High Tide Jan. 17, 2014 Edition

HIGH

TIDE Redondo Beach, CA // Redondo Union High School Jan. 17, 2013 // Vol. XCIV // Edition 8

Painting your emotions

Senior Melissa Mar expresses herself through art and plans to pursue the life of a starving artist

by Chris Paludi and Joseph Bieschke

A bland idea comes to mine. When the paint comes in, the hands and emotions take control. Happy means bright and beautiful. Sadness means darkness. Senior Melissa Mar expresses herself through art.

“I think I’ve always been in love with art, but it’s grown over time. To be happy and doing something I love, like art, where I have the freedom to my thoughts and feelings onto canvas and have galleries and sell my art, that’s my dream I’ve had since I was a little kid,” she said.

As a little kid, Mar was exposed to art by her mother and fell in love; she hasn’t looked back since.

“This is what I was exposed to the most, coming from my mom. Since I was young, we would draw and paint together. My mom inspired me to become an artist,” she said.

Mar cites her mother as one of her biggest artistic influences.

“I would say that my style has basis from my mother, but it’s definitely different from her in that my style is messier, while hers is more structured,” Mar said. “I mess up a lot in my art, and I’ll just jab paint onto the spot I messed up on and use mixed media to cover up a mistake, but then it becomes

cont. on pg. 20

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CEDRIC HYON

plays professional p. 6 // Halvorsen volleyball.

out different arts and designs p. 8-9 // Check that students made in class.

p. 10 //

Shane Staudle recovered from lip cancer.

Photos of the Week One-act Plays Trapped in Asylum. 1.Junior Jonathan Espinoza acts in a scene with senior Gabriella Bruno in the One-act Asylum. 2. In this scene, Dylan is accusing Gabby while she is being put on trial.

Fitness Tuesday

2.

1.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN LEE

PHOTOS BY TYLER EISENHART

Pumping iron. Students gathered on the 14th in front of the Student Union to show off their physical fitness.

Solar power implemented

Administration chose to go with solar panels in order to be more energy efficient and save more money in the long run, despite its high costs now

by Joseph Blakely

Solar panels are being installed in the student parking lot and will provide economical benefits and additional educational opportunities.

Installation began for the solar panels this week, and is scheduled to finish in midmarch. A significant portion of the parking lot is closed during construction and has created “an impact on parking and traffic flow”.

“We are looking at two to three months of inconveniences, but that will pay out in years of savings for everyone and an environmental benefit we can all appreciate,” Assistant Principal Jens Brandt said.

The actual installation process consists of first drilling the beams into the ground and then placement of the solar panels on top.

Cars will be able to park underneath the solar panels. They are designed in a “carport” manner and not only provide electricity, but also keep cars cooler on hot days.

These solar panels are being installed at all of the other schools in the RBUSD school district, and overall will save the district $750,000 on power costs every year.

The money that is saved will go into the district’s general fund.

“We could use [the money] for hiring

2

.

NEWS

teachers, counselors, staff members, and anything else we have a need for. It would save a lot of money.” Brandt said.

The building of these solar panels is funded by the newly passed Measure Q, a $63,000,000 bond. The total installation cost is $11,000,000.

“It will pay for itself in a few years,” Brandt said.

Environmental benefits that come from building the solar panels are beneficial because it decreases RBUSD’s environmental impact. It has an equivalent impact as planting 24,540 trees.

“The solar panels make us less dependent on resources such as gas and oil. It sends the right message to students about being globally responsible and really lessening the carbon footprint on our world,” Brandt said.

The solar panels will also mean an expansion in educational opportunities. STEM classes will be able to measure how much energy is stored and saved and it will be a “learning experience” for students.

Even though the parking lot may be “jammed” at times, several “benefits” will come after construction ends.

“It’s a short term sacrifice for a long term benefit” Brandt said.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN DIETHELM

A short sacrifice. The senior parking lot has lost spaces due to solar panel construction.

While it may be frustrating for some students, Brandt and other administrators believe that it will save money and that it will be a long term gain for the students.

Comic of the Week

BY JOSEPH BIESCHKE

Tech Olympics makes its debut

Practice makes perfect.

(In order from left to right) Senior David Koeller, junior Cole Greenbaun, and seniors Bryant Lozada and Max Sarafin practice their brass quartet song for the Soloist concert. These performances help the players perform for a more intimate audience and for them to practice playing independently.

by Vivian Lam

A new competition will be introduced to the school by senior Jeanette Higgins today in the auditorium called the Tech Olympics.

Tech Olympics is going to be a monthly technical theater competition that is designed to challenge student members in the various aspects involved in theatre production.

“Most students who participate in productions see tech-ing as just something to do,” Higgins said. “Tech-ing is an extremely important aspect to theater. Our goal is to show how important tech-ing is in a fun and inviting way.”

During the Tech Olympics, teams are expected to perform different backstage jobs including makeup, costumes, lighting, sound and the stage, in a relay race style.

“Teams are expected to compete in technical jobs such as flying curtains in and out, as well as performing quick costume changes,” Higgins said. “There will, of course, be some twist and turns, as this is theater and something can always go wrong.”

Drama teacher Justin Baldrige wants students to be prepared for the worst case scenario backstage.

“Learning things quickly under pressure is what theater is all about,” Baldrige said.

“Tech Olympics really forces you to be on your feet and to be ready for anything that could happen.”

Baldridge believes that the first Tech Olympics will be “bumpy,” but that it will be successful as well.

“We’ve never done it before, so we’ll run into little obstacles, but we’ll get through it,” Baldridge said.

Baldridge and the Drama Club have been considering the idea of Tech Olympics for two or three years now.

“We haven’t done it in previous years

because we have had many time commitments,” Baldridge said. “Our shows take up a lot of our time. However, we found the time this year to follow through with the plan.”

Baldridge’s goal is to get more students to be involved in technical theater in the future.

“A lot of them only want to be on stage and they think ‘Oh tech, that’s boring,’” Baldridge said. “I think this will be good exposure to the technical elements and that it is fun and there’s a lot of involvement that they don’t even realize.”

Baldridge would like for students to join the technical crew for Cabarat.

“I know for Cabaret we’re going to probably need close to thirty people for techs. It’s a big tech show,” Baldridge said. “The more they get involved in Tech Olympics and get the exposure to tech-ing, the more likely they are to come back to our program and help us with our shows.”

Higgins believes that the games will be successful if the students are able to enjoy what goes on in theater as a whole.

“I mean, seriously, no one wants to come to a play and just see the actors reciting lines,” Higgins said. “It takes the whole tech team working together with the actors to make the magic that is theater.”

Although tech-ing can be fun, the Tech Olympics will teach students that it takes a lot to put into a show.

“The Tech Olympics is a fun and quick way to get a peek of what it’s like to tech a show. It can really show how hard it is to do a task under the pressure of not only the audience but your crew and actors,” Higgins said. “As much as we want to make tech-ing seem super fun, which many students feel it is, it is also a serious job that takes a lot of

PHOTO BY LAUREN DIETHELM

Students prepare for Soloist Recital

by Stephanie Lai

Wind Ensemble will be holding an Instrumental Music Soloist Recital tonight at 7pm in the Auditorium.

“We’ve had weeks since the beginning of the class to pick a piece of music to practice and then perform. A person can choose to perform alone or with others in a small group,” Drum Major Matthew O’Connell said. “Tonight people will gather in the Auditorium to listen to the performers at the concert.”

O’Connell will be performing a saxaphone duet by Quantz along with Junior Brandon Reyes.

“I feel confident. I know Brandon and I have come a long way and we are definitely ready for the performance,” O’Connell said.

Senior Anna Lew, who will be performing an orchestral version of Beck’s “Please Leave a Light on When You Go” along with four others, finds it a “different experience.”

“People playing instruments have more pressure on them because there are fewer people to cover for them. They have to play their parts as perfectly as they can because even when you play really softly people can hear you. It’s more about the techniques and the nuance of how you can play,” Lew said.

For many performers, including Lew, this will their first time performing in the recital, since this is only the second year Re-

dondo has hosted this event.

“I’m not that scared because I’m pretty used to performing already. I’m not sure what to expect because it’s going to be my first time in this show, but I don’t think it’s going to be that different than performing in a concert,” Lew said. “I’ll be more concentrated on playing my music than thinking of what other people are thinking of me.”

