it’s our Time
in This Edition:
STar Wars: it’s our Time
ASB Elections Climate Change After Juliet The Pack Sports Preview
The PawPrint
Contents News
Festival of Trees ASB Elections Candycane Lane
1
Opinions
The $10 Bill Climate Change Progressive Generation
7
Features
The Pack Cosplayers on Campus Jeffrey Hampton
12
Editors: Candace Ro, Nikhil Bhumralkar Staff Writers: Raylene Factora, Erica Gillespie, Jaesung Park, Morgan Smith, Lauren Lee
After Juliet Matthew Go Dylana Edwards
20
Sports
Sports Previews
24
“D-d-duh duuuun, duuuun, d-d-duh duuuuuun dun, d-d-duh duuuuun dun, d-d-duh duuuuuun.” – 2/3 of APRUSCRUE
Min Jae Kang
Aaron Bryce Lee
Editors: Sydney Chang, Gisela Factora Editors in Chief: Aaron Bryce Lee, Staff Writers: Josie Lionetti, Zoey Greenwald, Mina Jang, Ga Min Kim, Tyler Owen, Riley Villiers-Furze, Jong Hak Won
Min Jae Kang Advisor: Mrs. O’Shea Senior Copy Editor: Riley Villier-Furze Junior Copy Editor: Min Ju Kang Web Editor: Morgan Smith
Editors: Juliet Bernal, Jacqueline Hofmann
Staff Writers: Angelina Hernandez, Min Ju Kang, Kiana Quick, Alina Truong, Siena Zarrell
Centerspread A&E
Letter from the Editors
14
Editors: Rachel Lee, Erica Lee
Staff Writers: Sydney Young, Aerin Choi, Samantha Hartung, Hannah Kim, Megan Chang, Audrey Kim
Editor: Jagmeet Arora
Staff Writers: Bryce Fenenbock, Jaryn Santos, Sarah Ziskind, Andy Song
Cover Story: “Star Wars: It’s Our Time” by Aaron Bryce Lee Editors: Sarah Castillo, Jaeun Park Cover Art and Star Wars Graphics: Jaeun Park
Festival of Trees
Story & Photos by Lauren Lee
The holidays are finally here! From Nov. 19-Nov. 22, the Boys and Girls Club held their 13th annual Festival of Trees, a fundraiser filled with wonderful events for all members of the family to enjoy. All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club, which engages members in: education and career exploration, the arts, sports, recreation and fitness, character and leadership development, and healthy life choices. More than $1 million has been raised over the years. The event was held at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex, where you were immediately greeted by beautifully decorated Christmas trees and other holiday decorations. Each tree had its own unique theme with a range of decorations from Disney Tsum-Tsum to Nutcracker themed trees. “I love Christmas, so for me this gives me the opportunity to celebrate Christmas a little bit earlier. I just love that it gets us in the holiday mood,” said Bryan Lake, director of administration for the Boys and Girls club of Santa Clarita.
Festival of Trees is a great way for Santa Clarita residents to get into that festive mood and spend quality time with their family. The event’s popularity has boosted over the years and more than 300 volunteers sacrificed their time to help out. “My favorite part about this event is seeing all the kids and everyone just having fun,” said volunteer Hailey Tardif. Many activities (like the children’s corner with crafts, live stage entertainment from community groups, and strolling magicians) were there for people of all ages to enjoy. It may seem too soon for the Festival of Trees, but there’s a reason for that. “We hold this event in November so the trees and gingerbread houses are auctioned off to people so they can have them right at the beginning of December,” continued Lake. Festival of the Trees is the perfect opportunity to get in the holiday spirit, make new friends, and just have fun.
CLASS OF 2017 As treasurer, I want to keep an efficient list and budget across all of West Ranch and make sure that everything we buy or do goes through me. Thank you for choosing me as treasurer, and I hope that 2016 will be a really good year for our E-board.
I was really excited to take this next step in ASB. ASB president is something I’ve wanted since freshman year, and I was very passionate about running for it. My plan as president is to make sure that everybody feels that they are being accounted for. I want to make sure that I take student suggestions and that ASB runs smoothly and efficiently so we can work to make West Ranch High School the best it can be.
Kailey Clark president
As ambassador, I intend to attend every meeting and provide the most accurate information regarding the current events going on at West Ranch. I would like to tell the student body that I fully intend on being the best that I can possibly as ambassador and do everything in my power to make this school super awesome.
Brandon Waldau treasurer
Laurel Gilabert Ambassador
ASB ELECTIONS
By Erica Gillespie Photos by Morgan Smith
With the first semester of school nearly over, ASB is already preparing for the 2016-2017 student council officers. On Nov. 12, students rushed to the front of the ASB office to vote for their favorite candidates. Before students went to vote, the three presidential candidates made an appearance on WRTV. Each of them discussed their goals as president and how they planned to improve the school. In the end, there could only be one winner. Kailey Clark won the presidency along with Carson Bartholomew as vice president, Brandon Waldau as treasurer, Josie Gonzalez as secretary, and Laurel Gilabert as ambassador. Students know their new officers will represent them well next school year. Congratulations to the new Executive Board!
Secretary
Josie Gonzalez
When I was given my position I was very grateful not only for the opportunity to lead a such great group of students but to be even more involved in our school. As [secretary] I plan to excel in my position and also assist all students at the best of my ability in and out of ASB. To the student body, for one, I would like to thank you for making our school such a great one and one that many are eager to be apart of and two, for allowing me to be apart of such a talented and knowledgeable executive board.
As Vice President I’m involved with clubs and the students themselves so I would love to bring back club and student senate to give a chance for people you don’t think of everyday a voice. To the student body I would like to say that EBOARD ‘16 and I will try and do our best to provide you a year of memories and activities that students can remember. I want ASB also to be a place where the students can come and talk to anyone in the room and get the information they need. Really, I want this calendar year to rock the student body’s socks off.
Carson Bartholomew Vice president
By Gamin Kim and Tyler Owen Photos by Gamin Kim
Generation to generation, family to family, the tradition of Santa Clarita’s own candy cane lane lives older than the current graduating class here at West Ranch. Since 1995, a few blocks inside the Woodland Hills have been lighting up the cold winter nights with spectacular displays of holiday lights. Spanning eight square blocks, decorations range from scenes of the nativity, to USC football, with some of the biggest attractions being the various santas stationed around in their sleighs. Because of Candy Cane Lane’s long standing tradition, visiting the winter wonderland has left a larger mark on some. “It’s part of people’s family traditions and they come every year,” said a Candy Cane Lane resident. With families coming back to visit every year, it is clear that neighborhood takes its lights very seriously, but just exactly how serious are the residents of this iconic street? While just putting the finishing touches on the street,
decorating the houses can take half a month. “We started decorating around November 15th” said a well worked resident. With all the hard work and dedication put into the houses, it begs the question is it worth it? Well after talking with a few decorators, it is clear that the time they put into their decorations is well worth the reactions. “The enjoyment of seeing everybody, and how appreciative they are that we do do this and a little bit of the celebrityness of having a house on one of the most famous streets in Santa Clarita for Christmas” said a one resident. Even with all the hard work the homeowners go through, the priceless reactions and family traditions the streets produces make it well worth the effort. Whether you are a teenager or an adult, Candy Cane Lane provides an awesome sight of lights and decorations that is sure to fire up your holiday spirit.
