Issue 3 Section B

www.mcsun.org

SPORTS & ARTS

Friday

october 24, 2008

B Mt. Carmel SuN

Volleyball ranked first in league; defeats Westview melissa roadman editor-in-chief

cathy mcdermott sports editor

Photo illustration by Matt Coffelt | Photo Editor

Michael Hurley (12), Michael Nelson (11), and Reggie Nobel (12) pose in the team locker room. Athletes use this room to bond with their teammates.

“Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough baby…”

The oldie rings throughout the team locker room as the varsity football team takes off their pads, after a day of practice. From classic songs to modern day T.I. and Lil Wayne, the boys are often singing and dancing while they are suiting up or showering down. But a lot more happens in the locker room than putting on a musical. Everyone has seen the typical locker room scenes in movies. MC’s locker room doesn’t differ by much.

“I would say they’re pretty close [in comparison],” an MC football athlete said. “In “John Tucker Must Die,” they talk about what they did or what they plan on doing with girls, and I think that is based off real locker scenarios. The guys are always bragging about what they’ve done or telling their plans to the whole team. I think it makes them feel cool, like the big man on campus.”

According to a couple of players, a lot of what is said is exaggerated .

“Sometimes the guys will say things that are really degrading towards women,” the athlete said.

“They’ll put down some of the girls that I’m friends with. I try not to listen to what they say.”

Even if the boys ignore the rude comments, the rumors often end up spreading past the locker

room doors.

“What you do say in there isn’t supposed to get out, but some people spill it,” an athlete said. “It’s bound to get out, especially when you’re telling a whole team of people.”

Although most would argue that this is just as bad as girls sitting around gossiping, the athletes argue otherwise.

“I think girls make a bigger deal out of it,” he said. “Guys you can tell and they’ll forget what you said within seconds. Girls get all emotional and dramatic.”

Besides the small talk, the team, more often than not, just horses around in the room.

“We’ll mess around a lot,” an athlete said. “If people were to see what we do, they’d think we’re pretty gay, but it’s all for fun. A lot of them just smack each other and touch each other, then say “no homo,” but saying “no homo” doesn’t make it not homo. At first, I was like ‘wow, this is ridiculous.’ Honestly, if people were to see some of it, it would be embarrassing for everybody.”

The strange thing is that the coaches are aware of this fooling around.

“They know we’re joking and just having fun,” an athlete said.

“But when it comes time to be serious, we settle down.”

Whether they’re singing and dancing, talking about their weekends, playing around, or prepping for a big game, the team locker room is a place to “relax and enjoy yourself with friends.”

Cheerleaders fight on to break stereotypes Lauren hall STAFF WRITER

whole lives. They cherish the adrenaline and the “thrill of performing” that they get during every game.

“I would get nervous before the games, but as soon as Their contagious smiles light up Sundevil Stadium. The the music starts it’s just like being at practice,” Farrell said. loud chants excite the many spectators. No matter what the She, like Moore and many other cheerleaders, started score of the game is, they’re always there to support. cheer when she was in elementary school.

They are the girls remembered throughout the halls of They continued because it is something that they have MC, as cheerleaders. been doing their whole lives, and they just love the games, Although cheerleading is not and supporting the school. considered a sport at MC it is a “It’s fun to go to all major commitment. of the football games,” The girls spend two to twoMoore said. “I got into I became a cheerleader to and-a-half hours a day practicing. sports because my older They work on stunting, flexibility, break the stereotype. And I think brother and dad were jumps, and memorizing their everyone on the team has broken really into football too.” cheers.

For those who take “Practice is hard if you are it.” cheer seriously, they are not use to it,” JV cheerleader not the stereotypical

Jennifer Farrell said. “It’s intense cheerleaders that people

- Raven Hunter (12) training for your legs, and it assume them to be. destroys your arms.”

“I became a Many people underestimate cheerleader to break how hard it must be to lift a full grown person in the air. that stereotype,” Senior Raven Hunter said. “And I think According to the JV cheer captain, Tess Moore, it really is everyone on the ream has broken it.” a struggle.

The cheerleaders work hard to bring spirit and support “You get lots of bruises and I’ve seen girls break their to the school. To be remembered by what a small population noses,” Moore said. “Sometimes, people break their elbow of cheerleaders has been like in the past is a very harsh while they’re tumbling, but there’s no crying in cheer!” reality for the girls.

The physical strain of catching someone can very hard “It is unfortunate how people look at us, because not on the girls. everyone is like the girls that you see in movies like Bring it “We can never let the flyer hit the ground,” varsity On,” Farrell said. cheerleader Raven Hunter said. “So once at practice when The girls who enjoy it could possibly take cheer I went to catch someone I got knocked out for a whole 10 seriously after high school, and could find a future career minutes.” as a cheerleader.

For many cheerleaders, performing in front of a large “I’ve been performing my whole life,” Moore said. audience is something that they have been doing their “Cheer is always going to be a part of my life.”

“

ana alvarez | Photographer

Standing on their personally designed ladders, the cheerleaders support the varsity football team on the sidelines during a game.

JV water polo

JV water polo successfully defeated Westview, its toughest opponent yet. The team is feeling confident about the season.

JV cross country

The team ran in the Cal Poly Invitational. The girls swept their race. The boys finished second in Division II.

The gym was filled with cheers as the girls volleyball team prepared to play in their most important match of the season so far, Westview.

With MC and Westview tied for first in the Valley League, this match would determine who would lead going into the second round of League play.

In one of their most intense games of the season, MC beat Westview by a slim margin.

In the days before the game, the girls had practiced hard, conditioning and building skills.

“Our coach just constantly reminded us that we need to worry about our side of the court and do what we need to do to win,” senior Sam Warner said.

The first game of the match began in favor of the Wolverines, 20-25.

According to senior Sarah Votel, this is a common problem for the team.

“We always start out slow and start to pick it up towards the middle and finish the game strong,” Votel said.

The girls came back to win the second game 25-22 but lost momentum in the third game, losing 20-25.

Going into the fourth game, they knew the importance capturing this game, which they did, winning 25-16.

“As the game went on we had more heart and went in with even more intensity and fire than we started with,” Votel said.

The last game of the match between the two undefeated teams in the Valley League was determined by four points with MC pulling off the win 15-11.

“I think in the end we also had the drive to win and it’s whoever showed that they wanted it more would come out on top,” Warner said.

Votel and junior Carly Voris had seven kills each. Warner had 31 assists.

This match was followed by another quick victory over Ramona, beating them in three games.

On Tuesday, the girls played Orange Glen and defeated them easily in three games.. Votel had 11kills, Warner had 15 assists and sophomore Sierra Moran had three aces.

The team played Valley Center yesterday but the results were not available at press.

Although the team is currently ranked first in the Valley League, they are working hard to solve their problems that impair their games.

“We have a hard time playing as a team sometimes, but when we do, we’re unstoppable,” Votel said.

“We prepare by practicing. Lately we haven’t had the best practices, we’re trying to understand that practice is a reflection of a competitive game.”

With only three more matches to go, they have their goals in mind.

“As we enter the second half of our season we continue to strive to accomplish our goals of winning league and ultimately winning CIF. In order to achieve these things the team will have to work hard and prove they have the heart to do it,” Warner said.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS! Galleries of the Marching Sundevils and all varsity and JV sports.

Sports

B2

Mt. Carmel SUN

October 24, 2008

Golf conquers Valley Wrestlers shed pounds through League, aims for CIF intense workouts, strict diets katelyn cutts News editor Last year the overall record was 7-9, finishing second to last in league.

This year the team has an overall record of 13-2 and a league record of 10-0, as of Oct. 22. Already ahead of their past record, girls golf has only two matches left, one being a league game against Westview.

Although it is a great accomplishment, Coach Jay Van Vark believes the team should not get ahead of themselves.

“You know what they say, ‘it isn’t over until the fat lady sings,’ Van Vark said. “Even though we look to be done we have to finish every match.”

The girls triumphed over Orange Glen on October 13, 245-327. The top three scores for MC were from sophomore Tracey Huynh, senior Katie Scanlan, and junior Shelby Jones.

Huynh was named player of the week by the Union Tribune for being the top score in 11 matches and highest- ranked golfer in the Valley League.

That week the team also defeated

Valley Center, which is third in league.

They won 239-280. Huynh scored a 39 and both Jones and Scanlan scored a 46.

Jones believes the game was not one of their best.

“We set our goal for lower than 220 and are really working hard to achieve it,” she said. “So to have a day in the 230s is a slight drag.”

On Oct. 20, the team defeated Oceanside for the second time, 245276. Huynh, Scanlan, and Jones were the top three scores for this match.

If the team continues on this winning streak, they are more than likely to compete as a team in CIF. “If the team wins league, which it looks like we will, then we will go to CIF as a team for the first time ever,” Jones said.

The team is preparing for CIF through the more mental aspect of golf. According to Jones, it will play a key role in the team’s overall success.

With the season coming to an end, the team is looking towards its final matches against Crawford and Westview. They are hoping they have qualified to compete in CIF both as a team and individual.

Kyle covey | PHOTOgrapher

Shelby Jones (11) watches where her ball lands in a match against San Marcos on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Girls golf has a record of 10-0, as of Oct. 22. Tracey Huynh is ranked number one in the Valley League, and was named player of the week by the Union Tribune.

