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.
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Photo: flickr.com
Russia invades Ukraine
A convoy of Ukrainian tanks travels through the desolate countryside.
by William Lindsay, Staff Writer
March 10, 2022
RAM’S EAR
Russia has launched an invasion on Ukraine with the intent of gaining control of the former Soviet state. The operation was ordered by Russian president Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022 as part of a major advance in his geopolitical agenda. This sudden, unexpected event has caused great upset in eastern Europe, resulting in the displacement of thousands of Ukranians, threatening the safety of civilians, and raising tensions worldwide. Countries in the European Union and NATO, supporters of Ukraine, have responded to Putin’s attack by imposing severe sanctions on Russia which are intended to impair Russia’s economy. But Ukraine remains in desperate need of military support from its western allies, and with NATO refusing to get involved, Ukraine has been left to fight Russia on its own. Tension between Russia and Ukraine is not new, however, as both countries are former Soviet states. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine gained independence becoming its own country separate from Russia. And for the past decade, Russian president Vladimir Putin has made it clear that he wants Ukraine back, even describing the two nations as, “one people, a single whole.” (WSJ). But why? Putin’s main objective is to prevent the eastern expansion of NATO, a multinational military alliance of 30 countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany, and France. Neither Ukraine nor Russia is a member of NATO, and Putin wants to keep it that way. Therefore, after Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared his country’s intentions of joining NATO, Putin decided it was time for action. Tensions rose in 2014 when Russian military forces entered and regained control of separatist regions of Ukraine, annexing the Crimean Peninsula. But that was only the beginning. In late 2021, Russian forces began assembling near Ukraine, and within a cou-
ple months, “Russia had massed a fighting force totalling up to 190,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders.” (WSJ). With rising concerns, western nations threatened to impose sanctions, but that didn’t stop Putin from moving forward with the operation in late February. Ukraine has since been devastated by airstrikes and clashes between ground units, with a death toll increasing by the hundreds each day. This has, of course, had a devastating impact on Ukraine’s civilian population. Many families are leaving Ukraine in search of safety. “Filippo Grandi, the chief of the United Nations’ refugee agency, said more than 500,000 people had left Ukraine for neighboring countries.” (WSJ). Nations within NATO have responded to Putin’s advance by imposing sanctions on Russia. Cutting ties with Russia’s industries and banks means their economy will struggle to stay afloat, and these have proven to be somewhat effective. However, Russia is a major supplier of resources such as natural gas and oil, meaning “a disruption in Russia’s energy sales would have widespread repercussions for the global economy.” (WSJ). But sanctions alone are not nearly enough to support Ukraine. President Zelenskyy has urged for military support from NATO and neighboring countries, but they have refused. “It is terrorism,” Zelenskyy states. “They have consciously chosen to hit civilians and everything that renders life normal. Power stations, hospitals, kindergartens, housing blocks–they are all targeted daily.” Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that NATO provides military support to Ukraine. A 30-nation army undoubtedly has the military might to hold Russia back, but no action has been taken. To not act against evil is evil in itself; NATO needs to do its job. Retaliatory sanctions against Russia will have some effect, but they are a weak and insufficient measure to stop a determined dictator.
RAM’S EAR
Published by Rio Vista High School, Digital Publications Class 410 South Fourth Street | Rio Vista, California 94571 (707)374-6336 ext. 1224 email: rvhsramsear@gmail.com Printed by School Paper Express, Wappingers Falls, New York Letters to the Editor: To be published, letters must have the author’s name, address, and telephone number.
Co-Editors in Chief Jorie Forbes & Kayla Delk Associate Editor Donny Roos Adviser Julie Griffin Ram’s Ear Staff Daniela Arias, Najmedin Asad, Kyra Atkinson, Diana Freyre, Monica Garcia, Michael Gilpin, Fabrizio Lazo Gutierrez, William Lindsay, Michael Lorton, Carmella Martins Rumiato, Braeden McCann, Cristal Monreal, Mckenna Pratt, Bella Saldana, Brook Summitt, Diego Torres
Calendar of Events
March
March 1 - Softball @ Winters (away) 3:30 p.m. March 2 - Baseball @ Dixon (away) 3:30 p.m. March 2 & 5 - Softball Linden Tournament (away) TBA March 4 - Baseball vs Delta (Raley Field) 6:00 p.m. March 8 - Baseball vs VCHS (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 9 - Winter sports awards night 6:00 p.m. March 8 - Softball vs VCHS (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 10 - Baseball vs VCHS (away) 6:00 p.m. March 10 - Softball vs VCHS (away) 3:30 p.m. March 10 - Swim Team @ Dixon (away) 3:30 p.m. March 10 - Golf vs Highlands (Cherry Island) 3:00 p.m. March 11 - Baseball @ Amador (away) 3:00 p.m. March 15 - Baseball vs Elliot Christian (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 15 - Softball vs Natomas (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 15 - Golf vs Esparto (Yocha De He) 3:00 p.m. March 16 - Baseball @ Vallejo (away) 4:00 p.m. March 16 - Softball @ Woodland Christian March 17 - Swim Team Center Meet 1 (Home) 3:30 p.m. March 17 - Golf vs VCHS (Home) 3:00 p.m. March 18 - Baseball vs Elliot Christian (away) 6:00 p.m. March 18 & 19 - Swim Team DeLaSalle Invitational (away) TBA March 21 - Baseball @ Florin (away) 4:00 p.m. March 22 - Baseball @ Linden (away) 4:00 p.m. March 22 - Softball @ Linden (away) 4:00 p.m. March 22 - Golf vs Golden Sierra (Cold Springs) 3:00 p.m. March 24 - Baseball vs Linden (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 24 - Softball vs Linden (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 24 - Golf vs Linden (Elk Horn) 3:00 p.m. March 24 - Swim Team Center Meet 2 @ Highlands (away) 3:30 p.m. March 28 - Golf SDL Tournament March 29 - Baseball @ Esparto (away) 4:00 p.m. March 29 - Softball @ Esparto (away) 4:00 p.m. March 31 - Baseball vs Esparto (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 31 - Softball vs Esparto (Home) 4:00 p.m. March 31 - Swim Team Center Meet 3 @ Linden (away) 3:30 p.m March 31 - Golf vs Highlands (Home) 3:00 p.m.