SCV community shows cancer awareness at Light the Night By Erica Gillespie Photos by Erica Gillespie
On Nov. 14, white, gold, and red lanterns lit up Bridgeport Park. Santa Clarita has raised 1.8 million dollars through the fundraiser from 2005. The annual Light the Night walk to raise money for leukemia brought together members of the community, each with a story of their own. Abby Comes walked near the front of the race carrying a white lantern. “My little cousin, Brittany, is a survivor of leukemia,” Comes said. “The day she was diagnosed was by older sister’s birthday. She was in eighth grade, and that was really tough for her. She would always ask, ‘Why me?’ But luckily, we have a lot of family in this area so we were always there for her. I was so scared to go near her. I didn’t want to get her sick. But now, you could never tell that Brittany had leukemia. She looks so normal, she’s getting ready for college next year. We’ve been doing this walk ever since for five years. Brittany is the reason we’re walking tonight.” Andy Hammons, former West Ranch student,
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was perhaps the most conspicuous of the walkers, carrying a giant picture of his brother. “I’m walking tonight for my brother. He passed away about two years ago from leukemia. He went to UC Davis, and a couple weeks away from graduating, he was diagnosed with leukemia. So we’ve been coming to Light the Night ever since he was diagnosed.” “Team Tyler” was a large group of people who were all walking for cancer survivor Tyler Cordova. Cordova was undoubtedly a spirited and outgoing kid with an inspirational story.Tyler cordova “This is my ninth year walking, and I’m carrying a white lantern because I’m a survivor,” said Cordova. Some had stories of hope, and others of loss. And yet with each of the participants, there was an underlying sense of strength. Whether someone lost a loved one to cancer, survived cancer, or currently battling cancer, all the participants were united by hope for a future cure. As always, Light the Night was a huge success.
A lot of different famous faces may be sitting in your pocket right now. Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. They’re all on money, but they’re also all men. Realizing this, women have been pushing for a change -- and it might be coming sooner than you think. The change is coming in 2020, 100 years after women won the right to vote. Just a hundred years. There is still the question of who will be on the bill. Voters have chosen Harriet Tubman among other women throughout history. Rosa Parks happens to be my top choice because she best represents the movement to put a woman on the bill. She put herself in a lot of danger because she knew what was right. She stood up to a society that didn’t think what she did would ever be okay. She had the strength and courage to make a change. And that’s what this is all about, anyway. Making a change for the better. The idea of change -- no -- action, is something more valuable than currency. There is so much injustice in the world that we don’t even see. Everybody has their own little injustices and maybe seeing Rosa Parks on that bill will help them to do what they know is right. And what would be better than little girls everywhere seeing that wherever they go? Any time anyone reached into their wallet, they’d be reminded that they have a voice. That they can change things, and that the world is counting on them: that they matter. What a way to change the world. By Zoey Greenwald I have a dream that one day Martin Luther King Jr. will grace the image of the $10 bill. Who would be more fitting than the man who symbolizes compassion and justice? The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s was a time of trials and tribulations for people of color. Bathrooms, dining places, and water fountains were segregated. Intermarriage was illegal while schools were divided between colored children and white children. In the midst of this injustice, a minister spoke and shone light on the depressed and suffering. The dark, bleak future people originally saw slowly evolved into a hopeful, bright future. Martin Luther King Jr. deserves to be on the American currency because he represented all people. This was not just a problem for people of color. This was a problem for all of humanity. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech and recognition of the Nobel Peace Prize recognize the effects of perseverance. He should be the image Americans follow. In addition to his humility, his honesty and sincerity were highly influential in garnering supporters and recognition from many people. He is not only an icon for the Civil Rights Movement but for equality and acceptance. In the midst of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians and an immigration crisis, let Martin Luther King, Jr. and his views be a reminder to, not just Americans, but everyone that peace and nonviolence have come a long way and will continue to in the future. By Sydney Chang
Who Should be the New Face of the $10 Bill? After 100 years of the passing of the 19th Amendment, the Treasury announced that a female face will be pictured alongside with Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. It’s peculiar since Alexander Hamilton holds significance to this country’s financial system while the face of the $20, Andrew Jackson, owned hundreds of slaves and was one of the perpetrators of The Trail of Tears. Women in American history have contributed so much. Clara Barton helped soldiers during the Civil War. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was known as the most significant anti-slavery novel of the period. Amelia Earhart was the first to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean in just 15 hours. Among the women included as candidates for the new face of the $10 include Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rosa Parks. Out of the many candidates, however, Eleanor Roosevelt particularly is a significant figure in U.S. history. She was the First Lady that influenced changes to women’s working conditions and advocated for the minimum wage for women. She supported national health care for the United States. Roosevelt was plain-spoken on many of the country’s policies, and continued her work also through the UN Commission after her term as First Lady. With her credentials and philanthropist work, Eleanor Roosevelt deserves to be the new face of the $10. By Gamin Kim
Our Progressive Generation Amanda Galemmo
Tucker Welker
It’s hot. It’s very hot. It’s spreading like wildfire and engulfing (and enhancing) seemingly every young mind around. “It” is a movement led by one individual. A 74year-old junior senator who is generating mass support from teenagers and young adults alike. I’m sure by now you’ve already guessed I’m speaking about 2016 Presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders. He looks more like your grandpa than your future president, but once you see past the grey hair and casual demeanour, you find a man more in tune and more passionate about the cries of our generation than any other candidate currently in the running. His decision to make a bid for president has generated a political revolution driven mainly by those who feel oppressed and belittled. These young people are tired of big corporations and interest groups running Washington and creating policies that fail to address the systemic problems of inequality and injustice teeming in our country. The awareness of this misrepresentation is an idea at the forefront of Bernie Sander’s progressive message and has inspired people to stand up against the many evils within our government. Why now? It seems that more than ever before we are seeing a giant surge in support for leftist politics and politicians like Sanders. “Politics aren’t just for the adults’ table anymore,” said West Ranch senior Amanda Gallemo. And she isn’t alone in this opinion. In fact, she is only one of many teenagers who are seeing how the upcoming election will impact their futures, especially with college and the idea of college debt becoming more and more real. With an emphasis on education and the need for social reforms, Sanders is bringing attention to issues that have long been disregarded. “It’s pretty much guaranteed that students will be
Story & Photos by Josie Lionetti
Alex Wheatley
saddled by tens of thousands of dollars in debt by the time they graduate” explains Gallemo, “making it harder to rise on the economic ladder than it has been in past generations.” High school students don’t want to be financially punished for seeking a higher education, yet that is the reality. This feeling of disenfranchisement has encouraged them to not sulk in their upcoming misfortune but rather take action to prevent it, which is why we are seeing more and more support for politicians like Sanders who want to aid in this prevention.
