The Pen

the

PEN

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School www.pvphsnews.com Vol. XXXV

Issue 8

May 29, 2015

JETTING OFF Panthers are headed to England, Scotland and other destinations this summer FOCUS

Page 6-7

DIVERSITY IN LINK CREW Link crew seeks students from all ethnic groups OPINION Page 4

CAPITOL CANVAS Senior Yayoi Marumo's artwork was selected to be displayed in the Capitol building STUDENT LIFE Page 9

WRAPPING IT UP An overview of this year's spring sports SPORTS Page 10-11

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NEWS

moving through the ranks 4.083

New rankings by The Washington Post confirm Peninsula’s place amongst the nation’s top public, private and charter schools.

Index score *

BY ANNIE BENEDICT

#

37

In California*

#

294

In the United States *

Schools Evaluated nationwide *

Jackie UY/THE PEN

2,300

*According to The Washington Post

In the South Bay, Peninsula is known as a highachieving school. Recently released rankings by The Washington Post show that Peninsula’s reputation extends beyond the local area to the state and nation.

The new rankings designate Peninsula as number 37 in California and number 294 in the United States.

Though the national rank is actually lower than in previous years—in 2014, Pen’s rank was 254—initial impressions can be deceiving.

The school’s index score, unlike the ranking, has actually increased: this year, Peninsula’s index is 4.083, an increase from 4.033 in 2014 and 3.078 in 2013.

Ranking is based on this index score—a score which takes into account “the number of college-level tests given at a school in the previous calendar year divided by the number of graduates that year. Also noted are the percentage of students who come from families that qualify for lunch subsidies and the percentage of graduates who passed at least one college-level test during their high school career, called Equity and Excellence,” according to guidelines on The Washington Post website.

Currently, over 2,300 schools nationwide are evaluated by The Washington Post . This group consists of selected magnet, private, charter and public schools.

Every year, however, new magnet schools branch off from larger public ones, and more charter schools are added to the list. According to Principal Mitzi Cress, in a school district such as Los Angeles Unified, a school

the size of Peninsula would be broken up into three separate magnet schools.

“It is not a static population,” Cress said. “Our index score will go up, so we are continually improving in almost every area, but since more high-quality players are entering the game, our ranking relative to these new competitors will go down.”

Furthermore, many of these magnet, private and charter schools require entrance exams. Peninsula, on the other hand, as a public school, has no such selectivity.

“The Washington Post is sort of unique in this, in that they mix the private schools and the charter schools with large comprehensive public high schools,” Cress said. “They do not give us any points for accepting everybody. The school is open to everyone of every ability. And I think those schools, especially a large school like ours, should be viewed in a different category. But for us to be in the same ball park as schools such as Oxford Academy, Sage Hill, Pasadena Polytechnic and Flintridge Prep, that is pretty cool. We are right up there with them.”

These rankings are often used to attract incoming families and are viewed by colleges across the nation when receiving applications.

“There is so much more to a school than a ranking,” Cress said. “Our numbers here are great, but that doesn’t tell me if I am preparing you for college, if I am preparing you to be a great human being. Hearing back from alumni and from the colleges—that is what really measures success.”

School creates “Panther Time” for student snack break After a multi-decade-long campaign to raise public awareness about the nutrition and healthiness of American students, the state and Peninsula administration have embarked on a new quest to improve student health.

The first of many reforms came last year, when California removed sodas from all school cafeterias and vending machines. The state also banned the sale of unhealthy snacks such as cinnamon rolls. Sodas have been replaced by low-sugar, non-carbonated beverages and the cinnamon buns have been replaced by healthy breakfast substitutes.

On April 22, Principal Mitzi Cress compounded this series of reforms by introducing “Panther Time,” a 13-minute extension of the passing time between second and third periods. On three consecutive Wednesdays in late April and early May, the administration temporarily initiated Panther Time as three trials.

