jagwire: october 13, 2011
DESCRIPTION
Jagwire Vol. 2 Issue 1TRANSCRIPT
JOSEPH A. GREGORI HIGH SCHOOL _ MODESTO, CA _ 13 OCTOBER 2011wirejag 2.1
MEET THEBLEACHER CREATURESSCHOOL SPIRIT BEGINS ON PAGE 8
jagwire page 2 &&news features
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
ANNIE MATHEWS stands in front of the billboard she designed for the Kaiser Permanente anti-smoking contest. Mathews won the contest in May. She was awarded an Apple iPad for her entry and her work is featured on billboards across the Central Valley from September through October. "It's not every day you get to see your artwork on a billboard," Mathews said. "It was a really good opportunity."
EDITORS-IN-CHIEFChelsea McDougallTricia Paulson
DESIGN EDITORJayme Kositchek
ENTERTAINMENT EDITORLisa Davis
SPORTS EDITOREzra Ruiz
JAG REPORTERSBrittany BarbieriDallas DildineMarissa A. GonzalezMarissa R. GonzalezSarah JacksonMorgan LewisShapnam NawabiTony Nickens
CONTRIBUTORSVictoria BettencourtMarisa FerreiraTim GallagherCarmen GonzalezLinosnyda OurngCarmen RomoAlexandra GonzalezNoelle DeMarco
staff box
Jagwire is the official student run and student produced newspaper of Joseph A. Gregori High School. Established as a forum for student expression, this publication provides a full opportunity for students to inquire, question and exchange ideas. The Jagwire Editorial Board exercises the right to determine the content of this newspaper. Students and staff are encouraged to write letters to the editor that reflect their opinions or reflect stories or happenings around the school or community. Letters and editorials may be submitted by emailing them to [email protected], dropping them off in Mr. McCarthy’s staff box, or bringing them by room C112. All letters and/ or editorials sent to The Jagwire will be considered for publication providing they are typed or printed neatly with the writer(s) first and last name(s) and grade level(s). Letters to the editor and/ or editorials that contain libelous information, obscenities, personal attacks, or gossip will not be considered for publication. The Jagwire reserves the right to edit and censor the contents of any letter and/or editorial considered for publication. Any editorial and/ or letter represents the opinion of the writer and not the opinion of the Jagwire staff.
contents13 OCTOBER 2011 | VOL. 2, NO. 1
ON THE COVERClockwise from top left: Kyle Bundy, Tre McClellan, Braxton Medrano, Tyler JanitzPhotos by Marisa Ferreira
PAGE 3News & FeaturesDato Adapts to Gregori
PAGE 4News & Features9/11 Anniversary TributeWasps: The Constant Battle
PAGE 5News & FeaturesFanatics!
PAGE 6News & FeaturesSalida Town and Country Festival
PAGE 7News & FeaturesA Cousin's Cause
PAGES 8-9CenterspreadDemonstrate School Spirit!
PAGE 10News & FeaturesTeens and Politics
PAGE 11News & FeaturesLunch Lines
PAGE 12EntertainmentNickins Picks EmTricia's Book Corner
PAGE 13Sports"Sticking to the Call"Invading Their Territory
PAGE 14SportsShoutouts to Standouts
PAGE 15SportsLove at First PracticeWhat Goes On Under Water
PAGE 16News & FeaturesSports InjuriesVolleyball Tough Love
2.7Original estimate, in millions of dollars, to build the Gregori stadium. The latest fig-ures put the highest possible cost at $3.8 million. Modesto City Schools board will decide the fate of this proposed stadium on October 24.
Students and parents who arrived late to school last week were greeted with a new marquee mes-sage, instituted by Principal Albritton. In addition, campus supervisors conducted multiple small scale tardy sweeps thoughout the week, netting 70 students on Monday and 54 on Tuesday. "I think it's a great idea," said campus supervisor ray Hickman. "Mr. Albritton is using the school resources to the fullest. The main problem is that kids think that 7:55 is the time to get here when 7:55 is the time they should be in their seats."
DID YOU KNOW...that you can send text mes-
sages to email inboxes? YOU ARE INVITED to comment on stories in this issue or simply to vote for stories you enjoyed reading? Look for the icon at the end of every story and text [email protected] with your comments. We want to know what you think.
photo by Chelsea McDougall
photo by Jim McCarthy
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page 3 &&news features 13 october 2011
sk Fiore Dato a question rather quickly and she’ll squint her eyes, slightly turn her head to the left and hold her index finger in the air. “Hold
on,” she’ll say before she asks to repeat the question. Processing common English phrases is a lot harder for her when Italian and Spanish, her first and second languages, are running through her mind.
Now living in Salida, California, Dato is
6,229 miles away from her home in Lerici, Italy. She, along with 18 other boys and girls who are spread sporadically through-out the United States, are part of the AFS Intercultural program, a non-profit interna-tional exchange organization for students and adults that operate in more than 50 countries. Sophomore Jacob Collins and his family, Dato’s host family, have joined AFS for their love of travel and to learn about
other cultures.“In September of last year I asked my
mother if I could do this and she said yes. I had to maintain good grades, know English and take a test that consisted of questions about the foods that I usually eat, my family, and my free time,” she said.
Dato arrived in America two days before her first day of school. She had spent the last 48 hours traveling half way around the world, which included twelve hours of flying from Rome to Zurich then to Los Angeles and finally to Fresno. Before her arrival, the Collins family had little communication with Dato but received pictures of what her room in Italy looked like so they could get an idea of what she was like.
“We ask Fiore a ton of questions about Italy and her life, but I think she is learning more from us than we are from her because she is completely immersed into our life-style,” said Collins.
Once in the Salida home of the Collins' family, Dato slept for hours adjusting to
the time zone. She has become the temporary 6th member of the fam-ily, which includes Nick, Stephanie, fifteen-year-old Jacob, twelve-year-old Dawson and nine-year-old Audrey. With a big enough house and a truck that fits exactly six, Dato was well suited for the Collins.
“In Italy I never stay home, I’m always out in the city with my friends
and we stay together. Here I think the kids are different maybe because I’ve only seen them at school. I miss Italy but I love being away,” she said.
Though all of Dato’s friends and family live back in Italy, she manages to keep in touch with them every few days with the Blackberry cell phone that the Collins fam-ily provided her with. Going from knowing everyone in her village to nobody at all, she is at her Salida home most of the time with nothing to do except go for a jog or explore the city with her host family.
“I only went to two periods that day [the first day],” said Dato. “School is so differ-ent here and my first day I had no idea what to do. In Italy we have about nine subjects, the teachers rotate classrooms instead of students and we have Saturday school.”
Dato’s stay lasts for a year and she continues to learn more about the American lifestyle as she is here.
Aby MARISA FERREIRA / APEX STAFF
Exchange student Fiore Dato adapts to life at Gregori
Text ITALY to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite sports story
CIAO! u Junior Fiore Dato tries to concentrate on the lesson at hand during class. "School is so different here, and [on] my first day I had no idea what to do."
photos by Lisa Davis
jagwire page 4 &&news features
here was complete silence in the air, and all anyone could hear was the sound of the girls singing the national anthem. Students stood around the flag, look-ing at the symbol for our country. We see it waving
every morning, but we never think about its importance. We don’t see what others fought for to get to where our country is today.
The small group of students walked solemnly to the flag pole with the flag in their hands. Once it was unfolded and raised into the sky, there was a wind which blew it back and forth in the clear, blue sky. There was no recollection of what the day was like ten years ago today or even what they were standing for at that moment. For most Gregori students, September 11, 2001 was just like any other day. There were no memories, no flashbacks of what that day was like, but for others, it meant so much more.
“I was a freshman in high school and I was dressed out in my PE clothes out on the tennis courts when our principal came on the announcements and explained what had happened and dismissed school for the day,” explained
ead custodian Fernando Orozco and his team of jani-tors scour the rooftops of Gregori High, following the sight of flying wasps to the concealed nest. Behind
one of the building’s air conditioning units, a great swarm of wasps are spotted in a crevice. Orozco’s team take out cans of wasp spray and instantly attack the nest as wasps fly in all directions.
They are small, fast and suddenly angered. “I’ve seen them up in corners, trees,
branches, lights,” says Orozco. The worst he’s seen was on a lamp post. “The whole light was covered with big old wasps," he
said. "There must have been hundreds.” According to Orozco, it's the school’s location–isolated,
surrounded by fields, without any other building structures for miles and plenty of places to nest–makes Gregori a perfect target.