“Politics aren’t just for the adults’ table anymore.” Perhaps the greatest contributor to the rise in political involvement and the common link among this progressive generation is social media. Politicians from all sides of the spectrum can communicate their message to the approximately 974 million people who currently use Twitter. And it is this platform which is bringing the conversation about race, about gay rights, about global warming, and other issues to the forefront of all American’s minds. This barrage of information makes it almost impossible not to become hyper aware. These mediums don’t only provide information but also provide opportunities for us to become more involved by speaking our minds and then going out into our community to take action. The “adult table” is quickly disappearing and every generation is sitting together as one, ready to listen. For the full story, visit wrpawprint.com
Banned Parenthood By Riley Villiers-Furze
Planned Parenthood kills babies. Probably. Maybe. Not really. Not at all.
If you know anything about Planned Parenthood, you probably know that they help women schedule abortions. What you probably don’t know about is the dozens of other services they provide for both men and women. Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization that “believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual’s income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence,” according to their mission statement. They are the one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education. Planned Parenthood has 59 independent local affiliates that operate around 700 health centers around the United States. They provide info about the LGBTQ community and tips for coming out. They provide many forms of birth control and the morning after pill. Their health centers help people with abortions, Urinary Tract Infections, and yeast infections. Planned Parenthood provides nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including 700,000 HIV tests. They provide nearly 400,000 Pap tests and nearly 500,000 breast exams. They also check for testicular cancer and provide
erectile dysfunction services. Planned Parenthood services more than five million men, women, and young adults worldwide each year. They help everybody with everything related to sexual health. They are, arguably, the most helpful and beneficial organization in the U.S. today. Santa Clarita has a large population of Republicans. We also have a large amount of teenagers having sex. We also teach abstinence-only education. Planned Parenthood seems like it shouldn’t fit in this town, but its services would be vital to West Ranch students. I know of kids who already have STDs. I know of kids who are having unprotected sex. I know kids who are too afraid to tell their parents that the condom broke and they need the morning after pill. I know kids who don’t even know what a UTI is, let alone know how to prevent one. Planned Parenthood’s services only exist to help, and if you are one of those kids I mentioned, or you know one of those kids, Planned Parenthood will help you with anything you need. What Republicans are pulling in Washington right now directly affects every student at this school. If you aren’t already, at some point in your life you are probably going to become sexually active, and Planned Parenthood will make sure that you are being safe while doing so. And if an accident does happen, they will talk you through all your possible options. It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or Republican. It doesn’t matter if you support abortion or not. Everyone should agree that Washington has no right to tell us what we can and can’t do with our bodies. Politics should not get in the way of providing millions of people necessary health care. For some students at this school, you are months away from going to college and making decisions for yourself. What’s happening in Congress right now affects decisions you are going to have make very soon. That’s why I stand with PP. That’s why you should too.
THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Why there’s more to worry about than just a sunburn.
By Gisela Factora. Photo provided by West Ranch Astronomy.
On the night of the first of the democratic debates,
presidential candidate Bernie Sanders identified climate change as the greatest threat to the planet today. In response, Republican politician Mike Huckabee tweeted, “They believe climate change is a greater threat than Islamic extremism, that a sunburn is worse than a beheading. It’s nonsense! #DemDebate.” Aside from the racist overtones, this tweet demonstrates a sad misunderstanding of what climate change is, and just how serious of an issue it is. Sadly, Huckabee’s dismissal of hard science (as well as his not-so-subtle Islamophobia) is a common thread in the increasingly convoluted fabric of the Grand Ol’ Party. To start, what is climate change, what is global warming, and what is the difference between the two? According to NASA, global warming refers to the long-term warming of the planet, whereas climate change encompasses a wide range of phenomena, including global warming. NASA has also stated that the average surface temperature of the Earth has gone up by about 0.8 degrees Celsius since 1880, or 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Many argue that climate change is natural, and that the Ice Ages are evidence of the natural fluctuation of Earth’s average temperature. Yet according to multiple studies, 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agree that this iteration of climate change has been caused by humans. “It can be proven in very simple experiments that gases in our atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and methane absorb more heat energy and warm up faster,” said
Solarez. “We are burning fossil fuels, and contributing to an increase of these gases, because combustion reactions emit water and carbon dioxide, which both absorb heat faster.” This is known as the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is not always a bad thing; without it, Earth would be unable to support life. But human activities have intensified the natural greenhouse effect to the point of causing global warming; we are burning fossil fuels like gas, which releases carbon into the atmosphere, and clearing forests, which help regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Gas is used as our main source of energy, and not only is it a lucrative industry, but the usage of gas is also ingrained in our culture. The problem is, both of these are lucrative activities, and Republicans are a big fan of lucrative activities, the non-monetary cost be damned. I feel that the Republican philosophy toward green issues--or perhaps even scientific progress as a whole--can best be summed up by something Rush Limbaugh once said: “What’s the big deal about flowing water on Mars? When they start selling iPhones on Mars, that’s when it’ll matter to me.” Alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind energy, are often dismissed by conservatives as “liberal nonsense,” despite the fact that they are both more cost-efficient and sustainable. Forests are often cleared for human development, which not only increases the greenhouse effect, but leads to the destruction of animals’ habitats as well. Republican politicians scorn “green” politics, because there’s only one kind of green they care about, and it’s not trees.
Attack of the CLINTON Controversies surrounding her campaign Same-Sex Marriage
Women Have Choices Too
People presume that women support
and vote for Hillary Clinton just because of the fact that we are of the same gender. No, I’m not supporting Hillary Clinton just because I am a woman. It frustrates me to think that people expect others to support a candidate because of this characteristic. Gender has nothing to do with choosing the next president or senator. People believe that it is an easier choice to pick since female candidates tend to be the minority compared to the male candidates. Women campaigning for president are admirable. Women in American history have contributed so much to the political field. But that is still not a valid and applicable reason to say that women should necessarily support female candidates. With her recent email scandal and the Benghazi hearings, she is an incompetent candidate to become the next president of the United States. Clinton also has scandals involving her Clinton Foundation and her personal health. This summer, Hillary’s personal physician released a report saying that a concussion and blood clot in the brain
By Gamin Kim
forced her to faint in 2012. Her husband Bill Clinton tried to persuade her to have a full-time physician. While Bernie Sanders has maintained his power through the many small donations of supporters, Hillary Clinton has support from major donors and has a Super PAC, independent committees to support one candidate anonymously with large, undisclosed sums of money, ready to advocate for her beliefs. This is because she comes from one of America’s most influential political families: the Clintons. Her last name alone equates with power. The Clintons are a millionaire powerhouse that achieves success from their financial background. Her supporters are blinded by the family name; they believe that electing another family powerhouse will end the domestic turmoil in politics going on in the United States. All of her resume and work in politics is nothing compared to her stances and beliefs on economic, foreign, and education policies. If the United States truly wants a distinguished candidate as their next president, the people should really be aware of what each candidate represents.