“Our hope was that everyone had a better opportunity to use the restroom, to grab a bite to eat, and to meet with teachers,” Associate Principal Michael Wanmer said. “Panther Time was a big hit at the teachers’ summit, and we think it had a lot of success.”

The question still remains, however, whether students will take full advantage of the healthy opportunities that have been spearheaded by the state and the school’s administration.

When 20 Peninsula sophomores and juniors were asked about their Panther Time activities, only eight claimed that they used Panther Time for the administration’s recommended uses, and six said that

“ I see more patients who suffer from mental fatigue and illness than from physical injuries, so panther time helps those particular students by allowing them to regain their mental power.

“

BY Noah Werksman

- Nurse Wendy Keller they only bring “healthy” snacks to school.

“I never felt like I needed another break that early in the day because I had just eaten breakfast,” junior David Lee said.

A parallel to Panther Time already exists in the adult working world, as California law requires that workers must be provided with at least a 10-minute break for

every four hours worked, not including lunch.

“The longer break was super nice because it increased business and gave us more time to cook better food for the children,” cafeteria manager Roberta Shreeves said. “I could tell that the kids loved it because it seems like teachers don’t let the kids eat in class. They all came running over here to buy something once the bell rang.”

Although the administration hopes that Panther Time is used less as a “fun recess” and more as a “nutrition break,” nurse Wendy Keller believes that any sort of recess during the day is beneficial for one’s mental health.

“It is important that kids choose to drink water, consume protein and rest their brains,” Keller said. “I see more patients who suffer from mental fatigue and illness than from physical injuries, so Panther Time helps those particular students by allowing them to regain their mental power.”

The administration plans to conduct several more Panther Time recesses to evaluate whether the students will use this break for meeting with teachers, getting food and using the restroom.

“Whatever we can do to help students get through the day is good for the school,” safe-school counselor Christine Lopez said.

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27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Uswah Shabbir COPY/MANAGING EDITOR Fatima Siddiqui DESIGN EDITOR Angela Song NEWS EDITOR: Noah Werksman WRITERS: Annie Benedict Esther Chu Sonia Desaidamle OPINION EDITORS: Lauren Lee Alex Bologna WRITERS: Zoe Willoughby Marine Fujisawa Trisha Valukonis FOCUS EDITORS: Chris Kong Sama Shah WRITERS: Amani Jalota Christopher Lee STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Jina Kim Florencia Park WRITERS: Phoebe Borsum Stella Yoo Annie Tyler SPORTS EDITOR: Tunika Onnekikami WRITERS: Christopher Chien Jenna Henry Joe Foard GRAPHICS Yasmine Kahsai Jackie Uy BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Isabelle Wang ADVISER Jaymee Johnson “The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced journalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Advertising Manager Isabelle Wang at (310) 377- 4888 ext. 652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or Jaymee Johnson’s mailbox.

Copyright © 2014

Front Page Illustration by Jackie Uy Design by Jackie Uy

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Link Crew embodies diversity

BY Marine fujisawa With a multicultural student body, Peninsula constantly strives to equally represent the various groups on campus. In particular, prominent clubs, such as Link Crew, have taken steps to achieve equal racial representation.

The Link Crew leaders are each assigned a specific group of incoming freshmen to help transition into high school and to mentor throughout the year. As mentors to the freshmen, Link Crew Leaders should represent all parts of the student body to better connect and relate to the incoming eighth graders.

“Having a diverse group of Link Crew leaders is so important because Peninsula is an ethnically diverse school, and it is important that we express and stand for who we are as a school,” sophomore and incoming Link Crew leader Sarah Aoyagi said. “This is one of the many characteristics Link Crew possesses that makes us people the freshmen can connect with.”

This year, an impressive 230 students applied for a Link Crew position, which is roughly a fifth of the sophomore and junior classes combined. Link Crew coordinators Rebecka Dibble and Loretta Alvillar selected 126 leaders for next year’s crew.

