THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXXI NUMBER I
September 20, 2018
theaztecnews.com
VIEWPOINT PG 3
FOCUS PG 4-5
Features PG. 6
SPORTS PG 7-8
Targeting Trump on talk shows
Representation in Hollywood
Meet our celebrity teacher
The effect of school spirit on athletics
News in Brief PSat/ NMSqt The PSAT/NMSQT test will be held in the Aztec Arena on October 10 at 7:30 a.m. Tickets will be $20 each. Space is limited to 200 test tickets.
Catalyst Brings sat bootcamp to Keppel Catalyst Prep will be holding an SAT bootcamp at Mark Keppel from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 29 and September 30, for $195. The entire course and materials will be covered. Enrollment ends on Wednesday, September 26.
Sghs to host annual college fair The annual district college fair will take place on Thursday, October 18 at San Gabriel High School from 6-8 p.m. Representatives from 2-year and 4-year universities and colleges, vocational schools, and the military will be on campus.
Your calendar 9/26- Alliance Meeting from 7-9 PM in the cafeteria 9/27- Collaboration Schedule; Aztec Night from 7-8:25 Pm 9/28- Minimum Day 10/3- Collaboration Schedule 10/8- Pupil Free Day 10/17- PTSA General Association Meeting from 7-9 PM in the cafeteria
Planet Save attracts international attention KEVIN LIU Copy Editor Brothers and co-founders of nonprofit organization Planet Save Stanley Lin and Spencer Lin attended the Xin Philanthropy Conference organized by the Alibaba Group in Hangzhou China on September 5th as keynote speakers in this year’s theme, “Everyone participates for a better future.” In addition to speaking at the prestigious conference, the brothers were presented an award from a United Nations representative at the conference. Currently, Stanley attends the University of Southern California as a freshman, having graduated from Mark Keppel in the class of 2018. His brother Spencer is still attending Mark Keppel High School as a junior. However, they both look forward to furthering their goal of environmentalism. Before the nonprofit was officially incorporated as a non-governmental organization (NGO), Stanley Lin aspired to be an environmental advocate. Throughout his early
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teenage years, he frequently witnessed trash in natural settings and the use of non-environmentally-friendly machines like gas-guzzling cars. “[At one point,] there was an active warning at a beach to look out for seagulls because [drug] addicts leave [their things] all over the place,” remembers Stanley.
“Part of why I created Planet Save was to give everyone a chance to make an impression on the world,” says Spencer Lin. “It doesn’t have to be a big one… just cleaning up a beach, or giving a pet a new life changes the lives of people.” For more, visit theaztecnews.com.
AP Government makes a comeback
Juniors face new CA Science Test
VINCENT BAGABALDO A&E/ Features Editor
VIVIAN LUK Historian & Asst. Copy Editor
Students at Mark Keppel High School tend to flock towards classes in the STEM field, ignoring most of the AP social science classes that are offered. Some students only take these classes just to get the required credits to graduate and aren’t really interested in the learning aspect of it. Social science department head, Mr. Gillette, has noticed the number of students taking social science classes dwindle over
the years. “ I wish that we had a little bit more robust movement in our school year curriculum because so many students choose to take [social science classes in the] summer which drives me crazy,” says Mr. Gillette. Events like Math Field Day or Science Field Day are testament to how much interest the STEM subjects garner. There are no similar events when it comes to the humanities. In regards to the new
AP Government class, Mr. Gillette hopes it will continue to thrive in the future, “ Every year we would get questions from students, ‘Can we have a [government] class?’ and we said ‘Yeah, just get enough sign ups’ but there never were. This year we finally have enough sign ups. We’re hoping that that’ll carry some momentum forward so we’re hoping that continues.”
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This year, science teachers are trying a new way of classroom instruction in an attempt to better prepare students for the California Science Test (CAST), a test all juniors will be taking in April. This new method of instruction is in correspondence with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS are reflective of the content of the CAST. Ms. Hake, the Science Department Chair, says, “It’s almost like backwards teaching. Here’s the big picture. Then, we chunk it apart and hopefully explain how that big picture happened.” According to biology teacher Ms. Ng, the results of this test will probably not affect college admissions since this is the first year that the test is being administered. However, the results may be used for admissions or placement purposes in the future. While students seem to be indifferent regarding the implementation of the test, Ms. Hake acknowledges that there are some benefits. A standardized test allows the state to compare high schools and students side by side without any bias, a quality that grades don’t offer. “If a student at Keppel gets an A on their [biology] test and a student at [another high school] also gets an A, how do we compare that?” says Ms. Hake.