Once said the definition of marriage does not include same-sex couples but began to support the idea beginning of 2008. Is it support or for popularity?
Personal Health
Her health problems such as dizziness and trembling in her hands has urged her to cut back on several meetings. Will her personal health keep up?
Immigration
Against illegal immigrants living in the United States. Should this be overlooked despite the fact that almost 11 million people are unauthorized to stay in the United States?
Foreign Policy
Failed to turn the United States-Russia relationship to what it once was years ago, resulting in the sour relation between the two countries. Will this get better if she becomes president?
The Pack:
Story & Photos by Riley Villiers-Furze
I
never thought human cloning was possible until I met the new pack leaders. When I sat down to interview Spencer Gordon, Adam Varga, Chad Clinkunbroomer, and Noah Abramson, I noticed they acted exactly like last year’s Pack leaders: excited, talkative, and full of promises. While there are many similarities between the two groups, these Pack leaders do, however, want to point out that there will be some major differences between them and past leaders. “We’ll stay for the whole game, and we’ll be crazier than any pack this school has ever seen,” said Gordon. “We’re not quitters,” Abramson added. So what exactly can students expect this coming basketball season? Well for starters, it’s going to be “hyped as hell,” according to Abramson. The new Pack leaders also have a new, revolutionary ideas that will help organize the Pack. First, they will use a whiteboard to write down what cheers are being said. Second, they will countdown from three, so everyone knows when to start cheering. Another idea came from the mind of Gordon: “to make sure everyone cheers, we have Noah and Adam to take care of the freshmen. Noah loves freshmen.” The amount of enthusiasm these Pack leaders have for their jobs is palpable. They are ready and excited to start cheering for our basketball team. Anyone who talks to
them, for even a minute, can tell that high school is the place where they thrive. The Pack will be their legacy. However, being a Pack leader comes with more responsibilities than just cheering -- responsibilities that these boys fully recognize. “You’ve got to be a good role model in the Pack,” said Clinkunbroomer. “We’re in charge of keeping the momentum going. You’ve got to love your school more than you love yourself,” Abramson added. While this might prove to be a difficult challenge for Varga, who binge watches himself in the mirror, I have believe that the new Pack leaders have the ability to do their jobs. They have the perfect personalities for this challenging position. Everything they said encompassed exactly what I expected from a Pack leader. Now, do I think that these leaders will bring back the former glory of the Pack? It’s hard to say. The previous Pack leaders started with just as much enthusiasm, as the new ones have now. Only time will tell if the new leader’s excitement will fade into being dazed and confused. With basketball season just around the corner, let’s hope that they can gather the motivation they need to complete this daunting task. We’ll just have to wait and see if these leaders bring their ideas and promises to fruition. I’ll see you on the court, Cats.
“We’re not quitters.”
Repacked Noah Abramson Personal Motto: Livin’ Life Favorite Cheer: Here we go West Ranch, here we go Favorite Pack Theme: U.S.A Football Games or Basketball Games: Basketball Games Biggest Rival: Valencia
Spencer Gordon Nickname: Gordo Personal Motto: Weights before dates Favorite Cheer: Stupid Favorite Pack Theme: U.S.A Football Games or Basketball Games: Basketball Games
Pregame Routine: Get hyped
Pregame Routine: Get hyped
What song gets you the most pumped: “Work Remix” by A$AP Ferg
What song gets you the most pumped: “Crunch Time”
Super power: Invisibility What do you binge watch: The gym
What is the breakfast of champions: cereal Super power: Flight
Chad Clinkunbroomer Nickname: Baby Clink
Adam Varga Nickname: The Boz
Personal Motto: If you’re not first, you’re last
Personal Motto: Why have one, when you can have them all
Favorite Cheer: I believe
Favorite Pack Theme: U.S.A
Favorite Pack Theme: U.S.A
What song gets you the most pumped: “9K Freestyle” by Chris Travis
Biggest Rival: Valencia Pregame Routine: Get pumped What song gets you the most pumped: “Lord Knows” by Meek Mill Feat. Torey Lanez Super power: Flight What do you binge watch: Football
Football Games or Basketball Games: Basketball Games Super power: Get all the girls What do you binge watch: Myself in the mirror When did you last cry: When Chad messed up my order at Chick fil A
it’s our time By Aaron Bryce Lee Graphics by Jaeun Park
There aren’t many movies that have captivated an audience so extensive and encapsulated an epic so elaborate as the “Star Wars” saga has. Bringing together a fascinating ensemble of characters and a masterfully created plot line, “Star Wars” is the golden goose of contemporary storytelling. The franchise has attracted multiple generations since the release of “A New Hope” in 1977 and for good reason. George Lucas draws from an eclectic well of genres to create an immortal gem that is beyond categorization, with elements of action, science fiction, adventure, fantasy, thriller, and even chivalric romance embedded in the iconic space opera. Our parents were blessed with the revolutionary original trilogy complete with the glorious “I am your father” plot twist. Our older cousins and siblings were slightly less lucky (they had to deal with Hayden Christensen, Lord have mercy), but they still got their three Star Wars movies. We were too young to obsess over those two trilogies on their opening nights. But now, after over 10 years since “Revenge of the Sith” and the seeming end to George Lucas’s legendary film franchise, the time has finally come for us. It’s our turn now, and “The Force Awakens” – which releases on Dec. 17 – has a chance to reward our fanboy or girl restlessness and set the tone for the greatest Star Wars trilogy yet.
“
Words cannot describe how excited i am for next month.
“Words cannot describe how excited I am for next month,” said senior Cris Ganges. “Throughout my whole childhood I’ve had to deal with my dad and older brother giving me crap about how beautiful it was to experience the first six movies in real time. I’m so ready for this.” I’ll be the first to admit: we’re very spoiled in terms of the potential of “our trilogy.” While the original three films had a story that brought grown men to sentimental tears, the special effects were cringeworthy at best. On the other hand, the prequel movies boasted improved graphics and choreography, but the poor execution of the story insulted expectant fans. But with cinematic special effects, acting, writing, and directing where it is now, the new “Star Wars” films can combine the depth of four to six with the razzle-dazzle of one to three. “[‘Star Wars’] is in good hands with [director] J.J. Abrams,” said “Star Wars” connoisseur, senior JC Alabado. “We’ll see how the actors pan out, but Abrams has done everything right so far. The trailers are magnificent. Besides, you can’t get any more disappointing than the prequels.”
