February 2019

THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXXI NUMBER VI

February 14, 2019

The last day to purchase AP exams is March 1. See Ms. Acuna in A136 if you have any questions or concerns.

ASB Elections The informational meeting for ASB and class council elections is on February 27 in room A132. See the Aztec bulletin for more information.

Boys and Girls Basketball enter CIF

All Male participates in NBC’s World of Dance

Discover the alternatives to Valentine’s Day

AP registration

sports pg. 11-12

A&E PG. 9-10

VIEWPOINT PG. 3-4

NEWS IN BRIEF

theaztecnews.com

Academic Decathlon advances to state MAPLE DUONG Viewpoint Editor/ Web Editor Mark Keppel’s Academic Decathlon (ACADEC) team competed at the annual Los Angeles County Competition at El Rancho High School on February 2 and 9. Keppel’s Division 1 team placed 2nd amongst all the other high school teams in the county, allowing them to advance to the state competition.

Members of the Division 1 team Justin Day, Vinson Hong, Leon Hong, Ivan Tam, Bai Wei Wu, Angus Yang, Luan Ye, Aurora Zeng, and Paul Zhang went head-to-head with over 20 schools. The team competed in various objective subjects such as math, music, economics, history, science, art, and literature based around the theme “The U.S. in the 1960s.” They also competed in subjective events regarding essay writing, speech and impromptu, and interview.

When realizing that Keppel was advancing to state competition, the team was ecstatic.

“I feel extremely proud of my team because it showed that our hard work amounted to something truly amazing,” says junior Vinson Hong. Their coach, Mr. Tran, who has been coaching Acadec for 7 years, says, “I’m always proud of [the team], and I’m not surprised that they made it to state.”

THE AZTEC/ KEVIN LIU Academic Decathalon Division 1 team from left to right: Bai Wei Wu (11), Angus Yang (11), Ivan Tam (9), Aurora Zeng (12) Paul Zhang (10), Luan Ye (11), Leon Hong (12), Vinson Hong (11), Justin Day (9)

The preparation for county competition was rigorous. “In the first week [of preparation], the decathletes focused on practicing objectives with each other. In the second week, we stayed at school until 9 PM to study subjectives,” explains Hong.

Despite the Academic Decathlon rigor, Hong feels right at home. “It feels like I’m in a second family because I see and work with

a variety of Keppel students on a regular basis,” he says, “It feels really fun and rewarding whenever we study, compete, and joke around with each other.”

Along with the rest of his team, Hong has large aspirations for the upcoming competitions. “Our goal this year is to make it as far as possible in the top 10 in state competition,” says Hong.

Changes in AP exam registration VIVIAN LUK Copy Editor/ Historian

FBLA members pose after receiving awards at competition.

COURTESY OF HENRY PHAN

FBLA returns to annual competition JOYCE LEE Photographer Mark Keppel Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members competed at the Gold Coast Section Conference at South Pasadena High School on February 9th. Competition events were categorized into individual, team, or chapter, and topics included Accounting, Agribusiness,

and 3D Animation, among others.

Mr. Heredia, advisor of FBLA, says, “The main expectation [for competition] is to be united and to focus on the objective which is to prepare relentlessly to meet the demands of competing against the twenty other schools...we thrive on our strengths of which we share to strengthen the overall group.” continued on page 2

Starting with the upcoming school year, Keppel students will be able to take AP Human Geography and AP Seminar.

While these changes to the AP curriculum are exciting, students should be mindful as they make their course selections due to changes in College Board’s AP Exam registration process for 2019-2020.

In previous years, AP Exam registration started in February, but after a pilot program yielded positive results, College Board has moved registration to October.

The pilot program results showed that fall registration increased the pass rate by 5% for white and Asian students and 12% for underrepresented minorities. These results have been attributed to the fact that an October registration date puts students in the right mindset early on and builds momentum to study as the school year progresses. The momentum from an earlier registration could benefit students with little or no AP experience.

Last offered during the 2015-2016

school year, AP Human Geography has garnered enough traction to make a comeback. Senior Adriana Hernandez took the class during her freshman year at Keppel and recommends it as a starting place for students who are looking into Advanced Placement. “I didn’t think I was an AP kind of student. If I hadn’t taken AP Human Geography, I probably wouldn’t have taken any of the other AP classes I took,” she reveals.

Junior Albert Le, who plans on pursuing social science in college, has requested the class for his senior year. He views AP Human Geography as a class to expand “street smart” knowledge. “I think people should be more informed of the cultures in the world and where places are located. A lot of adults don’t even know where countries are,” says Le. While AP Human Geography has roots at Keppel, AP Seminar is part of an entirely new two-course program. continued on page 2

THE AZTEC

2 NEWS

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Math Club holds middle school math competition QUENNIE ZENG Staff Writer Mark Keppel’s Math Club held their annual Math Field Day on February 9 where students from neighboring middle schools, Baldwin, Brightwood, Garfield, Granada, Huntington, Monterey Highlands, Oak Avenue, Ramona, South Pasadena, and Ynez, competed in various mathematical events. These student-designed competitive events included Approximath, Dramathic Perform, Gallery Walk, and more. Math Club also held activities in between competitive events such as origami, structure building, sudoku, and zero robotics.

The event got off to a rocky start when it experienced an early arrival of attendees, Internet disconnection, and an unexpected visit from the rain. “I was kind of nervous about the fact that all the schools came so early. They all started coming around 8... so none of the school sign up were completely ready and neither were the activities, and a lot of our volunteers didn’t come in on time as well. It was chaotic. But everything worked itself out,” says senior Elizabeth Lee, one of the Math Field Day organizers. Despite the initial complication, the event got back on track when more volunteers arrived.

Math Field Day proved to be benefi-

Keppel adds AP Human Geography and Seminar

continued from page 1

COURTESY OF ASHELY LUI Middle schoolers participate in the Final Round Structure Building event at Math Field Day.

cial for the middle school students who attended. “It gives them a taste of higher mathematics… and gives them a platform to apply the mathematics that they didn’t learn in school,” says Jeopardy organizer and junior Aaron Ho. The attendees, using new strategies, were able to exercise their knowledge in activities not available at their schools. Activities committee head and junior Jessica Lam mentions how the games not only challenge students, but also prepare them for their high school classes. Lam compared Approximath to a “lab final you do in biology honors or chemistry honors…

FBLA wins at section conference continued from page 1 The FBLA team placed first in sweepstakes for the first time in several years by accumulating more awards than any other school. Among the FBLA members that placed first in their events include seniors Amy Uthenpong and Chelsea Ng and freshman Dara Disapranurat (Global Business), freshman Tiffany Thong (Intro to FBLA), junior Kaylie Chuman (Future Business Leader), sophomore Athene Yu (Accounting II), sophomore Jay Wang (Intro to Public Speaking and Financial Math), sophomore Audrey Jung (Business Law), and sophomore Kathryn Phan (Creed).