Drum Major Adam Betancourt, who will be performing in the group with Lew and doing a clarinet duet with Steven DeBry, gives some advice to the preformers.

“I know this is the first time for a lot of people to go up on stage and perform in front of a large audience. They’ll be nervous, but with all the practice and time spent, they’ll be ready,” Betancourt said.

According to Lew, the recital has given her a lot of “exposure” to music.

“I’m not doing this because I’ve been inspired by some great musician. I’m playing more to be myself, and to see how well I can do,” Lew said.

Betancourt adds his own thoughts on expectations for the recital.

“I’m expecting that everyone will have fun. They don’t have to play perfectly, just to the best of their ability. These kids have amazed me in the past and I know they will give a great show,” Betancourt said.

Bud passes at 65, leaving a rich legacy and memories

by Chris Paludi

Beloved Redondo Union High School security guard Gaylord “Bud” Irwin died on December 19th.

Assistant Principal James Brandt remembers Bud’s personality fondly.

“Bud was a good soul. He was always very positive, had a smile on his face and a good sense of humor,” Brandt said.

Brandt remembers how dedicated Bud was to Redondo and its programs.

“One of the things I appreciated the most about Bud was that he was at events on campus, even when he didn’t need to be,” Brant said. “He loved Redondo, and always wanted to be around events. He was always a comforting and familiar face for a lot of us. He was so involved, in a way you would never expect.”

Although Bud had a large impact on the school’s students and faculty, he had a comparatively small amount of time to do

it with.

“Bud was employed as a full time employee at Redondo for two years,” Brandt said. “It’s amazing the impact he had in such short of a time on so many students. He carried himself in a comfortable way, and it felt like he had been here for twenty or thirty years.”

Despite being a familiar face around campus, Bud kept to himself. Yet, Brandt remembers Bud most fondly for having a “genuine” interest in students.

“I think genuine is one of the words that most encompasses Bud,” Brandt said. “He genuinely cared about people and how they were doing.”

Bud was also able to use his interest to everyone’s advantage, offering people advice and help when they needed it.

“He also had a sort of sixth sense about when to check in with kids; he was very

good at reading people. I always commended him for reaching out to student who wouldn’t always have been addressed, maybe kids that were challenging or had a tough exterior,” Brandt said. “He was always so good at breaking those barriers down and getting a smile out of them by just checking in and asking how their lives were beyond school. I was always mesmerized by how many of the students’ names and backgrounds he knew. If you just stood or sat with him near the science gate you could see students come up to him and he would ask them questions about what was going on.”

A service will be held to remember Bud and his impact on the school.

“We would love to have students speak at the service, in addition to his colleagues,” Brandt said. “We want to acknowledge Bud and remember the impact he had on all of us here at Redondo.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTHONY BRIDI

The memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 23. ASB has purchased a plaque that will be placed near a tree planted by the science gate, where Bud spent much of his time. The service will be after Thursday’s final exams, around one o’clock.

“He was battling an illness. Out of respect for Bud, that’s all I can say. No one really had any idea. It came as a great shock how quickly it happened,” Brandt said.

“Thankfully, he went peacefully with family and friends at his side.”

NEWS . 3

Letters to the Editor If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com.

We reserve the right to edit them for content, grammar, and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed.

HIGH TIDE

STAFF

Editors in Chief: Cedric Hyon; Allegra

Peelor Managing Editor: Alejandro Quevedo News Editor: Jason Rochlin Opinion Editor: Chance King Health Editor: Kayla Nicholls

Features Editors: Kira Bowen; Yas-

meen El-Hasan; Stella Gianoukakis; Shawn Mallen; Grace Zoerner Sports Editors: Ted Cavus; Micah Ezzes Photo Editors: Tyler Eisenhart; Justin Lee Copy Editors Deborah Chang; Lauren Diethelm; Angela Kim; Romy Moreno; Illustrators: Joseph Bieschke; Angela Kim Online Editors: Vivian Lam; Kayla Maanum Staff Writers: Lauryn Alejo; Joseph Blakely; Jennie Bao; Caitlyn Catubig; Jason Clebowicz; Caitlin Cochran; Shaw Coneybeare; Lauren Diethelm; Jason Fong; Vaidehi Gandhi; Nina Gomez; Kelly Harraka; Caterina Hyneman; Eli Jarmel; Roxanne Labat; Stephanie Lai; Sophie Maguy; Shaniya Markalanda; Marie Ona; Chris Paludi; Phoebe Reneau; Jené Price; Amanda Ross; Chandler Ross; Sophia Ruffo; Reema Saad; Amanda Shaw; Laura Smith; John Webb; Luma Wegman; Cody Williams 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 other members of the High Tide staff.

4 . OPINION

EDITORIAL: The school is building solar panels to help support renewable energy and reduce the school’s energy costs. Will these new panels be beneficial to the school in the long run?

Come early spring, the school will take an important step in reducing both schoolwide electrical costs and its impact on the environment. Following in the footsteps of the other schools in the district, the construction of brand new solar panels will produce a multitude of monetary and environmental benefits for the school, the district, and the community as a whole.

The solar panels are being placed in three key locations: the main student and staff parking lot, the maintenance and operations area, and in the parking lot behind the large gym. Once construction is completed in about two to two in a half months, they will provide an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the energy used by the school and save up to $750,000 a year in electrical bills. Though the school will still be dependent on other sources of electricity, the construction of the solar panels is a crucial advancement in increasing the school’s energy independence.

In the meantime, however, the school will face temporary drawbacks while construction is underway. Thirty-five to forty parking spots at a time must be forfeited as the solar panels are built, potentially causing major traffic problems and conflict with the residents of the surroudning neighborhoods.

However, administration has opened more parking spaces behind the large gym and on Sea Hawk Way to lessen the severity of this sacrifice and ensure that students and staff do not face significantly negative consequences. Though not optimal, this will be a short-term sacrifice for a long-term benefit.

The solar panels may be viewed as a waste of district funds due to their potential unreliability. They are most popular in the valley area, where direct sunlight is nearly constant. In seaside Redondo Beach, however, the marine layer prevents the solar panels from absorbing the full capacity of sunlight, thus reducing the amount of enegy they are able to generate.

However, the probability of their success far outweighs the possibility of their failure.

After carefully considering both arguments, district administration is confident that implementing the solar panels district-wide will advantageous.

Once construction is completed, the benefits of the solar panels will be reaped districtwide. The money saved on electricity costs will be stored in the district’s general fund, meaning that it can be invested wherever the district deems fit. Not limited to a singular area, the money may be used anywhere from buying more instructional materials to hiring more staff members.

Furthermore, the entire community will profit from the solar panels. The reduction of expendable energy waste will reduce the carbon footprint left by the school and benefit future generations as well as the current population. Over time, the solar panels will significantly reduce the pollution that shrouds the community; the only pollution created from the panels comes from their construction, and this is comparably less than the pollution produced through the current methods of electricity generation.

Similarly, the panels will positively im-

pact the environment by lessening the amounts of fossil fuels burned. This will also benefit the school due to the limited availability of fossil fuels. The school can begin to reduce its dependency on these limited resources before it reaches a crisis point where it is struggling to find alternative sources of energy.

By implementing these solar panels now, the school is putting itself on the right side of a battle that will eventually be lost by fossil fuels, clean gasoline and other less promising alternative energies.

The solar panels are also the superior source of energy in an industry of technology that is constantly growing and improving. Over time, the school will be able to rely on solar panels for the majority of its energy.

Moreover, administration hopes to increase the fervor of environmental awareness of the student body and the community as a whole. Actions speak louder than words, and the construction of the solar panels will send out a positive message that proves the school’s drive to improve the wellness of the community.

By the

For

Against

numbers

3

1

Editorial Staff Vote

The federal g The solar pan Since 2008, overnment els are bethe price of has ing paid for b allocated a to solar panels h y Measure tal of as fallen by $1 Q, and other 5 0 7 b illion to clean 5 percent, an schools in d s o la r in- energy proje the district alr stallations hav cts through eady have e multiplied loa or will get pan ns, grants and tenfold (depa els soon tax rtmentofen- br eaks (cbsnew (RBUSD.org). ergy.gov). s.com).

