Just kicking it

Long-time friends compete together at Pierce

MITCH NODELMAN Reporter

@MitchNodelman

You can’t pick your teammates, but you can pick your friends.

Two kickers who were teammates in high school are vying for the starting position on the football team at Pierce College.

Oscar Gonzalez and Edward Avila, both 18, met when they were freshmen at Canoga Park High School and became close in their sophomore year when they were both on the football team.

“First time I met him, I didn’t really like him,” Avila said. “He didn’t look like a fun dude, then I got to know him and he was cool.”

As the years went by their relationship became closer, they now argue like best friends and compete like brothers.

“Sometimes he gets me mad, we always make up,” Avila said. “Our friendship has grown, we are like brothers now, we do everything to- gether. If we aren’t together we’re texting.”

They would agree that they both can rattle one another’s cage, yet they can always keep a close relationship just as siblings do.

“He is outgoing and spontaneous, however, he does get on my nerves because Oscar says mean things sometimes but he is my brother, he’s the yin to my yang, I’m the white one who’s nice and he’s the evil one,” Avila said.

“He gets on my nervous as well sometimes but at the end Edward is like a brother to me,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez and Avila are competing with each other everyday during practice for the football team’s kicking position, but they both understand that the better man will get the starting job.

The two insist that it does not cause any strain on their relationship. Oscar currently holds the starting position as Avila is redshirting this year. Avila is assured that competition will not get in the way of their relationship.

[See KICKERS, pg. 8]

The Great ShakeOut, an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes, is scheduled for October 15 at 10:15 a.m. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the drill. Last year’s drill was canceled due to a threat on campus that forced an evacuation.

Flu Shots Available

Health Center Director Beth Benne announced via email that flu vaccine are now available at the Student Health Center. The vaccine cost $10 and walk-in appointments are available.

New Faculty Orientation

Pierce College Academic Senate is hosting its annual New Faculty Orientation. The senate has been hosting these orientations for over 13 years to help assist with new faculty. There will be three different dates with the first orientation on Oct. 16 from 9:30 a.m. - noon. The other two meetings are scheduled for Nov. 20, and Dec. 11, at B.J.’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. RSVP’s should be sent to Kathy Oborn before each session to ensure enough materials.