PALOS
Sea King State Champions
PVHS Students’ Athletic Success Earns Multiple CIF,
State Titles
Girls Tennis Wins CIF Open Division Regional, State Titles
By Aaron Propst sports editor
Palos Verdes Girls tennis has taken the nation by storm this season, winning the Southern California Girls Regional and State Tennis Championships and simultaneously earning the number one ranking in the nation by USTA.
Early in the season, Caroline Chu and Aileana McFerson clinched the Golden State classic with a great win over one of Harvard Westlake’s top teams.
“My goal coming into the season was to play at the highest level I could,” said senior captain Chu.
“I wanted to... just play our best regardless of the rankings.”
Following that, they won the Point Loma invitational.
clinched this third and final set to earn the title of tournament champions.
All of the hard fought battles against top competition prepared them for the rollercoaster that would be the CIF Open Division playoffs. Consequently, it also earned them the number one
The team brought this attitude into the Open Division championship against Portola.
They took the long trip to Redlands just to find themselves being rained on in the middle of the games. Due to this, they had to reschedule the conclusion for a later date.
“We had just had a big win over Canyon Crest and found ourselves all tied up in the Point Loma Invitational finals versus Portola,” said head coach Wade Murphy.
“It was getting dark as the girls went into a third set tiebreaker, everyone was watching.”
Stella Morgan and McFerson
ranking in the country.
“We’ve really worked hard as a team to block out all the noise and reduce the pressure of being ranked so high,” said coach Wade Taylor.
“We have a saying, ‘shields up.’ Nothing gets to our heads, not any officials, calls, fans, ranking, anything.”
The team showed major resilience and composure, returning to Redlands and winning the first open division championship in the history of PVHSl.
This victory meant that they had advanced to the State Championship against the Northern California champion, Los Altos. Palos Verdes won 5-2 to secure the title of State Champions.
“The best part of this season is obviously how far we’ve come,” said junior Sofia LeGallo.
“It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around the fact that we’re number one in the nation and State Champions,” said LeGallo.
“I’m so proud of my teammates and this team overall.”
(Photo courtesy of Girls Varsity Tennis)
Freshman Rina Kawasaki Wins Individual CIF State Championship
By Olivia Kao editor-in-chief
Freshman Rina Kawasaki made Sea King history as the third female athlete from PVHS to ever win an individual state championship in any sport.
Kawasaki won first place in the individual CIF State Championship at San Gabriel Country Club on Wednesday, November 20.
Seven years of golfing experience and hours of practice led Kawasaki to her season of success.
“I prepared by practicing a lot and practicing a lot of real life scenarios,” said Kawasaki.
from Palos Verdes to win the individual state title and first from the South Bay since 2013.
“I feel proud that I was able to rep PVHS at state and become champion.”
The golfer’s win not only puts Kawasaki in the history books for PVHS, but the greater South Bay as well.
Kawasaki is the first golfer
To read more about our CIF Champions, go to page 10 for Football and Girls Volleyball
Winter Wonderland: Spirit Week, Class Comp
By Ethan Woo reporter
Spirit Week at PVHS is really special for some students and introduces a lot of competition between each class year.
“Class comp started about 10 years ago, and we borrowed it from South High,” said ASB advisor Jama Maxfield.
“We thought that it would be a really good way to bring the classes together to work for a common goal together.”
Before each class comp, ASB plans to get everyone ready with Spirit Week.
“Spirit week is meant to get everyone excited and ready for class comp,” said senior class president Nick Kouzmanoff.
The activities included Merry Monday, where students wear Christmas colors like green and red; Toasty Tuesday encouraging students to wear their ugly sweaters; Winter Wonderland Wednesday where students wore blue and white; Thursday, class comp so students wear their class colors; and ending Frosty Friday with an ice skating fundraiser.
Activities included a relay race while wearing winter attire, 2x4 ski race, sleigh race for hungry hungry hippo, eggnog chugging contest, and finishing the winter song lyrics.
“The seniors are anticipated to win and have the lead but the freshmen are hanging in,” said Kouzmanoff.
Seniors won the
relay race, freshmen won hungry hungry hippo, juniors won the 2x4 ski race and the sophomores won none of the games. There were two ties between the freshmen and seniors in finishing the lyric and eggnog challenge.
The seniors and freshmen tied during the eggnog challenge leaving the winner of the challenge unknown.
“Since we had a football game on Saturday, they didn’t want us to get sick,” said freshman competitor in final class comp tie, Weston Reis.
“When and if the tiebreaker game does happen, I think I will have a good chance if it’s not eggnog again...but they haven’t really said anything about it yet,” said Reis.
This year’s class comp is a pretty competitive one as the freshmen are winning due to the attendance scores.
“When I heard I tied Klink, I was really excited as I did not think I was going to win and it was pretty funny competing and all,” said Reis. Right now it can be hard for most people at PVHS to determine who would win it all.
“Usually it is the seniors that make it obvious that they’re
gonna win, so this year it’s kind of surprising, but the freshmen have a big class so at the same time it’s not that surprising with their results,” said Kouzmanoff.
“But I can bet that the seniors will come out with the win in the end.”
Class comp competitors participate in an eggnog drinking challenge (Photos by Charlie Russo)
Mrs. Lancey high-fives a student
Kawasaki at the CIF State Girls High School Championship
(Photo courtesy of Rina Kawasaki)
Donald Trump Wins the 2024 Presidential Election
By Aaron Propst sports editor
As of November 6, 2024, Donald Trump is declared as the winner of the presidential election and will be the 47th president of the United States of America. Representing the Republican party, Trump earned 312 electoral votes, which easily surpassed the 270 votes required to officially win the election. Kamala Harris, Democratic candidate, received 226 votes.
In addition to receiving the popular electoral votes, Trump won the popular vote with an approximate result of 75 million votes to 72 million votes, meaning about 50.3% of the nation voted for Trump.
Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania was of high importance, as this was one of seven pivotal swing states that generally determine the winner of the electoral college. Other swing states include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020 had been attributed to Biden’s success on the “Blue Wall,” which included democratic victories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump claimed all seven of these pivotal swing states, including taking over the blue wall. As a result, Harris called Trump and conceded.
Harris ran a historic campaign, despite
With his reelection, Donald Trump joins only Grover Cleveland as a two term president who did not serve these terms consecutively. Trump previously served as the 45th president after winning in 2016.
“I think the results of this election came down to economic questions and international relations questions,” United States History teacher Anna Driver said.
“I think both candidates really tried to reach out to the individual voter and try to encourage the individual voter.”
Trump’s campaign was marked by a highly dramatic moment during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he was shot in the upper part of his right ear. The Secret Service jumped on top of him, but Trump rose to his feet and pumped his fist in the air. The gunshot wound ended up being relatively minor, not halting Trump’s ability to continue campaigning.
(Photo courtesy ofAPA)
facing significant challenges. With Biden’s sudden withdrawal from the presidential race in late July, Harris had limited time to campaign properly. Nevertheless, she made history by being the first biracial woman to represent a major party’s presidential nominee. According to exit polls from The Washington Post, Harris had 53% of the female vote. This backing ultimately proved insufficient in the grand scheme of the election.