The wasps also affect sports. Game time had arrived for science teacher and boys soc-
by SARAH JACKSON / JAGWIRE STAFF
Combatting wasps a constant battle for custodianscer coach Ethan Duewell’s players in the first varsity tourna-ment of the year. Meanwhile, the wasps seem to be glued to the goal posts. Before any activity on the field begins, Coach Duewell takes out a can of anti-wasp spray, strides toward the goals, and sprays them down vigorously.
“They do like the goals," said Duewell. “If you get too close to their nests, then they become a problem. They like the white paint of the goals; you have to be aware of them when you’re near the goals.”
Aside from being fast breeding and frustrating little pests, wasps can hold serious risks, particularly in its sting.
“Most times [the sting] gets red and a bump forms,” said school health clerk Stephanie Eisenia, “but sometimes it gets scary because there are some kids who are severely allergic and have to go to the hospital.”
An allergic reaction to either wasp or bee stings can sometimes be as severe as one going into cardiac arrest, said Eisenia. That’s when Epinephrine may come into play. Epinephrine is a medicine that must be shot directly into the heart in cases of severe allergic reaction. Luckily, Eisenia has never faced such a scenario.
The custodians apparently come to her office often, needing treatment for their con-stant wasp stings.
“The wasps are knocked down by the cus-todians,” Eisenia said.
The wasps remain a relentless force, disturb-ing students and staff continuously.
“Being out in the country, there’s a lot of places for them to build nests,” said Duewell. “That’s a great place for them to build nests in,” he said, pointing to the metal supprt beams that are visible on the walls of most school buildings.
For Orozco and his crew, the task of exterminating wasps is a never ending duty.
“I’ve seen a whole bunch of nests; they’re all around,” he says. “I have a couple of guys a day come to clear them out, but they’ll probably be back up in a day or two.”
Tby NOELLE DEMARCO / APEX STAFF
Gregori reinforces memory of September 11 with anniversary tribute
RAISING ATTENTION uLeft to right: Junior Brian Weeks stares up at the flag he just finished raising at the opening of the ceremony on September 11. Sophomore Michael Gallagher salutes the flag as it rises before the pledge begins. "To me, [the raising of the flag] means that our country is still working and everyday we rise anew," said Gallagher. Activities director Katie Beatty hugs ASB President Sydney Smith after Smith finished her speech. "I was proud of her," said Beatty. " It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of your peers and give a formal speech. Sydney did an amazing job."
Text SEPTEMBER 11 to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite feature story
H
Leadership advisor Miss Beatty. She remembered that day when she came home to watch
the news on that ordinary day. That day when the country lay in shock and fear that what we had fought so hard for would all come crashing down.
ASB President Sydney Smith recalls, “I was only in 1st grade, but I remember my mom was watching TV and cry-ing.” Most of us only remember the good or really bad times in our lives, but for Smith, she remembers it as a distant memory as most of us do.
Junior Tristine Barth remembers the day with vague details as well. She was at her grandmother’s house when she turned the TV on and started crying when she had seen what happened.
Junior Madeline Hawkins recalls her aunt’s voice over the phone that day. Maddie’s aunt lived on the east coast and called even before the family knew what had happened on that unexpected day in New York.
While some of us remember bits and pieces of that day, some Gregori students, like juniors Carmen Gonzalez and Jenna DiBartolo, hadn’t seen the towers collapse until they
had seen it in their US History class this year. At the ceremony that Gregori’s ASB put together, local
emergency responders, like the Modesto and Salida Fire and Police Departments, and Highway Patrol officers came to recognize the tenth anniversary of the day that we as Americans remember with grief. “I remember everyone in the room crowded around a table watching a small T.V. and everything was just unreal,” said Fireman Randy Hutsell from the Modesto Regional Fire Department. He remembers the day clearly, while most of us only remember bits and pieces.
Just as the anthem came to an end and the flag had made its way to the top of the flagpole, students, staff, and emergency responders bowed their heads in unison. No matter where we come from or what our differences are we must remember September 11, 2001 and recognize the lives that were lost and the sacrifices that were made by many to save as many people as possible. We must remember to stay united, not only as a country, but in our school, our families, and our friends.
photos by Marisa Ferreira and LeAnn Carper
Text WASPS to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite feature story
page 5 entertainment 13 october 2011
ivya Mathur screams at the TV as the Lakers are playing, Andres Madera stud-ies the Mexico Chivas team as they play;
Kimberley Cervantes defends Justin Bieber when people are talking bad about him, and Alejandra Osuna hides behind bushes waiting to meet her favorite boy band.
Osuna was struggling with the long branch-es poking at her legs as she crouched down, waiting for the man to hang up his cell phone. She found herself secretly hiding backstage at the Big Time Rush concert dreaming of what the moment would be like when she got to meet one of the members. All summer she’d been anticipating this moment, the moment she would make her way backstage.
Osuna mentioned to her cousins that she was going to attempt to sneak backstage af-ter the concert to see Carlos, Kendall, James, and Logan.
She crept through a back door that resem-bled what looked like might lead her backstage.
“The doors led me straight to the tour bus outside, my mouth dropped to the floor with excitement,” said Osuna.
She knew this was definitely breaking the rules, and was well aware she could be in big trouble.
The man talking on the cell phone startled Osuna; he caused her to collapse in fear behind the bush. She was re-thinking her plan and thought of turning back.
“I was about to turn back but I figured I had nothing to lose, so I camped out for a while,” she said.
Osuna is obsessed with Big Time Rush. Her walls are covered in posters. Her first time see-ing the band in concert was at the Stanislaus Fair. She got in line for fair tickets at 2 o’clock and the concert started at 8. She wanted to ensure that she got front row seats. She waited at the fair for hours awaiting the concert.
She’s a fanatic.
Mathur, Madera, and Cervantes are fans. They discuss their sports teams and pop stars. Osuna’s a fanatic, she’s cooking up her plans to meet and marry them.Osuna describes this as one of the most exciting moments of her life. When the man hung up the phone he disappeared into the night. She heard the crackling of the sticks. She saw a young man walking towards the bus; she could not believe what she was seeing.“I had been waiting in this bush for a little over 20 minutes, I knew eventually someone famous had to go on that bus,” Osuna said.Kendall was approaching the bus; he was only a couple feet away from her. She crept behind him. “Kendall, Kendall!” she said.Osuna grabbed his shoulders and turned him around to face her; he was just silent. Three guards swarmed her. “Hey, hey we got girls hopping fences, we need to get this under control,” Osuna remembered the guards shouting.Kendall waved hi to her but was not able to stop the guards. She was escorted out. “I was expecting a little more from Ken-dall, like maybe a hug or something but he probably thought I was just a crazed fan,” Osuna said.
In fact, Osuna is a crazed fan. Every month, there’s some new athlete, band, artist, actor, etc. It never stops for her; there will always be someone or something she’s crazy for. Mathur, Madera, and Cervantes on the other hand are simply die-hard fans. They’ll never stop loving the team, player or artist.Weeks later, and Osuna's over the boy band she was once in love with.“My new obsession is Giovani Dos San-tos!” said Osuna.
fan(atic)s!Jagwire explores the difference
between fan behavior and teenobsession with celebrities
Dby MARISSA ANGELA GONZALEZ / JAGWIRE STAFF
Paulson Supply wishes Jaguars good luck for the
school year!
Paulson SupplyModesto, CA
Text FANS to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite entertainment story
jagwire page 6 &&news features
Gregori at home in Salida Town and Country Festival
he Salida Middle School band looks on with amused, laughing faces as the Gregori band, the group they’ll join soon, sing their ABC’s.
“How come everyone knows that song but me?” sophomore Blake Vella, a saxophone player, says loudly, making the whole group burst into laughter.
The two bands, mixed as one, wait for their cue to begin the parade; being the first group, they get to kick it off. Fresh-man Jeremy Whetstone entertains the band by leading songs like “Row Your Boat” and their ABC’s. The whole band wants to do the wave, but Dan Bryan, the Gregori music director, shoots them down quickly, trying to protect his dignity and the dignity of the band. “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Happy Birthday” echo loudly down Broadway Street as the Salida Steelers cheerleaders behind them cheer. The horn section of the band standing in the front and the woodwinds at the back sing different songs, competing to be heard.
Suddenly, the red and white crossing arms signifying that a train is approaching slowly drop into place as the red lights flash and the sound of a train whistle resonates down the street. The train passes by just behind the cheerleaders, the third of that morning. Everyone in the band, the cheer-leaders, and the parents standing to the side holding their cameras turn and cheer as the train rumbles by, shaking the ground. The cheerleaders raise their pom-poms and scream at the engineer manning the train.