Golf has upcoming matches with Crawford and Westview.

kaveri gyanendra Features Editor It’s Wednesday afternoon at lunch and the wrestlers sit at their table, heads on their books and not a piece of food in sight. They haven’t eaten in hours and can’t imagine doing so before their 4 o’clock weigh in.

Most athletes never have to worry about their weight down to the exact pound, but for MC wrestlers, the conditions are different.

Around this time of the year, numerous members of the Sundevil wrestling team are working out extra hours and living off whole, healthy food.

Senior Steven Martinez is aiming to cut about 13 pounds which will get him down to his target weight class at 112 pounds.

“I’m about 125 in the off season but its only because I eat fast food a lot,” he said. “Taco Bell is my weakness and I gain a lot of muscle and fat in the off season and it sheds right off once I start eating right and practicing well.”

In order to shed 13 pounds, Martinez practices three times a day, runs and goes to the gym each evening. He is also on a very strict diet.

“Fruits and veggies are most of my diet,” Martinez said. “Tuna sandwiches and PB and J’s.

No soda or fatty foods.”

Although there is pressure to work efficiently to get to the right weight class, Martinez says it is up to the individual to make the right choices.

“The main point of doing all this is to get better,” he said. “Our coaches leave it up to us to pick what weight we go to so it’s not like it’s mandatory to lose weight.”

With the pressure off from the coaches, having a goal-orientated mindset is key.

Senior Anthony Weber is under similar conditions as he too must cut weight in order to wrestle at the 125 pound class.

His plan is to wake up at 4 a.m. every day and run about four miles before schools starts. Then during his PE class, he does what the class does but works out with Coach Gail Miller during his sixth period off roll.

Throughout the day, Weber eats small meals, normally going through the morning with no breakfast.

“You can’t put your body through shock,” Weber said. “You have to eat healthy and exercise.”

The workouts also change when the boys are dieting and cutting weight.

“When we are cutting weight we lift smaller weights but do a lot of repetition,” Weber said.

“You never max out as a wrestler, we just go hard core all the time.”

As more than half the team makes changes to their lifestyles in order to prepare themselves for season, they look forward to the upcoming season ahead of them.

“Usually seniors don’t cut,” Weber said. “But I personally want to do well so I am willing to make all necessary changes for a good season.”

Ana alvarez | PHOTOgrapher

steven Martinez (12) weighs in on an electronic balance. Martinez has to shed 13 pounds to get to his ideal weight of 112 pounds. Wrestlers like Martinez often have to lose weight to wrestle in their desired weight class. They undergo intense training, often lifting for long periods of time, and have strict, healthy diets that include plenty of fruits and vegetables in order to shed enough weight.

Focus and determination are key elements the boys look to in order to make their efforts complete and worth it.

“Discipline [is the hardest part],” Martinez

Sundevil Spotlight

said. “It takes a lot of self- control to not eat fast food. Like when you’re out with friends it’s hard to eat the salad and drink the juice or water when they are having a double double and soda.”

Huynh shoots for success on, off golf course Water polo player Heise dominates in pool

Tracey Huynh Lauren Hall Staff writer A simple smile played across sophomore Tracey Huynh’s face.

Her modesty was apparent from her constant mention of the importance of her golf team.

She seemed almost too nervous to describe her personal experiences.

“I don’t want to seem conceited by just talking about myself, because it really is a team thing,” Huynh said.

Huynh’s team is what makes the hard work and time spent practicing worthwhile, and she is a great asset to them as Valley League’s highest-rated golfer.

“It doesn’t seem like much of a team sport but the support of my teammates is really important,” Huynh said. “It’s great to have my friends cheering for me.”

According to Huynh, the encouragement from her friends and family really pushes her to stay focused and patient, two very important attributes for golf players.

“Most people don’t know how much mental power you need to play golf,” Huynh said. “It’s not only a physical test, but a mental test also.”

Juggling AP and Honors classes along with golf may seem like a lot for some people, but those are not the only activities Huynh participates in.

She also enjoys swimming and used to spend her time figure skating, until she bruised her tail bone.

“I recovered slowly through physical therapy,” Huynh said. “After that, I just didn’t feel confident anymore, and my parents could tell that I wasn’t enjoying it.”

This led Huynh to pursue golf.

She tried golf and was able to adjust well because of her flexibility.

As far as a future in the sport, Huynh is taking the decisions one swing at a time.

“I really enjoy golf and would like to continue it, but I’m not sure if I will,” Huynh said.

She is taking things in stride, and using that same patience she uses in golf to make sure she makes the right decision about her future.

No matter what decisions she makes, golf will always be important to her.

“I like the fact that it can be competitive or relaxing, however you decide to play it,” Huynh said.

Huynh knows that no matter what her decision is for the future, she’ll always be able to continue her passion, whether she enjoys it as a recreational pasttime or a serious career.

QUICK HITS If you had $100 to spend on anything, what would it most likely be?

I’d save the money.

What is your greatest fear and why?

Heights and really big roller coasters, because I’m a big wimp.

If you could own any brand of clothes, what would it be?

Nike or Puma or Adidas What is your weirdest food combination?

(Example: potato chips and caramel dip) The Chinese dim sum dish of chicken feet.

If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be and why?

On demand essays; I stink at them.

What do you plan to do after high school?

College/ maybe medical school.

Name one person or group of people that you admire.

Annika Sorestam/ Lorena Ochoa.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

To voluntarily read people’s minds. Then you wouldn’t always have to be so selfconscious.

What is your worst pet peeve and why?

When a teacher doesn’t erase the white board completely and there’s that little bit still there.

Evan hEIse Kaveri gyanendra Features Editor The crowd goes wild as junior Evan Heise scores a goal in the competitive game against Westview.

“The feeling of scoring is amazing,” Heise said. “It’s an adrenaline rush, especially when the crowd freaks out.”

Heise, who started playing varsity water polo his sophomore year, plays a crucial role on the water polo team as one of the driving positions.

The extremely physical game of water polo has caused Heise to develop injuries such a tendonitis in his knee and foot as well as a prolonged shoulder pain. Before each game, Heise makes sure he stretches out his shoulder with multiple exercises.

Alongside teammate senior Chris Gallardo, Heise uses the bands to stretch out his shoulders.

Before the game begins, he swims a couple of 100 yards and a few sprints to get warmed up.

Besides stretching out minutes

before the game, Heise makes sure his diet throughout the day is one that will help him during the game.

“I eat healthy on game days,” Heise said. “I normally eat a bagel and a banana and drink a lot of water.”

As for mental preparation, Heise relaxes before game time and doesn’t focus on the obstacles that may be ahead of him.

“I listen to The Game and Snoop Dogg and I don’t think about the game [ahead of me],” he said. “I try to joke around as much as I can and get the seriousness of the game off my mind.

If I think about how the game is going to be, I get myself psyched out. I just have a good time before the game starts.”

Although Heise loves the game of water polo, he claims the camaraderie of all the teammates is the highlight of being on the team.

“The team is definitely the best aspect,” Heise said. “We are like brothers.”

The closeness of the team is very important to Heise as he says the outcome of the game always depends on how the team plays as a whole.

“I would rather lose in a game where we all played together really well than win a game where none of us tried and did our own thing.”

According to Heise, this year is an important one for him to work on his game.

“This year is big,” Heise said. “I have to figure out what I want to work on and try and fix my shot. I need to make sure everything is in tune.”

quick hits If you had $100 to spend on anything, what would it most likely be?

Another snowboarding trip to Canada.

What is your greatest fear and why?

I geek out when it comes to spiders ‘cause they have way too many eyes.

If you could own any brand of clothes, what would it be?

Probably O’Neill.

What is your weirdest food combination?

(Example: potato chips and caramel dip) Sliced bananas covered in milk and cinnamon/sugar. It’s wicked good.

If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be and why?

AP Tests/ SATs. What do you plan to do after high school?

I’d like to become a firefighter.

Name one person or group of people that you admire.

I really admire the Wu-Tang clan. Diversify your bonds...

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

To run wicked fast.

What is your worst pet peeve and why?

When people slap me in the face consistently... Kinda makes me unhappy.

Sports

Mt. Carmel SUN

B3

October 24, 2008

Optimistic outlook for field hockey after struggling past first games KAREN MICHEL STAFF WRITER

ALLISON ROGERS | Photographer

Team captain Ashley Romano (11) reaches for the ball during the very competitive game against Canyon Crest last Tuesday.

The team had a close loss of 1-0. Despite the rough beginning for the girls, they still remain optimistic for their upcoming games.

With a struggling start, the girls field hockey team has created plans on recovering in their next couple of games through perseverance and encouragement.

Due to the mixture of freshmen and a few seniors on the team, the girls still need time to create a more comfortable feeling with one another in order to have a more experienced feel for the new game.

“The experience of the players has a lot to do when winning a game,” junior Serena McClintick said. “We only have two [veterans] this year and the majority of our team are freshmen.”

The lack of upperclassmen on the team has unfortunately affected the team’s chances in winning any games.

However, despite this factor, the team still believes that they still have enough time to improve and be at their best by the end of the season.

“As we grow as a team things will get a lot easier,” McClintick said. “We will be able to anticipate the opponent’s strategies a lot more easily.”

Since the loss to San Dieguito Academy at the beginning of the season, the girls have improved drastically in their last game against Orange Glen.

“We improved a lot from the previous games, especially on offense,” junior Jenn Martin said.

“We’re definitely figuring things out a lot better, like spacing and positioning and all those little details.”