“Kamala Harris focused heavily on people who felt out of place in society during her limited campaign,” senior Nick Lancey said, who voted for the first time this November.
“Although these were important people to reach, she consequently neglected some of the majority, which I think hurt her in the election.”
On Pointe: PSPA Hosts 35th Annual Nutckracker
By Jessica Hickman reporter
One of the most prominent early winter traditions in Palos Verdes is the annual performance of the Nutcracker by PSPA. The PSPA, the Peninsula School of Performing Arts, teaches multiple forms of dance including ballet that many students at PVHS participate in.
The Nutcracker is a Christmas classic ballet that includes many whimsical characters including a Sugar Plum Fairy and an evil Mouse King. This play is still able to incorporate the traditional Holiday spirit that so many know and love. The timeless scenes and dances have a beautiful sense of mystery and imagination.
This year’s Nutcracker is the 35th held by PSPA. The original Nutcracker debuted in 1892 and has spread across the world and has become an important tradition to many.
“The Nutcracker was entertaining and the costumes were very and pretty,” sophomore Hailey Byrne said.
Throughout the play the beautiful costumes and set pieces harmonize to bring the production to life.
“The Nutcracker is a classic and a lot of people think ballet is not entertaining and boring but it’s really not boring at all and it’s very exciting seeing people dance,” dancer Niki Kostarias said.
Even though there is no singing or talking in The Nutcracker, it can still appeal to people of different ages with its simple storyline and well-planned choreography as well as its beautiful set design and unforgettable music.
“The Nutcracker requires significant artistic and technical work, especially for lead roles,” dancer Sierra Hickey said. “Another misconception is that it’s the
same performance every year. While the story remains consistent, choreography, and casts can evolve which make it different.”
Since many of the dancers participate in the show from when they were very young, oftentimes the progression and improvement of the dancers is observed annually. On top of that the dancer can take on different roles aside from the ones they’ve had in the past.
“The most fun part of teaching for me is that the kids become very engaged and the excitement is shared between the teachers,” director Tita Boulger said.
After spending countless hours, rehearsals and show days together, the connection between the teachers and dancers flourishes to be strong.
“For those who have never seen it live, I highly encourage attending. It’s a super fun community activity and we put so much work into it,” Hickey said.
Making Spirits Bright PVPUSD Students March in Annual Holiday Parade
By Olivia Kao editor in chief
The time of year is finally here. Last Saturday, PVPUSD student musicians from numerous ages and experiences came together to march in the annual Peninsula Holiday Parade of Lights, performing a medley of familiar Christmas tunes.
Since 1997, the City of Rolling Hills Estates has hosted the Parade of Lights, a day that brings together not only the local PV Peninsula community, but performing groups and spectators from the greater South Bay area.
The parade’s expansive reach presents a special opportunity for student musicians within the school district to participate.
Students from PVIS, Ridgecrest, Miraleste, PVHS and Peninsula make up just one of many groups that participate in the this yearly tradition. Bringing together musicians of all ages and experiences is no easy feat, however.
From learning to play three different songs to marching in unison with students from five different schools, there are numerous components that go into the parade performance, requiring preparation and rehearsals at every level.
“At the middle school, I try to give them the parade music on the first day of pep band,” Palos Verdes Intermediate School music director Chauntelle O’Loughlin said.
“It’s better if you can memorize the music so you don’t have to worry about looking at [it] and marching at the same time.”
At this year’s Holiday Parade of Lights, 2024 marking its 27th anniversary, the district-wide band performed a mix of classic holiday songs, like “Joy to the World”, “Good King Wenceslas” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
After preparing the songs for the parade at their respective schools, the musicians gather at Peninsula High School for a “mass-rehearsal” where everyone practices together, followed by fun activities such as “decorat[ing] instruments with tinsel and lights” and an ugly sweater contest, accordin to O’Loughlin.
“We all gathered at Peninsula,” parade marcher and trumpet player Dean Capozzola (7th) said. “In my opinion, it was quite magical.”
The parade itself takes place in the Promenade and the surrounding area. The festive lights, decoration and music fill the shopping center with holiday cheer, attracting hundreds of spectators.
“There were tons and tons of people and it was absolutely packed,” said Capozzola.
“It was really nice to see people cheering us on. It’s nice seeing the community brought together for something, even if it’s just for one day.”
(Photo courtesey of PSPA)
The Psychology Behind Gratefulness
By Ella Gardner reporter
Around this time of year, it’s important to be grateful. How can individuals continue to be thankful and enhance their lives every day?
The six questions used to bolster gratitude in an individual’s life based on Harvard University journalist Maureen Salamon’s article help individuals implement gratitude.
“What happened today that was good? What am I taking for granted that I can be thankful for? Which people in my life am I grateful for? What is the last book I read or movie, show, or social media clip I saw that I appreciated, and why? What am I most looking forward to this week, month, and year, and why? What is the kindest thing someone has said or done lately?”
SAGE therapists Allison Hardesty and Francesca Kagy Lauro shared important insight on the effects of answering questions like these and implementing gratitude into our everyday lives.
“It’s a practice in some therapies where you practice gratitude by reminding patients of what they have in their lives, people that make them happy and things they enjoy,” Lauro said.
Furthermore, supporting the foundation of Salamon’s article, Hardesty explained
“journaling is a coping skill because a lot of the time we get caught up in just thinking about the negative things that happen in our day. Therapists use it so that we don’t disqualify all the positives whether it’s a small thing like what you had for breakfast or a major thing like a renewed relationship.”
After being exposed to the gratitudestimulating questions published, some students shared how it allowed them to redefine their outlook.
“I’m grateful for my team and the area we live in. Thinking about these things distracts me from bad or hard things going on in my life,” senior Leah Sachs said.
Something as simple as Salamon’s gratitude guide questions broadens the perspectives of recipients by forcing readers to think into smaller details of their routines which they otherwise may not have given a second thought to.
“Shifting that mindset from only focusing on the bad or negative things and bringing it back to the fact that there are some great things that happened to me today even if they’re small,” Hardesty said.
“When you engage in an act of altruism, that helping behavior is contagious and makes us feel good about ourselves and is correlated with happiness.”
Whether it is noticing the positive things surrounding you during the moment, or being able to reflect upon them, gratitude is found all around.
“Pause, look around you, and take in and enjoy everything good in your current setting. It’s not a big leap to go from recognizing the good to expressing gratitude for what you have,” Salamon wrote.
No matter how big or small, there is always something to be grateful for. Not just during the holiday season, but every single day.
(Graphic by Ella Gardner)
Tightening Security New Gate Being Installed at PVHS
By Nicolas Boixo Fernandez De La Cigoña reporter/social media
One of the main issues campus security addresses constantly is unverified visitors on campus, especially those delivering the Doordash orders of students.
More and more students order things through Doordash, and Dashers typically aren’t familiar with the proper procedure to drop orders off, which could be a security risk on campus. Though, with PVHS’ recent installment of a gate alongside the back of the school, these issues are projected to decline.
The main motivation behind the new fence’s appearance is that lately, the school’s administration has been attempting to crack down on campus security.
According to Principal Dr. Trista Ramirez, “There are just things that [they] wanted to be able to address in terms of campus safety. An example would be that we often have kids getting things delivered from Doordash and Uber Eats and things like that.”