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626 to the 909
Advocating for representation
AURORA ZENG Focus Editor & Chief Photographer Instead of the 626 Night Markets in Santa Anita, students can visit the annual LA County Fair in Pomona for more than just street food. The Fair, which is open until September 23, hosts various competitions, live performances, carnival rides, and much more for people to enjoy. Senior Therese Du, who has been to both events, believes the 626 Night Market is not overrated, as it allows visitors to try “food places from other cities where [they] won’t be able to go on a regular basis.” However, she still prefers the LA County Fair. “The fair offers rides, festival games, and an ice skating rink,” she says. “[It] is insanely big and there’s so much to do. If you haven’t been, you should definitely check it out.”
QUENNIE ZENG Staff Writer Congresswoman Judy Chu shared her thoughts on being the first Chinese-American woman in Congress during her book signing at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library on September 9. The book, Asian Pacific Islander Americans in Congress, 1900-2017, encourages the idea of breaking normalities by providing the history of Asian Pacific Islanders who have made a difference in the representation of Asians in Congress. Chu explained that the book “helps to chronicle our history; if we have no depiction of our history, we are invisible.” Following the signing, Chu further explained how she believes in equality and justice for everybody. “Immigrants have contributed greatly to America and in fact, they are the backbone of America. Immigrants have an entrepreneurial spirit that has made America the land of innovation,” Chu says. Chu will continue to promote the idea of acceptance of immigration and more representation of minorities in the government in her next book signing on October 6, at the Filipino Christian Church in LA.
THE AZTEC/ SOPHIE WONG
OneZo demonstrates the art of boba SOPHIE WONG Editor-in-Chief & News Editor There are hundreds of boba stores in California, with a selective few making their own boba. In August, Taiwan franchise OneZo opened up its second store in California, located at Atlantic Times Square, Monterey Park. The store has
been popularized by its fresh boba, made in variety of flavors, such as taro and black sesame. “The thing with housemade boba [is that] we choose the ingredients, so we know where it comes from and it’s fresh. We want the customers to taste the best bobas,” says Kitty Lo, Monterey Park’s OneZo supervisor.
THE AZTEC/ QUENNIE ZENG
The Aztec 2018-2019 Timothy Chuman
Vincent Bagabaldo
Vivian Luk
Emily Chu
Sophie Wong
Wesley Zeng
Izabella Cofressi Photographer
Sdeyni Martinez
Selina Martinez
Laura Chen
Joyce Lee Photographer
Aurora Zeng
Maple Duong Viewpoint Editor/ Web Editor/ Asst. Focus Editor
Maggie Luu
Editor-in-Chief/ Photographer Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor Viewpoint Editor/ Asst. Editorin-Chief/ Asst. News Editor Focus Editor/ Chief Photographer
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Sports Editor/ Business Manager Business Manager
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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. Baber in room A151 or sent to theaztecsubmit@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.
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September 20, 2018 Trash talking Trump TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief Talk shows have been built upon making entertainment out of the news, but under the most recent presidency, bashing on President Trump has gained the level of prominence as the core content of talk shows. In many countries, people are prohibited from speaking out against their leaders, let alone on a public platform. Yet, Americans have the freedom of speech to voice their opinions, often putting President Trump under fire. This lawful freedom is not the only thing that has fueled attacks on the President; some think he has brought it upon himself with actions in office. “The President is not above the law, and anybody who does anything is deserving of criticism,” says senior Adrian Beaumont. “If [talk shows] are mentioning him
on a nightly basis, there has to be a reason, and most of the times, there is a legitimate reason because he causes controversy.” While freedom of speech enables talk shows to create content out of President Trump’s actions, this does not make them immune from backlash from the President himself. The President often takes offense at the criticism that the talk shows raise, seemingly causing tension between them. “The guy at CBS, what a lowlife, what a lowlife,” Trump said in reference to late-night host Stephen Colbert, at a rally in South Carolina. Comments like these have reaffirmed the notion that it is acceptable to call out the President, and it poses the question of why he puts himself in a position to be attacked in the first place. “He makes himself a target more than any other President,
Advanced Placement or Arbitrary Pressure? MAPLE DUONG Web Editor
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so just don’t give people ammunition,” says Ms. Bradford, the culinary arts teacher. Despite the fighting between the two parties, finding a middle ground would be in the best interest for both. “I think if there became a better sense of respect between the two parties, it wouldn’t be as intense as it is now. There needs to be a balance, and I think if Trump lowers his calm, then talk shows should do the same,” says Beaumont.
