February Issue

inside: g n i k n i r d teen The teen consumption of alcohol is a significant problem in our community.

pgs. 9 - 12 la costa canyon high school

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1 maverick way, carlsbad, california 92009

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volume 2 - issue 3

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February 2010

adviser Christopher Greenslate cover photo: JP Horrigan

contact us: 1 Maverick Way Carlsbad, CA 92009 (760) 436-6136 ext. 6020 email: MavLifeNews@gmail.com

www.LCCNews.com Mav Life is the student newspaper of La Costa Canyon High School. La Costa Canyon High School student media products are public forums for student expression. Students are responsible for their work in print publications, online content and video broadcasts, as well as in other products, none of which are subject to administrative approval. Students make all final content decisions. Media programs follow educational best practices as defined by the National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Student Press Law Center. In addition, student media programs work to follow all copyright laws and avoid libel, slander, and infringing upon the rights of others.

Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper staff, while opinion columns represent the writer’s perspective.

Advertisements do not necessarily represent the newspaper’s viewpoint. MavLife, an open forum, welcomes signed letters on pertinent issues from the community, which may be submitted to room 1304, via e-mail or to Christopher Greenslate’s mailbox in the administrative building. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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page

Kiersten Brada-Pitts modeling sucess is featured.

16

A critique of a cultural clique.

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editor in chief Rachel Scepanovic managing editor Jordynn Harris copy editor Katherine Dwyer editors Alexa Simpson, Hunter Vurbeff lead photographer JP Horrigan staff Liliana Alaniz, Hayden Anderson, Jake Barnes, Allison Beach, Sean Bentley, Nicholas Bernier, Shannon Brunetti, D.P. Bullington, Makenzie Cohen, Elan Conlin, Cara Connor, Ximena Cruz, Nena Farrell, Sarah Favreau, Kayne Friesen, Reina Garcia, Emilia Gonzalez, Joseph Goodman, Alex Ham, Rebecca Hammock, Amanda Knef, Joshua Kong, Sebastian Langkilde, Drew Linkogle, Andrew Murray, Taylor Olson, Warren Rodriguez, Danielle Roel, Kasie Shahbaz, Quinn Snow, Alec Thornburgh, Erica Turnbull, Megan Walsh, Katherine Wells, Karissa Workinger

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g n i n e p p a h

22

DP Bullington joins wrestling for a week and narrates the life of a wrestler.

[February] 15

Washington Day

25 Late Start

{news}

Composting on Campus Teachers advocate for a place to recycle food waste

Taylor Olson Staff Writer A few months ago Science teacher David Emmerson signed up for a composting class at The Solana Center, where he learned to run a three-type compost system. As a part of the center’s volunteer program he set up a composting system at school. He hopes to reduce pollution by reducing the emission of methane gas caused by trash in landfills and to produce fertile soil to promote new growth.

“I saw it as a chance to educate students on something more important than what they learn in the classrooms,” Emmerson, said.

With the help of the O2 for Life Club, who raised funds to buy the composting bins, and the support of fellow staff and students, Emmerson set up a composting center at school. The program consists of three types of composting. Active composting, where the inputs and temperature must be closely monitored to produce thermophilic bacteria that kills off weeds and pests in the soil, and passive composting which requires little care and consists of grass, paper, coffee grounds, and leaves but takes about eight months to mature.

“I look at it as the idea has always been here. It’s the way the world functions,” Emmerson said.

They are most excited about the third type, Vermia-Composting, which uses earth worms to decompose food waste with the exclusion of meat and dairy products. The worms produce castings which are highly nutritious for plants and helps their immune systems. “If it can go through a straw, a worm can eat it,” Emmerson, said.

Rachel Provenzano, sophomore, helping compost outside of David Emmerson’s classroom Photo by Taylor Olson

These worms are bred in nursery bins full of tiny cocoons that hatch one to three worms. Fully grown worms are then distributed to the main Vermia compost area. Currently, fifteen different teachers have small worm composting bins in their rooms. Emmerson and others hope to extend the program that economics teacher, Joe McCormick described as a “no-brainer” for him, and a process he would like other teachers to see as simple.

“It was easy. I didn’t have to do any-

thing and they delivered the box to me,” McCormick said.

Science teacher June Honsberger, and teacher Elizabeth Engelberg are supporting the endeavor by having their students help Emmerson’s students tend the compost. There are anywhere between three to ten students per class period that help with the composting process in their spare time.

“I hope we can get the school more involved and can get them to do it on their own,” Dillion Flood, sophomore and

compost volunteer, said.

Students hope to raise awareness of composting on Earth Day. They want to show that it’s an easy process that can be learned within ten minutes and can be practiced even by those living in apartments.

Though some people may worry that a composting bin would stink up their classroom or house, those involved insist it is a contained process that won’t cause any foul smells. Even those who work in the bins describe it as an effective and neat process.

“Most of it’s not that gross and it smells good because we put coffee grounds in it,” Flood said.

Other teachers have gotten involved in the project in other ways and are starting to make their own contributions. Economics teacher Justin Machado brings grass clippings up from the baseball field to add to the pile. Cooking teacher Donna Blumer brings the discarded food products and scraps. In the long run Emmerson hopes to expand the program out into the community and to be able to send student representatives out to the elementary and middle schools close by.

He hopes to be able to collect donations or grants for the program because he believes it will take a few thousand dollars to do it right.

“I hope that someday this won’t be a unique process in a classroom, that it will be like a chalkboard, something that doesn’t need to be covered in an article because every teacher has one and everyone is involved in the composting process,” McCormick said.

Seniors will stay during STAR Testing A new requirement made this year forces senior students to be on campus during STAR testing Sebastian Langklide Staff Writer For the first time seniors will be required to attend class during STAR testing this spring. This breaks the long standing tradition of seniors sleeping in during testing sessions while underclassmen attend school normally and take California’s standardized test. Many seniors have been stunned by the announcement.

“I’m really surprised. It’s disappointing to lose this privilege since we all like to wake later in the day,” Ryan Camacho, senior, said.

Though this STAR and AP testing period begins in late April, the announcement’s effect has reverberated within the senior community. Administers acknowledged this factor while creating the testing schedule.

“We are aware of the potential of seniors ‘ditching’ but it’s really to their advantage to stay in class,” Assistant

Principal Bjorn Paige said. “We realize this feels unfair, and it is, but we feel this is best way to help the underclass not burn out. I think Principal Ruggles has a nice treat for all the seniors.”

The testing window starts April 21 and ends May 25 while the AP window opens up from May 3 to May 14. The administration’s plan is to spread the testing out over a month and move certain testing blocks over particular days. This will help sophomores and juniors stay on top of their classes without being overloaded

with homework.

The first two weeks will consist of Math and English testing which is meant to assist sophomores and juniors who will have the brunt of their AP tests in the following two weeks.