The scheduled time of the parade was 10:00 a.m. After waiting for 30 minutes, the band finally gets the cue to start their march. The police car in front of them rolls slowly forward.
The Salida Town and Country Parade begins, the air bursting with excitement and anticipation.
It’s no coincidence that Gregori Musical Arts and Salida Middle School’s Marching Band are working together. The directors of each school’s music department, Dan Bryan and Brad Friley, respectively, have been planning it since last year. Salida Middle School’s band had been marching in the parade for years. Bryan wanted to start Gregori on a marching
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Gregori band and SMS band march together in the parade as Dan Bryan makes sure they're in tempo. Erika Montes looks for some breathing space as Al the Almond backs into her on the kiddie train. Principal Albritton watches anxiously from the dunk tank as a ball narrowly misses the target to dunk him. Sarah Bloomgarden doubles over with laughter after hitting her mark. Junior Elvira Morales paints faces at the Global Club booth in the festival. Salida Middle School cheerleaders prepare to begin parade.
season, which, in other schools, normally starts when school does and goes until November. But to get Gregori’s band used to marching, and to help Salida Middle School’s band (they’re low on numbers), he felt that marching together was a great idea.
“It’s good publicity for the program, and this joint thing with SMS is really good. As Salida’s high school, we have a responsibility to support things in the community,” Bryan says.
The band plays “March Militaire” as they march down Broadway, with parents, grandparents, sisters, and brothers cheering loudly.
Harrison Hughes, an eighth grader, says that the song had become annoying from practicing so much. When asked if he gets nervous before a parade, he says simply, “No. I just play, and I don’t pay attention [to the people watching]”. He also mentions that the Gregori band seems pretty good, and that the whole school seems pretty cool.
As the two bands march as one back to the Salida Fire Station where they first met, Gregori and Salida Middle School begin to separate. Bryan pulls them together for one last moment, speaking loudly to be heard over the Steelers cheerleaders who had also just come onto the parking lot. The cheerleaders’ laughter serves as background noise to Bryan’s final speech. “I’ve seen things like this fall apart,” he says, “and this didn’t. Good job, everyone.” The two bands cheer.
Christian Arriola and Sam Anderson, both juniors, and Blake Vella, a sophomore, groove to a made-up tune, caus-ing other Gregori band members to dance, celebrating a successful march of the Salida Town and Country Parade. Gregori pulled off their first parade easily, and Salida Middle School and Gregori will be marching together in this parade for years to come.
by CHELSEA MCDOUGALL / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Text FESTIVAL to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite feature story
As Salida’s high school, we have a respon-sibility to support things in the community. —Gregori Music Director Dan Bryan”“
photos by Victoria Bettencourt, Marisa Ferreira, Tim Gallagher and Chelsea McDougall
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT u
T
photos by
page 7 &&news features 13 october 2011
he sound of rubber soles sliding across the asphalt and the rhythmic beating of a basketball fill the air under the hot summer sun. Cameron Lum calls for a pass when suddenly an opponent swoops in from the side. Standing at a height of about 3’5” the player swats the ball clear out of Lum’s hands. He just stands there, face bright red with heat and embar-
rassment. Meanwhile, at the other end of the court, Lum’s cousin Jeremy is doubled over on the ground shaking with laughter.
“It’s one of my fondest memories with him,” said 17 year old Cameron Lum with a chuckle. “He was laughing at me for hours.”
The two cousins had recently become very close. At 29 years of age, Jeremy Lum was the oldest cousin in the family and Cameron Lum looked up to him as a role model.
“He was one of those people you just loved to hang around with,” said Lum.Lum recalls this memory of his cousin as he stands on the street corner holding a large white
sign that reads “Justice for Jeremy”. Jeremy Lum was diagnosed with bipolar illness at the age of 25, and lived with it for 4 years. On
June 9th, 2009, Lum was arrested for public intoxication and was held at the San Joaquin County jail for 6 hours until his release. The report from the police station recorded that there was no alcohol in his system, but they were unaware that he was in the middle of a bipolar episode. Unfortunately, after his release he disappeared from his home in Lathrop. Friends and family went to tremendous lengths in search of Jeremy Lum, passing out over 2,000 fliers all over the city in hopes that he would return home. Three days later, he was found 3 miles west of the jail in the San Joaquin River.
“Jeremy was more like one of my own sons than my nephew,” said Connie Perez, aunt to both Cameron and Jeremy. “We are as close a family as you can get, and we all shared the ups and downs of his bipolar condition with him.”
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people go back and forth between periods of very good or irritable moods and depression, which can often lead to impulsive reactions and psychotic episodes.
“When he was on his medication, he was just like everyone else. He graduated from UC Berkeley and lived on his own in Lathrop,” said Cameron Lum.
Having just recently become close with Jeremy, Lum had a very difficult time dealing with his cousin’s death. He found himself confused and living in a nightmare, trying to figure out why Jeremy was taken away at such a young age. To help keep Jeremy Lum’s legacy alive, Cameron helps his family with some campaigning around town.
With the hot summer sun on their backs, many members of the Lum family put one foot right in front of the other on a long walk from French Camp to Lathrop. An occasional honk brings them comfort as they attempt to spread the word about mental illness to the people of Lathrop. This walk was used as a symbol of Jeremy Lum’s struggle to return home and to set the record straight about his mental illness.
“The response and support at the first 2009 Memorial March was so overwhelming and positive, we knew we’d have to do it again the next year,” said Connie Perez with a smile. “We had close to 100 walkers of all ages and cities.”
The response to Jeremy Lum’s cause was tremendous, and the family couldn’t be happier. They are still getting the word around about mental illness and have the wonderful support of their peers. As for Cameron, he says that he would rather have known Jeremy for the time that he did than never have become close to him at all.
A COUSIN'S CAUSE
SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER...• Littleneedforsleep• Recklessbehavior• Racingthoughts• Poorjudgementandtempercontrol• Excessivelyhighself-esteem• Easilyagitated• Thoughtsofdeathorsuicide• Difficultyindecisionmakingorconcentrating
SOURCE:U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine
BIPOLAR DISORDER FAST FACTS• Peoplewithbipolardisorderhavea20%suicide
rate• 1inevery100peoplearebipolar• Oneofthehardestdiseasestodiagnose• BritneySpears,DemiLovato,MelGibson,Ozzy
Osburne,andRussellBrandallhavebipolardisor-der
SOURCE:U.S.NationalLibraryofMedicine
by CARMEN GONZALEZ / APEX STAFF
Junior Cameron Lum spreads the message of his cousin's unfair death and bipolar disorder
Text LUM to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite feature story
T
SCHOOL SPIRITDEMONSTRATE
FOR-MORE
F
“You just need to
crazy comes out."friends and the
be around your
“I don't have school spirit because I don't like the colors of the school."
Jose GarciaSophomore
Why is school spirit important to you?
by LINSONYDA OURNG & CARMEN ROMO / APEX STAFF
reshman Tyler Janitz sat in his desk as he overheard classmates talk about that night’s volleyball game against Pitman. Then, Sabrina Sordello, member of the girls’ volleyball team, went up to Janitz and said jok-ingly, “You should paint your body and show up at the game tonight.” That wasn’t just a joke to him.“The girls mentioned it was their most important game, and I took it literally when Sabrina said to paint my body,” said Janitz. “They needed a ton of support and a loud cheer sec-tion.”“One of our goals is to get as many people as we can spir-ited and hyped up for events taking place within the school,” said Janitz. One of his reasons for joining Spirit Club was to have fun at the games for sports that he doesn’t play while still supporting the players.He needed backup so he asked junior Braxton Medrano, sophomore Kyle Bundy and sophomore Tre McClellan. They pushed the doors open into the bright lights of the gym, painted in blue and yellow with Crayola Washable Paint. Janitz was the letter “J”, McClellan “A”, Bundy “G”, and Me-drano “S”. They looked around the stands and didn’t see many students. Parents and other spectors rushed over to take pictures of them as the faces of the volleyball players lit up when they saw the boys.
The boys took a spot in the top row of the bleachers and started cheering and waving their signs. Before they knew it other students and parents joined them. Kylie Stevens named them “The Bleacher Creatures.” “When she was in high school a group of boys would do the same, like dressing up in spirit wear, and they were called the Bleacher Creatures,” said Medrano, “so we adopted that name.”The volleyball players repeatedly thank them and recognize them for their courageous act. But supporting the volleyball team isn’t the only thing Janitz does. He is currently the vice president of the Spirit Club and tries to promote and spread spirit as much as he can. As the president of Spirit Club, junior Chelsey Azevedo wants nothing more than for students to simply be involved more, and the “Bleacher Creatures” was the perfect example. “Even if the students are sitting down in the stands, they can still cheer for the team. They don’t need the ‘I’m too cool’
attitude. It kind of upsets me,” said Azevedo.
