgartner, RED Talks’ sponsor, believes that the club has been successful and would be interested in continuing it next year.

“It’s very much student-driven and if the student’s want [to keep the club going,] I will continue to provide the faculty supervision,” Baumgartner said.

Grutzik hopes that the club will continue to grow and attract more and more people.

“We want to spark people’s interest in math and science even if they don’t want to be engineers,” Grutzik said.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

Seek and Destroy. Speaker Joey Gold spoke about tracking high value targets in the Midde East. According to Gold, Raytheon reduces the time it takes to track a car from ten to two hours.

Ecology Club sponsors Going Green Night to improve enviromental safety

by Hana Ghanim

Assistant principal Adam Genovese and members of Ecology Club held Going Green Night to promote environmental safety last Tuesday.

“Our main goal with the Going Green Night was to get our program started,” Genovese said. “This is the first step in a long process. We don’t only want to improve on-campus awareness, but off as well.”

Going Green Night was centered on the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Anne Zeller, who volunteers at Algalita Marine Research Institute, spoke about the negative effects of trash and plastics on marine animals. Grades of Green volunteer Allie Bussjaeger lectured about reducing waste and increasing usage of recyclable goods.

The event had a turnout of about 70 people. Genovese was “satisfied” with this outcome and believed the event spread

some new information.

“A new term that was used at the Going Green Night was ‘refuse.’ For example, if you’re at a fast food place and they give you five ketchup packets say, ‘I don’t need that.’ Refuse to go places that aren’t environmentally friendly,” Genovese said.

Ecology Club president and senior Cooper Lovano was also pleased with the event and hopes to partner with Grades of Green to introduce “waste audits” to RUHS,

which involves choosing what trash could have been saved, recycled, or composted.

Although Lovano is graduating, he and Genovese have many hopes for the future.

“Now that we have done Going Green Night, we have several options,” Genovese said. “We’re going to meet with the committee again and decide where we’re going to go from here. We could do another Going Green Night next year, and we could join several projects already in place.”

3 HIGH TIDE . NEWS

Letters to the

Editor If you have an opinion about one of the articles, we welcome letters 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.

HIGH TIDE

STAFF

Going

Green

EDITORIAL

WHAT WE THINK Redondo needs to reduce its carbon footprint by decreasing the amount of products consumed and investing in reusable products to protect the environment.

Each year, 14 billion pounds of garbage, mostly plastic, finds its way into our oceans.

This plastic doesn’t go away and doesn’t biodegrade. It gets broken down into smaller and smaller pieces, some so small you can’t even see. But it’s still there, all 14 billion pounds of it. And it’s getting worse every day.

This trash pollution comes from all around the world, but a lot of trash that makes it to our beaches is from our own backyards. Trash that is not disposed of prop-

AROUND REDONDO What are you doing to make the community more “green?”

by Navikka Dasz and Mannal Haddad

ILLUSTRATION BY COOPER LOVANO

erly from restaurants, businesses, schools and homes make it into storm drains that lead straight to the ocean. Plastic bags are a common item washed up on shore, and out of over one trillion plastic bags produced per year, less than one percent are recycled (reuseit.com).

People today produce too much trash, wasting resources and energy in making disposable, one-use goods and transporting our waste to landfills. This over-consumption is not only wasteful, but also expensive. According to cleanair.org, California spends $25 million sending plastic bags to landfills each year. Even recycling costs money–$4,000 for one ton of plastic bags.

Refusing to use plastic and other disposable items will not only conserve resources, but also save money that can be spent on other things, like initiatives to reduce waste.

As a community so close to the beach, we have a responsibility to reduce the amount of trash that reaches our oceans. Manhattan Beach implemented their plastic bag ban in January 2012, reducing the amount of plastic bags that are distributed, therefore reducing the amount that can potentially end up floating in our ocean. Manhattan also established an Environmental Task Force in 2011 to tackle other environmental issues like energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water

conservation.

Redondo should implement a similar ban on plastic bags and create a task force devoted to addressing environmental concerns. If citizens continue to increase their environmental footprint at the cost of the environment, the city government needs to step in and take action.

Government action takes time, though.

Individuals need to make an effort to reduce their waste. One way to reduce trash that reaches our oceans and landfills is to reduce the amount of products we consume, by being more mindful of how much we really need, and monitoring the types of products we use. Instead of grabbing 10 napkins at a restaurant, we should grab two. We should also invest in reusable items instead of throwing away our money and resources on single-use items. Instead of buying a pack of water bottles every two weeks, we should buy reusable water bottles with filters that have to be replaced only every two months, and instead of using paper lunch bags, we should invest in a reuseable and insulated lunch bag.

We have a responsibility to protect our environment and the ability to reduce our waste. If everyone is more mindful about pollution, we can solve the plastic problem plaguing our planet.

“I make sure I pick up my trash and recycle my water bottles.”

“I do beach clean-ups and also try to help by having a compost bin.”

CAITLIN MCMARTIN, 11

JACOB RENO, 9

“I recycle and that helps save the environment.

I also reuse my plastic bags so dolphins don’t die.”

MOIZ ANSARI, 12

“I recycle cans and bottles and pick up trash when I see it.”

MATTHEW BOULES, 10 PHOTOS BY CLAIRE TISIUS

4 HIGH TIDE . OPINION

Editor-in-Chief: Julia Tran Managing Editor: Emma Uriarte Writing Director: Tricia Light Design Director: Taylor Ballard Sports Director: Tatiana Celentano News Editor: Andrew Czuzak Opinion Editor: Mannal Haddad Health Editor: Cedric Hyon Features Editors: Taylor Brightwell; Shivaani Gandhi; Kylie Martin; Haley Meyers Sports Editors: Allegra Peelor, Alejandro Quevedo Photo Editors:Vitoria Magno-Baptista; Diana Luna Copy Editors: Hana Ghanim; Ilana LaGraff; Navikka Dasz Cartoonist: Cooper Lovano Online Editors: Vivian Lam; Kayla Maanum; LeAnn Maanum Staff Writers: Victoria Artaza; Alina Bieschke; Joseph Bieschke; Jewell Black; Kenneth Bowen; Kira Bowen; Kolbie Brightwell; Ted Cavus; Deborah Chang; Edwin Chavez; Caitlin Cochran; Yasmeen El-Hasan; Micah Ezzes; Zoe Ezzes; Anna Fauver; Stella Gianoukakis; Anacristina Gonzalez; Nageena Hamraz; Natalie Hardiman; Katie Hill; Haris Khan; Chance King; Angela Kim; Justin Lee; Daniel Loveland; Shawn Mallen; Nicholas McCarthy; Romy Moreno; Alida Newson; Kayla Nicholls; Susan Nieves; Rachael Orford; Lindsey Pannor; Cameron Paulson; Jene Price; Jason Rochlin; Molly Rood; Shelby Salerno; Beth Shallon; Laura Smith; Cole Stecyk; Savannah Stern; Karissa Taylor; Claire Tisius; Grace Zoerner Adviser: Mitch Ziegler The 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.

The 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 High Tide staff.

PRO: TRICIA LIGHT

A plant is not needed. The land would be better used if Measure A passes.

On a clear day students are greeted with a spectacular ocean view: a bright blue sky, white-capped waves, sea gulls gracefully gliding in the wind—and the looming smokestacks of the AES power plant.

The plant was a necessary evil for years, but Measure A allows citizens to rid the city of the plant, along with the myriad of problems it causes, for good.

The fact that the current outdated and decrepit plant must be torn down is undeniable, but there is some debate as to what should follow. AES proposes to construct a new plant in the space, but the citizen initiative of Measure A would rezone the land

to include up to 40 percent for commercial use and 60 percent for open space such as parks and fields, eliminating the possibility of a new plant.

The proposed plant would be a great improvement, but arguments that the new plant would be smaller and release less carbon monoxide miss the point. The reality is that there is no need for a power plant in Redondo Beach or any other densely populated coastal area.

Our beautiful coast is a treasure, so constructing an unsightly plant on the shoreline when ocean water is no longer used in the plant’s cooling process would be a disgrace.

Even more importantly, the plant would pose a great health risk. The new plant would run cleaner, but it would probably produce more emissions since it would run much more frequently than the old plant, which only runs 5 percent of the time according to AES’s own reports. These emissions have been linked to increases in asthma, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and countless

other conditions. Given the multitude of schools and senior housing complexes, not to mention homes, located in close proximity to the plant, the health risks a new plant would entail are simply unjustifiable.

Moreover, Redondo does not need the plant’s power. Less than .1 percent of Redondo’s power is produced by the plant, according to a California Energy Commission report, and if a new plant were constructed, the power would be exported elsewhere.

Even arguments that the city needs the revenue generated by the plant are untrue.

AES currently pays less than 1 percent of the city’s revenue in taxes, and the city would earn much more from the property if commercial establishments such as hotels and shops were constructed.

Abolishment of the power plant would be beneficial to Redondo’s economy on every level. The Measure A’s commercial zoning would produce jobs while the technological advancements of the new plant would reduce the number of plant workers to only

21. Additionally, the new zoning would compliment the millions of dollars the city has already spent on revitalizing the harbor.