May 10 will be the CAHSEE makeup day, and May 11 and 12 will be the CAHSEE re-takes. Additionally, May 19 to 25 will be available for those whom were absent for their STAR test.

february 2010 | MavLife | 3

g n i n e p p ha

Buth Goes All In

DP Bullington Staff Writer

Teacher goes on national television to compete in poker tournament

Dwayne Buth, teacher and wrestling coach, made an appearance on national TV at the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge Poker Tournament this past December.

The tournament was hosted by Fox TV and PokerStars.net. The winner of the Million Dollar Challenge would win $1,000,000. But first, they would have compete through several challenges: a qualifying tournament, a video competition, a match against a celebrity, a match against a professional poker player, and finally a match against World Poker Tour champion Daniel Negreanu.

Buth began by competing in an online poker tournament of around 10,000 participants. After hours of playing, he finished in the top ten, qualifying for the video competition. He then submitted a video, along with the other nine competitors, explaining why he should play at the televised tournament for a chance to win

$1,000,000.

The video showed Buth tearing off a t-shirt revealing a wrestling singlet with poker chips taped to his nipples. His brother “Disco Dennis” and a fellow wrestling coach made an appearance on the video edifying Buth and his passion for poker with lines such as, “When my brother was first born, his first words weren’t ‘Daddy’.

They were ‘All In’, baby!”. This video can be seen on YouTube.

The producers liked the video, so Buth continued on to the tournament aired on the Fox Sports Network where he faced UFC Champion Tito Ortiz. The first few rounds went well for Buth, at one point beating Ortiz 36,400 to 3,600. With 94 percent to six percent odds against Ortiz who went all-in, Buth was just about to win.

But miraculously, the cards played out in Ortiz’s favor. After a few more rounds of a brutal match between Buth and Ortiz, Ortiz unfortunately won. This game can be

seen on the video Web site Hulu.

“It didn’t go as well as I would have liked, but it was a great experience,” Buth said.

The producers gave Buth a bag, a shirt, and a set of poker chips as a consolation prize with a stunned apology for such an unexpected result.

Had Buth won, he would have donated money to the struggling wrestling program at Cal State Fullerton, the college he graduated from.

“You have to remember where you came from. And so if I did win that million dollars, I would’ve loved to donate money to make sure that the Cal State Fullerton program stayed alive.”

Half of the team came to support and watch Buth compete.

“I wish I could’ve won of course, but Cal State Fullerton got national recognition. I was glad I could give them some air time nationally,” Buth said.

Photo by JP Horrigan.

Kiersten Brada-Pitts on the Walk to Fame Jennie Stodder Staff Writer

Student struts towards her dream of becoming a professional model

Brada-Pitts during a fashion show last year. Photo by Margaux Roussel.

Millions of girls dream of becoming a model, but few accomplish this aspiration because of the harsh competition involved in the business. Kiersten Brada-Pitts, a junior, is one of the few with a chance of breaking into the industry.

Brada-Pitts has only been modeling for two years, yet has already taken a giant step towards furthering her career by breaking away from Jet Set, her old modeling agency.

“I’m trying to get an LA agency. I have been talking to Elite Model Management and will be talking to Ford,” Brada-Pitts said.

Being signed with the Ford or Elite modeling agencies, which helped Gieselle Bündchen and Heidi Klum rise to stardom, would work wonders for Brada-Pitt’s career. But even without an agency, BradaPitts has had no problem booking jobs.

She has appeared in numerous magazines and fashion shows.

“I walked in Los Angeles Fashion week for the Lauren Elaine Black Label Collection,” Brada-Pitts said. “There was so much energy and excitement back stage.”

4 | MavLife | february 2010

Besides strutting the runway, BradaPitts participates in commercial and editorial photo shoots. Recently, she showcased her modeling potential in a fashion spread with Haute Magazine, a couture magazine which is growing in popularity.

In the unusual spread about the elements wood and water, Brada-Pitts was challenged to step outside of her comfort zone by posing as if she really were a piece of wood, or a sea of water. Her wood shoot went smoothly, she was wearing a stiff wood corset while sitting on a wooden chair, but during her water shoot she encountered a small problem.

“For the water shoot, I was wearing this small top that kept flying up while I was doing crazy jumps and poses. It was so embarrassing, but I ended up fixing it by taping it down,” Brada-Pitts said.

She was able to retain her positive attitude even while having a modeling mishap, an attitude that she also brings to the classroom.

“In class she demonstrates compassion for others,” English teacher Andrea Cartwright said, “which in some ways shows

leadership because it creates a positive atmosphere.”

Because models serve as inspiration to young women, leadership is the most important attribute for a model to have.

Brada-Pitts showed her leadership by patiently teaching amateur models how to walk the runway while modeling in the fashion club’s show last year.

“She advised me to keep my shoulders back, head up, and smile and be really confident. She even let me borrow her heels,” Alex Meeks, junior, said.

Brada-Pitts’ personality has made her stand out; her career as a model is beginning to move forward. In fact, she just left our school to do the independent study program in attempt to increase the amount of time she has available for modeling and will soon be attending a party for the Laura Elaine Collection with blown up photographs of her face on the walls.

“It’s sometimes really weird seeing myself in pictures, but I’ve begun to get used to it,” Brada-Pitts said.

{news}

10K Participants at Carlsbad Marathon Students participate to raise money and to stay fit Andrew Murray Staff Writer After eighteen years, The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon and Half is still staying strong as over 10,000 participants completed the half and full Carlsbad Marathon.

“It’s inspiring to see the joy on the people’s faces,” Rudy Novothy, marathon announcer, said. “For us to reach out and change lives is a pleasure.”

Runners young and old from forty-eight states and twelve countries took part in the marathons hoping to accomplish tremendous goals. Alongside these runners were volunteers, cheering on each individual runner.

“I really enjoyed helping last year with the event,” Blaire Bender, junior, said. “I thought it was really great and a great event for the community of Carlsbad.”

Many of the participants in the half marathon were running their first marathons. For those who have run previous marathons, the feeling of finishing a marathon holds both relief and honor.

“They were crazy tired, but they kept pushing,” Jenna Maffucci, junior, said. “I would love to run a marathon one day, but it would be a lot of training.”

Among the less experienced runners were the past participants looking to improve on personal records. The marathon hosted national and international competition as the most experienced looked to add another accomplishment to their resume.

Some were pleased with meeting their goals, while others were left in disappointment.

“I’m not happy because I didn’t do my best,” Damaoui El Mostafa, Team Morocco marathon runner, said. “I’ve been a three-time champion and my best time is 2:10. Our team wants to be the best and unfortunately my hamstring injury kept me from doing better.”

Runners who were not looking to beat personal goals were running to raise money for their respective organizations sponsoring the event. Volunteers also chipped in for the organizations like Friends of the Poor-Africa were represented on behalf of ASB along with other organizations looking to raise money.

