Page 2: Olympian supports schedule proposals VOLUME 61, ISSUE 6
FEBRUARY 9, 2018
Page 4: Club spreads mental health awareness
WE ARE BORN TO SEEK THE TRUTH!
Page 7: Multiple wins for girls soccer team WWW.CVHSOLYMPIAN.COM
Thousands march for women’s rights in Oakland By Rachel Stein Staff Writer
A year after the inauguration of Donald Trump, millions of people participated in protests across the country against his administration’s policies in the second Women’s March. At least 40,000 thousand turned up at Lake Merritt in Oakland. The event started with a rally where speakers shared poetry and political strategy, and encouraged women to run for office and get more people registered to vote. Among the marchers was CVHS junior Katelyn Lance. “I think the Women’s March is important because women are important. We’ve been placed on hold all these years and now we’re making our voices heard...There’s no representation in our current government, we need to step up for those more vulnerable in our society,” said Lance. “Our power doesn’t come from waiting for the powerful to give us access to power, we have to stand up and show
Hannah Johansson / Editor-In-Chief
Three women hold up signs and pose as Rosie the Riveter. that we have the power ourselves,” said CVHS English teacher Anne Parris. “I think if I expect Trump to do something I’m going to be sitting at home waiting a long time,
so that’s why I’m out here,” she said. Other Castro Valley residents were in attendance, including CVUSD Trustee Dot Theodore, who felt it was im-
portant to show up to sustain the momentum. “There was so much enthusiasm last year, and I knew there wasn’t going to be the same amount of enthusiasm this year, so I felt
it was important to personally continue my resistance in whatever way that I could,” she said. Theodore organized a Women’s March Oakland -Castro Valley Contingent on Facebook, which drew nearly 200 marchers, according to the Facebook event page. The crowd was lively but peaceful, carrying an array of creative signs with slogans such as “Don’t let the patriarchy grind you down,” “At the start of every disaster movie there’s a scientist being ignored,” “Real men fight for women’s rights,” and “This is what democracy looks like.” Other Bay Area cities, including San Francisco, San Jose, and Walnut Creek held marches. In Los Angeles, more than 500,000 attended. Events in New York City, Chicago, Denver, Austin, Indianapolis and many other cities easily brought the total to over one million marchers. Organizers stated they hoped the sustained resistance will lead to more positive changes and fewer setbacks for women’s rights.
Later school start? Admin proposes schedule changes By Emma Yin Staff Writer
Waking up early for a 7:05 a.m. zero period class is tough on students and staff here at CVHS, and a new, proposed scheduling change would allow students to get more sleep. The CVHS administration is debating the idea of starting school later to boost student performance and overall learning ability. “Research has shown that high schoolers’ brains start to function better at 9:00 10:00 a.m.,” said Assistant Principal Jesse Hansen. “We are trying to improve student performance and learning,” Hansen said. Starting next year, the school day could begin at 8:30 a.m. or later, pushing the end of the school day to around 4:00 p.m. For students taking
a zero period class, the school day would start at 7:30 a.m.. In an effort to further organize the school day, administration would accompany the later start time with a combined lunch period. This will result in students having combined lunch not only on block days, but during traditional days as well. These lunch periods would be longer than traditional schedule lunches, much like block schedule lunches are this year. A 40-minute lunch period would be accompanied by a ten-minute break, or a 35-minute lunch and 15-minute break. “Later start times would give students more time to sleep, but it would also mean a later end time, cutting into our homework time and extracurricular activities, and I do not like the idea of combined lunch periods because it gets
too crowded,” junior Sophia Chan said. Due to new portable classrooms being added in the outfields here on campus, passing periods will be extended to seven minutes to allow for a longer transit for students to get to class on time. Tuesdays and Wednesdays could be accompanied by a Response To Intervention (RTI) period. RTI periods will be used to help students with homework or classwork. These periods would last 35-45 minutes on block days, and attendance would be mandatory, whether students feel the need to seek help from teachers or not. This would not affect the length of the block day however, because to accommodate the long RTI period, each block period will be shortened 15 minutes or more. “Activities would include
Katelyn Wong / Staff Writer
CVHS administration proposes a later school schedule plan with additional changes. college application workshops, guided study halls, and other electives during the RTI period,” Hansen said. These activities would allow students who do not need teacher assistance to have a
place to spend their 35-45 minutes productively. The administration plans to send polls about the proposed changes to teaches, students and parents in the coming months.