Now, this concern is by far not foreign when it comes to campus security issues.
According to School Resource Officer Bob Watt, “it’s been a steady increase in visitors that have been coming on campus prior to checking in with the front office,” showing that these problems aren’t anything new on campus.
However, even if the problem itself is new, there still is valid cause for concern from the steady surge in Doordash and
Uber Eats orders.
However, the fence is still a work in progress.
“It doesn’t look too hard to get around it right now,” said social studies teacher Louis Harley said.
Most of the school’s side is completely unfenced, with only the western side of campus along the staff parking lots covered by the fence.
But even though some may be critical of the fence, the reasoning behind it is sound: it’s just for the benefit of the students and the safety of campus overall.
No Candy on Candy Cane Lane? New restrictions spur change
By Ivy Ruberg reporter/social media
When Dean Martin crooned over 50 years ago about how “strings of street lights, even stop lights, blink a bright red and green” in his iconic recording “Silver Bells,” he might just as well have been singing about Torrance’s famous “Candy Cane Lane.”
Attendees return year after year, crowding the streets daily throughout the holiday season, but what happens when Candy Cane Lane isn’t allowed to sell holiday treats anymore?
That’s the reality today at the popular attraction because the city has been ticketing outside vendors preventing them from selling refreshments in the neighborhood to reduce congestion and traffic.
According to the Daily Breeze, thirty percent of neighborhood households listed vendors, traffic and public safety presence as their top three concerns from last year’s holiday lights display.
More than 97% said outside vendors should be ticketed or cited for selling food on the sidewalks or curbs.
“I’ve been walking the lights since I was little, and grabbing a warm cookie and some hot chocolate is so nostalgic and one of my favorite parts about Candy Cane Lane,” sophomore Lyla Benton said.
Although residents still can sell if they get the appropriate permit, the number of options has dramatically diminished.
“I went with my family a few days ago, and I used to always stop at the white house and get hot chocolate, but there’s no table anymore,” sophomore Savanna
Zhu said.
Despite the lack of refreshments and foods available, many PV High students still plan on attending.
“The lights are one of my favorite parts of December and even if there aren’t any of the usual snacks, I still want to go and see them,” sophomore Kristie Creighton said.
Even though in past years, foods have enhanced the experience, it appears as though students are still enjoying wandering through the bright and festive community.
“The ferris wheel house is my favorite… I love all the different characters in each chair, and all the lights that are on the house” sophomore Kiana Gomez said.
So if anyone plans on going to Candy Cane Lane this year, remember to bring warm clothes, a camera, and some snacks.
(Photo by Ivy Ruberg)
(Photo by Nicolas Boixo Fernandez De La Cigoña)
Light up Your Holidays:
The best places in SoCal to see Christmas lights
By Ella Hansen reporter
PVHS’s Library Club: A Pathway Into Reading
By Nixolas Boixo Fernandez De La Cigoña reporter/social media
Most teens tend to read rarely, if at all. According to the American Psychological Association, less than 20 percent of teens report reading a book, magazine, or newspaper daily for pleasure. Thankfully, PVHS has a club that is helping bring that statistic up, slowly though it may be.
At the PVHS Library Club, members read a book, then at the next club meeting discuss various things about said book, like their favorite characters or opinions on the book’s story arcs.
However, the Library Club is not just your average book club, having plenty of other activities and even hosting some events for the entire school.
Sophomore Brynna McGuire has been in the library club ever since she came to PVHS, and her experience with it has been extremely positive. She likes to help out around the library and the sense of agency that students have when they join
the Library Club, saying “I’m looking forward to being involved in planning events for the library.”
Planning events in the library is one of the major things that the library club does, and most of the contests and activities that the library has set up come from the minds of the students themselves.
Librarian Ashley Brockman said that though “It really depends from year to year, it tries to be as student interest based as it can be.”
From year to year, even though the activities the club does may vary, it’s all based on what the students want, with the club doing movie nights, crafts, and even field trips to book fairs.
Vice President Callista Yeh said that they “want to take however far it can go, having whoever wants to join, join,” embodying the very idea behind the library club, that being making the library feel more accessible and useful to students.
Sea King Style: Dress to Impress with Sophia Dominguez
By Jessica Hickman reporter
Q: How would you describe your personal style?
A: I would say streetwear and also comfy casual
Q: What inspires your fashion choices?
A: Seeing different celebrities’ dress inspires my style and also look through fashion magazines, also Pinterest.
Q: Are there any celebrities you look up to?
A: Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and also one of my favorite influencers, Ruby Lyn
Q: How do you balance comfort and style?
A: I definitely prioritize my style over my comfort, just because I don’t want my look to be compromised, and to be at its full potential
Q: What is your favorite piece of clothing or accessory you own?
A: My favorite piece of clothing is my Sesame Street sweatshirt from the ‘90s, its definitely a one-of-a-kind piece that you wouldn’t see
on anyone else
Q: How do you keep your wardrobe feeling fresh and updated?
A: When I have a piece of clothing I try and style it multiple ways instead of wearing the same outfit over again with the specific piece of clothing
Q: If you could switch wardrobes with any fictional character who would it be?
A: I would probably choose Blaire or Serena from Gossip Girl because I love NYC fashion and I think it is really timeless
(Graphic created by Jessica Hickman)
(Graphic created by
(Photo by Nicolas Boixo-Fernandez De La Cigoña)
(Graphic created by Ella Hansen)
Teachers Tell Their Tales of Student Mishaps and Excuses
From being in the presence of hackers to students exploiting the elderly, teachers at PV High have seen it all over the course of their careers and shared the tales that have stayed with them.
By Valerie Villegas news editor
Christina Varela, US History teacher
“I once had a kid who sat on the floor the entire class period because he said somebody was in his seat. In that class we had a first come first serve and that class was super packed. So if you didn’t get there early, you just got what you got. There was another chair he could have sat in, but he didn’t want to. He wanted that seat and I said get here earlier and he said no I’m going to sit on the floor and I said ok. The full two hours he sat on the floor. He was just kind of disengaged and mad and pouting and maybe thought that that was going to get him what he wanted, but no we just kept going on without him.”
Dane Hill, Associate Principal
“One time, a student was caught plagiarizing and they said that their account was hacked by a Russian hacker. So someone had a paragraph from another student’s essay in their essay. I was like, obviously you copied from this other student, and they were like no, but I do have reason to believe that I was hacked by a Russian hacker. They were making it up as they went, and I was able to poke holes through it and eventually they admitted it.”
Crumbl’s 3 C’s of Success
By Isabelle Tholan reporter
Recent changes at Crumbl Cookies including a rewards program, easier access, expanded menu, and name change have led to more interest and excitement.
You can download the Crumbl app from the app store and sign up for their rewards system. The more cookies you buy on the app, the higher your ranking, earning from Bronze, Silver, Gold, to Pink their highest level. At each ranking, you will receive more “crumbs” for each dollar you spend.
Crumbl is also easy to order through DoorDash, Postmates and other delivery services. Many students at PVHS order these cookies and eat with their friends during lunch.
Crumbl employees follow the three C’s, which they have applied to their stores to represent customer satisfaction, cookie quality, and cleanliness. Each week they come out with a new round of cookies, recently changing from six to eight new cookies a week.