“Our class ran four miles last year, but we decided to just volunteer this year,” Maffucci said. “Our teacher was really passionate about it and about supporting the community and the organizations.”

“It’s awesome to see people step out of their comfort zones and run marathons on behalf of the charities they’re representing,” Novothy, said. “It’s something that people never thought they would do and to see them give their all is wonderful.”

Whether it was a 14 year old teenager running his first marathon or a 77 year old man still going strong, the Carlsbad Marathon consisted of people of all ages that accomplished an improbable goal of finishing a marathon. Aside from painful and tired feelings afterward, 10,000 people will hold on to an accomplishment that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Athlete crossing the finish line.

Photo by Alec Thornburgh.

Carlsbad Marathon Statistics By the Numbers

Ages

8,283 people ran in the Half and Full Marathons.

Youngest Participants 14 years old in the marathon and 8 years old in the full marathon.

19 official charities 2,000 volunteers

Oldest Participants 77 years old in the marathon and 87 years old in the half marathon.

Gender Overall 60% Women 40% Men Full Marathon 46% Women 54% Men Half Marathon 64% Women 36% Men

Course records Full Marathon men (2001); 2:17:39 women (2001); 2:29:20 Half Marathon men (1997); 1:02:06 women (1996); 1:11:23

february 2010 | MavLife | 5

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Students Obsess Over Points The fixation on perfection has replaced learning

Hunter Vurbeff Staff Writer With first semester already behind us, students on campus will once again begin the feverish pursuit of the perfect A or the passing C to get them through the semester and at least to them, secure a high paying job later on.

As the tension begins to mount, the competition for the better grade rises, there comes the constant checking of grades, from within school between periods and at home. Students seem to check grades as if their life depends on it. It’s an addiction, a drug that is approved and supported by parents, teachers, administration and the school system itself.

A good student is one that listens in class, studies at home and performs well on tests. Checking grades constantly at untimely hours of the day is by no means what is required or what is healthy for the average student. Students will even go so far as to check grades in class, followed by the frequent pleading and begging of the student to the teacher to raise their grade.

Quite frankly, a student should be satisfied in doing the best he or she can or at least the equivalent of the amount of work they put into it. Checking grades occasionally is acceptable if one wants to make sure the teacher inputted information correctly or for one’s motivation to do better, but when it becomes a source of addiction things have gone overboard.

Our school system, as well as the sculture we live in has become warped over the years. Generations ago, the mad rush for a perfect report card, or fury over the perfect grade point average did not exist to the level it does today. We live in a time where school is not solely for learning but rather to grant students a bigger step towards college, and later a successful career.

What students need to understand is that school is a place to learn, not to receive perfect grades. The human mind works on a trial and error basis, making mistakes is a part of learning. However, when it comes to school, the margin for making mistakes is slim to none. Students fret over the possibility of not getting the A they supposedly need. They worry over the possibility that their quiz grade won’t be put in AERIES immediately or that their project won’t get the perfect score they think they deserve.

Somehow, these students have the audacity to believe that these few points,

shepherded closely by hovering parents or the students themselves, will grant them access to some sort of elite educational status that ensures a very bright future.

That bright future, at least bright by some people’s standards, is rooted in superficiality. While society portrays those obsessed with appearance superficial, the dogged pursuit of a perfect report card at all costs is also superficial.

The part that is humorous is that according to the Higher Education Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles, out of 220,000 college freshmen who attend 1,555 four-year colleges and universities, 79 percent of them were accepted to their number one college. It would seem that higher education doesn’t especially have a addiction to grade greedy “perfect” students. What

8 | MavLife | february 2010

those students need to understand is that worrying and constant grade checking isn’t going to help anything. Instead of spending time fretting over grades, students who attend our school have the chance to include themselves in other more time-worthy extracurricular activities that will benefit in the long run.

Therefore, the pathetic steady guard of one’s grades not only harms the student who partakes, but also sheds a negative light on the American educational system that has somehow instilled into the minds of its students that perfection at all costs is a value to be sought. Perfection is unattainable, what is considered good and what is considered bad only depends on the one who is judging it. While one student may have perfect grades, another “less perfect” student may be actually helping the school’s environment by par-

ticipating in sports programs, clubs and other extracurricular activities.

From this one can note that the feverish pursuit of perfection in academics is misfounded, although taught by the school system. Students are taught to get that perfect report card, as the letter A, the first letter in our alphabet, the sign of perfection, is given to students who excel above the regular level. However, excelling above the “regular” level isn’t what should be sought after for students. Students need to learn; that’s why they’re in school. They do not need perfect grades, a margin of error should be allowed, even accepted without consequence.

However, learning has fallen to second place in school. In its place is a drive for perfection no matter what the cost.

Illustration by Sarah Favreau.

The consumption of alcohol among teens has continued to be a major problem throughout the country, as well as within our community.

Illustration by Sarah Favreau.

{special section}

february 2010 | MavLife | 9

g n i k n i r d teen

Deadly Disasters Illustration by Sarah Favreau

Recent car accidents in our community have led to strict law enforcement Sebastian Langkilde Staff Writer

Since the end of September, teens in North County have been involved in a string of deadly car crashes, leaving eleven dead, one in prison, and a community puzzled, according to the North County Times.

Veronica Elizabeth Aguirre, 17, a student of Poway High School, was killed in December, becoming just another statistic: a vehicular alcohol and drug fatality. This took place just after a Torrey Pines High School student was sentenced to jail for injuring one and killing another passenger under the influence of alcohol. These accidents occured late at night and in the early

Reina Garcia Staff Writer

hours of the morning.

Through their texting, the students acknowledged the fact that drunk driving exists, exemplified by Aguirre’s text to a friend, “I’m hammered.” Jeffrey David Hodson, an 18 year old student from Escondido, also died the same night Aguirre did, riding in a car with a drunk, unlicensed 17 year old driver.

Aside from drug and alcohol abuse, negligence is the other contributing factor, in this saga. William Wardrip, a 16 year old Santa Fe Christian High School student, was thrown from a car due to a fellow 16 year old inexperienced driver,

but the accident did not result from drugs or alcohol. Michael Victor Pyper, 17 year old from Oceanside, the first in this string of accidents, was killed while racing. He hit some trees at a high speed and was killed upon impact.

Awareness of teen driving accidents has developed over the months on social networks such as Facebook and Myspace. Alex Capozza, 17 year old of Carmel Valley, had his Facebook profile commemorated after his death last October.

San Diego County Sheriffs Department has also taken steps to enforce the law in the wake of the recent

deaths. Their new program called “Lose your license, lose your car, lose your life,” which includes increased curfew checks and bans teens from using their cell phones indefinitely. Unsupervised drivers are restricted from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the first year they have their licenses.

The community has developed this question of why, because so many students have died due to a similar situation.