“We are excited that students are so eager to become leaders at Peninsula,” Dibble said. “We are glad that there are so many great leadership classes and organizations for all students to have a voice.”

Dibble and Alvillar assessed students on not only their submitted applications but also on the students’ teacher recommendations to ensure

a competent, diverse Link Crew team. Additionally, the coordinators conducted a group interview with prospective members.

“As certified Link Crew Coordinators, we adhere to the nationally recognized Link Crew curriculum and structure which states that ‘Leaders must represent a cross section of students,’” Dibble said. “We strive to select leaders every year who embody those standards.”

According to a 2012 study published in the journal Communication Research, under-representation of genders and ethnic groups can damage a person’s self-esteem. While this often applies to racial representation in the media, according to Assistant Professor Grollman of the University of Pennsylvania, seeing a positive portrayal of someone of the same ethnicity can help raise one’s self-worth. Freshmen can better their transition into high school with the help and assistance of upperclassmen.

“There is little to no cultural discrimination at our school and that’s what makes Peninsula so special,” Aoyagi said. “This is one of the many factors that make our school so great, and it is something the freshmen can see through Link Crew.”

A diverse group of leaders can greatly benefit the program because it reflects the school’s beliefs that everyone is treated and respected equally on campus. In order for the freshmen to feel included in the school community, it is important that Link Crew reflects the school’s cultural diversity.

2,579

students are enrolled at peninsula

51 percent of

minorities is enrolled at peninsula

47 Languages are spoken at peninsula

Jackie Uy /The Pen

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

*According to the 2013-14 Peninsula Profile and US News

Editorial: we are more than just a test score BY editorial staff Each year, schools are ranked nationally by various organizations based on test scores, graduation rates and school size. While these rankings often describe a school based on academic indexes, they cannot take into account the other areas of success a school may have: achievements in the arts, sports and other extracurriculars.

At Peninsula, where approximately 2,500 students find personal success in dozens of fields, evaluating the impact of these successes is impossible.

That is not to say that we do not place value on a

standardized assessment of the student body; recently, students collectively took 2,638 Advanced Placement exams, the results of which are heavily stressed in classes. Though this emphasis of standardized testing is important, we often lose sight of other factors that further individual success.

In past years, Peninsula has gained incredible national and international recognition for achievements from individuals in a variety of fields.

Seniors Braeden Benedict and Michelle May were chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholar finalists, with Benedict receiving a trip to Washington D.C. to tour the city and meet President Obama.

However, the endless

achievements extend far beyond those of academic organizations.

In April, the Coed Choreo team earned its first national title at the USA Dance Nationals in Anaheim, demonstrating the strength of Peninsula’s arts program. The school yearbook, La Pantera, was awarded a Gold Crown award at Columbia’s Scholastic Press Association in New York City. Additionally, five spring sports teams qualified for the CIF playoffs due to the hard work of our athletes.

Peninsula constantly participates in annual philanthropic events, such as Walk for Life, Peace4Kids and Willenberg, all telling of our students’ compassionate character. Leadership

organizations like Associated Student Body, Link Crew and Service Learning work yearround to provide students with a welcoming and safe environment.

Because Peninsula’s campus consists of a variety of remarkably successful individuals, basing the quality of a school simply on these academic indexes would be an inaccurate portrayal of the school. It would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the dedication of our administration and teachers, who devote so much effort in shaping the lives of their students. Though we hear it often on our campus, the words ring true: We are much more than a test score.

OPINION

The Logic of Code Computer science provides an alternative to students to obtain math credits outside of a traditional math class.