FBLA vice president, senior Chelsea Ng, says that competition introduces her to many other ambitious individuals. She says, “It motivates me to become an even better version of myself.”

Thirty seven FBLA members will advance to compete in the Sacramento state competition in April. Ng says, “Win or lose...ultimately it comes down to what you learn and if you tried your best.”

It’s fast paced and you work in groups to answer questions in a limited amount of time. It’s similar in structure so they got to learn how to answer questions really quickly.”

Both hosts and competitors alike were eager about the event. “I think that a lot of the students were excited because when I was announcing the competitions, they were all cheering,” says Lee. Math Field Day was the most rewarding for the proctors and organizers. “When I see people enjoying the things that I do then I’m pretty happy about it,” says Lam.

According to College Board, the program aims to prepare high schoolers for college by developing their skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Following the completion of AP Seminar, students will be able to take AP Research. Students who pass both AP Exams will receive the AP Capstone Diploma from College Board.

Students who are interested in AP Seminar should prepare themselves for a nontraditional learning experience. They will be granted much more academic freedom and they must have the initiative to plan their own timelines in order to meet College Board’s due dates for their AP Digital Portfolio. The Portfolio will be graded by both the teacher and College Board readers to calculate students’ final AP Exam score. Mr. Luong will be teaching the class and says that students “should expect to do a lot of classwork, talking amongst themselves, and coming up with topics. They should not expect a direct lecture.”

French restaurant gives peek into culture

tling around,” Nguyen compares. “If we look at how a French restaurant ‘works’ in The French classes prepared comparison to local meals and entertainment for restaurants, we can Mark Keppel faculty, family, and see these similarities.” former French students durTo simulate the expeing their simulation of a French rience as detailed as restaurant on February 7 during possible, Nguyen said lunch. The restaurant’s theme was the French classes inspired by the Disney Pixar film, decorated the tables Ratatouille. In light of the theme, with fairy lights and students performed the song “Le played live music.

Festin” from the film and served The French resratatouille. The menu also contaurant simulation sisted of an appetizer, turkey on a stopped three years baguette, and desserts, crepes and ago. The revival of the THE AZTEC/VINCENT BAGABALDO macaroons. Each sitting seated apevent this year was “enFrench students serve teachers and staff French cuisine in the auditorium foyer. proximately 50 people, and tickets tirely student-driven” says were sold for $10 each.

French teacher Madame Smith. The classes were scheduled to Second, third, and fourth-year French students were as- attend a film festival in April, but a change in the festival date signed to different tasks, such as making and preparing the opened up a window for this project. “[As a world language meals, translating the menu dishes, and taking customers’ or- teacher, I believe it is] equally important [to teach language and ders. Sophomore Helene Nguyen, who traveled to France last culture],” says Madame Smith. The French restaurant served as summer with Madame Smith, notices the resemblance in atmo- a way for students to immerse themselves in French culture. In sphere between the simulation and restaurants in France. “It’s addition, the students listen to French news routinely in class, definitely a lively atmosphere with waiters and waitresses bus- and participate in French events like Mardi Gras.

SOPHIE WONG Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor

THE AZTEC 2018-2019 Timothy Chuman

Editor-in-Chief/ Chief Photographer

Sophie Wong

Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor

Selina Martinez

Viewpoint Editor/ Asst.

Editor-in-Chief/ Asst.

News Editor

Maple Duong Viewpoint Editor/ Web Editor/ Asst. Focus Editor

Wesley Zeng

Aurora Zeng

Business Manager

Focus Editor

Vincent Bagabaldo A&E/Features Editor

Sports Editor/ Business Manager

Laura Chen Kevin Liu Copy Editor

Vivian Luk

Copy Editor/ Historian

Izabella Cofressi Photographer

Sdeyni Martinez

Joyce Lee Photographer

Quennie Zeng Staff Writer

Maggie Luu Photographer

Emily Chu Staff Writer

Staff Writer

The Aztec is published monthly by the journalism class of Mark Keppel High School and is printed by News publishers’ press.

Opinions expressed are those of the writers, not of the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are staff editorials, and reflect the opinion of the staff.

Letters to the editor are welcome and are subject to editing. Letters can be given to Ms. Bradley in room A227 or sent to theaztecstaff@gmail.com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. We do not acknowledge unsigned letters.

All internet graphics on The Aztec newspaper are the properties of their respective owners.

Alhambra, CA 91801

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 VIEWPOINT 3 THE AZTEC Instagram America’s tradition: celebrating a single thrift stores Valentine’s Day MAPLE DUONG Asst. Focus Editor

With the growing rate of technology, along comes the growing usage of social media. Today, Instagram is a main source of sharing photos with both friends and followers. However, Instagram is becoming a platform for modern-day entrepreneurs and high school students to sell their items online.

Social media itself is a storefront that allows millennials today to get rid of their items quickly and efficiently while earning some cash in the process. Various Keppel students have taken it upon themselves to sell their clothes via Instagram. “Instagram gives me a big audience to sell to as people consistently go on their social media accounts,” says sophomore Alison Su, who sells items on her Instagram account.

Junior Jenny Un agrees. Un explains various reasons as to why she decides to sell Brandy Melville clothes on her Instagram account. “I know how expensive Brandy Melville can go for, so I want to sell [these items] at a reasonable price so some my friends and other girls can afford it,” says Un. Many people question whether or not shopping online is a better alternative than shopping in-store. “Shopping online is a much more simpler process,” explains Un. “It saves people and buyers a lot of time.”

Su agrees. “With a simple message of interest in an item, people are given the opportunity to buy an item they like,” she says.

However, selling items online can pose a big risk. There are several ways, though, to ensure a safe environment and safe transactions. “A safe way to sell your items can be controlling who your audience is,” explains Su, “You can also make a private account or deny an unwanted customer.”

Ultimately, advertising various items on social media consists of both pros and cons. Un and Su offer their own advice in posting and selling clothing items. “My advice is to advertise your item when most people are active online, and display your item in an eye catching or attractive way,” Su says.