“I’m stumped,” Campus Police Officer Anthony Juceanas said. “I don’t know why this trend is increasing.”

READI

This educational program for students, allows them to learn about the dangers of drug and alcohol consumption

Because of the recent news about After attending the READI program, drug-and alcohol-related incidents, students are also required to participate in many students are worried that our 10 hours of community service, five hours school will be next. With the help of of AA/ NA meetings, and eight weeks of programs such as Recover Education group with Findell on campus.

Alcohol Drug Instruction, better known “I liked going to the group meetings as READI, students will learn about the with Ms. Findell after we graduated from dangers and consequences of drugs the program, because I could talk about and alcohol abuse. Knowledge of these anything without her judging me,” Will subjects are emphasized in order to Swanner, senior, said. help students steer away from more Approximately 150 students throughcareless and preventable accidents. out the district participate in READI each The READI program was estabyear. Many students choose to participate lished in October 2005, based on the because completion of the program and results of the Healthy Kids survey for the wrap-up requirements allow formal the San Dieguito Union High School suspension to be removed from the stuDistrict. The students who attend the dent’s permanent record. program are typically referred due to Parents of the San Dieguito School an on-campus incident that occurred District attended a seminar by the READI while being under the influence, or in Parents from across the district listen to the READI presentation. Photo by Reina Program on February 4. The presentation possession of alcohol or marijuana. The Garcia. by the Drug Enforcement Administration students who decide to enroll in the discussed the dangers of prescription drugs, fects of drugs and alcohol on the body and brain. We three-day program are required to attend at SDA’s cam- address experimentation, abuse, and addiction, as well with an emphasis on the rapid increase of OxyContin pus with Joseph Olesky, where they have the opportu- as decision making, healthy relationships, responsibil- consumption by teenagers in our area. nity to avoid 5-day suspension and be provided with ity, coping skills, and overall skills,” District Substance drug and alcohol education and support.

Abuse Counselor Tiffany Findell said.

“Students learn the physical and psychological ef-

10 | MavLife | february 2010

{special section}

Alcohol in Your Ears

Book List

Lyrics often promote partying

the effects of teen drinking

Cara Connor Staff Writer

“Got a water bottle full of whiskey/In my handbag/Got my drunk text on/I’ll regret it in the mornin’.’ This popular song, “Take it Off,” sung by “Ke$ha”, simplifies the night of many teenagers around the world, including our school community.

Right as the bell rings on Friday afternoon students stumble out of their seats and begin their weekend by stepping into their cars and pumping the bass through their stereos.

Many of these songs glorify drinking alcohol, taking drugs, and having sex.

Some kids like the songs for the beat and melody, while others love the lyrics that seem to pertain to their lifestyle.

Throughout the night students listen to these pump-up songs as they drink, smoke, and go to parties. Without the rap, hip-hop, and pop music that promotes the consumption of alcohol in a direct or indirect way, most of the parties and dances we go to would be silent.

It seems that every song that students listen to has some relation to alcohol or drugs. Some of the popular songs such as “Tipsy” [J Kwon], “Blame it on the Alcohol” [Jamie Foxx], “Shots” [LMFAO], “Patron and Tequila,” [Paradiso Girls] and the vulgar “Let’s get Fucked Up” [Start Trouble], mentor to alcohol right in the title, and all of these songs have been chart-topping singles.

Songs that refer to alcohol in their lyrics don’t directly make students start drinking. A teenager does not listen to “Alcoholic” [Xhibit], wishing or worrying that someday they will become an alcoholic.

The way that these songs affect students choices in drinking is a little more subconscious than we really think.

The majority of people that are affected by songs that mention alcohol, listen to songs as they get pumped up for the night, stimulating their partying mind-set.

Although most of the kids are going to drink without the help of the lyrics or the music, these songs further encourage and excite students to start their drinking for the evening.

Ultimately alcohol references in music do not have a blatant infuence on drinking. However it does have a subtle effect, because with the usual combination of high-energy melodies and the clever string of lyrics, when people hear these songs they are overcome with excitement.

The context in which people listen to these songs also determines if people truly take the lyrics to heart. If a student is listening to “Tik-Tok” as they are getting ready for a party, then they might be more inclined to drink alcohol than if they are listening to it as they drive to school in the morning.

From Binge to Blackout By: Chris Volkmann, Toren Volkmann

Smoking, Drinking, and Drug Abuse in Young Adulthood: The Impacts of New Freedoms and New Responsibilities By: Jerald G. Bachman

Drowning Our Sorrows: Physcological Effects of Alcohol Abuse By: Nancy Peacock

february 2010 | MavLife | 11

Illustration by Sarah Favreau.

g n i k n i r d teen

The Other Side

A MavLife reporter attends an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and is changed forever

You walk up to the door and its sign points “No smoking within 20 feet of here”, but really it says ‘there is no turning back now.’ Strangers and friends from all walks of life enter this door to achieve the same goal; get sober.

I didn’t know how to feel as I sat down; ashamed or scared. I felt both. Everyone around me was cool, calm, and collected except for me, surprisingly.

The meeting started, like any other, but a sober woman, and her man, shared that today was her tenth year alcoholfree. Everyone in the room was proud, and her husband cried tears of joy.

In tradition, they asked new members to introduce themselves. When the hot potato finally got to me, I spit my name out as quickly as I could. It was one of the

most intense moments of my life and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to say a single word for the rest of the night.

Older members began talking about their recent experiences. To them, coming to a meeting is meaningless unless they can vent to one another.

Some share just how glad they are that they can go to work, or wake up and remember what happened the previous night. Others shared what I wouldn’t dare share with a even a teacher, friend, or family member. One man worked up the nerve to apologize to his daughter for blacking out and neglecting her as a child. He laughed it off as if it were nothing, but it sounded like a gut-wrenching experience.

As one of the new comers, I sat in my

own corner, and I slouched down so low it looked like I was drowning in embarrassment. One man was asked to share on his first night. He began by barely putting the words together, but once he let go of all of his ‘defenses’ everything came out.

He revealed how he grew up and began to cry about everything he regreted.

Finally the man explained just how close he was to ending his life. The others among him embraced the man, and thanked him for his courage. The room felt like a weight had been lifted off everyone’s shoulders. It was like everyone found some sort of freedom.

As the meeting closed, and I was desperate to leave, a gentleman offered to sponsor me. For those that don’t know, a sponsor is someone who will check in on

Brain Study

In exchange for a pretty large paycheck, a few students have participated in the University of California, San Diego brain study. The studies have been used to show the effects on a teenager’s mind of being sober for six weeks. After being exposed to large amounts of alcohol or drugs, in comparison to the brain of a teenager who has not ever had any alcohol or drugs in their system.

The study can pay up to $375 and shows teens what damage they are doing to themselves. Each person involved receives an image of their brain.

