B section of issue 9

www.mcsun.org

Friday

SPORTS & ARTS

april 3, 2009

B Mt. Carmel SuN

Boys golf adapts to new coach

Team bonds on course, in practice despite differences

Dennis Sun staff writer

One of the team’s core five players, sophomore Marc Herrmann, expresses his fondness for the rides.

Starting off the season with a new coach, the “During the van rides, we play songs boys golf team has begun with a 3-2 record in that we all know and we sing to them to get league. New coach and photography teacher Craig pumped up for our matches,” Herrmann Racicot finds the experience quite enjoyable. said.

“I absolutely love it, especially if you considThe other core players of the team iner the kids that I have,” Racicot said. “I think we clude Hsiao, senior Benjamin Young, senior run the gamut in terms of the highest academic Ryan Fife, and senior Kirk Herrmann achievers to some who are struggling.”

As far as the team’s success, the team still This being his first experience in coaching, has some work to do, according to Racicot.

Racicot relies on the help of his players.

“I think [the season] is well, we haven’t “For me, in my first coaching experience reached our peak yet,” Racicot said. “The kids with high school, it was a bit hectic at first,” Raci- haven’t reached their full stride. Our top five cot said. “I’m learning something new every day, players have not shot their lowest scores conbut the boys have been sistently yet, but I very patient with me. think that it will hapMany have been in the pen.”

The kids haven’t reached program before, and Hsiao agrees they help me consider- their full stride. Our top five with Racicot’s view ably.” of the season. players have not shot their lowRacicot allows “We’re not dothe players to manage est scores consistently yet, but I ing as well as we themselves, as he is think that it will happen.” hoped to,” Hsiao still new to MC’s golf said. “A lot of the se program. niors are out of prac- Coach Craig Racicot “I don’t even contice and still getting sider myself a coach back into the swing because I’m not much (pun) of things, but of a golfer at all,” Racicot said. “I’m more of an hopefully we’ll come through soon.” administrator: I let the boys pretty much handle Marc Herrmann has a different viewtheir lineups, who they want to be paired up with, point on the team’s success. and who’s even in the lineup, because they know “The season is going alright, we’re doeach other better than I do, so it’s a learning ex- ing decent,” he said. “The team is pretty cool, perience for me.” we’ve got a lot of seniors, so no one really The team, which consists of eight players, cares, but we just play and have fun.” bonds well despite their age differences and difThe team beat San Marcos on Monday ferences in academic achievement.

202 to 231. Marc Hermann shot a 38, Young “We’re all really diverse, but get along really shot a 38, and Hsiao shot a 39.Racicot dreads well,” senior Jeffery Hsiao said. “We all have a lot the end of the season, as the team is already of fun together.” halfway through.

Along with working together in practice, “I couldn’t ask for better kids to be with,” they also enjoy bonding during the van rides up Racicot said. “It’s been really enjoyable. I’m to matches. going to regret the end of the season.”

“

Matt Coffelt | photo editor

Ryan Phife (12) and Jeff Hsiao (12) crouch to watch a putt during a recent match.

Tennis hopes to excel in new league, sets early goals for season Mackenzie Lance Sports Editor

Matt Coffelt | photo editor

Andrew Kim (11) returns the ball during a match against Ramona. MC won and advanced their record to 3-7.

With constant, harsh conditioning workouts, sometimes three hour long practices, and voluntary workouts on the weekends, the boys tennis team is working hard every day towards their ultimate goal of competing in CIF. “This season has been a definite change from the years before,” junior Andy Frey said.

“We have a lot more conditioning during training. We focus less on just practicing playing the game and more on working out and improving our fitness.”

The boys team started the pre-league season with a losing record of four losses in four games but once games began in their new home, the Valley league, the team’s luck took a turn for the better and they have a 3-3 league record as of April 1.

“Our preseaon games were hard, because they were against four of the highest ranking teams in the county,” Frey said.

“Those games included Torrey Pines Rancho Bernardo, who we used to have to play against in league.”

Like most MC teams, the

tennis team is adapting to a new league and opponents.

“We moved to new, less competitive league this year,” Frey said. “We have a better chance of winning more matches this year and going into the playoffs.”

The varsity team has a changing starting lineup depending on how each member performed in the games before and that week’s practices.

On Tuesday, the boys played Valley Center, one of their toughest opponents in the league and lost the entire match in total games.

“We lost by 3 games overall,” junior Shuyang Fang said.

“Singles won one set overall out of nine and doubles won eight of their nine.”

Winning in total games happens when the teams both end up with the same number of winning sets, and the entire match has to be determined by individual games.

The team has four more weeks of league play before they begin league playoffs and CIF competition.

“Out first goal was to just get to CIF,” Frey said. “But now, as we are improving, we are hoping to get to semi-finals, at least.”

Gymnastics beats LCC Rachel Martin Opinions Editor Senior Shelby Bruce’s hands started to slip off the bar, but she gripped her fingers and ended her routine with a bang. A few minutes later, she took a deep breath before beginning her floor routine.

This was the moment she had been practicing for.

After many challenging practices, the gymnastics team prevailed at their first meet against LCC. “It was a really good meet to start off the season with,” senior Shelby Bruce said. “We got a 215, which was about where our team’s scores were by the end of last year.

So it was a really solid start. I just hope that we don’t get too confident because there’s always room for improvement.”

And, although Bruce said she herself has many things to work on, she won the All-Around award for their meet against LCC. Last year Bruce won CIF All-Around.

“I competed on all four events and, if you add all the events scores together, my score was the highest out of anyone who competed all the events,” Bruce said. “Personally, it was good because I know there are a lot of great gymnasts at LCC and our school, so it was really exciting. But still I know I have a lot of room for improvement, especially on vault.”

The team beat LCC 215.075 to 201.8. While preparing for their meet against Torrey Pines yesterday (scores not available at press time) and their next meet during spring break against Fallbrook, the team has been working hard to perfect their skills.

“We usually do three events a day so we have enough time to really get into everything,” Bruce said. “Instead of just going through routines and all of that, [the coaches are] getting really nit-picky, like the little parts of the routines that make a big difference.”

Head coach Monique Lamphiere-Tamayoshi said the team was focusing mostly on bars during their first few weeks of practice, along with just getting to know each other better. “[They are a] fun group of young ladies to work with — entertaining and very hard workers,” Lamphiere-Tamayoshi said.

The team’s practices are no joke.

“It’s challenging, but it’s a lot of fun because everyone makes it fun because everyone just has such different personalities,” Bruce said.

Lamphiere-Tamayoshi said that the team has many goals, both short term and long term. The team hopes to improve every day and stay away from injuries. They hope to continue improving the team concept. Because gymnastics is such a demanding sport, the team looks to each other for support and strength.

“We’ve had a couple spaghetti dinners, and after meet dinners,” Bruce said. “Everyone gets along great. Our whole team gets together and makes t-shirts that we wear on meet days. So it’s a lot of fun getting to know everyone better, cause it makes practice easier to get through.”

Sundevil Record Scoreboard

Golf Tennis Gym. Swim B.Track G.Track G.Lax B.Lax Volleyball Baseball Softball

3-6

2-6

1-0 3-0

2-0

1-1

3-0

5-2

2-1

1-9

10-4

*Overall Results as of April 1 from NCTIMES.com

Sports

B2

Mt. Carmel SUN

April 3, 2009

Swim undefeated in league, dive lacks competition Kevin Lage Entertainment Editor “In second place, Rancho Bernardo with 250 points,” the announcer said. “And in first place, the MC boys with 480 points.”

At the Sundevil Invitational on Mar 21 the boys swim team had a resounding victory, earning almost double the points of the second place team. The girls just barely placed second behind RB. With these fantastic performances early on in the season, both teams have promising futures for the 2009 swim season results.

BOYS

So far, the boys team is dominating the Valley League, with outstanding victories against Perris, Ramona, San Marcos, and first place in the Sundevil Invitational.

Sophomore Carlos Rivera believes that the team’s recent successes can be attributed to their very intense practice schedule.

“We swim five hours a day,” Rivera said. “It’s fun, waking up at 4:30 in the morning and thinking about how in exactly 30 minutes I will be swimming back in freezing cold water. It’s good to see everyone’s ‘smiling’ faces.”

Their recent success in meets make Rivera believe that the team has a good shot at accomplishing their goals for the season.

“The MC swim team has been a powerhouse, and has crushed all opposition since the late 70s,” Rivera said.

“If you need proof just go take a look at all the CIF banners in the gym.”

Girls

allison rogers | PHOTOGRAPHER

Sandy Shyu (11) dives during practice at the pool. The dive team has been facing a lack of competition in the new league. The swim team has been dominating in the league so far, with no meet losses.

The girls team feels that although they have set some high goals for themselves this year, they still can achieve their goals.

“We have some lofty goals this year and were working hard towards them,” junior Jeanie Nguyen said.

The team believes that their toughest competition

was Ramona.

As they already beat them, they have a good chance for victory throughout the season.

“Ramona was our first away meet, giving them the home advantage but we got there and did work,” Nguyen said. “It was a victory all around.