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Suggested schedule changes supported by students Editorial: Starting next September, the school district may change the high school schedule. These changes include a later start time and consequental later release, longer passing periods, combined lunch, and a Response To Intervention (RTI), otherwise known as tutorial, period twice a week. We at The Olympian mostly like the proposals since a later start means students can sleep in more, which has been proven to help with focus and alertness in school. This could improve student performance in many areas, and students wouldn’t fall asleep in class as often. In addition, the study hall could help students with homework load, and tutorial periods could allow students to get extra help on subjects they might be struggling with, another factor that could improve student performance during school. Our school would also be on a more similar schedule to that of other schools. Later starting times would also mean that during the winter months, zero peiod students wouldn’t have to come to school while its dark out.
However, we are concerned about how the change of schedule would change things for extracurricular activities like sports and clubs. They would have to meet later and end later, meaning later nights of homework for many students. Student athletes would also miss more class time when they get excused early to go to events. In addition, many parents take their kids to school on their way to work. If the schedule changes, many students would have to find another way to get to school, if their parents are not able to take them at the new time. The schedule change would also include combined lunch, leading to a more crowded campus at lunch. Our staff is also concerned that the tutorial period could be unproductive and turn into a waste of time if students don’t take it seriously. We hope that this can be prevented by making meaningful tutorial activities so that students will take it seriously. Overall, we believe that the schedule change is a good idea because there would be many benefits to starting school later, and tutorial periods.
Olga Buzueva / Staff Writer
America must alleviate antagonism with North Korea
Trump should try more diplomacy By Thomas Vergara Staff Writer
Now more than ever, we hear of the escalating tensions in eastern Asia over the growing threats of nuclear proliferation by North Ko-
rea. The west’s view of the country has been limited to an authoritarian “hermit” nation run by a maniac willing to threaten nuclear war to stay in power. However, there are many things that have been neglected about the small east Asian nation. The West fears North Korean aggression while the people of North Korea are more afraid of the United States and their allies. During the Korean War in the early 1950s, the Korean peninsula was devastated, especially the North. One American bomber pilot said that there were no more North Korean targets to hit near the end of the war. More than a million Koreans were killed or injured and the memory of the destruction is still very fresh in the minds
of North Koreans, whereas the United States hasn’t been invaded since 1812 and any potential conflict will most likely not end up being fought on American soil. The United States doesn’t have North Korean troops and allies surrounding it, but North Korea has a joint American-Japanese fleet amassed in the Sea of Japan just east of them and 30,000 troops along the North-South Korean border. The North Korean people feel a lot more threatened by the opposition than Americans do, or should. When hostilities ended in 1953, no peace treaty was signed. Instead they forged an armistice agreement that ended the violence. This means that although the fighting has ended, the war technically hasn’t. The loom-
PHOTOpinions
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I like the first option because blocks would be 15 minutes shorter, but I don’t like that we get out at almost 4.
Dani Molkentin Freshman
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I like the third option because block would start at 9, and block is still shorter.
Nicole Schouten Sophomore
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ing threat of the outbreak of violence is a constant reality for Koreans. They feel that their only protection against reliving the war in the 50s is to become a nuclear power. With President Trump
“Those that will be
caught in the crossfire of nuclear missiles are more afraid than either of the leaders.
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tweeting things like "North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.' Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a nuclear but-
ton, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my button works!" the people of both countries feel threatened by the dangerous rhetoric of their leaders. Those that will be caught in the crossfire of nuclear missiles are more afraid than either of the leaders are because they will be the ones that are affected the most. Both governments are feeding off of the fear of their respective people to push their own imperialist agenda. Instead of imposing more sanctions and responding with further military action, we should urge our leaders to alleviate tensions by withdrawing American forces from areas that might escalate the chances of conflict and from there work on a diplomatic solution to the ongoing dilemma.
Which proposed schedule do you like the most? Shaelly Adams/ Staff Writer
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I like the first option because it doesn’t increase the day by that much. Blocks can then be relatively shorter.
Alexandro Olvera Junior
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“The shorter blocks “ are nice, but it won’t really impact me next year. Manny Garcia Senior
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I like that two options start at 8:30. Studies have researched that kids will improve.