“Each week a person from the study will drug test you, and a couple times a week they will breathalyze you. For every time you pass, you receive money,” Taylor Gornish, junior, said.

The teens involved must remain sober for the en- Illustration by Sarah Favreau. tire six weeks, and complete questionnaires regarding

12| MavLife | february 2010

your sobriety and how everyday life is going. He offered to trade phone numbers, but like all the new people I declined his offer.

I slowly walked out the door and after I got to end of the block I ran with my tail between my legs to my car. I wasn’t sure if I was going to hell for what I’d done or if I was going to even forgive myself for sitting in with some of the most honest people I had ever been around.

I was really forced to look at my own life and see if I needed to make a change in my lifestyle. This was an event that broke so many of my morals and ideals that I live on. It has made me reconsider what true values are. I was there to “get the story” and was changed by the experience.

Alex Ham Staff Writer their mood each day and feelings about being sober.

The information is kept completely private and anonymous, in order to maintain the quality of the study.

After remaining sober for a few weeks Gornish felt refreshed and that it was a good change.

“I thought the study was worth it because it kept me away from the pressures of drinking and the process was actually very intriguing. It was a really good experience,” Gornish said.

The effects are recorded by a student from UCSD who is assigned to each participant. Each time they shared a 15 minute conversation about how it was different going out being sober and responding to those who were under the influence.

“The most important thing I learned was self-control and knowing a good limit,” Gornish said.

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sync up “Mass Effect 2” Does Not Disappoint Hart Russel Guest Writer The story of “Mass Effect 2” takes place in the year 2183 where you play as Commander Shepard who has been tasked with investigating the disappearance of millions of humans across the galaxy. To hunt down those responsible, you must recruit and gain the trust of 12 aliens and humans from various parts of the universe.

Depending on the decisions you make throughout “Mass Effect”, there are hundreds of different endings which you can achieve. “Mass Effect 2” plays more like a feature film than a video game. The characters are made extremely believable with the voices of many talented Hollywood actors. The main story is compelling and has many sub-plots which you can choose to follow or ignore.

The graphics and model art are simply stunning; I haven’t seen a better looking Xbox 360 game. “Mass Effect 2” is

huge: the Xbox 360 version comes with 2 disks filled with more than 45 hours of gaming. I completed the game in just under 21 hours and barely scratched the surface. The combat system is a third person shooter, much like “Gears of War”, only with you commanding a squad of two allies.

Combat is satisfying when utilizing a combination of guns and biotics (the equivalent of force powers). It is highly recommended that you complete the first “Mass Effect” prior to playing the second, as all of your decisions can be imported into the second game. Another benefit of beating the first game is that you know what is going on; “Mass Effect 2 “ hits the ground running and bases the entire story off the events that took place in the first game. Even though the year is just starting off, “Mass Effect 2” is setting the bar high for future games.

Grade: A+ Publisher: Bioware/EA Systems: Xbox 360/PC Game Type: Role-playing-game/ Third Person Shooter

music

Every Avenue “Picture Perfect” Fearless Records Grade: D+

Swell Season “Strict Joy” Virgin Records Grade: C+

Never Shout Never!

“What is love?”

Abbey Road Studios, London.

Grade: A-

Vampire Weekend “Contra” XL Grade: B+

Every Avenue’s newest album “Picture Perfect” is a mix of dull guitar and simple drums that attempts to compare with bands like All Time Low or Mayday Parade while still attempting to hold their own unique style that seems to blend with many other bands under the label of “MySpace Band.” This new album shows no improvements in style or quality from any past albums, therefore, listening to this album would be like listening to any of their past albums.

Originally debuting their talent in Irish independent film “Once”, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have extended their partnership from the big screen to their band, The Swell Season in newest album “Strict Joy.” The duo’s delicate, folksy sound has brimmed from film to album; however, “Strict Joy” is not nearly as touching as the “Once” soundtrack. Instead of providing a passionate atmosphere like the film accomplished, it was merely a nice listen with occasional sparks of vehemence that honestly left me quite bored. Kasie Shabaz

Most people recognize Christofer Drew’s (aka NeverShoutNever!) music by his sweet teenage voice and smooth acoustic rhythm.

However on “What is Love?” Drew changed to a quicker rhythm and to a more mature tone of voice, which threw off most of his fans.

This album is not just acoustic or pop/rock, it has a mix of genres. His latest album is different from what Drew has done over these past few years, it was truly unexpected yet enjoyable and worth purchasing.

The indie rock band Vampire Weekend makes a return into pop culture with their release of new album “Contra” Though the band had previously used a very English-pop sound to compliment their ‘upbeat’ music, “Contra” adds a bit more of the African-beat that they tried for one their first album. Fans of their self-titled work can rest-assured that this will not disappoint.

Jake Barnes

Kayne Friesen

Emilia Gonzalez

february 2010 | MavLife | 15

sync up st

ayli Hipster Pl 1. “Fits and The Dizzyspells” Andrew Bird

2. “You Still Believe in Me” The Beach Boys 3. “Anyone Can Play Guitar” Radiohead 4. “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” Ida Maria 5. “Tiny Little Robots” Cage The Elephant 6. “Sound Of Settling” Death Cab For Cutie 7. “Made To Measure” Umphrey’s McGee

Anatomy Of A Hipster Calling out a Cultural Clique

Sebastian Langkilde Staff Writer Hipsters wake up everyday in infinite wonder, “what shall I wear today?” They look through their gaudy new clothes to show they’re trendy, in the scene, and of course hip and too cool for school.

Robert Lanham’s satirical book “The Hipster Handbook” describes hipsters as youngsters with “… mop-top haircuts, swinging retro pocketbooks, talking on cell phones, smoking European cigarettes... strutting in platform shoes with a biography of Che Guevara sticking out of their bags.” Lanham’s book goes on to joke “You graduated from a liberal arts school whose football team hasn’t won a game since the Reagan administration … you have one Republican friend who you always describe as being your ‘one Republican friend.’”

The hipster’s taste in music changes whenever a club does something new and trendy, for the moment. The only thing that is consistent with them is their addiction to coffee and cigarettes.

They work hard to keep up with

the hipster image copying the incoming trends, and ditching whatever was cool about... Oh sixty seconds ago.

Most hipsters are “artsy,” too busy analyzing contemporary art.

Hipsters refuse to work on anything but a Mac. They claim non-conformity to the standards of others, but really are like any other social group who conform within themselves.

Hipsters have single handedly killed indie, or the independent music scene. They have turned a movement of music that is by definition not supposed to be in the running for Grammy’s or rising on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, A.K.A pop music. Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, and particularly Radiohead are bands that have risen from humble origins to mainstream radio and MTV. Hipsters believe they live above the “uncool” or normal people like you and me. So don’t be fooled when you see someone in their grandpa or grandma’s cloth, listening to a band that you’ve never heard of, but sounds like you’ve heard’em on the radio, and walking tall with their

Illustration by Sara Favreau.