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOSEPH BIESCHKE

Cheered Up

by Roxanne Labat

She is launched a few feet into the air and falls into the strong, welcoming arms of her fellow cheer squad member. A grin appears on her face as she energetically continues the routine, excitement pulsing through her.

Moments later, her squad lifts her up to the top of the pyramid for the same reason that bullies had singled her out a few years earlier. Senior Sofia Colwell struggled with selfacceptance because of her petite stature, but has found peace through cheer.

“Throughout middle school, I was bullied. People would say really mean stuff. The girls, especially, were catty. They would always make fun of my height and tell me I wasn’t good enough,” Colwell recalled.

Colwell eventually found acceptance when deciding that she wanted a fresh start, separate from her middle school bullies.

“Coming into high school, I wanted to make a new name for myself,” Colwell said.

“I wanted to use my difference for the better. I wanted to make it work for me in the future.”

At the age of twelve, Colwell was told that she most likely would not grow more than “a couple of inches.”

“I’m completely proportional, though,” Colwell said. “I’m not a dwarf or a midget.”

Colwell believes that her petite stature traces back to her family’s heritage.

“My dad and his side of the family come from Portugal. A lot of people there are really short because it’s a gene,” Colwell said.

“My grandpa was only five-foot-two.”

Abandoning the idea of her height being a setback, Colwell joined cheer.

“I decided to join cheer because I was a dancer for ten years. The dance team here didn’t really appeal to me but the cheer squad really did,” Colwell said.

Starting her freshman year at RUHS allowed her to make new friends and leave behind the negative comments that she had faced in middle school.

“I came from Hermosa Valley School, not Adams or Parras,” Colwell said. “My first

Bullied when she was younger, senior Sofia Colwell has found acceptance and friendships in cheer

friends were in cheer. The first day of tryouts, my best friend even to this day, Nadia Fleenor, came up to me and the first thing she said was ‘Team Edward or Team Jacob?’

And I said, ‘Team Jacob, of course!’ She said, ‘Okay, we’re going to be best friends.’”

In addition to gaining the support of her newly-found friends who were on her cheer squad, Colwell also gained the support of her coaches.

“In Freshman year, my coaches told me that I was going to be great and that I was doing exactly what I should be doing,” Colwell said. “That really stuck with me.”

The encouragement from Colwell’s coaches continued well throughout her next year of high school as well, giving her more confidence in doing “one of the things I love best.”

“My sophomore year, we got a new coach, Coach Karen, and she taught me to never be scared and to do what I need to do if I really want something,” Colwell said.

Colwell’s current assistant coach sees a benefit in having a petite cheerleader on the squad.

“My coach sometimes dreams of cheer stunts and uses me as a dummy when trying to figure out them out during practice,” Colwell said. “At least every three practices, she tells me she needs me for it. I’m little, so we try to figure out how to make the stunts possible that she dreamt of. Plus, I’m always at the top of the pyramid. That’s cool. It’s not a skill; it’s just that I’m the smallest and probably the lightest.”

Colwell said that her squad has become “like family.”

“Nothing compares to the bond that we have in cheer,” Colwell said.

Because of her petite stature and driven motivation, Colwell has been on a competing team for the past two years and would like to try cheerleading in college.

“I didn’t think about doing it professionally until sophomore year, when my coach pulled my mom aside and told her that colleges were gonna eat me up for cheer because [the college squad] would be able to throw me high,” Colwell said. “I’ve never met a cheerleader as tiny as I am.”

Although Colwell has experienced advantages of being petite, there was a point in her life when she did not feel comfortable with her physical appearance.

“Now, the comments have died down. I don’t let them offend me anymore, but they used to really bring me down,” Colwell said.

“I was in a really dark place for all of middle school and it was really hard for me because I wasn’t mature enough to understand that it was okay that I was different. Back then, I wanted to fit in. But now, with cheer, I’m able to live my own life and be my own person.”

Colwell’s mother helped her through times of low self-confidence.

“It made me sad to hear that people were teasing Sofia,” Colwell’s mother said. “It was hard knowing that some kids were mean to her. So, I tried to get her involved in activities where small stature and petite size

would benefit her.”

Colwell’s mother has also seen a difference in her daughter’s happiness and selfconfidence over the years.

“Sofia has already made huge strides in overcoming her fears with tumbling and stunting. And if she can continue to work at being more fearless, she can definitely find a way on the cheer squad in college. I have every ounce of confidence that my firecracker of a daughter will pursue anything she sets her mind to,” Colwell’s mother said. “If her dream is to become a college cheerleader, she’ll be one.”

Colwell is grateful for her mother’s support.

“My mom always told me that I was going to be great. Everyone’s mother tells them that they’re going to be good. For me, that somehow helped me get through,” Colwell said.

Colwell knows firsthand how society’s expectations of a “normal” person can lower one’s self-confidence.

“A lot of people say that you have to fit into a mold. I completely disagree with the idea that everyone has to fit in,” Colwell said. “I believe that everyone is an individual for themselves and that they should shine.

What people may think are their weaknesses are probably their strengths.”

PHOTOS BY CEDRIC HYON

FEATURES . 5

Dig, dive, spike. Halverson plays beach volleyball at a tournament at the beach.

Let’s get physical PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAIDY HALVERSON

Teacher Braidy Halverson plays professional beach volleyball with AVP

by Chandler Ross

He hears the loud, sizzling reaction, but this time it isn’t from a beaker, it’s from the loud, cheering crowd.

Halverson plays pro beach volleyball with the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) and plays around the county in various locations like Fla., N.Y., and Chicago, and has even played many Olympians, like Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal.

“It’s a tour that goes around the country, it’s called the AVP. So, that’s why it works well being a teacher with summers off. I recently played Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal, who are Olympians, and we beat them last summer in a tournament, it was pretty fun. It was probably the biggest win of my career,” Halverson said.

However, it was when he was 12 years old that he found inspiration through his sisters to pursue playing volleyball.

“My sisters were kind of the seeds and my inspiration I would say. I was the youngest, and they were all league, all conference volleyball players, so I looked up to them as role models,” Halverson said.

Halverson has been playing volleyball for about 20 years of his life, ranging from high school volleyball to club volleyball to now professional beach volleyball.

6

.

FEATURES

“My older sisters were actually volleyball players. I just saw them playing and they had a boys program, so I jumped in. I started playing and I had a really good coach and he brought me up. I played in college and then after college, I started playing beach professional,” Halverson said.

It was his competitive nature that led him to pursue professional volleyball.

“I’m just competitive, you need a competitive outlet once you stop playing at a high level. I felt like I was good enough, so I just continued competing. It’s fun, it’s a good lifestyle, it’s a beach lifestyle. My team and I travel around and I like it,” Halverson said.

Not only does Halverson play professional volleyball, but he also loves to play with math teacher, Joshua Friedrich, and has since strengthened their friendship.

“Anytime you get to do something you love, and share it with others, it is a special experience. Beach volleyball is such an amazing stress reliever, and to get to do it right here in the South Bay at the heart of the beach volleyball world makes it even better,” Friedrich said, “The times Mr. Halverson and I have played together have been a great way to connect on a level that you

don’t always get to when you’re at work.”

Halverson’s love for the game and the ability to stay in shape are the main reasons why he continues to play.

“It keeps me in shape and gives me an outlet to enjoy myself. That’s why I continue to do it. The main reason why I do itis for the love of the game,” Halverson said.

Halverson is a strong believer in living a healthy, active life, as he does through playing volleyball.

“I’m a believer in staying active and working out and being in shape. It increases the quality of life, especially as you get older,” Halverson said.

Furthermore, he encourages many people to get out of the house and play sports or do various exercises to stay healthy.

“I encourage people to play any sport or do anything active, just to stay in shape and feel good and keep themselves healthy, whether it’s through volleyball, basketball, or just running. It doesn’t really matter to me what they play, as long as they enjoy doing it and they feel good doing it,” Halverson said.

However, Halverson believes that because of teaching, it is harder for him to stay in shape and play as frequently as the other

players.

“I think the hardest thing for me is staying in shape at a high level to compete against some of those guys that are training and working out everyday, where I obviously have a full time job. That makes it a little harder,” Halverson said.

While he enjoys both teaching and playing beach volleyball, he finds teaching to be more difficult than playing beach volleyball.