Arthur Wahner Teacher
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The Olympian Feb. 9, 2018
Pruitt is polluting our planet
By Mia Babasyan Editor-in-Chief
The administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency has a role to lead the United States to healthy and beneficial regulations for human health and the environment. In early 2017, Scott Pruitt, former attorney general of Oklahoma, was appointed as administrator of the EPA by President Trump. Pruitt’s actions in the past year, however, have singlehandedly reversed the EPA’s role in our government. The head of the EPA is opposed
to its own core missions and is drastically rolling back pollution regulations, promoting fossil fuels and cutting down the EPA budget. Many critical regulations have been eliminated so far in the US, such as the monitoring of fracking, tracking methane emissions, data collection of emissions from oil and gas companies, pesticide control, and much more. The U.S. is the biggest carbon polluter in history and has been one of the largest contributors to climate change. And yet the Trump administration has gone backwards in reversing and preventing the damage. Enforcement actions have dropped more than 30 percent and many programs to improve the environment have been completely eliminated in the past year. Under the new administration, the agency’s budget will drop to $5.7 billion — its lowest level in 40 years, adjusted for inflation — from its current $8.2 billion, according to
The New York Times. Pruitt has also been victim of backlash from the U.S. public after using taxpayer dollars for flights to his hometown, and spending “$40,000 of taxpayer money to fly to Morocco to promote fossil fuels,¨
activism’s growing link to social media, a digital area our generation navigates best, in combination with our coming of age in the most tumultuous political climate since Nixon, an inclination towards outspoken protest makes sense. But after seeing the range in ages at the Women’s March, I’ve realized my generation is not more activist-y than any other, and this stereotype of Generation-Z as uber-activists is not only wrong, it is harmful. Founders of the Black Lives Matter movement Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, Chinese political activist Ai Weiwei, and Me Too leaders Tarana Burke and Alyssa Milano, whose activism is directly linked to social media, were all born before 1985. As Generation-Z becomes
to see and buy might stimulate some normalization of the word “feminist,” companies selling the shirts otherwise do nothing to support feminist causes. The corporations ultimately exploit the hard and painful work of a centuries-long movement to sell merchandise. In Pepsi’s short-lived ad, Kendall Jenner miraculously mends police brutality by handing an officer a Pepsi to the soundtrack of “We are the movement, this generation.” Pepsi revoked the ad after backlash from the Black Lives Matter movement and from people like Bernice King, Martin Luther King’s youngest daughter. King took to social media with photos of her father’s interactions with police, and an accompanying Tweet: “If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi.” While Pepsi immediately apologized and pulled the ad, it is inevitable that corporations will continue attempting to entice Generation-Z under the guise of supporting civil rights. After all, we are the first generation to grow up with an African American president and legalized gay marriage. However, these changes were brought about by older activists, not activists from our generation. Associating activism with young people, who are often thought to be ill-informed and lacking critical-thinking skills, trivializes social movements by labeling activism as “trendy.” What I saw at the Women’s March in Oakland was the result of many generations’ hard work; it was anything but trendy.
Activism is not “trendy”
By Hannah Johansson Editor-in-Chief
I dove into a crowd of dancing protesters at the 2018 Oakland Women’s March to snap photos of the ringleader: an elderly woman leading dozens of protesters of all ages through emphatically joyful dance moves, barely in time to the pop songs she blasted from a large speaker. When Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” came on, I put the camera away to join the dancers. It wasn’t the optimism and unity of the dancers that surprised me, but the range of ages. I had expected the Women’s March to be, for the most part, millenials and post-millenials. While I shouted “All my brothers, sisters, and me” with a middle-age woman in leg warmers, and tried not to step on the baby boomer behind me, I wondered why I thought older generations wouldn’t show. According to writers from The Huffington Post and Washington Post, my generation, people born from the late 90s to around 2015 (Generation-Z or Post-Millennial) are especially inclined towards activism. Considering
“I’ve realized my
generation is not more activst-y than any other. ” old enough to shop without parents, corporations have jumped on the activist “trend.” It’s now common for stores like Forever 21 or H&M to carry T-shirts proclaiming the wearer a “Feminist” in big block letters. Ironically, the shirts were most likely made by women in developing countries who are paid next to nothing. While displaying these shirts in stores for the public
Golden globes: monumental history
By Amina Moummad
according to The Daily Beast. Although the U.S. is taking steps to reverse progress, the main concern regarding environmental protection is Pruitt. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that he is not only demonstrating corruption and greed, but is also destroying his very own agency.