Clubs in the name of college SELINA MARTINEZ Asst. Editor-in-Chief With roughly 80 clubs on campus ranging from service clubs to academic clubs, there is bound to be something for everyone. In the case that there is not, there is always the opportunity to start a club. Clubs provide students an opportunity to explore career paths and to meet and create bonds with people of similar interests, albeit not the only thing they offer. Students see value in joining clubs not only for the fun, but for one very important list: the resume. Junior Jasper Duong believes that one important reason why people join many clubs is
“because colleges are looking for students who have many extracurriculars and can keep good grades at the same time.” Senior Kelly Chen agrees. “I do believe that some students join clubs just for stoles, cords, and their resume. Society is competitive, and many believe that being active in many clubs highers their chances of getting accepted into a good college.” Senior Kelsey Bustamente believes that club involvement is good for college because “it shows that you are enthusiastic about helping the community, and that you are diverse, dedicated and productive.”
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Although this is what students hope to show admission officers when creating their resume, joining the club with the intention of getting accepted into college puts into question of whether the level of commitment for the club is actually present. Are these students only doing the bare minimum to be active? Is there really not much interest for the club? Although many students do join clubs to “pad” their resume, it is important to note that many students do join clubs based on passion. Whatever the students’ intentions are however, clubs are still a great way to develop friendships and to have fun during the school year.
There is a culture at Mark Keppel; it’s almost as if it’s required to take 8 AP classes throughout high school. But are these classes necessary for college entrances, and how are they beneficial for students? Various factors drive students to take AP classes. Keppel alumni Keven Som explains how some students who take AP classes “love learning, while [other] people crack under the pressure of not having classes with their friends.” However, at Keppel, advanced classes have become a norm. “Taking APs have become a standard at this point,” says senior Andrew Hom. Colleges do not just look at how many advanced placement courses one takes; they also take other things into consideration. Guidance counselor Ms. Tang says, “Colleges will acknowledge if you are doing something that you are passionate about.” She explains how students do not necessarily have to take numerous AP classes to be able to attend college. However, AP classes do bring positives to the table. “AP classes teach you how to manage your time, and how to efficiently get work done,” explains junior Mindy Ren. In spite of these factors for taking APs, the main reason why students take these courses is college. Students believe that taking AP classes will make them appeal to colleges. “Colleges look for people who are ahead of the game…” Som says. “However, some concur that not getting AP classes isn’t a deterrent in getting into colleges. By no means would not getting into an AP class make it impossible for you to get into the colleges of your choice.” Hom and Som would like to give Keppel students advice when it comes to taking rigorous advanced classes. Hom advises students to take classes related to your major. “It’s never worth taking a class knowing that you won’t enjoy its content,” Som adds.
Senior Kirby Lam working on AP Statistics homework.
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THE A
Minorities: No Crazy Big Steps toward diversity in Hollywood JOYCE LEE Photographer Asian representation has been on a turn for the better in 2018, especially with the arrival of the movie, Crazy Rich Asians. The summer rom-com featured an all Asian cast for the first time since Joy Luck Club’s release in 1993. It made a huge impact in movie theaters and reverberated heavily across Asian communities in America. “Asian actors suddenly became the main characters of a big screen Hollywood movie and this was different from what we normally see,” says senior Tiffany Lai. “This change was really important to the Asian American community because it allows for us to be proud over our own heritage and culture as it is shown on the big screens.” The movie was directed by Jon M. Chu and featured many well-known stars, such as Constance Wu from ABC Family’s Fresh Off The Boat to Ken Jeong from the Hangover trilogy. Several up-and-coming celebrities, such as rapper Awkwafina and radio host Henry Goulding, were also part of the movie’s cast. Many people related heavily with the themes regarding family in the movie, and some
even found the movie to be inspirational for aspiring actors, especially those of Asian descent. Lai also says that “this movie was able to open the eyes of those who might not be familiar with the Asian cultures and give them a glimpse of the Asian morals and principles.” In regards to the audience’s reception of this film, Lai predicted that it would be popular in the San Gabriel Valley. In addition, senior Bryan Chan, a fellow theater student, also said that “seeing Asian men being portrayed as the love interest rather than the nerdy sidekick was refreshing to see.” For years, minorities have been played off as stereotypes of their race without being given any depth to their character. Placing characters in a movie where the main focus is not their race, while still emphasizing the importance of one’s heritage, is essential to separating a gag from a real story. While almost two months have gone by since the movie’s debut, it is clear that its effects will be impactful upon Hollywood and our communities for a very long time.