April
April 1 - Baseball vs Delta (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 5 - Baseball vs Highlands (away) 4:00 p.m. April 5 - Softball vs Highlands (away) 4:00 p.m. April 5 - Golf vs Esparto (Home) 3:00 p.m. April 7 - Baseball vs Highlands (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 7 - Softball vs Highlands (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 7 - Swim Team Center Meet 4 (Home) 3:30 p.m. April 7 - Golf vs VCHS (Cyress Lakes) 3:00 p.m. April 8 & 9 - Softball Jim Elliot Softball Tournament April 11 - 18 - Spring Break April 12 - Baseball vs Vallejo (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 18 & 20 - Baseball Sutter Spring Tournament (away) TBA April 20 - Softball vs Buckingham Charter (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 22 - Swim Team SDL Championship @ Highlands (away) 10:00 a.m. April 26 - Baseball vs San Juan (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 26 - Softball vs San Juan (Home) 4:00 p.m. April 26 - Golf vs Golden Sierra (Home) 3:00 p.m. April 28 - Baseball @ San Juan (away) 4:00 p.m. April 28 - Softball @ San Juan (away) 4:00 p.m. April 28 - Golf vs Linden (Home) 3:00 p.m. April 29 - Baseball vs Florin (Home) 4:00 p.m.
May
May 2 - Golf SDL Tournament 2 TBA May 3 - Baseball vs Golden Sierra (Home) 4:00 p.m. May 3 - Softball vs Golden Sierra (Home) 4:00 p.m. May 5 - Baseball @ Golden Sierra (away) 4:00 p.m. May 5 - Softball @ Golden Sierra (away) 4:00 p.m. May 10 - Golf Div 6 Tournament May 13 - Baseball All League selection meeting May 13 - Softball All League selection meeting May 16 - Softball Div 6 Playoff May 16 - Golf Masters Tournament May 18 - Baseball Div 6 Playoff May 18 - Softball Div 6 Tournament May 20 - Baseball Div 6 Tournament May 20 - Softball Div 6 Tournament May 21 - Softball Div 6 Playoff
March 10, 2022
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RAM’S EAR
Winter Olympics brings much controversy
by Carmella Martins Rumiato, Staff Writer
Stereotypes are generalized opinions and ideas used by people to pre-define someone or something regarding their behavior, gender, appearance, religion, culture, social status, etc. Before going to a foreign country, stereotypes are one of the first things that go through your head, because you are trying to think about what you know about that place. Stereotypes are not always good and many times can bring a bad image to that country. Before coming to the United States, I thought a lot about how people would act, talk, and dress. Finally being here, I can see for myself if all the stereotypes that I heard are real or not, especially because the United States is so famous internationally. Talking with my friends I gathered a few stereotypes that we have about the USA. The first is that most Americans are clueless about the rest of the world and only think about themselves. Senior McKenna Pratt said, “This is definitely true.” Another stereotype is that Americans only know how to speak in English and don’t really try to learn new languages. Senior Jorie Forbes said, “Yes, that’s true I think mostly because of how the school system works and how we are not taught a new
language since we are young like other countries.” Another big stereotype is that Americans are really bad at geography. The majority of people that I asked about this subject told me that they definitely agree because they don’t actually try to learn about it when they are taught at school, they are more focused on only trying to pass that class. Americans are also thought of as patriotic and this stereotype, I can confirm, is true. Everywhere you go it’s easy to find an American flag around. If it’s not hanging outside a house, it’s on the sidewalk of the streets. It’s also in every classroom and every morning all the students honor the flag by the Pledge of Allegiance. A final stereotype is that Americans are dirty. This one apparently is not a very common stereotype but after given a little bit of thought about it, the people that I talked to agreed that Americans, in fact, can be dirty and a lot of people that they know could be considered dirty by a very clean person. It’s funny to see for yourself if the stereotypes are real or not because they are always an assumption, but now I can go back to my country and actually tell people the truth about them.
Prepping for Prom Are you going to prom? Yes Maybe No
Are you going to ask/be asked to prom? Yes No
Do you know what youre ’ going to wear? No Yes Join us April 30th, the theme is Elegant Countryside
Photo: CBS Sports
How does the rest of the world see the United States?
The U.S.A Winter Olympics team being escorted during this year’s Opening Ceremony.
