Nielsen honored at State Capital
School Board discusses new state budget
By Jason Wang Business Manager
By Shine Cho Assoc. News Editor The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education discussed the restructuring of school funding in Governor Jerry Brown’s 2013-2014 proposed budget during the February 19 meeting. According to the proposal, Governor Brown introduced the “Local Control Funding Formula” to change how California funds its schools. The state government would provide approximately 35 percent more funding to each school district, roughly $2,400 per student. The current state budget structure accommodates a revenue limit per student and other categorical funds. The new structure would take the place of the revenue limit per student with a base funding per student. The section of the categorical funds would be replaced by a supplementary grant for career technology education, a fund for free and reduced meals and English learners, and education for grades K-3. Visit tigernewspaper.com for more information.
Rachael Garner
Asst. Supt. Dr. Scott Price explained proposed restructured school funding at the Feb. 19 meeting.
Siria Medina
KICK BLOCK Sophomore Kevin Chen performs simulated fights and breaks boards with seven other MA Extreme Black Belts during the 2013 Talent Show on February 19. See Pages 6 and 7 for more.
Students compete in annual Talent Show Kelsey Hess Senior Staff Writer The 2013 Talent Show featured ten acts ranging from dances to musical performances to martial arts on February 19. Twenty-five groups originally auditioned for the show on February 4 and 5. A group of ASB judges ranked the auditions based on their levels of entertainment and creativity, then selected the ten highest-scoring acts to perform. “This year, my goal was to encourage a wide variety of talents to come and audition,” Commissioner of Assemblies senior Nick O’Brien said. “As a result, the crowd was very involved, and we definitely ended with a bang.” Junior Sam Chen com-
Academic Decathlon earns seventy medals in competition By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer In its first year of competition, the South Pasadena Academic Decathlon team was named Division Champions of the Los Angeles County competition and was two places away from qualifying for the California State level. Individual decathletes earned a total of seventy medals in their competition on January 26 and February 2 in categories such as speech, economics, social science, and mathematics. The SPHS team earned the Rookie School of the Year Award and a trophy for first place in the Super Quiz event, which were presented to the team at the Los Angeles County Office of Education banquet in Montebello on February 13.
Despite beginning practice sessions much later than most schools, South Pasadena decathletes earned all but one out of nine medals for overall scoring in Division III. Sophomores Glenda Chen and Elise Matsusaka also earned medals in each of the ten individual events. “Next year we will be in Division I, which will be much more competitive, but I’m sure our students will step up to the challenge,” faculty advisor Mr. Oliver Valcorza said. “I’m hoping to advise a more competitive program next year.” The awards banquet marked the end of the competitive year for the decathletes. “I’m so proud of what the team has accomplished in its very first year, and I can’t wait for next season,” decathlon vice president sophomore Brooke Drury said.
posed an original instrumental rendition of Adele’s “Skyfall” by ear by listening to the song on repeat. He performed the piece with three other orchestra members. Junior Annie Kim sang “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles with a piano accompaniment, and senior Diane Kim and seven other students showcased their martial arts skills by performing simulated fights and breaking wood blocks with their fists and feet. “Performing in front of an audience was unlike anything we’ve ever been able to do before,” Kim said. “Since I’m a
senior this year, I just wanted to leave a long-lasting impression [on the students].” Commissioner of Spirit senior Lauren Riley announced GQ nominations between acts, and Commissioner of School and Community senior Isabel Chin and Commissioner of Athletics senior Bryan Bednarski introduced the annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser. ASB’s goal is to raise $7,000 throughout the drive, which began on February 20 and raises money for leukemia and lymphoma research. The official results of the Talent Show will be announced by the end of the week.
Social Studies teacher Ms Maryann Nielsen traveled to Sacramento on February 11 to be recognized by the state as a California Department of Education Teacher of the Year Semifinalist. Nielsen surpassed seventy other K-12 teachers in the Los Angeles region to reach the state-level and received a plaque at an honorary banquet in the state capitol. “I didn’t expect to advance as far as I did,” Nielsen said. “In all honesty, I feel like I was selected to represent the many excellent teachers in the State of California, not just myself as an individual.” Teachers were selected based on a series of essays and an interview conducted by the state selection committee comprised of fellow teachers, administrators, and organization representatives. Committee members also completed on-site visits to evaluate teaching methods and the overall classroom atmosphere. Five of the fourteen teachers who represented their counties at the state level were recognized as California Teachers of the Year. Five more teachers were finalists, an honor given to SPHS science teacher Mr. Paul Groves in 2010. The remaining four teachers, including Nielsen, were named semifinalists. The committee chose individuals who embody a visible passion for teaching and are inspirational for education as a whole.
Carnation sales higher than expected By Jenny Wang Staff Writer Associated Student Body officers and commissioners spread South Pasadena High School love on February 14 by visiting fourth period classes to deliver carnations and personalized messages to students. Over 400 carnations, priced at $2 each, were sold from February 1 to
February 12 during lunch on the Tiger Patio for Valentine’s Day delivery. “The carnation sales are a great way to tell someone, friend or significant other, how you feel about him or her,” senior Patrick Gan said. “It promotes goodwill towards others.” The sophomore class hosted the annual fundraiser. This year’s sales increased by approximately ninety carnations from last year’s
Siria Medina
Senior Vice Pres. Jessica Ng distributes Valentine’s flowers. Senior Amber Laird receives her personalized carnation.
event and exceeded the officers’ expectations of 350 flowers. “We wouldn’t have been successful if we didn’t have students who actually care about each other and are willing to go out of their way to purchase carnations for their friends and loved ones,” Sophomore Class President Jasmine Lee said. The Sophomores Working Activity Team carried out the event, selling carnations at lunch and organizing and assembling the flower grams. “The students really seemed to enjoy being able to send flowers to each other in order to truly demonstrate their appreciation, and so for that reason it was a smart and considerate fundraiser,” SWAT member Hanna Crowley said. “Plus, we sold a lot more flowers than we expected to, so it was really win-win.” The proceeds from the carnation fundraiser will be combined with the funds raised by the over 900 candy cane grams sold in December to make a deposit for the 2014 prom location.
News
2 Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
News
Around Campus
Spoon Assassin games banned on campus, considered gambling By Brandon Kim Staff Writer All Spoon Assassin games have been deemed illegal on campus, according to the February 19 Tiger Dispatch. Assistant Principal for Student Services Mr. Terrance Dunn said it classifies as underage gambling.
STUDENT REACTIONS “It is a game of skill, not gambling. I do see how it could be considered a distraction, but it is not that much of an issue.” - Alyssa Mohamadzadeh, 11 “The game makes players pay attention during class because they could get out if they let their guard down... but this will only make the game finish more quickly.” - Nick O’Brien, 12
More than 200 students signed up to participate in the latest Spoon Assassin rounds: 60 players in a sophomore game, 70 in a junior game, and about 100 in an upperclassmen game. The players all paid varying amounts of money to enter the games and received a spoon with the name of their “target.” Students could be tagged out of the game if their “assassin” caught them without their spoon in their hand. The last student remaining in the game would win prize money collected from entry fees. According to Dunn, any game played with money that involves chance constitutes gambling. The Spoon Assassin games have also caused distractions during school hours in multiple classes. “There have been several incidents of students barging into classrooms to attempt to tag out their target,” Dunn said. “We are hoping that by banning Spoon Assassin, students will reconsider their interruptions and will be more focused on classes.” Staff members have been asked to confiscate spoons from students who they see carrying them on campus. “Students may disrupt class to get their targets out, but allowing this game may increase attendance as it provides an incentive to come to school,” Social Studies teacher Ms Annalee Pearson said. “Personally, I just think the spoons become hygienically disgusting.” No disciplinary action will be taken against students on their first confiscation, and no action has been announced for students caught multiple times.