Nguyen believes the girls have one thing that sets them apart from the girls teams of the other schools in the Valley League.

“The team environment is our strongest trait; we all share the same experiences; morning practice and the tough workout,” Nguyen said. “It’s much easier, though, when you know you have support and that even though we’re suffering, we’re doing it together.”

DIVE TEAM

The MC dive team is facing a serious hurdle as they plunge into the 2009 season, with their shortage of divers. “[The main problem] is that we only had one official diver for the boys team,” sophomore Jake Espino said. “Because of this, Bernardo [Raymundo] and I are taxiing between swim and dive, to make up for the low numbers.”

Regardless of this setback, Espino believes that diving will not affect his season too severely.

“I think its actually an advantage in some ways,” Espino said. “While the people who just swim, or just dive, get tired or hurt because they practice the same sport everyday, I actually get a break and have time to recuperate.”

Another problem facing the team this year is their move from the old league to the new Valley League.

“In the new league, there is really only like two other teams with divers,” Espino said. “[The lack of competition] might have a negative effect on our chances once CIF come around. To counteract this, we have to take the few meets we do have really seriously. Also we have to compete against ourselves before all the swim meets, just so we can get some practice with the judges.”

Boys lacrosse learns from mistakes, moves on from past Cathy McDermott Copy Editor The boys lacrosse season has finally shifted into full gear, and the team is a lot stronger than before.

“Overall our season [so far] has been very successful,” senior Joey Pospichal said. “We have almost matched the number of wins we had [in total] last year. We are on track to go to CIF. “Our team is really close, and the coaching has been much better overall, with coaches being on the same page and being flexible with tips from some of us players.”

Pospichal and senior Alexander Garoutte agree that the new coach has really helped to build the team.

“He is really enthusiastic about the team, and he is very involved,” Pospichal said. “He cares about each player and is willing to work with each

player individually.”

Another factor to the good fortune of the team’s season is the quantity of veteran players.

“I think there is a good balance of players with many years of experience and guys with less experience,” Garoutte said. “It allows us to do more advanced things, but also to prepare players for the future so that we can really grow the program.”

The boys currently hold a 5-2 record, as of April 1. Senior David Darling has contributed greatly to this success, ranking as second in goal leaders and score leaders, according to the North County Times.

The two losses against San Dieguito, 5-9, and Mira Mesa, 5-10, were unexpected, and the team is taking the defeats to heart by making the alterations needed.

“Mira Mesa was not a normal game for us.,” Pospichal said.

“Everyone was off their game in some way, and it accumulated until we were just unable to play as a team.

Everyone made their own mistakes and it threw them off, which threw the team off more so than normal.

“Our team just wasn’t working together as a unit. We made mistakes, we learned from them, and now we move on. It’s behind us and there is no going back, so we just have to look forward and try not to slip into a losing spiral.”

The boys are taking off with a hot start to their season, but they still need a little Sundevil spirit.

“We just need more people to come out and support us,” Pospichal said. “It’s a good motivation for the team and it always feels that much better after we win to see a big crowd there supporting us.”

Tonight’s game will be at Scripps Ranch at 6 p.m.

ana alvarez | PHOTOGRAPHER

Joey Pospichal (12) chases after a ball against Mira Mesa. The team unexpectedly lost 10-5. The team has had only one other loss which was against San Dieguito, 9-5. Their record currently is 5-2.

Sundevil Spotlight

Girls lacrosse triumphs with three wins Vandana Bhairi staff writer Junior Camie Chapatte races down the field, bringing the stick over her shoulder as she shoots the ball in the goal. She has no problem getting it past the goalie, and easily defeats her opponents.

To put it frankly, girls lacrosse has their season off to an amazing start.

They have defeated every team they have competed against as of now, setting their record at 3-0 as of press time.

Chapatte believes that the key to the team’s success is their cohesiveness.

“We are working the ball out more,” she said. “Now the captains have more confidence in the girls so we pass more to them; there aren’t any ball hogs.”

However, junior Jin Su believes that there is always room for improvement, both at the individual and at the team levels.

“I need to work on catching, shooting, and getting open,” Su said.

“As a team we need to step it up, get focused, and run faster.”

This previous Wednesday, the girls had a game against one of their biggest rivals, Rancho Bernardo (score not available at press time.)

Senior Erin Moses is pumped up to defeat the Broncos. “[RB] is our rivals skill-wise,” she said. “We want to bring them down.

We have a rage to beat them. I think it will be a close game.”

To prepare for the game, the girls practice for two hours every day at Mesa Verde Middle School.

Coach Rob Alarcon thinks that these practices are usually very productive.

“We usually keep it kind of laid back,” Alarcon said. “But when the whistle blows, the girls are ready to work.”

Alarcon believes that the most important thing to work on is stick work.

“It comes down to stick work,” he said. “And who can do the most with the ball.”

The girls’ next game will be away against Fallbrook on April 15.

Go online to MCSUN.org for coverage of JV sports!

Kim balances five APs, tennis with free time Tran pole vaults, soars, sets varsity records

andrew kim katelyn cutts news editor With a busy schedule, junior Andrew Kim only has a few escapes, and one of them is tennis.

Since his freshmen year, Kim has been a part of the MC program and started participating in the sport years before.

“I’ve been playing tennis for seven years,” he said. “I started private lessons five years ago, and I have been on varsity all three years so far at MC.” Tennis has brought an interesting aspect to his life.

“I like playing tennis because it’s fun,” Kim said. “It’s a mental game, and it’s demanding.”

Since Kim puts a lot of time into other things, tennis has had to be put on the backburner.

“I play for school, but during the summer, I play in some tournaments,” he said. “Last year, I stopped taking private lessons due to a busy school schedule.”

Besides tennis, Kim is a Scholar Athlete and involved in multiple activities.

“I am currently taking 5 AP classes and, as of now, the homework is not too bad,” he said. “I spend around 3 to 4 hours on homework and studying on average.”

Besides being devoted to tennis and school, Kim takes some time out of his schedule to get a break from it all. He has an array of activities to help unload the stress.

“I play violin at my church, he said.” “I hang out with friends, watch movies and Korean dramas online, watch tennis, and sleep.”

According to Kim, Korean dramas are like American soap operas that have better storylines and prettier people.

Although he enjoys playing tennis, he knows it is not the most action-packed sport.

“It may not be the greatest spectator sport, but it is fun to watch,” he said.

Since tennis has been in full swing, Kim hopes more people will support the team.

“Come support the team in home games,” he said. “Our matches are usually Tuesday or Thursday and it will be nice to have an audience from time to time.”

With such enthusiasm towards the sport, Kim still manages to be an outstanding student and participate in multiple extracurricular activities, making him a well-rounded student athlete.

QUICK HITS What is your greatest fear and why?

My greatest fear is velociraptors, because they can run fast and you’re guaranteed to die.

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

BAPE, FoB clothing, anything that isn’t a skater brand. Graphic tees are always nice.

What’s your weirdest food combination? (example: potato chips and caramel) The WORST thing I’ve ever eaten was a shot of hot sauce, salt, pepper, water, and coke.

What do you plan to do after high school?

Go to college. No, don’t ask me where.

Name one person or group of people that you admire.

I admire my #2’s.

What is your favorite TV show?

I don’t watch TV and you can’t type the Korean language on the computer.

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

I wouldn’t want to be a superpower because it would make my life “easier.” I want to be the same as others and not unique to such extent.

What is your worst pet peeve and why?

Taking surveys like this.

Sarah tran Melissa roadman editor-In-chief Most people don’t know what it feels like to fly. For senior pole vaulter Sara Tran, she is used to this feeling.

“You feel weightless,” she said.

“After the approach run, you’re lifted by the pole and shoot upwards. At the climax, you fall back to Earth with either excitement of clearing the height or disappointment from a miss.”

Tran joined track her freshman year as a sprinter. She ran the 100, 200, and 4 by 1 relay.

After injuring herself, Tran decided to try pole vaulting.

“I got injured from sprints. I got a stress fracture, and I wanted to do something less intense,” Tran said. “I went over to pole vault and I thought it was really interesting.”

Tran has thoroughly enjoyed her time as a pole vaulter. She feels it is an experience she will never forget.

“It’s pretty unique,” she said “It’s so difficult that not a lot of people

do it. To be able to do it, it’s pretty cool.”

Tran’s 10’ 9” personal record, which she cleared at the end of last track season, is the varsity school record.

“When I knew I cleared the bar, I yelled with triumph on the way down,” Tran said. “I jumped up and ran off the pit to hug my coach. I think I smiled for the rest of the day.”

Along with being a member of the varsity track team, Tran also played varsity field hockey this year.

“I liked their skirts,” Tran said.

“I just wanted to do another sport. I knew that I had hand-eye coordination from softball, which I played for nine years.”

According to Tran, she decided not to play softball at the high school level because it is too competitive.

Tran is also the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance club. She revived the club at the beginning of this year in order to help students feel more comfortable with their sexuality.

“One of my friends had a really big problem being in the closet,” Tran said. “She tried to come out to one of her friends but that friend disowned her. I wanted to try to make a more accepting environment.”