By trisha valukonis The nascent prominence of for math or science credit, it should not Allowing computer science to technology in society encourages be considered a foreign language. In an count for math or science credits schools to expand their curriculum to article by the Washington Post, New will encourage more students to take include another option that satisfies Mexico defends its decision to make it the class. As society becomes more math, science and foreign language a foreign language, saying it will develop technology-oriented, employers will be requirements: computer science. children’s computer skills, something searching for people who understand Peninsula, along with the majority of high crucial to modern society. However, computers. schools in California, offers Computer the programs students learn to build in “Technology influences people’s lives Science Advanced Placement as a computer sciences are “expressions of everyday,” said pre-calculus teacher mathematics course. However, Code, logic” and are more mathematical than Henry Chou. “I take UCLA courses a website dedicated to increasing [on computer science] to learn interest in computer science, reports programming because people need it.” that half out of the 50 states do not The National Center for Education The process of problem solving allow computer science to count Statistics reports that around 19 is similar to that of math. You towards math or science credit, percent of graduated high school despite the class containing functions, in 2009 had computer have to know how to put things students geometry and variables similar to the science credits, compared to 25 concepts of math and experimentation. together to solve the problem. percent in 2000. Overall, this is a low Since the class is both University percentage and a lack of technological of California and California State -Sophomore Austin Wong knowledge for new generations will University approved, schools should cause the United States to lag even offer and encourage students to take more behind other countries in the class for math credit. Computer linguistic. technological advancement. According science provides an alternative option “The process of problem solving is to the Organization for Economic for those who struggle with a traditional similar [to that of math],” sophomore Cooperation and Development study in math curriculum and encourages Austin Wong said. “You have to know October 2013, the United States ranked students to learn about technology, a how to put things together to solve the 21 out of 23 countries in math and 17 useful skill in today’s society. problem.” out of 19 countries in problem solving.

“We teach repetitions and Foreign language classes teach Providing computer science as a recursions,” computer science teacher students not only a language, but also math course may spark the interest of Hassan Twiet said. “And recursion is a culture. Foreign language classes students who are looking for another nothing but math, like factorials.” teach cultural awareness as well as option to receive math or science credit.

States such as New Mexico and communication skills, which cannot be “This may lead students to take this Washington are seeking to make learned through computer science. class,” Wong said. “It may help them computer science a foreign language “Language is a culture with find a passion or allow them to not have class. While computer science should traditions,” Twiet said. “Whereas to take a subject they do not enjoy as be allowed to fulfill the requirements computer science mostly includes math.” much.”

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Ja ck ie /T Uy he Pe n

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“Going to Camp CHLA (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles) will help me get a better idea of what interests me in the medical field,” junior Emily Sheng said.

“I hope to learn more about the inner workings of how a hospital operates and be able to observe different procedures.”

“Meeting other musicians and professors from different universities at the International Institute for Young Musicians, also known as IIYM, in Lawrence, Kansas will broaden my knowledge and experience that will benefit me in my piano career,” sophomore Elizabeth Sun said. “I am excited for this fun and rare experience to be surrounded by people who have the same interests and thoughts as I do.”

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One simple online search was all it took for junior Katelyn Maes to pursue the summer of her dreams.

Interested in fashion and traveling, she found a program through Oxford College in London that will allow her to explore career fields associated with the fashion industry. After she submitted a written statement, teacher recommendations, a transcript and medical forms, Maes was accepted into the program.

“I wanted to do something this summer that combines the field and place I love the most,” Maes said.

Maes will be taking classes specializing in entrepreneurship, marketing and advertising. While taking those classes, she will be traveling around London to work with businesses to get a feel for the what they do. In the future, Maes wants to start her own business or advertise products.

“I think being informed on how certain aspects of a business operates is crucial for success,” Maes said. “I hope I will learn important entrepreneur skills at Oxford.”

She also wants to incorporate fashion into the business of her choice, whether it is creating a fashion brand or marketing for one. Maes aspires to establish a career or a business along the lines of E! News. By attending the summer program, she hopes to jump-start her career.

BY AMANI JALOTA

Summer

Summer break takes

Junior Kiana Razi first met Assemblyman David Hadley at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District’s Capitol Convoy in Sacramento. After having an incredible trip, she applied and received an internship at Hadley’s South Bay office.