Junior Michael Lange, who is also in the club, commented,
“I don’t like it when people don’t clap for the team when they
are doing good.” “When we’re losing, people shouldn’t be less spirited. We
need to cheer up when the team is down in the slumps,” said
Azevedo. The purpose of having a spirit club is to help ignite other
people, especially students, to join and be spirited as well.
School is not always fun and the games after school are what
many students look forward to. Oftentimes, the spirit level of Gregori is unfairly compared
to other high schools. As a new high school, there aren’t any
seniors to lead the way and show the underclassmen how to
show school spirit, and that has been a huge challenge.
Additionally, there aren’t many dress up days throughout
the school year. Having dress up days is the chance to show
who has the most spirit. “Dress up days are meant to have fun and express different
personalities,” said Azevedo. Janitz has noticed that once a person or group is cheering
on the team, more students will come in the group and before
he knows it, everyone will be screaming out cheers as loud as
they can. Lange said, “You just need to be around your friends and
the crazy comes out. I think it will get better once there are
more kids.” Azevedo added, “The students’ spirit will ignite everyone
else’s, even the parents and little kids. Once it gets started
then it will show.”She has talked to many people about what was best about
their high school years and being involved with the school
was the main big thing that made it better, but she has hopes
for the future. At the end of the game, the Bleacher Creatures came down
from the stands knowing that they did their best to show their
spirit.
“Spirit is important because it helps our teams do better. ”
Shelby NoriegaFreshman
“Spirit is important because we need to support our school because we're a new school. ”
Kylie StevensFreshman
“It shows how much we love the school. ”
Jeff BartonSophomore
photo by Marisa Ferreira
Text BOOKS to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite feature story
SCHOOL SPIRITDEMONSTRATE
Is spirit important to a high school?"Not really."
Why aren't you spirited?"I don't see a point in it."
It is popular among your friends to be spirited?"No, not at all."
Is spirit important to a high school?
"It shows our love and support for a team to
help produce a victory."
Why are you spirited?
"It's fun to go crazy. You're only in high
school once, so you have to make the most
of it."
Is it popular among your friends to be
spirited?
"No. They call me crazy for being spirited.
They call me weird because I scream and
dress up crazy."
AARON TAYLOR
ELISABETH GONZALEZ
HOW TO DRESS THE PART:
WHY BOTHER?
COTTON CANDY
JAMMIE DAY TWIX TWIN DAY NERDS DAYBLUE AND GOLD DAY
BABY RUTH SPORTS DAY
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
UP & COMING WEEK DRESS UP DAYS
GEAR UP!
WHY NOT GO FOR IT? TO BE OR NOT TO BE...SPIRITED
“It's important to have spirit because it pumps up the school."
Arianna DeleonJunior
“Spirit pumps up the school and the team. ”
Faith MoltenFreshman
“It's important to have school spirit be-cause school would be lame without it. ”
Denis FasanoFreshman
1. Emotional support for one’s educational institution; it can be manifested in the
exhibition of school colors in dress and decoration, attendance at athletic events, or
verbally in the form of chants or cheers. (Wikipedia.org).
3. An ongoing, positive attitude toward your school. If you have school spirit, you
show it by taking pride in your school and sharing that pride with the people around
you. (Answerbag.com)
2. Devotion of your entire high school life to your school. (Urbandictionary.com)
4. A 1985 movie in which a high school student is killed in a car accident and returns
as a ghost to haunt his school. (Wikipedia.org)
Crack open a dictionary, or look up dictionary.com and search for the word “school”, and
a definition will pop up. Same goes for the word “spirit”. But there is no official definition for
“school spirit”. However, we did find several unique definitions for this elusive phrase.
What's your definition of school spirit? Text your answer to [email protected]
School Spirit [skool spir-it], n.
“It's important to have spirit because it helps the team win games.”
Dean DuivenvoordenJunior
photo by Marisa Ferreira
jagwire page 10 opinions
TONY NICKENS
jagwire staff
Snapbacks
Bikes
Droid
Raiders
Steelers
iPhone Blackberry
Cars
High waisted skirts
Muscle shirts High Socks & Cargo Shorts
Walking
High Waisted Pants/ Shorts FeathersGIRLS FASHION
GUYS FASHION
TRANSPORTATION
PHONES
SPORTS
SOCIAL NETWORKING
BORN WORN TORN
igh school youth as a whole cares nothing about politics because they feel it doesn’t affect them. You
couldn’t be farther from the truth. What happens in Washington does not stay in Washington. Decisions the Federal Government makes can affect your education as well as employment, workplace con-ditions and taxes. If those things don’t concern you, they will once
you get a job… Trust me. They also affect the digital economy and communications, (that includes those ever advancing computers and phones we have all so will-ingly become addicted to).
I informally polled more than 100 students. They were asked six basic politically related questions. Only one out of the 115 students polled correctly answered all questions. While 29% of the stu-dents knew Jerry Brown was the Governor of California and 38% could name the three branches of government, virtually no one knew any details of the deficit or debt ceiling. Furthermore, only
5% of polled students knew John Boehner to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and not a single one knew exactly how the Speaker of the House is elected. Who will run the world when we are older? I certainly hope it’s not the teenaged girls with “Bieber fever”, or the guys specifically focused on making it to the next level on their video game systems (the government controls the age you can buy those M rated games by the way). I’m sure that if the federal government was in charge of choosing Justin Bieber’s hair style, you all would show a bit more interest in politics.
When asked, “What politi-cal party do you belong to?” the majority claimed to be affiliated to a political denomination, but when asked “Why?” they were left speechless with an empty look in their eyes. I eventually found that the majority of students associate themselves with a political party merely because they are following the example of their role models and idols. They follow blindly, mere sheep in a shepherd’s world. That is a truly sad, lazy way to go through life.
Following politics is like learn-ing discipline. If you don’t get into the habit now, then what makes you think you will when you’re
of age? Once you're 18, will you register to vote? Countless men and women throughout our history made the ultimate sacrifice, some of the greatest minds of our time used their life works, and men and woman are still putting their lives on the line daily so that you may have these rights. How could you be so incredibly ignorant to overlook such things? It would be disrespectful, ungrateful, and completely self-centered if you did not participate in the development and maintenance of your country.
Have we as a nation become so spoiled that we cannot hold up our part of the bargain as citizens of the greatest nation and superpower in the history of the world? You coast off the accomplishments of those who step up and take charge to run this country. You sit in the back of the boat, let everyone else paddle, and you don’t even have the courtesy to thank them for their efforts. If you don’t vote, then you should never complain about America’s issues or debates. You have a right to vote, but you have no right to complain if you do not vote. Either put up or shut up.
The moment you set down this newspaper, look inward at yourself. Are you sheep or shepherd?
Majority of teens don't know politics Prove Your Politics A quiz to tests your knowledge on the
goings on of the United States Government.
Answers; 1. D, 2. A, 3. D, 4. F, 5. C
Which of the following is NOT a frontrunner for the Republican Nomination?a) Mitt Romneyb) Rick Perryc) Herman Caind) Jimmy Carter
An ongoing protest against the government started in what part of New York City?a) Wall Streetb) Times Squarec) Central Parkd) Statue of Liberty
Who is the governor of California?a) It starts with a B, doesn’t it?b) Sarah Palinc) Mark DeSaulnierd) Jerry Brown
TRUE OR FALSE?The Electoral college won the Rose Bowl last year. T______ F______
How is the speaker of the House of Representatives elected?a) Through text in votesb) Through a nation-wide votec) Through a vote in the House of Representatives. d) Through a random selection
H
page 11 opinions 13 october 2011
“They’re good. I don’t have a problem. ”
Brandon PelletierFreshman
“The gym windows have shorter lines. So, that's where I go. ”
Eric ChallyJunior
HE SAID / SHE SAIDYes. Sort of. It truly depends on the background of the date, the connection between the people, and the morals they have.
No. You shouldn't kiss on the first date, it should be more significant than that. Especially if you don't know the person very well. It's called morals. I can understand a little kiss on the cheek, but not a full on kiss.
No. You should be loyal to all of your friends, it doesn't matter what sex they are. If you say something you need to stick to your word. If you can't do that then don't have friends.
No. I honestly don't find a problem either way, it simply goes to personal preference, and some find it less of an issue than others.
Yes. It shouldn't really matter, but it is soooo much more attractive to have a really tall boyfriend.
No. Intelligence isn't based off gender. Statistics would prove that the ratio of women with higher in-telligence versus men is due to an increase in female population.