by Jorie Forbes, Co-Editor in Chief
This year’s Winter Olympics were held in Beijing, China From Feb. 4 to Feb. 20. The world’s best athletes gathered to compete for their sport. People from all over the world tuned in to watch. The United States athletes performed well, with the U.S. ending with the fourth most medals overall. The United States claimed 25 medals total, consisting of eight gold, 10 silver, and seven bronze. One of the most memorable was Chloe Kim, American gold medalist for the women’s snowboard halfpipe. In the 2018 Olympics, at the age of 17, Kim became the youngest woman in her sport to win gold. She returned strong, holding her title in the 2022 Olympics. Senior Greta Dole enjoyed watching Chloe’s run. “I really liked how Chloe Kim right off the bat did a perfect routine,” she said. “She set the mood for the female snowboarders, and serves as an inspiration for all of them.” Another memorable athlete is firsttime Olympian Nathan Chen, an American figure skater who won gold for the men’s singles figure skating. The beloved snowboarder Shaun White also attended his fifth Olympic games. Though the three-time gold medalist did not receive any medals during these games, his popularity was overwhelming. Senior Sophia Saldana, a fan of White, said, “I was really excited to see Shaun White perform this year because it was his last Olympics and he has been a part of it for so long.” Kamila Valieva, a 15-year-old figure skater competing for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) was involved in the biggest scandal of this Olympics. She tested
positive for trimetazidine, a supposedly performance-enhancing heart drug in Dec. 2021. The public exposure of this did not stop her from performing though, and was permitted to continue competing because “her young age made her a ‘protected person,’” according to The Washington Post. During her final performance, however, she stumbled, causing her to end up in fourth place overall. A lot of people were disappointed in this verdict, wanting Valieva to be banned from competing. “I felt bad for the athletes who were penalized for the Russian skater’s scandal because they performed clean and had their Olympics tainted due to her actions,” said Sophia Saldana. Many argue that this scandal was not handled properly, pointing out a similar drug scandal that took place in the 2021 Summer Olympics. Sha’Carri Richardson tested positive for marijuana before the games, and in turn was banned from competing. After seeing the outcome of Kamila’s scandal, many were angered by the difference in how the girls were treated. Richardson also made a public statement on the issue, saying, “The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.” The 2022 Winter Olympics were memorable to say the least. The athletes performing for the United States competed well, winning an impressive amount of medals. The verdict of a scandal regarding a Russian figure skater will go down in history as one of the biggest issues of the Winter Olympics. Many people enjoy keeping up with the Olympics whenever they take place. Tune in for the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place in Milano Cortina.
Intramural Sports Soccer, Basketball, and Volleyball Make a team and compete against other student teams!
March 10, 2022
RAM’S EAR
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‘Euphoria’ series keeps fans on edge
UC Berkeley slashes admissions rate by Kayla Delk, Co-Editor in Chief
The University of California Berkeley, the original University of California, is one of the most sought after universities to attend because of its high quality academic programs, diverse student population, and location. Each and every year, UCB receives tens of thousands of applications from high school seniors and community college transfers. For the academic year of 2020, Berkeley had 88,066 applicants and admitted 15,461 which comes out to an acceptance rate of about 17%. Similarly, the academic year of 2021 had 85,012 applicants and accepted around 18%. On Feb. 14, the University of California Berkeley sent out a statement to all applicants informing them about a potential impact on undergraduate admissions for the 2022-23 academic year. The university would be required to freeze student enrollment at 2020 levels, which were at an all-time low due to the pandemic. The university states, “Our current estimate is that we would need to reduce our targeted fall 2022 new undergraduate student enrollment by at least 3,050 students. That in turn would mean reducing the number of offers of admission by at least 5,100.” The reason for this dramatic decrease in admission is due to a court case between the university system and the organization Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods. Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods accused UCB of admitting more students than they could house on campus. Stated on their website the organization is “a group of Berkeley residents who are concerned about protecting the unique character and quality of life in the city of Berkeley. Berkeley is a very special place and our aim is to maintain the diversity that we all love about our city.” The organization sued the University of California Regents due to the university’s large student increase of over 11,000 students, about a 33.7% increase from 2005 to 2020, with the majority being non-California residents. The news site sfist.com states that UC Berkeley only has housing space for around 10,000 students, but has an undergraduate population of around 32,000, resulting in the majority of students seeking off-campus housing. The increased housing demand has caused rent prices to shoot up, creating unaffordable housing costs for
both students and Berkeley residents. Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods states that the new student housing crisis has “forced out many long-term residents from our neighborhoods.” A UCB public survey done by ucbserveys.berkeley.edu found that around 21% of the surveyed student population (16,000) have “lacked a safe, regular, and adequate nighttime place to stay and sleep” due to the massive housing crisis. A message from the university’s chancellor, Chancellor Christ states, “UC Berkeley houses fewer undergraduate and graduate students than any of the other UC campuses. Due to the high cost and low supply of housing close to campus, we estimate that 40% of our students are not able to live in Berkeley, undermining your ability to thrive, succeed and fully partake in all that the university has to offer.” While UCB has recognized the housing problem, they fail to present a clear plan on how they will solve the growing issue. One current solution UCB has stated is their plan to reconstruct the People’s Park. Currently the People’s Park, a historically significant location to the city of Berkeley which is located alongside the University, is ravaged by homelessness and crime. According to berkeleyside.org the university plans to build a 12-story housing complex that will have room for about 1,100 students. Construction for this building will not begin until the current homeless population living in the park is provided adequate housing, but the project may also be delayed by the numerous lawsuits filed against the university, such as the current case presented by Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods. California news sites have recently stated that students applying for the academic year of 2022-2023 have significantly increased in comparison to previous years, more than 128,100 applicants, which is a 13 percent increase from the already groundbreaking number of applicants UCB received for the 21-22 school year. Now with a higher number of applicants but a decrease in the number of students Berkeley can admit, it is expected for Berkeley to be very selective in their admissions this year. Best of luck to any RVHS senior who is awaiting a response from the university. Go Bears!