“I talked to him over dinner and really enjoyed what he had to say,” Razi said. “I decided to get involved, gain some experience, and see if the world of politics is for me.”

Along with getting to wear business attire every day and running errands such as reserving meeting venues and creating certificates, Razi is able to keep herself updated on all pertinent local issues. She hopes that her time observing the functions of political office will give her ample opportunity to formulate her own political views and gain experience in the world of politics.

“I want to study political science in college, and for now I am thinking about going into prelaw,” Razi said. “But who knows? Maybe I’ll even try to become a politician myself.”

BY Christopher Lee

FOCUS focus

BY CHRISTOPHER LEE

During the current school year, junior Hannah Irish developed a passion for physics, one she wanted to explore when applications for the Boeing Summer Internship were released. As one of the five Peninsula students accepted for the Boeing Summer Internship, Irish will have the opportunity to shadow professional engineers and take on various engineering-related jobs, such as running data or attending conferences. The Boeing website lists a series of core values which governs the everyday functions of the company, one of which is “Diversity & Inclusion,” which invites engineers of all disciplines to work for the company.

Irish is excited to have the chance to work alongside Boeing’s professionals, and through the program’s varied approach to engineering mentoring, she hopes to become acquainted with a single field of engineering that she herself may want to pursue in college.

“I’ve never worked in such a formal engineering setting before,” Irish said. “But I hope that I will discover a specific kind of engineering that would set my career goals.”

plans

“My debate partner Raam Tambe and I will be attending a seven-week program called Hoya Spartan Scholars at Georgetown University and Michigan State University,” sophomore Jerry Wang said. “Going to the best debate camp in the nation will enhance our communicative power and research skills. Although it is true that a lot of research at debate camp is done at home, it is really about the working environment and the lectures that will help us become better debaters.”

students near and far.

jACKIE UY/THE PEN

BY ESTHER CHU

In February, when Peninsula’s drama department was anonymously nominated by other high schools to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, head of the drama department Seth Cohen was pleasantly surprised. Two months later, Cohen found out that he and his drama students were selected to travel to Europe during the summer.

“Getting the chance to perform in a show at one of the biggest theater festivals in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” junior and actress Leah Whang said. “It is an honor to represent our school in a foreign country.”

As well as attending the festival, Cohen and his students will be visiting England to tour different places such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Globe Theatre. They will then travel to Edinburgh, Scotland to perform the play “Seussodyssey” at one of the biggest art festivals in the world. The department will also watch various musicals and plays by international performers.

“Traveling to Europe with friends is an opportunity that I would have marveled at when I was in high school,” Cohen said. “I hope that the students find the same enjoyment out of prepping for this event as they do with any other productions we have been a part of.”

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Canvas IN THe

Capitol

BY phoebe borsum As a child, senior Yayoi Marumo’s imagination was always at work, whether she was playing with arts and crafts or picking up random projects around her house. This artistry started out as an outlet for her stress and pain after battling with health issues, and she continued to develop her skills throughout her childhood and high school career.

“I was always experimenting to find different ways to make a mark in the world,” Marumo said. “It was during high school when I focused more on developing a skill for drawing and painting.”

When her Advanced Placement Studio Art teacher, Jamie Nyman, told her class about the Congressional Art Competition, Marumo expressed interest.

With Nyman’s help and encouragement, Marumo submitted her artwork. Aside from personal motivations,

Student Life Senior gets artwork displayed in washington, d.c.

she was inspired to have her artwork exhibited in the capitol.

Marumo ended up winning first place out of 33 contestants.

“I will probably never find another opportunity to have an artwork displayed in such a significant place,” Marumo said. “I find it really funny that I won since I found out about the contest two days before the deadline, so because of time, I entered an art piece I painted almost two years ago.”

Marumo’s prized piece was inspired by summer boredom.

She wanted to improve her oil painting skills, so she painted portraits of her friends for practice. Generally, Marumo uses different techniques depending on the kind of art project. If the guidelines are open ended, she creates the first thing that comes to her mind or bases her artwork on her current interests. Marumo finds her work to be more successful when her creativity is spontaneous.