“The fourth, fifth, and sixth movies were at least 20 times better than one, two, and three,” said self-proclaimed “Star Wars” superfan, senior Joey Delgado, who made it clear that he wanted it known to the public that he owns a large collection of “Star Wars” costumes and memorabilia. “I feel like the prequels were made just to fulfill an obligation. It’s as if ‘Star Wars’ is finally picking up where it left off to progress the story past the Battle of Endor.
“
THere are so many unanswered questions that keep me up at night.
“And as a minority myself, you couldn’t find anyone happier about the casting of a black guy as the main protagonist and [apparent] central Jedi figure,” said Delgado. Indeed, African-American actor John Boyega is set to play Finn, a redeemed Stormtrooper and presumed male protagonist and Jedi. This casting set off alarms across the bigoted terrains of Internet where it was proclaimed that the new “Star Wars” was “promoting white genocide.” The hashtag #BoycottStarWarsVII actually trended on Twitter for a while, solely because of the casting of Boyega, proving once again that America has a long way to go until equality. However, Finn’s role in the film is still a mystery, and it joins the dozens of questions that “Star Wars” fans are dying to get answered next month. “There is so much anticipation, so many unanswered questions and wild theories that have kept me up at night,” said junior Suren Aghazadian. Aghazadian is hardly alone.
“It’s been so long since “Return of the Jedi” that we’ve all been speculating possibilities. It’s really building suspense for this premiere,” said Delgado. “The Force Awakens” has set the stage for a prodigious return of “Star Wars.” Don’t be “that guy” and miss out on a movie that has the potential to define our generation’s movie culture. You will regret it. #HanShotFirst
Volorrorem qui blaborum dolut ipis nis ma nost, omnis sus
@ Who are the jedi? Finn? Rey? Finn and Rey?!
Where is luIe? is he good? evil?! Dead?!
WHo is Iylo Ren? Why is he obsessed with vader?
What of the Empire? Galactic Empire? First order?
WorkHard, (Cos)Play Hard By Minju Kang Photos provided by Giana Sawaya West Ranch sophomore Jodie Reyna is not your typical high school student. After going to classes from 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., JV basketball practice, a satisfying workout at Lava Gym and Hot Yoga, and soon-to-start ROP culinary class, Jodie comes home to a unique hobby: cosplay. “[Cosplay] combines the words costume and roleplay,” said Reyna. “[It is] basically like dressing up for Halloween, but Halloween would be everyday for you.” Fans of Japanese manga, or comic books, and anime, television animation, may “cosplay,” meaning that they portray the characters they read or watch. Jodie ventured out into the cosplay world as she was enjoying anime culture, especially the shows “Hunter x Hunter,” “Hotaru x Machinegun,” “Barakamon,” and “Hotarubi no Mori e.” Since the middle of last summer, she has portrayed five different characters, even re-creating the female version of Kaneki Ken, a former human turned into an one-eyed ghoul, from the anime, “Tokyo Ghoul.” *add pic of cosplay here* So where exactly does Jodie show off her creations? “I go to anime conventions or any convention where the people there understand what I’m dressed as,” said Reyna. “At first I didn’t have anyone that inspired me in continuing this, but meeting new people and seeing them cosplay for their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of others really stood out to me. That feeling of happiness for me and for all [the people around me] is what I always look for.” Jodie is planning to visit Anime Expo, an extremely popular convention held in Los Angeles promoting Japanese animation. She has two cosplays underway for this event in late June: Tachibana Hotaru from “Hotaru x Machine” and “the other one is a surprise.” During her free time, she usually handmakes her costumes, especially the props that piece the entire character together.
“It usually takes a month or month-and-a-half depending same show. We crossed paths again [so] we eventually on my schedule,” said Reyna. became long-distance homies. We all still talk to this day The character she will cosplay as, Tachibana Hotaru, for and we are all planning on cosplaying characters from Anime Expo is an energetic blonde student with green the same show at Anime Expo. [We will be] performing a eyes, willing to fight for what is right. Jodie will wear a little skit on the big stage.” wig and the character’s recognizable orange and black Anime Expo offers fans chances to present their hoodie, as well as hand-make the padding underneath. creativity and passion as long as they are confident and Since Jodie has brown eyes, she will purchase colored prepared. Starting around the month of December, Jodie contacts from online. and her three friends will begin to Conventions aren’t the only places rehearse together. where Jodie presents her cosplays. “We aren’t very much pros in the Because of our similar When she isn’t occupied with an performing arts, but we just wanted upcoming social event, she shows interest, there was no to try something new,” said Reyna. off her designs via Instagram. Society sometimes views cosplayers difficulty getting to know “[My] account: @sho_odie mostly in a negative light, labeling people focuses on the makings of a good as freaks or obsessed for dressing each other better.” cosplay, such as the makeup, DIY up as fictional characters. Although props, [and] the costume,” said cosplay has its stereotypes, as long Reyna. “But occasionally I’ll post somewhat pro pictures as the people behind the costume are passionate and of my finished cosplays too.” content with their activity, nothing should stop them from Through the art of cosplay, Jodie engages in many expressing their admiration of anime and manga. new friendships with peers of common interest. After “Truthfully, I don’t care if anyone sees me in [a attending Anime California, a convention for anime and stereotypical] way because they aren’t the only people videogames, months ago, Jodie has gained an exciting in the world I should base my thoughts on,” said Reyna. opportunity to look forward to. “The ones I should think about is the ones that care and “So I met these three awesome people that cosplay if what I do makes those people happy then I’m down for too,” said Reyna. “These are random people of different whatever.” age groups… two Filipino guys probably in their twenties, Although cosplay is a term we don’t necessarily hear and a girl who is in her freshman year of college. Because in our everyday lives, it is definitely an interesting hobby of our similar interest, there was no difficulty getting to pursued by some teenagers like Jodie. Work hard, (cos) know each other better. People would occasionally ask play hard. for pictures of us because our cosplays were all from the
“