The facts clearly support the measure, but some people fear that it would lead to lawsuits that could potentially bankrupt the city. Luckily, while AES may attempt to sue, various legal experts agree that Measure A is completely legal. In fact, Measure A would simply implement the zoning recommendations made by city staff in 2004. It does not “take” AES’s land from them, but rather allows them to complete their contract and profit from selling the land if they chose to do so.

Given the sound reasoning behind Measure A, it is not surprising that AES has felt the need to resort to deceptive strategies and glossy brochures full of misleading information in an attempt to defeat the proposal.

Hopefully, citizens will look past their fear mongering and vote Yes on Measure A, saving the city from another 50 years with a power plant scarring the horizon.

Measure A

If Measure A passes, the land will be used for commercial and recreational use. If not, a smaller higher tech plant will replace it.

Power plant. The AES power plant will be torn down.

PHOTO BY CHRIS NGUYEN

CON: Jason Rochlin

Measure A is unfair.

AES owns the land and can use it however they want.

Should the government be allowed to take your house away from you with no compensation?

There is an initiative on the ballot for the March 5 vote that will change the zoning laws in the city and ban power generation on the current 50-acre site in the harbor area. Under Measure A, the land will be rezoned to be about 30 percent commercial and 70 percent public parkland. The initiative includes an incentive for hotel, office and institutional uses as well.

AES, which owns the land, wants to

continue using its property to generate power and apply to the California Energy Commission to build a replacement plant that will comply with new regulations banning. This new power plant is expected to be smaller, only occupying 12 acres, leaving the remains for open space or residential and commercial development.

There are concerns that the new plant will cause more pollution in our community, but the new power generating technology is more efficient and burns cleaner fuels, in addition to no longer using ocean water for cooling. The new plant will comply with tougher anti-pollution regulations and will protect our beaches.

Rezoning this property is equivalent to confiscation and a government isn’t allowed to do that without compensation to the owner, a protection guaranteed in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution. AES will rightly sue the city, and the case will cost Re-

dondo Beach taxpayers millions of dollars.

Imagine what will happen to our community when those millions are taken out of the tax base. Police and other public service groups will have to reduce the services they provide or taxes will be increased to pay for the lawsuit.

Many people feel that the power plant is an eyesore. It would be nice to have development down by the marina that is more harmonious with our environment, but Measure A won’t get you that.

While Measure A forbids AES from using their power plant, it doesn’t force them to do anything else with the property if they don’t want to. If citizens want to redevelop the land for public use, they should try to raise the money to purchase the property from AES. Additionally, If AES walks away and allows the city to develop the park on the rezoned land, who will pay for it? Consider-

ing RBUSD doesn’t even have the funds to maintain a full school year without furlough days, can taxpayers really justify building a 30-acre park where the power plant stands now? As a member of the community, would you be willing to pay more in taxes to pay for it?

Nothing is more sacred in our country than the right to own and use property. It has been codified in our founding documents and protected in our laws from the start.

Measure A ignores the rights of the property owner in changing the zoning of the property. AES is the legal and rightful owner and should be allowed to use their property for any legal purpose they choose.

If the people of Redondo Beach want to remove the power plant and create a park, they should rally the city to raise the money to buy the property from the owner, not forcibly take the property with a ballot initiative.

5 HIGH TIDE. . OPINION

SIOUX

by Chance King

After a week-long barrage of crashing cymbals, wailing guitars, and soaring vocals, silence fell upon RUHS. The annual “Battle of the Bands” competition came to a close, and Sioux was announced the winner.

The performance of its members, junior Paolo Ragusa, sophomore Kevin Hwang, senior Erin South and alum Jordan Nicholson, was chosen as the stand out act by the judges.

Despite the band’s confidence on stage however, the victory came as a shock to the band.

“We were pretty surprised when we won.

The other bands were really talented and we somehow managed to beat them all,” South said.

“We came in and thought we were so little. It turns out people liked us a lot and that has given us a lot of new confidence.”

PAOLO RAGUSA Preparing for the competition was a very stressful experience, according the band, but their victory has given them new confidence in themselves as musicians and performers.

Every member of the band agrees that the band will continue to make music in the future. The band doesn’t know exactly where they will go in the future, but they are excited for what lies ahead.

“After [Battle of the Bands], the only thing on my mind was that I wanted to play more shows. This is definitely some-

thing that we want to keep doing,” Ragusa said.

The band is pleased with the way their performance turned out, but wants to improve their act before they play again.

Musically, the band wants to pursue more unique sounds and hopes to rehearse soon to work on more songs.

“Sioux has a ton of different sounds, but I’d like to throw in a lot more diverse ones in the songs that we are going to be working on,” South said.

As for future performances, the band is currently working on setting up more shows in the future and plans to keep friends and fellow students updated on where their next gig will be.

“I really hope that we play more shows in the future. We might play some cafes and restaurants, but I really don’t know at this point,” Hwang said.

The competition has brought the band closer together, and with each performance the band says their energy and comfortability are increasing. The more that the band plays together in a live capacity, the more the band says they itch to play more shows.

“I love these guys. I love making music with them and I want to play more shows with them in the future,” South said.

With the competition behind them and many possibilities ahead, the members of the band are sure that they will continue making music. Although there are doubts surrounding the future of Sioux, the band says that the end is not near, and that they will continue to rock away into the foreseeable future.

“I guarantee you that this is not the last you will see of our band,” Ragusa said.

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PHOTOS BY JENNY OETZELL

4.

Sioux savors the stage. 1. Nicholson opens the show with “Blue,” South’s favorite upbeat track. 2. Ragusa plays “Chains,” a track writted by Nicholson. 3. Sioux poses for a photo in celebration of their second performance together. 4. South plays around during clean-up.

MEET THE MEMBERS South’s energy and charisma on stage are only matched by her flowing bass lines and grooves.

South describes bassists as “underrated,” and brings ERIN control to even Sioux’s SOUTH most frantic songs. Her Bass cool and collected attitude on and off stage brings the band more focus and precision while her enthusiasm and love for the band brings their spirits up.

Nicholson’s bandmates describe his style as “unpredictable,” a trait that gives Sioux their unique sound and personality. Nicholson contributes not only JORDAN NICHOLSON his guitar, but his voice Guitar/Vocals and lyrics to the band as well, lacing his melodies with catchy and personal lyrics. Jordan also provides comic relief in between band practices and rehearsals.

“We are going to stick together for a long time,” South said.

“Jordan is so hilarious. He is definitely the joker of the group,” Ragusa said.

6 HIGH TIDE . ENTERTAINMENT

Hwang cites the Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist, John Frusciante, as one of his many influences on the guitar. Like Frusciante, Hwang manages to KEVIN bring technical flare, while HWANG still maintaining the style Guitar and rhythm of the music.

Although the band has many diverse sounds, Hwang’s guitar adds essential energy to the music.

“I don’t know how to describe my style. I just do what I do,” Hwang said.

Ragusa’s drumming provides momentum to the band’s songs and acts as the foundation of the music. His crashing cymbals and fast-paced playing PAOLO style has been described as RAGUSA “happy” by both Ragusa Drums and his bandmates. Ragusa does not shy away from technical difficulty in his drumming and prefers to add detail rather than strive for simplicity.

“I’m not afraid to do new things,” Ragusa said.

PHOTOS BY JENNY OETZELL

BOOK REVIEWS

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

“Prodigy”

“Vampires in Lemon Grove”

“Return to Me”

by Marie Lu

by Karen Russell

by Justina Chen

Marie Lu’s “Prodigy” is a brilliant sequel to “Legend.” The “Legend” series is a dystopian series that takes place in the future ruins of Los Angeles, where the United States has broken up into two rival nations: the Colonies and the Republic. There is also an undercover rebel group named the Patriots whose primary goal is to rid the nation of the Republic and their corrupt ways.

The “Legend” series focuses on 15-year-old June Iparis and Daniel “Day” Wing, who represent the opposing sides of the two nations. June is a military prodigy and one of the highest-ranking members in the Republic, whereas Day is one of the most wanted criminals in the nation.

“Prodigy” is perhaps better than “Legend” in that the characters and their relationships are more developed and the dystopian world is more precise and detailed.

The plot takes a different approach in this book, with the main focus shifting to the role of the Patriots and their plans for the assassination of the new Elector Primo, Anden Stavropoulos. June and Day join the Patriots and must assist them in assassinating Anden.

The setup provides the story with a love triangle, as June is forced to stay in close quarters with Anden. The possibility of a romance with Anden, the new elector, was proven to be something much more complicated and entirely unexpected. Initially, Lu presented Anden as a very one-dimensional character, but in the end, Anden actually turned out to be one of the most interesting characters in the story.

“Prodigy,” although initially slow-paced, does not lack action. Plenty of progression is made during this book without it being implausible or overwhelming.

The readers get a much better indication of the tension between the Colonies and the Republic here rather than in “Legend,” and more insight is given on the opposing side. “Prodigy” is also told from both Day and June’s perspective, which allows the reader to follow the story through two points of view. With this technique, there is more opportunity for character development on both sides. Their romance is not a focal part of the plot, and is only emphasized in the most appropriate places.