Rio Vista Booster Club’s Annual Dinner and Raffle: April 2nd
HBO Max’s “Euphoria” takes the world by storm, having millions of people watching and raving about it online. The show is about a group of teenagers grappling with issues of drug addiction, sex, insecurities, and violence, at the same time as struggling with friendships, family, and identity. There are many talented actors among the cast, including Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, and more. Season two has recently started streaming, with the last episode coming out Feb. 27. The amount of viewers from season one has nearly tripled with 16.6 million viewers for season two compared to the 6.6 million viewers for season one. This intense show follows an exaggerated teenage experience through the perspective of different characters, and has captivated viewers, creating theories and counting down until the next episode. Major themes in the show stand out to the audience, and makes the show somewhat relatable for some, and even eye-opening for others. “I like how overdramatized it is. It’s not a realistic high school experience, and I like that it’s not realistic because it doesn’t make me feel bad about how uneventful my life is,” says Kayla Delk. Many of the people who watch it have their own opinions and views about this show, and that’s what makes talking about it so fun. There is a diverse audience, and hearing others’ input makes you think. Mrs. Griffin, an avid watcher, says, “I like how suspenseful and stressful it is. When I first saw it, it seemed to glorify drugs, and now it shows the bad things and consequences of choices. It changes every episode and there’s something different going on every time.” To those who have never gone through these hardships portrayed in the show, the story carried out by the actors gives them an idea of what it’s like to go through these experiences, especially at such a young age. The cinematography of the show is also something that stands out to the audience. It’s what makes the show so captivating and memorable. Fun fact, season two was all filmed with Kodak film called Ektachrome, which had been discontinued until production started. It makes scenes stand out, and more meaningful to viewers. “I really liked Lexi’s play. My least favorite part was when Cal was driving drunk, I was so stressed,” says Mrs. Griffin. “When
Photo: HBO Max
Photo: UC Berkeley
by Donny Roos, Associate Editor
Rue called out Cassie in front of all their friends was crazy,” said Coby Roos. Many crazy scenes have happened throughout the show, all of them ranging from sad, thrilling, and funny. Carmella Martins says, “The part where the boys were on the stage dancing in Lexi’s play was funny, especially Ethan.” As people watch the show, they form connections with the characters. Jordan McDonald said, “my favorite character is Maddy.” All the characters have traits that make them relatable to the audience and their lives. “I really like Jules! I like her sensibility and she’s a good friend to others, except Rue of course,” says Mrs. Griffin. Many also just love certain characters for who they are. “My favorite character is Lexi, she’s underrated and cool,” says Kayla Delk. People seem to like the characters who don’t really have the spotlight, like Lexi, because they’re more mysterious and more relatable. Bella Saldana explains, “I like Rue mostly because it’s Zendaya, and Fez is really funny and chill. I also like Lexi.” Euphoria is a one-of-a-kind show, and if you haven’t watched it yet, you definitely need to. It ties in important themes that are relevant to today’s society, as well as how today’s teens are navigating through adolescence. The actors are also just fun to look at.
MARCH BIRTHDAYS March and April Birthdays sss
March 1 John Brimmer March 3 Peter King Caren Perez Sandoval March 5 Katalina Castagnasso March 7 James Carlson Jesus Perez Mendoza Kylah Vigil March 8 Kyra Atkinson Kaitlyn Du Bois March 9 Kathryn Songey March 10 Gavyn Richardson March 11 Melissa Delancy March 13 Chance Berthelson Mrs. Lauchland March 14 Mr. Tingey March 15 Stephanie Espinoza March 17
Ariana Bribriseca Alyssa Lucot Antonio Rodriguez-Flores March 19 Brandon Stebbins Ms. Gornto March 20 Adolfo Villalpando Mr. Smith March 23 Daisy Surla March 24 Sherley Guerra Andrew Harper March 25 Jarrod Burgess Jose Navarro March 26 Ashton Frazier-Roberts Wyatt Pennington Gabriela Ramirez March 28 Maria Segoviano March 30 Jaimie McDowell Ricardo Salcedo March 31 Patience Billoups
March 10, 2022
College of the Month: CSU Fullerton
Local community support for the Ag Mechanics class by Michael Gilpin, Staff Writer
Photo: CSU Fullerton
In a show of support for the high school, local thrift shop Robin’s Nest, has offered to give Mrs. Lauchland’s Advanced Ag Mechanics class the opportunity to pick out one piece of furniture per group, consisting of two to three students, to refurbish and put for sale in the store. Going even further to help students, Robin’s Nest will return all profit to put back towards bettering the mechanics shop. Students’ ideas range from modifying a vanity cabinet into an alcohol display or mixing bar to simply refurbishing dressers. Other mechanics students have chosen ideas such as dog beds made out of old furniture they’ve refurbished to display in Robin’s Nest. Senior Trevor Coad, junior Daniel Cazarez, and junior Michael Gilpin have refurbished a two-piece dresser and display case by repainting, replacing the glass in the cabinet doors, and replacing all the hardware, such as hinges and soft close drawer slides. These students have decided to go with a bluish-black main color on the majority of the wood, while having a dark wood stain on the drawers and doors to help contrast the dark paint. As great of an opportunity this is for mechanic students,
The entrance of California State University Fullerton.
by Diana Freyre, Staff Writer
people around the world, but it offers a good education with cheap tuition. In-state tuition ranges from $6,953 to $7,991 each year including any type of financial aid. Out of state tuition is a bit more than the in-state tuition. It’s around $18,833, (including it’s fees and tuition) The campus itself is very nice and clean. Being around 236 acres, it isn’t too big, but it’s still a very nice school. “The campus is great and they offer numerous courses and majors. The professors are hardworking and like to actually get to know their students.” explained a student attending Fullerton. Although football isn’t included in the intramural list, it offers baseball and basketball, which are really popular sports after football. “I know football wasn’t on the list of sports offered, I was personally excited to try out for the baseball team this following spring”, explained a student attending Fullerton. Although CSUF isn’t a big and known well university, it is a great 4 year school to attend after high school.