8. “Miracle Sun” Anthony Green 9. “Superstar” Sonic Youth 10. “Expectations” Belle & Sebastian

Photos By Jp Horrigan.

Jake Barnes Staff Writer

The Sound Of Indie

From Garage Bands to Stardom, the Indie Genre Has Come of Age

Hipsters are notorious for their unique musical taste and it is one of their most defining characteristics. Many artists, like Andrew Bird and Animal Collective, are famous in the hipster-indie music pool. Soft guitar and sad lyrics tend to be a spotlight feature in every hipster’s music collection. Early influences of the hipster genre really began in the days of The Velvet Underground and The Beach Boys, especially the 1966 album “Pet Sounds.” During the 1970s, the punk rock movement began to change the indie genre, giving it deeper lyrics and a rougher, distorted

edge. Indie and hipster music exploded during the 1980s with new bands like The Pixies, Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. While songs like Dinosaur Jr.’s “Feel The Pain” would hit radio charts around the country, several “b-sides” or lesser known tracks would become “anthems” to the hipster nation.

With the 1990s came bands like Radiohead and Bright Eyes that would become more or less Gods to hipsters worldwide. It was difficult to find a single hipster who had never heard Radiohead’s smash single “Creep” or Bright

16 | MavLife | february 2010

Eyes’s indie hit “Lua”, and while “Creep” had national success, b-sides from this album, like “Anyone Can Play Guitar” or “You” were passed around by indie kids. Many hits during the 90s took their position representative of hipsters even until today. While many new indie artists appear every day, glorified for a week on hipster music Web sites and magazines like Paste, and then were never heard from again, these songs continue to remain on the average hipsters dirty, fat iPod and play on and on.

{entertainment} The Dawn of 3D Cinema Hunter Vurbeff Editor

A quirky thing of the past resurfaces to innovate the entertainment industry

see in Disney’s coming release “Alice in Wonderland”.

When “Avatar” first came out with the idea of 3D, the haunting echoes of previous 3D movies came to mind. The 3D that came out in the 90s consisted of retro red and blue glasses where viewers would see a poorly written movie stitched together with a few scenes of what was suppose to be a bullet flying through the audience, followed by a collective gasp. It was extremely cheesy and was left to children’s movies that didn’t make the cut with regular cinema. In essence, 3D was a hyped fad that died with the utter unprofessional feel it gave cinema.

In recent years, several movies have tried to grasp the 3D market, as the “Polar Express” tried, and failed to succeed in what was seen RealD leads the way in 3D inovations. Photo Courtesy as a dying industry. The market, even of RealD. with the prodding of prominent enOver the past few months the enter- tertainment figures such as Steven Spieltainment industry has seen a glimpse of berg, could not take hold and remained in the future, the 3D Future. However, the lower budget children movies.

3D that has everyone talking is not that However, what brought the real surof Pixar or of Disney, or even that ran- prise in “Avatar” was that there were no dom “Spy Kids” movie. No, the 3D that has crude scenes of spears or bullets flying the tech industry buzzing is that of what past your head, at no point in the movie viewers saw in Avatar, and what they will did an avatar utter an exclamation and

stick his hand out to the audience. Instead, the creators of Avatar used 3D to create a better depth analysis for the viewer. When watching the ‘new’ 3D one feels close up and it gives them a better depth of vision.

It makes everything look real.

Real enough for the movie industry to embrace it. But not only in coming feature attractions, but at one’s home. DirectTV will be launching a 3D channel in the coming new year. Imagine watching TV hits such as “Lost” or “Heroes” in the same 3D vision that gave “Avatar” so much hype.

According to HDGuru.com, DirectTV plans to release a new channel that will feature movies, TV shows and sport programs in 3D. “DirectTV is scheduled to blast its latest satellite into orbit. The new bird gives DirectTV the capacity to add an all HD 3D channel, along with additional HD channels, The new satellite goes fully operational in March 2010, ” HDGuru.com reported Unfortunately for some, this means that the holiday deals on HDTV’s may not have been that stupendous after all, as it appears that the technology will soon be outdated. While some may pass it off as a new fad that will soon fade, the movement of the entertainment industry states otherwise. The Upcoming Warner Brothers movie, “Clash of The Titans” is now un-

dergoing a 2D to 3D conversion and their are talks about a 3D remake of Steven Spielberg’s “JAWS”. There is even an unreleased 3D camera, the Swedish camera manufacturer, Ikonoskope’s A-Cam 3D. Display Search, a leader in display market research reported that in 2010 3D TV shipments will reach 1.2 million units and by 2013 that number will have risen to around 15.6 million. Also reported is that 3D ready displays will increase from 200,00 units in 2009, to 64 million by 2018.

Making it the projected future of cinema and television deeply rooted in 3D. However, the future of our cinema lies in the hands of RealD, the leader in the 3D industry and what made “Avatar”, “Shrek Forever After” and many other upcoming movies possible.

While the certain future of 3D is still a guessing game, what it has brought to entertainment and technology is that there is always room for improvement, making our future brighter, or in this case 3D.

Must Watch YouTube Video Blogs Internet Killed Television

1.

“Internet Killed Television” is the larger name of the Vlog and YouTube Show of two lovebirds’ Charles and Allie who are posting their lives to the world in the form of daily videos of their lives.

The Philip DeFranco Show

3.

The Station

Shaytards

2.

Shaytards is the one year journey of Shay Carl’s 29th year of living. Basically imagine a toned down bearded Jack Black without the awkwardness mixed with some version of “The Brady Bunch”.

Phillip creates the epitome of YouTube shows. He has vlog, he produces humorous YouTube videos, and has a game review channel.

4.

Imagine a show with all of YouTube’s “mini celebrities” combined. The original creators of popular YouTube Channels travel to visit each other and make videos. The result is very entertaining.

february 2010 | MavLife | 17

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l a c i s y h get p

Swanner Brothers Accept Offers to Pepperdine Liliana Alaniz Staff Writer

Brothers Will and Michael Swanner, who are both seniors, have accepted offers by Pepperdine University to attend on a baseball scholarship.

“It’s exciting, I want to get away,” Will said.

Both Swanners have been playing for 12 years, if T-ball is included. Starting off at a young age has definitely given the players extensive experience, not ignored by many other universities.

Will also received offers from University of California, Los Angeles, California State Fullerton, Arizona State University and University of Oregon. Michael received other offers from Loyola Marymount University, University of Hawaii, University of Oregon, University of California, Irvine, University of California, San Diego, and University of San Francisco. Even so, it was pure coincidence that both brothers chose Pepperdine University.

When asked the reasons for their decision both responded “It’s in Malibu!” Other reasons

included the laid back atmosphere and most importantly, the quality of Pepperdine University’s baseball team and coaches.

“The coaches there are like coaches here-very good,” Will said.