According to Tran, she had to collect 70 signatures, write a club constitution and pass through the Student Senate in order to restart the club.

Whether it is on the track or as a club president, Tran is a Sundevil Standout.

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

Some type of musical instrument which right now would probably be a melodica or boomwhackers.

What is your greatest fear and why?

Disappointing my friends and family.

Bringing sadness to the people I love would be the greatest pain.

What’s your weirdest food combination? (example: potato chips and caramel) Rice covered with melted pepper jack cheese and shredded chicken.

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

Texting and instant messaging. What happened to talking to people face to face? I like hearing laughter more than reading LOL. What is your favorite TV show?

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

Super speech powers so I can speak well in any language. Great orators have accomplished great things in history.

What is your worst pet peeve and why?

Close minded people, but they don’t bother me so much as make me sad for all of the opportunities they exclude from their lives by being close minded.

Sports

Mt. Carmel SUN

B3

April 3, 2009

Rough start for baseball; hopeful for future Kaveri Gyanenera Features Editor

ANA ALVAREZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

Jiordan Resolme (12) gets ready to fire his pitch as a Mission Hills runner takes off from first in Tuesday’s game. The team went on to lose, 7-4, bringing their record to 1-9. The results of yesterday’s game against Escondido High were not available by press time.

A streak of nine straight losses has brought the adrenaline rush of the Sundevil baseball team down a notch.

In the game versus Mission Hills on Tuesday, the boys lost 4-7.

In a recent game against Rancho Bueno Vista, the boys lost 18-7, getting runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The boys fell behind as their errors were prominent, making seven in the game and RBV only making two.

“I think it’s a matter of us playing to our potential,” senior Colin Bourke said.

“So far this season we’ve been playing down to the level of our opponents instead of playing our game. I think once we start playing to our maximum there’s no team out there that is better than us. Our team is so much better than our record makes us look.”

Senior Dennis Bowman and juniors Wesley Wallace and Christoph Ludwig along with sophomore Kenney JamesSansone were all at bat four times, with James-Sansone and Ludwig bringing in a run each. In the previous game against San Dieguito, the boys lost 4-8.

All four runs were scored in the last inning by senior Kyle Karshner, JamesSansone, Ludwig and Wallace.

“A lot actually goes through my head when I’m up at the plate,” Karshner said.

“Depending on the situation, I prepare myself for the pitch that is going to be thrown to me and where I want to hit the ball. But mainly I just think about hitting the ball hard.”

Concentration is what will apparently drive the boys to success.

“I think that being focused really comes along with playing the game,” Bourke said. “There are so many things going through my head during the game, there’s not much room for things outside of what’s going on during the game.”

Karshner agrees it is a matter of focus that will drive their game to be better.

“Our team needs to be mentally stronger and not worry so much about the opponent and worry more about how we play,” he said.

“As a team, we’ve got to continue to get better and really just play to our potential,” Bourke said. “I think it really comes down to being mentally prepared during the game. Everyone has to know what their job is in certain situations and know what to do with the ball if it comes to them.”

In order for the young team to grow, they will be participating in a tournament in Las Vegas.

“I am definitely looking forward to the Tournament in Las Vegas over Spring Break,” Bourke said. “I think it will be a great experience for the team and really allow us to bond which should help us further along the season.”

Close relationship entails Girls softball off to hot start with success for boys volleyball lights out pitching, triple plays Sara shantz staff writer

“Dylan [Reeder] would like everyone to know that we are all really good- looking,” junior Bobby Luft said.

It’s comments like this that makes the boys volleyball team so… unique.

“There are many things that happen that are funny,” Luft said. “Our team is always laughing and having fun, I think that is one of the reasons we are a good team.”

The boys have a close relationship on and off the court.

“Our team gets along great,” junior Stephen Lawrance said. “It’s good to know that if you make a mistake, the rest of the team is there telling you, ‘No worries, you’ll get the next one.’”

Some teams maintain a healthy diet to improve their performance on the court; the boys have a different

approach.

“No [we don’t maintain a healthy diet,]” Luft said. “We go to players’ houses the night before big games and shove our faces with Mexican food.”

The team doesn’t do a whole lot of conditioning.

“We run a couple laps around the gym and do pushups before practice but that’s it,” Lawance said. “We focus more on playing.”

Although the team doesn’t focus on good ole’ fashion healthy eating and conditioning, they do have competitive practices.

“Practices consist of a lot of games and are always intense because if you lose you will have to do the dreaded “5 and 5” (5 push- ups and 5 sit-ups) or do a set of sprints,” Luft said. “Towards the end if you lose you have to take down the nets.

On March 19, the team played their first home match.

Although the boys lost in three

games, they feel that they played well.

“I thought we did a really good job of staying focused and not hanging our heads when Parker went on a run,” Lawrance said. “We stayed focused and fought hard the entire match.”

On Tuesday, March 24, the team beat San Pasqual in five games.

San Pasqual won the first and third games. MC won the second, fourth, and fifth games. The boys battled Westview on March 27 in a grueling five game match. Westview took the first and fourth games and MC took the second, third, and fifth games.

“After the first game, we were all actually very surprised to have lost, but we knew that we couldn’t keep our heads down. We knew that we had to come into game 2 with lots of intensity so that we wouldn’t fall behind by 2 points.

The team’s next home game is against Orange Glen on April 13.

Vincent pham staff writer

Lights out batting, sharp pitching, and a solid defense.

This is the case for girls softball as they have swung off to an 9-4 record.

The team, which is predicted to win the Valley League by the North County Times, will not be taking anything lightly as they continue to try to pile up victories.

Junior Alix Johnson says that the team is continuing to strive for improvement every day.

“We’re taking baby steps in order to reach our goal of a threepeat at CIFs later on,” Johnson said.

“We’re all growing together day by day and I think we can pull through in the end.”

Some of their victories include two wins over Vista, 6-1 and 4-2.

During their first game against Vista on Mar. 14, junior Kellie Fox

and senior Maggie Doremus turned a triple play, a feat that almost never happens in softball.

During the second game against Vista on Mar. 25, senior Vanessa Currie went a perfect 4-for-4 in hits and sophomore pitcher Alyssa Abrenica pitched a complete game, striking out seven batters.

Coaches Ruby and Cesar Chavez continue to be positive forces in the team’s success.

“We absolutely have the best coaches in the world ,” Fox said.

“They have our backs no matter what, and they always push us and push us.”

During their 8-0 win on Mar. 21 against Rancho Buena Vista at Cardiff Park, the girls scored seven runs in the fifth inning and Abrenica, along with sophomore pitcher Bree Williams, combined to throw a nohitter.

Last weekend, the team played a doubleheader in Escondido. They

withstood a late surge by El Camino and held on to win 6-5.

They lost to Escondido, 2-7, as they let a tie game slip away from them in the end.

Currie is dominating the team’s offense with a very impressive .579 batting average.

Fox demonstrates a knack for getting runners across the plate as she leads the team with 11 RBIs. Doremus’ speed and alertness has made her the team’s top thief with eight stolen bases.

Johnson believes the transition into the Valley League this year will offer the team a fresh change for opponents.

“We won’t have to see the same teams that we see every year,” Johnson said. “It’s nice to finally see some new competition, and obviously some teams will be better than others.”

The team will travel to play a doubleheader against University City and Mt.. Miguel next Tuesday.

31st annual track and field invitational gathers 87 different schools abby mansour staff writer

DANIEL THAN | PHOTOGRAPHER

Eric Hurd (11) leaps over the hurdle at the 31st annual MC/Aasics Invitational last Saturday. During the National Anthem, the Navy SEALS parachuted into Sundevil Stadium, which held 87 schools.

A sudden vertical stripe of color leaps out of a plane. The parachute opens and the Navy SEAL strapped to it begins to glide towards the MC stadium.

Hundreds below watch as the red powder starts to spray from his foot, emulating the “rockets red glare”.

The Navy SEALS parachuting team paid MC a visit at the 31st annual Mt. Carmel Track Invitational on Saturday, March 28.

They landed on the field while the Star Spangled Banner was being sung. One jumper had an entire U.S. flag attached to him, providing a breathtaking sight for the athletes and spectators. The team hosted 87 schools, from all over California. One highlight from the meet was junior Andy Brock’s 400 meter race. Brock ran the sprint in 51.06 seconds, and placed 10th out of 30 racers.

Junior Erin Menefee also did well, placing 3rd in the mile out of 33 runners.

Junior Josh Giron and sophomore Andrew Gaston tied for 21st in the shot put. There were a total of 51 throwers in their event.

Coach Nathan Boyer believes that these accomplishments were achieved out of more than physical training.

“Ultimately, the heart and desire of the individual is what leads to success,” Boyer said. “If an athlete has the desire to train hard and push themselves in competition, good

things will happen.”

The team is doing well as a whole in their other meets as well.

Exceptionally notable is sophomore Brandon Ford’s high jump performance, beating MC’s 29 year old sophomore record for the high jump.

At the Falcon Relays with a jump of 6’4. The girls 4X800 relay team did well at the Falcon Relays.