McDonald’s all time favorite Shamrock Shake for St. Patrick’s Day
it’s still a process that’s been described as “meticulous” by Trevor. Senior Daniel Cantine, junior Breona Hoff, and senior Jeremy Turner have chosen a “rickety, old looking vanity” as described by Daniel. To refurbish their project, they started with sanding the wood that is usable and replacing the unusable wood, while also placing supporting features so it doesn’t rock as it did when they first got the piece of furniture. They’ve also decided to paint it after filling small holes with wood putty. Originally, they had the idea to add a light to the furniture but due to time restraints, they’ve abandoned the idea. Another group, consisting of senior Bryan Salles, sophomore Otto Vielhauer, and junior Jeremy Calvin decided to change a normal table into “a hexagonal dog bed and table,” going for a more multipurpose usage in their project. After already being given a two week extension to the due date of the projects, the students continue to work hard and diligently to meet the due date promised to Robin’s Nest. Once the projects are complete they will all be put in Robin’s Nest on display to sell.
Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Lauchland
California State Fullerton, also known as CSUF, is a public university located in Fullerton CA. It’s near Anaheim, where Disneyland is located, being a big bonus! This past fall 41,408 students were enrolled. Fullerton offers many programs ranging from nursing to business as well as dance. Fullerton is well known for the state’s largest nationally accredited undergraduate business program. The nursing program is ranked Top 10 in California. “I didn’t know much about Fullerton but, After doing research and seeing that the nursing program is really good I decided to apply, although I’m waiting to hear back I was just excited to apply.” said senior Stephanie Corona. To be able to meet the requirement to attend you need a 3.6 gpa or higher and must have met your A-G requirements in high school. You may think Fullerton is expensive considering it’s near Disneyland which is a big tourist attraction to many
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The Ag Mechanics class after they choose the furntiure that they’ll refurbish (From left to right): Grant Baldwin, Spencer Emigh, Antonio Rodriguez, Jeremy Turner, Bryan Salles, David Torres, Tad Bowers, Josh Davis, Otto Vielhauer, Jose Torres Solis, Kat Castagnasso, Robin Siebert, Mr. Yates, Trevor Coad, Breona Hoff, Daniel Cantine, Michael Gilpin, Andy Freyre, Daniel Cazarez, Joshua Ayala Perez, and Mrs. Lauchland.
Photo: McDonald’s
ARTISTS OF THE MONTH
McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and Shamrock McFlurry.
by Sophia Saldana, Staff Writer
It’s finally everyone’s favorite time of year. Once again, McDonald’s is selling their famous Shamrock Shake. This limited edition shake is only available for about a month every year despite it being such a hit with customers. Senior Meraiah Groves likes the fact that the drink is limited edition because, “It wouldn’t be a seasonal treat anymore if it was available all year round.” This delicious drink is essentially a vanilla milkshake but with a mint syrup, dubbed their “Shamrock Shake Flavor” added in that gives the shake its fun green color and its minty flavor. This drink made its debut in 1967 and by 1970 it was available at just about every McDonald’s across the country. This festive drink is brought back every year in order to celebrate St. Patrick’s day in the month of March. Despite this drink celebrating a holiday in March it tends to make an appearance mid-February and stays un-
til mid-March or, if customers are lucky, all the way until the end of March. Recently, McDonald’s has decided to give their loyal Shamrock Shake fans a little token of appreciation. In the past few years, the shake has been accompanied by a Shamrock Shake McFlurry. This treat is basically the same as the milkshake but much thicker and it has Oreo bits added in. It is always a surprise whether or not McDonald’s will decide to bring back the McFlurry but luck has been with the Shamrock lovers and they have seen a reappearance of it consistently for the past few years. With only a few weeks left until St. Patrick’s Day time is running out to try out this drink. Everyone needs to get down to the closest McDonald’s as soon as possible before their luck runs out and they have to wait another year before this shake is back in action.
Scarlett dole, Greta Dole, Sophia Saldana, AND William Lindsay “I decided to choose my senior AP art students for “the artist of the month” Because of all the hard work they put in every day. They’re all amazing artists and people, and will be missed.” - Mr. Rivera
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Freshmen’s first block experience Superbowl: Rams vs Bengals by Diego Torres, Staff Writer
Photo by: Greta Dole
Freshmen Bianca Lopez, Emily Carpenter, Kennedi Lehigh, and Morgan Arroyo enjoying lunch on the quad.
by Cristal Monreal, Staff Writer
The start of high school can be very exciting and overwhelming for students. New classes, new students, and a new campus may cause students to worry about getting lost, or falling behind. High school can bring many new opportunities to students. So far, some freshmen have had a solid first block of high school. Freshman Carolina Mandujano said, “I think this school has a lot of classes that kids are interested in. I also think there are a lot of activities, such as sports, clubs, FFA, and rallies. My favorite moments so far have been going to Homecoming, football games, and playing basketball. My plan for this block is to stay organized, do my homework, and pay attention in class. I would like to make good connections with the staff.” After Carolina has experienced her first block of high school as a freshmen, she’s seen how things roll, and how important it is to stay on task. High school can be very stressful and once you fall behind it’s super hard to catch up. Joining clubs and sports your freshman year will help so you can get to know more
people and be more social around campus. All those activities you participate in also look good on your applications for college. The start of high school can get better once you get to know the campus and where everything’s at. Focusing on your classes and doing your work will get you through high school pretty well. Freshman Adrian Bermudez said, “It’s good because we have breaks in between classes. Passing period is 10 minutes, enough time for you to use the restroom or talk to your friends.” Freshman Kendra Gomez said, “Joining a sport has changed high school for me; it allowed me to be more social and talk to more people.” Balancing school and a social life can be very difficult but you eventually get the hang of it. College seems far off but high school flies by faster than you think. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, it’ll improve your connection with your teachers and help you understand your confusion. Be honest with yourself and enjoy high school while it lasts.