The team finished the game with a close loss of 2-0.

The team also played against Canyon Crest High School on Tuesday and

had another close loss of 1-0.

“We were doing very well,” Captain Ashley Romano said. “Sara Tran did a breakaway and almost made a shot.”

The girls have overlooked their struggling start.

They have created detailed strategies on how to evolve into an experienced team despite the majority of beginners on the team.

The team plans on developing a stronger bond between each other so that they can achieve their goal of being the best they can be by the end of the season.

“We’re going to give more effort into practice and giving every game 150 percent,” Martin said. “We had a slow start in the beginning but as the weeks go on we’re getting more and more comfortable with each other and growing as a team, which is amazing.”

Captain Ashley Romano also plans on working in the areas that will help them succeed throughout the entire season.

“We have to work on our passing and getting our shots off a bit more quickly,” she said.

The team’s next game will be against San Dieguito Academy on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at San Dieguito.

Despite the first couple of games, the team’s confidence in each other will help them to win in their following games.

The girls are remaining optimistic for the rest of the season and hope to achieve their goals of being the best they can be.

“We’re improving every game and learning more about each other,” Romano said. “At the end of the league, we’ll be at our best.”

Football endures harsh losses, injured players CATHY MCDERMOTT SPORTS EDITOR The stands were filled shoulder to shoulder as the football team took on Ramona during the Homecoming game. With loud roars from the crowd and school spirit filling the stadium, it was hard to believe that the Sundevils weren’t doing so hot.

The boys lost the game 4214. Many of the fans and players were frustrated because many of the points were given up due to simple errors. After that a devastating defeat, the team turned it around the next week, taking down Orange Glen 42-21.

They relied a lot on their running game to pull them through, running a total of 312 yards.

During the entire game, junior quarterback and kicker Wesley Wallace was only asked to throw three times.

“That’s how our team is built,” junior Kenneth James, Jr. said. “We have a strong running offense. That’s what we work on a lot during practice too. We’re not as strong in the air yet.”

Unfortunately, even with the confidence boost, the team took another hit and lost their game against Valley Center 66-14. They turned over nine balls, giving the opponents the upper hand.

“We weren’t really working as a team,” senior Michael Hurley said. “A lot of the players were playing really selfish. The hostility between some of the players

was a disadvantage to the overall team. If we can learn to work together, we’d do a lot better.”

Hurley was injured during a practice and rushed to the hospital in an ambulance last week.

He will be out for the next three games due to a neck and back injury.

“It was hard watching from the sidelines in the last game,” Hurley said. “People kept telling me it was my fault they were playing bad and joking about how I needed to be out there, but there was nothing I could really do.”

Along with Hurley, senior Marcus Strauss, the first string quarterback at the start of the year, recently found out that he would be out for the rest of the season.

“I actually found out that my ACL was torn, and I needed surgery during the halftime of a game,” Strauss said. “I had already mentally prepared myself for the worst, but it was still really emotional when I found out. The fact that I couldn’t play football anymore really hurt. It was hard because basically my season was over.”

Even with the loss of Hurley and Strauss, the running backs have been performing outstanding. James, Jr. still leads the team with 564 rushing yards. Junior Derek Kay has rushed for a respectable 273 yards.

The boys will be battling it out tonight at Oceanside at 7 p.m.

Cross country draws motivation from films, ‘going the distance’ to championships MACKENZIE LANCE COPY EDITOR

BOYS

There are very few teams who adopt Disney songs as their unofficial anthem.

Taking a cue from “Hercules” the cross country team wants everyone to know they can “Go the distance.” The team watched the movie together on a bus ride to a meet.

About two hours into the six-hour drive to the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, as Hercules reached his moment of self-discovery, the team belted out the words to his theme, which provided inspiration for the races to come.

“It’s just such an inspiring song,” sophomore Alicia Bartik said. “It’s really catchy and talks about not giving up and you never really know how far you can go, which is important in distance running.”

After the Greek hero’s song built strength within the team, a second film was watched. A biographical film about Steve Prefontaine.

The film was “Without Limits” and the moment was priceless.

During the 117 minutes of the film, a large group of teenagers sat quietly, taking in the triumphs and tragedies of the American champion.

“The movies we watch really remind you that even when you are tired, you can make it to the finish,” Bartik said.

The cross country team is truly inspired.

The team has talent, drive, and desire, and now, with the power of a Grecian hero and an American legend behind them, they are ready to prove themselves.

Following the lead of the girls team, who have captured championships at three recent invitationals, the varsity boys placed first at the Cal Poly Invitational.

The course was 5000 meters and the dirt trail was a change from the asphalt of their home

“

We know that we’re talented but we know a lot of other girls are too, and we can never be too fast or too in shape or too competitive.”

- Nike Garcia (10)

course.

“I really liked the finish,” junior Marvin Medina.

“It was a really steep downhill and it was extremely fast.”

The team bonded during Cal Poly, not just during the race, especially while rooming together.

“Although it got a little awkward with some teammates I didn’t know that well,” Medina said.

“We really learned a lot about each other.”

Even though sometimes the team gets a little too close, their success is undeniable.

They have won both their dual meets so far and have always placed at least one athlete in the top ten of every meet.

GIRLS

The girls team has a had a very successful season so far, often beating the pace of last year’s CIF champion team at their meets this year.

Although the team relies on returning top runners Erin Menefee, Lindsay Valdez, and Madeline Goldkamp, many younger runners and veterans who have stepped up are making a difference.

Senior Cindy Peralta placed 18 at Cal Poly and ran faster this year for 5000 meters than she did for 2.7 miles last year.

The girls are currently undefeated in dual meets, but are not overly confident.

“We know that we’re talented,” sophomore Nike Garcia said. “But we know a lot of other girls are too, and we can never be too fast or too in shape or too competitive.

FUTURE COMPETITIONS

This Friday most of the team will travel to Kit Carson Park to compete in Valley Center’s Jaguar Invitational.

The top seven girls and top seven boys will travel to the Mt.Sac Invitational on Saturday. It is an exclusive meet, and the team only learned that they qualified on Monday.

This meet will be highly competitive and the team will face many other schools that they won’t see again until the State meet. The team is looking forward to sizing up their toughest competition of the year.

After this week, the team will have two dual meets before the post season begins.

DaNIEL THAN | Photographer Erin Menefee (11) runs to the finish line during the Cal Poly Invitational. The girls cross country team is currently undefeated.

Girls tennis gains momentum; stringing together impressive winning streak

Good sportsmanship, hard work leads to success for boys water polo team

VINCENT PHAM STAFF WRITER

ADITI PAI STAFF WRITER

The remarkable surge of victories has continued for the girls varsity tennis team. They boast an eleven-game winning streak as of Oct. 20 while continuing to improve in hopes of reaching the pinnacle of their performance for CIFs. Sophomore Karen Truong understands that, despite the success, the team still has some room for improvement.

“We all still need to progress and build cohesiveness,” Truong said. “We need to remember that, even though these may not be the toughest games, that we should still play our best.”

The team’s recent victories came against rival Westview, Orange Glen, Oceanside, and Valley Center, and Ramona on Tuesday. Sophomore Bella Genkina states that the players

have a better sense of their personal strengths and weaknesses.

“Our performance is growing as the season goes on,” Genkina said.

“At this point, we all know how we play individually and can work off that.”

Genkina currently has an impressive 28-8 singles set record. Senior Karen Torrico believes that the team’s commitment contributes to their impressive performance just as much as talent does.

“What really helped our success is that we have a very dedicated team,” Torrico said. “Even though many players have an abundance of schoolwork, they put a lot of sacrifice into tennis, make it to practice, and just work hard in general.”

Junior Sabastiani Leon Chao has a remarkable 44-4 singles set record.

Although the team is considered

the “cream of the crop” in the Valley League, they are not letting the heightened expectations weigh down on their shoulders.

“Before away games on van rides, our team starts talking about anything and we listen to music so it’s kind of a stress-free environment,” Torrico said. “We’re not thinking about the match really, so it’s more of a relaxed setting.”

The girls faced San Marcos yesterday afternoon. They will conclude Valley League play at Westview on Oct. 28 before defending their title in the CIF tournament.

“I think that we all have the same mind-set that we’re here to win and support each other,” Truong said.

“Even if you don’t win your match, you support your other teammates that have won, and just having that positive attitude.”

It was double overtime. 20 seconds still on the clock. The MC boys water polo team were two behind their opponent. Sophomore Loic Anderegg threw the ball across the pool, scoring the last goal of the game, but not enough to win. As they got out of the pool, their drawn faces transformed into congratulatory smiles as they high fived the other team. In a show of great sportsmanship, MC boys water polo graciously took their loss against their rival school, Westview. Evan Heise played against his best friend throughout the game.

“Luke Syka is the star of the Westview team,” Heise said. “It was kind of fun playing against him.

Even though we lost he war really cool about it. During the game I had

a lot of fun messing with him” Other teammates knew even more players on the Westview team.

“I knew most of the team,” said junior Drew Carlson. “Knowing them made us want to beat them more.”

Although they lost the team played their best and enjoyed the competition.

“I thought we played well.

I probably could have played better and gotten in some more shots but I wasn’t feeling well that day,” Heise said. “As a whole we had good teamwork.”

The loss was just more incentive for them to work harder.

“We were happy that we played such a great game,” Carlson said.