Story & Photo by Jacqueline Hofmann effrey Hampton has many Nonetheless, his art takes much identities: long-haired, skinny time away from his hectic life as an AP student at West Ranch, and Honors student. With every new employee at Noah’s Bagels, and production, Jeffrey is given a script technician for the Repertory and a task: design the lighting to East Playhouse as well as West Ranch’s enhance the performance. theater. If you disregard any questions “I don’t get a whole lot of sleep, you may have about the type of to be completely honest. There are shampoo and conditioner he uses to a lot of late nights and a lot of early maintain his Jesus-like do, you will see mornings. And when I am in school I Jeffrey in a whole new light, literally. have a full load of classes, so it gets “Here, at the school, I run any event hard. I just sort out my priorities.” that is at the theater, whether it be Concerts are another huge time lights, sound, or if they need the consumer. Jeffrey typically has to be projector or any microphones. That’s at the venue two hours prior to the me, for choir concerts, band concerts, show beginning to set everything up and obviously theatre productions. and make the proper adjustments. Pretty much anything that goes While many of us may view the on in the theater, I am there for task of setting up and taking down helping out.” as something daunting, Jeffrey He has mastered some of the remains positive claiming best technology in regards there is no bad part about the to lighting and sound, job. I have and displayed his talents “I am not just sitting always had by taking up a job at our there, I am learning, I am a weird kind school. Hidden behind the creating, and every show many rows in our theater, is of analytical I do, no matter Jeffery’s sanctuary: his booth. what it is, I always learn side. ” “I got involved the summer something or figure out a after my freshman year. I was new way to do something. I a sound technician for the Santa grow as an artist.” Clarita Shakespeare Festival, and that The fact that Jeffrey is given the is why I joined the stagecraft class for opportunity to do what he loves theater and I just got involved after within the gates of West Ranch is truly our other technicians left.” unique. Most of Jeffrey’s work goes “I am planning a career in technical unrecognized by the audience. Until theater so it is really great to be I sat down to interview him, I was able to, at my school, have so much oblivious to who put the ombre colors experience. I really do enjoy it. It is a behind the orchestra and the colored lot of fun. I have always liked to create. spotlights on the theater students. I have always had a weird kind of “I did a production of Jesus Christ analytical side.” Superstar at the Repertory Playhouse, Jeffrey has kept West Ranch out another non-profit group and another of the dark for many years now. His theater I work at. I created a color legacy will continue to shine on as scheme for each character and I was he furthers his career outside of our able to manipulate the audience’s campus. perspectives through that.”
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Im very personal about my art. I don’t like shoving it in there faces or claiming to the world that I’m an artist. I enjoy taking this class and exercising my talent because I love to do it and I work to improve it all the time. I don’t know, I know that I’m really gifted in this area but for some odd reason I always get really embarrassed when my classmates compliment me on how it looks or if my friends somehow see it, their surprised facial reactions when it’s all finished.
Q:
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What is one thing people don’t know about you and your art?
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Involved? No. I couldn’t be an professional artist. I love art, but it’s not what I want to pursue. Overall it’s just not practical either. But integrated? Yes. For about two years now, I’ve wanted to work in plastic surgery because it requires a good eye and hand to coordinate and graph and it involves my one true passion, medicine.
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being involved in the art world later in life?
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Q: Do you see yourself
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counselor thought it’d be a good idea for me to fill in my school requirements early, so Ms. Warford enrolled me in Ms. Rush’s fourth period Art 1A/1B class. Little did I know that it would change my high school experience forever. I ended up excelling in that class and was strongly encouraged and selected by Ms Rush to be one of the three only incoming sophomores to be in her AP Studio Art class next year. I am now a second year AP Studio artist and I am so fortunate and lucky to spend every day developing something I love doing.
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Q: Why did you get into art? A: I got into art because my
What’s the thing that art is different all your other classes?
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A: Studio Art allows me to express
myself in ways that my academic classes are limited in. I can literally depict anything I want, whether how animated or unrealistic it may be, and spend the next few days bringing it to life. The last few moments I spend working on a piece are always my favorite because knowing that I created something from a blank piece of paper to something with depth and perspective is just so rewarding to see.
After Juliet
Story & Photos by Aerin Choi & Sydney Young
A
t precisely 7 p.m. on Saturday night, lights dimmed in the West Ranch theater. Dozens of parents and students filed into the dark room. Soon later, soft music began to play and the auditorium silenced to only a quiet murmur of whispers. The curtains rose and the production of “After Juliet” was on its course. “After Juliet” is a West Ranch advanced theater production that was adapted from another playwright, Sharman Macdonald. Over a dozen talented aspiring actors and actresses put on the presentation under the supervision of theater teacher, Christopher Cook. Over the course of many months, students spent their theater classes, as well as some of their free time, in order to revise and perform the play. “You have a lot of blocking that happens -- which is an organization of the scene and where everybody moves on the stage. And there’s sword fighting, sets, lighting, a lot of memorization because there’s a lot of heavy monologues in this play so that’s a big factor,” said one the actors Daniella Steele. They put their own spin on the performance to better appeal to themselves and their audience of parents and students. The play follows the events after the esteemed Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet,” displaying what happened to supporting characters after the death of the two leads. “After Juliet” displays what
viewers did not get to see in the original play, such as the outcome of friends and family of the deceased Romeo and Juliet. Though it was very tense and angry, there were many moments that had the crowd laughing. Characters Lorenzo and Gianni played by (Nicolas Aguilar and Scott Arrowsmith) were definitely the more light-hearted characters in the production. Rosalind (played by Sierra Turcot), one of the main female leads, was a great character who really drew the audience in with her powerful lines and passion for the script. “As an actor my craft is to allow my body to become a vessel for a character to live it’s life. When I was reading for her character you could already tell that she has all this passion and built up anger and frustration and almost this broken heart and I love that,” said Sierra Turcot who plays Rosalind. Visual aspects of the play, such as silhouetted sword fights and flashing lights, provided a new element of depth for the audience. “Definitely my favorite scene was the swordplay. All of the actors were involved in that, it kind of an adventure. And the lighting and the music that was timed with the swordplay was fantastic,” said parent Maryann Lamer. Nearly all onlookers were thoroughly impressed with the play as a whole. Many viewers became entirely immersed in the drama. The crowd was thoroughly engrossed in the drama-filled moments. After the play, they talked earnestly to their favorite characters, who stood in the crowd to meet the appreciative audience. The cast was met with flowers, hugs, and many congratulations. “I thought it was excellent. They did a very good job of what might happen after ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ It was a serious play yet it had some comedic moments in it that lightened the mood.” “After Juliet,” a riveting yet humor-filled drama, was truly an outstanding performance by West Ranch theater, and we hope to see many similar showings in the future. The show was a great success over the course of its three showings on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It was a great payoff for the students that put countless hours of time and effort into the extraordinary performance.