The action, dialogue, and romance were well executed and pulled me in from the beginning. I could not stop reading until I was finished. No matter who is narrating, or which set of characters is present, “Prodigy” is consistently engaging. I would recommend “Prodigy” to all fans of dystopian novels and for those who enjoy action-type novels.

Vampires, malicious seagulls, and shapeshifting humans are just some of the creatures that inhabit the worlds in Karen Russell’s new novel. The Pulitzer prize-nominated author of “Swamplandia!” has a knack for turning fantastical and bizarre plot lines into powerful observations on emotion and humanity.

This new collection is no exception.

Russell manages to create a cohesive novel through stories that challenge and bend the imagination into strange, twisted shapes. Each tale is expertly crafted, taking an outlandish subject and controlling it using her language and sensible imagery.

Take the second story, “Reeling for the Empire,” as an example. Russell’s tale of shapeshifting silk workers revolting against their masters is as uplifting as it is unsettling.

Russell manages to keep the story from becoming overloaded with strangeness by creating characters that are real and relatable.

Every character written into the novel has a sense of realness to them, no matter how odd the story is. In the title story, the main character is a vampire named Clive who struggles with his blood-sucking habits and attempts to rekindle the romance between him and his wife of over 200 years.

As with Clive and all of the strange heroes and villains in this novel, their outlandish characteristics are brought down to earth by Russell’s effortless storytelling.

Most of the stories Russell has collected here are brimming with energy and wit, one of the most interesting being “The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis.”

A group of young boys encounter a scarecrow resembling a boy they once bullied and become tormented by their guilt. The grim and witty tale offers a glimpse of Russell at her best, both stylistically and figuratively.

The novel manages to have an amazing sense of congruence despite the very different and separate stories contained within it. This is, however, where the novel’s major flaw appears.

Stories like, “The Seagull Army Descends Upon Strong Beach, 1979,” and “The New Veterans,” are written well, but have slow plot lines and feel out of place next to the other more adventurous stories.

This novel overall is an exciting, strange and somewhat morbid collection of stories that create a world of their own, while staying real and relatable.

Russell’s sharp language and odd storytelling abilities might turn some readers away, but digging underneath the surface of these strange stories is worth it to find their honest and powerful center.

“And if you cut a part of yourself off, especially to please someone else, do you really think that you’re really being celebrated for who you are?” says Rebecca Muir’s wise Grandmother in the novel “Return To Me,” by Justina Chen. “Do you really think you’re being truly and completely loved?”

This is the main conflict presented in “Return To Me,” a young adult novel about an eighteen-year-old girl on the path of self-discovery while her family has been ripped apart by a shameful betrayal: the suppression of any single part of oneself leading to unhappiness and disaster.

Undeniably, Chen’s voice is incredibly insightful and truthful as she navigates the journey of being a young woman in the midst of her parents’ nasty divorce, torn between what everyone else wants and what she wants for herself.

So, what makes this story stand out amongst the countless teenage love stories of woe? Although there is a youthful romance of uncertainty and true love, that relationship takes the backburner as Chen’s description of the healing process of forgiveness and renewed trust after hardship is centered in the spotlight.

Rebecca Muir has her life planned out for her to major in architecture at Columbia and then work at the family firm, Muir and Sons.

Everything changes when Rebecca’s father reveals he has been cheating on her mother for several months and their whole world deconstructs. The story reveals the effects of divorce on all of the family involved.

Chen shows that the grueling process of forgiveness starts with gaining perspective on life and realizing that love can heal the deepest wounds with time.

Chen puts emphasis on spiritual enlightenment and a sense of peacefulness in the novel. This tone is expressed through her use of ideas such as the existence of synchronicity in which, “Life presents us with moments and openings that line up in logic-defying ways, and it is our job to be aware of these opportunities and poised to except them,” said by Rebecca’s grandmother.

This displays a main theme of all the seemingly random occurrences in life, either good or bad, have a purpose and produces clarity on a person’s view on life.

This book can appeal to a very broad audience and encourages people to take charge of their lives by making decisions, both beneficial and detrimental, to improve their direction in life. The descriptive imagery, philosophical dialogue, and authentic characters make “Return to Me,” an illuminating read.

—Vicky Artaza

—Chance King

—Jewell Black

7 HIGH TIDE . ENTERTAINMENT

How sitting is KILLING you — slowly, but surely.

Compiled by Deborah Chang

Can it kill?

6.5 hrs/ day of regular activity

Immediately: 9.3 hrs/ day of sitting

.7 hrs/day of heavy exercise Sitting for many hours at a time can increase risk of diabetes, heart disease, and premature death.

Sitting is a low energy activity and makes our bodies think we are in energy storage mode, making our bodies resistant to insulin.

Average adults spend 50 to 70 percent of their day sitting down because work, watching tv, or using the computer. Adults who sit for 11 hours or more a day have a 40 percent increased risk of dying in the next three years than those who sit for less than 4 hours a day.

Getting around KILLING yourself

Sitting on an exercise ball helps strengthen the core while improving balance and exibility. It also requires more energy, so more calories will be burned.

Illustrations by Joseph Bieschke

8 HIGH TIDE . HEALTH

How sitting DAMAGES your body

One minute breaks can make a difference. You can simply stand up, wiggle around, march in place, or take a few steps back and forth. It is suggested to stand once every hour.

Electrical activity stops in the legs After two hours: Good Cholestoral drops 20% After 24 hours: Insulin effectiveness drops by 24%, increasing the risk of diabetes

What if you MUST sit down?

Poor posture not only consumes energy but can also lead to excessive strain on postural muscles and weaken them when held in position for long periods of time. Maintaining good posture, sitting properly, and moving regularly can help you stay pain free.

Do not cross legs. Knees should be below level of hips. Support low or mid-back or use a back support. Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

Holmes overcomes scoliosis through lacrosse

by Deborah Chang

She breathes with difficulty, struggling to relieve the tightness of the back brace. The cracking velcro keeps her tossing and turning throughout the night. She wipes the sweat from her brow. Day and night, freshman Alex Holmes’s scoliosis forces her to cope with a back brace.

“I wear it all the time when I’m at home.

It’s extremely uncomfortable,” she said. “It’s hard to sleep because the brace wakes me up all the time. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe because it’s so tight.”

Holmes discovered in seventh grade that she had Idiopathic Scoliosis, or scoliosis with an unknown cause. Her spine is shaped in an S-curve, condemning her to wear a brace the majority of the day.

With a brace on, Holmes worried about how students at school would react.

“I thought I wouldn’t fit in and that people would make fun of me,” she said. “I was really upset because I thought I would be wearing the brace for the rest of my life.”

Holmes hopes she will only have to wear the brace when she sleeps come March and hopes to complete her treatment by the end of high school. If her spine does not improve then, she will have to get surgery and get a metal rod placed to support her spine.

“I really hope my scoliosis will never be serious enough for surgery,” she said. “I’m doing all I can to improve my spine quickly with the help of my back brace.”

Holmes knows that exercise might help her spine straighten out, so she joined lacrosse. Although exercise was painful when Holmes first got her back brace, she has adapted because of lacross.

“If I hadn’t exercised due to the pain I would have been out of shape. I exercised anyway in lacrosse, and my spine has gotten a lot better,” she said.

Physical therapy also helped Holmes cope with her scoliosis. She took five months of physical therapy to help improve her core strength so she would not feel pain during exercise.

The discomfort of the back brace stole Holmes’s attention away from her school work and leisure. She limited participating in many activities with her friends when be-

ginning her treatment.

“It’s hard to focus on my homework because it’s that uncomfortable,” she said.

“Also, when I would go to games, I couldn’t focus and have fun with my friends.”

Despite these challenges, Holmes endures the discomfort with the help of her family and friends. Holmes’s family members help remove her brace and her friends accompany her to the office to retrieve her brace after school.

“Even though my brace is annoying and makes little tasks hard, my friends and parents definitely help me get through the day,” she said.

2.

Got your back. 1. Freshman Alex Holmes wears a back brace 18 to 24 hours a day. 2. Physical exercise, such as lacrosse, helps Holmes overcome much of the pain she experiences.

1.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN LEE

OW! My back!

Worried about your back? Here are refuted myths about the back.

compiled by Chance King

People are immune to back pain even later in life.

This is very untrue, as eight out of ten Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain can affect people of all shapes and sizes and can arise due to poor care and posture at an early age.

As a person gets older, back pain increases.

After age 55, back pain diminishes in most people. Although there can be a degeneration of back muscles and bones, it does not lead to back pain.

The back is one of the most delicate body parts.

The spine has many muscles surrounding it that make it flexible, extremely strong, and durable. The back can take a beating but it is important to treat it with care.

Being thin prevents back pain.

It is important to stay in shape because that can help with back issues, but it does not stop them altogether. Anyone, especially athletes, can get back pain in all types of severity.

Kelly fights scoliosis despite pain

by Kira Bowen

Just last year sophomore Jaelin Kelly was been diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal curving of the spine.