According to the Tiger Dispatch, tardy sweeps have been reinstated for class periods after brunch and lunch. Teachers will continue to mark students tardy, but late students must now report to the Attendance Office to receive a Tardy Admit. Students are required to serve a one-hour detention on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday beginning at either 2:00 P.M. or 3:00 P.M. /Remeny White
SPHS presents annual Eighth Grade Night By Pooja Vyas Staff Writer A crowd of eager eighth graders and parents swarmed into the auditorium, pens and paper in hand, ready to learn about South Pasadena High School at the annual Eighth Grade Night on Tuesday, February 12. Principal Ms Janet Anderson gave a brief introduction about the high school, and then ASB Director Mr. Casey Shotwell divided the crowd into smaller groups for a tour of the high school. Designated representatives
from Leadership led the campus tours. The night presented students and parents with an idea of what the high school is like. The tours covered introductions to various core classes, as well as electives such as Virtual Business, Graphic Design, and Leadership. “The Virtual Business presentation focused mostly on competitions,” Expedition Chief Executive Officer senior Austin Khan said. “It sounds like an evil ploy, but the night allowed us to fundraise for San Francisco and New York and to advertise for our eighth grade workshop this Saturday.”
Matt Winkel
Virtual Business representatives present to middle school students and their parents at the annual Eighth Grade Night on February 12.
Feature
Feature
Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
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Out and About The city of South Pasadena is turning 125 this year. As one of many celebrations, this year’s Arts Crawl is taking place on March 2 from 5 PM to 9 PM. Enjoy a neighborhood night on the town at various art galleries and exhibitions. /Rhian Moore
Musicians prep for spaghetti fundraiser
By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Two senior girls slam through the doors of the band room and race towards band director Mr. Howard Crawford’s office, self-arranged scores of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in hand. The first to reach Crawford’s desk gets to play the piece, and with performance night approaching rapidly, the pressure has never been higher. The string group that won the contest to the director’s office that afternoon will be performing its arrangement at the annual Spaghetti Dinner Night fundraiser on February 28 in the school gym, among other small groups from South Pasadena High School’s band and orchestra programs. Currently, there are approximately 25 groups scheduled to perform. The musicians have formed ensembles, researched the music, and practiced scores that they have chosen or arranged independently. These pieces encompass numerous genres hailing from all time periods and locations. A saxophone ensemble will be playing an Irish piece, while drumline will perform a Cuban arrangement complete with Latin percussion instruments such as the bongo and timbale. Some orchestra groups will utilize electric violins, bringing a modern touch to classical orchestral music. “I think [our group was] really able to come together and improve our playing through the Spaghetti Dinner Night,” junior violinist James Allen said. In addition to the myriad of musical performances, the night will include high-quality food and a silent auction hosted by the SPHS Music Boosters. “[The money] goes to the Music Boosters account and they support whatever the band needs. It’s one of the three big fundraisers with Bingo and concession stands. [Spaghetti Dinner Night] money is used for salaries and equipment,” Crawford said. Tickets are available through band, orchestra, and colorguard members, priced at $10 for adults and $7 for children twelve years old and younger. “What is unique about Spaghetti Dinner Night is that it’s completely student-driven,” band president senior Wendy Tsai said. “That gives us a chance to express ourselves more; it gives us more choices and lets us learn to become independent musicians.”
Siria Medina
Junior Sophie Negrini will play Sweeney Todd’s love interest, Mrs. Lovett, in this year’s school musical. The production is a grim tale about a convict who returns to London to get revenge against Judge Turpin and the rest of the world.
Spring musical Sweeney Todd cast list announced By Clem Witherall Co-Sports Editor Following the excitement of the talent show, the South Pasadena High School auditorium will be returning to a more routine daily practice schedule. The cast of the 2013 spring musical was posted last week, and rehearsals began on Tuesday. Over sixty of the school’s finest thespians auditioned for roles in Sweeney Todd, a thriller that director Mr. Daniel Enright is confident will capture the attention and imagination of the high school audience. Set in 19th century England, the musical centers around Benjamin Barker, also known as Sweeney Todd, and his plot to gain revenge on the people who wrongly sent him to jail and destroyed his life. Barker teams up with piemaker Mrs. Lovett and opens a barbershop in which customers re-
ceive far more than a haircut. “[Sweeney Todd] is much darker than anything we’ve ever done. It’s an incredible story of love and murder,” Enright said. The male-dominant cast will feature a combination of new and old faces in the high school’s production. Junior David Yang will fill the role as the cold-blooded Sweeney Todd, and in his last show as a Tiger, senior Ryan Stone will portray Pirelli, a flamboyant scam artist. The musical will feature freshmen Jake Swayze and Jake Levy, who both earned outstanding reviews as leads in South Pasadena Middle School’s musical rendition of Anything Goes. Enright is hoping that the success from the winter play will carry on to the spring musical. The drama department sold over 380 tickets during The Importance Of Being Earnest’s two-week run, a substan-
tial increase from previous plays. “I think we have the best singers in the entire school,” Enright said. “It’s just going to be fabulous. Music is difficult but we’ll do our best.”
The cast of
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: David Yang Anthony Hope: Nicholas Falo Adolfo Pirelli: Ryan Stone Nellie Lovett: Sophie Negrini Johanna Barker: Tru Pierone Judge Turpin: Jake Levy Beadle Bamford: Lucas Cereijido Beggar Woman: Ruby Muller
Personality Profile: Anika Renken By Kira Gabriel Assoc. Opinion Editor
Sophia Arriola
From track practice to music concerts, everyone knows senior Anika Renken for her warm and friendly personality.
Senior Anika Renken’s white Toyota is much more than just a means of transportation. Affectionately known as Patty, the car is a physical manifestation of Renken’s strong passions, busy lifestyle, and outgoing personality. Patty holds a multitude of 7-11 Slurpee cups, a variety of clothes, bags, and shoes, and a few stray pink plastic flamingoes in the trunk. Any of Renken’s many friends who call shotgun must be wary of where they place their feet, as her CD collection is haphazardly strewn across the floor. The artists on each homemade mix tape range from Passion Pit to One Direction to Childish Gambino. As a music enthusiast, Renken has attended thirteen concerts, and anxiously waited by her computer early in the morning to purchase tickets to this year’s Coachella Music Festival. Renken’s life is shrouded in music; from her room to her car to her headphones, it is rare to
find her without a song playing in the background. “I like listening to the lyrics of the songs, and the beat that goes with [them],” said Renken. “If you listen to some of the songs, they might not sound as pretty, but the things that they’re saying are so beautiful.” If the passenger seat is Renken’s passion for music, Patty’s backseat, adorned in running shorts, represents her dedication to school and athletics. Standing high at 6’1”, Renken has been on varsity cross country since freshman year and served as cocaptain during the 2012 season. Her running ability carries over into track season, where she not only works with the distance team, running the mile and two mile, but is also on middistance and runs the four-by-four. Renken also tries to incite a love of athletics in others. She recently created and coached a soccer team at AbilityFirst, an organization that works with disabled children, where Renken volunteers regularly. “I call them my babies, or my kiddies,” Renken said of the
team, which scrimmaged and participated in the AYSO’s opening day ceremony. Beyond music and sports, Renken is primarily a people person. As the Human Relations Specialist on the varsity Virtual Business team, her job is to encourage team building through fun, bonding activities. “Anika is very extroverted. When she and I went to an Ed Sheeran concert, I quickly went to grab snacks, and when I came back she was chatting up two nice people,” said senior Jessica Hitchcock. “She is extremely friendly, even to people she doesn’t know, and is willing to be her crazy fun self all the time.” Renken will be attending Santa Clara University in the fall, and bringing Patty along is a definite possibility. Whether the two are on their way to the track, a concert, or a Virtual Business competition, Renken and Patty together form the image of a passionate, busy, and exceptionally friendly senior with a multifaceted energy for activity.