“It was really cool,” junior Lindsey Valdez said. “I ran the first leg and got my best time. It was cool watching [the other 3 girls] give their best effort and just race their hardest.”

A standout performance was turned out by junior Jacob Wood in the 1500 meter race.

Running a time of 4:08, he placed 6th in this rarely performed event.

“Falcon Relays was a magical day for the Sundevils and a springboard to future success,” Boyer said.

The team won both of their recent dual meets against Orange Glen and Oceanside.

In addition to doing successful in competition, the team also is getting along, according to most athletes.

“The team is awesome,” freshmen Shelby De Long said. “I love it.”

Upcoming events for the track team include the Arcadia Invitational taking place at Arcadia High School on April 11.

There is also a dual meet against Ramona High at MC on April 16.

Although the Navy SEALS won’t be parachuting at every meet, great performances have come and will continue to come from the track team this season.

DANIEL THAN | PHOTOGRAPHER

Mandy Blume (11) runs in the 800 meter race at the 31st annual MC/ Aasics Invitational. The track and field team won both of their recent dual meets against Orange Glen and Oceanside High Schools.

Entertainment

B4

Mt. Carmel SUN

April 3, 2009

Artist: This Providence Album: Who Are You Now

For three long years, fans of Seattle’s indie-rock darlings, This Providence, have waited patiently for a follow up to their 2006 self-titled sophomore attempt. Well the wait is finally over, and many are wondering if it was worth it.

As a listener who jumped on board for a taste immediately following the posts of teaser streams online last October, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that it most certainly was.

The new album, “Who Are You Now?,” opens with a haunting simplicity that can be credited to an electric guitar solo and front man Dan Young’s echoing vocals. Soon after, though, the sound rises up to meet “Letdown,” the catchy, light first single with a slight twist on the band’s classic sound.

The lyrics convey a unique combination of nostalgic sweetness and bold independence. “This is the Real Thing” declares, “I’d tell you all you need is love/ But didn’t love break you in the first place?”

No matter what the message of the song, a kind of poetic honesty laces along the edges of bass bravado and acoustic gentleness in a way that has made This Providence so unique in the past.

Despite the way “Who Are You Now?” comforts listeners’ palates for sound, it does not offer a new break from previous records. Fans will find again the same qualities they fell in love with the first time in an album that puts brave and vulnerable side by side, with upbeat dance tracks and raw acoustic riffs.

All of this combines for a sweet, relatable comeback that melts hearts like the springtime sunshine it arrives with.

MATT COFFELT | PHOTO EDITOR

San Diego offers getaways close to home KAREN MICHEL STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY

During the mid-weeks of March and April, high school and college students everywhere begin their planning for one of the most favored holidays of the year: spring break.

A week that consists of sleepless nights, no homework, or at least no homework until the Sunday night before school, and the first tan that marks the start of beach season in San Diego.

The whole point of spring break is to take as much advantage of the sun that week, and spend time with your friends.

What better way to spend it than in San Diego?

MONDAY

The first day of spring break is always the important one. It’s the day that sets the tone for the rest of the week.

So, first comes first; the beach.

Time to pull out those intense colored swim trunks and polka dot bikinis to get a head start on that summer tan.

Luckily for San Diegans you have a variety of choices such as Del Mar, La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Coronado.

WEDNESDAY

Can’t get enough of the beach but still want an amusement park close by?

No problem, Belmont Park is located right next to Mission Beach with the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster, standing tall since 1925. The park also contains dining, shops, and entertainment. Belmont park is the perfect place to get a good taste of the San Diego lifestyle.

THURSDAY

If by this time you’re feeling that a break from all the water is needed, there are still many different ways to spend your spring break in San Diego without water.

Balboa Park incorporates the many museums, extending from art to science, and cultural Spanish reviv-

FRIDAY

Take Via Rancho Parkway off the 15 to get to San Diego’s Wild Animal Park, where you can come face to face with the 3,500 animals that vary from 429 different species.

SATURDAY

With the weekend closing up, there’s no better way to spend Saturday than at Seaport Village. Located downtown at Harbor drive, this San Diego attraction has the many restaurants by the bay, live shows, and the

JORDAN UGALDE STAFF WRITER After no days off from school since Feb. 20, aside from weekends, almost everyone is understandably looking forward to relaxing or having fun during spring break.

Artist: Kanye West Album: 808’s & Heartbreak

-Shayon Said

al architecture, and you can also experience San Diego’s natural beauty.

mesmerizing horse-drawn carriage that will take you right down Harbor Drive.

SUNDAY

row.

Recuperate for school tomor-

Needless to say, living in San Diego during spring break is one of the many privileges that people across the nation want, so take advantage of it.

ANA ALVAREZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

Weeklong trips provide for variety of budgets

-Sarah Carrigan

With high-pitched levels of Autotunes and consistent, ubiquitous pitchenhancing synthesizer echo rooted into every song, Kanye West’s latest album “808’s & Heartbreak” became more of a simple series of recordings instead of actual voice and music.

Every song in West’s albums has its own unique artificial tone making his music a repetition of itself through all 12 tracks.

The album also diverged from his normal music due to his shift from singing with meaning, to creating a meaning through beats.

One of the most admired features of West’s previous music was that he was a hip-hop artist who actually put a message in his music, unlike most hip-hop artists who sing whatever rhymes.

The most irritating fixation in the album is his monotone and constant echo in the actual lyrics. The music really sounds like an old radio with terrible reception, almost as if West was embarrassed to actually sing.

Because his real voice isn’t even present, it would be an overstatement to call West’s album prestigious compared to his others.

Regardless, this album is a winner to those that listen to music simply for the beat of the song.

Each song has a different variation of what sounds like two logs clapping against each other.

He even put animal sounds in some songs such as “Amazing” and the well known “Love Lockdown.”

Overall, the album is a big stretch from the ordinary Kanye West style; however, its strident beats can get any song glued into your head.

Seaport Village

Once residing in San Diego, there is a place that you must visit at least once: Sea World.

For spring break, this water theme attraction is perfect for an enjoyable day in the sun. With shows ranging from sea-otters and walruses jumping through hoops to Shamu soaking you with his fin, Sea World is a must-go-to theme park for spring break.

And for people who really want to get away from it all, going on long vacations is the way to go.

CHEAP VACATIONS

Although road trips are best saved for summer vacation, there are plenty of spots in the

“Golden State” to visit, whether it is Mammoth Mountain to see some snow, or Hollywood to see the stars.

For people really short on money and wanting to relax more than have fun, camping is a cheap way to get away from society and relax in nature.

Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Seqouia offer great natural landscapes. If you go to Yellowstone, there’s even a chance that you can gain money, since there is a location where you can pick up diamonds off of the trail.

MODERATELY PRICED TRIPS

Sequoia PHOTO COURTESY OF PUBLIC-DOMAIN-PHOTOS.COM

Los Angeles

Even though for most people, school will be the last thing on their minds during spring break, those who are thinking about college can visit a multitude of campuses while traversing California.

But if you are looking for

having fun more than relaxing, a couple of days at the happiest place on earth should be more than enough fun.

Admittedly, spending two nights at Disneyland itself costs over $1,000, but if you stay at a nearby hotel, then you can visit Disneyland during the day for less than a fifth of the price and still enjoy two days at the park.

EXPENSIVE TRIPS

If you like to party, Cancun is a classic spring break vacation trip, and when you get tired of partying, there’s always Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world, which is five miles west of San Felipe.

Also, if you want to save some money while still having fun in Mexico, there is the opportunity to do activities that are somewhat expensive to do in America, such as swimming and playing with dolphins.

Video game addictions take a toll on grades, social life DENNIS SUN STAFF WRITER If any student at MC hasn’t heard of video games, they have been living in a very confined box their entire life.

Unfortunately, a handful of those who have begun playing video games have become quickly addicted to it.

Sophomore Raymond Remigio is among that group of video game addicts.

He plays “almost every day, every chance I get, just as long as it doesn’t get in the way of my homework.”

Remigio finds video games themselves to be addicting.

“I always get caught in the storylines, the game play, pretty much everything,” Remigio said.

However, this addiction has many adverse effects, according

to Remigio. “[Playing video games] made my studying habits a little worse because I haven’t really studied much,” Remigio said. “It also made me lose sleep, not try hard in school, and not look forward to school, except for the end of school when I get to go home and play more video games.”

Remigio believes that video games make it more difficult to interact with people, as well.

“Whenever I play video games, I’m always not open to any social conversation,” Remigio said. “I always want to be left alone so I can play my games. I guess it’s a bad thing because you need to at least be able to interact with people once in a while, which is what I don’t do.”

Sophomore Wes Stouder also has had problems with video game addiction, affecting his grades dramatically. “[Video gaming] has probably made

my grades really bad because I play instead of doing homework,” Stouder said. “The first six weeks of this semester, I got Fallout 3. I was addicted, and I have a 2.1 right now.”

The reason Stouder finds video games so addicting is because they offer an escape from the mundane repetition of everyday life.