They have even added cake cups and pies to their menus, and have updated their name from “Crumbl cookies” to just “Crumbl” now.
“I prefer to get the cookies rather than the cakes and pies because in my opinion the cookies have better flavors and taste better but I am also not the biggest fan of pies,” sophomore Sakimi Hanawa said.
Sophomore Kimi Malloy, who is ranked as a Pink member said “Crumbl has good cookies
Jennifer Olson, English teacher
“This was years ago when I first started teaching at PV High, so probably like 15 years ago. A student asked me if she could have a separate desk for her purse because she did not want her purse on the ground. Apparently it was a very nice purse and she didn’t want it touching the ground.”
Louis Harley, History Teacher
Alex Broughton, Geometry teacher
“Years ago, this kid said that his handwriting on his test and his homework was drastically different. It seemed obvious that he wasn’t doing his own homework, but his excuse was that at home his desk was so comfortable that his handwriting transformed. It turns out that there was a lady in the neighborhood who had taught geometry in the past and she was retired. He’d go over and take out her garbage, and he’d convince her to do his homework for him. It went on for a good month or so.”
“A long time ago, I had a student that liked to bring his leftovers to class, but he liked to eat in style so he would take out a tablecloth out of his backpack and he’d put it on his desk [during] the middle of class. And then he would take out his napkin with real knives and forks. He would put a napkin in his shirt and would proceed to eat his leftovers [that] he had [in] this big, huge bag. He did this in almost every class and he’s a food critic now. Started in my class.”
and I like to go together with my friends to try the new cookies after school on Mondays. I think their cookies are worth it because the cookies are really good and a lot of people look forward to trying the new week of cookies.”
Although their pies aren’t yet as popular as their cookies they still were a good addition to Crumbl’s menu.
Crumbl started when the co-founders, Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley, decided they wanted to bring others together to enjoy a box of cookies.
Shortly after, the milk chocolate chip cookie was introduced and the first Crumbl was opened in Logan, Utah.
Currently, they have one thousand seventy one Crumbl locations open worldwide, and they sell over a million cookies every day.
Say Cheese! The Digital Camera Comeback
By Ruby Mayrose reporter
Nowadays, it’s no uncommon to see trends from the early 2000s take hold of younger generations. From low-rise jeans to the classic 2000s rom-com, the revival of these iconic cultural phenomena has been increasingly noticeable this past year.
The most recent of these has been the digital camera, as the vintage aesthetic has continued to capture younger audiences.
As our generation begins to explore these ways of self expression, Instagram and TikTok feeds are being filled with artistic “photo dumps” and creative photography. Digital cameras are a cheap and easy trend for anyone to follow.
“Digital cameras are really great because you have a lot of freedom and a lot of options to use to get the photo you want,” sophomore and camera enthusiast Drew Jacob said.
“A lot of people nowadays think that taking photos on an iPhone camera is easier than professional photography, but with the introduction of digital cameras, photography is becoming more accessible to regular people.”
With such a variety of styles and models, digital cameras can be used by anyone. Because of their small size and accessibility, aspiring photographers can capture moments on the go with professional quality.
As this early 2000s fad continues to be revived, the older generations can’t help but notice young photographers’ new spin on the old trend.
“When I was a teenager, the most popular digital camera was the Sony Cyber-Shot. We used to upload hundreds of photos every week on Facebook,”
English teacher and previous digital camera connoisseur Cynthia Mindicino said.
“My friends and I loved to take selfies in the mirror before high school events and in college, and now I’m seeing my students bringing back all our iconic poses.”
The digital camera that has been flooding social media feeds and has taken hold of the newer generation is the Canon PowerShot G7 X. Compared to the Sony Cyber-Shot, this camera has more modern amenities and is compatible with modern technology, making it super easy to transfer, edit, and post photographs.
For an even more retro feel, Jacob uses a vintage film camera to capture the grainy look that older photos have, in contrast to the extremely sharp and realistic photos people usually get with their phones.
“There’s an appeal of the not-so-perfect look of the photos, and the nostalgia that comes with it. I think that’s why digital cameras are making a comeback.”
(Graphic created by Ruby Mayrose)
(Graphic created by Olivia Kao)
Reading Between
To Ban or Not to Ban?
Sea
King’s opinions on banned books
From Page to Passion: How to fall in love with reading
By Hailey Kim opinion editor
For senior Emma Lucido, reading is more than a hobby—it’s a way to find calm, spark her imagination and grow as a person.
“I wasn’t always a reader,” Lucido said, “but once I found the right books, I couldn’t stop.”
Many students hesitate to start reading for fun. What if the books are boring? Where do you even begin?
Yet, the rewards of reading go far beyond the stories themselves.
“Books let you escape your own head for a while, and they also help you understand things about yourself and others that you’d never thought about before,” senior Kate Fukushima said.
Reading has clear academic benefits. Studies show it strengthens vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking—skills that help in every class and even in college.
But it’s not just about school.
Reading can reduce stress, spark creativity, and build empathy, offering a mental escape from the constant buzz of notifications and assignments.
“It’s like watching a movie in your mind,” Lucido said, “but better, because you get to imagine the details yourself.”
For those who want to start but don’t know how, the trick is to make it easy and enjoyable. It is best to start with what you already love.
“If you’re into action movies, try a book like Six of Crows. If you like rom-coms, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a great choice,” Fukushima said.
Keeping the stakes low is also key—short books, graphic novels or even collections of short stories are perfect for building the habit without the pressure of finishing a lengthy novel. Creating a cozy space to read can also help by making the experience fun and relaxing.
If you’re ready to dive in but still aren’t sure where to start, here are some recommendations: Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan for an exciting adventure, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart if you’re into mysteries, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid if you’re drawn to stories about music, relationships and personal growth or The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros for a quick but powerful read.
There’s a book out there for everyone—it’s just a matter of finding the right one.
“Once you find that story that pulls you in,” Lucido said, “you’ll wonder why you waited so long to start.”
Whether you’re looking for a mental break, a creative spark or just a new way to spend your time, reading might be the habit you didn’t know you needed.
Between the Lines
Media Inspired by Classic Literature
OPINION
‘Tis the Season of Overconsumption
By Evalyn Yu reporter
There’s nothing that screams Christmas more than a BOGO 70% off sale. Why bask in the cheer, nostalgia and magic of the holidays when you could be maxing out your credit card and spending thousands of dollars on useless things?
Armed with hot cocoa and a color-coded spreadsheet of holiday deals, you’ve spent the past 365 days of your life waiting for this moment.
Every day you’ve refreshed your holy grail website Buzzfeed looking for things to add to your wishlist. TikTok shop says you need to buy a silicone ice mold for your Stanley. Amazon offers you a 3 for 1 deal on SKIMS dupes. When else will you ever be able to buy a mini skincare fridge for 55% off? At this point you might as well buy two in the name of “girl math.” Your head swims with good deals.
As Jingle Bells plays in the background, you enter your credit card information over and over so many times that the numbers are ingrained in your brain and you can still see them when you close your eyes.
Every time you click “Add to Cart,” dopamine triggers go off in your head. You need to buy more. Forget family time, cheer, and thankfulness; if you don’t have the most impressive Christmas haul to post
online, then the holidays are meaningless.