4 Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
Side Effects: the first thriller of its kind By Sarah Stukan Assoc. Feature Editor 4.5/5
There is a crime scene in a New York apartment: a chair is overturned and the bloody prints of bare feet traverse the floor. A model sailboat—evidently a gift—sits in mute witness to whatever violence has taken place. Starting with this dramatic opening shot, director Steven Soderbergh’s Side Effects is a cunning psychological thriller full of disquieting twists, a crafty script, and superb, emotionally charged acting. Side Effects features Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara), a young woman welcoming home her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) following his prison stint for insider trading. Their reunion is difficult, and Emily soon finds herself accelerating her sedan into the concrete wall of a parking garage. She awakes in the care of psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) and is put on Ablixa, a new trial drug. The prescription appears to be the solution until Emily experiences unexpected side effects that tear apart her marriage and unravel the relationships and world around her. What unfolds over the film’s first half is perhaps cinema’s first pharmacological thriller, in which the crime and offender are known, but guilt an open question. Is the perpetrator responsible, or does the blame lie with a drug and its prescribing doctor? The latter half of the film picks up the pace and action. Bold and aggressive, Side Effects thoroughly defies expectations in its conclusion as victims become victimizers, puppeteers become puppets, and defenders, accusers. Although the film meanders through the first section of the story, Side Effects’s exceptional performances streamline and ground the experience. Emily is emotionally distraught, vulnerable, and prone to jags of crying, but Mara does justice to a fiendishly complicated character by bringing the audience to empathy instead of pity. Despite a somewhat wandering start, Side Effects is a cracking thriller complete with electrifying performances and crafty teasers. Uncharacteristically original, it far exceeds expectations with outstanding panache.
Feature
Ryman Arts It’s no secret that South Pasadena High School is home to numerous talented artists, but perhaps a bit more underground is the prestigious Ryman Arts program to which many students apply. The free classes provide aspiring art students with weekly advanced painting and drawing courses in a studio environment. Read about a few students at our school who are currently attending Ryman Arts and expanding their experience in the artistic community. Dylan Anselmo (10): “Two years ago my family obtained paintings and drawings from my late great-grandmother. The pieces [unlock] my imagination and give me reference when I lose my sense of what art should be. My possibilities were endless. My imagination was limited only by the size of the page. There my love for art began.” Misha Holtz (11): “Right now I’m in the ‘foundation’ course at Ryman, the course that first semester students are put into which renders basic skills. My current assignment is to assemble objects of my choice of different textures and draw them using charcoal from observation.” Nikolas Cachu (11): “I improved my fundamental drawing skills, and I’ve worked this whole year towards my portfolio. Ryman has given me more opportunities than I would have been able to find otherwise; I’m applying for internships, and the teachers give us resources to help us.”
Text by Amber Laird, Emily Markese, Heather Vaughan, & Rhian Moore Photos by Siria Medina
Jennifer Wu (10): “During my previous semester at Ryman, I completed a bigger project which requires a life-size self portrait. It needed to be anatomically correct and also reflect your personality in an expressive way. I taped four papers together and did the drawing mostly with pastel and collage.
Personality Profile: Henry Sue swirl bread. The concoction is bold, multi-dimensional, and unexpected—a metaphor for Sue himself. Sue is a Renaissance man. A “Tonight I’m planning to make a grilled cheese sandwich,” said junior dedicated musician, talented golfer and Henry Sue, between bites of an asiago dancer, science aficionado, and culicheese bagel and sips of a java chip Frap- nary connoisseur in the making, Sue is puccino. “But not just any grilled cheese well on his way to becoming a modern Da Vinci. sandwich. It’s a special sandwich.” When he joined the band in fifth Sue went on to describe his newest culinary creation: layers of sweet grade at Monterey Hills Elementary, Nutella and savory American cheese Sue immediately fell in love with muoozing out the sides of grilled cinnamon sic, and continues with the program today. He is a currently saxophone player in the SPHS band and serves as assistant drum major. “When Henry hears music, whether it be from a car radio or his own phone, he can’t help but dance or sing,” senior drum major Derek Wang said. “He truly embraces music and puts his heart into it.” In addition to the strong sense of belonging that band provides, Sue finds the performance aspect of music especially attractive. In 2011, Sue applied for a permit Siria Medina to play his saxophone Henry Sue’s love for music goes beyond band; he in public in Pasadena, has a permit to play his saxophone in Old Town. allowing him to take By Kealia Hudson Staff Writer
requests on the streets of Old Town. “I’ve only played a couple of times, and I haven’t made much money, but it’s still a fun experience,” Sue said. “I love performing. Performing well is one of the best feelings.” Sue’s knack for performing carries over to his love for dance. In eighth grade, South Pasadena Middle School history teacher Mr. John Luce introduced his class to videos of Bryan Gaynor doing “the robot.” Sue and classmate junior Nathan Pokpongkiat were immediately fascinated, and began imitating other dance videos on Youtube. Sue and Pokpongkiat are now “popping” dancers, never having had any formal training. Most are barely able to slide by with so many things on their plate, but Sue’s enthusiasm and curiosity have pushed him to pursue his many interests as well as take on several leadership roles. Sue is currently vice president of the Science Club and captain of the varsity golf team. He began golfing when he was five years old. “What I love about golf is that it’s generally a pretty relaxing sport,” Sue said. “Even though it’s not especially physically exerting, it’s still challenging, which makes it fun.” Given that golf is scheduled relaxation in his intensely busy schedule, Sue hasn’t had time to give much thought to what he wants to do with his future. One thing is set in stone though; Sue’s main plan is to continue pursuing what he truly loves and defying status quo.
A Good Day lacks the Die Hard spark By Andrés García Staff Writer 1/5
Twenty-five years ago, Die Hard revolutionized the action movie and set the bar for the genre. With exciting special effects, a suspenseful storyline, and the youthful Bruce Willis playing a new hero, Die Hard was an instant favorite that remained popular for decades. Four marginally successful sequels later, it seems that the magical essence captured in the original Die Hard film is lost in the franchise’s latest installment, A Good Day to Die Hard. Bruce Willis returns as now retired NYPD detective John McClane, who is headed to Russia after learning that his son Jack McClane (Jai Courtney) has been captured and is being held for murder. Upon arriving in Moscow, John discovers that Jack is an undercover CIA operative plotting an escape for Yuri Komarov (Sebastian Koch), a politician about to be imprisoned by corrupt official Viktor Chagarin (Sergei Kolesnikov). McClane finds himself caught up in the conflict, and the film turns into father-son bonding time accompanied by guns and explosions. Cheesy one-liners, poor character development, and a confusing storyline plague A Good Day from beginning to end. Luckily, most moviegoers will watch this film for the action instead of a substantial story, but even the mindless destruction makes for an unpleasant CGI spectacle. The overly-exaggerated action sequences are better suited for cartoon characters than live action actors. Bruce Willis does a sufficiently satisfying job of portraying John McClane for the fifth time, but it seems that his character has transformed into a seemingly unstoppable superhero rather than a clever police detective. The rest of the cast fails to live up to the supporting actors from previous installments, and the flat secondary characters make emotional sequences corny and unbelievable. Suffering from a confusing plot and poor acting performances, A Good Day to Die Hard is simply an extension of a played-out series and stands as conclusive proof that no Hollywood phenomenon can last forever.