“After a day of school, I don’t want to go home and do homework,” Stouder said.

“I just want to go home and save the world from aliens.”

Video games, to Stouder, are exciting and gripping.

“The depth of the characters and the drama of the story make you want to continue playing and level up and find out what happens next,” Stouder said. “It’s like a re-

ally interactive book.”

Stouder speaks from experience when describing the fallout of playing too many video games. “[When gaming,] You stay inside, you don’t get out, you don’t see anybody, and you gain weight,” Stouder said.

Christian Jun | Artist

Entertainment

Mt. Carmel SUN

April 3, 2009

What do you do when...

MELANIE DICKINSON STAFF WRITER There is limited escape from the monotony of high school. Whether your hardest class is Calc BC or underwater basket weaving, you will inevitably be plagued by days of boring lecture after boring lecture sometime in the four years spent at even the statedistinguished MCHS. Before resorting to wandering the hallways with the bathroom pass, consider these not-so-healthy but enjoyable alternatives.

SLEEP

Experts suggest laying an open textbook on your desk, and leaning over it on your elbows with hands shielding the eyes visor-style.

Others claim that a slumped over position will do the trick.

Apparently teachers dismiss arms hanging off the sides of desks “as if to pick

B5

...dozing during class? up a pencil” for hours at a time normal. Your call.

“Seventy-five percent of the student body sleeps when they’re bored in class,” junior Matt Johnson said. “I base that on absolutely nothing.”

DOODLE

“The APUSH section of my binder is filled with atomic bombs, tanks, and scribbled peace treaties,” junior Allen Mamerto said.

A 2009 LiveScience study has shown that simple, repetitive, “mindless” doodles can actually help students focus during lectures.

PAPER PLANES

Paperairplanes.co.uk features over 20 easy-to-follow tutorials on various models of paper planes.

There are even directions for a paper frisbee.

bathroom to find their things shuffled around in an insideout backpack?

Variation: pencil cases (but be careful going near a girl’s purse)

GRAPHING CALCULATOR GAMES

Texas Instrument’s TI 83 Plus was made for these things.

And the graphing calculator is one of the few mediums in which classics like Space Invader and Tetris still dominate.

SPIN BINDERS

Sophomore Blake King has become an expert.

“This Asian kid was walking around doing it, and I thought it looked cool, so I taught myself,” he said. “But a lot of people call me a noob. I get a lot of ‘no life’ comments.

And every so often a girl will say ‘oh that’s cool.’”

ALLISON ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHER

*THE MC SUN DOES NOT IN ANY WAY CONDONE IN-CLASS IDLENESS.

Blake King (10) practices spinning his binder. Binder spinning, along with doodling, calculator games, paper airplanes, flipping backpacks, and sleeping are popular ways to waste time while bored during class. Contrary to popular belief, doodling is actually scientifically proven to help kids learn. Although these may seem to be more fun than learning, it is always advised to just pay attention.

...you’re home all alone?

...stuck at MC after school?

FLIP BACKPACKS

Who doesn’t feel loved after coming back from the

KEVIN LAGE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Boredom is known to strike at anytime, even on your precious weekends. Here are some tips, to combat boredom whenever it decides attack.

While boredom is bad, it is even worse when coupled with being stuck at home when all your friends can’t hang out. If you have access to a computer, there is always the Internet to occupy hours of your time.

Facebook or Myspace are always good options. One can waste hours just surfing through peoples profiles, or playing some of the online games. Another electronic option is gaming sites like addictinggames.com or bored. com. While the quality of these games are kind of hit and miss, those stupid little mini games can provide hours of mindless entertainment.

Also be sure to check out oceangram.com.

If you’ve ever wanted to find a message in a bottle, this is the site for you.

Just write a message, throw it in the virtual ocean, and wait for someone to find it.

You can also find other people’s bottles, and track your own bottles to see what people have to say.

A newly popular alternative is fmylife.com,

where people post stories of depressing stuff that happened to them. Ironically, nothing is quite so uplifting as reading about someone else’s depressing experiences.

Google “things to do when bored,” find one of those super long lists, with all the stupid suggestions such as “pretend you have a weird twitch” and see how many you can actually accomplish. You might be surprised how much fun you actually end up having.

If you are without a computer, don’t fret, you still have many options.

Learn a new skill. Ever want to learn how to juggle, but just never have the time? Turn your boredom into a productive time and learn how to do something new. Draw something. Even if you are the world’s worst artist, everyone can enjoy doodling something.

Don’t know what to draw? Just start with a line and try to expand it into your own personal masterpiece. Then there is always good old television. While it is always good to live your life, sometimes its good to watch other people live their lives.

Make up for your day that was wasted by boredom by planning your “perfect” day. Then make sure your actually try to pull through, and complete as many of the tasks on the list as possible.

SEAN WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Being stuck after school without any way of getting home for an extended period of time can be a real drag sometimes.

However, in this time that you are stuck at school, you can still find some things to do to kill time and boredom.

One of the more productive things you can do with your time is do your homework or study.

It may not be the greatest thing to combat boredom, but if you do it in the time you are stuck at school, you won’t have as much to do when you finally get home.

You can also check to see if any of your teachers are in their classrooms in case you are in need of help with anything.

It would be better to do it at that point, rather than forcing yourself to stay after school another day or cutting into your free time at lunch or snack.

These may not sound so appealing when you are bored, but it is better to get it done at school, rather than having to go home and do it.

Reading is also another good possibility in this time.

Books can be very fun if you have the right one for you.

Another thing you can do is find a couple of friends to hang out with.

Finding friends to hang out with can easily kill boredom because it’s hard to be bored when you are with your friends, even if all you’re doing is just talking with each other, or just goofing around. Another great tool to kill both time and boredom is a deck of cards. There are many card games that can be played with just a small deck of cards and a few friends, or if all your friends have gone home already there are also many games that can be played by yourself..

You can play games you know how to already play or even learn how to play new games.

There are literally hundreds of games out there that can be played or learned with a single deck of cards, such as Poker, Bridge, Killer, Hearts, or Spades. That’s a lot of potential boredom that you can kill with just fifty two pieces of cardboard. Being stuck after school may not be the most fun situation to be in, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend all that time being bored.

There are many things that you can do to occupy your time and keep you from being bored.

“Our Town” struggles to entertain despite solid acting MACKENZIE LANCE SPORTS EDITOR

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

In one of the church scenes in the school production of “Our Town,” Austin Henton (11) and Kassie Parker (12) are seen in the spotlights, discussing their relationship. The drama department struggled with catching the interest of the audience, due to the length of the show, yet they performed well with strong acting.

“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?— every, every minute?”

This theme of embracing the short lives we are given is presented in “Our Town.”

The MCHS drama department presented several productions of Thorton Wilder’s American masterpiece over the last two weeks.

Even with solid acting and good technical work, the production seemed to fall short.

The play ran over two hours long, with two intermissions and three separate acts.

For the normal attention span of a high school student, the two hour block was a bit much.

Senior Sam Bratt added a comic edge to the role of the stage manager, who leads the play as he presents the town of Grover’s Corners.

His monologues were a welcome break to the monotony of the play.

Certain scenes captured the viewer’s attention more than others.

Domestic scenes seemed dry, with contrived banter between parents and children.

A final scene, talking place in

“

The theme of “Our Town” resonates with the teenage students of MC, however its duration was a major drawback.”

a graveyard utilized the state fully as well as the acting abilities of Kassie Parker in the role of Emily Webb.

Playing Kassie’s love interest was junior Austin Henton.

Henton’s portrayal of George Gibbs captured the character’s nervous energy and loveable comic relief from the bleak

setting of Grover’s Corner.

The lead acting was solid on all accounts including the work of Ryan Kay, Sam Webb, Alex Dorman, and Vonda Lopez in the roles Dr. Frank Gibbs, Mrs. Julia Gibbs, Mrs. Myrtle Webb, and Mr. Charles Webb, respectively.

The lack of scenery is joked about in the play and is clearly used as a device to keep the viewer free of distractions.

However, the lack of boundary lines between the settings caused confusion within the audience.

It became difficult to tell where houses began and ended and what scenes were taking place outside.

The play was well produced and there were no clear issues with the work of the students.

The message was well stated and clear, but it seemed very drawn out.

The theme of “Our Town” resonates with the teenage students of MC, however its duration was a major drawback of this otherwise solid production.

Title: Knowing Rating: PG 13

It’s the end of the world, newage style, and Nicholas Cage’s MIT astrophysicist, John Koestler, wrinkles his brow and heads straight for the tumult.

“Knowing” begins in 1958, where a time capsule is being buried.

John’s son, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury), half a century later, receives one of the letters when the capsule is exhumed, and finds a paper covered with a string of seemingly random numbers.

There are obviously greater forces at work here, because the troubled John, midway through his nightly booze, somehow deciphers something within the jumble. Despite his inebriated state, he manages to decipher a blueprint of every global disaster that has happened in the past 50 years.

There are three dates left, and it doesn’t take John too long to realize that the Earth is facing impending doom. From here, it’s a race against the ticking clock to put a stop to it all. The movie visibly unravels from this point.