KEVIN LIU Copy Editor “Don’t forget my gift,” she says excitedly, as you open her box of gourmet chocolates.

Your palms sweat as you try to play it off cool. “Uh… Gift? Isn’t Valentine’s Day a one-day event?”

She stares for a second then goes back to his phone and spreads out on the couch, presumably sulking. Meanwhile, you have the most dumbfounded, sheet-white look on your face as you realize that Valentine’s Day isn’t the only love-themed holiday of the year.

In this era, culture is burgeoning with spin-offs, adaptations, and culturally-specific takes on major holidays. One such holiday is White Day in Japan.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, White Day was first introduced in the 1970s by the small confectionary shop known as Ishimura Manseido in the Hakata region of Japan after a woman’s letter caught executive member Zengo Ishimura’s attention. The letter lightly remarked on how men received confectionaries as gifts during Valentine’s Day, but were never reciprocated.

Senior Samantha Lai is no stranger to giving gifts to her friends. “I usually give them little heart-shaped candies and fancy chocolates,” she says. However, she is not usually the recipient of gifts during the annual Valentine season.

Reasoning that women would be happy if their gifts were reciprocated by appreciative men, Ishimura held a board meeting to decide when would be White Day. The board decided to hold White Day on March 14, exactly one month after Valentine’s Day. On this day, they would sell a new sweet made of marshmallow paste with chocolate stuffed inside, concocted by Ishimura himself.

Decades later, White Day is largely an East Asian add-on to Valentine’s Day, also celebrated in Taiwan and South Korea.

However, it has not permeated into the western world and is in fact experiencing a decline in popularity in Japan, as assessed by declines in sales. Though uncertain, the Kinenbi Cultural Laboratory cites a lack of genuine love-chocolate (rather than a courtesy chocolate), and a lack of a flag-

THE AZTEC/ VINCENT BAGABALDO

An aisle in Ralph’s on Atlantic Boulevard dedicated to Valentine’s Day candy and gifts.

ship product.

Though Valentine’s Day and White Day share a close relationship, neither has a firm flagship product. Flowers and chocolates are often seen as generic, but are often accepted as staples in the celebration.

Lai, for example, prefers the Lindor milk chocolates.

However, not all of us have a significant other to share White Day with. That’s where China’s Singles Day comes in.

On November 11th, bachelors and bachelorettes gear up for a fun time in shopping, parties, and other activities. Though its origins are uncertain, one thing remains clear: being single is just a signal for you to let loose.

During this “holiday,” companies like conglomerate Alibaba offer discounts centered on single peoples’ lifestyles, like travel tickets and body pillows. Singles Day annually rakes in more revenue than Black Friday and proved so popular that Alibaba trademarked the holiday. Recently, Alibaba has been pushing to expand Singles Day overseas; in November of 2018, it was recorded making steps in establishing it in the United Kingdom.

It’s not just about shopping; it’s also

a celebration of individual life, especially in the name of parties. It was formerly known as Bachelor’s Day because it was celebrated by young men only; since then, the holiday has expanded to include both bachelors and bachelorettes.

“When you’re single, more love can be dedicated towards yourself; there’s nothing better than self-love!” says Lai. While it is a massive commercial success, Singles Day also ironically promotes the idea of finding love. In the aftermath of China’s One-Child policy, men greatly outnumber women. The perceived difficulty in finding a significant other has led to pessimistic attitudes, but Singles Day serves to comfort those who cannot find a partner and encourage them to find another single soul looking for a bond. As such, blind dates are popular during this time of year.

No matter whether you’re single or in a relationship, there’s something for everyone. Couples looking for ways to express affection? White Day. Singles looking to celebrate? Singles Day. There’s something for everyone, but you have to be willing to celebrate it first.

Is it practical to be a social media celebrity?

IZABELLA COFRESSI Photographer Today’s omnipresence of the Internet has created new careers and monetary opportunities. The idea of having a social media career with jobs such as gaming streamers, Instagram models, or YouTubers falling under that category, is no longer unusual.

In fact, social media influencers, as they are often called, have become so widespread that they are among the top answers children and teenagers have to the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” However, is being an influencer a viable career, or is it doomed to fizzle out in a few years?

Sophomore Katie Ly thinks it can be a sustainable career if the social media influencer posts content consistently. “It is a viable career if they are willing to continue putting in effort, but even a lot of YouTubers that I watch have taken breaks or leaned towards quitting because they are burnt out,” she says. Another challenge they face is keeping their content relevant to their demographic in order to satisfy

this career long-term. Many media stars give up being an influencer after a few years, start a family, and get a “regular job”. There are a few cases, like Shane Dawson or PewDiePie, who have managed to sustain a YouTube career for over ten years; even so, it is a tough task to accomplish. Get Focused Stay Focused teacher Ms. Martinez agrees that it is not plausible to continue this type of career forevCOURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES er. “Unfortunately, I don’t YouTuber Ryan Higa, better known as NigaHiga, has an estimated net think this could be a longworth of $8.5 million, according to Naibuzz. term career because society always wants something new the viewers that have grown up with them and staying current with our wants is very and the young kids that have just discovhard,” she says. ered them. “Many Youtubers say it is hard Others do not think there will be any seto cater to all audiences because some try rious problems and that social media stars to censor themselves and keep their vidwill continue to thrive due to the power of eos PG due to their young viewers, even the Internet.

“We are in the age of technolthough they are adults and have loyal adult ogy.

Social media connects people all over subscribers” she continues. the world, so they will always have someThere is also the issue of maintaining

body supporting them,” says junior Jakim Flores. If influencers do ever decide to ease up on putting out videos or other types of content, there are alternative ways to make an income that involve social media. “As long as they have followers, they can sell merch, open up an online shop for people to buy clothes from their closet, or basically do whatever they want as long as they have some form of fan base” he continues.

Despite whatever challenges social media stars may face, it is clear at the end of the day that they are not going anywhere, and the industry is only getting bigger as time goes on.

POLL: Is being a social media star a viable, long-term career?

yes - 21.9% No - 78.1% 210 STUDENTS WERE POLLED

4 VIEWPOINT FEBRUARY 14, 2019 THE AZTEC Broken friendships and breaking hearts WESLEY ZENG Sports Editor Amidst the Valentine lovers and romantic feelings in the air, there comes the undesirable, opposite thought: breaking up. “You just drift apart sometimes, after a while,” explains senior William Han. Whatever the reason, breaking up with your significant other is never a cheerful experience.