“They’re challenging in different ways, but teaching is more challenging. Every day, every student, every class period, every subject, has it’s own unique challenges. Every day is different. You never know what you’re going to get that particular day so you have to be ready for anything. So, I would say teaching is more difficult than playing pro beach volleyball,” Halverson said.

For people who want to pursue volleyball, Halverson advises them to practice and actually get out there and play as often as possible.

“Play as often as you can if you want to play recreationally. That’s the only way you’re going to get better,” Halverson said, “You can’t read a book and learn how to play, you’re actually going to have to go out there and do it.”

Se

Paul Lawrence have started their own d n a z e p o clothin ya n L R s r gl o ni

GRAVIL

by Amanda Shaw

Seniors Paul Lawrence and Ryan Lopez are surrounded by images of streetwear, vintage and current clothing, as they discuss the designs, styles, logos and prices of Gravil, their newly established clothing line.

“It’s what we want to do in the future.

Paul wants to go into something art-based, like computer design, and I want to go into something like business. We also wanted to leave an imprint on what we did here at Redondo,” Lopez said.

Although Lopez and Lawrence plan on heading in different directions in the world of fashion, Gravil has allowed them to get a sense of the career paths available to them in the field.

“This is great because it brought business and design together. My career goal is to

i ne :

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN LEE

work in apparel, so I would probably major in design, and then business, so this is perfect for that. It mixes both really well,” Lawrence said.

Since Lawrence and Lopez started the clothing line in high school, they have had the opportunity to understand what a fashion career would be like. Now they can decide at an early age whether or not they want to continue in the fashion industry.

“I’m using this experience to broaden my sense of business, and see if I really want to become a business major, and deal with money, maybe even go into banking. I want to see if this is right for me,” Lopez said.

While building business and design skills, Lawrence and Lopez are also building collaboration skills.

“I have a hundred designs on my computer, and we only have three that we both like,” Lawrence said.

Like any other business pair, Lawrence and Lopez have their share of disagreements, but are usually able to come to a decision that satisfies both, due to their similar fashion.

“I look at the styles of a bunch of brands, the skate culture in Calif. and New York fashion, and use inspiration from all of thrm,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence and Lopez have always been drawn to the distinct fashion choices of people from diverse locations.

“It’s always been an interest going to places like New York and seeing the different types of fashion everywhere. It’s inter-

esting to see how different types of people dress,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence and Lopez hope to create an image for their clothing line completely based off of a combination of their two personal styles.

“It’s street wear with a unique spin, like mixing it with high society,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence and Lopez hope that Gravil will gain momentum and be a clothing line that people will enjoy purchasing clothing for years to come.

“We hope that our clothing line will be big enough that people will like it and buy from it. Not just the initial, ‘Oh we’re friends with you so we’re going to buy your clothes.’ We want it to be memorable, and continue it through college,” Lopez said.

FEATURES

.

7

the

art d es ig n

Connecting the dots

of

Junior Suryanshi Pandya, who has been doing arts since a young age with her father as a mentor, sees art as a way to take her mind off of her other stresses.

by Vaidehi Gandhi

Bell-Nixon pursues animation career

by Kelly Harraka

After five hours, he sits back in his chair only to see his animation barely created. Junior Steven Bell-Nixon is a committed animator who plans on making a career out of his creations.

“The art itself takes a really long time,” Bell-Nixon said. “Animation from scratch can take from months to years.”

Despite animation being time-demanding, BellNixon feels he can make a career out of it and join an animation studio such as DreamWorks or Pixar.

He knows the world is filled with animators and it makes him feel a little intimidated.

“Once I look at the world and see it filled with all the animators it makes me feel small, but I just gotta keep working and stick with it,” BellNixon said.

Bell-Nixon has been doing animation frequently since the eighth grade and has picked up good skills and strategies along the way.

“After I really started to get into animation I began to carry a notepad wherever I went,” he said. “I also watch animation tutorials every day.”

Bell-Nixon feels that inspiration is in daily life and that it is important to record it for future animations.

“You can get ideas anywhere,” he said.

Animation means different things to different people and there are many different types of animation.

“There are visual effects, claymation, original which is out of paper like post-its, 3D, flash and a lot more.

I used to use post-its a lot before I got into computer animation,” he said. “To me, animation is making things come to life.”

His mother has been a great help and support throughout his developing career.

“My mother has helped me pursue a career in animation and the arts vigourouly ever since I expressed infests when I was little. She’s always a source of inspiration and encouragement and I love and appreciate her for that,” Bell-Nixon said.

Bell-Nixon has been interested in animation since he was younger and has always considered PHOTO BY DEBORAH CHANG himself to be artistically inclined.

“When I was little I remember watching cartoons and thinking, ‘Why can’t I do that’? Now I do and to see things come to life is amazing,” he said. “I’m just like, ‘Wow, after an hour or however long I had been working I’m done.’”

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

I am Suryanshi. Pandya did a text portrait of Malala Yousafzai for an Art 2 assignment this year. The text that makes up the portrait is a speech Malala presented to the U.N. about equal education for girls and boys across the globe.

Expressionism for Chun Sophomore Jessii Chun, one of the only sophomores in AP Studio Art, uses art as a way to overcome her shyness, although deadlines can be stressful.

by Mandy Ramos

Drawing Queen. Chun likes to draw because she is “good at explaining things through art” as opposed to through words.

Photos courtesy of Jessii Chun.

8

.

FEATURES

“Artists can appreciate the things they observe more because they know how difficult it is,” Pandya said. “They understand the difficulty and skill required for craftsmanship.”

Art is not simply a passion or interest for Pandya, however. She finds that it helps relieve her stress from school.

“At the end of a really stressful day, when I have loads of homework bearing down on me I can always just take a break and sketch and do something I love,” Pandya said. “I just really relieves me of the amount of stress and tension that comes along with taking advanced placement classes.”

Pandya finds nothing more peaceful than “coming home after a stressful day and just drawing and sketching” whatever comes to her mind. She also loves the freedom of doing art.

“I really like art because no one can tell you that you’re doing something wrong,” she said. “It’s something anybody can do and anybody can enjoy.”

by Marie Ona

Freshman Taylor Kearney doodles on the computer program Paint Tool Sai, creating characters like these.

because you can blend in all of the shades.

I had one piece made from color pencils, which was a jacket and a scarf,” Chun said.

“You can see all of the texture in it which made it really nice.”

When Chun has an idea of what she will draw, she has the “momentum” to finish it.

“Sometimes you have no idea what you have to do or an assignment or anything and it just takes the longest time to get the idea,” she said. “But once you have the idea, you just have the momentum to finish it.”

As part of her AP Studio Art class, Chun is required to hand in a portfolio of twentyfour pieces of art she completed.

“At the end of the year, you have to turn in a portfolio of about twenty-four pieces of

and he gives me tips.”

She finds her dad being an artist helpful, and finds that he gives her “a broader perspective.”

“I like talking to him about art and he gives me a lot of advice on how to do my art projects,” Pandya said.

Her father, Rakesh Pandya, agrees that art has brought them much closer.

“She asks me questions about her art and I always give her examples and inspiration,” he said. “We are very close. She is not only my daughter but also like my student.”

He enjoys that his daughter also shares his passion for art.

“I like that she has the same liking and interest [as me],” Mr. Pandya said.

“I’m really proud and joyful about what she is doing.”

Suryanshi finds that artists have a different perspective on things around them, and that they look at the details in everything “from a sofa to a textbook.”.

Robotics club uses CAD

Just doodlin’

Her imagination fills up her blank paper with sketches. She then fills in her art with color pencils to create many shades and detail. Sophomore Jessii Chun enjoys to draw cartoons and people on her free time.

Chun enjoys art because she feels that it is a good way to express herself and get past her shyness.

“I was always good at explaining things through art because I’m very shy and I don’t really like speaking in front of people, and art was just a way to communicate,” she said.

Chun tends to use color pencils in her drawings, because she thinks that it is a good way to blend in all of the shades.

“I really like to work with color pencils,

Before she could even walk, crayons, colored pencils and paint have been a few of her best friends. From scribbles and sketches to intricate designs and cartoons, art is one of her favorite hobbies. Junior Suryanshi Pandya’s passion for art has followed her throughout the years, and it also helps her bond with her father.