Yes. Girls are smarter, we all know that girls mature a lot faster than boys, and pick up faster. Plus, remember boys suck at listening. Plus, Mr. Chapman said so.
SHOULD YOU KISS ON THE FIRST DATE?
SHOULD YOU BE MORE LOYAL TO FRIENDS OF THE SAME GENDER?No. Gender shouldn't separate your loyalties between friends, and using gender to draw a distinctive line between your alliances based on sex is petty.
SHOULD YOUR BOY/GIRLFRIEND BE TALLER/SHORTER?
ARE GIRLS SMARTER THAN BOYS?
amantha Shaffer waited patiently to get her lunch, but the bell to signal the end of lunch eventually rang and there were still a couple people ahead of her. What was she going to do?
She hadn’t eaten and now she had to go to her next class feeling tired, hungry and upset. She had been turned away with out any food from the lunch staff.
Who’s at fault that some people aren’t getting fed? I interviewed a couple of students on the matter and some said that they were upset with the student body, not the lunch staff.
Many said that people cut or buy for the people behind them and that slows the line down because they had to go and get the money from their friends then go back up to the front. Those teens need to think about how the
people in the middle of the line feel. These problems can be solved with the help of more campus supervisors for the lines. Many students feel like there should be more lines and more campus supervisors so that people can’t cut and they won’t hold the lines.
I also went behind the scenes and talked to some of the lunch staff and watch the lines from their perspective. On the first day that I was behind the counters I watched the lines inside of the Rainforest Café as they came and went. These lines went very smoothly with only one campus supervisor and a couple people on the lunch staff. They let five to six people in at a time per line and keep them going. They all start out in a single file line in the middle of the Rainforest Café but then they are split into to different lines. These ladies on the work staff are practically running back and forth to get these teens their food. Up and down the counter they go in what seems to be an endless rotation. There is so much noise and money changing hands every minute. From the staff and students pushing buttons moving along it just keeps going for about 20 minutes.
At 11:50 some students are just bothering with getting in line. Why did they wait? Why would you want to limit your time to eat? It is beyond me. Lucky for them they get through the line rather quickly.
One of the lunch room work staff estimated that between ten and fifty people a day forget their pin numbers; this forces the lunch staff to go through the book to find it for them. This is another way that people hold up the lines.
Five minutes before the bell rings the line is empty except for a few staff members. Then right after the bell rings two students come in asking for their lunches. They've got the right excuse -- a sports lunch meeting-- so they're served.
I follow them out of the room and watch them take one item apiece off their trays and throw the rest in the trash.
What a waste. I wonder how many millions of dollars the state of California throws away on students who act like this. What to do?
The following school day I stand behind windows of the outside lines by the Rainforest Café. The outside lines are much different from the two inside. The ladies are really sprinting to get each different order. The windows get crowded when all the students try to force their way to the front of the line and most of the lunch staff desire more campus supervisors around so that students don’t crowd and slow things down.
All went well and at 12:05 the lines have disappeared. But then a group of ten to fifteen people form a line. They were lucky enough to get lunch because the staff is just that fast.
I can plainly see that it isn’t the staff's fault for students not getting lunch. It is the student body’s fault for cutting, crowding, buying for others, forgetting their numbers and many other reasons. It isn’t everyone’s fault, but some things that need to be addressed and need to change so that we are prepared for next year when we have all four classes. So everyone needs to just get in line before it is too late and remember stand back and wait your turn.
BRITTANY BARBIERI
jagwire staff
SLunch lines not moving fast enough for you?
What do you think of the lunch lines?
BRENDAN PELLETIER ALIA SHABBAR
PROGRESS REPORT
BATHROOMS Jaguars, it has been brought to light that if you have to
go to the bathroom right before lunch, you must walk to just about the end of the earth to do so, at least if you have a class in the L, N, or C buildings. It’s understandable that the campos want to make sure that no one is in the buildings once they lock them down, but seriously, would it be that much harder to check the bathrooms after the 9 minute passing period? That way, students wouldn’t have to decide between going to the bathroom and getting in line for lunch. This needs work, otherwise you’ll have to wait in two lines at lunch; one for your food, and another for the bathroom.
Hats off to the first ever powderpuff sign ups. It seems to be gearing up to a great game this year between the juniors and sophomores, and the SBO handled the onslaught of girls rushing to get their forms turned in with speed and grace. Next year though, is it really necessary for the fall sports coaches to sign off on the form? Just something to think about. Also, thanks to the administration for allowing everyone to play this year. It really encourages participation in Up and Coming. Good luck to both teams, and make sure you check out the game!
The freshmen this year have been amazing. They have navigated the school hallways, block scheduling, and the wearing of lanyards with relative ease. And, for the most part, the sophomores and juniors are happy to share their spotlight with the newbies. Although freshmen do make lunch lines longer, and hallways more crowded, the graduating class of 2015 has got a handle on things. Who knows, this class could be full of our future senators, doctors, and even a president or two.
D-
B+POWDERPUFF
AFRESHMEN
Joseph A. Gregori High School 2011-12: 1st Quarter
“They’re really long and they need to open up more of the windows.”
Jenifer PerezSophomore
“The longer the lines, the shorter your lunch is.”
Rafael GutierrezJunior
Text LUNCH LINES to jagwire.editor@gmailcom to comment or vote as a favorite opinion
Text PROGRESS REPORT to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite opinion
Text HE SAID SHE SAID to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite opinion
Q: What is a murder mystery?A: A murder mystery is usually a play that involves two main characters. The main characters are the murderer and the victim. "Secrets" is different from a by definition murder mystery theme. There is more of a story before the actual murder takes place.
Q: How did you get interested in writing plays?A: I used to write skits for my drama class at Davis. I enjoyed it and decided to take drama here at Gregori. Mrs. Maxon offered us ideas at the end of last year and I volunteered to write the play for the upcoming school year.
Q: How long did it take you to come up with the idea for the play and to write it?A: I spent two months over the summer writing the play. I took some ideas from other plays to incorporate into my play and made it my own. Our first auditions took place as early as the second week of school and our
first rehearsals started the third week, so it was a really fast moving pace.
Q: What can we expect from your play?A: There’s a twist, so look out for the twist!
jagwire page 12 entertainment
ON THE WATERFRONT (1954): One of film's most powerful actors, Marlon Brando, delivers one of his most dynamic performances as Terry Malloy, a guilt-ridden former boxer who has let the world put him in the hole. But after a series of life changing events, Terry takes his chances, put his life on the line to defy and stand up against the same waterfront underground empire that he was formerly loyal to. One of the greatest underdog stories ever told. One of the best films of its generation due to its powerful cast, great direction by Elia Kaza, even greater screenwriting by Budd Schulberg. “Hey, you wanna hear my philosophy of life? Do it to him before he does it to you.”
BRAVEHEART (1995): There’s a fine line that separates genius from insanity and Mel Gibson staggers that line. Some of the most gruesomely beautiful films come from Gibson. He can create a scene that’s hard to watch and makes you cringe; yet you can’t turn your head due to the gorgeous cinematography. Gibson directs and stars in this wartime epic that follows William Wallace’s struggle to free his country, Scotland, from British control. High up on my top five list of greatest epics, this film is an emotional roller coaster. How can you not cry in the final sequence of the film? A must see! “Every man dies, not every man really lives.”
THE DEER HUNTER (1978): An epic about a handful of small town factory workers who enlist to fight the war in Viet-nam. The horrors of the war put their friendship, self-perception, and mental stability to the test. Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep all take command of the screen in the most physiologically intense war film ever made. I must admit this is my all time favorite performance from Robert De Niro. Need I say anything else? “This is this. This ain't something else. This is this. From now on, you're on your own.”
THE GODFATHER (1972): The Greatest Film of All Time and a Paramount Achievement in Cinema History! The most powerful cast ever assembled tells a technically complex structured story that uses techniques that I’ve never seen used so perfectly in any other film. Starring Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and the great Marlon Brando, a force of his own, as Don Vito Corleone. Based on Mario Puzo’s novel and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this is a film I consider perfect in every way. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winner for best-adapted screenplay, Best actor in a leading role (for Brando) and Film of the Year. “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Nickins Picks 'Em • Classic Filmse all harbor obsessions that we justify by calling hobbies. My obsession is storytelling. Poetry, screenwriting, short stories and song writing are all mediums I use regularly to express abstract stories that run endless circles around my mind. I see film making as the true ultimate form of story telling. Film is often times the work of hundreds of professionals poured into a single project.