Crazy Rich Asians earned $35.2 million in box office sales on its first weekend of opening, according to The Atlantic.
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Voices: How do you ethnicity depicted in
“I feel like minorities are being represented more…[through companies like] Wong Fu Productions. It gives me faith of how Asian culture will be represented in the future.” Michael Choi, junior
“[Asians are seen as] o are stereotyped to sco be good at math, or p [well]… [but] not all As Emily Zhuo, so
“I don’t see that many major roles with Latinos… I would want to see [them in roles] of the lead, like superheroes.” Isaias Martinez, freshman
“Most Asian people in or they get killed off. W of [Crazy Rich Asians], more movies [w Andy Phu,
PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY CHUMAN, JOYCE LEE, SELINA MARTINEZ, AND AURORA ZENG VOICES BY AURORA ZENG
How have Asians been historically depicted in movies? COURTESY OF CBS NEWS Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) Japanese character Mr. Yunioshi, played by Mickey Rooney, remains a popular example of Asian stereotypes in movies.
COURTESY OF GOO Joy Luck Club (1993) was the first Hollywood movie to feature an all Asian cast.
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AZTEC
o Longer Minor normally see your Hollywood movies?
overachievers who ore perfect on tests, play the piano super sians are the same.” ophomore
“We’re rarely in any movies. . . It’s created the stereotype that we’re not as important. [Having a lead] of any minority would say, ‘Hey, we actually exist, and we’re actually important.” Matthieu Gol, sophomore
movies are nerds… With all the popularity I hope there will be with Asians].” , senior
“[Latinos in movies] eat Mexican food all the time or show too much [skin]. We’re [also shown] as dumb, so I would like to see the better side of [Latinos] instead of the bad.” Sarena Scott, senior
OD MORNING AMERICA
To all the minorities I’ve seen in movies... EMILY CHU Staff Writer Netflix just released a hit movie with a female Asian lead called To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The movie stars Lana Condor, an American-born Vietnamese who plays Lara Jean, the protagonist. In the 99-minute film, Lara Jean faces an unusual dilemma: her private love letters she had written to five boys gets mailed to them by her little sister, and she is left to face the aftermath of it all. Lara Jean is easily loved by teenage girls for her personality and lovable nature, along with her love interest, Peter Kavinsky. “To All The Boys I Loved Before was a great start in featuring Asian actors and actresses in the film industry, and Asian representation is getting more and more accurate as time goes,” says senior Felicia Tani. She believes that this movie was such a hit because Lara Jean was one of the only Asians in a movie to be seen with a life outside of academics and school. However, Tani states that seeing the main character as an Asian was more relatable than Lara Jean’s lifestyle. Fans of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Netflix’s other hit romantic comedy, The Kiss-
ing Booth, say that Netflix keeps getting better and better with their movies, with To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before being at the pinnacle of relatability and quality. Junior Jason Sanchez claims that people of minority are severely stereotyped in the film industry, where Asians are only seen as GPA driven nerds, Hispanics as cleaning maids or drug dealers, and African Americans as the bad guys. “It’s wrong, but it’s reality. There’s nothing we can do but let time fix it,” he says, “This movie might just be a dawn of a new era.” Despite the movie’s exclusivity to Netflix users, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before has attained “Popular on Netflix,” “Trending Now,” and has been all over Instagram, YouTube, and various magazines. Elle Magazine has confirmed the possibility of upcoming movies, because Netflix had picked up the original version of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, a book trilogy by Korean-American author Jenny Han. In other words, the audience can look forward to two more movies with guaranteed Asian representation.
COURTESY OF VOX To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before author Jenny Han turned down film offers who refused to cast the main character Lara Jean as Asian in order to ensure the movie adaption would not be whitewashed.
COURTESY OF USA TODAY Crazy Rich Asians (2018), starring Constance Wu and Ken Jeong, is the second movie with an all Asian cast.
COURTESY OF VARIETY To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) stars Vietnamese American Lana Condor (right), who plays Lara Jean, an Asian American high schooler.