Feature
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Ed Sheeran thrills fans at Nokia Theatre By Rhian Moore Feature Editor 5/5
It takes a talented individual to be able to take ecstatic fans singing the choruses of his upbeat songs to a silence so absolute that he is able to sing to a crowd of seven thousand without a microphone. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, armed with only an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal, accomplished just that last Sunday at Nokia Theatre, the The Set-List final concert of his 2013 U.S. tour. Give Me Love The singer Drunk U.N.I. commanded the Grade 8 theater as soon as Wayfaring Stranger he stepped foot on Small Bump stage, donning a Be My Husband pirate costume in Kiss Me celebration of his Lego House 22nd birthday. He You Need Me began the set with Gold Rush “Give Me Love,” a Guiding Light song that featured Parting Glass the use of his loop The A Team pedal, a device that allows Sheeran to create repeating layers of vocals and instrumentals during his live performances without a band or backup singers. The rest of the concert proceeded without a loss of energy as Sheeran performed songs from his 2011 debut album, +. Highlights included his involvement of the audience as his “gospel choir of Los Angeles” in songs such as “Drunk” and “Lego House,” and his duet with opening act Foy Vance in the romantic ballad “Kiss Me.” Sheeran showcased his folk roots with his covers of Jamie Woon’s “Wayfaring Stranger” and Nina Simone’s “Be My Husband,” and delighted audiences when
he slipped in familiar lyrics from Tupac’s “California Love” and Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop.” Sheeran’s most electric performance by far was his fifteen-minute-long version of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.” The musician combined the loop pedal with his rapping and beat boxing talent—along with a surprise appearance from opening act hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks—to create a ground-shaking and eclectic performance that all but brought down the house. Especially striking is the difference between Sheeran’s musical style and those of his contemporaries. Though he shares a fanbase with pop superstars Taylor Swift and One Direction, having written songs for both, Sheeran’s voice has a raw, rich quality that gives his music and performances genuine emotion. Sheeran’s slightly cliché love songs prove that he has room to grow, but it is clear that this successful young artist is here to stay. Sheeran ended his birthday concert with “Parting Glass,” a lesser-known hidden track on his album, which transitioned smoothly into the Grammy-nominated “The A Team.” With seven thousand people waving their mesmerizing lights as the singer thanked his fans, the song that thrust Sheeran into the spotlight last year was the perfect conclusion to the euphoric one-and-a-half-hour ride.
Eric Forman, That ‘70s Show
tvfanatic.com
Leo Parker IV, junior Anastasia Velicescu
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SPHS Talent Show
Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
SPHS Talent Show
Thursday, February 21, 2013 - Tiger
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Who choreographed your performance? Diane Kim: The choreography was entirely a team effort. We all gave tips and remarks on how the choreography would look better. We were constantly learning new things from different team members since we [practice] different styles of Martial Arts Did anyone get hurt during the show? DK: Howard had gotten hurt during the first assembly after falling on his foot the wrong way, but he was determined to participate in the second assembly, dispite his pain.
Where did you get the inspiration for your performance? Purple: Disneyland’s World of Color. We wanted to emulate the splendor of Nighttime Spectacular in our own auditorium. Blue: Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to install high-powered water jets on stage, so we had to resort to rainbow attire. What did you do to prepare for the show? Green: We ate at the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell every night for a month prior to the performance.
Page by Rachael Garner Photos by Tiger photographers Reporting by Kealia Hudson, Emily Markese, Rhian Moore, Shyam Senthikumar, and Jenny Wang
Who came up with the idea to enter as an a cappella group for the talent show? Wendy Tsai: Roy Lee, Henry Sue, and I all sort of came up with the idea. With a cappella rising as a hot and new music form, thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect, we were excited to try something like that! How did you decide who would be in the group? WT: We started with five or six members, and as the word spread around the band that we were forming an a cappella group, more and more people expressed interest in joining.
WORLD OF TALENT
2013 Talent Show: A colorful display of student skill
How did you arrange the quartet score for “Skyfall?” Samuel Chen: It was easier arranging “Skyfall” than actually composing an original song, because I actually had a melody to work with. I listened to the original song by Adele multiple times (basically memorized it), and then started hunting around for different renditions and covers of it to go with, and then I wrote the arrangement. How did the four of you form your quartet? SC: The original idea to play in the Talent Show was Corey’s. Judith, Darius, Corey, and I are all in the SPHS Orchestra, so we’re very used to playing together as a group. We started the group in the beginning of the school year to play a few small gigs for the music program.
8 Thursday, February 21, 2013 - Tiger
Opinion
Opinion
Yeah Boi
B
oo to Youth and Government. Facebookstalking your Sacramento photos this weekend was so time-consuming that we didn’t have time to get our beauty sleep.
B
ravo to SPHS World of Color. Who would have guessed that the six foot man in a yellow suit dancing to Beyoncé was actually Ryan Stone?
B
By Sofi Goode Editor-in-Chief
to the talent show. How are we supposed to be cynical and snarky when you combine martial arts, Adele, and inflatable fat suits all into an enjoyable assembly that also shortens class periods?
B
ravo
to the four-day weekend for giving us two extra days to procrastinate. Nothing celebrates our historic leaders like staying up until four A.M. on Tumblr.
B
ravo
to the refs at the boys soccer CIF game. Soccer is supposed to be played with your feet, not your hands. oo
The Tiger Established 1913
CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 CSPA Gold Medalist 2011 Editor-in-Chief Sofi Goode Managing Editor Jessica Moog News Remeny White, Editor Shine Cho, Associate Opinion Natalie McLain, Editor Kira Gabriel, Associate Feature Rhian Moore, Editor Sarah Stukan, Associate Sports Christian Miyamae, Co-editor Clem Witherall, Co-editor Copy Editors Amber Laird, Shyam Senthilkumar, and Heather Vaughan Photography Rachael Garner, Editor Matthew Winkel, Associate Photographers Sophia Arriola, Siria Medina, Anastasia Velicescu Senior Staff Writer Kelsey Hess Staff Writers Madison Amido, Petra Barbu, Matt DeFulgentiis, Andrés García, Kea Hudson, Brandon Kim, Andrew Shults, Pooja Vyas, Jason Wang, Jenny Wang, Jordan Xiao, David Yang Tiger Online Writers Karen Hsueh, Talia Wun-Young Staff Illustrators Evan Davis, Rachael Lee, Annie Lu, Amanda Stewart Managers Marcy Kuo, Ads Jason Wang, Business Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Vol. XCIX. No. VI distributed on February 21, 2013. Distribution: 1528 students; 70 community. 1600 copies printed. Distributed by Tiger staff free of charge. Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 FremontAve, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Layout and photo imaging are completed on-site. Printed by American/Foothill Publishing Co., Inc., Tujunga, CA. Signed articles appearing in Tiger represent the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, student body, faculty or administration of SPHS. Contact the publications office at (626) 441-5820 ext. 2615 between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. for advertising rates and subscriptions. Tiger welcomes articles, letters or rebuttals for publication in the print and online editions. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be withheld upon request. Tiger Newspaper’s mission is to provide a reliable news outlet for SPHS and the local community. Through a variety of coverage, Tiger empowers/enables students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, solve problems, set and reach goals, and work cooperatively and independently as responsible citizens. Tiger is a forum for student free speech, in accordance with California Ed Code 48907. Visit Tiger Online at www.tigernewspaper.com for additional content.