And there’s your friends and family and all the Secret Santas and White Elephants you’re participating in. How else can you show your appreciation for them if not through bath bombs and personalized mugs? If they have nothing to remember of your friendship, at least they can look back fondly on their fake potted plants in memory of you. After you’ve ordered so many packages that the UPS delivery man is personally acquainted with your house, you sit back and relax. But not for long.
Because as soon as it
turns December 26th, all your Christmas lights will be torn down. The inflatable snowman in your lawn will magically disappear into the dumpster. Wrapping paper strewn all over your floors will be swept into the trash can.
And all those “Hidden Gem Gifts From Amazon That Your Friends Will Love” will make their way into the landfill. You sip your cocoa and sniff your peppermint scented candles with a satisfied sigh. You can’t wait to do this all over again next year. After all, no holiday spirit is complete without overconsumption.
Influencers on Talk Shows
By Genie Choi reporter
In recent years, influencers have stepped beyond their social-media platforms to being frequent guests on talk-shows and even having talk-shows of their own.
Once reserved for well-known actors and musicians, these shows now welcome TikTokers, YouTubers and other social media content creators.
But with this shift comes a debate: do influencers bring fresh energy and new viewers when on podcasts, or are they diminishing the longstanding prestige of talk shows?
For many viewers, influencers represent a refreshing change and start new trends. Unlike traditional celebrities that seem “distant and untouchable”, influencers often feel more relatable. Influencers build their platforms by sharing their personal moments, thoughts, and even just their daily life. Viewers tend to be intrigued by influencers because of how relatable they are rather than how different their lives are from theirs. This openness creates a unique connection that resonates with fans, and when influencers appear on talk shows, they bring that sense of familiarity to them. Influencers also tend to bring younger audiences who don’t typically watch TV anymore. Talk shows seize this opportunity to attract the younger generation since they would rather scroll on
TikTok or YouTube than watch shows on TV. Booking influencers on talk shows is a strategic way for talk shows to stay relevant and engage with a generation that values social media presence as much, if not more.
For instance, Charli D’Amelio’s appearance on The Tonight
Makeup Dupes: Are They Good Replacements?
By Cat Alloco reporter
As high school students, the cost of high-end makeup products can be daunting. The average teenager struggles to come up with and retain the funds to afford pricey brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Dior, and Pat McGrath Labs.
However, usually following the onset of an expensive product trending on social media is a more affordable option created to replace it. Along with these “dupes” being created, makeup fanatics search Targets and CVS stores from top to bottom for products similar enough to be deemed cheaper alternatives. These “dupes” are then broadcast on social media and made known to teenagers who are looking to save as much money as possible.
Many dupes are budgetfriendly alternatives to costly products that are normally not worth the price tag. While it’s a good idea for teenagers to spend as little as possible on makeup, it is important they carefully spend their money on high-quality dupes that are worth it. A shade that has taken the world by storm in recent years is Charlotte Tilbury’s “Pillow Talk.”
Featuring a neutral, slightly rosy hue with mauve undertones, it is a flattering color on pretty much everyone.
Following its high demand is an even higher price. At $34, this lipstick comes in a flashy golden tube adorned with the Charlotte Tilbury emblem.
When influencers are on talk shows rather than accomplished actors or musicians, it feels as though guests on talk shows have shifted from talent to popularity. This may feel as thought diminishes the credibility of a show as a whole.
Show garnered widespread attention, drawing her massive online following to the show’s clips and highlighting how a wellchosen influencer can bridge the gap between digital media and television.
Yet for many, the issue extends beyond the screen. Historically, talk-shows have showcased individuals with significant achievements whether it’s through their social-impact through their artistry.
Yet from a beneficial standpoint, Influencers bring undeniable benefits. Talk shows compete against each other for views where social media engagement is valuable. Especially when clips of the influencer on the talk show is posted on social media, it will increase the views thus making the episode create more revenue.
In this sense, Influencers bring viral potential that traditional guests might not necessarily match.
Influencers deserve a spot on talk shows, as they reflect the evolving landscape of modern entertainment. Their ability to connect with younger audiences and social media allow them to bring”fresh energy” to a format that risks becoming outdated.
While many may believe that their presence diminishes the prestige of talk shows, it’s important to recognize the value they add by bridging the gap between generations and platforms. Embracing influencers not only keeps talk shows relevant but also broadens their appeal, ensuring they remain a vital part of pop culture.
The dupe for this lipstick is one people cannot stop talking about. Compared to NYX lipstick shade “Euro Trash,” Pillow Talk is identical. Although NYX’s packaging is nowhere near as extravagant, the products are seemingly indistinguishable when applied. Not to mention, it only costs $6.
This purchasing swap is a fabulous money saver for those who want to look high-end while keeping most of their paycheck. There are countless dupes on the market that can give the same classy, expensive effect. As high school students, deepdiving into social media and online articles to find the highestquality dupes can help us make sound financial decisions that will set us up for success in the future.
How Giving Gifts Gives Back to You: The psychology behind gift giving
By Claire Auer reporter
With the holidays coming up, there are plenty of great reasons to get everyone a little something to celebrate.
Giving gifts not only benefits the receiver but also has a positive effect on the giver.
Studies have shown that giving a gift, especially to a close friend or family member, activates an important part of the brain. Specifically, it engages areas involved in social interaction and pleasure, creating a sense of joy and connection.
(Graphic by ClaireAuer)
This joy isn’t limited to the holiday season—any form of spending on another person can spark the same positive brain connection.
Gift-giving also releases oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which makes people feel calm and safe. Many describe it as the “warm and fuzzy” feeling.
Gifting can also create lasting memories and build trust between the giver and receiver. Everyone can recall happy memories of receiving a gift, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.
A handmade gift can often be even more meaningful than a store-bought one, as it shows thought, care, and uniqueness.
Gift-giving isn’t just good for emotional well-being—it can benefit physical health too.
Studies suggest that giving gifts can lower stress levels, particularly by reducing blood pressure.
Lower blood pressure, in turn, decreases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease.
The admiration a person receives for giving a thoughtful gift can also boost self-esteem and confidence.
This makes everyone happier during the holidays!
(Graphic by EvalynYu)
(Graphic by CatAlloco)
(Graphic by Genie Choi)
A Letter From the Editors
Moving from apathy to action for the future
On November 22, the Texas Board of Education voted to approve an elementary school curriculum largely based on teachings from the Bible, including many stories from books such as Genesis and teachings heavily influenced by biblical ideals like the Golden Rule.
The final decision was passed with a narrow 8-7 vote, and will go into effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Though it isn’t mandated for schools to adopt the new lesson plans, schools that do introduce and implement this curriculum will be rewarded with a monetary incentive, valued around sixty dollars per student.
The inherent nature of the newly changed curriculum drives a rhetoric that clearly favors principles found in the Christian faith that may not be universal.
The debate surrounding religion in schools is not a new issue in the U.S.
The relationship between religion and government institutions has been rocky since the founding of the nation.
In fact, the Constitution’s First Amendment Establishment Clause outlines the Founding Fathers’ intended relationship between church and state, stating that Congress cannot establish or endorse a national religion.
Different branches of government have grappled with this at different points in time, but the judicial branch has definitely confronted more of the conflicts.