Photo provided by Dylana Edwards
PHOTO GRAPHY in focus
Sunflowers are jealous of her bright orange hair. Her sweet smile radiates throughout the room. Dylana Edwards is more than your typical junior. Her quiet demeanor yet powerful presence is intimidating, but her friendly personality sets you at ease. In the dark photo classroom, Edwards intently looks up examples of photographs to help her brainstorm for her final project. The dim light from the computer screen illuminates her focused stare. She is emerged into her own world of artistic creativity. Edwards began taking photos the second semester of her freshman year and immediately fell in love with photography. Once she found her talent in photography, she decided to take Digital Photography l during her sophomore year and is currently taking Digital Photography ll. From her experience in photography classes at West Ranch and her personal trial and error, Edwards has
Story and Photos by Rachel Lee
grown as an artist. “I think my ideas have become a little more independent,” said Edwards. “I think I taught myself a lot more and I learned a lot through photo class. I found ways that look good and other ways that don’t. I found myself more in my pictures than I had before.” Edwards’ personality shines in her photographs. Just from looking through her collection, you can see how she views the world. She transforms seemingly simple and mundane objects into a work of stunning beauty. Edwards’ love for photography comes from the basic human principle of relationships. She enjoys portraiture the best because she likes “being able to capture the beauty in everyone because [she has] the chance to make everyone look and feel good about themselves.” She expanded her artistic endeavours by making use of social media, like her tumblr page and flickr, to share her art. Her photographs convey a
sense of intimate connection with the subjects. In her pictures, every detail of the people photographed, from the soft curves of their hair to the multitude of textures in their outfits, is expertly captured in a style unique to her. Edwards’ photographs convey a sense of companionship because each subject photographed looks at ease in front of the camera. Edwards has clearly mastered the art of portraiture. Photography is such a different and unique form of art because a photographer starts from a canvas that is already filled with lively sounds and vibrant colors, just waiting to be noticed by an artistic eye. “I think photography is different because it’s real. You are seeing a real moment and a real person rather than someone’s interpretation of someone else. When you take a picture of someone you are capturing how they really are in that moment and I like that a lot.”
WINTER BREAK
essentials
Story by Megan Chang and Sam Hartung Photos by Sam Hartung
1
A perfect outfit
We define the perfect outfit as something that is cute while keeping you warm during winter. Our favorite outfit is a warm, chunky sweater paired with leggings or jeans. Add some tall boots with fun socks, and a cozy scarf if you would like.
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Movies for a chilly night The Video Depot in Newhall is one of our favorite places to get movies, especially because it is one of the last movie rental places in Santa Clarita. Any classic holiday movie will work for a night in, but some of our favorites are “Elf,” “Home Alone,” and “Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer.”
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Winter Wonderland
You can still have a picture perfect break while going to local places. If you want something different, go watch Canyon Theater Guild’s production of “A Christmas Carol” or go to the Westfield Mall Outdoor Ice Skating Rink.
RUNNING START
RYAN PAINTER CROSS COUNTRY
“Running is just as much mental as it is physical, and, not matter what kind of shape you’re in, you’ll have your good and bad days.” “Running sucks sometimes. There’s days when you just really don’t want to go run 15 miles, no matter how much you love the sport. But after awhile you realize that it is worth the temporary pain for the ultimate result.”
POCKET PASS
WYATT EGETRON WILDCATS FOOTBALL
“Football means brotherhood, trust, and the ability to rely on one another. Football means friendship. Football is the greatest sport on the planet.
I wouldn’t want to play anything else. The hardest part of football is overcoming adversity. It tells you what type of team you are as a whole and how everyone will react when the chips are down. It’s easy to be happy go lucky when you are winning, but when you are losing early or late, you get to see a team’s true character.”
Operation Warr Teenage hockey star TRISTAN WARR is taking his game new places
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yes wide with fascination, five-year-old Tristan Warr sat staring at the television and focused his eyes on the puck as the LA Kings sprinted back and forth on the ice. It was the intensity and pace that had him hooked. “My dad was excited that I wanted to play hockey but my mom was nervous,” said Warr, “My dad had started watching hockey before I was born, he always liked the game but my mom, on the other hand, didn’t want me to get injured.” Following his heart, Tristan first stepped out onto the ice one skate at a time, fully padded with a miniature stick in his hand at the age of six. Once a professional baseball player, Tristan’s dad now dedicated his time to coaching his son in a sport he had only watched on TV. Together he and his son practiced skating and shooting out in the open rink. After Tristan learned the basics with his father it was time to step up to the next level, Tristan joined the Valencia Flyers youth team when he was seven-yearsold. “It was a fun learning experience,” said Warr, “I played left wing. It’s the best position for a righty.” It was here that Warr began to learn his way around the ice. After learning the basics, Tristan was now able to focus on improving skating and shooting while also practicing with a team for the first time. It was here on the youth team where he first began to shine. “My favorite memory during my time with the Valencia Flyers was scoring the winning goal during a tournament.” Warr has continued to strengthen his skills during school and also on summer breaks. During school Warr uses his free time to practice stick times, free time out on the ice without coaches. “During stick times I focus on skating and shooting. I do quick feet around the cones and practice shooting from angles I can score from.” While making the transition into high school, Tristan was hit with some very surprising news, West Ranch was to be creating a hockey team. “When I found out West Ranch was to be creating a team I was really excited to play for my high school.” As the season grew closer and closer, Warr set a few goals for himself to keep him playing at 100 percent and above. “My personal goals for this year are to
Training takes place on and off the ice. When Warr is not working on his stick handling or practicing his accuracy with an empty net, he is in the weight room, along with his teammates. Hockey is a physical sport, full of body checks and contact, so it is important for Warr to condition and strengthen his muscles to brush off any contact that may occur during the game.
help build up the program and help my team win.” Though winning is satisfying, that is not what hockey is all about for Warr, who truly has a passion for the sport. He also finds motivation through other players who he looks up to. “My two role models would be Austin Ghirradeli and Tyler Toffoli,” said Tristan, “I admire their work ethic and how skilled they are.” Austin Ghirradeli, a player on the LA Kings Jr. team, and Tyler Toffoli, a player on the LA Kings NHL team, have both inspired Tristan to continue improving in hopes to reach their skill level one day. Now on the Wildcats hockey team, Warr uses his motivation to adjust his tight schedule to fit in as much hockey time as possible. Despite attending classes, practicing four to five times a week with the team, and completing homework, Tristan still carves out time to train on his own and to continue stick times. It is with this practice that has led him to excellence. “He has a phenomenal skill set with great hands, speed and offensive capabilities,” said Coach Chris Lecornu. Within his first year playing for West Ranch, the team has become a special part of Tristan’s life. “After a long game I celebrate with the boys,” said Warr,” We usually find a place to eat nearby where we played.” When not in heavy pads or uniform the team can be seen huddled up at school laughing and having a good time. With his newlyfound friends, Tristan enjoys attending football games and simply just talking and laughing it up at school. Tristan uses his friends to motivate him out on the ice and also at school when classes can get too tough or not
interesting enough. “I am currently taking biology, algebra, English, digital game design, p.e., and health.” As a student-athlete Warr knows not to lose focus on school, which he prioritizes in order to get into one of his dream colleges. Warr has his heart set out for Boston University or Minnesota University and dreams of continuing hockey at either school. “Both colleges are D1 and are good athletic and academic schools,” said Warr, “While at college I want to major in sports medicine and continue into a career as a sports medicine doctor.” Though neither school has yet to contact him, within his first semester of high school Warr has already been contacted by Denver University, a college with a Division 1 hockey team. Warr attends showcases and summer camps to help get his name out there for colleges and junior teams and increase scouting chances. Warr also uploads his stats online which helps with this process. Though he dreams of sports medicine, if given the opportunity Warr would gladly go pro, preferably sticking with his favorite team, the LA Kings. What once started as a love for watching hockey eventually grew into a passion for playing the sport. Now nothing can prevent Warr from being on the ice whether it be school work, internet, or hanging out with friends. “He is one of the more talented players and I’ve had the pleasure of coaching and watching him play,” said LeCornu. It truly is a pleasure having Tristan here to contribute all that he has to West Ranch’s first ever year of hockey.