A library with longevity
Annie Lu
Combating empty shelves with smarter spending Staff Editorial For a school that has the word “scholarship” boldly imprinted across the top of its website, the shelves of the South Pasadena High School library stand ironically empty. Like most other deficiencies at SPHS, the rows of unfilled shelves are the result of a lack of spending in the appropriate areas. To students, a well-stocked school library has several advantages over the community or internet-based library. The school library has a limited audience and can therefore tailor its book collection to expand on major SPHS courses. Ideally, a sophomore could walk out of World History Honors and immediately access a variety of books revolving around the topics covered in class only moments before. Although the Internet is a valuable research tool, a library divided into sections that directly correspond with SPHS classes would be a more concentrated and easily navigable source of information relevant to students. The South Pasadena Educational Foundation, the Principal’s discretionary fund, and Wish Night donations provide money for various annual technological improvements. For example, SPEF recently donated large
shipments of iPads, iMacs, and Macbook Pros to various school departments. These donations of large ticket, electronic items illustrate that the issue at hand is not a lack of adequate funds, but of appropriation. Only Wish Night money, roughly $3,000 this year, is made available to the librarian for the direct purchase of books. There are several ways in which the budget for books could be quickly and easily boosted. The most obvious would be to decrease spending on electronic devices that are largely short-term investments due to rapidly developing design. While an iPad may need to be replaced every two or three years, a book does not need upgrades, and is an investment with more longevity and a lower cost of maintenance. The library can be seen as a way to broaden the horizons of the students with a relatively minimal cost. By investing money currently spent on pricey gadgets to develop a library with more content and specific sections corresponding with SPHS classes, the school would be making a commitment to giving students a more rounded knowledge of school course work, while simultaneously providing an environment which facilitates a culture of readers and thinkers.
In the State of the Union Address on February 12, President Barack Obama offered a reward to schools that “create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math.” The topic was broached again less than a week later when he was asked in a Fireside Google+ Hangout if his own daughters have shown interest in science and engineering. This focus on the sciences has become prevalent as America works to regain its title as the leader of cutting edge technology and development. On the surface, this seems like a positive movement; America is trying to reclaim the lead in innovation. But this one-sided pro-science rhetoric isn’t just encouraging students to take an interest in development, it’s scaring them away from potential careers in the humanities. Politicians have made a degree in English or history sound useless to our country and unfit for the American job market. The truth is that a balanced society needs just as many artists, historians, and curators as it does engineers and innovators. Technology experts push the everyday advancement, but English majors and artists make up its soul. Without the humanities, our society would lack fundamental creativity and understanding. Even within the context of our race to the technological top, studying humanities is crucial. An imaginative as well as logical thought process is a critical part of groundbreaking innovation. To truly take the lead, America needs to do more than just develop new products; it needs to combine creative minds and technological advancements to transcend to a new level of innovation that is both practical and artistic. Politicians must stop pushing students away from the humanities; our country needs these culturally refined minds in order to not only reclaim its position as the top innovator, but also to maintain the artistic spirit and open emotion that provide a sense of fulfillment and make its citizens proud to be Americans.
Overcoming the obstacle of being average By Petra Barbu Staff Writer Between summer programs, college, and scholarship applications, almost every high school student inevitably comes face-to-face with an essay prompt along the lines of “Tell us about an obstacle you overcame in your life.” Yet, for all its prominence, the topic of hardship is usually neither an accurate nor a complete reflection of everything a student has to offer. Instead of turning applications into a competition revolving around who has had the worst lot in life, college essays should focus on a student’s qualifications and merits. Many students are lucky
enough to have avoided life-altering trauma throughout their high school lives, but that doesn’t make them any less eligible for a college admission. Gauging a student’s life, success, and potential by his or her bad luck is irrational and unfair. Furthermore, the prompt itself is extremely personal and probing. Private problems should be just that. Having to ask strangers to read, edit, and judge personal experiences is more than just uncomfortable; it’s invasive. The struggles applicants face shouldn’t be an opportunity for colleges to take a microscope to students’ problems because, frankly, it’s none of their business. Colleges should be more concerned with
students’ merit than with their misfortune. This is not to discount students who have surmounted unbelievable odds during their lifetimes. There are a number of individuals who have grown positively in response to a negative influence or event in their lives. In these cases, the prompt can reveal much about a student’s tenacity and his or her ability to develop academically and psychologically despite adversity. However, it simply isn’t applicable to the average student, and isn’t the only experience capable of yielding fantastic positive results. The best system would be to have several options for es-
says. This way, students who have truly overcome obstacles could describe their struggle in relation to their merit as an individual, while others could write about experiences that influenced them positively, their inspirations, or any number of topics that would undoubtedly offer more insight into the student’s life than an exaggerated difficulty that may not have played a major role in the student’s development. Colleges need to put the focus back on the students and off of their problems. Until then, the most honest response for many students may be “The greatest obstacle I’ve had to overcome is finding a topic to write about for this essay.”
Opinion
Students weigh in... Many essay prompts for college, internship, and scholarship applications deal with the struggles individuals have faced and overcome. Students comment on the relevance of this prompt, and their ideas about what might produce a more accurate reflection of applicant aptitude.
STUDENT VOICE: “I don’t think it’s relevant, as most high schoolers haven’t gone through hardships. They should ask something more broad that everyone can answer. It is a good question if you’ve experienced those things but if you haven’t, then it’s irrelevant.” -Catilin Chan, junior “This prompt is very relevant because overcoming adversity reveals much about a person... I also believe we grow and mature from the obstacles we overcome. Therefore, struggles sometimes shape us as individuals. I think these program should ask open-ended questions that would provoke creative answers.” -Jackie Duan, senior “They should ask more open-ended questions for students to think and really reflect on their educational career and their lives. Although most of us have overcome at least one obstacle, many might not be comfortable bringing them up. In my opinion, students should be able to create a topic of their own choice that helps them analyze their lives on a deeper level.” -Eddy Moon, freshman “It’s kind of relevant since it gives people a sense of who you are but it’s hard to see whose problem is better, or who overcame a problem better than someone else. It shows colleges how you’ve dealt with problems but it’s difficult for people who haven’t had problems. They could ask what you would spend your life doing since it gives a better sense of who you are and what you want to achieve.” -Isabella Shipley, junior
A turning of a new leaf for the Catholic Church By Kira Gabriel Assoc. Opinion Editor Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming retirement on February 28 signifies the end of an era for the Catholic Church, and a rare chance to redefine Catholicism in the public eye. From a historical perspective, especially in this progressive age, the Catholic Church has become demonized. Large portions of society view it as a wall of medieval values, impeding the path of modern thought and scientific development with more than one billion members worldwide. Though outsiders see the Church as an ominous force that blindly slashes women’s rights and promotes hypocritical, chauvinistic policies, it actually has the ability to be an incredibly positive force in society. This historic, impending turnover of leadership gives the Catholic Church an opportunity to take an entirely different direction. While it might be too radical to ask for a nun to
be elected pope, it would most certainly benefit the Church, both internally and internationally, to elect a pope who will be more open to adopting stances slightly more compliant with modern views and thoughts. Because the Catholic Church is such a massive institution, and the
While no one should sacrifice fundamental beliefs to please the masses, the Church should perhaps adopt some amount of leniency in its policies and views.