This year’s Super Bowl was between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams and was one of the best Super Bowls to happen in recent time. The Los Angeles Rams had home field advantage, and are the second team in NFL history to do so right behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who did it the previous year. No better place for the Super Bowl to take place than in a brand new five billion dollar stadium in the city of angels. Both teams earned their right to play in the Super Bowl, the Cincinnati Bengals upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24, a game no one expected them to win, and the Los Angeles Rams beating the San Francisco 49ers extremely tough defense. Plenty of star players were on both teams making the Super Bowl an even better event to watch. Joe Burrow, the quarterback for the Bengals in his second season as a professional, took his team to the Super Bowl with his rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase who contributed a lot for the team to be able to win games. These two were teammates in college at LSU and won a national title together so they started right where they left off like it was nothing. The Bengals had an amazing season with some ups and downs and even though they didn’t win the Super Bowl, making it there is an accomplishment in itself. The Los Angeles Rams had a team full of star players and was considered the super team of the NFL with great players on defense and offense. The Rams traded many draft picks away to get key players that they wanted, causing them to have a
lot of pressure to deliver a championship to Los Angeles, which they sure delivered. The quarterback for the Rams, Matthew Stafford, was traded for and was the missing piece the Rams needed. Matthew Stafford was on the Detroit Lions for 12 seasons and had zero playoff wins but in his first season with the Rams he won playoffs and a super bowl ring. The Super Bowl was an amazing game to watch and both teams battled it out on the highest stage of professional football. “I thought this Super Bowl was one of the best to happen in recent years and was super entertaining,” said senior Braeden McCann. The halftime show was also fun to watch. The performers included Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary Blige. Their performance made this Super Bowl even better and it definitely caught a lot of attention. “The halftime show was actually really good and I enjoyed it forsure with all the LA rappers who came out and performed it was pretty cool,” said freshman Jonathan Gonzalez. A lot of people were rooting for the Bengals since they were the underdogs and no one really likes the Rams. “I was rooting for the Bengals because I’m a 49ers fan and well the Rams beat us so I wasn’t feeling them,” said senior Spencer Emigh. Overall, the Super Bowl is always an event people enjoy to watch and it brings people together. The halftime show also brought out some old songs and it was a blast. No football for a while, and that means teams will be getting prepared for a chance at next year’s Super Bowl.
Photo: Mike Segar, CNBC
New student perspective Los Angeles Rams’ Von Miller celebrates the win with the Super Bowl Trophy.
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Photo by: Donny Roos
Naj Asad posing with fellow sophomore Cristal Monreal and senior Kyra Atkinson.
by Naj Asad, Staff Writer
Finding out I had to move was such a hard pill to swallow. Moving from Martinez to Rio Vista has been quite the experience. Martinez was a small town, not quite as small as Rio Vista, but definitely on the smaller side. It was like an upcoming retirement town. There were many shops and boutiques my friends and I enjoyed going into as well as many restaurants, bars, and cafes.The first thing I noticed about Rio Vista was how small the town was, but yet how far everything is. It doesn’t help that I don’t drive. The good thing about moving here is that it pushes me to learn how to drive because in Martinez you can walk to everything so you don’t need any transportation to get by. Another hard adjustment that I still need to get used to is the size of the school. At my old school it was a very large campus with over 1,500 students so there would always be different faces and different people to see. At this school it’s unusual to see the same people and same faces everyday. One thing that I love to see
on campus is the amount of nature we have surrounding our school. I think it’s very important to have plants and animals in a workplace to keep a positive vibe while working. I wouldn’t want to look outside my classroom only to find buildings and noisy roads. Another thing that I love is that we take care of animals on campus. Now I’m not too sure if it’s a class where students learn about animals and how to take care of them, but it gives me joy to know that the animals are in good care and not being mistreated. Finally, I noticed that the Rio Vista campus is so clean. This campus is nothing like my old one, ours had more buildings and fewer trees. There was also way more trash, but that’s what happens when your school has 1,500 students. Despite only being here for two and a half weeks, I have really enjoyed my time here. I can’t wait to settle in and find more hidden gems about Rio Vista and its community.
OPINION POLL “If you got 1 million dollars to use directly for the school, what would you remodel or change?” Forrest Drury (10)- “Science Lab.” Madison Belcher (12)- “Decorate the school and fix everything that’s broken.” Sophia Saldana (12)- “A nicer gym and locker rooms.” Trevan Summitt (11)- “Lots of snacks.” Adrian Tejeda (12)- “Remodel the soccer field and make it a turf field.” Lisandra Figueroa (10)- The quad, more seating area with more coverage for sun and rain.” Kyle Preston (9)- “The cafeteria.” James Carlson (10)- “Everything.” Kayla Delk (12)- “Bring back the engineering program.” Brooklyn Koziol (10)- “More foreign language classes.” Mr. Rivera (Art Teacher)- “A killer after school program that gives the kids more to do in this town.” Colby Milligan (9)- “I would update the P.A. system and all the tech in the school.” Shannon Laurens (11)- “I would add a music program.” Daniel Cantine (12)- “The bench that used to be on the grass, I’d get a new one.” Caren Perez (11)- “I would remodel the locker rooms.” Bridget de Flores (11)- “Add more bathrooms, and an AC/heater in all rooms.” Coby Roos (9)- “The guys’ bathroom, the gym floor, and hoops.” Ryan Witcraft (11)- “idk” Lily Hoover (9)- “I would make a bigger parking lot maybe and maybe more lunch choices.” Berenice Sandavol (11)- “The bathrooms and all the buildings should be pretty.” Roberto Mandujano (12)- “Build a pool and a soccer stage.”