6 FEATURES
THE AZTEC
sEPTEMBER 20, 2018
Experiencing the unknown at Keppel SOPHIE WONG Editor-in-Chief /News Editor
THE AZTEC/TIMOTHY CHUMAN
New Year, New Principal WINNYE TU Staff Writer
As the new school year begins at Mark Keppel, Principal Jeannie Gutierrez prefers not to rock the boat by making changes to the school. “Coming in new, I think it wouldn’t be right to come in and say— ‘Oh I have this vision, I have that vision,’ when this isn’t my school, this is your school, and this is the staff who have been here a long time,” says Ms. Gutierrez. Ms. Gutierrez started as an English and Social Science teacher. Over time, she wanted to learn about the things outside of the classroom. “I wanted to be a part of what we were doing in school. And I thought, maybe as an administrator, it would give me a wider lens on that,” says Ms. Gutierrez. As the new principal at Mark Keppel, Ms. Gutierrez feels welcomed and enjoys her job. “I’m really loving it here. You have really good teachers and the students have been wonderful so far,” says Ms. Gutierrez. One of her main goals was to see as many seniors as possible graduate. Ms. Guiterrez says, “For me, the biggest accomplishment would be seeing even more students graduate with the ability to do whatever they choose—whether that be attend a four-year university or whatever it might be.”
they belong. “The purpose of Link Adjusting to a new environment Crew is to [help] freshmen feel the can be tricky for most. In the case for energy of our school and release their newly immigrated students, having a passions,” says Alex Tan, a junior Link second family in school is important Crew leader and ELD student. for them to have an enjoyable high For newcomers, it is not just the school experience. They look forward new school and classes they must get to playing a sport, joining a club, meetused to, but also the culture. “I’m from ing new friends, and ultimately formChina, and so the way [students from ing their group just like everyone else China] learn things is different from who is coming into high school with Mark Keppel. [In America], you have the fear of the unknown. to communicate a lot, like talk about For the newly immigrated students, THE AZTEC/SOPHIE WONG your feelings,” says Tan. language and culture barriers prevent Besides the fact that they are new them from being included. English Ms. Arzate’s freshman class. to the school, freshmen and newcomers Language Development (ELD) teachAsian schools where if you don’t get the er Ms. Acuna notes that ELD students test scores, people are committing sui- are really no different. “They’re just like are just as motivated as native English cide. But, I’ve also taught students who other teenagers in that they’re shy and speakers “and they really want to learn didn’t go to school for a year, and they they don’t want to look silly in front of English as quickly as possible, and they don’t know what it’s like to be organized their peers. Sometimes they’re afraid to know that talking to English speakers is or to write down [their] homework,” says go and try clubs or sports where they have to talk to people who don’t speak the fastest way to learn English.” Ms. Acuna. The difference between teaching ELD The Mark Keppel Link Crew works their language,” says Ms. Acuna. students and native speakers comes from closely together before the start of school their different educational background. to ensure that all new students are famil“Some of them are used to high pressure iar with the school, and can find a place
MKHS’s Choir Sings to a New Beat MAGGIE LUU Photographer English teacher Ms. Burkhart takes the reigns and is in the works for a fun and influential choir group after the recent retirement of choir instructor Mr. Azelton. She hopes to connect with her new students and hopefully reach out to the aspiring singers in Mark Keppel. “I want the choir to be a source of inspiration, like motivation, for the rest of the school,” says Ms. Burkhart. “I want us to be able to sing songs during lunch and have fun.” For choir, it is planned to focus less for competitions and perfection. Instead, Ms. Burkhart will be putting more emphasis on “building the confidence” of singers in their voices. As for the Aztec Singers, they will remain independent from the choir class and continue to work hard for competition.
“[At] this point in time, the Aztec Singers and the class will be existing separately for the most part,” says Aztec Singers’ president Amanda Hoang. “I hope we all hold ourselves at a high standard and work better as a team.” Although the choir will not be as focused on competitions, Ms. Burkhart reassures students that choir will still be participating in Ms. Burkhart’s choir class. THE AZTEC/MAGGIE LUU events. Hoang also adds that “the student class, that will include more choreography body can expect classical music and shows and storyline sets. Hoang says, “My vision of creating and from the choir class.” The Aztec Singers will also be hosting interactive funds and maintaining a better program than we’ve many more shows, separate from the choir had previously isn’t that far away if we as a choir work hard and work together.”
Jim Horton, Teaching Superstar! New Math Course: IDS VINCENT BAGABALDO A&E/Features Editor
COURTESY OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERITY
Dungeons and Dragons: Not just a board game MAGGIE LUU Photographer She Kills Monsters, the upcoming fall play, is an adventure fantasy that explores the world of Dungeons and Dragons. The heroine, Agnes, is looking for her sister she never knew by exploring the world her sister created. With this dramatic comedy, the audience should strap in for a thrilling performance by MKHS Performing Arts department.