“We will beat them at their pool. The game only pushed us to work harder so we can beat them next time.”

Besides the recent Westview game, MC participated in a three day tournament and got a few wins there as well. Out of all three days, the team won a game on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Senior Michael Rawls saw their games as ways to gauge where they stand as a team.

“We played Redland East Valley who is ranked eight or nine in Division III,” Rawls said. “This means we take their rank and conquer their territory.”

Through the entire tournament they came out ninth out of 36 teams.

Carlson also had a good tournament.

“I remember Thursday’s first game,” Carlson said. “I got nine steals in one game.”

After beating Valley Center 11-2 on Tuesday, boys waterpolo has continued a winning season.

Entertainment

B4 Title: Religulous Rating: R Starring: Bill Maher

What do you get when you combine Jews for Jesus, Mormons, Muslims, Scientologists, Satanists, Evangelicals, and one guy who really loves to smoke pot?

Although this may sound like joke gone wrong, this is the premise of comedian Bill Maher’s “Religulous”, a documentary mocking the mass insanity that is organized religion.

Maher proves his point in a collection of Borat-style interviews with an assortment of eccentric religious fanatics.

Maher travels to Orlando’s Holy Land Experience theme park and questions the paradoxes of Christianity with the actor who plays Jesus in one of their stage shows, giving the awkwardly hilarious image that he is discussing Christianity with its founder.

Maher’s background in comedy is quite evident in his biting one-liners throughout the film.

Later in the film, Maher sits down for an interview with Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, a man who claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus and apparently has no idea of how ridiculous this claim seems.

“Religulous” provides viewers with many “how can they believe this?” moments.

One of the best was when Maher talks to one Dutch man who loves marijuana so much, he decided to found a religion based simply around lighting up. Maher impulsively shouts that the man’s head is on fire and proceeds to send the man into a craze, slapping his head to put out the invisible fire.

Although “Religulous” will no doubt provoke anger in those who take themselves too seriously, is a film people of any faith can enjoy.

-Kylie Baranowski

Mt. Carmel SUN

October 24, 2008

Manga more than meets the eye, makes splash among students DENNIS SUN STAFF WRITER Masculine guys, cleavage, large eyes, stylized hair, and Japanese cultural references that no one really knows about.

What is this?

Manga.

These Japanese comics, which have stormed the shelves of bookcases all across the globe, have also found homes within the libraries of many MC students.

Manga is the Japanese word for comics or print cartoons. The direct translation is “whimsical pictures.”

In Japan, manga is read by people of all age groups, and manga series contain all kinds of topics, ranging from fantasy stories to realistic fiction.

Recommended Manga Titles “Deathnote” “Bleach” “Naruto” “Love Hina” “NANA” “Paradise Kiss” “Loveless” “Hellsing” “Negima” “Tsubasa” “Air Gear”

The US manga market has begun to increase rapidly over the years, creating a market of several hundred million dollars a year.

Anime is the animated version of manga-style cartoons, but the two are relatively different. Anime, as well, has found a great home in the US. Otaku, or anime and manga fanatics, purchase lots of manga and anime merchandise from big Japanese comic companies.

They come from all age groups and levels of society, and often flaunt that adoration, but aren’t always welcomed by the public.

Many of these otaku are looked down upon as being nerdy or odd, much like the American comic-book nerd, who treasures all kinds of comic merchandise.

Junior Yvonne Masters is an obsessive manga reader. She started reading from a young age.

“My friends got me into it in the third grade, so ever since then I’ve read manga,” Masters said. “When I was little, I had all Asian friends, and when they would read [manga], I’d look over their shoulders and that’s how I got started.”

Another MC student was also influenced by people around him, which got him into reading manga.

He is a closet manga fan, and wishes to be anonymous because the general opinion of manga readers is not positive.

“My family is Asian, so my cousins recommended some good manga when I was little, and it stuck with me ever since,” the student said.

Masters likes manga because of its interesting characteristics that make it different from American comics.

“What’s interesting to me is the plots of the stories and the different styles that different authors use,” Masters said. “Manga is based off of Japanese culture, while comics like Batman are just kind of random. Plus, I think comics like Batman are kind of corny

Ana Alvarez | Photographer

Yvonne Masters (11) pours over manga. These Japanese comics have become increasingly popular among MC students. The price of manga ranges from $9-10, but used or rented manga costs much less. In the school library, you can borrow a variety of shoujo and shounen mangas. and childish.”

However, people often look down on manga readers, according to the MC student.

“I think people see manga readers as nerds and usually look down on them, unless they are manga readers themselves,” the student said.

Masters also feels that this view is the general conception.

“If a person hasn’t read manga, they look at [a manga reader] strangely, but if they have, then it’s great,” Masters said.

The MC student hopes that, someday, this opinion will change.

“It makes me feel depressed that manga still isn’t truly accepted in our society, but maybe in a few years it will be more common and acceptable,” the student said.

PUSD football concession stand lowdown

SUN reporters compare snacks offered during games at different schools Cathy McDermott and Paresh Dave Sports Editor and WEb editor

Movie: A Tale of Two Sisters Rating: R Starring: Su-jeong Lim “A Tale of Two Sisters” is a movie that is guaranteed to send chills up and down your spine.

“A Tale of Two Sisters” is a South Korean horror movie. It opens up with Bae Soo-mi (Su-jeong Lim) in a mental institution with her doctor.

Shortly after, her and her sister Bae Soo-yeon (Geun-yeong Mun) are released and taken back to their father’s (Kap-su Kim) house.

Upon returning home, they run into their step mother (Jung-ah Yum), who they despise. She is considered evil by the girls. In the beginning, she seems like a nice and caring woman.

However, as time goes on, this image changes into an evil woman by the way she treats the girls. It’s bad enough the girls have to deal with an evil step mom, but then, weird things start happening around the house and they start seeing scary things in places.

“A Tale of Two Sisters,” unlike many horror movies, is actually a beautifully done movie. Everything in this movie is shaped together to make a genuinely creepy movie.

Like many Asian horror movies lately, an American remake has been spawned that will be released in theaters on January 30, 2008. It will, however, be released under the title “The Uninvited.”

“A Tale of Two Sisters” is a very well done movie with plenty of scares throughout. The scenes with the ghosts in them are very creepy. The build up to the scares will give you chills. The turning point in the movie, however, is well known to cause major confusion, but if you pay attention, it will all come together at the end.

-Sean Williams

Westview

us up.”

No matter what your preference, the concession stand has something to sooth your hunger pangs.

Although Westview is known as MC’s biggest rival, they seem to have the lockdown on the most extravagant concession stand in PUSD. Their stand is conveniently located by the entrance of the stadium. The long line is intimidating at first glance, but with many workers busily aiding the hungry Wolverines, the line moves rapidly.

When most concession stands carry hot dogs, pretzels, and Doritos, Westview provides gyros, funnel cakes, cotton candy, and fruit smoothies.

“I always get funnel cakes,” Westview junior John Koop said. “It makes me feel like I’m at a carnival.”

Even with all the out-of-the-ordinary food choices, most seem to stick with the classic Cup of Noodles.

“All my friends and I get Cup of Noodles,” Westview junior Devon Ingres said. “It’s always cold so it [the soup] warms

MC

Pizza and nachos are the most popular options, but baked potatoes seem to be the crowd favorite.

Besides the hot chocolate, patrons seemed to be happy with the food quality and prices.

MC senior Sam Bratt gave a positive assessment of Sundevil Stadium food.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing french fries on the menu,” he said, “but you can’t go wrong with Costco pizza.”

In addition to fries, students seem to want sunflower seeds and chips to be added to the menu.

The Navarette family from Orange Glen agreed that more salty foods like peanuts should be added to the menu.

While ASB has considered adding new menu items, including sno-cones or food from outside vendors to the menu, the expected decrease in profit margins that would result along

with a lack of space in the stand has thwarted them from doing so.

RB

to.

The menu is different from what MC students are used

There’s no Costco pizza sold at Rancho Bernardo High School football games so hot dogs have become the most consumed item. Pretzels along with popcorn tend to be the most popular items, according to an RB ASB representative.

Spotted at a recent MC home game, RB sophomores Elise Grant and Madeline Trevathan said they enjoyed the warm pizza they were able to buy at MC, but generally preferred the RB concessions menu.

They said RB had way more sweets on the menu, and that nothing can really beat the popcorn.

From brownies to sno-cones, RB’s selection goes beyond just the candy and soda found at MC games.

Like at MC, one of the most requested items not on their menu is chips.

will likely bop to the top of box office Rachel Martin Opinions Editor “What time is it?!”

“Senior Year!”

Today the world of cinema will reach a new high. A high that includes singing teenage Wildcats at East High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Yes, that’s right. Tonight, millions of giddy girls will file into movie theaters across the country to look at Troy Bolton.

Troy Bolton. Now a senior hottie who, unfortunately, is taken by the brainy beauty, Gabriella Montez.

After their unforgettable first kiss at the end of “High School Musical 2,” the couple will begin singing their way through their senior year…

TODAY. Yes, boys and girls, today is the premiere of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens probably never expected their on-screen romance to become one of the most popular twosomes the

made-for-TV movie world has ever seen.

Beginning with the first movie, which premiered two years ago, Troy and Gabriella’s relationship has made girls all over the country crazy jealous. They seem like the perfect couple.

The previews for “HSM 3: Senior Year” ominously predict a breakup up. They wouldn’t dare….