2015
Throughout the season, the in-game focuses varied from game to game. Some nights the offense was the major focal point, while other games defense had the greater attention. Whether it was fast breaks, turnovers, player attitude, slowing down the tempo, or executing a quick last-minute play, the various shifts in their points of emphasis helped the Wildcats to many of their wins. From the 2014 season, the team experienced the full range of games, from clutch wins to disappointing losses, including a tough defeat in the CIF playoffs. There are plenty of areas to be proud of including a decent third place finish in league, but there was a feeling of frustration and hunger for a championship.
Lineup
Practice
While the team had a decent season last year with a 7-3 record in league and a 16-13 record overall, the goals were mainly focused around making it to and competing well in the CIF playoffs. Winning was the ultimate goal in mind, but as with any sports team, team development, consistent practice and conditioning, and player growth were kept in mind throughout last year.
The team has the highest of expectations this season, with a fresh and healthy lineup. Coach Alison Moore realistically sees the team finishing third in the Foothill league, and has confidence in the strong competitiveness and effort of the team. As always, player growth, bonding, and fun along with the goal of success will be emphasized.
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Practices are as efficient as ever, with each drill designed to enhance and improve the skill of each and every player. Now with a more complete lineup practices provide a more realistic game setting, better preparing the team for the season. While the type of conditioning and work may remain the same, the practices now have an improved feeling and atmosphere for developing the team.
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With this new season, the goals have been revamped with a brand new slate. Along with the usual goals of internal team improvement, the team has focused on winning and dominating in games and tournaments. Hoping to build off experience from last year, the team’s goals have been elevated to placing higher in league and advancing deep into the CIF playoffs.
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Goals
Because of the limited and small roster, practices were a mix of conditioning, drills, and smaller scrimmages. These scrimmages however could never emulate the full in-game experience, as a complete five-on-five match could not be performed with only a few players healthy. The practices were very helpful for the players able to participate, but the team could never completely prepare for each game.
By Andy Song Photos by Andy Song
A near-full roster of 13 players, the lineup is built with a healthy solid starting core. Off the bench, a good mix of experienced players and new talent are ready to backup the starters. Currently, eight seniors are on the roster, providing the perfect veteran experience and new and exciting talent from younger members.
< < Focus
The lineup was one of the weakest spots for the girls’ team. While strong at first, it fell apart during the season due to the high amount of unfortunate injuries. By the time the season closed, the team was only left with six healthy players available. Leaving only one backup, the team had to play conservatively in order to preserve every player’s energy.
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Mariam Asghar Pos. f GR. 12 Ht. 5’6’’
Compared to the previous seasons, many of those fundamental focuses will remain the same. This year, their is increased emphasis on sideline energy and intensity and performing together as a strong unit. These main areas of attention will be concentrated more during the season, as the team believes this overall focus will contribute to greater success.
Feelings are as optimistic as ever, with the integration of last year’s experience and the energy of the new season. Through rigorous and meticulous training drills, the players’ skills have vastly improved. The expectations may be higher and the room for mistake may be narrower, but the Cats are determined more than ever to bring the glory to West Ranch.
< < Feelings
As the season progressed, a variety of factors hampered the team’s success. The team struggled en route to a 10-18 record, finishing with a disappointing 0-10 record in league play. While the season had not gone to plan, expectations were more geared toward player development and enjoyment.
Expectations
2014
Matthew Tate Pos. f GR. 12 Ht. 6’4’’
Girls Soccer
Photo By Bryce Fenenbock
By Jaryn Santos
Soccer isn’t just about kicking a ball. You must improve your relationship with your teammates to have a successful team. Many of these soccer players have been practicing with their club teams even before the season has started. Now that the soccer season is coming up, the girls’ team has been working harder than ever everyday on and off the field. “We are practicing everyday to connect on the field, but we are also doing team bonding activities to improve our relationship,” said senior goalkeeper, Delaney Marbach. Even though last year was one of their strongest years, the team believes that they can be just as successful by surpassing their record last year in league. However, the team cannot underestimate all the other schools because they are getting better as well. With Hart and Golden Valley as their biggest competitors, they continue to train. The team has many goals to accomplish this season, but the team’s main goal is to win league and then go to playoffs. “Our biggest competitor is Hart, since they have won league the last two years,” said head coach, Jared White. The players have smaller goals that they want to achieve as well. They want to make their passes the best it can, shoot as many times they can, and convert stolen balls into goals. Good luck to our West Ranch girls’ soccer team this season! With the arrival of new coaches this past year, new skills and new strengths are destined to come about. Trained by head coach Louis Mogrovejo and assistant coach Hank Marchetti, the team hopes to continue where they left off last year. As their season comes up, they practice everyday to improve. They do various drills at practice to enhance their skills to beat Hart, their main competitor. “We have worked on how to defend and keep our shape,” said junior center midfielder, Bradley Nichols. With a championship in mind, the soccer team works diligently to master the new techniques the coaches are implementing. The team mainly works on their agility and speed to move quicker with the ball. As stern coaches, Mogrovejo and Marchetti work together to get their athletes ready to compete in league. They do all they can to have their players ready to play at the best of their ability. “I’m a strict coach, but there’s a line also, a certain line that I have. I’m strict, but I also try to make sure my boys get to know me well and not hammering down on them,” said Mogrovejo. The players have many goals that they want to achieve with the new coaches. They want to build team chemistry with everyone on and off the field. As a whole, they want to achieve numerous assists, score as many goals as they can, and block all the shots that come their way. Good luck to our West Ranch boys’ soccer team this year!
Boys Soccer By Jaryn Santos
Photo Provided by Lynn Zarrell