Mark Keppel’s autotech teacher Jim Horton has been under Keppel’s care for 18 years now, teaching students and caring for them as they take this course. His good intentions caught the attention of a show on Velocity Channel called Overhaulin’ when his son, Andrew, sent in an application for a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger car to be fixed. The episode aired on November 4, 2014; although it has been a while since it first aired, Mr. Horton and his son continue to watch it from time to time. In the program, the team at Overhaulin’ decided to model his car after a baby Shelby Cobra with a blue color and white stripes after owning the vehicle for 32 years. They did a whole transformation from the engine to the steering wheel, making the car seem brand new. He
was delighted that he got the chance to fix up his old car and be on television at the same time adding, “My car will be featured in the 2019 Snap-on Calendar.” Working for 29 years at AUSD has made Mr. Horton very knowledgeable about the curriculum he teaches and the people in the community. So much so that he was voted teacher of the year during the school year of 20172018, a testament to how much of an influence he has made on his students.
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LAURA CHEN Business Manager A new 3rd year math course called Introduction to Data Statistics (IDS) debuted at Mark Keppel. Taught by Mr. Ramirez and Ms. Sinisi, four periods of IDS have been opened to students who completed Math 1 & 2. If students do not want to take Math 3, IDS is an option. Ms. Sinisi says, “the coding component expands a student’s skill base and is geared to where technology is currently at.” Unlike the traditional math class, IDS is more computer-heavy and statistics-based. She capitalizes on student interest by involving students with statistics in their everyday lives. For example, she has had them collect data on all the snacks they consume. In class, the data
is combined with online statistics and the students subsequently find solve for variables. These variables are used to create different graphs which they analyze and interpret. While the course is different in terms in incorporating technology, Junior Garret Matsukiyo adds, “The most fun aspect of this class is that I am constantly working with my classmates and it is highly encouraged by the teachers as well.” Sinisi believes this is important because it gives students a first look into many careers that involve the coding knowledge and statistics.
September 20, 2018
Junior Gloria Lu hits the ball for a point in the third set.
THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN
Girls Volleyball finding their groove LAURA CHEN Business Manager This Tuesday, the Girls Varsity Volleyball team played their 4th league game at Mark Keppel High School against the Montebello Oilers. The Lady Aztecs got off to a rocky start with their first two league games losing against Schurr and Bell Gardens but came back with a win, (3-0) against the Oilers. In the first set, the Lady Aztecs and Oilers were head to head, scoring points back and forth. Sophomore Keilani Lim said, “At first we were concerned with how we were playing and we were not confident because their JV and Frosh teams were rowdy in the stands... but as they started leaving and we started talking more, there was more of a drive to win.” Keppel finally managed to score and reach 25 points, earning
the first set of the game. Following the first set, the Lady Aztecs continued to win the next two sets, quickly ending the game. Throughout preseason till now, the team has been working on defense and communication. “One of the biggest things is also mental toughness and the attitude we bring into the game regardless of who our opponent is,” said Coach Chu. Ending their last home game with a win, the Lady Aztecs are nearing the halfway mark through the season with the league record of 2-2. The team members practice long hours everyday. Senior Joie Nip states that “We have many team talks where we encourage each other and push each other to be better than the player we were before.” With this mindset, they prepare to go against the San Gabriel Matadors in their next game.
Loss prepares football for league play TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief After losing by their closest margin of the season against Jordan High School two weeks prior, the Varsity Football team struggled to find a rhythm against the Granite Hills Cougars, as they dropped one of their final non-league games, 68-6, last Thursday. The winless Aztecs were in for a challenge as the Cougars had already amassed three wins on the season, but after an early 60-yard rushing touchdown by running back Jason Tang, things looked hopeful for Keppel. However, the Cougars quickly responded and held the Aztecs scoreless for the remainder of the night. “The [Cougars] weren’t that good of a team; we just didn’t bring the effort,” says Tang.
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As non-league play wraps up, this game serves as a vital learning experience for the team as they continue to prepare for Almont League play: specifically, their first game against San Gabriel. “[The loss] blazed a path for us because this was the first time that we have gotten blown out by that much, so we’ll learn from our mistakes and build on them,” says Tang. While the team anticipates their matchup against the Matadors, they refuse to overlook their final non-league game of the season tomorrow night against Capistrano Valley Christian High School. “Obviously, we’re hoping to get a win, but more importantly, we’re looking to gain confidence heading into league play,” says defensive tackle Carson Fernandez.
Students watch Tuesday’s girls volleyball game against Montebello High School.