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Seniors fight for the “Red and White” for the last time
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Photo by: Sophia Saldana
Varsity softball back in action with one solid team
Photo by: Jorie Forbes
The varsity softball team after their win against Natomas High School. (Front row, from left to right) Letty Bellante, Hannah King, Greta Dole, Meraiah Groves, Carmella Rumiato. (Back row) Amy Henning, Kiara Perkins, Tessa Miguel, Coach Paco, Bella Saldana, Kat Castagnasso, Kennedi Lehigh, Coach Saldana.
by Bella Saldana, Staff Writer
Rio Vista High School’s basketball seniors: Bella Saldana, Braeden McCann, Eric Peters, Josh Davis, Sean Kelly, Sam Esperson, and Brook Summitt
by Brook Summitt, Staff Writer
As the basketball season comes to an end it is tradition to recognize the seniors of the girls and boys teams. This year we celebrated the class of 2022 on the night of Feb. 4 against Linden. Unfortunately, the girls lost 46-29. However, the boys pulled out a win with a score of 62-57 which was a very exciting night for everyone. Filled with love from families and friends, you could feel the support in the air as the teams experienced the last moments of their high school basketball careers. Flowers, candy, sashes, and balloons were given to the players as a reward for all of their success and hard work put in throughout the year. The night started off by acknowledging seniors Brook Summitt and Bella Saldana from the girls’ varsity basketball team. The girls made a grand entrance through the doors filled with smoke, which later caused a huge cloud to form in the gym, and a balloon arch. Both ladies have been a part of the high school’s basketball team since freshman year and are constantly recognized for their hard work and integrity, which was much needed this season. The girls ended their season with a record of 9-10 overall. Through many ups and downs the girls had a fun season, “I’m so grateful I was able to spend my last year with the girls that made the team a true team.
Through all the trials and tribulations we were able to keep our heads up and fight til the end, I will never forget that,” says senior Bella Saldana. Followed by the girls game, the boys proceeded with their senior night. This year’s team consisted of five boys; Eric Braeden McCann, Eric Peters, Joshua Davis, Sean Kelly, and Sam Esperson. Making the same grand entrance, the gym was filled with commotion and hoorah. “It was fun to see all the support and see all my friends in the crowd cheering me on, especially after draining my clean buzzer beater at the three point line,” stated Sean Kelly. The boys’ season came to an end with a record of 2-17. Although it wasn’t the best record, the boys still made the best of their season and the wins felt wholesome to them. 2022 has been a difficult year for teams to play to their full potential under the circumstances of rising COVID-19 cases, causing players to miss out on lots of practice and games. The Rams continued to strive through and complete the season. Huge shoutout to Ms. Turk, Mrs. Ingalls, Mrs. Gomes, and everyone else who came out to support and cheer on the players. Especially the coaches for putting in their time and effort to keep the teams going.
Photo courtesy of Daniela Roman
The seniors want to thank everyone and are very appreciative of everything that has been done for them. “We wish nothing but the best for the upcoming seasons.” - The class of 2022
Rio Vista High Schools soccer varsity team getting together for one last time after their playoff game. (Front row) Monica Garcia, Diana Freyre, Stephanie Corona, Silvia Valencia Luna, and Greta Dole. (Back row) Daniela Roman, Bri Shafer, Kiara Perkins, Leslie Garcia, Sammi Lyon, Sherley Guerra, Lilly Burch, Maria Madrigal, Esme Perez, Hannah Patin, Kennedi Lehigh, Coach Ann, and assistant coach Ms. Roman
Softball started on Monday, January 31. Tryouts couldn’t happen right away seeing as there were girls from both basketball and soccer that were going to try out for the team but couldn’t, due to the fact that their respective seasons were still going on. After a couple weeks of conditioning, tryouts happened on Feb. 16 and 17 with the team being finalized and cuts made on Feb. 18. Thirteen girls made the team with a mix of returning and new players. Without a JV team, the softball team has had to make sure they have players from every grade in order to prepare for future seasons as well as the current one. The team has five seniors including captains Bella Saldana and Greta Dole, as well as Meraiah Groves, Amy Henning, and Carmella Rumiato. Groves said, “Being a senior on the team adds a little more pressure, but it’s also nice because you get to help lead and people look up to you.” There are two juniors including Captain Kiara Perkins and Tessa Miguel and two sophomores including Katalina Cast-
agnasso and Leilani Barbosa. There’s also four freshmen including Hannah King, Lacie McWilliams, Letty Bellante, and Kennedi Lehigh. “I personally feel very lucky to be on the team as a freshman with no prior experience and so far it’s been fun and I like everyone on the team,” said Lehigh. “My goals for the season are to improve and become a starter for either first base or third base.” Last year the team only had 10 girls, including three seniors, so there aren’t as many returning players as normal this year. “I think our season is going to be pretty good this year,” said Perkins. “ All the girls are working really hard and despite lack of experience and COVID-19 they’re all fast learners. This year one of my goals is to make playoffs and have a great season with the team.” The softball team starts games on Friday, Feb. 25 with an away game against Natomas followed by an away game against Winters on Tuesday, Feb. 29. Their first home game is Tuesday, March 8 against Vacaville Christian. Come out and support!
Lady Rams Soccer makes playoffs against Ripon Christian
by Monica Garcia, Staff Writer
After a challenging but good season, the Lady Rams soccer team made it to this year’s playoffs. The last time the ladies went to the playoffs was the 2019-2020 season. They put in their all this season, having an overall record of 10-10-1 and their league record 7-4-1, staying in fourth place for the league. On the night of Tuesday, Jan. 1, the ladies had their senior night against San Juan, which they tied. This tie gave the ladies a scare because it ranked them down to fourth place risking their chance to go to playoffs. “We had a rough patch but we were able to work hard and better ourselves and our teamwork,” said one of the seniors on the team, Daniela Arias. For the next two games the girls gave it their all in hopes of making it to the playoffs. On Jan. 3, they beat Encina Prep at home, the score being 3-1. Jan. 7, they played against Linden who is 2nd in the league. Although having lost to Linden they were able to beat them at home, making it into the playoffs. On Feb. 8, the ladies got the news that they would be playing against Ripon Christian for their first playoff game. “I felt excited when I heard we made it to the playoffs because we weren’t sure if we
were going to make it,” Daniela said. On Feb. 11, the ladies headed to Ripon Christian in a charter bus with a couple of supporters, arriving an hour early to warm up and get themselves hyped up for the nerve wrecking game they were about to play. The game then started at 6 p.m. They played the game giving it their all and not letting Ripon Christian score. The game even lasted until overtime where Ripon Christian scored. The game then ended with the score of 1-0. The Lady Rams then had a small last team meeting in the corner where some tears and grateful words were shared. “I was just really happy that I took the opportunity to play although it was the end of the season. I’m just glad I got the chance to be part of the team,” stated one of the seniors on the team, Silvia Valencia Luna. The ladies worked hard this year and had an amazing season overall. After a challenging but good season, the team made it to this year’s playoffs. The last time the ladies went to the playoffs was the 2019-2020 season. They put in their all this season, having an overall record of 10-10-1 and their league record 7-4-1, staying in fourth place for the league.