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Staff Writer This year’s 2018 Golden Globes Awards was full of Hollywood glamour as usual, but this time it had a political message. The night started off with the red carpet appearance. Many actors and actresses came to the awards show wearing black to make statement against sexual harassment in the industry and to support the #MeToo movement. TV host Seth Meyers opened the show with his monologue that threw punches at Hollywood's sexual misconduct and gender inequalities. “Marijuana is finally allowed, and sexual harassment finally isn’t,” he joked. I liked how he used humor to make a statement on a big platform; it didn't kill the mood for the show. He didn't ignore the issue. He also later joked about Oprah Winfrey running for president, which trended online. Many actors and actresses asked about the #MeToo movement and #Timesup on the carpet answered in support of the movements. They used the question as an op-
portunity to condemn what's going on in the industry. However, I think if they truly wanted to make a statement or boycott the industry, they should not have attended the awards show. That's the biggest statement they could have made as artists to stand up for the people and against the industry. Throughout the night many actors and actresses won awards and the big movie “Coco” won best motion picture. Sterling K. Brown made history by being the first black actor to win to best actor in a television drama series. This is a great accomplishment and I hope more history is made. The biggest award and
“Marijuana is fi-
nally allowed, and sexual harassment finally isn’t. Seth Meyers TV Host
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speech went to Winfrey. She received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. Her speech focused on the #MeToo movement and women’s empowerment. It was motivational to hear her speak on a topic so heavy and with so much power. Winfrey is definitely an inspiration to me and her speech was just as inspirational. All in all, the Golden Globes was a good show with many good awards, many inspirational speeches given out, and with an important message said.
The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2018
Editors-in-Chief..................................................................Mia Babasyan Hannah Johansson News Editor..............................................................Stella Ho Opinion Editor............................................................Emily Salazar Feature Editor.....................................................Wailea Siler Sports Editor................................................................Pau Gutierrez Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Da Di Photo Editor........................................................Beruk Tsegaye Video Editor........................................................Mara Moysen Business Manager........................................Audrey Manzano Online Editor..............................................Ria Panjwani Staff Writers: Shaelly Adams, Sam Ahm, Milagros Aquinos, Olga Buzueva, Gianna Ellis, Layne Johnson, Bilal Messaoudi, Hayate Moro, Amina Moummad, Derek Neyer, Nathanial Ortiz, Jenny Pham, Young So, Rachel Stein, Thomas Vergara, Andrew Watanabe, Katelyn Wong, Emma Yin Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson
4 Team Zhang Jike triumphs in table tennis tournament
Survivors Club supplies students with support By Shaelly Adams Staff Writer
Nathanial Ortiz / Staff Writer
Yang-Jie Qin and Jimmy Huang pose with their freshly awarded medals. By Nathanial Ortiz Staff Writer
A tiny ball whizzes past the audience. Someone hits the ball so hard it ends up on the other side of the room before the audience can process the motion. The annual table tennis tournament was held at CVHS the week of Dec. 11 to Dec. 15. Team Zhang Jike won the tournament. The team consisted of players junior Yang-Jie Qin and sophomore Jimmy Huang. Players played in teams of two, for five rounds of games. Teams had won two matches, by scoring 21 points in each, to win their games. Each team that won advanced to the next round. Casual players lost quickly to the more seasoned teams. The teams began competing at the beginning of the week, and were eliminated until the best teams were left for the final game on Friday. Both of the final teams played well, but there was
an obvious winner from the beginning of the game. “We were confident in our skills,” said Qin. This was Qin’s second time winning the CVHS table tennis tournament; he also won in 2015. The two players skills’ came from a long history of training in the sport. “I started when I was really young. I played on the dining room table with my parents,” Qin stated. “I have been playing for four years,” Huang said. “A point of focus is our serves. Serves are the one thing our opponents can’t alter,” said Qin. Qin and Huang demonstrated mastery in their table tennis skills by being able to utilize strong serves to finish matches not long after they started. However more the tournament was more than an opportunity to show off their skills. The players were grateful for the chance to show off their passion and dedication to the sport.
Every day, tons of CVHS students struggle with depression, stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or thoughts of suicide. The new club on campus called the Survivors Club promotes mental health awareness and education within our school. Survivors Club meets every Tuesday at lunch in room 707. The club also provides an open space for students to discuss topics on different issues. They sit in a circle and give everyone a chance to let out any emotions. “I started this for people in need of a safe place. I’ve shared my personal story to get others to open up as well. We sit in a circle and use a restorative justice technique to help others,” said club president Isabella Bzowski. “It is a really great opportunity for students to be able to get stuff out that they are sitting with. Students are able to share experiences of what they are going through here at CVHS on campus and personal lives outside of school. They have a variety of topics ranging from relationships with parents, friends, significant others, challenges of being a teen, and other topics that teens are facing,” club advisor Erika Ikemoto expressed. Though the club isn’t an official support group or a set prevention team, it is important to have like minded students come out and use their voices.