As a child I read every book on the technical aspects of filmmaking I could get my hands on. I was always the kid in the back row of the theater with a pen and notepad (Thankfully, I don’t do that anymore). Although the outcome is mostly all good, my
obsession has handicapped me in a way. Allow me to explain. I rarely go to see a recent popular film, just for the fact that usually the reason the film is popular is because they are unintelligible.
Modern audiences seem to all say, “Entertain me! But Don’t make me think!” The films I go see don’t seem to appeal to most, therefore girls often won't accompany me to the theaters (I don’t know how they resist
my good looks and magical charm), and that is my obsession’s handicap. The following films are not necessarily my favorites, but I recom-mend them to anyone who studies film or just enjoys a great movie. I also included one of my favorite lines from each movie, just for kicks.
by TONY NICKINS / JAGWIRE STAFF
gregori students take a shot at being...
compiled by SHAPNAM NAWABI / JAGWIRE STAFF
Jagwire stood outside of the audition room as students waited to pitch their stories to an associate producer from MTV. We re-corded their pre-audition anxiety and lis-tened to their post-audition relief. Here is a sampling from those who tried out.
or those of you who don’t already know this, I would like to let you in on this fantastic secret just floating around the world. You may be shocked. Are you ready? Reading is good.
Yes, I know, it is very simple and obvious, yet is often left in the dust by options like watching TV, texting on your cell, or surfing the latest updates on Facebook. But here’s another awesome thing. Books are on the internet as well.
Take the website Goodreads.com for example. I refer to it as the “Facebook for book lovers,” because on there not only can you email friends, post pictures, and receive updates, but you can also talk to your favorite authors, rate and record the
books you like, and even record a quote that you really love. I use it all the time, and it has helped me to keep track of most of the books I have read, with the number being somewhere over 1,000 in the last few years.
I’m proud of that fact, and yes, I know that makes me a nerd. And it has been a problem sometimes, because being absorbed by the Pensieves in Narnia during a car ride does not exactly help with learning where everything is in Modesto. I read all the time in the car when I was growing up, so now I have barely any idea what the street names are. Sometimes, I find it even lucky I remember how to get to school.
But despite that small downside, reading has provided me with a wonderful way to keep my imagination alive, and the large quantity of stories that I have read allows me to be an authority on some of the best young adult books out there right now.
Here are my current picks:
Tricia's Bookshelf • YA Books
DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth This book is rela-tively new. It is the story of a teen-age girl named Tris who leaves behind her family at the age of 16 in a future Chicago and chooses a new home with the Dauntless fac-tion to become
stronger, faster, and overcome her fears is one that has caught the attention of thousands already. This is a great read for both guys and girls because the story is one that has enough wit, charm, and action to keep everyone guessing what’s going to happen next, up until the very end.
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher This book is one that has made me think about what I do every day, and is completely unforget-table. It tells a story through the alternat-ing POV’s of Clay Jenson, a teenage boy, and Hannah Baker, a girl he knew from school that de-
cided to take her own life. Hannah made 13 cassette tapes before she died, with a story of how 13 people, one per tape, pushed her to make that choice, and each person must listen to the tapes and pass them along to the next cause. Clay is one of those people, and it is amazing to see from his perspective just how big of an impact every day actions can have on an-other person.
MAXIMUM RIDE by James Patterson Patterson has some of the best one liners and sarcastic com-ments that I have seen in young adult novels. He creates a series that follows a group of 6 teenagers/kids (Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel) who call themselves the Flock because they
are 98% human and 2% Avian, with special powers and wings. That in itself is cool, but add in Erasers (think flying werewolves), evil scientists and having to save the world from spontaneously combusting, all while growing up on their own makes for a whirlwind of ad-venture. Once you pick up any book in the se-ries, prepare to look strange, because you will be laughing out loud. I recommend all seven books in the series.
by TRICIA PAULSON / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BRIANNA SWANGOAL: To learn Japanese
Pre-Audition: "I'm gonna die!"Post-Audition: "I'm glad it's over!"
JESUS RICOGOAL: To be a boxer
Pre-Audition: "Getting butterflies inside."Post-Audition: "I feel good. I nailed it."
NICOLE ESTRADAGOAL: To be a model
Pre-Audition: "Oh God, I hope this goes well."Post-Audition: "I felt so red, I can still feel it."
ALEXANDRA HIKAGOAL: To be a model
Pre-Audition: "I feel very nervous and excited to go inside."Post-Audition: "I lost my train of thought."
HOUSTON HANSEN GOAL: To qualify for state wrestling tourney
Pre-Audition: "I feel myself getting red."Post-Audition: "I can't describe the feeling."
ATHENA BUTCHAGOAL: To be a cartoon voice actor
Pre-Audition: "Really excited to go in and show my talent."Post-Audition: "I can't describe the feeling."
with RAMSES CORTEZ
A & & Q Ramses' play "Secrets" will be performed October 27-29 in the Rainforest Cafe
Text FILMS to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite entertainment story
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page 13 jag sports 13 october 2011
he just stood there and took it. “I can’t believe you made that call! What’re you, blind?!
Do you even know what you’re doing out there?!”Barth just stood there and listened to the father yelling in
her face, his whole head turning purple and his blood pres-sure going through the roof over a mistaken call made in his
son’s under 8 recreational soccer game, a call that may have cost his son’s team their win.
This game was a part of a season of firsts for Barth, a sixteen year old junior from Gregori High School and an official referee for Modesto Youth Soccer Association (MYSA). While reffing her under 8’s soccer games, she experienced it all, including the extremities of parents’, coaches’, and players’ moods. One game, parents would praise Barth on her ability to teach the kids about soccer, while in another, parents would not hold any criticisms back.
“It’s a hard job to do,” she says. “But MYSA pays $14 per under 8’s game, so the money is great, and seeing the look on kid’s faces when they know they’ve done something good on the field is amazing.”
Refereeing soccer, despite the downsides of yelling, hand waving, in-your-face adults tiring Saturdays, and a really bad uniform tan, can actually be a great job for teens with busy schedules.
Most refs Barth works with are older, more experienced high school students, proving the popularity of the job. Plus, many (like Barth) are soccer players themselves, having long ago realized that learning the rules and complexities of the game gives an edge to their own skills during their seasons. But not only does learning all the laws of soccer help out during season play, it also helps to teach life lessons as well.
“When you call something, you have to stick with that call,” explains Barth, who says that changing a call or being indecisive is something that everyone else involved in the game will look for and exploit. This job promotes being confident in your calls, your knowledge, and your-self, especially for girls, who have to earn the respect from male coach-es and fathers more than the boys do, and just have to go in with an “I’m in charge, and you’re not” attitude and work with it from there.
Looking back on that call from last season, Barth admits that she made a mistake. But the father made a mistake as well, by losing his head over a situation that wouldn’t matter for more than a day, let alone an entire season. And back then, she never tried to explain herself. She just waited till he was done ranting before allowing herself to voice what she had been thinking the entire time that father was yelling at her.
“I’m only fifteen,” she said.
STICKING TO THE CALLBarth faces the wrath from angry parents who challenge her whistle
Sby TRICIA PAULSON / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
he girl’s golf team arrived in the parking lot of Modesto Municipal Golf Course at 3 p.m., unloaded their golf bags, and gathered water and snacks for the grueling practice to come. They began their
walk from the parking lot to the first hole, heavy equipment on their backs, and the merciless rays of the sun beating down on them.
Practice became even more difficult when four of the girls found themselves in the middle of a bizarre situation on the third hole. Junior Chelsey Azevedo, and sophomores Erica Swanson, Ashley Azevedo, and Jenna Friesen were lined up to tee off. It wasn’t the par 3 that threw them off their game--they’d been dealing with golfing on long distances for a while--but the figures obstructing their path.
“There were hobos right in the middle of the fairway!” said team captain Chelsey Azevedo.
Two homeless men and their dog had decided to use the lively green grass of the fairway as grounds for their binge-drinking party. One of the men was wearing jeans and a baseball cap. The other, in shorts, was holding a bag of Taco Bell in his right hand and a beer bottle in the other. They were both grubby-looking, half passed-out, and oblivious to the fact that they were interrupting the girl’s practice.
There was a mix of reactions between the four girls, who were at first at a loss on what to do.
“I was scared,” confessed Erica. “It was kinda creepy.” “I was OK,” said Chelsey, ”they were just hobos. The
other girls were a bit freaked out, though. We didn’t want to mess with them, so we called our coach.”
Coach Bradd Stewart and his assistant coach Paul Assad were working with some of the girls at another hole. When Stewart got the phone call, he and Assad came rushing over. Stewart’s main goal was to get the men off the course so that the girls could finish their practice.