Pandya and her father’s love for art helps them have a closer relationship.

“It helps us connect at a deeper level because we share an interest and are both passionate about it. He’s not a teenager so obviously he doesn’t like to talk about the other things teenagers talk about,” Pandya said.

From a very young age, she has observed her father’s work and improved her own art.

“I have been liking art since I was really little and my dad has helped me cultivate my talent,” Pandya said. “My dad always does drawings and paintings at home so I always watch him

art that’s supposed to be your best quality,” she said.

Chun likes how she has the help from her art teachers but has the freedom to draw whatever she wants.

“The best part in art class is just the freedom,” she said. “I like how the teachers are always willing to help you, but don’t constrict you.”

Chun hopes to stick to art when she grows up and find a career in disney animation.

“If I do get a job in art and as long as I can live off it, then I would be happy, but there’s not that many jobs related to art that you can live off,” she said. “But if I could, I would want to draw Disney animation.”

Working countless hours filled with stress and annoyance to make everything perfect perfect. Matthew Chu is a graphic designer and is part of the robotics team.

He also does solo projects and works on different types of robots.

“For graphic designing you just sit on a computer and you just work out parts. You start manipulating holes and everything.

You have to think about everything that goes into it like structure, hole locations- make sure they all mix and match,” he said.

Chu joined the robotics team last year as a mechanical engineer. He calls it CAD, or computer aided design, and they work on a program called Solid Works.

“For the team, you have to understand how

Robots!. A robot Chu and the robotics team are designing.

things

function, and the availability of parts and fabrication capabilities of the machinist on the team, as well as the imagination of the kid,” he said.

Chu’s friend James Lee shares what it is like working with Chu. “Matthew can be pretty annoy-

ing at times but he gets the job done,” he said. “He’s dedicated in what he does.”

The team will depend on each other through stressful times.

“We usually do it because it helps a lot and enables us to get things done faster,” Lee said. “There’s a lot of pressure and usually a timetable to follow.”

Watching the making of a robot inspired Chu. “Sitting at a computer, and watching a robot come together on the computer was what I found pretty interesting,” he said.

Chu feels mixed emotions when he’s at work. At times he will get angry or annoyed.

“I get angry when parts don’t align, or something screws up. One of my pieces won’t fit, so I have to change 10 other pieces to make it fit,” he said. “This one time we couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Everything has to be perfect in CAD and we can screw up when we’re manufacturing it. So we screwed up alignment on five pieces and had to change all the pieces in between so that took us a whole weekend.”

At other times he gets sad.

“When all the hard work you put in then everything does not align, you feel sad since you just wasted your time and time is money,” he said.

FEATURES

.

9

Close Call Shane Staudle recovered from lip cancer

by Reema Saad Senior Shane Staudle could not believe that the lump on his lip that he had thought was a cut or scratch would turn out to be cancer.

After three biopsies, in which doctors cut his lip and then burned it, he found out that he had skin cancer.

The biopsies themselves had a major affect on Staudle physically and mentally.

“I just remember the smell of burning flesh-- it was disgusting. I’m scarred from it.

It smelled like hot, burning rubber and it was right beneath my nose but I knew it was my own skin and blood burning. I cringe at the thought of it,” Staudle said.

A few biopsies later, he found out that surgery would take place, which left Staudle wondering even more.

“What if I can’t talk again, what if my face can’t move, I can’t smile, I can’t kiss, I can’t do anything?” Staudle said.

Before the surgery, Staudle talked to his surgeon about the risks of the procedure.

“What they had to do was cut a v-shape out of my lip and take gum from another part of my mouth and pull it over to fill

the gap. They could’ve cut a nerve and I wouldn’t have been able to move muscles in my face, or they could’ve cut too much out and my lip could’ve been hanging out and protruding. I had all these fears running through my head,” Staudle said.

He said he was not sure what to make of the situation or what procedures he would have to go through.

“I was in shock. I just remember when I found out, my face got bright red and I had goosebumps everywhere. The ambiguity of not knowing was where the real fear came from. Did that mean I was fine? Do I need chemo? I didn’t know,” Staudle said.

With a large family history of cancer, Staudle didn’t know what to expect.

“My uncle had skin cancer, and he had to get half of his jaw removed. So when I found out that I had it, I was like ‘Oh my God, you’ve got to be kidding me. I’m so screwed.’ I didn’t know how bad it was going to be,” Staudle said.

Staudle said he was fortunate enough to have the support of his family, many of whom had cancer themselves.

Smack the lip. 1. Staudle’s affected lip. Photo courtesy of Shane Staudle. 2. Staudle poses for a photo after he has healed.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

“They were very supportive. They would come and check on me and make sure everything was okay. My uncle talked to me about it and kind of calmed me down,” Staudle said.

Sophomore Sarah Staudle, Shane’s sister, said that even though she was stunned and shocked at first, she reassured her brother along the way.

“I just always told him to think positively and to know that he was going to get through this. I told him to just focus on going to college and soccer and support himself with family and friends around him,” Sarah said.

Acording to Staudle, he was lucky that his surgeon did a great procedure and that he’s glad they caught the cancer early enough.

“The biggest issue with cancer is trying to catch it early and I was worried because

From China With Love

by Kelly Harraka

Freshman Bing Rethy’s family does not look like a traditional American family, but it works all the same.

“I always knew that I was adopted because my mom is white, so it was pretty obvious,” Rethy said.

She has lived with her non-biological American mother since she was 8 months old and has no recollection of her birth mother.

“I had done a lot of other things in my life, and it felt like it was time to be a parent.

I very much liked the idea of being a parent to a child who was already here. I thought I could offer a child a stable, nurturing

10 . FEATURES

home,” Mrs. Rethy said.

Even though Rethy knows that there’s a slim chance to come in contact with her birth mother, she feels that she can still learn about her birth mother’s heritage. But other than that, she said that being adopted doesn’t really impact her life.

Rethy was born in China, where parents then were only allowed to have one child.

Rethy’s biological mother was believed to already have a child, so Rethy was put up for adoption.

“There’s a huge process in adoption; you have to apply to get a kid,” Rethy said.

After many months and much paper-

when I first felt the lump, I just dealt with it. I didn’t do anything about it. I was lucky enough to catch it early and I still look pretty normal,” Staudle said.

He had ignored the lump because he never thought anything like cancer would be the cause of it.

“I thought it might have just been from a cut or something or a scratch. It was just one of those instances, where it would not happen to me, I’m young. You don’t actually think you’re going to be affected by it,” Staudle said.

Staudle has started to appreciate more things in his life and be open to new things.

“The small things that you wouldn’t even think twice about, I’m just more appreciative towards. I appreciate my lips, you never know what’s going to happen. You never expect it to happen until it does,” Staudle said.

Bing Rethy believes that being adopted is no different than being born into a family

work, Rethy was adopted by her American mother.

The adoption process was long and tedious. It takes about a year to create and gather documents relating to every aspect of life.

Despite being different races, Rethy’s American mother is very “accepting” and “supportive.”

“Me being adopted doesn’t impact our relationship,” Rethy said. “We are really open with each other.”

Although there is no blood relation, Rethy believes that her family is just like any other.

“I don’t think it’s different from other people. There’s still love,” she said.

Rethy believes that people are too quick to judge and “always think being adopted is a bad thing.”

She and her American mother occasionally talk about the adoption, because “it is not an awkward subject.”

She feels that there is no distance between her mom and her and doesn’t understand why others are concerned with her type of situation.

“Just because somebody doesn’t have the same life as you,” Rethy said, “doesn’t mean the person is worse off.”

Running with the Big Boys PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

Patriot. Colton Williams received a letter of acceptance to become a page in August.

By Shaniya Markalanda

After sending in an application and waiting six months, junior Colton Williams received a response. He looks forward to being a page for a senator.

As a page, Williams will get paid to run errands, make copies of paperwork, open doors and get podiums ready for the senator to whom he is assigned.

“I hope to get self disciplined. I’m going to be doing a lot of work and a lot of school,” Williams said.

Williams is “excited” to experience new surroundings.

“I’m most excited to just be in the nation’s Capitol and be in the midst of all of this history,” Williams said.

Williams believes becoming a page will help in any occupation.

“I’m doing it because I think it will be fun and I think it’ll have benefits for any future career, especially what I want to do.