Shaelly Adams / Staff Writer
Survivors Club meets on weekly basis during lunch.
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who show up are able to be supportive with one another and connect in a way that allows for real conversations. If certain students do not want to share personal experiences they are still welcome into this safe environment to ISABELLA BZOWSKI help provide validation and Club President support from one another,” Ikemoto said. However, not all members Overall the new club gives are required to speak out. CVHS teens a platform to They are allowed to sit in and share their voices and raise listen for support. awareness on mental health. “The group of students
I started this for people in need of a safe space.
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Special Ed Prom promotes positivity Amaze and Leadership host a dance for Special Ed By Sam Ahn Staff Writer
The Special Ed Prom held annually in the spring is meaningful in that it not only allows students who normally can’t attend dances a chance to do so, but it brings together different
communities. This event is made possible through the hard work and planning of the Leadership class and the members of Amaze Club. The club meets every Wednesday at lunch in room 401 and works hard to help and befriend the special ed students by spending lunch together, engaging in conversations, and playing games. Students who are not part of a special ed class nor Amaze Club can also attend this event by volunteering to become an escort or a dance partner of one of the special
ed students at the dance. Parents are also involved with planning, as they often provide fundings for food, equipment, and insight. “I think these kinds of events are a wonderful opportunity as they allow students who don’t normally get to attend these kinds of exciting events a chance to do so,” said Julie Argyle, a special ed teacher. The dance will take place sometime in May, but the exact date is still being planned. It would not be possible if not for the hard work of all who contribute.
5 Fortnite Battle Royale: a new evolution of the survival sandbox game By Young So Staff Writer
A game has taken over the world by storm, in reality and a virtual world within months. “Fortnite” is a game created by the company Epic Games whose game engine have been used to create games such as “Paragon,” “Ark,” and “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.” The game “Fortnite Battle Royale” was officially released with one free mode on July 25, 2017. During its time as a free game mode, it started to dominate the battle royal, a “Hunger Games” like situation where 100 players fight against
each other until one remains. The gaming community began hopping on the bandwagon
Valentine’s Day dating destinations
By Amina Moummad Staff Writer
Valentine's Day is coming up and couples are looking for a good place to take that special someone, but still within their budget. Chabot Cinema in town is good place to go, with cheap movie tickets and good food that won't break the bank. Before 6 p.m., tickets are $6 and anything after that is $8.50. It's a small theater with only one movie room, so no arguing over which movie to watch. If you and your date want a
bite to eat after, Nation’s Giant Hamburgers is right up the street. It serves delicious food from breakfast to dinner, and is open until 1 a.m.. The menu has a few different burgers, hot dogs, shakes, and full hearty breakfasts. You can't forget about the great American pies! In the Castro Village there is Castro Village Bowl. It's a fun place that has a cool atmosphere. Also, there is a snack bar with good food. This place is also fun with a group of friends or family. So go have a good time with someone special right here in town.
True love at Twin Peaks? By Gianna Ellis Staff Writer
Twenty minutes from downtown San Francisco holds a great view of the beautiful city. If you and your significant other are lost on how to celebrate Valentine's Day, you should take a trip down to Twin Peaks. Venture out early in the morning to go up the 922 feet and witness a sunrise like no other. If you and your partner happen to be night owls, do not hesitate to set out on a late night adventure to marvel at the city lights. Twin Peaks is a particularly safe destination and is
constantly filled with many new and old visitors. Admission is free. ¨We spent the night in the city last Valentine’s Day and after we ate we drove up to Twin peaks and got to see all of San Francisco. It was very beautiful and romantic,” said a local couple from the Bay Area. There are many restaurants and coffee shops near Twin Peaks including the locally famous Philz Coffee. The cute and quaint coffee shop resides only a half mile away. So bundle up, grab some coffee and get cozy next to your valentine while overlooking the city by the bay.
and sharing the game. This game can be played on PC, PS4, and XBOX, but those on different devices cannot play together. There is also another game mode called Save the World. As a new game, it has a few bugs and glitches which may not allow for the perfect gaming experience, but the bountiful features and the cartoon-like art style makes
up for it well. The game also features a cooperative Battle Royale mode in which you can team up with one to three other players and fight against 100 people together. “Fortnite” is also a relatively simple game to play and does not require much experience from other games. The map is large and features many different locations from skyscrapers to farms.