“My mom and I both knew I had it earlier, but we didn’t act on it until the back pains started to become severe,” she said.

As someone diagnosed with scoliosis, Kelly finds that simple everyday tasks such as waking up can cause discomfort and pain. “[With scoliosis,] bending over became really uncomfortable. Sometimes I could hardly get out of bed. I have horrible cramping in my lower back. It feels like it’s burning. [The pain] sometimes brings me to the point of tears,” Kelly said.

When Kelly’s back pain acts up, she loses the motivation to be physical and cancels her plans.

“People don’t understand [the pain] I’m going through, so they tend to judge me and say that I’m making it up,” she said.

According to Kelly, most people do not notice her condition, but those in her PE dance class are now aware after a particularly painful period.

“I started to cry in PE dance,” Kelly said.

“The back pains got really intense and I could not hold in the tears.”

Kelly’s mother thinks that Kelly is inspiring because she pursues in what she loves despite her scoliosis.

“The fact that Jaelin is continuing in dance even though she is hurting is a beautiful thing and it shows how strong she is,” Kelly’s mother said.

Although Kelly has difficulties with scoliosis, she said she is “lucky” to have a supportive and caring family, especially her mother. “[Since the diagnosis] nothing has changed. I don’t treat her like she’s frail or incapable of anything. She’s still my baby girl, [and] I love her to death,” Kelly’s mother said.

Although Kelly has visited doctors, she still needs to get x-rays to find out the severity of her diagnosis.

Since she has not been prescribed pain medication from her doctor, she uses Advil, hotpads, and creams to reduce the pain.

“My doctor wants me to wear a brace, but my mom wants to know more about my options before she decides,” she said.

Personally, Kelly has no preference and would not mind if she had a brace or not.

Even though Kelly is “strong” her scoliosis is continually painful.

“I wish no one had to go through [scoliosis] and hopefully my pain will be over soon,” she said.

9 HIGH TIDE . HEALTH

Refreshing start for Metcalfe

by Susan Nieves Playing a sport at the varsity level is difficult. It is even more difficult when one plays a sport he or she has just learned.

This year, senior Paige Metcalfe has joined the girl’s water polo team despite playing for the school’s soccer team for the last three years.

“I wanted to try something new,” Metcalfe said. “I didn’t expect to pick it over soccer since they are both in the winter season. I just did.”

Metcalfe first tried water polo when she went to a training camp during the summer.

She ended up liking it.

For someone who has played soccer since the age of five, the transition has not been easy.

“Training for water polo was hard for me,” she said. “It is a little more draining than soccer because you’re swimming non-stop.”

According to Metcalfe, swimming has been the most difficult part of water polo for her.

She was exposed to swimming through basic swim lessons when she was younger.

Supporter on and off the court

Aside from swimming, Metcalfe has had to deal with how much more aggressive water polo is than soccer. Despite these difficulties, fellow teammate, Bridgette Schneider, acknowledges that Metcalfe has played very well for her first year.

“Usually players aren’t very good their first year,” Schneider said. “[Metcalfe] is very good at following the coach’s direction even when no one else would. It’s like she [has] figured out the game.”

Despite being new to the sport, Metcalfe once managed to score three goals in a single game. According to her, she understood the game better the more she played, and she feels content with the amount of playing time she got.

“I didn’t expect to play a lot this year, but overall I was very happy with what I did get,” Metcalfe said. “Being part of the team, making new friends and learning new skills was even better than the playing time I got.”

by Claire Tisius Senior Sebastian Lindner has become more than just a player on the basketball team, he has become a major team player, supporting other teammates on and off the court.

Lindner lived in Tennessee where he felt unimportant on his team, especially in basketball. Lindner’s grandfather persistently told him to try out for the team he now feels he belongs to.

“I was excited and scared at the same time because I didn’t think I was good enough to play on Varsity. My family wasn’t very surprised; they knew I was going to make [Varsity] because I was tall. I probably wouldn’t have tried out [for basketball] if my grandfather

PAIGE METCALFE

SEBASTIAN LINDNER

Injured but not defeated

by Angela Kim Basketball is her sport; it is her game, a crucial part of her life. Senior Leah Langford has been playing basketball for ten years, four of those years spent representing the Sea Hawks.

But due to her dislocated knee during preseason, she was forced to do physical therapy for a month, and missed all but one game during the entire season. Yet she did not feel as though she was missing out on too much.

“Even when I wasn’t playing, it was just a fun atmosphere to be around the girls. And I also helped out by doing the clock during practice and making sure the uniforms were out, so that was fun too,” Langford said.

According to senior and teammate Inara Nyingita, Langford’s friend since preschool, Langford does more than distribute the uniforms and work the clock.

“Leah cheers really hard and encourages everyone throughout the game. Her positivity really carries out through the game and helps us play better,” Nyingita said.

Despite not being able to play, according to Langford, the team’s company makes up for the lack of playing time on the court.

“I like the team camaraderie and just being with the girls. The team is like a second family for me. I have three brothers, so it’s better for me to have girls to be around,” Langford said.

According to Langford, having three brothers has definitely influenced Langford’s roots in the sport, as she ended up following her older brother’s footsteps. But she first began when her father signed her up for YMCA classes back when she was seven years old.

And she plans to continue playing, though not in college. “[Pursuing basketball] in college would be a nice option, but I don’t think that’s going

10 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

to happen because I really want to go to a big college and I know big colleges have really good basketball teams,” Langford said.

Although she may not pursue the sport as competitively in the future, according to Nyingita, Langford is a committed player.

“Basketball is a key factor to her life. She’s also a stickler with her studies and everything. Even when we had finals, she’d always make it to practice.

Even when she had SAT classes, she’d still go to practice and would commit a 100%,” Nyingita said.

One of the reasons Langford is so committed is because she enjoys the emotions that rush through her as she plays against her opponents.

“When I play, I feel an adrenaline rush and determination; something that says ‘I need to get the ball back,’ Langford said.

Not only did basketball give her a new family and an exciting experience, it also taught her what true leader leadership is.

“One of the most important qualities a player should have is the ability to lead. And to be a leader, she has to accept the fact that she won’t always be the best but still try to perfect herself while helping others reach perfection as well,” Langford said.

LEAH LANGFORD

hadn’t told me to,” Lindner said.

Lindner has enjoyed being on Varsity for three years. According to Lindner, he sees himself as a leader because he helps his teammates and makes sure everyone is included.

“They’re always there every time I miss a shot or I am having a bad day; they’re always there to have my back,” Lindner said.

Not only is the team there for Lindner, according to co-captain Christopher Henderson, he is there for the team on and off the court.

“Sebastian is one of the biggest team players on our team. He is always doing the things that no one else wants to do: he’ll get rebounds, get on the floor for the ball and won’t really complain about getting the ball as long as we win. He always tries to help the

underclassmen that don’t really know what’s going on and shows them what they need to do,” Henderson said.

Even though Lindner has the motivation to keep playing, he would not have had the chance to play if he had stayed in Tennessee. According to Lindner, Tennessee did not give him the same opportunities California gave him.

He currently plays for Varsity, and he recently won Bay League. Lindner prepares for the CIF’s by showing up to practice, by not psyching himself out, and by entering each game without overthinking it.

Per game stats 5.5 Rebounds

4.8 Points

1 Block

Life’s better in a wetsuit Meyers surfs every day to stay on top of his game

by Shawn Mallen Whether it is working on new skills or powering through waves, sophomore Luke Meyers is dedicated to surfing.

“The only thing you can do to really get better is to surf as much as you can” Meyers said.

Meyers surfs whenever he can. On weekdays, he surfs for at least three hours a day. On weekends, he spends up to five hours riding waves.

S E O R E H G N U UNS LUKE MEYERS

2.

“Luke deserves attention as a surfer because he surfs almost every day,” sophomore Keianu Diers said. “Actually, that’s all he really does.”

According to Diers, Meyers always has a good attitude towards surfing because it’s what he likes to do.

“He is always striving to become a better surfer,” he said. “That’s what I like about him. He always seems to be positive and can put people in a brighter mood. He just brings a good vibe wherever he seems to go, in the water or out.”

When Meyers is practicing, he almost always goes out with either the surf team or his friends.

“When you’re surfing with friends they push you to do big stuff and tricks.

It’s a lot more fun than surfing alone.”

Meyers said.

In addition to surfing with his friends, Meyers competes with the surf team and in non-school events such as the South Bay Surf Series. To prepare, he goes out and tests the waves in an area close to where the competition is being held. He then picks what kind of board he will use.

“For contests, I’ll usually pick the board that best suits the conditions and dial it in for a couple sessions before the

event,” Meyers said.

After Meyers picks his board, he practices with a trainer and has test competitions to “get in his groove.”

Meyers, like most other surfers, loves it when he gets good waves and surfs well.

“When you catch a good one or do a certain trick, it feels good. You know you did something cool, especially when there’s someone around to see it,” Meyers said.

Meyers is committed to surfing.

That’s all he talks about, according to Diers. Meyers has made great improvements from last year. A year ago, the most he would place was third. This year, Meyers has mostly come in first and second place.