Dating back to 1962, the Supreme Court of the United States has made decisions in numerous cases that have greatly influenced public opinion regarding the entanglement of religion in schools.
In cases such as Engel v. Vitale (1962)
By Evalyn Yu reporter
and Wallace v. Jaffree (1984)—both of which deal with establishing a prayer period in schools—the Court made it clear that states must abide by a stance of religious neutrality.
However, basing an entire academic curriculum off of a religious doctrine seems more consequential than a minute-long prayer period.
The current situation in Texas treads a narrow tightrope of constitutionality.
Supporters of the new curriculum assert that introducing stories and ideas from the Bible will help students understand the cultural, historical and literary impact of Christianity, but the Texas curriculum is a clear violation of the Constitution’s Establishment Clause.
The lessons taught in the curriculum are not inherently bad or dangerous, but it plainly pushes the ideas of a singular religion—Christianity—onto a generation of young students that may not be able to think critically.
One of the central defining ideas of the United States is that its citizens should have the right to practice their own religions, but introducing a curriculum that undeniably promotes Christianity to young students will make it difficult to separate their personal beliefs from the ones they’re taught at an impressionable age.
It’s vital that the U.S. government maintains a standard of neutrality towards religious practices.
A great strength of our country is the diversity and equality it enables, which is only possible with the unrestrictive nature of religious expression, not favoring one belief over another.
How Streaming Has Disrupted The Arts Industries
By Zoe Barton reporter
My dad often tells me the story of going to see Star Wars when it first came out. He went to see it seven times in the theater and paid four dollars each time. If any of his friends came along, they also paid four dollars.
Today? Everyone can come over to the house and watch not just one Star Wars movie, but thousands of movies on a large-screen TV for a single payment of ten dollars a month.
The same applies to records and CDs. Our parents would line up outside stores to get the latest Michael Jackson record, each paying ten dollars for a single record. Now, a ten-dollar subscription to Apple Music gives you access to millions of songs.
So where is all of this money going? In the past, when a movie came out, theaters would pay the studio to receive a film reel of the movie. The theater would then charge each person a set amount to watch it. A share of that profit would be distributed among the people who worked on the movie through a royalty system. For every time the movie was watched, someone was getting paid. The same system applied to the music industry. Every time a record was bought, someone was compensated.
However, the invention of streaming services disrupted this steady stream of revenue and turned the well-established system on its head.
Today, if an artist has a million streams on Spotify, they make about three thousand dollars. In contrast, if a band sold a million copies of a CD, they would earn approximately 1.5 million dollars.
Performing artists of all kinds used to
(Graphic by Zoe Barton)
be able to sustain their careers through a combination of upfront fees for live performances and royalties that paid them into the future if their work succeeded. The technological revolution brought on by streaming has largely destroyed the royalty system, leaving many artists questioning whether pursuing their skills professionally is even worth it.
These frustrations have reached a boiling point, as seen in 2022 when both the actors’ and writers’ unions went on long strikes over these issues.
Studios, artist unions, and tech companies need to develop a system for tracking streaming content and enabling micropayments so artists can be more justly compensated for their work.
The Apathy Epidemic: Why Students Have Less Motivation Nowadays
Ever since returning to school after the COVID-19 lockdown, there has been a noticeable lack of motivation and effort in students. Walk into a classroom and you’ll likely find students playing Block Blast, staring off into space instead of taking notes, and going dead silent when the teacher asks the class a question.
This lack of apathy is not only disappointing for teachers but disheartening for fellow peers who are trying their best to succeed, and foreshadows a grim future for this generation in college and beyond.
The shift in attitude towards learning may trace back to the pandemic, where students struggled to stay engaged during online learning amidst a health crisis, isolation from friends and withdrawal from normal activities.
When returning to school, as students struggled to recover from pandemic learning loss, they became more reliant on being “spoon-fed” answers
instead of trying to understand the material themselves.
On top of this, students struggle from shorter attention spans. A study conducted by Microsoft in 2015 showed the average attention span decreased by over 33% since the start of the century. As a result, students now require more review, structure, and accountability to stay on top of their work.
In addition, leniency policies, which were implemented to help students succeed, inadvertently have caused a dismissive attitude towards school. With excessive opportunities for
Editors-in-Chief Olivia Kao Ella Sherry
Adviser Cynthia Mindicino
partial credit, quiz retakes, and test corrections, many students knowingly put minimal effort into their work because there are no consequences holding them accountable. It is common to see students scramble to finish homework before it’s due, copy off their peers, or not even complete it at all. This reflects a
Editors & Leadership
News: Valerie Villegas
Features: James Lew
Opinion: Hailey Kim
Sports: Aaron Propst
Centerspread: Quinn Kearns & Ruby Mayrose
lack of inherent motivation and overreliance on second chances, characteristics that may lead to serious repercussions in college and professional settings. At the same time, students may feel unmotivated because their current efforts aren’t being recognized. Students have already shown incredible resilience from bouncing back from a pandemic to navigating high school amidst social pressures and extracurriculars. Additionally, students face more pressures than ever before, especially as college acceptance rates grow increasingly more selective each year. Over
Staff
the past decade, prestigious universities like UCLA have experienced a massive drop in acceptance rates, going from nearly 23% in 2014 to 9% today, according to U.S. News & World Report. As a result, in order to stand out, students are expected to excel academically while balancing sports, arts, volunteering, and simply being a teenager. This load of responsibilities inevitably leaves students feeling drained, with minimal energy remaining for schoolwork.
Despite this, education remains crucial for a smooth transition into higher education and careers. To emerge from this epidemic of apathy, students must take responsibility and pride in their education, regain control of their behavior, and communicate when they need help. Likewise, teachers should encourage students’ efforts and be aware of struggles they face, while firmly enforcing respectful and hardworking behavior. Together we can create a supportive environment for all to succeed.
(Graphic by Evalyn
Yu)
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Cat Alloco, Claire Auer, Zoe Barton, Kelly Bojorquez, Genie Choi, Ella Gardner, Ella Hansen, Sierra Hickey, Jessica Hickman, Eason Kaewprasert, Isabelle Tholan, Evalyn Yu
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Photo Editor: Eason Kaewprasert
SPORTS
A Season to Remember
PV Football’s incredible run to state
By Eason Kaewprasert photo editor
The Palos Verdes High School football team is widely known as a team with massive success and many talented players.
This year, the team won CIF playoffs, showing their hard work paid off.
The Sea Kings won the first match 27-21, showing their early dominance in the league. Afterwards, they lost against Carlsbad 33-7. They won their next match against Corona Del Mar 21-17 with a 10 point comeback.
The Sea Kings were then off to a rough start as they lost their next three games against Edison, Banning and Culver City.
Their next hard fought win against Leuzinger put their win-loss ratio at 3-4.
“This win against Luezinger was one of the most important wins because it gave us a huge comeback,” said junior Cameron Hughes
They won their next game 34-0, showing their dominance at home against the Lawndale Cardinals.
They proceeded to lose to Inglewood 37-3 in a hard-fought match.
The Kings then had an impressive win
against Mira Costa that went to overtime. With an ending score of 20-13 against the Mira Costa Mustangs. This rivalry win qualified Palos Verdes for the playoffs.