Furthermore, there is a large variety of weapons to choose from as well. The Save the World mode is currently $40 to obtain early access. However, it has been announced that the mode would become free later in 2018. Save the World has zombie-like creatures that overrun your world. The maps you play in are also randomly generated as to provide you a different experience every time. This game mode also allows you to earn an in-game currency called V-bucks which usually costs actual money to purchase. V-bucks also allow you to purchase from a large selection of characters and weapons. Overall, as a fairly new game, “Fortnite” is pretty good. As “Fortnite” doesn’t force you to purchase anything, most people can play it. Many people play with friends and stream the game, which helps increase its already large audience. I believe that the game can only get better from here.
6 Girls basketball team breaks winning streak By Ria Panjwani Online Editor
Full sections of bleachers cheered in the small and loud Bishop O’Dowd gym as the Trojans attempt to slay their rivals. The CVHS girls varsity basketball team suffered a loss against Bishop O’Dowd on Jan. 20, with the final score at 66-52. However, the score doesn’t reflect the ambience and competition on the court, as the game was a close and highly contested match. “The kids played hard. But we didn’t make the most of our opportunities. We missed around 17 free throws,” said coach Jim Lemmon, who is in his 11th season as the Head Coach. The game began and the two teams were constantly neck and neck, continuously fighting for possessions and scoring on a lot of them. The first noticeable feature on the O’Dowd team was their relentless
defense and their speed in individual players as well as handling of the ball. However the Trojans’ well organized offensive attack and skill led the teams to a 27-22 halftime score with O’Dowd leading. The game resumed as intense as it left off with the Trojans’ Bailey Jones scoring within the first 20 seconds of the quarter. However the third quarter proved to be the most devastating for CVHS as the team trailed O’Dowd 47-31. Nevertheless, CVHS kept fighting in the fourth quarter, beginning a 5-0 run in the first five minutes. The final score was 66-52. “I definitely think we can improve on chemistry within the team and we can go in sooner to help our teammates” said junior Sydney Burnama, who has been a varsity player for two years. Overall the season has gone remarkably well, as the team was undefeated before this (winning 15 games). The Trojans are also
Bailey Jones makes her way to the hoop. ranked within the top 15 in the state, and will get another shot against Bishop O’Dowd to determine their first or second place ranking within league.
“The environment is so hard to play in and we just kind of lost it.... We play them again at our place so we’re willing to bring it then,” said Burnama.
Ria Panjwani / Online Editor
Their rematch against the Dragons is at CVHS on Feb. 9. Be sure to come out to support the girls basketball team!
Stambaugh continues her soccer career By Stella Ho News Editor
Stella Ho / News Editor
Kalei Stambaugh takes a shot on goal during practice.
Sophomore Kalei Stambaugh has been a hard working soccer player for the JV girls soccer team for the past two years. She currently plays center midfielder and has been involved with soccer for nine years. Stambaugh comes from a family of athletes and has been playing since she was very young. “I first got into playing soccer through my dad. He played growing up so he also introduced the sport to my brother and I,” Stambaugh said. Besides her love for soccer,
she also cites that her favorite part about being on the team is the incredible bond she forms with her fellow teammates. The friendships have made up a lot of her most meaningful experiences, and she enjoys observing and taking part in her teammates’ accomplishments as well. “The most memorable moment from this year was probably when my teammate Lexy completely megged an opponent who just suddenly stopped in her tracks,” said Stambaugh, describing a play in which a player steals the ball. Stambaugh’s teammates have
praised her work ethic and dedication to the team. “Kalei always has a great attitude, and she sets aside all of her issues in her personal life to be engaged with us and the game whenever we’re playing,” said teammate Kia Lunt. Soccer takes up much of Stambaugh’s life through practices, games, and training, so she doesn’t have time to play any other sports. However, she also enjoys skiing in the winter occasionally. Stambaugh does not have any concrete plans for the future, but she hopes to attend a college down in Southern California.
Maes wrestles his way to the top
By Bilal Messaoudi Staff Writer
When RJ Maes first met wrestling at age 6, he hated it. When he picked it back up again in third grade, he loved it and hasn’t stopped wrestling since. Being a dedicated athlete, he practices daily after school for about one and a half hours to two hours, rain or shine. When asked about the most memorable moment of his wrestling career, he described an important match from NCS
last year. He wrestled a tough opponent who was a lot stronger than him and had beat him previously. The match ended up going to into overtime and he was able to scramble out with a win. “ It was definitely a crazy match,” he said. Maes has been having a stellar season so far, with placement in three major competitions. He managed to take third place at Granada Mat Classic and second place at Bankson Invitational Tournament, both fairly large tournaments in the area. His
best performance was on his home turf where he took first place at the Bay Area Invitational in Castro Valley. Maes knows that in order to reach your goals, you first have to set them. His goal for this season is to make it to the state championships, which requires you to place in the top three overall in NCS. Although he has not fully decided on what he wants to do after high school concerning wrestling, he has his goal set on going to state and placing, either this year or next season.