Colton Williams was chosen to be a page for Senator Hatch and will attend school in Washington D.C.

I’m interested in law and politics,” Williams said.

After applying in March, Williams got a letter of acceptance in August.

“I was excited when I got accepted. I was really excited,” Williams said. “It was in August and it seemed like it was really far away, now I’m going in two weeks and I’m even more excited.”

Although only thirty spots were available, Williams was not hesitant to apply.

“I wasn’t hesitant at all. I was really excited to do it. I want to do it because I think it would be a nice experience and a good change of atmosphere to be able to experience other states and things back east,” Williams said.

When Senator Orrin Hatch chose Williams to be his page, he was “incredibly excited.”

“I feel pretty lucky that I’m going to get

Motherland

to work for Senator Hatch and help him out,” Williams said.

Williams hopes that becoming a page will improve his skills.

“I just hope to build a good work ethic and to learn how to live on my own and be self sufficient,” Williams said. “I also hope to have fun experiences. Hopefully, this might help me ease into college lifestyle a little more gently.”

Because he will be away from home for a couple months, Williams knows he will miss his family.

“I’m going to miss my family for sure, but my cousin’s family lives 30 minutes from where I’m staying,” Williams said.

“I’m lucky I have family at all out there, while most pages won’t.” Williams’ father, Anthony Mirabal, also hopes that going away for the page program will help Williams get ready for college.

“I hope he gets a feel for what it’s like to be on his own. It will be great preparation for when he goes away to college,” Anthony said.

Although he will be leaving RUHS, Williams will continue his schooling in Washington.

After school, Williams will go to work with the Senator.

“I work from 10 a.m. to whenever the session for the day ends, so I may end up working late into the night sometimes,” Williams said.

Although becoming a page requires leaving his family, working some late nights, and a great deal of work, Williams is “excited” to become a page.

“I think this experience will be difficult, fun, and memorable,” Williams said. “I definitely think there will be challenges, fun times, and things to remember.”

Masha Peshcheryakova adjusts to the United States after living in Russia

by Jason Clebowicz

After moving to three different countries and going to numerous schools, junior Masha Peshcheryakova has found a home at RUHS. Peshcheryakova grew up in Sochi, Russia until she moved to Calif. Once in Calif., she moved frequently until she settled in Redondo Beach.

Peshcheryakova migrated from Russia when she was in sixth grade because her mother had a boyfriend living in Calif. Her mother and her boyfriend separated shortly after. Despite their original plans falling through, Peshcheryakova and her mother decided to stay and live in Calif.

“My Mom and I came to California for her to get married, but that didn’t play out well and they divorced. Instead of going back to Russia, she decided to climb the social ladder in California to get to where she is now,” Peshcheryakova said.

According to Peshcheryakova, the first

year of being in California was a culture shock.

“Sometimes it felt like I was an alien, and that I was constantly being left out wherever I went because people couldn’t communicate with me in English,” Peshcheryakova said. “The reason this happened was when I first moved here, I was still into the idea of speaking in Russian, so I’d talk in Russian to my mom and everyone around me. But at the same time other people were nice to me and it was weird getting used to the kids being so social and touchy because people in Russia are more private and not touchyfeely.”

Peshcheryakova was not the only one struggling; Her mother oversaw the challenging progression and tried to help her daughter anyway she could. But as a foreigner herself, sometimes even she couldn’t advise Peshcheryakova because she was going through the same battle.

“It was a struggle for me as much as it was a struggle for her. It was really difficult for her to fit in at first and it came to a point where she would spend the majority of her time doing her homework. It would take her three times as long to complete an assignment because she’d have trouble understanding the language, and I would too. But once she joined sports programs , she blossomed and the social aspect of her life picked up again. It turned everything around,” Mrs. Peshcheryakova said.

Both Peshcheryakova and her mother do not regret their decision to move from Russia.

“I prefer never to move. I would never choose to move if it was my own decision.

The only reason I’d move away from here is if it was out of necessity for Masha and PHOTO COURTESY OF MASHA PESCHERYAKOVA myself. But I don’t see that happening anytime in the near future,” Mrs. Peshch- A tale of two countries. Pescheryakova and her mother pose in front of a fountain in eryakova said.

Russia.

FEATURES

.

11

Bridgette Schneider athlete of the issue

Having played three years of varsity water polo, senior Bridgette Schnieder has proven her leadership skills and hopes to end the year well

by Sophie Maguy

She has been the top scorer every year that she has attended RUHS. She has played for four different club teams over the course of five years. Senior Bridgette Schneider is a lifeguard, soon to be student-athlete at University of Michigan, and the RUHS girls’ water polo team captain.

“Bridgette takes a leadership role and is always willing to help explain things to her teammates. She wants the team to be the best it can be, so she goes ahead and does the extra mile,” water polo coach Mitch Yamamoto said.

Fellow teammate and friend, junior Madison East, agrees that Schneider has definitely assumed a leadership role.

“She helps teammates when they need to improve on something and she positively encourages them,” East said.

Along with being a leader on her team, Schneider is also a fierce competitor in games.

“During game time she is all business, she has no distractions, she’s ready to play, and she plays hard. She always gives her best,” Yamamoto said.

Schneider’s passion for the sport of water polo fuels her enthusiasm and drive during games.

“Every five seconds I begin thinking of

water polo, that’s usually how it works,” Schneider said. “All of my friends are always telling me to shut up about it.”

East also believes that she is a passionate player.

“She is so passionate about water polo and it is pretty much her life,” East said.

Schneider’s passion for the sport of water polo allows for her to play an extremely difficult position in the pool for the team.

“Bridgette is a strong player and playing the set position is probably one of the most difficult positions in the pool, but she enjoys doing it. She challenges herself and does extra work, such as wearing a weight belt when we do conditioning,” Yamamoto said.

She currently plays at one of the top club teams in the nation-Huntington Beach Water Polo Club. She will start up with the Redondo swim team once water polo season ends.

Schneider’s hard work and dedication to the team are not only pushing the Redondo team towards wins, but also her extra training is preparing her for her season at Michigan.

“Bridgette works really hard, especially because she is going to be playing at Michigan. She knows she has to pick up her skills and swim speed and she has been concen-

trating on that a lot,” Yamamoto said.

Although she is anxiously awaiting her enrollment at Michigan, Schneider is currently focusing on getting the girls team ready to for upcoming games.

“I try to act as the bridge between the coach and the players if there is any discourse on the team. I want to whip the team into shape for our season.” Schneider said.

Schneider has numerous long term goals for this season, but there is one team that she really wants to beat.

“I want to beat PV, they seem like the team to beat, and I think we have a really good chance,” Schneider said.

The team lost to Palos Verdes 17-10 on Wednesday, but they will strive for a win against them on February 5th.

PHOTO BY AHMAD KABBANI

Holy Schnieder. Schnieder attempts a shot against the opposing defender last season.

Drum Line prepares for their new season Drum Line hopes to show their hard work and dedication after more practices and focusing on a new technique to succeed.

by Amanda Shaw

PHOTOS BY LAURA SMITH

Little drummer boys. The drum line practices their difficult songs in preparation.

12 . SPORTS

The drumline is preparing for the upcoming competition season by focusing on “one-on-one” rehearsals in order to produce a more “intense” sound as a whole.

“The show that we purchased is a lot more difficult and so with harder music it means we have more practices, and we need to have more determination, more practice at home, because that really helps us get better here and at the competitions,” said Bryant Lozada, the captain of the drumline.

Lozada is hoping to create a more original competition performance.

“It is reaching towards all types of drums, like now we get to use Japanese tyco drums which we’ve have for a while and so we’re trying to implement other instruments and we’re trying to play a piece that’s dark and has a lot of power and aggressiveness to it so we can lay down a good show with lots of

intensity,” said Lozada.

The drumline is more focused upon accepting those who are passionate about drumming.

“If we see someone who is struggling with something, we help them out, but what we really look for is how well they can quickly change their technique and how they can change it for the better. The music we play is very difficult and we don’t expect everyone to be the best automatically,” said Lozada.

Lozada does not want drumline to be something that the drummers feel stressed over.

“My goal is to make sure that everyone really enjoys what they’re doing, since it is hard and a lot of times very stressful because in drumline you stick out. You can’t hide in a group, and what I really look for is to help others get out of their comfort zone and try

to find a way to enjoy what we’re doing,” said Lozada.