Though most people put an emphasis on relationship breakups, another type of breakup seems just as painful and common: friendships. Friendships are bonds that can be much deeper than that of a relationship.

Sophomore Jared Lo talks about his view of friendships with the phrase “friends to the end.” He says, “Even if you fight with me and I fight with you, I know we’ll still be able to get back together.” Although not as intimate, the bond of friendship is usually much stronger. People form these connections with the idea of having a potential life-long bond, often sharing many thoughts and experiences with each other.

Differences between the two arise in the meaning behind the relationships. “The one between friends is more hurtful because you wouldn’t expect it. You expect them to always be there for you,” says senior Alyssa Morishita. But for a relationship, Morishita believes “it’s sad, but you get over it because you understand you can overcome it.”

Most people in either a friendship or a relationship come together because of common interests, ways of thinking, and complementary personalities. However, a relationship forms a different bond, because both people in the relationship believes that they could have found their soulmate. There is more intimacy involved, and both sides have to learn to put in more effort with communication, patience, and

Poll: Which is worse; a friendship breakup or a relationship break-up?

friendship - 72.9% relationship - 27.1% POLL: Can you still be friends with your ex?

yes - 76.7% No - 23.3% THE AZTEC/ MAPLE DUONG

Friendship breakups cause just as much distance and pain as any relationship breakup.

compatibility to sustain this unique bond.

The impact of a romantic relationship breakup, then, differs in how each side feels. As these relationships often end from loss of connection between the pair, most mutual friends will comfort the person they are closer to, if not both sides. Less incidences of foul play in the relationship can lead to a less dramatic romantic relationship altogether.

This is different from a friendship breakup, as Young says, “While disagreements don’t exactly show on the surface, on the inside, these disagreements prevent the friendship from being as deep as it can be when a middle ground is difficult to find.”

The existing fear in the longevity of the friendship is what keeps many together,

but after these disagreements are confronted, there are often rifts in the friend group. Mutual friends begin picking sides and some may even excommunicate others altogether. Friends that used to talk to each other might not even glance at each other in the hallways, let alone talk about the latest news.

Despite all the pitfalls from a broken relationship, there are contradicting perspectives about the possibility of reuniting.

Junior Jessica Tieu believes that if both sides do enjoy each other’s company there is a chance for both. She explains, “If you guys figure out the problem and work on it, I think eventually you can.” If two friends are willing to hammer out their differences, there is no reason to believe that they will

210 STUDENTS WERE POLLED

stop being friends. Opposing that view is Han, who says, “If you break up a friendship, what do you have left? But if you break up a relationship you can still have a new friendship.”

Whether a friendship breakup feels worse than a relationship breakup or vice versa, it depends on the situation, the people, and the severity of the breakup. Even if breakups occur, they are never the be-all end-all of relationships. Old bonds can be rebuilt, and new ones can form from the ashes of the old one.

The confusing race to “Best Entertainment: the price is not right Picture” SELINA MARTINEZ Asst. Editor-in-Chief

VINCENT BAGABALDO A&E/Features Editor The Oscars: a renowned event where the year’s best artistic and technical aspects of movies are recognized and broadcasted to millions around the world is returning on February 24. Prestigious icons in the film industry gather together to experience a paramount of talent, alongside viewers who, for the most part, are oblivious as to everything that goes on behind the scenes in the Academy.

Out of the 24 categories that are voted on in The Oscars, by far the most prestigious is “Best Picture.” To acquire that coveted title, a plethora of campaigning is done even before nominees are announced since campaigning partially dictates which pictures get nominated and which don’t. Much like a presidential campaign, where candidates have to get through the primaries, the voting process for even nomination is complex and arduous; even diehard Oscars fans are stumped as to how it works. Once each category has its 5 nominees, voting for a winner in all 23 categories aside from “Best Picture” is easy.

Voters are tasked to rank nominated films from most to least preferred.

A movie must obtain 50% of the votes to win the title. If a single film does not get more than 50% of votes, the film with the least number of votes gets eliminated and that film’s vote share goes to whoever a voter listed as their second choice. This process repeats itself until a movie with more than half of the votes win.

After I explained the whole voting process to multiple people, they gave their thoughts on it. Freshman Quan Tsu, a casual watcher of the Oscars, says, “I think the voting system can be better improved. There are movies that the public enjoys that they [the Academy] don’t recognize.”

Others, however, feel that this type of voting creates a platform where every film gets a shot at becoming the best.

Either way, this voting system gets the job done and fails to displease with hit movies such as The Shape of Water and Moonlight winning “Best Picture” in 2018 and 2017 respectively. This preferential voting system, however, poses a problem since it’s not a race for “Best Picture” anymore, but for the “Least Disliked film” since seldom does a movie win with 50% of the votes right at the get-go.

There are certain luxuries that many Americans have grown accustomed to; between Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disneyland membership passes, and others, a monthly subscription bill is routine. Recently, that bill has gotten more expensive.

Two of Southern California’s biggest forms of entertainment, Netflix and Disneyland, saw a price hike at the start of 2019.

Netflix’s cheapest plan increased from $7.99 to $8.99, and the basic one-day onepark Disneyland ticket is now $104 from $97. Other membership plans had steeper price climbs: Disneyland’s basic annual pass increased from $369 to $399 while also decreasing the access of each pass.

Price increases from big companies like Netflix and Disney typically arouse criticism from the public. To mitigate outrage, companies will use certain strategies. Junior Matthew Huitron says, “I think Disney covers up [their reason for raising prices] by saying it will enhance the experience.

They sugar coat it when really they’re just doing it for money.”

For 30 years in a row, Disneyland prices have climbed. Yet, park attendance continues to surge, up 4% in 2019 alone. Senior Gloria Zamora, who makes monthly trips to Disneyland with her annual pass, believes that despite another price increase, “[it] won’t stop people from going to the amusement park. It will still definitely be packed.”

Huitron agrees. “One day prices might go as high as $300 because the park is expanding so much and people will pay it.

[Disneyland] is going to eventually become a thing for the [wealthy],” he says.

Perhaps this is just what Disneyland wants.

If the average American cannot afford to visit, the park would be less crowded.

Although these price hikes come with the promise of an enhanced experience, these changes may be an indication that entertainment companies are losing touch with the average consumer. “I think it sucks because after watching all these amazing advertisements about how great it is, kids are obviously going to want to go, but most families can’t afford it. I don’t think it’s fair,” says senior Kaleigh Hill.

Netflix’s price hike affects even more Americans. Netflix claims that the price rise will help improve its service for its 60.6 million subscribers as it competes with other streaming services such as Amazon and soon, Disney.