Assad, however, was angry and confronted the men. He demanded that they get off the course, and threatened them with a call to the cops. This made the homeless men become agitated, and an argument erupted.
Stewart, not completely aware of what he was walking into, grabbed one of the golf clubs and kept a firm grip on it as he walked to the men. He kept it in his hands as he talked to them, trying to keep it non-threatening, while still making it clear that he was prepared to use it. He wanted to get them off the course as peacefully as possible.
“It was hilarious,” said Chelsey Azevedo. “The image of Stewart running towards the hobos with a club in his hands.”
“These girls are like my daughters,” Stewart told the men. “I take on the father role here.” He tried to get the message across that the men did not belong there.
It was a while later before they got the men to leave the course.
“They were mad,” says Stewart, “It was the beginning of the season and no one had played there in a while. They thought we were intruding on their territory.”
Negotiating a path on the third holeCoach Stewart convinces homeless men to clear the course for his players
by ALEXANDRA GONZALEZ / APEX STAFF
T
Text REF to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite sports story
Text GOLF to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite sports story
y Oakland Raiders. For the past eight years, this team has been known as the laughingstock of the NFL and an easy win for any team.
Not anymore. The Raiders are back as a con-sistent winner in professional football.
With a 3-2 record, the Raiders now have a winning record 5 weeks into a season for the first time in nearly a decade. Oakland has put together numerous pieces in the offseason that should (and will) result in a playoff appearance.
Offensively, the Raiders are fast. When I say fast, I mean fast. Runningback Darren McFadden spearheads the NFL’s best rushing attack, as he’s on pace for nearly 1600 yards rushing. The Raiders’ starting runningback, full-back, and two wide receivers
all run their 40 yard dashes in 4.5 seconds or less.That’s a whole lot of weapons that opposing defenses
must account for.Quarterback Jason Campbell isn’t necessarily “elite," but
he does just enough for Oakland to win. In his career with the Raiders, Campbell is 10-7 as a starter; many of those losses were by one touchdown or less, however.
On defense, the Raiders employ some of the biggest and best men in football. Defensive tackle Richard Seymour leads the way at 6’6, 310 pounds on the defensive line. He
has made multiple Pro bowls and has won 3 Super Bowl Championships.
Oakland also has high-profile linebacker Rolando Mc-Clain, who was drafted 8th overall in 2010. Most experts agree that he has the potential to be a great player in the NFL. Michael Huff, Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves, Stanford Routt, Mike Mitchell, and Lamarr Houston all start on de-fense; they’ve all been drafted in the first 2 rounds of a draft.
The Raiders aren’t slackers on special teams, either. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is tied with two other players for the longest field goal in NFL history. Punter Shane Lechler has the record for longest average punt yardage ever.
Clearly, the Raiders have some talented players. And now that they’ve all had a year to gel, it looks like they’ve formed a legitimate football team for the first time in almost a decade.
Head coach Hue Jackson is a gutsy, energetic man who truly believes that the Raiders can be great. In his first year as coach, he’s definitely got the team in the right direction.
Only time will tell whether or not this Oakland team will produce a Super Bowl Championship. With the team extremely emotional after legendary owner Al Davis’ death on October eighth, look for them to do what he preached day and night:
Just win, baby.
EZRA RUIZ
sports editor
My silver and black is back
Text RAIDERS to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite sports story
M
It was hilarious...the image of Stewart run-ning toward the hobos with a club in his hands. —Chelsey Azevedo“ ”
jagwire page 14 jag sports
What goes on under water...1.) With girls, they are either going to grab onto your suit or dig their fingers into your shoulder. Either way, the idea is that you are immobilized.2.) Same with #1. Opposing players latch onto your arm, holding you in place. If you can't break away, you can't get open for the ball, and you want the ball. In most circumstances, players want to get open, and stay open.3.) To break away from positions 1 and 2, some players are known to deliver a swift, hard kick in the rib cage. This gets the defender off of the player , and they have a five second start to swim ahead while they attempt to catch their breath. Use the opposer as the wall. The harder a swimmer kicks off the wall, the more power is gained.4.) In the event that you are inches ahead of the opposing team, they will want to pull you back, if you have the ball, or if you are ready to receive it. The defender will often pull the offender back by the ankle. In that case, the offender should let that happen, get pulled under water, and take the foul. The offender now has a free pass, or they can swim it into the goal.5.) A squeeze to the wrist is painful. Players will grab your wrist to pull you back. The wrist and the hand are also the main targets to be grabbed and slapped at when you have the ball, if they can't reach. The offender must swing around to get away, and pass or shoot that ball.6.) Still can't get your defender off of you? They aren't letting go? They are being a tad bit too aggressive? Each water polo player knows how annoying that is. To resolve the issure, players reach their hand out to the defender's thoat, press their thumb to the center of their throat, and don't let go until they let go. Ten times out of ten, they will get very angry, and more than likely, they will let go.
"This isn't Jane's Goody Two Shoe School. This is Water Polo, baby."-Jeff Devlin, Water Polo Coach
ROBBIE HARMELINKSoccerHarmelink had 9 saves in the game against Enochs, and shows how tough he is as a sophomore against the older boys in every game.
MAYCIE LABASSVolleyballLaBass has scored over 100 kills for the varsity team, and looks to be a key offensive player for the rest of the season.
KARRIE LEWater PoloLe is one outstanding player on varsity girls water polo team. She is a co-captain and a hardworking hole set (center) in every game.
DOMINIC WASHFootballWash has 16 catches for 221 yards and returned a 55 yard punt for a touch-down against Central Valley.
BRIANNA FILLPOTCross CountryFillpot is one of the fastest girls on the varisty team, and shows her dedication to the sport through her practices and races.
BADAR FAYYAZWater PoloFayyaz has a 75% stop rate as the JV boys water polo goalie, and continues to be a big influence on the team.
SHOUTOUTS 2STANDOUTS
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page 15 jag sports 13 october 2011
t was a Saturday afternoon, and her stomach was turning. She wore her Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu uniform with her long dark brown hair tied into a bun on top of her head. Junior Jiu-Jitsu fighter
Kelly McGill stepped on the scale for her final weigh in before she could set foot on the mat. For the next 30 seconds, all her mind was set on was, to win.
She stepped onto the mat as she stared down her opponent. McGill believed she’d worked just a little bit harder, that she wanted it just a little bit more than her opponent. Nothing and no one was going to stand in her way of becoming a World Female Featherweight Champion.
Two years ago, her family, especially her dad, would’ve never expected McGill to be interested in even watching the sport. One summer afternoon, her dad made her sit down and watch a World Extreme Cage (W.E.C.) fighting featherweight title match on TV. From that day forward, it was all she wanted to do.
She pleaded with her mom and dad to let her try Jiu-Jitsu. She begged for almost a year until her par-ents finally agreed. They found a gym that offered a one-month free trial period and McGill knew she had found her calling.
“After the first practice, I was in love,” said McGill. “The quickness of a move, trying out all the new moves, tapping people out, I found it all just so fun. I knew instantly that I wanted to go far with it.”
At first, she was just like the other teenagers in her jiu-jitsu class at Charles Gracie Academy, a beginner in her first month of practice and still learning the basics. What surprised many, even herself, was her quick un-derstanding and mastering of the sport. Everyone that watched her, even for the shortest amount of time, could see clearly that she was the most advanced in her class.
Three months after signing her contract with Charles Gracie Academy, she entered her first tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. She went in hopeful, not expecting too much. To her surprise and excitement, she came out victorious with a first place medal.
“I continued doing little tournaments, but my ulti-mate goal was to qualify for and win a national title,” McGill said.
Right away, her coach, Matthew Colhado, knew that McGill had something in her that could take her as far as a successful professional career. When she came home with a first place medal from her first tournament, it was
not as shocking as everyone might have initially thought.It was only four months into her training at the acad-
emy in a teenager class when Colhado saw to it that McGill was placed in a more challenging class. After first discussing the idea with McGill and her parents, it was obvious that moving her into the adult class was the best option for her. It would give her the opportunity to get the most extensive training and practice available at the academy.
Being the only teenager in an all-adult class at the academy was at first intimidating and nerve racking for her. But within a couple of weeks, she was making friends and learning from people that were, at most, over three times her age. All the adults in her class saw the obvious passion she had, her talent, skills, and abilities. Over the next year and a half, they would all grow to become their own family, loving each other as if they had known one another for much longer than they had. This environment built McGill into the jiu-jitsu fighter she is this very day.
Only two months after being in the adult level class, McGill was signed up to fight in her first tournament that could result in a possible national title. She entered the tournament on October 12th, 2010.