With a backdrop of a world falling apart at the seams, exploding airplanes, and extra-terrestrial men in suits, the film works hard to keep it all together. “Knowing” starts off with conviction, and persists with some remarkable special effects that are nothing short of stunning, but ends with in an earnest nosedive. The film is overwhelmed by absurd hairpin plot twists and an ending that bypasses absurd leaving me slightly dissatisfied.

Despite all this, the movie’s incredible cinematic prowess in its special effects shines through the gaping plot holes and nonsensical conclusion, and that in itself, almost makes “Knowing” worth a watch.

-Kelly Fan

Restaurant: Bibby’s Crepe Cafe Location: La Jolla

In southern California, authentic French food is extremely hard to find.

There are many wannabe restaurants that attempt to make French food, but the only thing that comes remotely close is their French fries.

Bibby’s Crepe Café has the most authentic French delicacies ever. The tastiest item on their menu would have to be their crepes, arranged on a level of “Sweet” or “Savory.” The “Sweet” side has many exquisite items that can satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

My favorite crepe is the Strawberry Special which has nutella, strawberries, and vanilla custard. There’s also Blueberry Delight, Crepe Suzette, and 12 others. On the “Savory” side there are 16 items.

Although I usually stick to the sweet side, many recommend the Florentine with brie cheese, baby spinach, soft-cooked eggs, gruyere and béchamel sauce. There’s also Californian, Garden Veggie, and of course, Bibby’s Special.

The only downside about Bibby’s, would have to be the location.

The only restaurant opened on a regular basis is in La Jolla, which is kind of far away.

However, every Saturday, Bibby’s has a stand at the Farmer’s Market in Ellen Browning Elementary to assuage any sudden cravings. The prices are also somewhat reasonable, with crepes usually ranging from $7-10 depending on the ingredients.

All in all, Bibby’s Crepe Café is a unique eating place for anyone looking to experience what real French food tastes like.

-Vandana Bhairi

Features

B6

Mt. Carmel SUN

April 3, 2009

From the End of Heaven

GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENTS:

MC families welcome students, share culture

JORDAN UGALDE STAFF WRITER Sarah Carrigan

“...so a man’s heart reflects the man” I always pictured writer’s block as a solid, giant cube of dullness looming menacingly in front of me as I wander down a street of imagination.

In the past, I have described the inner workings of my mind as something akin to a city council, but in a way I guess it’s actually more like a city.

As I absorb sights, knowledge, and experiences my city grows and when I take a stroll downtown I observe for a second time the things that have stood out the most in reality. These standouts are the source of inspiration for my writings.

Keeping that in mind (no pun intended) let’s get back to writer’s block.

I was midway through my adventure of thought, sifting through memories in search of inspiration for this column when I hit it: The wall of doom. It was not what I pictured at all. Instead of a gray mass of nothing, it was a subtle clear void that simply distracted me from other sources of inspiration. After days of struggling to find a way around it I finally realized that it was what I needed to write about most.

So, from here on out, this column will be more personal than my other pieces because the frustrating void was actually a reality that I tried in vain to suppress until it forced me to grow.

My first version of this was similar to the e-mail you write in anger and never send. It focused on a stressed relationship I have with someone in my life who I frequently clash with.

The details are no longer important, but suffice it to say that I had reached the end of my rope and after a brutal rant on this person’s character, succumbed to begging of anyone who would listen to help me see reason; to help remind me of a truth I did not know I had forgotten With her permission, I‘d like to share some thoughts that came from an unexpected respondent to my request for guidance. She and I come from traditionally different faiths and values, and she was the last person I thought would address my quandary.

Nevertheless, she was the one who made all the difference. I wish I had the space to share the entirety of her letter, but here are the parts that touched me most. As I close I use her words to illustrate my own epiphany, because I do not believe anyone, certainly not I, could say it better.

“Who are we, as the imperfect and weak humans that we are, to judge one another?” she said. “I, being the habitual sinner that I am, know I have been on more than one occasion been convicted guilty of these very same atrocities.

“The sin of a murderer is no greater than the sin of my white lie.

Any act not done in love or truth is weighed the same as any other in the eyes of God. “And the most outrageous part is that He loves us all regardless! Sinner and saint alike, me and my slanderous tongue, Ghandi and his heart of gold. How grateful that makes me. I sometimes feel the dirt under my feet to be more worthy than my hopelessly contemptuous heart. “…In the version of the Bible I read, Colossians 4:5-6 says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be always full of grace”.

Because of her thoughts, I can now walk on past my own roadblock.

My heart has been softened, my mind enlightened. Despite our differences this person is still a human being, a soul entitled to my respect if only for that reason.

In the words of my new friend, “My drive and responsibility has been once more re-established, and my heart yearns to forgive, repent, and love with fresh purpose. And a good feeling it is.”

Visiting a foreign country alone can be an exhilarating experience, but if one has somebody to help guide them around, the experience is made that much easier to have fun.

For four weeks starting Mar. 25, five German students have come to MC through the Friendship Connection program and all enjoy their stay with their hosts.

Robin Selzer, the exchange student my family and I are hosting, thinks that the key differences between America and Germany are the schools, the weather, and the people.

Manuel Seifer, the exchange student of sophomore Kamden Luke, explains one of the differences between the English and German schooling systems.

“The school is quite different,” Seifer said. “In Germany, the teachers come to the students instead of the students going to the teachers.”

Berit Schuchmann, the exchange student of senior Lindsay Schultz, adds that in Germany, she can take 15 classes, three each day, and each class once a week, though this class schedule is not the same with all German students.

As for the weather, all of the German exchange students were unanimous in their preference of San Diego’s warm climate compared to the cold weather that Germany has even in spring.

Marian Höehmann, the exchange student of senior ALLISON ROGERS | PHOTOGRAPHER Robert Friedman, loves the atmosphere that the weather (Left to right) Berit Schuchmann, Marian Höehmann, Manuel Seifer, Johanna Hilfrich, and Robin Selzer pose on the helps create. grass at MC together. They all arrived last week from Germany and will be here for a total of five weeks.

“It’s like a holiday here,” Höehmann said.

The lax attitude in classes is also attributed to the holiday feelings according to Höehmann.

“I like the classes here because the teachers are nice, you can chill out, and [school] is not as hard as it is in Germany,” Höehmann said.

“I like the weather. It’s Selzer thinks that the people in America differ from “I love the weather, the the people in Germany in how they show kindness. pretty warm. The people people, the landscape, and “The people here are very nice,” Selzer said. “It’s are very nice, friendly to the lifestyle. The people not like Germans aren’t nice, but Americans are nice in a me.” different way. Germans show it when they’re angry, but are very nice and friendly.”

Americans usually hold back their anger.”

Johanna Hilfrich, the exchange student of sophomore Jessica Peterson, decided to come to America for - Manuel Seifer educational reasons as well as for the experiences.

- Robin Selzer “I came to America because I wanted to learn better English, see how Americans live, and go to [an] American school,” Hilfrich said.

Hilfrich recommends foreign exchange programs “The weather when I left “The beach was very nice because of the opportunities presented. was snowy.

It was cold and the weather was per“I think it’s good because you get to see other culthere but here it is warm. tures and it’s a good opportunity to go to another counfect when I went. It’s more try,” said Hilfrich.

My English got a bit crowded here.”

According to Selzer, the benefits of coming to better.”

America as a foreign exchange student is the reduced price of coming and the helpfulness of having a host.

“I really like it because it’s a chance to go to another - Berit Schuchmann - Marian Höehmann country without paying as much since you stay with a family,” Selzer said. “And since the host knows people, you get to meet those people and have fun with them.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT SAN DIEGO?

confidential Continued from last issue

In the previous issue of the SUN, an article was published describing PUSD high school stereotypes that reflect differences in the four main high schools. As promised, the MC SUN investigated them further to see how close to the truth the stereotypes were.

MC’s stereotype, as students claimed, was the “Asian invasion” and laid back attitude towards life. Demographic data from 2007-08 school year lists MC with 26.5% Asian population while Poway, with the least amount, has 8.6%. Although MC’s percentage is a significant amount greater than Poway’s, Westview tops the list with 29.0% of their student population as Asian.

The terms “learning center” and “smart school” reflected the stereotype that Westview portrays. Their AP scores are high and the largest portion of their school takes the AP tests, a staggering 837 students. Their margin from the next highest number of students who took the test was 146. Westview took the top ranking on number of students who earned a 5 or 4 on the AP test, but also took the top spot in the number of students who earned a 1 or 2. While they beat other schools in all AP scores, RB wins in SAT testing, as their combined subset of scores was 1663 while Westview got 1654.

The main claim made regarding Poway was their excessive drug problems and label of “stoner school”. In the 2007-08 school year, Poway’s expulsions for drug and violence related issues reached 91, which was 33 above the next highest, MC, though MC had 12 suspensions and Poway had 10.