With price changes, consumers must carefully weigh the value of these services.

Huitron and Zamora renewed their Disneyland passes and Netflix subscriptions this year. Like many Americans, they believe their experiences are still worth the new price. However, like the other half of Americans, Hill did not renew her Disneyland pass because of the increased cost. Hill is testimony to the opinion that mounting prices continue to to distance them from the everyday middle-class family.

VALENTINE’S ADS

THE AZTEC

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 5 Congratulations band on finishing your competitions and parades so far.

Good luck at Disneyland.

Let's go Aztecs *clap clap*

To Wilson, You’re amazing.

Love, Wilson

6 VALENTINE’S ADS

THE A

AZTEC

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 7

for my gals

To my clarinet villagers, great job in everything you have been able to accomplish. I am so proud of you.

Love Logan

Which one looks better?

8 VALENTINE’S ADS

THE AZTEC

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Interested in a career healthcare?

Join the AMP Academy at MKHS! Aspiring Medical Professionals Questions: mozell._lakia@ausd.us mcneley_sean@ausd.us

Wishing you a Happy Happy Valentines Day!!

- Dyl

i o ms.bradley, ms.semelmacher, & ms.perez + all of my friends forever -christine

FEBRUARY 14, 2019

THE AZTEC

A&E 9 Mario Kart driving to new platforms EMLIY CHU Staff Writer

All Male performing during Boys and Girls Basketball senior night.

THE AZTEC/ VINCENT BAGABALDO

All Male to appear on NBC World of Dance TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief Everybody watches television, but few have the opportunity to ever be on television. Mark Keppel’s All Male dance team not only has the latter privilege, but they will also be making history as they become the first high school All Male dance team to make it onto NBC’s renowned World of Dance when the season premieres on February 26th.

As winners of the U.S Grand National Championship in 2017, the team is not new to intense competition. However, while their feature in the television industry adds to an admirable list of accomplishments for the team, perhaps even more impressive is the fact that they did not even apply to be on the show. The team was brought in to audition in June and was informed three months later that they were going to be on the show.

“It is so exciting to be featured on [World of Dance] because it’s just so exciting being able to perform on a platform that millions of people watch,” says sophomore Christian Kim. “The whole filming process was really cool and it was also fun being on set

and being able to meet other teams from around the world.”

Although All Male has had incredible success over the past few years, their rigorous practice schedule has played a big part in that success. Thus, making it onto World of Dance was not only an experience of a lifetime for the team, but also a validation for all of the hard work that they consistently put in.

“Many students don’t understand how much work we put in during our long and gruesome practice hours. Practicing 20+ hours a week is a norm that All Male has grown accustomed to, and we’re excited to get recognized on such a huge platform,” says senior Edwin Chung.

The team’s excitement was on full display when they received the news that they were going to be on the show. “We went crazy,” says Kim. “It was such a surreal moment.”

Although being on the show is an honor for the team, Arroyo admits that their inclusion on the show comes with major responsibilities for the team. “We have a huge community of other all male dance teams across the nation that we are a member of and we felt a responsibility to represent them well and to not just make it about us, but to make it about all the other

teams that are like us and teams that have inspired us because we weren’t always as strong as we are,” he says.

Yet, the opportunity that the team received to even be on the show is one that they refuse to take for granted. “All of us were very humbled and are still humbled by the experience,” says Arroyo. “It was a very humbling experience to be performing on the same stage as other groups that we have dreamed of performing with or as members someday, so to meet those people on equal playing field really made us feel like we belonged.”

As the premiere continues to draw closer, the team is excited to see all of their hard work come to fruition. They intend to hold a premiere watching event in either the auditorium or Aztec Arena so that students can watch the episode with the team and their peers, and they assert that students should be ready for some phenomenal performances.

To the excitement of many Mario Kart fanatics, Nintendo has announced the arrival of Mario Kart’s mobile version for iOS and Android devices. Although Nintendo has not released much of information on the mobile version, they have confirmed the release date to be sometime in April 2019.

People who have played Mario Kart before already have high expectations for the mobile version. Senior Ellesia Truong has played Mario Kart on the DS Lite, and she enjoys playing it with her friends and family. “My family and I are pretty competitive when playing Mario Kart. It is one of my favorite games and it’s popularity has grown throughout the years,” Truong says. She believes that the upcoming mobile version will be very successful because the game will be widely available to many people. “Other Switch games should be available to mobile, since the majority of the world’s population has a phone. It will attract a lot of people,” Truong adds.

Freshman Ryan Ng has also played Mario Kart on the Wii. He has a lot of fun playing it with his younger brother, and wouldn’t mind purchasing the mobile version if consumers have to pay to play. “I think this transition is beneficial for the Mario Kart creators,” Ng says. “More people will start playing mobile since it is a more convenient platform to play it on.”

Ng thinks this version will do just as well as the previous versions of Mario Kart have done.

Fans of Mario Kart do not know if Nintendo will be charging a onetime fee for the app, or if money will be charged for special features on the game. Either way, Nintendo can still count on Mario Kart lovers to try out the game and see if Mario Kart can uphold its long time streak of being a family favorite game.

Welcome to my TED talk...

JOYCE LEE & MAGGIE LUU Photographers Since 1990, TED talks have allowed many public speakers to discuss their ideas from entanglements of technology and culture to deciding whether the education system is hurting creativity. Initially, to attend the event, an invitation must have been received. Now, an invitation is no longer required, but those interested in attending must submit an application; if accepted, the ticket price is $10,000. However, TED has begun to release videos online.

Ever since TED talks broke into Youtube and introduction of the TEDx program, it has changed from an exclusive conference to a stage where almost anyone can present their agendas. This causes the dilemma in which the voice of the TED Talk is invalidated because of the conflicting political slant of viewers.

Although the ideas of TED can be eye-opening and inspirational, critics are accusing that online TED talks are flat-

tering the prejudices of the audience; thus, they are more liberal than not. For example, in one TED talk titled “Museums should honor the every day, not just the extraordinary,” museum curator Ariana Curtis speaks about how museums should amplify diverse perspectives by honoring “everyday” women. This highlights one of the many discussions posted online in which the speaker promotes the liberal agenda, which junior Amanda Cheung believes it is “simply… to grab the audience’s attention, [which is] always better for them to gain a few more supporters.”