Pope is the unquestioned leader, any action or idea that he condones or opposes has an immediate effect. Every speech and public statement on his behalf has the potential to literally change the world. This much power
invested into one establishment should be used to better humanity. While no one should sacrifice fundamental beliefs to please the masses, the Church should perhaps adopt some amount of leniency in its policies and views, especially considering the profound effect it has worldwide. A more lenient, liberal pope would allow the Church to reform its largely negative social image. Choosing the right cardinal to fill the soon to be vacant papal position could create a wave of positive influence, effecting lives across the globe. An indulgent pope would help break down the barriers in which the Catholic Church has been enshrouded in for centuries, and would also change the way that outsiders view the institution. By lessening the gap between Catholics and nonCatholics, and persuading the nonCatholic community to cease viewing the Church as a negative power, international progress could become a much more easily attainable goal.
Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
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Getting rid of feminism’s bad name By Amber Laird Copy Editor When asked if she considers herself a feminist in an interview with The Daily Beast, Taylor Swift answered, “I don’t really think about things as guys versus girls. I never have. I was raised by parents who brought me up to think that if you work as hard as guys, you can go far in life.” In essence, she answered “no” when she really meant “yes.” In recent years, feminism has garnered a bad reputation and negative connotations that stand in direct conflict with its actual meaning. Much of the public now associates the word—and the movement behind it—with man-bashing and bra-burning instead of gender equality. This new association is probably due to so-called “radical feminists.” Women that insist that marriage is an inherently oppressive institution and that men bring women down, while entitled to their opinions, have made many hesitant to call themselves by the same name. But it is often these rather zealous constituents of the movement at whom many modern, self-identified feminists scoff. One of the much-overlooked but crucial causes of feminism’s bad name is, in essence, its name. The word “feminism” has a connotation that is somewhat divisive; it implies a movement that is strictly pro-women, and therefore either neutral towards or even against men. In this way, the holistic view of gender equality that many feminists claim to have is not reflected in the word they use to identify themselves. So why title a movement towards gender equality with a word that has no mention of men? When the movement began and the term “feminism” was born, women were clearly oppressed and were not granted the same basic rights as men. While women are still treated as inferior in some aspects of society—overall, their wages are lower for similar job positions and some sexism still exists in expected societal roles—more women are now going to universities than men, and the stay-at-home-dad is becoming much more prevalent. While the word “feminism” was appropriate at one point, in today’s society the term seems antiquated considering the progressive movement it represents. If everyone were to identify as “supporters of gender equality,” or “gender equalists,” then the movement would be able to rope in a much larger audience. Many men are uncomfortable with calling themselves “feminists,” as are a good number of women, simply because of the negative and one-sided connotation the word seems to carry. The feminist movement has been unable to hook Taylor Swift, but it’s difficult to imagine that a gender equality movement wouldn’t be able to. Though the concept may be upsetting to those attached to the label of “feminist,” it seems in the best interest of the movement to let go of this term which has outlived its period of relevance.
The unresolved school issue of group projects By Natalie McLain Opinion Editor Never has the utterance of a single phrase sparked such a wide array of emotions as, “I want you to get into groups, and come up with a project.” Surreptitious sighs of relief will most likely drift from the back of the classroom, as
students not particularly partial to class work know that all they have to do is find the right partner, and a high grade is theirs. Others, often the students known for being perfectionists or diligent workers, will grit their teeth and try very hard not to scream, as group projects ensure that they will be spending long nights making up for someone else’s lack of effort.
Amanda Stewart
Aside from the trite, albeit true, visual painted in this scenario, the idea of working in groups does more than just subject students to unequal workloads; it completely ignores the introverted worker. Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, said that he would spend hours at a time working by himself and developing ideas, punctuated by mere fifteen-minute conversations and collaboration sessions with coworkers while he was developing products at Hewlett Packard. It has long been perpetuated that the point of group projects is to promote creative thought through the meeting of many minds. However, the average high school student is most likely more in sync with workers like Wozniak. Though collaboration is important for original ideas, students do not need entire projects, some of which stretch on for as long as three or four months, to generate unique content pertinent to fleshing out classroom lessons. Instead, group projects should fall more in line with brief brainstorming sessions in the classroom, followed up by students working alone and producing their
own projects by building upon ideas synthesized in their groups. Perhaps it is time South Pasadena High School takes a note from groundbreaking innovators such as Wozniak. After all, we’ve already embraced his products across campus. Naturally, every high school student is not going to invent the next iPad if left to his or her own devices, but by recognizing the legitimacy and prominence of the introverted worker, the school would be eliminating unequal workloads, promoting creative thought, teaching students to effectively collaborate in short periods of time, and better preparing students for the workplace. In “Suspension, or Extended Vacation?” on page 6 of Vol. XCIX. No. V of Tiger Newspaper, it was implied that students cannot complete work while suspended from school. Although suspended students cannot enter school grounds or personally pick up assignments, parents can bring assignments to suspended students. Students can complete their school work while suspended. Tiger regrets this error.
10 Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
Sports
Wen Zeng By Heather Vaughan Copy Editor A reflexive smile breaks out on senior Wen Zeng’s face as she begins to talk about her basketball teammates. This constant positivity, fused with her unwavering natural athletic ability, makes the senior captain the heart of the South Pasadena High School’s girls basketball team and a driving force that has fueled the girls’ successful season. Zeng has been an athlete ever since she could walk; growing up with an older brother, she frequently participated in outdoor sports games. As soon as she moved to South Pasadena, she immediately sought out a basketball team to play on. “I wanted to form team friendships from the beginning; those are the most valuable,” Zeng said. She joined the SPHS junior varsity team her freshman year, which she cites as the year she saw the most improvement. “I would go to practice every day, and then play for two hours more,” Zeng said. Her steadfast dedication earned her a spot on the varsity team her sophomore year, a challenge to which she immediately rose, soaking up as much experience as she could. As a senior captain this year, she has taken it upon herself to lead the team both mentally and physically, on and off the court. As a “calming factor” for the less experienced underclassmen, Zeng says that her presence alone helps to bring the team together. She credits the girls’ success to their trust in each other. “It’s a rare thing,” she said. “We get
along so well. A lot of teams meet on the court, and then become friends; we were friends first, and then we played together.” Teammate sophomore Elise Takahama has experienced Zeng’s leadership in her two years on the varsity team. “She always knows exactly what to say to encourage us,” Takahama said. “I don’t know how we would have gotten through this year without her.” Zeng will attend a four-year university in the fall, and she plans on continuing to play basketball at an intramural level. “I want to [stay] active. I’m hoping to meet new people through basketball,” Zeng said. “It’s going to be impossible for me to let that go.”
Siria Medina
Senior captain Wen Zeng fires a shot in girls basketball’s first CIF match.
Matt Winkel
Senior Albert Estrada pins his St. Paul HS opponent during a league duel earlier this season.