“I immediately write notes or

do a rough sketch before I lose my ideas,” Marumo said. “Also, if I am making an art piece that has a deadline such as an art class assignment, pressure from time [constraints] help me take more risks and prevent me from over-thinking and losing my focus. Experimenting almost always leads to problems, but I like to use them to my advantage because sometimes the mistakes give me better ideas.”

On top of having her artwork displayed at the U.S. capitol, Marumo won a free trip to Washington, D.C., a $3,000 per year scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design, a $500 college scholarship from Time Warner Cable, a $150 gift card from the Inn at Playa Del Rey and a chance to be included in Southwest Airlines’ magazine.

“By doing art, I have learned to be more creative which I can use in my future pursuits,” Marumo said.

Marumo plans to continue developing her art skills.

t ar

wo

rk

y by

ay

oi

r ma

um

o

her process 1

Write down spontaneous ideas

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Experiment with different mediums

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Make mistakes and learn from them

Visit pvphsnews.com to view marumo’s artwork

An eye opening creation: Juniors design sports glasses By stella yoo

photo courtesy of jessica hay

Shen poses with a member of Palos Verdes1 Girls Softball League at Cornerstone Elementary School.

When junior Isabel Shen was younger, she was constantly teased for wearing sports glasses.

Sports glasses are a form of protective eye-wear that block out more sun and protect more of the eye than average sun glasses. Shen has worn prescription lenses since kindergarten, even though she feels that they are uncomfortable.

When Shen and junior Jessica Hay were assigned to the “Social Injustice” project in Mrs. Sidella’s English 3 Honors class, which required students to find solutions to modern problems, Shen and Hay sought inspiration from Shen’s childhood struggle for their project.

After researching the materials used for current sports glasses, Shen and Hay worked on the design of a more comfortable alternative to commercial sports glasses.

Senior and friend Matia Celic helped produce measurements for the new model using AutoCAD, a software for drafting 3-D products. Hay and Shen created a new type of sports goggles that is much more thin, flexible and comfortable. Regular sports glasses tend to be more uncomfortable, for the frame does not

conform to the user’s face. This bulky fit makes it difficult to wear helmets and other protective gear. After Shen and Hay finished designing and 3-D printing the glasses, they tested the prototypes on teams in the Palos Verdes Girls Softball League. The pair received positive feedback during their trial with the girls.

“We also gave a survey to kids and adults who wear glasses and we found that a lot of kids want better options for glasses that aren’t as thick and don’t get in the way of helmets,” Shen said.

Shen hopes that the new glasses she produced will give children the opportunity that she never had.

“We just hope that they feel comfortable, rather than out-casted or self-conscious about something they cannot control,” Shen said.

As of now, Hay and Shen have no plans to sell the product.

“We got a lot of positive feedback from people who want us to sell [the glasses], but at this point in our life we don’t have the funds or the experience to go anywhere with [a business] right now,” Shen said. “But [creating a business] is definitely something that’s in the back of our heads.”

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Spring Wrap-up Track Both boys’ and girls’ track ended their seasons with a total record of 4-3 and a 2-3 league record, with boys finishing fourth and girls finishing third in the Bay League.

There were 14 CIF qualifiers, seven of whom moved on to finals.

Softball Softball ended their season with a total win-loss record of 18-14, with a league record of 7-3. The team qualified for CIF, losing in the first round.

Boys’ Tennis

Swim

Boys’ tennis ended the season with an overall record of 14-7-0 and a league record of 6-2-0, finishing second place in league. The team as a whole also qualified for CIF, losing in the third round to Los Alamitos.

Boys’ and girls’ swim both finished their season undefeated. Girls’ swim won Bay League for the fourth year in a row, while boys’ swim won Bay League for the seventh year in a row. Both teams qualified for a total of 34 events in CIF.