The Sea Kings then had an impressive 4 game win streak, going undefeated in CIF to secure them the first since 2014.
With a close game against Brea Olinda going into overtime, Palos Verdes managed to pull through with a final score of 16-10. Their next victory against Mayfair was another close match and was a close game. The Sea Kings eventually secured their win with 10 points in the fourth quarter.
In the semifinals of CIF, Palos Verdes faced the Foothill Knights. After being down 14-0, Palos Verdes secured the win with a final score of 27-24.
In the final round of CIF, Palos Verdes dominated the competition against La Serna, winning 23-7. This gave the Sea Kings the CIF title.
After dominating CIF with a four-game win streak, the Palos Verdes team moved on to state. The Sea Kings proceeded to win the next game against the Bakersfield Christian Eagles 28-10 in the first game after being down 10-7 in the 2nd quarter, scoring 21 straight points to secure the win.
Palos Verdes is scheduled to play the Twelve Brides Raging Rhinos on December 14 at Saddleback College.
“My favorite part about the season is definitely winning CIF, I’ve never felt anything like that before. The team went back to the basics and we got better at the ordinary things,” captain Matthew Bates (12) said.
NBA Season Update
Lakers and Clippers lead headlines to begin the new season
By James Lew features editor
This year’s NBA season got off to a historic start in LA, with LeBron James’ Lakers defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves on opening night in a game that featured LeBron James playing with his son, Bronny James.
This duo cemented themselves in history as the first father and son to play together in the NBA.
The LA Clippers opened up their brand new state of the art Intuit Dome, located only a few blocks away from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
“Intuit Dome is really technologically advanced and as a Clippers fan it’s really nice to see us have our own stadium,” said junior Justin Whitehead
Both the Clippers and Lakers have gotten off to solid starts and a few months in, both fanbases are optimistic about the rest of the season.
This season had plenty of storylines, including former Clipper Paul George signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency on a four-year $212 million contract.
The 76ers came into the season as NBA Finals contenders but have gotten off to a horrendous 7-15 start.
The Cleveland Cavaliers led by stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley got off to a historic 15-0 start before losing their first game to the defending champion, Boston Celtics.
This years MVP race has been between
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, who is the reigning MVP and has won 3 of the last 4 MVPs and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks who has been one of the premier players in the NBA since he was drafted in 2018 out of Slovenia.
For many, the last few years have felt like the end of an era as many of the stars we grew up watching, like LeBron James and Steph Curry, are growing older and nearing retirement.
“It feels weird knowing that most of the players we grew up watching will be gone in a couple years,” said junior Nicholas Yanney
“Although this is true, the next generation of young stars like Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards have arrived, and it’s clear that the future of the NBA is in good hands.”
Girls Volleyball Wins CIF and State Championships
By Olivia Kao editor-in-chief
2024 marks another year of Sea King athletic prowess.
The Girls Volleyball program took the titles of Division One Southern Section Champions and Division One State Champions.
In a final match, the Sea Kings beat Foothill High School in three straight sets (25-11, 25-14, 25-23).
Winning this coveted title was no easy feat, however.
“The team felt pressure for sure as it was our third year in a row in the state finals after losing the previous two years,” said starting defense specialist Ava Hassenein (12).
“We knew the pressure was on to win this year…third time’s the charm.”
Losing the state in past years did not discourage the team from going after the championship title.
“It [losing previous two seasons] motivated us even more,” said setter Mallory LaBreche (12).
“Our team was definitely nervous but more excited and ready to win.”
Being both the Division One CIF and State Champions required thorough preparation.
The Sea Kings’ win is a result of a consistent and strategic training schedule.
There was “a lot of pressure and high
stress…we all knew if we lost we were out,” said Hassenein.
“We had to win every game leading up to the championships to qualify.”
In order to win every game to get to the state finals, the girls and their coach, Lacey Minzlaff, needed to prepare for each different opponent they would face.
“Preparing for the finals meant practicing everyday,” said LaBreche.
“We practiced really hard and gave it our all at all times.”
“Our coach would watch endless hours of film to plan out the practices in a way where we knew what worked versus what didn’t against a team,” said Hassenein.
As the team continued to advance, the dynamics and chemistry of the team only improved.
“Our team…connections got better and we really improved throughout the season,” said LaBreche.
Despite losing the previous two seasons, our Girls Volleyball team has been named newly Division One Southern Section and State Champions, a testament to the success of Sea King athletics.
“I’m just super proud of everyone on my team,” said Hassenein.
“Making school history and winning a state championship my senior year has been a memory that will always be special.”
LA Clipper’s new Intuit Dome.
(Photo by James Lew)
The PVHS girls team after winning the California State Championship. (Photo courtesy of Lacey Minzlaff)
(Photo courtsey of Logan Lara)
Senior Commits: Jane Girard and Maddy Herniter
By Quinn Kearns centerspread editor
As a junior, Jane Girard transferred to Palos Verdes High School from Peninsula and immediately made an impact, leading the girls water polo team to CIF finals.
Now as a senior and captain, Girard has become a big part of the team’s success.
Following her junior year season, Girard attracted the attention of the Indiana University women’s water polo team.
Playing water polo in college was always something on the backburner for Girard until it became a commonly asked question for her.
“Freshman year I was sitting down with
one of my coaches and they asked me if I wanted to play in college,” Girard said.
“Although I hadn’t thought of it a ton until that point, I knew it was something I really wanted to do.”
After that conversation, Girard was told by a close friend of hers that she would not be able to reach her newfound goal of playing at a Division 1 school.
However, Girard did not let this get her down. Instead she used the discouragement as motivation to improve.
Although Girard has positively impacted the team’s success and culture, her decision to transfer has ultimately shaped her in the best way possible.
“Transferring to PV helped me grow not only as an individual, but as a team player as well,” Girard said.
“It’s given me a deeper sense of community and amazing people who I get to call my teammates.”
With the anticipation for another successful season, Girard also has a lot to look forward to in her near future.
Indiana not only continues Girard’s water polo career, but her commitment has ultimately opened doors for her future.
“I was attracted to Indiana initially because of the team environment and the great sense of community present. On top of that, they have a great program for my major, criminal justice,” Girard said.
From the West Coast to the East Coast, playing soccer in college has been the end goal for senior Maddy Herniter no matter which coast she ends up on.
With Herniter originally committing to Oregon State University, she later decided to recommit to the University of Georgia to start her career at the Division I level.
Approaching her junior year, the middle-back defender quickly received attention from college scouts following her club team’s national title at the ENCL Playoffs.
The first program to grasp Herniter’s attention was the Oregon State Beavers. After going on an official visit, she verbally committed.
“I was rushing the commitment process,” Herniter said.
“I didn’t think I was going to get any other offers, which was stupid.”
Soon after, Head Coach Lauren Sinacola announced her resignation from the women’s soccer program at OSU. With team drama following, Herniter decided to decommit and search for more substantial options.
Being on the number one ranked women’s club team in her age group, Herniter did not go uncommitted for long.
During another successful club season, the University of Georgia reached out to Herniter. After Beach FC returned to the ENCL Championships to secure another national title, Herniter joined the dog
What Causes High School Injuries?
By Ivy Ruberg social media/reporter
High school athletics play a crucial role in adolescent development and are a huge part of student life.