But this time, the faces of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Chad will be displayed on the big screen in movie theaters everywhere.

The craze for High School Musical has ballooned. T-shirts, back packs, stickers and dolls have all miraculously appeared in public. Sharpay Evans is now one of the most popular Disney characters, and her face is printed on eight-year-old girls’ t-shirts everywhere.

The previews for the third installment show new dance moves, new songs, and new relationships.

Sadly, Troy and Gabriella, along with their crew, will most likely be saying their last goodbyes.

Zac Efron admitted that this is the last chapter of High School Musical…for now.

Well, Kenny Ortega and the High School Musical cast, we have loved you. You better have made the final chapter good as you sing…

“Game on! This is the last time to make it right…it’s now or never.”

Photo courtesy of Disney.go.com

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens make their first appearance together on the big screen in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

Entertainment

Mt. Carmel SUN

October 24, 2008

‘Something wicked this way comes’ Teens lose their focus on the hocus pocus

kEVIN laGE eNTERTAINMENT eDITOR Halloween has changed. When we were little kids, it was the greatest day ever and now it means little to nothing.

Think back. It’s Oct. 31, 2000. You look around the playground and in place of the regular little kids you see all sorts of creatures ranging from Batman to Peas. Halloween is every child’s dream, when a healthy dinner of chicken and rice is replaced with mountains of delicious, sugary candy. During school, you probably do an activity, where you can win candy or maybe just watch a movie. At night though, your parents have to run to keep up with you and your candy-crazed friends. The night is a blur of Milky Way bars, M&Ms, and Skittles.

Fast forward four years, to middle school. Looking around you notice a fair number of costumed kids walking around, maybe a third of the kids. You see a few real costumes, but mostly just a wacky shirt or something minor. Most of the kids are at the stage where they feel too cool to dress up. People are less enthusiastic for the daytime, but at

night you probably still couldn’t tell the difference between the way the five year olds and the 12 year olds.

But in these glorious middle school years, you’re probably no longer escorted by a parent, so all hell breaks loose after all the little kids go to bed and the older kids seek revenge against the houses that didn’t give them candy, or even an even worse offense, for giving gum. The candy bags and candy are replaced with toilet paper rolls and silly string, and when the offenders wake they will learn their lesson.

Now present day. Looking around you’re lucky to notice 50 students dressed up.

Almost everyone sees it as lame, but a few brave souls will dare to stand out by putting on a costume. At night, few will go out, and most of those who do will be escorting a group of younger siblings.

As we age, the desire for candy and mischief has been replaced by the desire to hang out with friends. Many will still go out with a big group of friends, but their main goal is to just hang out. Many students still see it as a chance to get candy, but instead of going out with their friends to get it, they would rather buy a big bag for themselves.

Cathy McDermott | Sports Editor

MC students Brooke James (11), RJ Mamaril (11), Kira Campana (11), and Audrey Blantern (11) shop for their Halloween costumes at the Party City in Carmel Mountain Ranch. While many MC students still celebrate Halloween, only a few dress up and go trick or treating. As students get older, they tend to lose enthusiasm for Halloween.

MC students get their kicks from treats and tricks JORDAN UGALDE STAFF WRITER Soon presidents, ballerinas, demons, and superheroes alike will be on the streets together with only one thought on their mind: free candy. Halloween is almost upon us and with it comes multitudes of children anxious to trick-or-treat.

But this anxiety for candy isn’t restricted only to young children.

In “Mean Girls” Lindsey Lohan’s character gave a reason for girls to dress up that isn’t neccessarily the most flattering of reasons “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it,” Lohan said.

Senior Sara Said plans to trick-or-treat this year with her friends not for the reasons put forth in “Mean Girls,” but rather by what she says drives almost all trick-or-treaters. “[People trick-or-treat] because you can get candy,” Said

said. “Really, that’s the reason I do it.”

This reason that motivates Said doesn’t motivate everyone to trick-or-treat though.

Freshman Keegan Thresher is not trick-or-treating this year because he thinks that the entire process of getting candy from

61% of MC students polled plan to dress up for Halloween this year. *276 students polled

strangers is unnecessary when you can buy a big bag of candy from a convenience store.

“It’s a waste of time to go around to strangers’ houses just

Haunted Hotel scary; avoid if prone to heart attacks SARA SHANTZ STAFF WRITER

her. When she gets scared, hold her close and tell her everything is okay.

Girls , bring a cute guy along to keep you The Haunted Hotel website clearly safe. When you’re scared grab his hand. states, “No pregnant women or persons with The fearless people should head for the heart conditions allowed entrance to this front, while the people who seek protection event. Not recommended for children under should stick to the middle. ten years of age.”

If you’re the type of person who is just On the entrance hangs a sign “Enter at going to laugh at the people who freak out, your own risk.” Once you enter, there’s no stick to the back. You’ll know what’s coming, going back…get ready for the scare of a life- so you won’t get scared. It’s the best seat in time. the house for watching people’s funny reacThe scaring doesn’t begin when you en- tions. ter the Haunted Hotel. It starts when you get If you are easily scared but don’t want to in line and, while at first the lines seem long, miss out on all the fun, wear dark clothes. If you will soon realize that they aren’t entirely you wear white, you will stick out when they boring. turn the black lights on and The colorful they will pick on you more. staff, whose faces are It’s also a good idea to painted, love to pop wear a hooded sweatshirt, out of nowhere and so if worse comes to worse, add a little fun to the you can hide in your hood. waiting process.

A ticket to the Haunted of MC students plan on going to a One of them Hotel costs $15 and, while haunted house this year even said, “I aim to that may seem a bit pricy, please,” after making it’s well worth it. *274 students polled a MC student scream Parking is also very bloody murder. expensive. To park in the The staff outside nearest parking garage costs are fun and friendly, $8 an hour so having a parbut the staff on the inside, before you enter ent drop you and your friends off might be the first room, tend to shout at in peoples a better idea. ears.

Traffic in downtown is also crazy, so if Haunted Hotel is highly recommended you have a curfew, make sure to leave plenty for people who like being scared out of their of time to get home. minds and don’t get squeamish around blood Also keep in mind that the curfew is 10 and guts. They should also like having their p.m. and there are cop cars everywhere waitears shattered by the high-pitched screams of ing to take kids under the age of 18 in for frightened girls…and boys. violating curfew.

It’s best to go in a huge group-the more So if you’re looking for something new the merrier. to do, go and check out The Haunted Hotel, Guys if you have a cursh, bring her to located at 424 Market Street in Downtown this event. Take this opportunity to comfort San Diego.

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to ask them for a piece of candy,” Thresher said. “I just eat my own candy that I buy from the store.”

APEC teacher Lee Raskin agrees with Thresher that “as you get older, it’s harder to justify trick-or-treating.”

However, having trick-or-treated with friends as freshmen in college, Raskin admits that trick-or-treating can still be enjoyable at an older age.

“We got yelled at a lot,” Raskin said. “We were mostly just doing it for fun.”

According to sophomore Blake Kragten, having fun with friends and making mishcheif replaces the desire for candy as you get older.

“Going as a group is more fun because you have people your age you can talk and relate to,” Kragten said.

But Kragten knows that there are those in high school who do still trick-or-treat solely for the candy that they can get from others, and he welcomes their presence on the streets.

“If they want to go out and get free candy, the more the merrier,” Kragten said

Haunted Trails disturbing; beware of the chainsaws ADITI PAI STAFF WRITER

calm down after. They got their point across, because I was scared.”

Most of the people exiting the Haunted The line stretched from the far away gate Trails were sprinting for the safety of the to the road. Excited teenagers in their groups parking lot. The trails did not end there. A were slowly moving forward. Although it was man stood ready with a chainsaw outside, dark, the Channel 93.3 booth played music, walking around, following people who were nothing eerie or spooky. waiting for a ride or walking to the front of Suddenly the crowd heard a grating the attraction. noise. Through the line ran a clown, dragging Others were scattered around and only a metal shovel against the concrete. Screams ended back at the road. The employees maincontinued down the line until the clown ly scared people through the element of surreached the end, he then walked back, this prise and lack of comfort. time intruding on people’s personal space “The people growled down my neck and staring them down until they cowered in which I didn’t like,” Bugg said. “They did infear. vade your personal space but I bet their job The rest of the night is fun.” continued in this same fashLuke Flaherty, ion at the Haunted Trails an MC alumnus who in Balboa Park. Although works as a character on many parts of the trails in the Haunted Trails, creatures of the night would confirms Bugg’s prejump out at a person or fol- of MC students plan on going to diction. low them until they started “Basically my the Haunted Trails this year running away, there were whole life I have alalso long stretches where ways been into horror *272 students polled movies and the superabsolutely nothing happened. natural so it seemed The Haunted Trails is natural for me to do,” an attraction for ages ten Flaherty said. “I love and up. Getting in and out of the Trails is it. It’s fun to make people cry.” a lot less time consuming than in former He doesn’t play one character every years. night, but enjoys different roles.

The entire trail is one mile long and is “I switch around every night,” Flaherty dotted with small shacks that one must pass said. “I have been a zombie, a transvestite. It’s through to get to the end. pretty scary but pretty funny. The most fun Among the many little houses is a butch- night I had when I was dressed as a zombie ers shop, a doll house, and an inflated roof transvestite and I was all alone so I got really that a person must crawl under to get to the into character.” other side. Senior Taylor Bugg expected it to His favorite night was when he followed be very frightening. a girl and got her mad enough to start cry“I was scared but it wasn’t as bad as I ing. heard,” Bugg said. “It took me a while to “She tried to kick me,” Flaherty said.