COMPILED BY ADITI PAI, KELLY FAN, AND VANDANA BHAIRI | STAFF WRITERS STATISTICS AND DATA FROM WWW.POWAYUSD.ORG DATABASE

Features

Mt. Carmel SUN

April 3, 2009

Hizal awarded MC, PUSD teacher of the year

B7 This is Unity Music

Hizal’s passion for teaching contributes to the success of his students KYLIE BARANOWSKI CENTERSPREAD EDITOR You know you can only be in one classroom when the teacher, in a slight New York accent, acts out the reaction of a firefighter coming across his unconscious body in a burning building. This kind of hilarious but poignant real-life example can only come from AP Government teacher Kris Hizal.

Hizal was recently recognized by his peers as MC teacher of they year. He was honored even further when he was named a 2009-2010 district teacher of the year.

“Personally, in many ways, being MC teacher of the year is a bigger honor than district teacher of the year because it’s my colleagues recognizing the work I’ve done, and I think that’s because of word of mouth from students,” he said.

Hizal has proven himself to be a model for all educators.

APEC teacher Lee Raskin recognizes Hizal’s genuine concern for the success of his students as one of his many strengths.

“He honestly wants his students to succeed and is willing to do what is necessary to make it happen, as long as they are willing to help in the attempt,” Raskin said.

Hizal’s commitment to the success of his students is something that sets him apart from the crowd. AP Calculus teacher and close friend Ken Matson recognizes the depth of Hizal’s passion for his class.

“I think the biggest thing is his own

personal integrity, the way he closes the door, he as a definite commitment to the teaching that is going on in the room,” Matson said.

This focus may explain Hizal’s success in the classroom. With an 86% pass rate for the AP test, his method for teaching college-level course material can’t be questioned.

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes Hizal so successful in preparing his students for the AP test. Senior Pooja Parashar attributes this to his extra effort to help students relate to the material.

“He doesn’t just teach us history, he applies it to what is happening in the world now to our lives and government,” she said.

“He does a lot of activities to figure out where you stand on issues. That’s so unique; you’re not usually in a class where your views matter.”

But it’s Hizal’s effect on students that is truly remarkable.

Students recognize that Hizal goes above and beyond his simple duties as a teacher and works tirelessly to grow as a teacher. He dedicates his own free time -outside of school to continue his lifelong quest for knowledge and become familiar with new technology to utilize in the classroom.

Spanish teacher Marie Cashion recognizes his outstanding achievements.

“The way he connects with kids is so positive and the way he uses technology, he

“He gives more than 100% to his work and students and gives all his students the best resources and tries to give everyone an equal chance at succeeding,” senior Pooja Parashar said.

is the model,” Cashion said.

But Hizal isn’t just taking this honor as a chance to promote himself. He has a bigger purpose in mind.

“I think that Mt. Carmel High School needs to let the community know that we’re good,” he said.

“Being the district teacher of the year, coming from Mt. Carmel High School, it reinforces that message: ‘Hey we have good ones! Come on over, we’re a good school.”

But his plans don’t stop at the district level, Hizal has a genuine concern for the future of the teaching profession in light of recent developments regarding the budget.

“I feel like I can represent the school well, the district well, and the profession well,” he said.

“I chose to be a teacher. I could have been other things but this is something I want to do. I love being a teacher 20-some years into it. I think that it’s important that people recognize that we make the choice to become a teacher.”

Hizal’s passion for politics inspires students from all different backgrounds to challenge the ideology instilled by their parents and think critically to form their own opinions.

He empowers students and helps them to foster their own voice.

What could make a teacher more successful than that?

Kylie Baranowski

“My time is a piece of wax”

“He honestly wants his students to succeed and is willing to do what is necessary to make it happen as long as they are willing to help in the attempt,” teacher Lee Raskin said.

MATT COFFELT | PHOTO EDITOR

Mrs. Kelley named staff member of the year Kelley’s compassion for students wins her award MELISSA ROADMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The line of juniors and seniors eagerly awaiting new lunch passes stretches from the A-building to the D-building. Tons of students passing through the office, and administrator secretary Erin Kelley greets each student with a warm smile, checking the list for off-campus eligibility.

Whether it is parking permits, lost-and-found items, off campus passes or picking up a ‘bag and tagged’ cell phone, Kelley is an asset to the Sundevil community.

This earned her “MC’s Certified Employee of the Year” title. The humble Kelley did not expect the award. “[My reaction was] surprised and humility I guess,” she said. “It’s a nice thing to be recognized by your peers.

I hope it’s just because people feel that I do my job and I have a bye into the school and the staff and everything.”

Co-worker guidance counselor Vanda Wilshire believes Kelley earned the title because of her demeanor.

“She knows the rules and has a way of encouraging students to follow them with a caring word or a firm stance, whichever she senses will work the best,” Wilshire said. “She is also very informed and I have yet to ask her a question that she doesn’t know the answer to.”

During Kelley’s 18 years at MC, she has loved working with a wide variety of people and personalities.

“I very much enjoy the people that I work with,” Kelley said. “I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. There’s a large turnover in staff in a school and I’ve always enjoyed the people that I work with.”

She also enjoys seeing the growth of students throughout their high school careers.

“Teenagers are an interesting bunch [to work with],” she said. “I remember being there myself. I really enjoy them.

They can be challenging but it’s rewarding to see them as they grow up—coming in as 14 year-olds and leaving as 18-yearolds and the changes that they go through.”

According to Kelley, there are some students who have

had a lasting impact on her.

“There are most definitely students that never leave you,” Kelley said. “They make an impact on you for various reasons. Either they’ve come in as an immature child and leave as a young adult; others have various issues that your heart goes out to them. Life has not always been kind to them and you see them struggle through. There’s probably a dozen or so in the last 18 years that will be in my memory forever.”

Kelley, who has two sons, had the unique experience of working at the school her sons attended.

“I really enjoyed it,” she said. “It adds a fun little facet to the parent-child relationship. Since I’m not out on campus if they wanted to see me, they would come in. I tried really hard not to interfere in their high school experience. And I knew a lot of the kids that were their friends. It was a fun time having them here.”

In her spare time, Kelley enjoys sewing, playing bunco, and reading.

“I read quite a bit, a lot of different types of things,” she said. “Last year, [because it was] an election year, I got totally addicted to 24-hour news channels and politics.

I really enjoy that and keeping abreast of what’s going on in our country and the rest of the world. I have two kids, adult children now, I like keeping up with them and what they’re doing.”

She also enjoys traveling to different places around the world.

“I really enjoyed Paris,” Kelley said. “You hear everything about it being a wonderful city, and it truly was. I was very impressed with it. Next on my list is Italy. I’d like to go to Italy. I’d like to do some more traveling around the United States. I’ve been quite a few places here but I’ve never been to the south so I’d kind of like to go down there.”

For the past 18 years, Kelley’s work at MC has been greatly appreciated.

MRS. KELLEY IS GUILTY OF...

- SPOILING HER KIDS

- DANCING IN THE RAIN

- BEING A SYMPATHY CRIER

- LOVING BARBEQUE CHICKEN PIZZA - SHOPPING AT NORDSTROM

- HAVING LEFTOVER FISH FOR BREAK-

FAST - EATING HVARTI CHEESE - HATING IGNORANCE - WANTING TO VISIT ITALY - LOVING HONEY NUT CHEERIOS

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

I’ve never quite been able to grasp the concept of time.

Why is it that time seems to pass so excruciatingly slowly sometimes?

Like when you’re sitting in class, slouched down in your seat, staring intently at the clock.

But at other times, time goes by much too fast, like when you’re caught up in one of those moments that will change your life forever.

I know that this is probably not a train of thought that most people have.

Time is just something you’re supposed to accept and move on.

Maybe I’m just an insomniac with too much time to think about trivial things like time.

Where does one day end and the other begin?

Sure it could be midnight here in San Diego, but what about halfway across the world?

Time is relative.

What if people never slept? Life would just be one long day, with no purpose to divisions like hours, days, months, or even years. Things like birthdays would really be meaningless.

Time is a man-made concept.

Humans observed patterns in nature and created a system of measurement to reflect that.

Time is irreversible.

This is the one I regret most. We all make mistakes, and use our limited amount of time on Earth in ways we later wish to change.

It’s hard to comprehend how I could possibly have lived on this Earth for over 18 years and still not have a grasp on time.

I still occasionally show up to class late with a blatantly guilty look on my face.

I still press the snooze button hoping for five extra minutes of sleep, which somehow manages to turn into 30.

It has always seemed so strange to lie in my bed trying to fall asleep, time seems to inch by.

Oftentimes my mind wanders to thoughts of death, when my time will finally be up.

What is time then, when you’re dead? Does it still exist and hold meaning?

There is no absolute way to know.

Then, when morning finally arrives, an hour seems to go by like a minute.

But as much as time is a mystery, I know it is something that I will have to learn to manage.

Being an adult, so much more responsibility is unloaded onto your shoulders.

Your direction in life is now entirely in your own hands, as scary as that is.

I think progressive band Pink Floyd says it best in their song “Time.”

“Every year is getting shorter; never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to naught, or half a page of scribbled lines. Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way. The time is gone, the song is over, thought I’d something more to say.”

One of my worst fears is that time will pass me by before I even have the chance to accomplish all that I dream of.