Athletics offer opportunities to make friends, learn how to work within a team, further focus on their sport, and build fitness and discipline.
But there’s a flipside to high school athletics—the frequency and severity of injuries.
Understanding how these happen, and what types of injuries occur, can help us better understand how to ensure safety for everyone.
Overuse injuries are the most common.
Due to the overlap at the end of club and the beginning of the secondary school season, some athletes find themselves facing twice as much practice as usual.
“Players right now are playing for teams outside of school and for their high school, which makes people get overuse injuries like mine,” said Jake Oropeza, a PV High sophomore baseball player with a torn rotator cuff. “It happened because I was throwing too much, and the wrong way.”
Recovery often leads down two roads: physical therapy, or physical therapy and surgery.
Oropeza is really hoping to get back to baseball soon, but knows he has to take his time to be able to play his best.
Another factor contributing to injuries is player age differences.
High school athletics is a unique environment in which students from the ages of 14-19 can all play together on the same team.
That means younger, less experienced players may face off against highly skilled veterans for the first time in their sports careers.
They have to be ready to take on opponents who might be bigger, stronger and faster than
Due to the amount of kids, underclassmen often take minutes wherever they can get them.
And while coaches switching players to new positions is common anytime athletes move up a level, the adjustment period can open the door to unfortunate mishaps.
“Everyones getting tackled all the time, and usually if the defender isn’t that good, their tackles are messy and dangerous,” said Spatz.
(Graphic by Ivy Ruberg)
on their club teams.
Talon Spatz, a 10th grader at PV High broke his tallis bone in high school soccer.
“I was playing right wing, out of position…and I went into a 50/50 challenge with the goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper was slightly bigger than me, maybe a good 250 pounds, and he absolutely trampled me and fell on my ankle causing it to fracture,” Spatz said. Playing out of position is almost a part of the culture in high school athletics.
Whatever the injury, from small knocks to big impacts, recovery is a huge part of athletes’ lives.
But taking the time for self-care isn’t without costs.
“The hardest part of recovery was sitting and watching my teammates play while I wasn’t able to,” said Spatz.
And then there’s football.
The sheer physicality of the game paves the way for bumps, bruises, and breaks, which is how Giorgio DiMaccio, a junior quarterback playing football for Palos Verdes High School, broke his collarbone.
“I was rolling out, it wasn’t there, hit the hole, got tackled,” said DiMaccio, who is out for six to eight weeks and going through
physical therapy.
house.
“It’s an SEC school which is insane for sports. The school spirit is amazing, and their soccer team is ranked top 25 in the country,” Herniter said.
Excitement for her collegiate future also comes with the bittersweet close off her career with the Sea Kings.
With the 2024-2025 season being her fourth year on varsity, Herniter plans to make a lasting impact on the program as captain.
“I always love the high school season. I’m excited for the environment and energy when people come to watch. Also helping the younger girls get more comfortable within the program is important to me,” said Herniter.
“Football is just a really physical sport,” said DiMaccio.
According to the National Institution of Health (NIH), “25.5 injuries per 100 players, 9.3 injuries per 10,000 player-hours, and 8.4 injuries per 100 sessionhours.”
That’s 25.5% of highschool football players getting injured in a not so long season.
A less obvious sport that has its own perils is cheer.
“We were in a pyramid and we were doing a ‘flip to fold,’ and my flyer fell on my neck, which made my spine hit my tailbone, and it fractured,” said sophomore Leighton O’Leary
You might not think it, but cheer can be a dangerous undertaking.
The flips lifts and fast paced routines are a breeding ground for more serious mishaps like O’Leary’s.
“I think cheer injuries really are just unlucky, like there really wasn’t anything I could do differently except for maybe move out of the way quicker, but then my flyer would be the one with a more major injury.”
With a national estimate of two million injuries as well as 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year (according to a report by the Weinstein Legal Team), injuries are a part of the high school game.
But, preventative measures can be taken.
A healthy diet, a good warmup, proper equipment and taking time off when needed are all ways to stay healthy.
Cross Country Races Their Way to State Championships
By Ella Sherry editor-in-chief
On November 30, PVHS’s girls and boys varsity cross country teams traveled to Fresno to compete in the State Championships.
The boys team placed 4th overall in Division 4, with runners Adrian Miller (12) finishing 10th and Lucas Nulman (10) finishing 12th. The girls team placed 6th overall in D4, runners Ivanka Malysheva (11) finishing 12th and Kate Sherry (12) finishing 28th.
This race brought a close to an impressive season, both teams placing second in the Pioneer League while competing against schools like West Torrance.
Despite the successes of the season, the teams had some setbacks.
“The girls team definitely faced a lack of leadership this year,” Sherry said. “One of our coaches also retired so that was a loss, but the younger runners did a great job of stepping up and staying motivated throughout the season.”
Because both teams were so young, this gave underclassmen the chance to race at elite meets such as State, where freshmen Kai Schoenfeld, Audrey Chang and Annmarie Russell competed for their teams.
Although the cross country season has come to an end, many runners will continue to race for PV during the upcoming track and field season.
Jane Girard officially signing to the University of Indiana Women’s Water Polo Team.(Photo courtesy of Jane Girard)
Maddy Herniter’s official visit to the University of Georgia. (Photo courtesy of
PVHS Students Intern as Athletic Trainers
By Sierra Hickey reporter
This year high school students have been interning as athletic trainers.
As the students cheer in the student section, the interns help the football team with their various injuries and ailments. They also help behind the scenes, keeping the players healthy.
“The internship class is new to the school this year,” said junior Ella Milestone
“Last year there was just one girl doing it, but they started an actual program this year through Dr. Garrity’s work experience class.”
Sophomore Louise Boyd, one of the athletic trainers, shares how she secured her spot in the program.
“My AVID teacher, Ms. Salgado, asked me if I’d be interested in helping with athletic training for football. It sounded like a great learning opportunity, and I learned I could have it count on my transcript, so I decided to go for it.”
These student trainers have been getting a ton of hands-on experience, which could really help them in their future careers.
“The class is a smaller group of people who are really focused on this aspect of medicine, so we learn a lot more and build bonds with the trainers,” Milestone explained.
However, this job is no easy feat. These students are there at every football game and have lots of work to do in the training room as well.
“By the time I get into the training room, there’s usually a line of players needing to be taped,” Boyd said.
“So I just jump in and start helping. Once taping is done, the injured athletes move into rehab, and as student trainers, we help them with that too.”
The football players themselves have noticed the difference this program is making.
“Football season has been a long one, 16 weeks,” said junior Andrew Condello
“The athletic trainers and interns are a big reason we’re able to play this long because they help us manage our injuries and keep us on the field.
“The student interns are super helpful, and it’s cool to see them picking up new skills to better take care of the athletes,” he said.
Overall, this internship program has proven to be a great way for students to get hands-on experience in something they’re passionate about.
“This is something I’m interested in as a career, so it’s really nice to get a head start for college,” Milestone said.
For Boyd, the best part of being an athletic trainer is building relationships with the athletes.
“My favorite part is definitely getting to know the athletes I help,” she said. “It’s been really fun getting to know the football team and everyone who comes in.”
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(Photo courtesy of Ella Milestone)