RJ Maes poses with his father Ron Maes after a match.
THE OLYMPIAN
Feb, 9, 2018
7
Trojans add two wins to their record
Soccer squad rallies past Monarchs
Team edges Dragons By Layne Johnson Staff Writer
By Wailea Siler Feature Editor
The entire girls varsity soccer team shuffles amidst unzipped backpacks and water bottles as they huddle together. No, they aren’t lined up to recite a cheer or run through a plan; some even wave their phones in anticipation, ready to film. Proud, toothy smiles are spread wide across their faces as they watch their teammate Myla Ogle respond to a question for an interview. “I feel like we all really put in a big effort and we were really intense the whole time. We gave it our all and we had the outcome that we wanted,” said Ogle, a sophomore. A few endearing expressions are exchanged as the sweet moment comes to a close. This adoring and familial-like bond certainly translated onto the field when the team played against the Mt. Eden Monarchs on Jan. 12. The Trojans won with a score of 6-0, with four goals scored in the first half and two in the second. Although the game was won by a wide margin,
Myla Ogle runs with the ball before scoring a goal. the second half wasn’t short of the excitement. Audrey Vance stepped in to defend the goal as the Monarchs swarmed around, knocking the keeper off balance. Although a shot was made, Vance managed to block the ball from entering
CVHS perseveres during game against Arroyo Trojans tie tight game in final seconds By Beruk Tsegaye Photo Editor
The boys went head to head with Arroyo High on Jan. 10 at CVHS. Tensions and frustration among the players and the coaches arose as Arroyo made the first goal of the game immediately once the game started. The Trojans boys were persistent in making a goal as the tension and excitement began to rise, and junior Hayate Moro, who plays left or right back, goes for a last minute victory. Players stood eagerly waiting for the shot and players on the field made sure Moro had all of the support he needed. Moro made the goal, ending the game with tie of 1-1. The boys went head to head with Arroyo High on Jan 10 at CVHS. Tensions and frustration among the players and the coaches arose as Arroyo made the first goal of the game immediately once the game started. The boys were on full focus as they battled the field trying to get a goal with each shot missed or getting the ball stolen from them, and still they
had constant effort to get back up on the field. Not only showing their clear dedication to the game but as well as great communication between the players showed the meaning of Trojan work ethics. Atribution goes at the end one of teams Captain Miles Sowunmi Ogle adds, “As a team we worked really hard 95% of the game. Our perseverance came through because at the very end of the game we pulled off a goal and tied. Ultimately, we showed that we didn’t give up.” Although the team tried to make a goal Arroyo had a tactic of wasting time to which it looked as if the plan was working as the time slowly came to an end. But once the second half of the game started the Trojans boys began to not only encourage one another on and off the field they also came back with the determination to make a goal. “I felt like we kept our heads in it, we didn’t crack under the imminent fact that we were down 1-0, and we kept fighting till the end,” said grade Gaspar Gomez who plays either defender or left or right back. It’s clear to see that Trojans very own soccer players are not only determined to fight but their persistence to work and encourage each other on the field showed in the game and overall team performance.
the goal. Another notable play included junior Terra Finnegan-Canepa heading the ball into the goal after the team took a free kick. Players Elena Garcia, Kylie Rojas, and Ogle also scored goals.
Wailea Siler / Feature Editor
The chemistry of this team is clear from the get go. These girls continuously encourage and support each other, both on and off the field. It’s also present in their previous streak of victories, which they hope to maintain in future games.
In the pouring rain and 50 degree weather, the girls varsity soccer team beat Bishop O’Dowd on Jan. 24, 2-1. The night was full of excitement and joy. “Our goals were to play together as a team and not as individuals and another goal was to stay focused throughout the whole game,” said junior Daniela Vallejo. The first goal was scored by sophomore Myla Ogle. The second was scored by senior Alyssa Vigallon. “Since I’m a sophomore and it’s my second year playing them, I feel like this year we really just put everything into it and we worked the ball around them. We really put 100 percent into it,” said Ogle. Another aspect to this unforgettable game was the weather. “Oh, my God, it was so cold. I thought I was going to get hypothermia. We couldn't really see, but as a team we had to push through it,” said Amaya Tomlinson, senior, when asked about playing in the freezing rain.