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M-K-H-S Aztec pride? WESLEY ZENG Sports Editor/Business Manager Packed stands, nationally recruited athletes, and televised games. All around, students show up to the games decked out in school colors, all in support of the sports teams. This clearly isn’t a reality at Mark Keppel; in fact, there is quite the opposite result. Keppel is notorious for its lack of school spirit. Other schools, students, and even staff acknowledge it. The problem is not the lack of spirit, but rather the lack of time. “I spend a lot of time studying for my AP classes [instead of going to the games],” says senior Kyle La. With games ranging between one to even three hours, students choose to spend more time studying than go to a game being played that day. Another reason may be the foresight of students. “Specific sport teams don’t win as much so a lot of students know the result already, so they don’t see the point of going,” says junior Christine Huynh. Despite the pressure to do well in their classes, there are still students who attend sports games and sup-
port their friends. “[I go] because it’s really fun to watch the athletes play. They spend a lot of time practicing, and they get to show their skill sets,” says Huynh. With attendees at games, there are times when the crowd spurs emotions for victory. “We feed off their energy, and it really helps us during games,” says junior Laird Anderson, a player of the Varsity Boys Basketball team. Players are able to benefit from the support given, pushing them to do better. One way to encourage more people to go is, ironically, with more people. “[I would go] if I knew that my good friends went,” says La. Conversely, as spirit is a major factor in not only games but also overall in high school, there is administrative action to drive more students to come to games. “[We could have] specific days where we designate for certain clubs to do half price or in for a dollar,” says Ms. Semelmacher, the Athletic Director. As maroon and black out nights are already offered to students, this is another opportunity for students to be able to help support their teams.
Keppel’s Cross Country begins a 3 mile race against multiple schools.
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Building endurance for season JOYCE LEE Photographer
Cheer practices pep routines for the upcoming rally.
Cheering for a new sport
WESLEY ZENG Sports Editor/Business Manager With 22 sports last year, Mark Keppel now boasts a heaping 23 sports in their athletic program as Cheer joins the ranks as a competitive sport. “Students and teachers
may start to recognize us more as a sport,” says Senior and two year member Christine Le. Cheerleading became a sport this year after Athletic Director Ms. Semelmacher brought the idea to the district office. “[After CIF proposed it], I, along with Ms. Martinez
THE AZTEC/ AURORA ZENG
brought it to [the] cabinet and board. It got approved... and it is now officially a sport.” Though the team has competed before, with Cheer under CIF, Le believes “[it will be] more nerve-racking yet more significant than the competitions we’ve done before.”
On September 7, the Cross Country team competed at the Pasadena Rose Bowl against schools from nearby leagues for a chance prove themselves. Senior Kelsey Bustamante secured a medal for the team. Although Keppel did not place in any event, senior and varsity runner Jason Chen, says that “I don’t think we came in worrying about winning or losing that’s not really what cross country is about. We all went in hoping to improve our times or just to see where were at during the season.” Junior Emmy Khong also felt that the meet was a learning experience. “At first, I was so scared because my coach put me on varsity last minute. I don’t think I did well, but this
meet gave me the chance to see what I needed to work on. Hopefully, he [coach] puts me back in frosh so it’ll be easier for me.” Many runners got to see their times and get a sense of where they were. The event consisted of three miles around on the Rose Bowl track. Runners received a number and were set on running the course. There were other events to look forward to as well during this event. “I looked forward to the food, the adrenaline that comes with running, and spending time with the team in an invitational,” reminisces junior Luan Ye. “The most important part, in my opinion, is that the team bonded and encouraged each other to chase and break [our][personal records],” said Chen.
8 sports
September 20, 2018
the aztec
THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN
Athlete’s Profile: George Shahin THE AZTEC/ SELINA MARTINEZ
Senior Laura Kim readies to return the ball with a forehand hit.
Girls Tennis serves Flintridge Prep SELINA MARTINEZ Asst. Editor-in-Chief
The Lady Aztecs started the game strongly with six first-round matches wins. Keppel carried their momentum to win the game, ending their preseason on a high note. Moving to their first league game, the team feels prepared. “These practice games have helped us determine our doubles teams and now we know what lineup we are going to use throughout the season,” says Coach Finke. This year, the team hopes to be league champions. “We lost our league champ title a few years ago, and we hope to win it back,” says Captain Angelica Huynh. Coach Finke also has a lot of hope for
In preparation for league games this year, Girls Tennis embarked on a practice game against Flintridge Preparatory Academy on September 18th. The game resulted in a 12-6 win for the Aztecs. After their loss against South Pasadena last week, the team was especially determined to prove themselves. Despite their initial nervousness, Captain Hannah Tram says, “Once we got into the game, we just played how we normally do and our nerves went away.”
winning this season. “This is our year,” she says. “I have confidence in these girls. We can do it.” In order to achieve this goal, there is one aspect in particular that the team hopes to focus and improve on. “When you’re down by points, it’s hard to stay positive. We’re working on trying to be more positive and not overthinking [the game],” says Tram. Huynh agrees with Tram. “It’s all about mentally staying focused. For example, when we think we have an easy shot, we sometimes get too excited that we miss the shot.”