According to Columbus Monthly, third-party sponsors have held spinoffs of TEDx events (e.g. TEDxOhioStateUniversity; TEDxMarionCorrectional, TEDxYearlingRoad, etc.). The concept has proven popular with unlicensed annual TED-like events. Due to this increase, TED is allowing nearly anyone to contribute, and as a result, it no longer completely controls the content or the brand. Thus, with these talks, specifically unlicensed

Ariana Curtis presents her TED talk.

ones, comes the decrease of quality content. TED is facing tremendous criticism because fans feel that TED is no longer a responsible curator of ideas “worth spreading.” Cheung adds, “The quality of TED talks over the years has decreased because they are running out of presentations and stories that aren’t already similar or the message hasn’t already been spoken about

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it.” However, others like TED-Ed Club President Tristan Phillips disagree, feeling that these new TED talks “have very interesting topics” and posses “lots of variety.”

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FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Romanticizing the men behind the murders MAGGIE LUU Photographer Whether a killer seeks fame or not, he is sure to gain it after committing serial murder. Serial murder is a rare, but much-publicized, phenomenon. The increase in programs about real-life serial killers proves Hollywood has a fascination with the troubled, “complicated” character trope. Viewers are continually fed the idea that serial killers are charming, debonair characters; they are misunderstood people who just happen to have a strange proclivity for something inhumanely dark. From Netflix’s latest documentary series Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, which highlights America’s most notorious serial killer’s best traits, to the 2017 film My Friend Dahmer, which shows the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, directors risk romanticizing serial killers for the sake of entertainment.

“It seems to me that with the need for drama, ratings, and suspense, these [programs] seem to take a position or lead you to believe something before presenting the facts that actually fill in the entire picture,” says CTE teacher Mr. McNeley, who majored in criminal justice. “A true

documentary should have no perspective, [but] merely present the facts of a situation. Serial killer documentaries are edited to draw you in and create an air of mystery.” It is undeniable that programs like these are profitable. Between the shock value and human fascination with inexplicable events, the thrill adds to the intensity.

Senior Amy Uthenpong believes that this phenomenon is similar to when “you see a car accident on the freeway. It’s awful, but you can’t seem to look away. It brings people out of their normal routines.”

Recently, a show titled You drew much attention from the world. The show is about Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager who falls in love with a customer named Guinevere Beck. Soon, Joe begins hurting and killing Beck’s friends when he feels threatened. Uthenpong speculates that “some shows promote not sociopaths themselves, but sociopathic behavior. They normalize and condone, numbing the audience and thinking that these relationships are okay.”

Despite the unsettling plot, many have enjoyed the show and even romanticize Joe because he is “hot.” This cycle in which fans of pop culture lust over attractive male ac-

Thank u, next song

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tors who play murderers and stalkers are a byproduct of Hollywood’s romanticization of physical violence and psychological manipulation.

This leads to many critics wondering why serial killers are able to retain their humanity, while also achieving idolization, when they are played by Hollywood dreamboats in antihero dramas. Mr. McNeley believes that “it’s very difficult to separate the actor from the character” but finds that “in [Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, Zac Efron’s] casting makes sense as

Ted Bundy was apparently a handsome and charming man.” Nonetheless, these castings can be harmful because it perpetuates the ideals that surround murderers in pop culture. While this does not mean that serial killer documentaries should not be produced, the consequences of making them should be addressed.

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AURORA ZENG Focus Editor

Ariana Grande’s new album thank u, next dropped a week ago, and like most other albums, the much-anticipated title track along with two other singles was released beforehand. This is not uncommon in the music industry; artists use this strategy as a marketing tool even if it means the entire album will be less exciting.

“Now that everything’s digital, people can pirate songs, so I feel that buying physical albums is a way to support [artists’] music,” senior Chelsea Ng says.

Releasing singles before an album serve as a promotional tool for artists. When listeners enjoy a certain single, they’ll look forward to the whole album. Artists can then keep putting out singles until one of them becomes a hit and becomes a “launching pad” for the subsequent album, as Rolling Stones puts it. In addition, according to Billboard, an artist’s success relies a lot on radio plays. Mainstream stations usually promote only one song from an artist at a time, meaning that each single can receive substantial plays before the next single is released and promoted (assuming the audience likes each track).

“I [anticipate] singles,” sophomore Silvana Martinez says. “They’re like a peek into what their album’s going to be like.”

Martinez also notices that artists get a lot of advertisement through their fanbase, which she believes is more powerful than what companies can do.

“In the past, [artists] have albums and cassette tapes, and they’d have about ten songs per album and release it all at once,” says Mandarin teacher Mr. Lien, who is well-versed in Chinese mainstream music.

“But nowadays, [everything is] digital, so therefore one song at a time [is released].”

Lien states the key difference between the American music industry and the Chinese music industry is that artists in China mainly use exposure through reality shows to promote their songs.

Ng also agrees that American artists have a more “one-sided relationship” with their fans. “American artists only focus on one segment of their audience while Asian artists have events where they show up [and have] meet-and-greets,” Ng says. “[Korean music] monetizes on everything: photocards, albums, pens, lightsticks. American artists don’t have that; that’s why I feel like it’s harder for them to promote unless their songs are played on the radio.”

Physical albums have become more of a collector’s item than a way to stream music since most listeners use digital sources for convenience. Ng adds, “It’s not really about the music anymore, it’s just about having a physical piece of the memory to connect to.”

Music is a business, so every action taken in the music industry is a calculated decision. Therefore, artists will take advantage of current trends to promote their tracks in whatever way they can.

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Black Panther returns for Black History Month SDEYNI MARTINEZ Staff Writer Black Panther was back on the big screen in honor of Black History Month. The movie was available in 250 AMC theaters around the country for the first seven days of February. Movie tickets were free for two showtimes per day. Black Panther showcases the power humans have to advance technology in the future, causing change in the world for good and bad.

Having empowered the African American community, the movie earned over a billion dollars and encouraged actors of color not to be afraid of defeat in the overwhelmingly Caucasian film industry.

Senior Chloe Cao is one of many who saw this as an opportunity to diversify Hollywood, saying, “I think it’s important that the movie came back for Black History month. This movie was a big hit and this brought about a much needed improvement in the industry.”

Black Panther was widely successful and became the first superhero movie nominated for seven Oscar awards, including Best Picture. As a result, the Walt Disney Company will donate $1.5 million to UNCF (United Negro College Fund).

UNCF offers scholarships and helps minority students move throughout college.

“Minorities don’t get as much attention as some other ethnicities do and usually their living conditions could be better. This was a smart move on Disney’s part,” Cao says.