THE OLYMPIAN
Feb. 9, 2018
8
Wretched winter weather worries worthy Winter Guard By Olga Buzueva Staff Writer
The CVHS Winter Guard has been consistently ranking high in competitions, even among groups with far more training and experience. The Winter Guard consists of a flag, saber, and rifle line, and the team members have set high expectations for themselves, hoping to continue to score higher. However, unfortunate training conditions have proven to be a roadblock in their progress. The team does not have access to a gym or any other training facility, which forces participants to practice in the quad or on the baseball field. With those already undesirable setbacks, participants believe winter cold and rain
contribute to injuries. “Many of the injuries have made it hard for members to be ready to perform,” stated Marissa Salvato, the Winter Guard captain. “Many of our members have dance work that involves rolling and being on the ground. They have many bruises all over their knees and legs and it makes them unable to reach their full potential.” Even on rainy days, when the cafeteria doors are opened to them, the team has trouble with practicing indoors, as the building is now far too small to support their growing numbers and complicated choreography. Huijun Huang, another Winter Guard member, expressed a desire for better communication. “I personally think that the school should
have a system for gym use to simply notify us the availability of the facilities. It would be wonderful for us to use the gym when it is not being used by other sports,” she said. In response, the school is doing everything it can to help, but the recent construction prevents many other activities from taking place, and the school lacks the facilities to provide indoor space. The basketball teams end up taking priority in the gyms because those are the only places with nets. “We empathize with the guard, and wish we had a facility to support everyone who wanted to practice every day,” stated Activities Director Michael Kentris. “With all the construction going on, it is impacting every group on this campus. It is displacing
Olga Buzueva / Staff Writer
CVHS Winter Guard members wave their flags and practice out on the quad. all different types of groups.” The CVHS Winter Guard has earned an honorable name in the sport, able to keep pace with the veteran teams in just its second year.
Participants continue to hope that they will get access to indoor practice space that would allow them to excel to even greater heights.
Junior Prom brings excitement amidst no-sale lists By Jenny Pham Staff Writer
Unserved detentions are landing juniors on the nosale list for the best night of the year for the class of 2019: Junior Prom. Bright, neoncolored slips have been arriving in classes more often lately to remind students of their
unserved detentions and their inability to purchase tickets to the dance if they continue to ignore them. CVHS assigns detentions to students with two or more tardies a week. Failure to serve the detention lands the students on the “no-go” list for Junior Prom which takes
place on Feb. 17 at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. Ticket sales began the week right after finals for $75, increasing $5 each week. The beginning of ticket sales crept up on juniors immediately after finals week and may be stressful for students who feel pressured to find
time to serve their detentions within a week for the cheapest admission price. If students feel that clearing their detentions is too much of a burden, then the question arises of whether this restriction impacts ticket sales. “We have never had a correlation between the no sale list
and low ticket sales so I do not think it has an effect on ticket sales,” commented Activities Director Michael Kentris. “This restriction was set to implement the tardy policy and ensure rules are followed; it doesn’t affect our ticket sales too much!” junior president Nicolette Paredes said.
Graphic design course moved online By Milagros Aquino Staff Writer
The graphic design class was reportedly about to be cancelled, but is now going to be an online class with a supervisor. The school sent out an email on Jan. 12 stating the unfortunate situation in which the previous teacher, Berry Evans, did not have the complete credentials to teach the class. Administrators are still on the search to find a new teacher that could take over the class. However the current solution is to have the class be online through the A-G Edgenuity Program with a supervisor, instead of dropping the class completely. “I think it’s a pretty good decision and a good solution; it allows seniors who need credits to graduate to keep the class open,” said substitute teacher Michael Langella. An email sent out Jan. 17 answered many frequently asked questions. It stated that students will be able to recieve credit for the semester and earn vocational credit.
“We are making the best of an unfortunate circumstance and I think it’s going to work out. I’m hopeful it’s going to work out for everybody’s benefit. There would be no benefit to collapsing the class,” said photography teacher Jeff Vendsel. The school is having trouble finding a teacher due to the required career technical education credential. Normally one would take those classes over the summer to be able to teach, meaning all possible teachers that are most likely fully credentialed already have a job somewhere else. “I enjoyed graphic design and after being informed the class might shut down I panicked a little bit because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. When I was informed that it was going to be an online class it upset me because this was a class that genuinely interested me, but I’m hopeful things will go well in the future,” said junior Angel Lee. Not all students are happy knowing the class could be online. However everyone is happy that graphic design class is not ending.