“His surfing is phenomenal, and he has a great style,” Diers said. “He charges on some of the fattest waves, too.”

Although Meyers has accomplished many things in his surf career, he has his eyes set on a bigger goal. Every year, he enters the Volcom Qualifying Series, a major competition in the area. The winner of this competition advances to a final with all of the other regions. Meyers’s current goal is to qualify for the final and he is working hard to make that come true.

“Once you get into it, you can’t really stop,” Meyers said. “It’s not a sport.

It’s a lifestyle.”

6 First Place

2 Second Place Photo illustrations by Taylor Ballard Photos by Staff Photographers

11 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

Derby Girl

by Kayla Nicholls

She watches the women as they roller skates around the arena. They slam into each other, and her heart jumps. Despite the violence of the sport, she loves the excitement. She smiles knowing that soon, she will be one of them.

Freshman Kayley Hanson will soon be joining the Beach Cities Roller Derby Junior League.

“Watching the bout, or match, all of the women look so powerful, and it is just such a unique, underrated sport that I really want to join,” Hanson said.

She appreciates not only the sport’s uniqueness but also its team-bonding aspect.

“I am really looking forward to the sense of community you get from being on a team,” Hanson said. “Everybody on the league seems so happy to be there.”

Although she is looking forward to joining, she has some reservations.

“I am hesitant about the fact that it is a full contact sport.

There is a large chance of me getting injured,” Hanson said.

However, her mother Tammy Hanson does not worry about the dangers of roller derbies.

“I know that they use the proper safety equipment and are taking the right precautions,” Mrs. Hanson said.

Sophomore Kayley Hanson is training in hopes of joining a roller derby team.

Despite the chance of injury, she still wants to be on the team and learn to be more forceful.

“I really want to learn a lot about the sport, get on the team, and be aggressive about it,” Hanson said. “I don’t want to be pushed around.”

At this point, getting on the team is her main goal.

“Tryouts were last month, and I wasn’t prepared [and didn’t] know much about the sport,” she said. “I am practicing with the coach and trying out when I get better.”

She practices with the coach for 30 minutes along with other newcomers to the sport.

“My coach just started a league in the South Bay,” she said. “She devotes herself to training us.”

Hanson believes that she has a good chance of making the team because she has always been good at roller skating.

“I was a good skater when I was young, but I haven’t skated in a while,” Hanson said. “Starting again now, I find that it isn’t that hard for me.”

Hanson started roller skating after a visit to the Square Cars Skates store in Hermosa Beach about one month ago.

After that, she immediately contacted the coach.

“I went to the store with my mom, and the owner told us about the sport,” Hanson said. “It sounded like a lot of fun, and I have always loved skating.”

PHOTO BY KYLIE MARTIN

They see me rollin’. These are the kind of skates that sophomore Kayley Hansen uses when practicing roller derby.

Her mother supports her desire to skate, as she herself was a skater as well.

“I love skating. I grew up roller skating on the strand,” Mrs. Hanson said. “I don’t even find it obscure because there is a segment of the population here that just loves it.”

Keliher dedicated to pole vaulting Reaching new heights. Junior Ryan Keliher works on his pole vaulting technique at track practice in preparation for the first meet. Recently promoted to team captain, Keliher hopes to keep improving throughout the season.

PHOTOS BY ALIDA NEWSON

by Cameron Paulson

After an unfortunate injury, an unlikely sport was discovered. For junior Ryan Keliher, pole vaulting has become his passion. “[Pole vaulting] is a crazy sport,” Keliher said. “The main thing is to keep going and learn from your mistakes.”

After starting cross country his freshman year, Keliher suffered from a stress fracture, preventing him from running.

“My stress fracture was unfortunate, and I was going to take up swimming because I already had seven years of experience,” Keliher said. “I just happened to see the pole vaulters and joined because it looked really fun.”

After a trial run, Keliher was on the team and was later promoted to team captain.

Keliher’s coach, David Dill, thinks Keliher has what it

12 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

takes to be a successful pole vaulter.

“Pole vaulting is a challenging sport as far as the ability and work habit you need,” Dill said. “[Keliher] demonstrates a great work ethic and inspires the team.”

According to Dill, Keliher’s work ethic is “unique” and helps him progress quickly.

“Pole vaulting is a lot to learn and it has its risks, but [Keliher] is one of those athletes who has the dedication,” Dill said. “He took on a lot on his own, and it really separated him from the other athletes.”

Although many might view pole vaulting as a dangerous sport, Keliher thinks otherwise.

“It may look scary but it really isn’t at all,” Keliher said.

“The premise of the sport is to improve your technique.”

According to Keliher, big muscles and a fast pace aren’t necessarily needed--form and technique are what counts.

“The way you hold the stick, put it on the ground, lock

your arms in place, and the way you maneuver your body is all very important,” Keliher said. “It’s all about the form.”

Dill also agrees that learning good form the first time will be beneficial in the end.

“To just start and increase height is one thing, but to learn it correctly and do it right is another,” Dill said.

Keliher will be a senior next year, and ideally he hopes to continue pole vaulting in college.

“For most colleges, the height to bear is 16 feet,” Keliher said. “It’s pretty high, but I’m doing everything I can to reach my goal.”

Dill has the utmost expectations for Keliher as a pole vaulter and as a person.

“Once you start [pole vaulting], it’s like you’ve been swept by a spirit that’s now in you,” Dill said. “[Keliher] has learned a lot and has the right attitude. I’m really proud of him.”

Going for the Senior Courtney Bowen is working on earning her Gold Award for Girl Scouts.

by Kolbie Brightwell

She sees the bright paint on the asphalt, the new shed, and the jungle gym on the playground. She has been working for the past seven months, and it is finally finished.

Senior Courtney Bowen is in the process of getting her Gold Award for Girl Scouts.

The Gold Award is the highest possible award a Girl Scout can receive in the Girl Scout program. It is a community service project where a girl dedicates a minimum of 80 hours to a certain cause or project. Only about 5.4% of Girl Scouts receive it.

In order to receive the award, the Girl Scout must be in high school, manage a project that helps teach others, act as a leader by organizing and creating new ideas, and work for their own cause. The cause must be approved by the Girl Scout Council at a Gold Award interview before she can begin.

In order to recieve the award, Bowen is having car washes to raise money to refurbish the playground and outside facilities at the South Bay Adult Transitional Kindergarten.

“I asked my troop leader if she had any projects that needed help, and she told me about the kindergarten. Then I realized the school was my little sister’s old preschool,” Bowen said.

She has been making plans with the kindergarten since In April, a typical Guatemalan day features sunny skies and 80 degree weather. Sophomore Christopher Martsolf, however, knows he and his father’s trip to Guatemala this spring will be far from an average vacation getaway: they will be journeying to a small, underprivileged town to provide medical care to the less fortunate through a program called Helps International.

“I will be doing things like running blood and lab work to and from operation rooms. Basically, I’ll do any task anyone asks me to do,” Martsolf said. “My father and I will work from around seven in the morning to six at night.

We’ll be sleeping on cots in a huge room with everyone, so it’s no luxury experience.”

Despite this workload, Martsolf is eager to go.

“My main goal is just to improve the lives of others for the first time in my life and to help and make a difference somewhere,” Martsolf said. “I want to be the biggest help I can be for the dentists, doctors, surgeons and everyone going.”

Martsolf ’s father, Mark Martsolf, first heard of this trip several years ago through a colleague, but he had been unable to partake in it due to scheduling conflicts. This year, though, he has been able to “work things out better timewise” and is happy to make the trip with his son.

“I’ve been an operating room technician for many years, but I’ve never felt I’ve ever done anything really philanthropic at this point in the medical community,” Mr. Martsolf said. “This opportunity came about, and I decided it would be a good thing to do for both the people of Guatemala and myself.”

Since the minimum age for the trip is 16, this is the first year Martsolf is eligible to attend.

GOLD August, but she did not start the project until it was approved in October.

“Parents made a lot of donations like food and water for volunteers, and we got a big donation from Supreme Paint.

The parents have also come in to help paint and give ideas and my friends came down to the work site a few times to help me out,” Bowen said.

Bowen has been working on the project for the past seven months.

“After putting in all that work, it’s nice to see the playground completed,” Bowen said. “It’s a really big accomplishment, and I’m proud that I was able to do it.”

She is pleased with not only what she has done for the children at the South Bay Adult Transitional Kindergarten but also her community service, which will possibly benefit her future. “[Community service] helps a lot when applying for colleges and also for receiving scholarships with the desire for a community service aspect,” Bowen said.

Bowen has repainted the lines on the asphalt, painted a bench, repainted and fixed the jungle gym, cleaned the play equipment around the playground and built and painted a shed for equipment.

“It has been weeks of painting, scrubbing, cleaning and building, and I am finally finishing the goal I have been waiting to attain since I was a little girl,” Bowen said.

PHOTO BY VITORIA MAGNO

Scout’s honor. Senior Courtney Bowen paints the walls of a kindergarten as part of her community service.