For the past 75 years, UNCF has been acknowledged as the nation’s “largest and most effective minority education organization.” As well as having an all African American cast, Black Panther also has an African American director, Ryan Coogler, who received a Best Director nomination.

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 THE AZTEC Upset over Huskies sets showdown with Serra TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief/ Photographer “We can make it all the way. This was a big win for us and we knew that if we beat this team, we have a chance at beating anyone,” says junior Grace Song.

In a game that went down to the wire, the Aztecs defeated the sixth-ranked Centennial Huskies 55-52 on Saturday to advance to the third round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.

“We have experience. We’ve been here before. They know this is crunch time and they stepped up,” says Head Coach Jose Herrera. “We have a senior-heavy team and they didn’t want to go home, and you saw that tonight.”

The seniors certainly did all they could to keep their season alive, and point guard Vanessa Aguirre was at the center of those efforts. Despite the Huskies face-guarding her the entire game on offense, Aguirre still managed to put up 16 points, including clutch baskets when her team needed them the most. “[Vanessa] just didn’t stop. She kept moving and made big plays. She keeps going and going and I’m hoping after this game, it shows other colleges and college recruiters that they have to take a gamble on her. She’s a special player,” says Herrera.

Though the statistics might say otherwise, the Huskies’ pestering defense certainly limited Aguirre’s game. Because the offense normally runs through her, the team had to adjust to the guard not having the ball.

“I tried my hardest to get open, and once I was able to have the ball in my hands, I tried to make a play as best I could. But I also isolated myself from the plays to open the lane for my teammates since my defender wasn’t helping,” says Aguirre.

Her selfless mindset was pivotal for the Aztecs as it provided opportunities for guards Patricia Chung and Cassandra Shimada to take over. Chung, who led the team in scoring in the first round matchup against Los Osos, was dominant against the Huskies as well, pouring in a team-high 23 points.

However, it was Shimada’s aggressive playmaking in the absence of starting guard Cristin Lue that gave the team the boost that it needed. Though she only scored 10 points, her timely layups played a huge part in shifting the momentum of the game to help the team pull out the victory.

“Since Centennial’s game plan defensively was to deny Vanessa the ball, I knew I had to try and create somehow and score.

So, I kept driving in and it paid off in the end,” says Shimada.

Yet, the game was far from an easy victory for the Aztecs. The teams went back and forth and while the Aztecs seemingly had an answer for every run that the Huskies went on in the first half, the momentum began to shift into the Huskies’ favor in the second half.

The teams continued to exchange baskets in the fourth quarter before Chung and Shimada combined to go on an 8-0 scoring run, giving the Aztecs a 53-45 lead

Wrestling sends four Aztecs into CIF VINCENT BAGABALDO A&E/ Features Editor Both girls and boys wrestling CIF was held on February 8 and 9 at Temecula Valley where multiple schools competed for a chance to get through the CIF Inland Division. The wrestling team, after four of the members successfully made it through the Almont league, got their chance to showcase their skills against schools that made it through their respective leagues and were able to qualify.

Although their experience was cut short, with no one being able to advance further into the competition, heads were still high as they look forward to a chance at improving for next school year.

The new coach, Mr. Ryan Orozco, was proud of his team considering that they were fairly new to

the scene and injuries prevented some players to compete, forcing them to use a substitute. “In having the wrestlers in such a short amount of time, I’ve seen a huge improvement in those couple of weeks,” says Mr. Orozco.

At the event itself, tensions were high as all 4 members of boys wrestling, Juniors Hugo Montes and Andrew Escobar, Sophomore Abbas Mossawi, and Frehsman Marco Barrios tried their hardest to advance to the next fight in their respective weight class.

“I saw good things at the tournament and we have a strong core that’s gonna help build the program in the future. I’d like to see a higher degree of dedication and commitment because wrestling is such a demanding sport. ” says Mr. Orozco.

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Parent and student supporters cheer on the Aztecs as they return to their bench victorious.

with less than two minutes in the game.

The Huskies were not done yet, as they proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one with 25 seconds left, but a pair of free throws by Chung sealed the game.

The team is now tasked with facing off against the top ranked team in the division, Serra High School, on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers are fresh off a 24 point rout over Aliso Niguel High School, and they pose the toughest challenge yet for the Aztecs.

“We worked a lot on defense to prepare, as well as scrimmaging against some of the boys’ JV players to get used to the athleticism and speed that bigger teams have,” says senior Esther Quon. “We can’t control what the other team is going to do, but we have to be willing to throw the first punch and not back down.”

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN

Though the Aztecs may be underdogs, they are embracing the challenge of taking on the Cavaliers. Their victory over the Huskies has their confidence at an all-time high, and they are hopeful that they can pull off another upset.

“I think the win against Centennial really got us excited going into the Serra game.

The team right now is stronger than ever and when everybody is on their game, we’re a pretty good team,” says Aguirre.

The Aztecs played against the Serra Cavaliers late Wednesday night,and the final score could not be included in this issue.

To read the full article, visit www.theaztecnews.com

Super Bowl or Super Social TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief/ Photographer As the clock ran out on Tom Brady’s record-setting sixth Super Bowl win, fans across the nation were displeased with one of the “most boring Super Bowl games of all time.” Super Bowl Sunday has evolved into arguably the largest social event each year, and the star-studded halftime performances, commercials, and food play a major part in that. While it may decrease attention on the game itself, the social aspect creates a fantastic opportunity for football fans and non-football fans to come together.

“I don’t think that Super Bowl festivities overshadow the game itself,” says senior Alex Hua. “I think that the festivities that come with the Super Bowl brings more viewers and allows new people to watch football.”

The statistics support the notion of bringing people together; the annual event draws in more viewers than any other event of the year.

While the ratings were down to slightly under 100 million this year, it still drew tens of millions more viewers than any other TV event. The event also marks annual highs for the sale of foods like chicken wings, potato chips, and more.

“Over the years, it’s [become] so incredibly expensive, but it’s also almost on the verge of be-

coming a holiday… [and] that’s the most amazing thing,” says social science teacher Mr. Garcia.

Football is an integral part of American culture. Thus, it is no surprise that the event has gained so much popularity. While many viewers were disinterested in the game because of the low scoring, fans like Hua and Mr. Garcia took delight in such a competitive matchup.

“I enjoyed the game. It was a close game and I’d rather see a close game than a blowout, even if it meant the Rams losing,” says Garcia. “But, they played great defense which I loved.”