Albert Estrada By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer At a glance, senior Albert Estrada’s friendly demeanor and consistent smile seem uncharacteristic of a ruthless athlete who takes down opponents without the slightest hesitation. But once on the mat, it is undeniable that Estrada is a swift and skilled wrestler, and a formidable adversary for all who face him. As a third year member of South Pasadena High School wrestling, Estrada is one of two seniors on this year’s team and serves as a role model for younger Tigers. Estrada himself draws inspiration from his brother Ned, who graduated as one of SPHS’s top wrestlers last year. Estrada first became interested in wrestling after watching Ned compete in a tournament three years ago. “After the matches, I started talking to the coach and Al convinced me to try it. Since then, I’ve kind of fallen in love with the sport,” Estrada said. Estrada enjoys the sense of team camarade-
rie and the thrill of intense individual competition that he finds in the sport. “When you lose [in wrestling], you lose on your own. But when you win, you get all the glory that comes with it,” Estrada said. This year, Estrada has won the majority of his innumerable league and tournament matches, motivating newer teammates to work hard in one of the most rigorous sports. At the CIF tournament for individual wrestlers held last weekend, Estrada made it to the semifinals and was one match away from qualifying for the Masters tournament. “CIF was a major disappointment, and I wish I could have done better,” Estrada said. Despite the end of his final SPHS wrestling season, Estrada’s career is far from over. After graduating, Estrada will continue wrestling at Rio Hondo Community College, where he has received a scholarship. “They’re currently ranked third in state for junior league in wrestling,” Estrada said, whose enthusiasm and skill will allow him to obtain similiar success at RHCC.
Sports
Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
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Girls soccer playoff journey comes to end in second round By Jason Wang and David Yang Tiger Staff The girls varsity soccer team suffered a narrow loss to Temescal Canyon High School on February 19, ending its season in the second round of CIF. The Tigers applied relentless pressure, but the Titans converted a penalty kick in the final moments of the first overtime period to obtain a 1-0 victory. South Pas held the majority of possession and had a slew of opportunities in front of the goal. The Tigers’ best chance came when junior Alexis Velasco took a corner kick early in the first half. Sophomore Emmy Keenan latched onto the cross and volleyed the ball, but Temescal Canyon’s keeper was
2/14 2/7 2/19 SPHS v. SPHS v. SPHS v. La Cañada Crean Luth. Temescal 2-0 W 1-0 L 1-1 T
able to block the powerful shot. The Tigers continued to battle on, but neither team managed to break the deadlock, leading to sudden death overtime. A couple of minutes into the first OT period, a Titan player worked into the final third and sent a ball into the box. The pass deflected off of sophomore defender Jazmin Jackmon. The refs controversially ruled that that ball hit Jackmon’s arm, awarding a crucial penalty kick to the Titans. Temescal Canyon midfielder Marissa Everett stepped up and placed the ball in the right side netting, sealing the game and concluding the South Pas season in a disappointing fashion. “At the end of the day, we really wanted to win. Just to see it snatched away like that with the blow of a whistle was really heartbreaking,” senior captain Charlie Gleeson said. Head coach Ms Eva Dixon does not plan on contesting the referee’s call, but will send a video of the game to CIF to shed light
Blair Newman
Junior midfielder Ryann Ramirez flies by a Titan defender during a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Temescal Canyon in overtime on Wednesday night. on questionable officiating in the game. Although the squad was devastated by the early exit from CIF, the Tigers finish the season undefeated in league for the second consecutive year. The roster boasts numerous skilled club players and will remain
Boys basketball concludes inconsistent season By Jessica Moog Managing Editor After a tumultuous league season, boys basketball was still awarded a spot in CIF playoffs. The Tigers’ luck ended there. Their wildcard berth sent the team 160 miles away to face Cabrillo High School, ranked 12th in Division 3A, last Wednesday. The Tigers lost 71-44 to the
Rachael Garner
Senior Nico Sullivan takes a jumpshot. The Tigers finished their season 9-18 overall.
Conquistadors, ending their season in the first round of CIF. South Pasadena kept the game tight in the first half, pulling within three points at 20-17. The team struggled to stay motivated, and it was junior Chad Brodhead from Cabrillo that eventually ended the close contest. The Tigers allowed him to rack up 23 points for the night. The final game of the 2012-2013 season for South Pas also signaled the final game with Mr. Tim Brown at the head of the boys basketball program. After two years with the team, Brown announced his resignation as both a campus supervisor and basketball coach to Principal Janet Anderson earlier this month. “He’s a great coach, not only on the court but off. Even though this season didn’t go as well as we thought it would, he kept us motivated before every game and fought with us until the very end. He never gave up on us,” senior Nico Sullivan said. Brown’s tough and aggressive coaching style met mixed review from his players, but his passion for the program earned appreciation. “I liked him as a coach because I understood that he only got mad at us
because he knew we could do better. Our three-game win streak had a lot to do with the fact that he believed in us,” senior David Hughey said of Brown. The tough result for the Tigers was disappointing but not unexpected; a shaky Rio Hondo showing put them in an unfavorable bracket seeding. The two teams left the first round game with flipped records of 9-18 for the Tigers and 18-9 for the Conquistadors. The Tigers were not alone in a disheartening first round loss: all six Rio Hondo League basketball teams were immediately knocked out of CIF play. Looking forward to next year, the team will be on the hunt for a new head coach as well as a revamped varsity lineup, as only three players will be returning to the squad. Freshman twins, Greg and Max Luck, as well as sophomore Kelvin Mirham will train in the off-season to bring together a strong varsity team for the ‘13-‘14 season. “Even though the season might not have gone the way we had in mind, I still love our team because we fought the whole year. Most teams would have just given up at 0-6, but not us. And we got that win at SM!” Hughey said.
Boys soccer upset in first round of CIF By Andrew Shults Staff Writer After winning its first Rio Hondo league title in seventeen years, the South Pasadena boys soccer team’s season was cut unexpectedly short in a disheartening loss in the first round of CIF. Tahquitz High School managed to clinch a stunning 1-0 victory over the Tigers on February 15 on Roosevelt Field. During the first half, the two teams shared equal possession of the ball and opportunities to score were few. The Tigers came out with renewed energy in the second half and had many chances to break the deadlock. They were ultimately unable to produce a goal, forcing the game into overtime. In the first overtime period, South Pas had multiple opportunities to end the game but again failed to execute. Junior Danny Zurita had a pair of close range shots, but the Titans’ keeper saved both. With three minutes in the second overtime period, senior Charles Slocum’s
header was denied from pointblank range by the opposing team’s goalie. With seconds left on the clock, the Titans managed to earn a corner kick. This proved fatal for the Tigers as a Tahquitz player ran onto the cross and smashed the ball into the top right corner of the goal, ending the game. Tahquitz’s bench erupted into cheers as the South Pas team burst into tears as their season came to an abrupt and premature end. “It was a tough blow for the team because it came down to finishing and we couldn’t put the ball in the net,” junior Leo Parker said. The Tigers’ CIF run was expected to last longer after the team clinched the league title over reigning champs, La Cañada. Despite the early loss, the team is reflecting on the positives of its 14-2-3 season. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team. We worked hard over the course of the season and this was a great reward for that hard work,” Slocum said. This year’s varsity team is a rela-
tively young squad, and will lose only four seniors to graduation. After their success this year, the Tigers appear to be major competitors in the Rio Hondo league next season and hope to achieve their goal of earning a CIF championship.
Rachael Garner
Sophomore Justin Fernandez dribbles the ball down the field in the Tigers’ final game.
mostly unchanged next year. “We had a couple setbacks, but I’m really proud of the team,” Gleeson said. “We had to switch coaches and a lot of our players were out. It was a really rewarding experience and we had an elite team.”
