Ram's Ear March 2022 by Rio Vista High School "Ram's Ear"

March 10, 2022

VOL. MMXXIII, No. 2

RAM’S EAR R I O V I S TA H I G H S C H O O L

by McKenna Pratt, Staff Writer

What better way to bribe students to get better test scores than by putting on a color fest? Map tests scores have been significantly low over the past few years, so faculty wanted to take action to improve them. Many students do not take MAP testing seriously due to the fact that it does not hurt or harm an actual class grade. In order to improve school-wide MAP test scores, the students had the opportunity to hold a color fest as a reward for their hard work and dedication to improving the school’s reputation. The students of the high school were able to improve all test scores, resulting in the planning of a color fest. On Feb. 9, the event was held down at the football field. The leadership class arranged a rally prior to the event, which consisted of a few fun games all students could play to help get them in the spirit for the color fest. After the rally, all students rushed the football field to then play dodgeball against one another with the packets of color. With the amount of colors that were being thrown

around at students and faculty, everyone was drenched in the colors of the rainbow. The powder also created a colored haze across the entire field. The color fest was foreign to all of the students because it had not been done since 2017, which had been before any of them had entered high school. With this came concerns about what people would think of the colorful event. “The color fest was super fun, especially seeing everyone enjoying themselves with their friends,” said senior Brook Summitt. “I thought not a lot of people would participate, but I was actually surprised by the amount of engagement amongst the students.” The students and faculty had been excited but weary to see if people would actually participate and enjoy themselves. Senior Braeden McCann said, “Honestly, I didn’t think that a lot of people would have done it, but a lot of people did and it made it fun.” The students had a blast at this year’s color fest and are excited to see what other fun activities the school holds.

Photo by: Julie Griffin

MAP scores rise, bring on the color!

Sophie White pummeling fellow sophomore Rylee Fraser with a packet of colored powder during the frenzy of the color fest.

Wrestlers advance to Masters

Senior Jorie Forbes excitedly holding the Swiss flag after being told by Rotary President Edwin Okamura what country she will be spending her exchange trip in.

Bon Voyage, Jorie by Daniela Arias, Staff Writer

Ever dream of going to school in a different country? Well, Jorie Forbes is doing just that. Senior Jorie Forbes has chosen to do an exchange year instead of going straight into college after high school. She will be going to the French-speaking region of Switzerland where she will be taking an additional year of high school all in French. There she will stay with a host family who will show her the culture and wonders of Switzerland. Although it is accustomed for students to go to college near home after high school, Jorie decided she wanted a different experience of traveling and going to school in a different country. “I feel like going to another country and having the life experiences of being surrounded by a new language and culture is more beneficial than going into a four-year college out of high school for me,” Jorie says. By going to Switzerland, Jorie will be introduced to a whole new language, new foods, and a different way of life from the one in the

United States. Jorie was given the option through Rotary to choose what region of the world she wanted to go to for her exchange year. She said, “I am going on my exchange through the Rotary Youth exchange program, I expressed my interest in going to Europe and was selected for Switzerland.” Jorie will be in Switzerland from Aug. 2022 to July 2023. Jorie is ecstatic but also nervous about going to Switzerland after high school. “I feel excited about getting out and seeing the world, but I know that it will be daunting to be alone in a new country,” she says. “Living in Rio Vista my whole life, it will be shocking to see what another section of the country looks like.” Traveling is always exciting, but going to a new country alone can be nerve-racking. “Currently I feel excited, but I’m sure that when the time comes, I will miss my family and friends.” Au revoir America, and bienvenue Switzerland!

Juniors George Aguilar and Michael Lorton are the next two people in Rio Vista’s wrestling history to advance to Masters. “I predicted to send some wrestlers to masters this year, I just didn’t know who,’’ said Coach Smith. The first person to make it was graduate Brennen Bellante. He made it to Masters his senior year and he placed second at the SDL Section Tournament. The process of making it to masters is a long run. Your first accomplishment is to place first or second at your league tournament and people who place third get a chance to enter the section tournament as an alternate. Once you place at your league tournament you move onto the next week of wrestling which is at your section tournament. At this point, wrestlers need to fight their way onto the podium from places first to fourth (within the SDL Division Five League). This tournament is a two-day tournament where a wrestler gets eliminated from the tournament if they lose twice. There is a process of being able to place third or fourth if you get knocked out in your championship rounds (undefeated bracket) where you need to win every single match in your consolation bracket until you reach championship rounds.The bracket is a 32-man bracket, hence which is why the tournament lasts two days. Due to ruling,

wrestlers can only have six matches a day at maximum. Also, fifth place wrestlers get a small chance to wrestle at masters since they are able to go as an alternate, this is not guaranteed though. People who place lower at sections will usually have to wrestle higher seated kids. “It was very nerve wracking to know I was going to wrestle the ninth in state for 120’s,” George said. Wrestlers Michael Lorton and George Aguilar both placed first at the league tournament. “Making it to sections was a breeze but making it to Masters was the struggle,” George explained. Michael and George both had a very similar route to placing at sections high enough to make it to Masters. Michael wrestled three matches the first day and got knocked out into the consolation bracket during his last match of the day. Michael proceeded to wrestle four matches the following day of the tournament winning nearly all, even beating an Escalon opponent for the match to proceed onto Masters. Michael finished at this tournament securing fourth place. George Aguilar also had a very similar route in the section tournament. He also got knocked into consolations where he then had to wrestle an opponent from Calaveras to proceed onto the third and fourth place match. George finished fourth place.

Photo courtesy of Michael Lorton

Photo courtesy of Kayla Delk

by Michael Lorton, Staff Writer

Junior Michael Lorton on the podium, showing off his medal at the Sections tournmanent. Not pictured: Junior George Aguilar who also placed fourth.