Slow start overwhelms Water Polo WESLEY ZENG Sports Editor/Business Manager The Boys Water Polo team faced many challenges against Glendale High School last Friday as they lost 12-1. The Nitros’ offense was fierce from the start as they scored four quick points in the first quarter. This momentum continued into the second and third quarter, helping Glendale put 11 points on the scoreboard. In the fourth quarter, senior Steven To scored the team’s first point amidst a six-on-five play. “Our team was being mocked by the other team, so I just wanted to do my best and score a goal for my team,” says To. One problem the team faces this year is the lack of players. Because two of the players were unable to participate in the game, the eight-man roster was left with
Junior Nikko Inocencio looks to pass the ball after blocking an opponent’s shot.
only one substitute. “If we had more subs we could’ve put on a stronger offense because we could have countered faster,” says Captain Raymond Tang. Despite the team’s recent losses, this game did not deter the team’s determination to perform well during the season. After making CIF last year, Tang remains confident on how the team will do in Almont League, but feels that the team could do better. “Once we get
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the ball to the flats, it remains stale. We wasted half the quarter waiting for someone to get open,” says Tang. He believes that the team could be more aggressive on their offense, but ultimately, it all comes down to confidence. “We’re just falling apart because we’re not confident in shooting, driving, defense, in everything.” Their first league game will be against Bell Gardens on September 26.
SDEYNI MARTINEZ Staff Writer Being a student athlete is no easy task, as quarterback George Shahin can testify. The senior has had the difficult task of balancing two varsity sports along with his academics, yet he is not letting this challenge prevent him from achieving his goals. These goals include finishing high school with good grades, winning a football game, specifically a home game, and making his dad proud. Shahin knows that accomplishing these goals will leave him with a sense of fulfillment as he moves on to the next chapter in life. Shahin’s passion for football came from his father, as his dad’s positive experiences with football as a teenager led him to encourage his son to join the Mark Keppel football team. With no experience whatsoever in any other sports, he decided to join the team in his sophomore year and has been with them ever since. While one varsity sport can be hard to handle, he chose to further push himself by joining the soccer team as well. His dedication to both sports has come from his passion for both games, and he is more optimistic every year as he embraces every opportunity to help his team win. While he does not have a specific favorite memory from his sports tenure, Shahin affirms that scoring touchdowns ranks among his favorite memories, as they always sparked intense feelings of excitement and helped ease any lingering nerves. “The butterflies are so insane,” says Shahin. As Shahin’s final season on the football team wraps up, he acknowledges that the team may face struggles because of the large graduating class of seniors. While the underclassmen are going to have to fill in positions they’ve never played before, Shahin is hopeful that the team will be able to adapt to overcome the loss of the soon-to-be graduates.
Sports Calendar Boys Water Polo On 9/26 versus Bell Gardens at Bell Gardens On 9/28 versus Flintridge at Flintridge Prep On 10/03 versus Alhambra at Barnes Park On 10/10 versus Montebello at Montebello
Girls Tennis
On 9/25 versus San Gabriel at Mark Keppel On 9/27 versus Schurr at Schurr On 10/04 versus Alhambra at Alhambra On 10/9 versus Montebello at Montebello On 10/11 versus San Gabriel at San Gabriel
Cross Country
On 9/29 versus Almont League at Legg Lake On 10/06 at Huntington Beach On 10/17 versus Almont League at Legg Lake
Football On 9/21 versus Capistrano Valley at Mark Keppel On 9/28 versus San Gabriel at San Gabriel On 10/05 versus Schurr at Schurr On 10/12 versus Bell Gardens at Mark Keppel
Girls Volleyball
On 9/25 versus Schurr at Schurr On 9/27 versus Bell Gardens at Bell Gardens On 10/02 versus Alhambra at Alhambra On 10/04 versus Montebello at Montebello On 10/09 versus San Gabriel at Mark Keppel