WHAT IT TAKES 1. Identify an issue 2. Investigate it thoroughly 3. Get help and build your team 4. Create a plan 5. Present your plan and gather feedback 6. Take action 7. Educate and inspire Compiled from http://www.girlscouts.org/program/highest_awards/gold_award.asp

Martsolf fundraises for Guatemalan medical trip

by Grace Zoerner

ILLUSTRATION BY COOPER LOVANO

“Now my son is at an age where he can accompany me, which is even better because he will get the experience as well,” Mr. Martsolf said. “He’ll be given the chance to see that his good life here in America is not enjoyed in other countries that do not have the medical resources we have around here.”

Martsolf realizes this, and this is a major factor in his decision to take part in the trip.

“I want to go to Guatemala because I want to see the culture of another country where they are not as fortunate as we are here in America,” he said. “I can experience the everyday struggles they face there that we don’t have to go through here.”

Martsolf also sees this as an opportunity that will benefit him in the future.

“This would be a great experience to put on my college resume. Volunteering is a big part of getting accepted into college, and I think this will help with that,” Martsolf said.

In order to go, Martsolf and his father must pay $4,030

by March 7. Since it is “so expensive,” they have sent out DVDs to their friends and family asking for donations to help with the costs.

“We’re excited to go, but now all we have to do is raise the money,” Mr. Martsolf said. “These trips are voluntary, not free. That means no one pays you to go.”

No matter the cost, though, Martsolf and his father feel that this trip will be worthwhile.

“I feel I need to do something more than what I do now, for other people who aren’t as privileged or able to have the opportunities we have for good medical care here in America,” Martsolf said. “I want to try do this every year for the foreseeable future.”

13 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

A teacher’s perspective on

students requesting grade Compiled by Daniel Loveland

“As teachers, we spend a lot of time determining grades and when students come to us and say they are innacurate or want us to change them to the grade they want, it drives us crazy.”

HOLLY FRAME,

PHOTO BY VITORIA MAGNO

“I think for teachers to do you a favor at the last minute is asking for too much.”

PHOTO BY CLAIRE TISIUS

EMILY KRUEGER,

BIOLOGY

ENGLISH “If I were a student, and I was on the border, I would strongly consider talking to my teacher about it. From a student’s perspective, when you’re in survival mode, what is the worst a teacher can say?”

PHOTO BY VITORIA MAGNO

“I think it’s ridiculous. They are posted online for months, and all of a sudden students care about their grades the day before report cards get sent out? Sometimes, kids make me laugh.”

PHOTO BY VITORIA MAGNO

MIKE SOO HOO,

STEPHANIE MANION,

GEOMETRY

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMICS “I think it depends on the class. If it’s an elective then yes, but if it’s like English or history, they should have tried harder to improve their grade.”

James Le, 11

PHOTOS BY CLAIRE TISIUS

14 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

“I think that it’s okay if they work really hard and make an effort.

Sometimes that kid just messed up on one quiz and it wasn’t their fault.”

Rory Clifford, 11

A student’s perspective

3.

1.

Overcoming an illness

4.

Junior Gaby Bruno underwent surgery last year that helped fix her heart problems.

by Zoe Ezzes

Walking down the path to the drama room, she felt ready to do something she had never been able to do before. Upon signing the audition sheet, she signed away her past life of being forced to watch, unable to join, while everyone else joined sports and theatre. Junior Gaby Bruno, after living with Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), underwent surgery last year that helped fix her heart problems, allowing her to participate in more physically demanding activities.

Bruno was born three months premature, causing her to be born with SVT, a condition in which the heart valves do not seal correctly, causing problems with the electrical impulses in the heart.

“As a kid, I had seizures and asthma, but luckily I grew out of that,” Bruno said.

Despite these symptoms being eliminated, Bruno still felt pain whenever her heart acted up, and was still limited in the activities she could do. She knew she could undergo surgery to fix some of the problems, but was resistant to the idea.

“I was really scared,” Bruno said. “Having surgery on my heart seemed so intense and there were many risks. I was scared of the possibility of me dying.”

However, her decision changed last year when her condition worsened, and her father had a heart aneurysm and needed to undergo a similar surgery. Bruno decided to take the risk and get surgery together with her dad.

“I went first,” Bruno said. “It’s better if something happens to me than to my dad. He’s 60, but I’m young and I can bounce back.”

The surgery had several glitches. Bruno was not given enough anesthesia and woke up while her catheter was being removed.

“I felt a tugging, and I heard the nurse asking where the anesthesiologist was,” Bruno said.

2.

The nurses also asked Bruno to walk around too soon after the surgery, causing a hematoma, or blood clot, in her leg. The surgery, however, was still ultimately a success, and her father’s following surgery went smoothly.

“Mostly, I don’t have the problem anymore,” Bruno said.

“When I get really sick or stressed out, it tends to come back, and while it’s scary, it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as it used to and not for nearly as long.”

While the surgery succeeded in improving her physical condition, Bruno also had many other reasons to be happy.

“Looking back, it was one of the best experiences I have had,” Bruno said. “Seeing my mom and dad, who are separated, together and not fighting made it worthwhile. It was kind of amazing.”

The surgery brought her family closer, according to Bruno.

“It’s interesting how something bad happening can make people act so much kinder,” Bruno said.

In addition to bringing her family together, the surgery made Bruno more confident about trying new things and not having to worry about her heart as much. “[Before the surgery,] I was afraid of doing things, and I didn’t put myself out there as much,” Bruno said.

5.

Doing what she loves. 1. Junior Gaby Bruno takes direction from Baldridge at rehearsal for Grease. 2. Bruno practices a dance for Grease. 3. Gaby and her mother hug after her surgery last year. 4. Bruno admires her makeup for A Midsummer Night’s Dream earlier this year. 5. Bruno attends rehearsal for Grease where they practice their singing. Photos 1,3, and 5 by Jenny Oetzel. Photo 4 by Hailey Newman. Photo 3 courtesy of Gaby Bruno.

While her condition was not completely cured by the surgery, Bruno is now capable of the physically demanding choreography involved with musicals, and is currently in the cast of Grease.

“I’ve always been fascinated by theatre and admired people who could do drama,” Bruno said.

Bruno plans to take advantage of the opportunities now available to her and is grateful to be able to have the confidence to participate not only in drama, but also in many other aspects of life.

“In life, you never know what’s going to be given to you, so you just have to handle it,” Bruno said.

15 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

athlete of the issue: alyssa crenshaw

The view from the top

Leader of the pack. Crenshaw leads the cheerleaders in pumping students up at the back-to-school rally. Photo by Vitoria Magno.

Captain of the cheerleading team senior Alyssa Crenshaw takes her dancing background and thrill-seeking personality into her sport. As a flyer, she is tossed into the air and performs tricks, while still taking charge of the team as co-captain.

by Haris Khan

Birds and planes aren’t the only “flyers” anymore. Senior and captain of the cheerleading team Alyssa Crenshaw is also a flyer-- a girl tossed into the air.

Crenshaw involved herself in other activities such as dancing prior to joining the team her freshman year.

“I’ve had dance background before. My mom was a dancer, so I kind of danced out of the womb,” Crenshaw said.

Crenshaw learned to love cheer after she became a flyer.

“I like the adrenaline rush and the butterflies and all the different feelings I get when doing cheer. It’s an awesome feeling going up in the air,” Crenshaw said.

Cheerleading has taken a lot of work and dedication, according to Crenshaw, as they have to practice all year in preparation for rallies and sports games.

“For flyers, you need to work on your abs because you need to have a tight core so you can make it easy for the bases under you,” Crenshaw said.

According to Crenshaw, being on varsity for three years

and elected as cheer captain has taught her how to be a leader.

“It’s a huge responsibility. You have to take charge of the team and it’s hard, of course, with other seniors on the team,” Crenshaw said.

With co-captain Courtney Bowen, Crenshaw’s responsibilities have eased up a little bit.

“We are both captains, so being a leader is a daily journey for us. [We are] always trying to figure out how to fix problems,” Bowen said.

Crenshaw and Bowen have to make most of the decisions regarding practice and competitions.

“We try to incorporate the whole team. We want to include the rest of the girls, but at the same time we have to choose what’s best for the them in the long run,” Crenshaw said.

According to Crenshaw, new cheer coach Karen Bustillos has changed her life.

“She made it so much easier. She actually believed in me. I had a chance in cheer and she gave me opportunities, unlike the other coach,” Crenshaw said.

With more opportunities to cheer, cheer became more fun and more serious, according to Crenshaw and Bustillos.

“Alyssa is constantly looking to progress and doesn’t mind taking the time to teach someone else because she realizes it will benefit the whole team,” Bustillos said.

Alyssa attributes much of her newfound leadership capabilities to her coach.

“She is a great coach because she pushes us and motivates us to succeed and try hard,” Crenshaw said.

Bustillos appreciates Crenshaw’s “teamwork-like” attitude and has seen her grown tremendously.

“My favorite quality of Alyssa’s is that she doesn’t quit.

There are times [when] she gets down or is frustrated with herself, but she pushes through to reach her goal,” Bustillos said.

Ever since becoming a flyer, Crenshaw has set goals for herself and her squad to show her dedication to cheer.