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B5 Movie: The Express Rating: PG Starring: Rob Brown

We see football legends play every week, but for one man, football is more than just a game, it’s an inspiration.

“The Express” tells the true story of Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), an African-American football player in the 1960’s, becoming the first AfricanAmerican to win the Heisman Trophy.

Though the film begins with Davis’ childhood and expands to his adulthood, the focus of the film was the racism in it, and how it never ceased.

However, after learning the stories of Jackie Robinson and Jim Brown, Davis vowed not to let the discrimination get to him. By the time he had to go to college, about 50 of the top academic and athletic schools had offered him a scholarship. He ended up picking Syracuse University, but only because Jim Brown went there a convinced him that the coach, Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), would make him one of the best players in the game.

The move runs through his lifetime as a varsity player since his freshmen year, and of course, it doesn’t forget to show every time Davis is affiliated with racism. Davis had trash thrown at him in at every game that wasn’t at home. Coach Schwartzwalder even had to make sure that he kept his gear on all game so that it would be harder for people to notice that he was black.

After going through an undefeated season, the team makes it to the number one seed in the Cotton Bowl, where they beat the number two seed and Davis won the MVP. After his college years, he became the first black to win the Heisman Trophy. Later he was signed to play with the Cleveland Browns, but never did due to leukemia.

He played his games as a hero for African Americans, but he died from leukemia as a legend.

-Shayon Said

Comedian: Frank Caliendo Album: All Over The Place

John Madden, George Bush, Charles Barkley, Robin Williams, and Yoda. That’s a pretty odd lineup of celebrities, but for Frank Caliendo, that’s just a regular day.

Frank Caliendo is a famous comedian who does some very good impressions. He is most famous for doing George Bush and John Madden, is the star of the show “Frank TV” on TBS and has two CDs the most recent being “All Over the Place” which was released last month. He also has done multiple specials on Comedy Central.

What makes Caliendo stand out is that other than just doing a good voice, he can simulate their mannerisms and is genuinely funny too. He switches seamlessly between the different voices, with only a few rare slip ups.

His Bush impression is hilarious although the whole brainless act is slightly overdone. As dumb as the media makes Bush out to be I don’t really believe that the president would be entertained by the “Little Bunny Foo Foo” song or that he walks around the White House trying to scare people by yelling “Boo!” His John Madden act is amazing. It’s freaky listening to his CD and watching the real Madden on ESPN. While exaggerated, he perfectly captured Madden’s way of talking, whether it’s his fanaticism over Brett Farve or his random tangents.

In “All Over the Place” he also spends some significant time on Robin Williams, Jim Rome, Bill Clinton, Charles Barkley and Scooby Doo impressions. Most of his material is pretty good except for a few akward voices. His comedy itself is enough to make me buy this CD and the fact that he does some great voices along the way makes this a must buy for any comedy lover.

-Kevin Lage

Features

B6

Mt. Carmel SUN

October 24, 2008

From the End of Heaven

Senior standout: superteen Jeff Hsiao Mackenzie lance copy editor

Sarah Carrigan

Have a great life, or not... the choice is yours When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is made up of two characters: danger and opportunity.

It’s no secret that life is hard.

War, poverty, and starvation have plagued man since the beginning of time. On a smaller level, school or relationships are causes for worry in the lives of high schoolers today.

Oftentimes even the most trivial of things can seem incredibly large, and that’s ok, the key is how we react in the face of adversity.

When we are presented with a problem, we are presented with a choice. As Robert Frost sagely acknowledged in his poem “The Road Less Traveled,” “Two roads diverged in the woods, and I – I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.”

If we choose to view trials as things that can only end in pain they almost certainly will. Conversely, if they are approached as chances for growth, we will benefit infinitely more because we are actively seeking good things. Either way, the attitude we take will make all the difference.

More often than not, human beings under estimate their ability to overcome adversity; we forget how strong we are.

A small child would consider a scratched hand a matter of considerable concern. “Look at my boo boo,” they would cry. As we grow older though, our injuries turn inward and our struggles become solitary, leaving different kinds of scars.

Twenty percent of teenagers will suffer from depression by the time they reach adulthood. Thirty percent of that number will develop substance abuse problems. Suicide is a probable outcome.

Sadly, nearly 80 percent of those who suffer from teen depression can be successfully treated. Most choose not to because they think they are too far gone to matter.

Just like the scars from a bike crash when we were ten, emotional scars, the ones no one else can see, are a testament to our ability to endure.

When the Japanese mend broken objects, they exaggerate the damage by filling the cracks with gold.

They believe that when something’s suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful. Struggles make us who we are. They shape us, mold us, and have the capability to improve us.

Still though, it is in our nature to look around and ask, “Why is this happening to me? Why does my life seem to be falling apart when the rest of the world stands firm?”

Perhaps the answer can be found in nature. When a small, insignificant and lowly caterpillar is shut off from the world, wrapped tightly in its cocoon all alone, it struggles with all its might to break out and be free.

Surely the caterpillar must think, “Why do I have to fight so hard. The birds don’t have to go through all this trouble. How come I can’t just magically become a butterfly?”

The struggle to escape its personal prison is what eventually gives the caterpillar the strength to emerge from the darkness as something beautiful, even extraordinary.

While before it was creepy and had to stumble over twigs and branches, the caterpillar is now a lovely butterfly capable of soaring over the world. Life is hard. That’s the point. If there were no pain there could be no joy.

But thankfully, whatever else the world seems to rob us of, we always have the ability to choose how we will react. What road will we choose? Is the crisis of the moment the source of danger or opportunity? However you approach it, sometimes things are right no matter how much you have to work at them. Life can be inexpressibly worth living.

“I try to be a very balanced individual.”

Frontrunner for valedictorian, four year varsity athlete, Red Cross Club president, National Honor Society and CSF member, and Academic League MVP. Through his years at MC, senior Jeff Hsiao has racked up quite a number of achievements.

“I’m probably most proud of being a National Merit Society Semi-Finalist,” Hsiao said, after taking a moment to run through all his accomplishments silently.

Hsiao has remained incredibly grounded, despite his amazing academic an athletic performance.

“Most of the time…. when I’m not studying,” he said, with a laugh emphasizing his lack of free time.

“I like to waste time with my friends doing nothing.”

Normally, this “nothing” includes longboarding or hanging out at home.

Hsiao, a noted indie music buff, spends any extra free time searching for new artists and songs.

“I spend a lot of time looking for the newest music and most innovative music,” Hsiao said.

Although he’s known for studying skills, Hsiao warns against complete devotion to academics.

“Trying exceedingly hard in high school isn’t worth as much as you think,” Hsiao said.

“Social skills learned through social interactions with others are more important.”

“I think it’s extremely important to be wellrounded,” Hsiao said. “Not just academically, but in all aspects of life.”

But that doesn’t make him a slacker.

“Right now I’m aiming to attend an Ivy League or a UC,” Hsiao said. “During high school, it’s critical to get involved and discover your interests and make friends although the learning in school helps, it’s not the most important thing students should get out of school.”

Daniel Than | Photographer

Jeff Hsaio (12) is a varsity athlete, the president of the Red Cross Club, and an Academic League MVP. He is the favorite for valedictorian. He is unique because of his easygoing attitude, sense of humor, and extensive knowledge of indie music.

His plans for after college are just as ambitious.

“Lately I’m thinking of becoming a chemical engineer and work in the

environmental field,” Hsiao said.

Even though he intends to attend the top schools in the country, and become incredibly successful in a challenging career field, Hsiao

understands the importance of kicking back.

“Have fun and good experiences in high school because these things will define you for the rest of your life.”

Cutting class hurts students more than they think Karen Michel Staff writer In a perfect world, school would begin at 1 p.m., classwork would be given out instead of homework, and school would only last for three hours.

In the real world, however, school starts at 7:30 a.m., homework is given on top of class work and school lasts for seven hours.

With these energy-consuming requirements, many students have been considering and even engaging in alternatives that sound more appealing than school like cutting class, which is also known as ditching.

Many students find that 35 hours a week of school can be a bit overwhelming, and sometimes cutting class is the best remedy.

“I start to feel my lack of sleep catching up to me around Wednesday,” an MC senior said. “I normally do it about five times a month, it really depends on my mood, like if I feel like I don’t need to be at

school that day I just won’t go.”

Student’s reasons for ditching have been constantly expanding over the years from sleep deprivation, to catching up on homework. However the consequences of truancies can be a lot more severe than turning in a late paper or missing a couple hours of sleep.

According to the California Department of Education, Students who are found outside of school grounds during school time can be required to serve at least 20 to 40 hours of community service in a period of under 90 days, or they can pay a fine of up to $100 for which a parent or guardian of the student can be liable for.

Although these penalties may be a strong argument for students to re-consider ditching, MC’s attendance officials also make the process of cutting class a more challenging procedure. They have figured out the pattern of students who have a tendency of being absent.

“First, they’ll have multiple truancies and low grades,” attendance accountant

Shevaun Teegarden said. “And typically, it’s not lower classmen, just because they don’t know the ropes yet.”

Many students will attempt to call in sick, impersonating one of their parents.