Lozada hopes to create a drumline full of dedicated drummers.

“Whenever I go to drumline practice what I really enjoy about is that it’s very physical and a lot of people like the physical aspect of it because you’re able to express yourself using your arm motions and by your volume.”

The drumline provides a creative way for students to escape the pressure of daily activities, such as homework and tests.

“It amazes me every day to see how someone can express themselves across what we’re doing. To us it’s another language and it’s something we always look forward to. It’s very addicting and it’s a great way to relieve stress and a great past time activity,” Lozada said.

Girls to rebound The girls basketball team lost to Peninsula on Tuesday but are looking forward to today’s game against Mira Costa.

by Chris Paludi

PHOTO BY MATT MARDESICH

Hard in the paint. Sophomore Micaela Enriquez dribbles passed a Peninsula defender.

Girl’s basketball looks to bounce back from their loss on Tuesday night against Peninsula to take the upper hand in their game against Mira Costa today.

“Tuesday night’s loss was motivation for us going into this game,” junior Nao Shiota said. “We’re that much hungrier for the win over Mira Costa.”

To win, they know they will have to resolve their issues.

“After Tuesday night’s game the main thing we’ve been working on is our mental toughness,” senior Natalie Sisto said. “We were complacent at last Tuesday’s game, and that caused us to lose. We’re determined to never let that happen again. “ A win over Mira Costa would be a significant win for the team.

“We have Redondo pride and want to do the school proud,” Sisto said. “Beating Mira Costa would motivate us to be better every time we step onto the court. It would be the reward for having the mindset of going out there, focused, to really execute what we’ve worked so hard for.”

Sisto attributed another level of significance to tonight’s game.

“A win over Mira Costa would mean that we are capable of overcoming adversity,” Sisto said. Sisto said that the team is putting an emphasis winning tonight.

“This will be our statement game,” Sisto said. Either we let our first loss get to us, or we use this game as an opportunity to redeem ourselves and show everyone what girl’s basketball is really about.”

Boys soccer beats Penn Boys soccer starts off season strong by beating Peninsula, a “strong opponent,” on Tuesday

by Nina Gomez

Boys’ soccer opened their season with a big win for the team against longtime rivals Peninsula High on Tuesday, finishing 5-1.

“Peninsula is a good opponent and this win was really important for us as a team,” senior Michael O’Neil said.

O’Neil believes this win really motivated the team for future games against other tough opponents.

“I think that now we have more confidence and experience going into the season after this win since now we know we can match up to opponents both physically and with our skill,” O’Neil said.

The boys believe their win had to do with the unity they built up this season.

“We’ve been focusing on working together as a team during practice and I think that’s something we were missing last season,” sophomore Trenton Klatte said.

The team has been building their unity off the field through team events as well that Klatte thinks has helped the boys bond.

“We’ve been organizing team dinners and everything we do at practices has become a lot more team-based,” Klatte said.

Both the team and head coach Ignacio Lopez are looking forward to playing Palos Verdes High later this season, Peninsula again, and Mira Costa on Friday.

“We’re really looking forward to playing one of the top teams in the league, Palos Verdes, and I think that we’re going to win Friday. We’re confident that we can do well against our rivals. They have a strong attack so our defense will have to be playing at their highest potential,” O’Neil said.

Klatte agrees that they will have to be playing with even more confidence and force, even after the win against Peninsula.

PHOTO BY PETER TRAN

Kicking and screaming. Junior Justin Leavitt maintains possesion against two defenders.

Cheer team looks to success this competition season

by Jené Price

After placing third at regionals and getting the chance to advance to nationals, the girls cheer team are excited and confident about the upcoming competition at Redondo this weekend “This weekend we are definitely looking for first place but we need people to come in order to get first,” said senior Jordan Dobler.

The crowd is apart of the points for the girls and they need a big one in order to

score high in that category. At the last performance the girls felt like they could’ve done better but are still proud they are able to advance.

“In our last performance we made a few fumbles during the routine that could have been avoided,” senior Shadae Downey said.

“Viewing our routine after the performance allowed us to see and fix our mistakes so they wouldn’t occur again.”

According to Colwell, there was a recent injury on the team causing a routine change. With this new routine there’s strong hope for nationals.

“We had to change the whole routine but it has a lot more difficulty and stunting,” Colewell said.

Dobler believes one of the hardest aspects of cheer is having to rely on teammates.

“The hardest part is you have to rely on

other people not to make mistakes,” Dobler said.

According to Downey, the girls have goals in nationals to perform well, give it their all and represent Redondo well.

“Usually the cheer team goes to events to support other Redondo sports, but at this specific event we are hoping that the students and staff come support us and show school pride and unity,” Downey said.

SPORTS

.

13

Boys Basketball grinds out a close win

by Jené Price

The boys basketball team played a very close game on Tuesday against Palos Verdes Peninsula but came out on top, despite senior Ian Fox’s absence.

Senior Ian Fox was out with a sprained ankle and is doubtful for Friday’s game.

However, junior Leland Green stepped up with twenty five points and senior Terell Carter contributed ten points and eleven rebounds.

“I had to step up a lot because Ian was out,” Green said. “So I just came out and played hard and we got the win.”

According to coach Reggie Morris, having Ian injured is not the way they wanted to start league.

“Of course we never want to lose a player to an injury and he is very vital to our team with his playmaking abilities, shooting, and leadership,” Morris said. “ However, we took it as a challenge for other players to step up and gain experience which will only help us this season. I was fairly pleased with our performance without Ian. We lacked chemistry and leadership at times but as the game progressed we improved.”

According Morris, Carter was a big part of the win.

“We have extremely high expectations of

Terell. He did a good job of handling Peninsula’s big man. He needs to keep his effort consistent and maintain focus the whole game.” Morris said.

Redondo made eight for eight at the free throw line to ensure the win along with making Peninsula turn over the ball, although they did start to slow down according to Morris.

“When our defense stopped forcing turnovers, which happens in every game, it is up to us and me as a coach to settle down, focus on playing solid,and come up with the ball,” Morris said. “Free throws played a huge part in the win, we have been working on them a lot, and our hard work payed off in a big game.

Going into the game, the team was ready to play according to junior Ryan Reeves.

“We felt confident even though we did not have our captain because we put a lot of work in practice.” Reeves said.

The team is keeping focused for their game on Friday against longtime rivals Mira Costa.

“Costa is having an excellent season and we need to improve defensively and be ready for the task at hand. We must have the mindset of making it hard for the other team to score,” Morris said.

PHOTO BY AHMAD KABBANI

Lay it in. 1. Sophomore Leland Green attempts a layup while contested by a Peninsula defender. 2. Junior Cameron High drives down the baseline past a Peninsula defender

Girls blow an early lead The girls soccer team jumped ahead of Peninsula early on, but some controversial calls kept them from getting the win.

by Micah Ezzes

PHOTO BY MATT MARDESICH

Lead-in. enior Garrett Lash prepares for a sho earlier this year against Loyola

15

.

SPORTS

In Thursday’s game against Peninsula High school the girls were unable to keep the lead they had in the beginning and lost 5-3.

“We came out strong and scored first but we allowed Penn to come back and beat us in the end,” senior Katrina Cohen said.

Senior Shelby Barnes had similar thoughts.

“We felt good after our previous game against Torrance High School but we knew it would be a tough game and we weren’t able to end up with the win,” Barnes However, sophomore Brittany Bravo has other views.

“It was an unlucky game because of the controversial calls that I believe led to our loss,” Bravo said.

A majority of the girls agree with Bravo and said that, “A goal was called against us that we believe was saved and never crossed the goal line, and we suffered a disallowed goal because the ref called obstruction on a corner kick.”

Even with their loss many of the girls were still proud of how they all played and feel like the score did not represent how they truly played.

“We came out in the second half win-

ning the ball more in the middle, we were stronger in our tackles and were able to play simple which i think worked well for us,” Cohen said.

In their game today against Mira Costa High School, the team plans on playing to their best ability in order to beat their rivals.

“We expect a very physical and exciting game because we know Costa has talent and skill,” Bravo said.

The rest of the team agrees that it is always a “good” game against Mira Costa and that they all are excited for today’s game.