“I wanted the team to be one because in the past years there have always been little cliques, and I hate the way people break off from each other. I didn’t want any drama.

I wanted us to become one united family,” Crenshaw said.

Boys’ basketball still undefeated

by Jené Price

The boys’ basketball team continued their undefeated season in the second round of CIF playoffs, beating Godinez 56-29 on Wednesday and advancing to the quarterfinals.

“We felt good about the win but also knew that we could have done better and will need to do better the next few games to reach our goal,” senior Chris Henderson said.

The boys did a good job starting the game, but their execution towards the end of the game needs to improve if they want to keep advancing, according to coach Reginald Morris.

“We have to make sure we play the whole game,” Morris said. “We played well the first half, but we got complacent and finished the game flat.”

According to senior Darrien Touchstone, the team had good defense during the game, which helped them get a big lead— enough of a lead to put them in a winning position.

“Our defense was more on point this last game,” Touchstone said. “We got a lot of steals but we need to do a better job of converting the steals into points.”

16 HIGH TIDE . SPORTS

Having 13 points, four steals, and two rebounds, Touchstone was nominated the player of the game against Godinez on Tuesday.

“Coach Morris told me to play my game and be more aggressive on offense, so I did,” Touchstone said.

According to Morris, Touchstone is usually more aggressive on defense, but he was able to give more on the offensive end in this last game.

“He came out and was real aggressive and gave us a spark,” Morris said.

The team hopes to beat Glendora tonight.

“We plan to execute going into our next game,” sophomore Jeremiah Headley said. “We just need to focus in and keep listening to our coach’s game plan.”

Tomorrow will be a tough game since the farther the boys go in playoffs, the harder it gets, just like any other tournament, according to Morris.

“I feel tomorrow’s game will be pretty tough and the other team is well coached,” Morris said. “It will be a challenge, but we are up for [it].”

PHOTO BY MITCHELL YONEMURA

Sharp shooter. Senior Michael Howell shoots in game against Palos Verdes last month.

Soccer players or giant slayers?

by Micah Ezzes

In a game decided by golden goal overtime, in which the first team to score wins, the boys’ soccer team lost to Claremont High School 1-0, marking the end of another season.

Junior Shane Staudle is proud of the team for making the game as close as it was and not giving up.

“Everyone played well,” he said. “It was an evenly played, well-fought game against a good team. We had our chances, but we just didn’t finish them.”

One shot actually did hit the back of the net for RUHS, but the center ref ruled senior Gio Partida offside, despite the sideline ref ’s objections.

“The sideline ref said that [Partida] was onside and that the goal was good,” Staudle said, “but the center ref overruled him for some reason.”

However, according to Staudle, the loss did not dampen the team’s happiness with their performance this season.

“Of course we would have liked to go deeper into the tournament,” he said, “but as a team, we are very proud of what we have accomplished.”

Staudle believes that the numerous accolades this year’s team has achieved are outstanding. The record for most wins in a season was doubled from last year, and the team finished second in the Marina Tournament and third in Bay League.

“Compared to RUHS soccer’s recent history, we destroyed previous records,” Staudle said.

The team got plenty of attention from the media for defeating several top contenders in the state, as well as in the nation. Their tie against Palos Verdes earlier in the season garnered much attention from local news, and their win last week against the defending CIF champions Ventura earned them the nickname “giant slayer” by the Daily Breeze.

PHOTO BY MATT MARDESICH

Dribble. Freshman Micaela Enriquez runs the ball down the court in game against Mira Costa.

Girls’ basketball beats Norwalk

by Alina Bieschke

Girls’ soccer loses in second round of CIF

by Romy Moreno

Two ten-minute over times and 42 penalty kicks later, the girls’ soccer team was still unable to beat Great Oak High School, ending their season in the second round of CIF. “It was really a heart breaking loss,” sophomore Marissa Marshall said. “I know we were the better team and we should be advancing right now, but to know it has come to an end is really sad.”

Many of the players found this game to be “extremely emotional,” as well. However, the girls put their emotions aside and went into the game focused, despite knowing that it was not going to be an easy game.

“We expected to play a really tough team, and we were right. We knew Great Oak was going to bring a fight, but we were ready because our coach made sure to practice different positions and aspects of the game,” junior Hope Ibarra said.

Despite being mentally prepared, the girls started to become nervous during the penalty kicks.

“All of our hard work, the bonds we built, were coming down to the final penalty kicks and it was extremely shocking to know all our hard work ended with a single P.K.,” senior Dani Hatlen said.

The team still felt that they had an incredible season, even though they lost on

Tuesday.

“It was a fantastic season because we came up from the bottom of the ranks in the beginning of the season, and we ended up being one of the best in our league [and] going to the second round of CIF,” senior Randie Vlahkis said.

Coach Shelly Marsden had similar thoughts.

“We started league off with an unfortunate first game and a devastating loss to Costa, but after those games the girls reconnected and started winning,” Marsden said.

According to the girls, they are all proud of what they have accomplished this year and only hope for the best next season.

“I hope we can go as far next year as we did this year. I know we are losing a lot of seniors who were a huge part of the team, but we can still get far because we still will have a lot of talent next year, along with amazing senior leaders who will help us get far. If everyone is healthy we can accomplish a lot and win it all,” Marshall said.

PHOTOS BY JENNY OETZELL

Bend it like Simon. 1. Junior Shannon Simon tries to keep a ball away from Leuzinger players. 2. Sophomore Anevay Hiehle shoots in game against Leuzinger earlier in the season.

The girls’ basketball team broke out of their recurring issue of starting off the game slowly, beatingNorwalk High School 56-26 on Wednesday night.

“The game was really intense from the tip-off. We were ready to roll and had a [strong] desire to win,” senior Bella Hall said.

Redondo kept the lead for the entire game. According to Hall, Norwalk challenged the team most in the fourth quarter.

“I think [Norwalk’s] seniors realized that their season would end if they didn’t step up their game, and they came out strong,” Hall said. “We never lost our lead though because they decided to play hard defense when it was too late in the game.”

The team won by 30 points and currently holds a four-game winning streak. With their success comes confidence, but junior Tatiana Maimot does not believe the team will become overconfident because they have mental toughness.

“We try to stay humble as a team, and we hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” Maimot said. “We are constantly reminding each other about how much harder each round is going to get.”

Coach Lynn Flanningan also does not see overconfidence as a threat. “[The girls] realize how hard they have had to work to win, and with five seniors, they know how tough the playoffs are,” Flanningan said.

Redondo’s next game is Saturday, Feb. 23 against Patriot High School. The team has not faced Patriot before, but playing unknown teams does not bother Hall.

“We have played in a lot of similar ‘blind’ games before in our preseason, so we are prepared for this type of situation,” Hall said. “We just play the game our way.”

17 HIGH TIDE . SPORTS

Boys’ tennis still under construction Starting the season with an easy win against North, the boys’ tennis team has already found areas to improve upon and prepares for more difficult matches.

by Lindsay Pannor

Hearts were pounding and nerves rattling as boys’ tennis prepared for their first match of the season against North yesterday. The team came through with a winning score of 15-3, with a “really strong” singles lineup that made the first win of the season come with ease.

“I’ve never dropped a set to North before,” senior and number one singles player Derek Levchenko said. “Everytime we play [North] it’s almost routine. They’re not the strongest team around.”

Sophomore and number three singles player Brett Ishihara, who won all three of his matches, thought there were a few reasons their win against North was so easily attained.

“Their team was lacking consistency and power,” Ishihara said. “It’s absence overpowered their entire game.”

Even though the team’s first match revealed a strong singles lineup, the doubles game was an entirely different story.

“We were able to only drop a few games in singles, and I’m very confident in that side of the team for this season,” coach Jessica Seibert said. “[In our doubles game] we have some fairly decent returning players, but they’re just not used to playing with each other. I’m almost positive that the partnerships are right, though.”

Even though this year’s team has a decent base, Seibert says that they need to work on the specifics to excel. “[Today’s match] showed that we have a really good foundation, but I definitely think that there are things to work on,” Seibert said. “We’ve got the right teams, but we need to improve things like volleys and overheads- just doubles strategy in general.”

Levchenko, though, believes that the team’s doubles game is up to par. “[Our first doubles team now has] Christain Grantz in it, who has played number two singles for the past two years, and now that we have him in doubles with Sean Mitchell, we have a really great team we can depend on,” Levchenko said. “Our other teams are starting off pretty well, too, such as Sho Nioka and Ryan Lee in our second position doubles.

They’re getting off to a great start.”

1.

A right start. 1. Freshman Pablo Trevino hits a backhand in match against North yesterday. 2. Senior Derek Levchenko serves against North’s first singles player. Levchenko plans on playing for University of Redlands in the fall.

Seibert agrees that Grantz is a much needed addition to the team’s doubles force. “[Grantz] is going to be a huge help to us,” Seibert said.

“He’ll be a great leader for all of the double’s teams.”

After playing their first match of the season, some players have already identified possible areas of improvement in their game.

“Even though I played really well [against North], I feel like during the season I need to work on my mental strength during matches,” Ishihara said.