However the distinction between a 40-year old man’s voice and a 15-year old boy’s voice can sometimes create a big problem for the student’s attempt.

“They usually sound really nervous when they call and start stuttering, and sometimes they won’t even know how to spell the last name,” Teegarden said. “If there is any speculation that it is not the parents that are calling to clear the student, we’ll call back the parent at their work or their phone to make sure that they just called us.”

Regardless of these severe penalties, some students are still having a difficult time trying to juggle afternoon practices, four hours of homework, and only three hours of sleep. A few apparently don’t look at ditching as a form of rebelling, but as a way of trying to catch up with reality.

THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUANCY Students caught ditching are subject to...

• Between 20 and 40 hours of community service to be completed in under 90 days • A fine of up to $100 • Suspension of driving privileges for one year • Lunch detention • Saturday School • Campus beautification

Latifi, pooch pick up prize at national competition Nicole bustamante Staff writer

Photo courtesy of www.usagility.org

Max Latifi (10) poses with his Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Robin. The pair competed nationally and got second place.

It was sophomore Max Latifi’s first time in a national dog training competition and he won second.

“It felt really good [to win] because I have been working on a couple of problems I had with my dog like on entrances and the weave poles,” Latifi said “When he was going through them really fast I felt relieved and happy to see my hard work pay off.”

In order to prepare for the competition Latifi practiced daily with his own dog named Robin who is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

He would also visit his instructor to receive feedback on the things he needed to work on.

Latifi also entered other events such as fast, which is a time trial in which you have 30 seconds to receive as many points as possible.

He also competed in jumpers, which is an obstacle course type event, in which Latifi won 2.

Jumpers is a course with ten to fifteen obstacles which you perform with your dog while trying to stay in sync with him or her.

Each contestant is given ten minutes for the whole course. When the judge says go you can either start right then or wait till you get a lead out, which is basically a head start on your dog.

“Depending on how many people are entered it can get a little crazy,” Latifi said.

Furthermore, Latifi won 3 in his rally class, which was a professional class. In the rally its all obedience therefore there is no leash.

“You have to talk up to the dog so he doesn’t run away,” He said.

The judges judge you on a number different events including 360 turn, halt, and while your dog stands you walk all around it.

This event is out of 100 points and if it is a tie, which it was in Latifi’s case, it comes down to the amount of time in which you performed each step.

“I won by .05 of a second,” Latifi said.

The national dog training competition started on Oct. 1 and lasted till Oct. 5 in Claremont.

This was the first time that Latifi had taken on a competition of this size.

Professional dog trainers such as Kim Simons, were in attendance. Although she was entered in the competition she did not participate in his class.

“It was really nice to be there because I knew a lot of the people and I met a couple of new people and some of them were my age.”

On top of it being his first national competition, Latifi was the youngest one there, which gave him a lot to be anxious about.

“I was nervous at first when I got there, but I have to act calm because dogs can smell fear and then they can take advantage of you which is what happens to some people,” he said.

“If you do have an accident out there you shouldn’t lose your cool, you should just enjoy the time while you are out there.”

For now Latifi plans on competing in the future but is not sure if he will attend next year’s competition in Texas.

But after attending this year he has high hopes for next year.

“I think I will do even better than I did this year,” he said. “After going this year I am very excited to go again.”

Mt. Carmel SUN

Features

B7

October 24, 2008

McKinney says goodbye to MC, bounces his way on to retirement SEAN WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER It is never easy saying goodbye to a place you’ve been a part of for so many years. At the end of this semester, PE teacher and Coach Tom McKinney will be retiring from MC. “Mount Carmel is my home,” he said.

“I’ve been here for 35 years. I’m going to miss it deeply.”

McKinney started teaching 37 years ago and has been teaching at MC since September of 1974.

“We started at Black Mountain, and I was teaching science,” he said. We didn’t have any science equipment yet.”

“When I came here, I taught Introduction to Physical Science and PE. After one year, I became a full time PE teacher,” he said.

Through all these years of teaching, McKinney says the interaction with the kids has been the best part of teaching for him.

“The kids here at Mount Carmel have been great,” he said.

“So many of them have become friends outside of the classroom. I went to the reunion of the class of 1978, and it felt like we were just best friends and we were the same age.”

McKinney says one of his greatest experiences in teaching was when he was able to get his point across to a girl and make her realize she needed to work harder.

“We used to use a heart rate monitor,” he said. “I still remember this girl was so overwhelmed by the inability of her to get her KYLE COVEY | PHOTOGRAPHER heart rate under 100 beats per minute, even Tom McKinney has taught at MC for 37 years. His interaction with kids has included his ten minutes after she finished running. She roles as coach, a teacher, and sometimes, even a friend. McKinney started as a science was so shocked that she was so out of shape. teacher and ended up becoming both a PE teacher and a coach. He always makes sure She really got the idea of what I was trying to his students practice good health and are physically active. McKinney retires in January. get across to her. That stuck with me all these

years.”

Before he began teaching, he wanted to actually be a coach.

“I really believed that my coaches in high school helped me be successful, and then when I went to college, I had some professors in the physical education department that really instilled in me the value of physical education,” he said. “So, I wanted to do both.”

While he did in fact become a teacher, he also coached many sports.

“I’ve coached football, basketball, baseball, track and field, volleyball,” he said. “I’ve also coached my daughter’s soccer teams and softball teams.”

McKinney says that his favorite part of coaching has been the interaction with all the kids and the other coaches.

“My favorite part is the relationship with all the kids I’ve coached and all the coaches I’ve worked with over the years,” he said. “We got along so well and were such a close family.

You don’t forget them just because they move on.”

Many of his students and former students would say that he works you out a lot, but many would add on that he does this to make sure everyone is fit and healthy.

“Yeah, he was pretty tough, but he wanted to make sure you were staying fit,” junior Alec Sobejana said. “I saw quite a bit of improvement in my physical activity that year.”

Some of his other students also say that McKinney had a good sense of humor.

“He was funny,” sophomore Shayden Abidi said. He always made me laugh” Coach McKinney will be missed by many when he retires, and he will also miss MC when retires.

“Besides my family, there’s nothing I love more,” he said.

Off roll provides many benefits for MC seniors

Staying home leads to lower grades, less fun

Oh the joys of senior year. So many things to look forward to. Senior Breakfast, Ditch Day, Grad Night.

These are all great ways to enjoy the last year of high school, but one of the most celebrated privileges of senior year is an off-roll period.

Usually when a student plans on an off-roll, their ideal period is either first or sixth. Sometimes, though, they don’t get this option.

Senior Patrick Nowak has AP Environment Science sixth period so he was stuck with fifth off roll.

“I just do my homework all period,” Nowak said.

“On Wednesdays I can leave school after lunch because I don’t have sixth period.”

There are positives and negatives to all the odd placed off roll classes. With an off roll class, many seniors have ascended to a new level of procrastination. If classes before the end of the day have homework due, the best time to do it is the day of, the period before in an off roll. Of course not many seniors enjoy doing homework in the middle of the day, but some periods have hidden enjoyment.

Fifth and fourth periods can enjoy an extended lunch. Tim Yu likes this aspect the best but also rec-

Remember middle school? How you faked sick to get an extra day of studying before a test, or playing video games while your parents were at work?

Now think about freshman and sophomore years.

Yep, that was when all the fun stopped.

Now you couldn’t even stay home if you were actually sick, let alone faking it.

If your first two years of high school were like mine, skipping one day of school meant missing anywhere between one to five tests and a ton of homework.

When you finally came back to school, all the work you missed piled on top of the work being assigned, resulting in a humongous ticking stress bomb. Parents and doctors make the whole thing worse.

By their own nature, parents want to make sure their kids are okay. Despite the good intentions, whenever someone in the family is sick, Mom kicks into freakout mode and immediately starts predict-

ADITI PAI STAFF WRITER

Happy 18th Birthday Kirstin Nicole Kragten We love you!

ognizes the cons of this situation.

“I like having a longer lunch,” Yu said. “Sometimes I get late and receive detention in AP Lit though.”

Even though he enjoys staying off campus, it makes it more difficult to come back.

“It is really relaxing,” Yu said. “But you are tempted to spend a lot more time outside of school.

It kind of sucks returning to school.”

Some students, juniors included, take online classes, which are almost the same as off roll classes except for the class that meets once or twice a week.

Senior Sammie Damanhoury is taking online Human Biology.

“I can still sleep in every day except lab day,” Damanhoury said. “When colleges look at it, it shows a class, not an off roll period, so it looks better.”

When Damanhoury stayed at school the first week of her classes, she learned she needed an off roll sticker.

“I thought I could just sit there and do my homework,” Damanhoury said. “I learned that you still need an off roll sticker to stay at school.”

Still, she feels no matter what period you have off roll, it is one of the most relaxing aspects of senior year.

CORDELL HUNTER STAFF WRITER

ing horrible diseases like tuberculosis or whooping cough out of an innocent cold.

Then she realizes she does not know anything about sickness and takes you to the doctor, who, if anything, is even worse.

From the moment you enter his office, the doctor looks at you all grave, like you are going to drop dead on the floor any moment.

Then he makes you take off your shirt and while you are sitting on the bed freezing, he sticks all sorts of unpleasant and funny-looking instruments in your mouth, nose and ears. Staying home from school mostly results in unpleasant and stressful consequences; grades fall, parents nag, and doctors poke.