I feel like I have so much potential to do good in the world. So much to do, but so little time.

I know I have ambitious goals, but I have my whole life ahead of me to achieve them.

It’s exciting to finally know that life is my own clay to mold.

My time starts now.

So here’s to finite time and its infinite possibilities.

Features

B8

Mt. Carmel SUN

April 3, 2009

Religions of the World The following articles are based on fact and information obtained through research and interviews. The articles do not necessarily reflect the writers’ or staff ’s opinion. Look forward to the next issue to see more articles on religion, featuring Protestantism, Atheism and students who are different religions from their parents.

ERICA BYERLEY STAFF WRITER

Buddhism

“Supreme am I in the world. Greatest am I in the world. Noblest am I in the world. This is my last birth.

Never shall I be reborn.”

This is what Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, is supposed to have said just after his birth.

He was born as a very sheltered prince, but his voyages outside the palace introduced him to a great deal of human suffering, which he spent the rest of his life trying to eliminate. His journey through life and his many experiences led him to discover the ideas Buddhists believe in today, the most widely known of which is reincarnation.

Based on what individuals do during their lives, they are reborn as higher or lower life-forms, eventually achieving a state of Nirvana, as Buddha did himself before going to teach others. However, Buddhists do not believe that all people have unique souls that go with them through their various existences. Instead,

rebirth makes people entirely different individuals.

While there are several sects in Buddhism just like in Christianity, some components of the religion are universal.

For example, Buddha developed what is known as the “Noble Eightfold Path,” or the “Dharmachakra,” which is meant to lead individuals to spiritual enlightenment.

It basically involves trying to be a good person, seeing things as they truly are, meditating, and not having either cravings toward things or aversions from them.

Senior Ashley Huynh, who is a Buddhist, appreciates this aspect of the religion.

“In a way the whole system is based on good deeds and working your way towards being a better person,” she said.

Although Buddhism is not a very common religion in the United States, there are approximately 376 million followers in the world, making it the sixth largest religion.

Mormonism

KAREN MICHEL STAFF WRITER

The questions “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going?” remain unanswered in the minds of much of society. For Mormons, however, a different story rises.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as Mormons, practice a religion based strongly in scripture and the words of both ancient and modern prophets. Through these channels of faith, they have a testimony of the answers to these questions.

Since Mormons believe that “God is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Mormon 9:9) it would stand to reason that his gospel has been the same since the beginning of time. Therefore, they also believe that their church is the same one that existed during Christ’s ministry.

However, because of the apostasy of the dark ages, the true gospel was lost for over 1,000 years until it was eventually restored for a final time in what John the Revelator foretold of as the last dispensation before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith Jr. was the man who first restored the church in 1830. Smith was said to be visited by an angel named Moroni, who had been an ancient prophet historian on the American continent about 400 AD. Moroni led Smith to a set of engraved gold plates that he had hidden over a millennium previous.

These plates were later translated by Smith and published as the

Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon, subtitled Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is divided into 15 smaller books, titled with the names of their authors, in a way similar to the bible.

The book is “a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel” (introduction to the Book of Mormon).

Some of the topics addressed are on the nature of atonement, the fall of Adam and Eve, redemption from spiritual and physical death, and the history of the ancient people.

Although people continue to view religion as a way of restraining their life, Mormons view it as a way of freeing and expanding your life into a happier way of living.

“A lot of people think that being Mormon entails a lot of rules and restrictions,” senior Marissa Lang said. “But we believe that following the rules, in actuality allows us to be free of addiction, health issues, immorality, immodesty, and more.”

Lang currently devotes roughly 12 hours to her church a week, with seminary beginning at six a.m., where she and her youth group are currently study the New Testament.

“Being Mormon to me is how I choose to live my life,” Lang said. “Being Mormon means you always give your best, having integrity, and never settling for less than you know you deserve.”

With more than 13 million members throughout the world, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the fastest growing religion today, and it continues to restore the faith in Christ to many by bringing a message of hope and gladness, one that re-assures believers of their purpose both in life and in the eternities.

The Mormon Temple in La Jolla is a common sight to San Diego residents. Only people who are of the Mormon faith are allowed to enter the temple.

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

C A T H O L I C I S M

KATELYN CUTTS NEWS EDITOR

“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

For Catholics, this is how they begin every prayer. Everything is connected to this belief of the trinity. Among the many parts of the religion, Confirmation is an important milestone for high school students.

“It is the last step where you take the faith on yourself and do not just participate because of your parents,” junior Kellie Fox said.

The steps towards confirmation include taking a class where they learn about their faith more in-depth than the usual Sunday school.

“My youth group met on Sundays and focused on relating Christian teachings to our daily lives,” senior Lindsay Schulze said. “We also went on a weekend retreat in the mountains to focus on our relationship with

DANIEL THAN | PHOTOGRAPHER

God.” The retreat left a lasting impression on Schulze.

“It was an amazing experience to detach ourselves from everyday necessities,” she said. “It reminded me to not live as a slave to mass media because it does not often promote the best values.”

After they complete the class, they have a ceremony in May during their sophomore or junior year.

A part of the ceremony is choosing a sponsor.

“Each candidate for confirmation chooses a sponsor for guidance as they prepare,” Schulze said. “This is a Catholic who the candidate feels can support them along the way.”

For Catholics, this ceremony shows their complete devotion to the faith.

“Confirmation is the ceremony where you are vocalizing your acceptance,” Schulze said. “No one is forced in to it, it is completely voluntary.”

Mt. Soledad is a memorial in La Jolla honoring American veterans. It is a common spot to visit to get a broad view of all of San Diego.

Hinduism

KAVERI GYANENDRA FEATURES EDITOR

Considered a “way of life” rather than a strict religion, Hinduism is known for the spirituality it brings to people.

As the world’s third largest religion it claims about 837 million followers, 13% of the world’s population.

The main aspects of Hinduism encompass family, society, politics, business, art and health behaviors, which are all described in the sacred scriptures, which have instructions for all these facets of daily life.

People who follow Hinduism can show their devotion in a variety of ways. Many do daily “pujas” which are ceremonies to pay homage to the deities. In the “pujas” the people pray to the gods and offer a variety of flowers, raw fruit and rice.

After the food has been offered it is considered to have been spiritually consumed and blessed by the deity’s power. It is then redistributed and consumed by the participants as a way of receiving the deity’s blessings.

LAURA SLUSSER STAFF WRITER

Some Hindus also fast for various reasons. Some may fast moderately, only drinking liquids and avoiding solids during the day and having a vegetarian meal after sunset. Some fast for a prolonged period of time, for example the festival of Navaratri, when Hindus fast in honor of the goddess Durga.

Some Hindu women fast once a year for the long lives of their husbands. This fast is called Karva Chauth, where they only eat before sunrise then go without food and water until they see the moon that night and perform a ceremony with their husbands and the other ladies who also fast.

Hinduism is also known to accommodate religious and cultural perspectives other than one’s own, and is characterized by a rich variety of ideas and practices resulting in what appears as a collection of religions under one term ‘Hinduism’. Hinduism is perhaps the only religious tradition that is so diverse in its theoretical premises and practical expressions that it is like a compilation of many religions. The Bhagwad Gita is the holy book that carves the essence of Hinduism.

Hinduism also features a variety of festivals celebrated throughout the year.

Islam

In room V8, four boys sat quietly in their desks, eating their lunches and doing math problems. This modest and unassuming assemblage is MC’s Muslim Student Association.

“Anyone can join,” junior Osama Ahmed, president of the Muslim Student Association, said. “We just needed to start it [the club] because we have to pray around this time.”

Having started last October, the Muslim Student Association meets every Friday.

“We started it completely for praying… and to talk about Muslim events and stuff,” Ahmed said.

Sophomore Huzayfa Ahmed, the vice president of the club, outlined the basic differences between Islam and Christianity.

“We believe somewhat in the lines of Christianity, except we don’t believe that Jesus is the son of God,” Huzayfa Ahmed said. “We think that God doesn’t have any sons... For Christians, Jesus is like their main guy, but for us it’s Mohammed, and we follow his teachings.”

Instead of the Bible, they believe in the Qur’an.

“It has the same teachings but different ideas,” he said.

Huzayfa Ahmed went on to say that there’s been a lot of prejudice against him because of his beliefs.

“After 9/11, everybody was like: ‘Oh, he’s Muslim, he’s responsible for this. It’s his people that did it and

everything; he should be blamed for it…’ not everybody [who is Muslim] is like that, you know,” Huzayfa Ahmed said.

Muslim is the second largest religion in the world, the first being Christianity, and yet there is still prejudice against Islamic beliefs at MC. “They think that everything’s bad about us, and that’s just like a particular group [of Muslims] that decided to [embrace]… violence and everything, but it wasn’t all of us,” he said.

Open to anyone who wants to join, Huzayfa Ahmed said they want to help overcome the prejudice.

“We just want them to know that [violent groups are] not everybody, when you think of Muslims,” he said.

ANA ALVAREZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

Jasmin Weiss (12) practices one of the many Islamic traditions.