The NFL has done an incredible job with pairing the entertainment and social aspect with the sport, and it has created an event that millions of Americans continually look forward to. Yet, the game itself should not be lost in the festivities of the event; the respective teams and players should receive the attention they deserve. However, this may not be something that can be accomplished from an advertising standpoint; as Mr. Garcia recognizes, the public may need to take on the task themselves.

“Watch offseason games. Don’t just sit and wait for the Super Bowl, but follow along with things like fantasy sports, that’s an easy way to do it,” he says.

FEBRUARY 14, 2019 THE AZTEC Undefeated boys basketball loses first round of CIF 12 SPORTS

IZABELLA COFRESSI Photographer Boys Varsity Basketball faced off against the Citrus Hill Hawks on Friday, February 8 in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs, with the Hawks pulling out a 56-48 victory. The game ended with eight fouls from each team as well. The undefeated Almont League champions put up a grand effort against the Hawks, with the score being very close throughout the game. Throughout the first three quarters of the game, the Aztecs barely maintained a leading score. However, the Hawks put up 19 points during the fourth quarter, securing their victory.

The Aztecs had a very successful league season, ranking 58th in the state division. Their win 62-46 against the Alhambra Moors enabled them to place first in the Almont League. Although they were unable to further advance in CIF, the team is proud to have been able to make it this far. “It is always an honor to win first in the Almont League, but our focus is always CIF. CIF is a privilege to be in, but unfortunately we could not surpass the first round and it was a tough loss to take in,” says junior Diego Bustillo.

Both the Hawks and Aztecs had a wide range of advantages and disadvantages over each other. To prep for this specific game, the team had game film that they were able to watch. This gave them the ability to take note of the Hawks’ strengths and weaknesses. It was ultimately helpful for the team when they would practice and it allowed the Aztecs to try and overcome their own weaknesses. Sophomore Aidan Acosta says, “We have a really solid base and point guard so I feel we were strong in that sense, however our team is not very fast-paced and the other team was quick, so ultimately that is what got us.”

Despite the disappointment of losing the first CIF game, the Aztecs made many memories and had a variety of experiences that they were able to learn from and appreciate. “My favorite moment was Senior Night where I was able to see all five of our seniors play on the court at the same time; that does not happen very often so to be able to see that was pretty cool,” says junior Michael Granados.

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN

Athlete’s Profile: Jordan La LAURA CHEN Business Manager

THE AZTEC/ VINCENT BAGABALDO

Junior Michael Granados attempts to make a layup.

Baseball takes loss against Valley Christian KEVIN LIU Copy Editor Mark Keppel’s Varsity Boys Baseball team lost against Valley Christian High School on February second with a score of 9-3.

Beforehand, in their official practice with head coach David Moore, the team reviewed fundamentals of baseball: hitting, pitching, fielding, and common situational plays. However, it was not enough to carry them to victory.

“Although they did play hard to get the win, we gave them the win by playing poorly,” says senior Samuel Kim. “We are not here to make the same mistake again.”

While the Valley Christian Defenders kept the momentum throughout the game, the Aztecs took advantage of key opportunities, allowing them to score three points. In the third inning, the Defenders’ pitcher began to lose control, as he walked four Aztec batters. This scored the first run for the Aztecs, but they still trailed by eight runs.

After a batter got hit by a pitch and another batter walked, the team scored two more runs off a double by senior Frankie Guzman in the seventh inning. Despite scoring three runs throughout the game, the Aztecs were close to not scoring any runs at all, or being shut out.

“We are the weakest in batting offensively because we are not able to put up

the runs as we did before in past years,” says Kim. “Getting shut out is the worst feeling and I don’t think we are a team that should be getting shut out.”

Though it did not count in Almont League standings, the Varsity Boys Baseball team is starting off their record 0-1 in Division 6. However, considering that the Valley Christian Defenders were a Division 2 team, there remains a bright outlook for the upcoming league season.

“As a team, I want us to not focus on just winning; although it is very important to win, [it is also important] to have fun and focus one play at a time,” says Kim. “I truly believe we have the ability as a team to do some damage.”

Starting from the eighth grade, Jordan La has been competing in tennis for the past four years and is entering the final league season of his high school career.

While La was still in middle school, he was interested in joining a sports team and his friend, Crystal, who was a freshman at the time, introduced him to tennis. “She really encouraged me to play with her, and the sport grew on me,” says La. Even after participating in tennis for such a long time, La still believes tennis to be a very challenging sport. He says, “From holding your racket correctly, to the way you move around the court, or by simply tossing the ball for your serve, there can be many errors that occur.” When La first began playing the sport, he was unable to perform well. He would hit the ball outside the court and hold the racket in the wrong forms. Despite these challenges, La stuck with the sport. La’s determination allowed him to gain a spot on the varsity team in his sophomore year.

One of La’s favorite memories includes playing doubles with his close friend, William Dang Nguyen during a preseason match. “It was very memorable because we were never partners before in a game.

Being able to compete with one another gave us the motivation to win even more,” says La. La expressed that with the absence of the seniors in the previous season and many members not returning for this season, the upcoming season would be difficult. However, he says, “I have hope for the tennis team because I know that each and every one of us want to keep our league champion status alive.” To practice for the league season, the team practices after school everyday for two hours.

To read the full article, visit www.theaztecnews.com

Sports Calendar Boys tennis

Baseball

Badminton On 2/28 versus San Marino at San Marino On 3/7 versus Webb at Mark Keppel On 3/13 versus Alhambra at Alhambra On 3/15 versus Mayfield/Loyola

On 2/19 versus University at Mark Keppel On 2/22 versus Pasadena Poly On 2/25 versus Schurr at Schurr On 2/27 versus Bell Gardens at Mark Keppel On 2/28 versus Western Christian at Western Christian

boys volleyball On 2/19 versus Monrovia at Mark Keppel On 2/23 versus Garey/Ganesha On 3/1 versus Western Christian at Western Christian On 3/5 versus La Canada at Mark Keppel On 3/12 versus Montebello at Mark Keppel

On 2/19 versus Rosemead at Mark Keppel On 2/21 versus Pasadena Poly On 2/27 versus South Pasadena at South Pasadena On 3/5 versus Monrovia at Mark Keppel On 3/7 versus Montebello at Montebello

Softball On 2/19 versus Rosemead at Rosemead On 2/22 versus Wilson LA at Mark Keppel On 2/26 versus La Salle at Mark Keppel On 3/1 versus Western Christian at Mark Keppel On 3/5 versus Malibu at Malibu