“We plan to take everything we learned from this game into Costa’s, in order to get the win,” Cohen said.

According to the girls, the experience the girls gained from the Peninsula game include being strong in their tackles and to win every “50/50” ball in order to get a start on their momentum early in the game.

In order to successfully beat Costa, the team has discussed on who to specifically watch out for on Costa, mainly senior Kimby Keever.

“I think if we have a strong defense and work hard as a team,” junior Taylor Herm said, “Then I think we have a good chance at beating Costa.”

Dancing days are here

by Caitlin Cochran

The dance guard is preparing for their first indoor competition of the year which takes place Feb. 8.

Junior Meghan Lee is feeling “confident” about the upcoming competition.

“So far we’ve really developed as a unit, so we hope to maintain that and hopefully score highly to start a great season,” Lee said.

The girls have been fixing their technique in order to score as high as possible.

“While everyone has their own individual strengths, we work hard to help develop each other’s skill sets,” said Lee. “So I’d say our biggest strength is flexibility, and in terms of how easily each member of the team can learn and retain corrections. ” Rachel Willard, a freshman on the team has been focusing on her own corrections to make the team stronger.

“I’ve been working on my synchronization with everyone. That’s the main goal, staying in sync because if you don’t, everyone looks bad,” Willard said.

The team is also improving upon weaknesses to become stronger.

“I guess our weaknesses would be that because we are so close to one another and spend so much time together, we act like siblings, and siblings bicker sometimes,” Lee said. “Even though it’s all out of love and desire for team success, it can get a little stressful.”

The team has done bondings to make everyone close and to have a friendly atmosphere.

“We have bonding events and we talk and hang out. There was this one event where we did an upperclassman to a lower classman. The upperclassmen are people that you bond with, they’re there to help you.

They help you if you have any questions or if you don’t know how to do a certain dance move,” Willard said.

Overall, the team is preparing to make sure they have a successful season.

“We hope to display all of our hard work, and prove to be contenders this season,” Lee said.

“I think we’re all pumped up and ready to hit the dance floor and win,” Willard added.

PHOTO BY AHMAD KABBANI

A grand ol’ flag. Dance guard performs with the band at a band competition this year.

Girls drop the ball against PV

Surf team prepares for upcoming meet

by Caitlin Cochran

Even with the half court shot made by senior Bridgette Schinder the girls still were not able to beat Palos Verdes High School, 17-10.

“We went into the game really wanting to win and we felt like P.V. was the team to beat but unfortunately we were unable to,” Schnider said.

According to some of the girls felt like they did not play as well as they hoped.

“We did not play to our best ability but we were able to come out of the game knowing exactly what we needed to work on,” junior Madison East said.

Some of the things the girls believe that they need to improve on include passing under pressure, driving and taking advantage of the kick outs they get, yet the girls do agree that they have seen a steady improvement on these aspects during the course of their season so far.

“P.V. happened to have a lot of really fast players which i think played a major role in out loss,” Schnider said.

In their upcoming game against West High School on Monday Jan. 20, the team plans on focusing more on their basic techniques.

“West is not usually a difficult team so we plan on having our main focus be on our fundamentals,” Schinder said. “Focusing on our fundamentals should also help us out when we do play more challenging teams.”

The girls agree that some of the fundamentals are working on their picks, driving into their defense and getting kick outs.

“I think part of the reason we always do so well against West is because their team is not strong due to the reason that they do not have their own home pool,” junior Dinah Aiad said.

Since the team beats West High every year they feel confident that they will beat them once again and continue their winning streak.

“We always come out victorious when we play against West so if we do what we always do we should be just fine,” junior Lexi Kleen said.

The team knows what it must do to win.

“If we draw a lot of kicks by driving our defense and limit their amount of shots, we will most definitely come out with the win like we are expecting,” Aiad said.

PHOTO BY AHMAD KABBANI

Fire away. The girls water polo team is well-prepared to face West Torrance this Monday.

by Chris Paludi

The surf team has been preparing for their meet on Tuesday.

“We are surfing a lot with many different conditions so that we are prepared for anything on competition day.

These include good waves, bad ways, big waves, and small anything,” junior Paige Sullivan said.

Junior Luke Meyers has had intense practices in preparation today.

“I’ve been hunting some slabs with Keianu. Slabs are tube time, which are also known as barrels or the green room.”

“I joined the team in November and it’s awesome. I love surfing and the team already,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan has enjoyed being in surf thus far.

“I love the sport already and I’ve made a ton of new friends.”

Meyers believes the team will do well on Tuesday.

“I think we will win because of Keianu Diers, who is possibly the best team rider ever at Redondo. He trains very hard for what he does and could possibly go pro.”

Sullivan is confident in the team.

“I’m pretty new to the team but I can tell that our team is going to be good. At the last few comps we have done really well,” Sullivan said. We will be prepared for anything on Tuesday.”

SPORTS . 15

A friend in me. “This was inspired by my friend Leti Dani Soriano. There’s hearts around her because she’s a very loving and caring person.”

Time consumes. “This one is about aging and getting older.”

Inner emotion. “This one has to do with the beauty, good and evil within. Most people have a nice appearance, but everyone has a type of evil inside of them.”

16 . FEATURES

Have some backbone. A portrait focusing on the spine.

See more at hightideonline.org

cont. from pg. 1 something else. I embrace my mistakes and make them part of my art. A lot of my work is ‘unfinished,’ but I consider it finished. I just have my own unique style.”

Although most parents would encourage their children to pursue a more stable career, Mar’s mother Alessandra supports her daughter’s dream.

She plans to first go to community college to finish up her GED, and dreams of subsequently getting a scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

“It makes me very proud to see my daughter pursuing her dream,” Alessandra said. “Even though this field is very competitive, Melissa is very talented and determined. I think that as long as she is following her dreams, she is in the right track.”

Mar’s passion for her art has translated into some modest success on her chosen track. She has been featured in two galleries at the California African American Museum and has sold a portrait out of state.

Feeling Blue. “It was a painting describing letting loose and letting go of everything.

It’s inspired by the idea of being free and happy.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MELISSA MAR

“I’m so proud to see my daughter succeeding in something she has a passion for,” Alessandra said. She went after the Ryman Arts program on her own; the only thing I remember helping her with was the essay.

She applied, sent her portfolio and was one of the two chosen students that year, among numerous talented students at RUHS, to attend the program. She completed the program last year and had some of her pieces shown.”

Mar enjoys showcasing her work at art galleries.

“I love to show; it’s fun,” Mar said. “Everybody appreciates and looks at everyone’s work. It was like a small taste of my dream.”

Despite her initial success, Mar knows just how risky it is to pursue a career as an artist.

“There’s a lot of pressure to succeed. Even art schools make fun of fine artists. They say ‘oh, you’re not going to go into animation or graphic design, you’re not going to be-

come anything,’ and there’s a lot of pressure to succeed if you choose to be a fine artist.

You’re not really respected very much. In pursuing this lifestyle, there’s a very real fear that I won’t make money and I’ll be homeless,” Mar said.

Despite her passion for art, Mar cannot simply brush off that fear.

“Last year, I felt a lot of pressure to be like everybody else and get a regular job.

I thought that I’d never be successful, and that I had to find something else,” Mar said.

“I still doubt myself still now because everyone is getting accepted into great colleges, but I’m just going to community college.”

In the face of this fear, Mar looks to friends and family for support.

“My mom supports me the most, and the support and compliments from my friends help keep me going,” Mar said.

Alessandra has high hopes for her daughter, in spite of the challenges ahead of her.

“Even though this field is very com-

petitive, Melissa is very talented and determined,” Alessandra said. “I am proud to see her going after something she has a passion for.”

A lifetime of painting has gone into creating her style, and Mar has discovered much about not only art, but also herself along the way.

“I express my emotions through my art.

I was very angry at one point. I was working on this painting and I got frustrated and started cutting all of the threads down. It expresses how I felt at the time so well and I feel like art can be great for that. Art can also be therapeutic. It can help me to feel better about what’s going on in my life,” Mar said. “It helps me get through tough, dark times and get through to the brighter ones.

Art can also isolate you though, because you spend so much time in a room working on something that you don’t socialize much. I may not have the largest number of friends, but I cherish the people that I’m close to.”