Identical to her first tournament, she came out with a medal and certificate that signified that she was the National Female Featherweight Champion. The final score of her national, award-winning match was 22-0. This exhilarating event in McGill’s teenage career as a jiu-jitsu fighter was when things were put into perspec-tive for her about jiu-jitsu becoming her permanent career and, ultimately, her life.
She continued to train and practice, but now it was different. It was more serious, more intense, and to her, more of a priority over almost everything. She prepared herself for what she knew would not be the easiest thing to accomplish: winning a world title.
With only a year and two months of jiu-jitsu training under her belt, she stepped into the gym at Riverside, California on July 16th, 2011, to attempt achieving the highest possible award at her age, level, and ability. Without Colhado in her corner, she stepped onto the mat with the intense, focused face that her opponents feared.
Winning World Female Featherweight Champion immediately put her motivation, dedication, passion, and work ethic at an all-new high. This title is what she had worked at for the past fourteen months. It was no longer, “if I make this my career permanently,” it was, “this will be my career, permanently.”
LOVE AT FIRST PRACTICEMcGill advances to win World Female Featherweight Championship
The varsity football team has seemingly been able to dodge most serious injuries, but Jared Mitchell is out for the year with a broken arm. Drew Daniels and CJ Vann have been sidelined for a week (both suffering from concussions), and Tanner Ingle has a knee sprain that kept him out for around a week, according to head coach Richard Caldwell.
While Graham is disappointed about his situation, he does see a bright side to his suffered injury.
“I feel like the team has become more united through it.”
INJURIES, continued from page 16
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‘we want people to know who you are. We’re not going to take fifth place.’ He’s just determined to win.” she shrugs. “He’s a great coach.”
When approached with the pros-pect of being considered and voted informally the ‘meanest’ coach on campus, he gave a shocked expres-sion but laughed it off.
“I can be aggressive but I can also coach,” he says. “They’re able to accomplish a lot. By pushing them
it makes them a better volleyball player on the court. They see im-provement amongst each other, and they’re self-driven. By far the best I’ve ever had and I’ve been coaching a long time.”
Silva is at the beginning of his season and he’s being forced to make his only freshman player on the varsity team Kylie Stevens his number one setter to replace Van Dyke. “It’s the worst thing to happen
in the two years I’ve been coaching for Gregori, my number one setter going down at the tournament last weekend.” She came back to the court on September 28th.
“They’re a funny group of kids, very talented, they keep energy positive,” he said. Before he turns to observe his practice further he says, “The scary part about all of this is that they’re going to get better.”
VOLLEYBALL, continued from page 16
Text VOLLEYBALL to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite sports story
Text INJURIES to [email protected] to comment or vote as a favorite sports story
by Marissa R. Gonzalez/ JAGWIRE STAFF
I
SPORTS, page 13
CJ Vann SPORT: Football INJURY: Concussion "I got a concussion. I don't remember what happened."
Emilee Van Dyke SPORT: Volleyball INJURY: Sprained ankle "The girl came under the net and I landed on on her foot."
Drew DanielsSPORT: FootballINJURY: Concussion "It was a pitch and I was on the outside and I just --I don't know. I hit the ground weird and I had a concussion."
Karrie Le SPORT: Water Polo INJURY: Back pain"What really set the pain off was when #14 against Davis kept kicking me in the lower back."
Miranda CoombsSPORT: Cross CountryINJURY: Stress fracture "I just run too much."
Marisa HipkinsSPORT: VolleyballINJURY: Two broken fingers "I was blocking for vol-leyball and the ball hit at an angle and it chipped, fractured and broke my ring and pinky finger."
Tanner Ingle SPORT: Football INJURY: Strained ligament"I was out on the field and a guy came in from the side and hit my knee. I strained my knee and the ligament."
Josh PerezSPORT: SoccerINJURY: Back injury"I was running and I tweaked my back then I fell down which made the injury even worse."
sportsjag
SPORTS INJURIES
reshman Charlie Graham keeled over on the football field to vomit as the harsh summer sun beamed on his face. The middle linebacker didn’t feel well. Any average player would probably have sat out
that practice. But not Graham.The ever-persistent Graham, who by all accounts is a
team leader on and off the field, chose to practice despite a stomach ache.
His day would get worse.Less than an hour after vomiting during team condition-
ing, Graham was back to his usual fired-up self, making play after play during a scrimmage against the offense.
Then it happened.Graham, pursuing ball-carrier Kahliel Dillard, suddenly
felt his whole ankle collapse.Snap.Graham’s season was over. The freshman dislocated and
fractured his ankle, and broke two bones. It’ll take him 4 months to recover from such an injury.
On what first went through his mind after the injury: “Shock. I just couldn’t believe it was broken—I heard the snap and I couldn’t believe that my career was possibly over. I had adrenaline running through me at the time, so my first thought was to just walk it off. But when I looked down, and saw how bad it was, I mean I just couldn’t comprehend it at the time.”
Graham isn’t the only one at Gregori High to suffer an injury while partaking in sports.
Volleyball player Tricia Paulson suffered a gash on her head during a practice, and required stitches. While luckily
the injury wasn’t too serious, it definitely had the potential to be extremely harmful.
Emilee Van Dyke sprained her ankle at a volleyball tournament; she was out two weeks. Originally, however, the injury was thought to be much worse by those who were at the tournament.
Cross country runner Miranda Coombs is still healing from a stress fracture on her left shin that’s bothered her for a year.
Water Polo player Karrie Le has serious back issues. The pain becomes so intense during games and practices, she’s
practically in tears.“In two games, it’s gotten so bad that I’ve had to be taken
out,” she said. Le uses sports cream to combat the pain, but it isn’t
helping much. “I’d say every time I turn, I feel a sharp pain in my lower
back,” she continued. It’s unclear what exactly the injury is, but Le refuses to
see a doctor until water polo season is over. On the soccer team, Josh Perez has a back injury that will
keep him out of play for two weeks. Coach Ethan Duewell said that Perez’s injury didn’t occur during soccer, but was aggravated during a practice.
Graham's ankle injury among the most serious to dateby EZRA RUIZ / SPORTS EDITOR
6See INJURIES, Page 15
Volleyball coach pressures players toward success on the court and beyond
he steady chatter from the volleyball players faded at the sound of the volleyball bin being wheeled across the hard wood floor of the gym, the sure sign that varsity volleyball Coach Ron Silva had
arrived to practice.“Practice is scheduled to start at 3:15, but if he gets
here at 3 o’clock and you walk in the gym after him, you’re late,” said injured sophomore Emilee Van Dyke, sitting on a chair outside the court.
The varsity team continued stretching while Silva spoke to all of them about progress reports.
“When do the progress reports come out?” he asked the team, fol-lowed by shrugs, and silence. He nodded keeping his mellow tone, “I need grade checks, and your grades need to be up.”
“They’re a student first. Athlete second,” said Silva during a time out. “We try to teach to work hard. Snooze you lose.” He shrugged simply.
Silva has been coaching since 1988, including 3 years undefeated at Ripon Christian High School, before he took on the endeavor of Gregori High School. His hard work paid off last year by winning league, JV title, first in the Oakdale Tournament, third at the West High School Tournament, and fifth in the Golden Valley Tournament. Losing doesn’t seem to be an option for Silva; he disci-plines the players, and because of this other teams know Gregori as the team that ‘isn’t supposed’ to be superior, but prove otherwise with their amount of dedication, strength, and agility.
“I want to win league but our challenge this year is playoffs,” he said, “And, our biggest competition is probably Enochs, Beyer, and Modesto."
As practice resumes, Silva began to yell, “That’s sloppy!” also going out of his way to show the small things that are overall affecting their performance.
“Get down Waverly!” He bends his knees to crouch down low and his hands clasp out in front of him, showing the girls the way to enhance their technique of bumping the ball over the net.
“Move your feet!” He jumps up and flings his fingers up towards the sky to show the setter how to work with the overhand pass.
“Hold the angle!” He yells, and requires the girls to run laps, do sit-ups, or sprint suicides if anyone does something that isn’t acceptable, which is usually every practice. “Stop arching your back!”
“We’re not going to lose because we didn’t work hard at practice,” he said.
Van Dyke shook her head and smiled as she watched the practice from the sidelines. “He tells us all the time,
by LISA DAVIS / ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
I had adrenaline running through me at the time, so my first thought was to just walk it off. —Charlie Graham“ ”
F
T
RON SILVA
WATER POLO:"THIS ISN'T JANE'S GOODY TWO SHOES SCHOOL"
SPORTS, page 14
Stewart clears the coursefor his student golfers
NO PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS
6See VOLLEYBALL, Page 15