Both brothers want to be drafted to play Major League Baseball in the future but if that plan does not succeed they will not be empty handed.

Will plans to earn a law degree and become a sports agent. Michael plans to major in business and open up a restaurant.

Once graduated from high school, both Swanners will begin summer baseball in either Minnesota or Alaska. But once they start at Pepperdine, each must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and cannot be caught with drugs or alcohol as part of their contract. Will received an 80 percent scholarship as a catcher, and Michael received a 60 percent scholarship as a pitcher.

Will Swanner received an 80 percent scholarship as a catcher. Photo by JP Horrigan.

By the Numbers

8

Girls water polo has won 8 matches so far this season.

83

Boys Basketball has won 83 percent of their games so far this season.

Michael Swanner received a 60 percent scholarship as a pitcher. Photo by Alec Thornburgh.

recent results Sport

Team V V V V V

Wrestling Girls Basketball Boys Basketball Boys Soccer Girls Water Polo

Date Thu, Feb. 4 Fri, Feb. 5 Fri, Feb. 5 Mon, Feb 8 Tues, Feb. 9

Opponent

Location

Score

W/L

Fallbrook San Pasqual San Pasqual San Pasqual Fallbrook

Fallbrook San Pasqual San Pasqual La Costa Canyon Fallbrook

47-21 54-41 74-29 4-1 6-5

W W W L L

upcoming games Sport

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Boys Soccer Girls Basketball Boys Basketball Girls Soccer

20 | MavLife | february 2010

V V V V

Date Fri, Feb. 19 Fri, Feb. 19 Fri, Feb. 19 Fri, Feb. 19

Time 5:00 6:00 7:30 5:00

Opponent

Location

Torrey Pines Torrey Pines Torrey Pines Torrey Pines

La Costa Canyoin La Costa Canyon La Costa Canyon Torrey Pines

For more, go to www.lccnews.com

{sports}

Tennis Rally for the Cure Sean Bentley Staff Writer

Blair Middlebrook and Lauren Morrison, freshmen, have found a way to combine a sport they love to play with fundraising for breast cancer research.

By organizing a tennis doubles tournament that was open to any high school age tennis player, Middlebrook and Morrison, who are also on the school tennis team, were able to raise money for the non-profit organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The $25 cost of entering the tournament, which took place last month at the school’s tennis courts, went directly to the breast cancer research charity. In the tournament, 33 players competed.

“We have lots of family and friends who have been affected by breast cancer,” said Morrison, “so we thought this would be a fun and great way to raise money for such an important cause.”

Varsity tennis coach Marc Sandknop and San Dieguito Academy tennis coach Joe Tomasi were among some of the volunteers that helped Middlebrook and Morrison put on the tournament.

“I think it’s fantastic that student athletes, who are opponents, can come together to fight for a truly wonderful cause,” said Sandknop. “I can’t say enough about Blair and Lauren. They took the initiative and put in the time and effort into making this happen. I’m so proud that they are a part of LCC.” The tournament was kicked off by Deena Deardurff-Schmidt, a former gold medalist swimmer for the United States in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Andrew Murray Staff Writer

The tennis tournament was kicked off by Deena Deardurff-Schmidt, a former Olympic gold medalist swimmer. Photo by Sean Bentley.

Now a breast cancer survivor and spokesperson for Susan G. Komen, DeardurffSchmidt helps raise breast cancer awareness.

Speaking to all of the participants before the first round of the tournament, Deardurff-Schmidt spoke of how breast cancer has an effect on so many people, with about one out of every eight women expected to become diagnosed with

breast cancer at some point in their lives.

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women, and according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, it is the most common form of cancer in the United States, after skin cancer.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded by Nancy G. Brinker in 1982, af-

ter promising to her sister dying of breast cancer, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything she could to find a cure for breast cancer. According to the foundation’s website, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has invested nearly $1.5 billion in research and community health programs.

Middlebrook and Morrison hope to make the Tennis Rally for the Cure an annual tradition.

Stills Chooses University of Oklahoma

After a mental battle and dragged out decision-making, football alumni Kenny Stills, senior, has selected the University of Oklahoma as his school of choice in order to extend his illustrous football career.

“I talked to a lot of people and they said you’ll know which school is the right one,” Stills said. “I loved the place when I visited it and everything seemed to work out from there.”

Stills formally announced his decision during KUSI’s Prep Pigskin Report on Dec. 18. Stills had OU as his second to last visit, however the atmosphere and the words of the recruiters were enough to persuade him to stay. ”Really it’s about who’s telling the truth,” Stills said. “The coaches say you’ll be the number one guy. I had to figure out which one of them was being the

most truthful with their words.”

Stills will wear his same jersey number (#4) at OU as he did in high school. His first action as a collegiate athlete will be at the end of March during the Sooner’s spring training game.

“I’ve got three months to prepare for the red vs. white game,” Stills said. “I hope to claim a starting spot and be ready for the season.”

Stills will be stepping onto a campus that he describes as being “full of energy”.

He plans to embrace the school and its fans in a city that looks to the Sooners to satisfy their hunger for football.

“The atmosphere is electric there,” Stills said. “Football is the main theme and every game is a major event. About 85,000 people show up and their chants of ‘Boomer Sooner’ really energize the

place.”

Stills was unable to witness the team’s 31 to 27 win over the Stanford Cardinals in the Brut Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve. However, Stills is excited about the team going into next season.

“They looked good although going 85 this year is certainly a disappointment for them,” Stills said. “They lost their quarterback and tight end during the season, but recovered. Kirk Herbstreit [ESPN analyst] said they should start out in the top five next year, so I’m excited.”

After learning under coach Derrin Brown, Stills will be able to play football under Sooner’s head coach Bob Stoops.

Stoops has brought his school to numerous Bowl Championship Series appearances and looks to do so again with a talented recruiting class.

“He’s a straight shooter,” Stills said. “He said there are some great recruits this year that will help him get the job done. I have great respect for him.”

Stills will be joined by fellow Sooner recruits and good friends Tony Jefferson and Brennan Clay. Jefferson graduated from Eastlake high school while Clay came from Scripps Ranch High School.

“It all worked out for us,” Stills said.“We didn’t all plan to go to the same university, but after Brennan decided, Tony followed and then I went from there. We’re a part of the number one recruiting class so far and we look forward to winning a national championship.”

Stills has a long way to go for gridiron glory, but the selection of a major division one school will be at least one step towards this goal.

february 2010 | MavLife | 21

l a c i s y h p get DP Bullington Staff Writer

The Life of a Wrestler A MavLife staffer hits the mat

Photos by Jordynn Harris.

Day 1 My first day at wrestling practice was harder than I expected. I haven’t worked that hard since Hell Week for football season my sophomore year.

I attended the junior varsity practice.

Dwayne Buth, head coach of the wrestling program, advised that Varsity would simply be too hard for a beginner to the sport.