Wrestling fails to qualify for Masters By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer Despite its strong performance in Rio Hondo league competition, the South Pasadena High School wrestling team ended its competitive season after being unable to place any wrestlers within the top five in a CIF weight class. The Tigers competed in their final tournament last weekend at Oak Hills High School and although several wrestlers were extremely close to qualifying for the Masters competition, powerful opposition from 41 other schools ultimately prevented them from advancing. Junior James Yun was on track to qualify for fifth place, and would have advanced to the Masters tournament, but was eliminated from the 106-pound bracket by a wrestler from Montclair in the quarterfinals. Junior Aaron Refoua also competed in the quarterfinals before being taken down by a San Jacinto wrestler by a score of 0-5. Junior teammate Nick Min was defeated in the first round by a wrestler from Citrus High School who went on to place third in his weight class. “I was injured going into the second day, and managed to win my way into the round-qualifying placing, but I lost in the last three seconds when I got reversed,” Refoua said. He hopes next year will be less of an upset. Senior Albert Estrada defeated three opponents to advance to the semifinals, but lost to the overall second place wrestler in the 152-pound category after taking down three other opponents. Estrada had beaten the eventual fifthplace winner in an earlier match, but due to bracket assignment and structuring was unable to qualify for the Masters tournament. Overall, the seven Tiger wrestlers placed 25th out of the 41 schools present, only a few places below La Cañada High School and a strong performance given the numerous weight forfeits. Though their CIF run ended early, the Tigers look forward to a successful season next year. The team will lose two seniors to graduation, but is counting on more recruits in a variety of weight classes to decrease necessary forfeits and allow them to qualify for the 2014 Masters tournament. “We did pretty well as a team but we all felt that we disappointed ourselves at CIF,” Yun said. “Our failures will be our motivation to train harder and prevent making the same mistakes we did this year.”
12 Tiger - Thursday, February 21, 2013
Sports
Sports
Upcoming Spring Sports Games: Saturday 2/23: Baseball vs. Bellarmine-Jefferson
Tuesday 2/26: Boys Volleyball @ Arcadia Tuesday 2/26: Softball @ Montebello
College-Signed SPHS Athletes Paul Messana - Cross Country, Track - College: Pitzer - Personal records: 14:46 min. (3 mile), 1:56 min. (800m) “It’s a great honor to be recruited. Being able to have four years of experience in high school has allowed me to see my potential and oppurtunities as a runner. The next four years in college will help me perfect my ability and go that extra distance.” Sophia Arriola
Junior Liza Echeverria prepares to rifle a shot past a Capo Valley defender during the Tigers’ first round CIF matchup.
Anika Renken
Girls water polo falls short in CIF to Capo By Matthew DeFulgentiis Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School girls water polo team faced Capistrano Valley on February 14 in the first round of the CIF Tournament and came away with a hard-fought 12-9 victory. The key moment in that game came with seconds to play in the third period when junior Devin Grab launched a threequarters of a pool-length skip shot that found the back of the net, giving South Pas a lead they would never relinquish. Unfortunately, in the Tigers’ second CIF game on Saturday, there was no such shot. On an unusually warm February 16, with an unusually large crowd for a girls water polo game, the Tigers played against one of their biggest adversaries, the Los Altos Conquerors, whom they had lost three games to earlier this season. In typical fashion for their play this
season, the Tigers found themselves down by three goals with almost five minutes left in the first quarter. However, the girls managed to catch up and keep the score close for most of the rest of the game. A stunning number of one-on-one steals by junior Liza Echeverria and an impressive fourteen blocks from sophomore goalkeeper Clarque De Young were the chief reasons the girls remained in the hunt. “I just played my hardest. This is the seniors’ last game and it meant a lot to them. I just wanted to give it everything I had,” De Young said. After a seemingly never-ending number of counterattack goals by Los Altos players, the Tigers fell into a 10-6 hole with 4:22 remaining in the third quarter. While a comfortable victory seemed likely for Los Altos, South Pasadena rallied back with four unanswered goals of their own, tying Los Altos 10-10 going into the fourth and final quarter. The Tigers came out in the fourth
looking the best they had all day, with Liza Echeverria winning the first South Pas sprint of the game. However, after a few unsuccessful counter attacks, Los Altos was able to swim away with an 13-11 victory. “Anything can happen with any team on any given day, it just comes down to which team shows up to play and who wants it more,” Los Altos head coach Chris Coleman said. “[The Tigers] gave 100% to fight back and find a way back in. We just finished.” South Pasadena finished the season with a record of 15-10 overall including an undefeated league record, giving them their fourth straight Rio Hondo League title. “We kept playing one goal at a time. [The girls] showed that they weren’t going to back down and just let them have the game,” South Pasadena head coach Robert Echeverria said. “They just played with a lot of heart, and as a coach you can’t ask for anything more.”
Girls basketball shoots into second round By Shyam Senthilkumar Copy editor The South Pasadena High School girls varsity basketball team lost to San Luis Obispo High School last night in a quarterfinal CIF match-up. The Tigers suffered a heartbreaking 46-42 home game defeat which signaled the end of the season as well as the end of the Tigers’ CIF aspirations. The game was very close throughout, with the score tied at 35-35 heading into the 4th quarter. Down 45-42 with less than a minute left, the Tigers missed a crucial rebound that would have given the team a chance to tie the game. The Tigers gave a valiant effort but were at a serious size disadvantage to the visiting SLO Tigers; San Luis Obispo had a very tall lineup, even featuring a 6’1” guard. Despite the loss, South Pas did receive strong play from senior captain Amber Partida and sophomore Lexie Scholtz, both of whom led the team with eleven points each. In the previous round on February 16, South Pas dismantled the Ocean View
Seahawks. The Tigers claimed a dominant 61-37 victory. The game took place at San Marino High School as the South Pas gym was being used for the weekly bingo night. South Pas received a bye in the first round which gave the team plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming match. The Tigers
Siria Medina
The Tigers fight for the ball in the first CIF game against Ocean View High.
played an aggressive and up-tempo game and were able to stay in control the entire match. Freshman Kristen Kafkaloff led the team in scoring with eighteen points. Partida and Scholtz also played well with sixteen and fifteen points respectively. Partida was very pleased with her team’s complete effort. “Overall I thought we all executed well and kept pushing the ball. We kept attacking and went hard to the basket,” Partida said. The Tigers ended the regular season in a disappointing fashion, losing the league title to La Cañada High School with a 43-34 loss. The Tigers went on a run in the final minutes to cut the Spartan lead to 33-30 but ultimately lost the match after the Spartans went on a 10-4 run of their own. Despite the tough end to the season, nothing can take away from the Tigers’ overall success. South Pas broke the record for most wins in a season with a 21-6 record. “The girls played so hard all season long. What other team has a record of 21-6? We couldn’t be any prouder. The team came out and played hard every game,” head coach Tammy Lai said.
- Cross Country, Track - College: Santa Clara University - Personal records: 18:10 min. (3 mile), 0:57 sec. (400m) “I’m really excited to join the team. All the runners meet one month before school starts for training so it will be really great to get to know the team and make friends before school even starts. I’m looking forward to running for Santa Clara.”
Nico Sullivan - Football - College: University of San Diego - 2012 Stats: 5 sacks and 47 tackles “I’m still not sure what position I’ll be playing but they’re looking to play me at defensive end, tight end, or linebacker. I’m extremely excited to attend USD for the next four years. It has always been my dream school. I’m looking to major in business along with competitive D1 football.” Photos by Rachael Garner
[inside] Read up on boys basketb a l l ’s f i r s t round CIF game. Rachael Garner
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Boys soccer season ends in loss to Tahquitz. Rachael Garner
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