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The Rams teeing off the season
by Fabrizio Lazo, Staff Writer
The 2022 RVHS golf season is officially underway. This season is unique because unlike the previous seasons, the golfers have a completely new team, consisting of zero seniors, one junior, one sophomore, and six freshmen. Regardless of the experience, the team has goals that they wish to achieve by the end of the season. Coach Ken Gaston expects his team to “understand the rules and course etiquette, learn basic golf swing and club selection, and make sure to enjoy the sport of golf.” Along with the coach, the golfers also have hopes of their own for their seasons. Freshman Alyssa Lucot says, “I hope to go to every tournament, win lots of games, and also win a championship. I’m looking forward to getting better at the sport.” Similarly, Freshman Ava Maka says, “I hope I can get better at the sport.” To many, golf seems like a different and difficult sport, leading to many not giving it a chance. Coach Gaston says, “It’s really good exercise, you can make new friends, it gives you an opportunity to challenge yourself, you can play with family
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and friends for years after high school, and so much more.” Freshman Kyle Preston says, “I know a lot of people on the team so I wanted to see what the sport was like.” Regardless, many still enjoy the sport. Kyle Preston says, “I enjoy it because of how the coach teaches the sport in a fun way.” Ava Maka says that she enjoys the sport because “I like how fun it is with our coach.” The fact that many enjoy it can give the illusion that golfing is a relatively easy sport to get into and do well in. However, golfing isn’t easy at all. Golfing requires a variety of skills that one must master in order to perform well. According to Coach Gaston, “Golf is definitely not an easy sport to play. It takes a lot of time, effort, and patience in order to play well.” All in all, the golfers’ season looks to be an exciting and fun one. The team is still open to more golfers joining the team. Practices are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 3:30 PM at the Trilogy Golf course. With the new golfers now on the team, hopefully the team achieves what they set out to do by the end of the season!
Varsity Baseball: Hit. Run. Repeat.
Athletes of the Month
Sophia Saldana Varsity Girls Swim
Sophia swims for the nationally ranked Terrapins out of Concord as well as for the high school team. She goes straight to city pool, helps set up the pool, helps coach swimmers on bettering their strokes, then goes to Concord for her practice of more than double the high school teams yardage. - Assistant Coach Mahoney
Varsity Boys Swim
Photo by: Mckenna Pratt
William comes directly to the pool and helps set up. He races each set to work on constant personal improvement from the center lanes. This leads others around him to try to catch up or pass him. This leadership by example, is extremely important for overall team development. - Assistant Coach Mahoney
Mr. Sherman talking to the team during a mound visit. The players (from left to right): Braeden McCann, Grant Baldwin, Ryan Zamarippa, Sam Esperson, and John Brimmer.
by Braeden McCann, Staff Writer
After not having a normal season last year due to COVID-19, the Ram’s baseball team is back, but with only a few COVID-19 restrictions. Last year was Coach Corey’s last year as head coach, so Mr. Sherman had to step up and take his place. Coach Sherman and Assistant Coach Higgs have had some really hard decisions to make this year. Because they had 27 guys coming trying out and only planned keeping 20, they had to cut seven guys. Before the season started, the whole team had a field day where everyone came down to the field at eight in the morning to clean up the field so it’s ready for the season. The Rams had their first scrimmage game of the year against Natomas. They played a full seven inning game and Rio took the win scoring 10-5. There were no umpires in this game so the catchers had to
call the balls and strikes. Sherman kept 17 guys after cuts so all of them would be able to play this game because they might not be able to see a lot of playing time this year, so it was cool to see some of them play the whole game. “For not playing since freshman year I think I did fairly well, and if we all do our assignments we will have a very good season,” said senior Boone Hurley. The Rams players are really looking forward to this year’s season because they think they can make a run to the playoffs. They have 28 games scheduled this year and 12 of those games are league games. They have got their first game out of the way so now they are getting ready to play Winters here at home. Winters is one of our biggest rivals and it’s only a scrimmage game but they are trying to win because they beat us in football and basketball this year.
What Would You Consider The Perfect Date? “I guess something like spending the day together doing something semi entertaining where you two chat and both be comfortable.” -Genesis Zepeda
So sorry for the error!
Jeremy Turner Varsity Baseball
I chose Jeremy as our athlete of the month for baseball because he has excelled on the field this first month of the season as well as his work ethic off the field. He has been a huge help for me with maintaining the field this month as well. Thanks for helping me mow! Much appreciated! - Coach Sherman
Kyle Preston Varisty Golf
Kyle is a Freshman and a first year golfer. Kyle has been around his father and friends on the golf courses before, however never really played a round of golf. In our first few weeks Kyle has progressed from learning to hold the club properly to driving the ball off the tee very well. Kyle will continue to grow in the next two years and then challenge the league in his Junior and Senior seasons. - Coach Gatson