Boys’ Lacrosse

Girls’ Lacrosse

Boys’ lacrosse finished their season with a total win-loss record of 152. Its championship run ended at the second round with a loss to Thousand Oaks.

Girls’ lacrosse wrapped up their season with a total win-loss record of 6-6 and a Bay League record of 3-5, finishing fourth. The team qualified for CIF, but were defeated in the first round.

Boys’ Golf

Boys’ Volleyball

Baseball

Boys’ golf concluded their season with a total record of 10-1. The team qualified for CIF as well.

Boys’ volleyball ended with an 11-12 record overall and a 3-6 league record, placing fourth in the Bay League.

Boys’ baseball concluded their season with a total record of 13-16 and a Bay League record of 5-5.

The team finished fourth in Bay League.

Four more years: recruited student-athletes compete at next level BY jenna Henry and joe foard At the second annual College Athlete Recruitment Day, the college-bound athletes sat on the amphitheater stage as students crowded around them and cheered.

These student-athletes are now a part of the two percent of high school students who get to continue their respective sports in college. Some athletes received multiple letters of interest, so it was often difficult to choose just one college.

“I had offers from five or six schools,” senior tennis player Risa Nakagawa said. “It seemed wasteful to only be able to choose one when there are so many great universities out there.”

With many unique sports programs provided at the college level, athletes are left with a challenging decision, but in the end, most are able to find the right fit. Senior softball player Brooke Vines found her match with the University of Tennessee, whose program focuses on cohesive teamwork. The team, coached by a married couple and their son, emphasizes the importance of family that drew Vines to the south.

“I never expected to go to college in the South,” Vines said. “I found myself liking [that part of] the country and the southern hospitality.”

Depending on the school and division, the balance

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between academics and athletics varies. Senior football player Andrew Phillips received offers from Ivy Leagues, Division I and Division III schools and found that the academic-focused environment of a Division III Pomona College was ideal.

“The main thing I considered was academics,” Phillips said. “Pomona allows me to participate in more activities and to study whatever I want, even my other favorite sport, baseball.”

For senior tennis player Risa Nakagawa, Georgetown’s Division I tennis program offered her a perfect balance.

“I looked for a school that offered academics first and athletics as a close second,” Nakagawa said. “I also wanted to go to the east coast to get a new experience in a whole different environment.”

The numerous opportunities for student athletes seem overwhelming and can make deciding feel almost impossible. Athletes can relax and focus on finishing their senior years after choosing, as early as December for some, where to go to college.

“Once I committed to my school, it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders,” Vines said. “Instead of playing while looking at the college coaches watching me, I got to play strictly because of my love for the game.”

during the 2013-2014 school year, More than 7.7 million students played sports, which is 55.5 percent of all high school students.

Two percent of high school students choose to continue their respective sports in college. *Data from High School Athletics Participation Survey

Sports

photo courtesy of Peninsula lacrosse

At Peninsula, Senior Josh Weisinger throws a pitch against Culver City on April 7.

Junior Alex Chang sets up to return the ball during one of his games at Peninsula.

mana kimura/THe pen

Senior Greg Gelger looks for a teammate to pass to in an 11-2 win against Mira Costa on April 24.

Junior Kendall Kissel races against a fellow runner from Mira Costa at a home meet.

Senior Jeff Elze returns the ball against Palos Verdes.

Maya tamhane/THe pen

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amy suzuki/THe pen

Sophomore Takuma Yamashita sets his sights in a golf course in Palos Verdes.

On April 8, sophomore Hannah Lyons runs for first base against San Pedro.

photo courtesy of James Houk

amy suzuki/THe pen

Claire Kim-Narita/The pen

Sophomore Cameron Bush races to the goal against Downey in a 15-7 victory on March 12.

On March 17, Junior Emily Chung begins her warm-up before a swim meet against El Segundo at Peninsula.

serena tramm/THe pen

Gino abrajano/THe pen

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