When I first walked into the wrestling room I imagined it would be some dirty, smelly place since I’ve never seen those windows opened. But to my pleasant surprise, the room actually smelt decent and it was well-kept and organized. Coach Buth was personally washing down the mats with disinfectant and we had to disinfect our shoes before stepping on the mat.

The practice was divided into two sessions: wrestling drills and workouts.

The drills were fairly easy. I learned what “shooting” meant (the act of going after the opponent’s legs to attempt a pin) and learned how to get someone from a headlock to their stomach. We played a game called “Island Hopping” where we jump between all the circles on the mat and tried to push and wrestle everyone else out the circle and be the last man standing.

The workouts, on the other hand, left me unable to lift my arms above shoulder level. We walked up to the weight room and the set up stations. For each station there was a wrestler and each station lasted 30 seconds before switching to the next without any rest. These workouts involved two different bench presses, squats, dips, push-ups requiring a

clap between each one, leg presses, three different types of pull-ups, curls, triceps workouts, and several other workouts.

And to top it all off, we did a series of 50 push-ups straight. It was hell.

The wrestlers themselves weren’t an insane bunch of violence-prone crazies who regularly starve themselves as I had once heard. They were actually a fairly friendly group of guys. A couple of them took the time to get me introduced to the sport and explained what techniques and moves were being used as I watched a few live matches.

Day 2 Today’s practice was pretty intense.

Between failing to climb up a rope and running a mile in the pouring rain, I was toast by the end of the night.

As simple as it seems, climbing up a rope is actually pretty tough. I was only able to make it up halfway. Wrestlers just make it look easy.

Today I also participated in the live match session of practice. This is where two wrestlers go head-to-head for about two minutes. Three matches were enough to leave me out of breath, leaning against the wall. Half an hour later I was in survival mode begging for a break and a sip of water.

After the main practice was over, we ran around Stagecoach Park and CVS and back up Camino De Las Coches while the rain was coming down. By the end of the night, I didn’t know whether my shirt was soaked from rain or sweat. Rain doesn’t seem to scare wrestlers.

But with all the constant work and competition going on, there’s bound to be some tension. I saw a bit of that to-

22 | MavLife | february 2010

day when one guy punched the other in the face as he went for a headlock.

Varsity players yelled at him and one of the coaches pulled him aside to talk with him.

But those instances are few and far between. Actually, I see the opposite happen more frequently. Wrestlers shake hands before and after each match, when the whistle blows the match ends, and I heard the wrestlers give each other pointers and tips throughout the day.

Day 3 My third day wrestling was probably one of the easiest practices I’ve had so far.

I had to miss Thursday and Friday to do group projects and that amount of recovery time made a huge difference.

Today we went over technique drills. It amazes me to see how much skill actually plays into a wrestling match.

To be successful in wrestling, you need a good understanding of anatomy and leverage. You have to be able to analyze a situation quickly and come up with a plan of action within a split-second. If your opponent has you on your knees and in a headlock, you only have a few moments to get out of it or else he’ll pin you and you lose.

There are so many moves to memorize; it’s a bit difficult to keep track of them all. In any given situation, there must be at least five different techniques you can use. As a beginner, it’s hard to decide which course of action is the best, but the Varsity players seem to have it down.

They seem to have almost animal-like instinct when it comes to this.

I understand how people can get tired

of wrestling. It has only been a week and I’m a little reluctant to go back to practice.

It’s physically and mentally demanding.

By the end of practice, all I want to do is go home, eat, shower, and sleep.

Conclusion Wrestling isn’t all about cutting weight, and most wrestlers aren’t there because they enjoy rubbing up against other sweaty wrestlers.

I practiced with the JV team, although JV and Varsity work together fairly frequently. From my perspective, practicing with Varsity equates to death for anyone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

To my misfortune, I didn’t understand how crucial a role technique plays into wrestling. A smaller guy can easily take down a bigger guy if he simply knows the right moves. I understood how important technique is after a freshman wrestler flipped me onto my back. I was then twisted in ways that I cannot comprehend, and going into visual detail may be too gruesome.

At this point in the season, all wrestlers were granted a two-pound growth allowance, so cutting weight was very minor. The only weight-cutting I was aware of was a couple of wrestlers in sweats jogging a few laps. It wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought.

After this experience, I have much more respect for wrestlers than I did before. The amount of work they do day-in and day-out isn’t even comparable to any of the sports I have played. Considering how hard these wrestlers practice and condition, it’s no wonder they win so many competitions.

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Photos by JP Horrigan.

february 2010 | MavLife | 23

k n u r t e h t n i k n u j Kyle Ruggles vs. Sydney Francis knees?

Francis: Dog Ruggles: I don’t know.

A: Elephant. Both incorrect. 2-1 9. How many ridges does a dime have around its edge?

Francis: 100 Ruggles: 50 A: 118. Again both incorrect. 2-1 10. What is paper money made from?

Francis: Paper Ruggles: I don’t know A: Cotton. Both incorrect. 2-1 11. What are the plastic things on the end of shoelaces called?

Francis: I don’t know Ruggles: I don’t know A: Aglets. That was a tricky one. But both were incorrect. 2-1 12. What team has won the most World Series titles?

Francis: The New York Yankees Ruggles: The New York Yankees A: The New York Yankees. Both got it correct!

3-2 Who has better hearing ability--men or women?

Francis: Women Ruggles: Women A: Women. Again both got it correct! 4-3 What football player said “I never try to be something I’m not”?

Francis: I don’t know.

Ruggles: I don’t know.

A: Eli Manning. Both incorrect.

5-3 FRANCIS WINS THE GAME!!!

teacher vs. student

1. What are the three most common English words in daily conversation?

Sydney Francis: To, the, of Kyle Ruggles: Hello, how, you A: To, the, of. Francis starts with a bang and takes the round!1-0 2. What is the smallest state with the longest name?

Francis: Rhode Island Ruggles: Massachusetts A: Rhode Island. Francis is correct!2-0 3. When is Worlds Tourist Day? Francis: Monday Ruggles: July 21st A: September 27. Neither got it correct so score remains the same. 2-0 4. What are the only mammals that can’t jump?

Francis: Dolphin Ruggles: Elephants A: Elephants. Ruggles is correct! 2-1 5. What is the most commonly eaten food in the World?

Francis: Pizza Ruggles: Rice A: Bread. Both incorrect. 2-1 6. When was Diet coke invented?

Francis: 1970 Ruggles: 1961 A: 1982. Neither correct! 2-1 7. What is the fear of teeth?

Answer: Odontophobia Francis: Phobia Ruggles: I don’t know.

A: Odontophobia. Neither were close enough. 2-1 8. What is the only animal with four

Complete the Sudoku puzzle so that each and every row, column, and region contains the numbers one through nine only once.

Photo by Quinn Snow.

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