But there is one thing that brightens the gloom. In the words of Sophomore Connor Gallinetti, “Yeah, it’s stressful and it makes your life hell for a few weeks,” he said. “But at least you get to hear someone tell your Mom she didn’t know what she was talking about.”

Sundevils honor National Red Ribbon Week

Always, Aditi, Nicole, Bugg, and Sammie

ALLISON ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHER

“The red truck [on the lawn in front of the school] is there as a symbol of Red Ribbon Week. It helps Sundevils realize the reality of smoking marijuana or drinking alcohol and getting behind the wheel. Our Student Services program wants to tell Sundevils not to get in the car with anyone who has been drinking. Teenage drivers are most vulnerable to fatalities while driving and intoxication exacerbates this.”

-EDNA MAILEY, Student Services Coordinator

This is Unity Music

Kylie Baranowski

Politics for the next generation of activists History will be made in a week and a half.

On Nov. 4, 2008, Americans will head to the polls and cast their ballots in what will be as crucial an election as my generation has ever seen.

Will it be a day that lives on in infamy?

My entire life, I’ve grown up learning about the people who have made history across the centuries.

People like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Or even people like Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler.

And now, at this very moment, our generation is finally making history. For many of us, this is our first opportunity to vote in an election, our first chance to stand up and have our voice heard.

Unfortunately others like me are left cursing the fact that we were born a few months to late to participate in this crucial election.

Sure, being born on Valentine’s Day is fun, but at this point I’d almost be willing to trade that for any old day for a chance to cast my ballot.

I’m not exactly shy about who I support in this election; after all, I am known for being more than a little liberal.

This doesn’t mean that I hold a deep hatred for all things conservative.

Growing up in a community that is home to both ends of the political spectrum, I have learned to accept people of all political views and judge people only on their true character.

My strong ideology is just a part of who I am on the deepest level. I am a revolutionary at heart who dreams that the world can be a better, more accepting place than it is today.

This is why I was so disappointed when in 8th grade I finally did the math and realized that I was going to miss voting in the 2008 election by a matter of months.

Of course, my perspective on this is a bit close-minded. After all, voting is not the only way we can be a part of history in the making.

It’s almost surreal to think that young people will inherit the world.

Someday in the not too distant future, we will be among the ranks of those politicians who seem so distant to us.

But I’m not willing to sit idly by and wait for that day to come. The problems of the world are too daunting to not do anything.

The time has come for our generation to stand up and participate in the affairs of our country.

As many of us transition into adulthood, we begin to take responsibility for solving the problems that plague the world.

Our morals, from wherever we derive them, will guide us in our worldchanging endeavors.

Personally, my morality and inspiration come from music.

Music is what drives me, what ignites that spark of creativity that I thrive on. Hearing lyrics from the likes of Common Rider, Operation Ivy, Crass, and the Dead Kennedys galvanizes my strong ideology.

I still remember the night that Al Gore lost the presidential election to George W. Bush.

I remember being so floored that politics could be so unfair. How could Gore get more votes than Bush and lose the election?

Now, as I have grown up, I have a new perspective on politics.

Although it may be an imperfect system, one must participate in the political process to bring about any change.

The time has come for the youth to stand up and voice what they believe.

We can truly make an impact.

Features The aftermath of

B8

Mt. Carmel SUN

October 24, 2008

Firestorm 2007

Exactly one year after the Firestorm 2007, neighborhoods in Rancho Bernardo are beginning to recover as residents build their dream homes. Around 1,790 structures were burned or damaged in San Diego.

KYLIE BARANOWSKI CENTERSPREAD EDITOR October of 2007 was a defining moment for the city of San Diego.

It was during this fateful month that the proverbial lightning struck twice and the community of San Diego was once again ravaged by quick burning fires, expedited by strong winds.

In all, five fires burned throughout San Diego: Harris, Witch Creek, Rice Canyon, Poomacha, and Horno.

Rancho Bernardo junior Kyle Da Silva was affected by this tragedy in a personal way, his home was damaged in the fires.

“I stayed up all night monitoring the fires and we got evacuated when we saw the fire across the street from us,” Da Silva said.

“My neighbor’s house was on fire and his wall came

ALL PHOTOS BY ALLISON ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHER

Homes in Rancho Bernardo go through the various phases of reconstruction after last year’s tragic fires.

Families who lost their homes are finally beginning to rebuild. Although it has been exactly a year, many lots are still seen bare and leveled waiting for owners and builders to plan their new houses.

crashing down onto my house and lit my place on fire, but my place got saved and didn’t burn down all the way. We evacuated straight back home to LA, where I’m from.”

In all, five people lost their lives due to the fires, one directly and four during evacuation.

The combined cost of fighting all of the fires topped out at close to $10 million according to Sign on San Diego.

The private losses to families were much greater.

Over 50,000 people were evacuated and displaced from their homes that were threatened by the flames.

Despite the challenges presented by the fires, the community rose to the occasion.

Qualcomm Stadium was transformed overnight into a makeshift shelter.

The outpouring of support from San Diegans was unprecedented, and it received attention in the national media.

As the holidays came and went, the attention of the community began to shift away from the fires.

Unfortunately, the tribulations did not end for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the fire.

Da Silva and his family faced many challenges in the weeks and months following the fires.

“We weren’t able to move back in. We got sent to live in an apartment where we’re still living in right now,” Da Silva said.

“We had some professionals come in and they estimated the damage at $100,000 but the insurance company only wanted to give us $25,000, so we got a public adjuster to help us settle it, but we’re still fighting over it.”

For many of those displaced from their homes by the fire, the battle for money with the insurance companies continues to this day.

“We move back into our house on November 11th, but the insurance company is only giving us $80,000 so we’ve got to spill $20,000 from our own pockets and that’s going to put a hard financial debt on all of us for a long time,” Da Silva said.

With the recent economic troubles facing the country, the added burden of rebuilding a home places substantial strain on a handful of local families.

Investigators speculate that the Witch Creek fire, by far the biggest of the five, may have been caused by a downed power line. The causes of the other fires still remain unknown.

The damage left in the wake of the fires exceeded the Cedar Fire of 2003.

The process of healing and rebuilding has proven to be as great a challenge as the catastrophe itself.

“My neighbor’s house was on fire and his wall came crashing down onto my house and lit my place on fire, but my place got saved and didn’t burn down all the way.”

-KYLE DA SILVA, RB junior

Oxford looks back at past year after house burns RACHEL MARTIN OPINIONS EDITOR It is almost exactly one year since the Witch Creek fire broke out in this area, causing devastation many people had never seen before.

The wind blew up to 100 miles per hour.

Ash and smoke smothered homes. Thousands of people evacuated, and many hearts were broken.

MC teacher Kathy Oxford was greatly affected by last year’s fires. Living in Ramona, she was often on alert during Santa Ana season. Her journey began on Oct. 21, 2007.

“We got the phone call to evacuate,” Oxford said. “My husband loaded up three more horses in our trailer and left, thinking he was going to come back.

“And he never came back. I was left with one horse, my stallion, my dog, no cell phones working, electricity off and on, getting darker and darker, getting smokier. The wind was incredible.”

It was at this time that she realized the situation was dangerous.

“I thought well, I’ll be back tomorrow, I’m just gonna take this and this,” she said. “I took the weirdest things. Just some papers. No computers, no pictures, no clothes, no jewelry, really.

I took the horse clippers. I don’t know why I

took those. They had a handle, so they were easy to grab.”

With the help of her friends, she managed to escape the burning Ramona area with all her horses and her dog.

“We thought we were going go to Poway, but by that time Poway had been evacuated,” Oxford said. “So we took off for Del Mar. We got there at about five in the morning.

“A friend of mine and I went to Dennys.

We looked like hell. Smoke all over us, just filthy.

Hair in knots from the wind. My neighbor from Ramona who didn’t leave called to tell me that our house had burned down. It probably happened about two hours after I’d left.”

Even though Oxford lost “everything… everything…artwork, photos, everything,” she does feel that the response following the devastation was amazing.

“The teachers at this school and some students of mine collected over $6,000,” she said.

“You can live on quite a little, but you can’t live without the support of other people. And people have been enormously generous and kind. So I’ll always be trying to pay that forward.”

After staying with friends for a few months following the Witch Creek fire, Oxford and her husband purchased a mobile home to live in on their property.

In the past few weeks, areas of San Diego have again suffered from wildfires. Oxford says that her first bit of advice would be to stay organized.

“We’re not always very organized because we’re busy,” she said. “It would be a really good idea to get one file and keep just the most critical things in there, so you can just grab that one thing. And be able to move all that stuff very quickly.”

However, despite Oxford’s positive face when discussing fire codes and insurance policies, losing everything that you have been collecting for years must have been devastating.

“When I went back to that place everything was black, our trees were burned,” Oxford said.

“The house was evaporated. It’s great to come here [school] and everything was still here.”

However, she also says that “There’s also a piece that’s just free, about having all that junk gone. There’s probably stuff there that needed to burn. Otherwise, I would have carried it around.

You know, kept it, stored it, and really didn’t need it.”

Oxford still admits that her life has drastically changed since the fire swallowed up her home.

“I have a part-time job [besides teaching], and it is getting our lives back together.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY OXFORD

Teacher Kathy Oxford stands around various burnt remains on her Ramona lot. Oxford was the only MC teacher to lose her home in the 2007 fires.

Sundevils showed their support by raising $6,000 for Oxford.