Ishihara also believes that even though playing North was nowhere near a challenge, Bay League matches in the future will be a little different.

2.

1.

18 HIGH TIDE . SPORTS

3.

2.

Photos by vitoria magno

“Against the Bay League I think it’s going to be a little bit more of a challenge,” Ishihara said. “Actually... not a little bit, but a lot more against most of the other teams.”

In the end, the team’s positive attributes to the match got them the win, and their performance was even “above and beyond”. “[Even though] we were fairly certain we’d come in with a win against North, we’re never really sure on the score,” Seibert said. “It’s was both team’s first match [of the season], and you never know if nerves are going to come into play, or what’s going to happen. Considering it was our first match, I think we did very well, and even exceeded our expectations. I knew we would do well, but not that well.”

Surfin’ safari

Beach boys. The surf team prepares for league finals on March 16. “I expect nothing less than greatness from myself, but that does not mean I think I’m going to win. There are a lot of really good surfers in the league so I’m hoping to get into semi-finals or finals.

I think the team will do very well in this event because we have not stopped surfing and pushing eachother harder every day,” senior Ethan Pezzolo said.

PHOTOS 1, 2 BY JENNY OETZELL. PHOTO 3 BY DIANA LUNA.

Finishing the fight Wrestling reflects on their season and prepares for the next.

1.

by Cole Stecyk

As the boys’ wrestling team’s season closes, they look back postively on their experiences and are optomistic about what next year has to offer.

Junior Kevin James, one of two wrestlers to make CIF, believes he did well this season and is looking forward to next year’s competitions.

“This season I did very well overall. There are just a few minor things I need to get to the next level with. I’m excited and optimistic about wrestling freestyle in the offseason,” James said. “I am actually pretty excited for next season because we are getting new guys and hopefully they will strengthen our team even more.”

Freshman Justin Williamson is excited because of all of the motivation he receives

3.

Photos 1,3 by vitoria magno. Photo 2 by laura smith

2.

Beat down. 1. Senior Izzy Del Real wrestling against Penninsula during a home meet on Jan. 10. 2. Del Real putting a Penn player in a lock during an away match on Jan. 11. 3. Senior Julian Rodriguez wins his match against Penninsula on Feb. 2.

from his teammates and the crowd.

“My teammates always cheer me on and that really helps me to use all of my strength and pin [my opponent],” Williamson said.

“I hope that we will get better wrestlers next season so [we] can do [better] in all of the advanced and basic wrestling fundamentals.”

Freshman Russell Smith is ready and “pumped” for next year’s season.

“I am really excited for next year,” Smith said. “Even though the season is over, I need

to stay focused on my technique during the off season and win most of my scrimmages.

I just have to make sure that my weight is right because that is the main factor that determines whether you will or will not wrestle in that tournament or match.”

Freshman Jared Hunt believes he did well this season and looks forward to the next one.

“I did everything I could do to keep my weight right so I could wrestle in my upcoming matches,” Hunt said. “Next year,

I am going to try to be more energetic, though.”

Senior Izzy Del Real, who also made CIF, plans on continuing his wrestling career after he graduates.

“It’s sad that I have to leave Redondo. I really like to wrestle here, but this will not be the end of my career,” Del Real said.

“There will always be another match and another tournament, I just have to stay focused on my technique and be prepared for those next matches.”

Looking up in the face of defeat Girls’ water polo looks back positively on a losing season.

by Anna Fauver

Photo by Mitchell Yonemura

Sharpshooter. Senior Sara Curran shoots on the goal against West earlier this season. They won the match 11-2.

Though they had a supportive crowd cheering the team on for every victory and encouraging them during every loss, it wasn’t enough motivation for the girls’ water polo team to improve their Bay League record, which ended up being 2-6.

Although the team did not have a record as good as last year, coach Mitch Yamamoto believes the team played better this season.

“Our team improved a lot from last season,” he said.

“Last season, we were pretty much a one-person offense and a one-person defense, but this season the girls all worked together.”

According to Yamamoto, this team playing was the main thing that set this year apart from last.

“I think this team was much stronger than last year’s,” he said. “We really came together instead of relying on just one or two girls.”

Senior Brida Brando agrees with Yamamoto about the team; they played as a unit because they did not rely on only one player.

“I think the team played better as a whole this year since we didn’t have [alumna] Tiffany [Morales] with us,” she

said. “I feel like we relied on her too much last year since she had so much more experience than us.”

Without someone to rely on, Brando believes that the team was able to connect more.

“Since Tiffany wasn’t there, we kind of figured we needed to become closer in order to win,” Brando said. “There no longer was someone to depend on. That change was also the reason our record this year wasn’t as strong as last year.”

Although he thinks the team played better, Yamamoto thinks that the reason the team’s record was different was because of their opponents.

“The opponents change year to year,” he said. “They all have a different style of playing and a different skill level.”

Even though the team lost more games, many of the games were very close.

“We had a great year,” he said. “Our record wasn’t as good as last year, but we had around six games in which we lost by one goal, and about three in which we lost by two goals.”

Yamamoto is proud of this team and, although he is sad to see the seniors go, he is looking forward to next season.

“I do feel like this team was much stronger than last years because they played better as a team,” he said. “As far as next year’s team, I am confident that we can keep improving and make our goal of CIF.”

19 HIGH TIDE . SPORTS

1.

2.

[continued from front] The “shocking” living conditions of the homeless is one of the reasons Vorndran volunteers by passing out care packages and working in soup kitchens.

“Despite their circumstances, some of the homeless living at Skid Row were some of the most grateful people I have ever met,” she said. “I remember feeling so shocked that there is this much poverty so close to where we all live.”

Vorndran has participated in numerous service projects but enjoys short-term mission trips out of the state or out of the country the most. After becoming a registered nurse, she plans on making short-term missions to impoverished nations to help administer medical care.

“I went to Alabama a few years ago to help out in hurricane damage control, and it just really opened my heart to helping people,” she said.

According to Vorndran, the tight-knit sense of family her church fosters encourages her to give back to her community.

“The love that I feel from my youth group is what drives me to love others and give back to my community,” Vorndran said. “Being a member of the church definitely makes it easier to volunteer because service projects are just put in front of you.”

Her favorite part of giving back is seeing the reaction on people’s faces and the sense of gratitude and appreciation.

“As cheesy as it sounds, I just really like seeing the smile it brings to people’s faces. Whether I am reflecting God’s love

20 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

3.

by handing out a sandwich at Skid Row or helping build a house in Alabama, people never cease to surprise me with their gratitude,” Vorndran said.

Like Vorndran, Attig volunteers with her youth group and church leaders. For Attig, the best part of her church service is knowing she has a purpose.

“I can take a moment out of my everyday life to be selfless. Realizing how blessed I am and how much good I can do for others around me is the most rewarding feeling of all,” she said. “After I volunteer, I just feel enveloped by love.”

For the past five summers, Attig has been traveling to Native American reservations to build homes for impoverished people through the Sierra Service Project.

“It was one of the most life-changing events I have ever experienced–helping create homes for people who can’t afford their own–and it continues to affect me year after year,” she said.

Attig participates in “Loaves and Fishes” once every month, a service project that gives her the opportunity to make a potluck meal and serve the homeless.

“It’s a really rewarding experience to see the joy on someone’s face who doesn’t have the resources to care for themselves,” Attig said. “It’s a way for us to extend the love to those who aren’t as fortunate to have the luxuries we do.”

Attig’s mother, Lynn Attig, the director of youth ministries at Riviera United Methodist church, is very supportive of Attig’s service work and feels kids are willing to help on their own.

“The great thing I find about youth is that they love to

Giving a helping hand. 1. Attig and other youth members of her church participate in “Loaves and Fishes.” 2. Attig (left) paints a shed in Fort Hall, Idaho. 3. Attig gathers supplies. The theme of the 2012 Sierra Service Project was “Turn the World Around.” photos 1, 2, & 3 courtesy of Lynn attig. Cover photos by Vitoria Magno.

be involved and help others anyway and doing it with their peers is fun, so we just create outreach opportunities for them and invite them, and they show up,” Mrs. Attig said.

Mrs. Attig finds community service to be an important experience for teens to help them expand their minds and to help them grow. “[The kids] often have to stretch outside their comfort zones, which both breaks them down and builds them up, making them stronger, more self-confident, more alive and aware,” she said. “In giving, they feel needed and loved.”

She encourages kids to look for ways to help others in any way they can.

“I believe we can all live more fully in our world if we look around and ask how we can help to make it better,” Mrs. Attig said.

Attig believes that some people are hesitant about volunteering through a youth group because they think it will have too much of a focus on religion.

“Community service with my youth group isn’t about praising God all of the time; it is about building a positive relationship with others and extending that relationship to our community in a way that benefits everyone,” Attig said.

According to Attig, being close to those in her youth group makes it easier to get involved and give back.

“Being one big family definitely encourages us to give back to the community together,” she said. “Not only are there more opportunities to volunteer, but you have a close group of people with the same beliefs and interests as you joining in trying to create a better society filled with love.”