Wildcat
CIF
issue vol. 88
02
november 2018 brea olinda high school
THEY’RE BACK! Football advances to CIF Championship for the first time since 2015 p.16
From the Wildcat Staff
The WILD Life ildcats, let’s take a moment to reflect on a first quarter that demonstrated what being a member of this Brea Olinda High School community is all about. In sports, we watched boys’ cross country advance to the CIF State Championships and girls’ cross country placed 8th in CIF-SS Finals, with junior Mia Douge moving on to the State Championships in Fresno on Nov. 24. We spent Friday nights cheering on varsity football as they advanced to their thirdever section championship game. (Results of the state meet and the
the bohs
section championship game were not available at presstime.) Varsity cheer took first place at the 2018 UCA Southern California Championships, and are advancing to the National High School Cheerleading Competition in Florida. Lauren Yoo of girls’ varsity golf advanced to CIF Individuals, and girls’ varsity volleyball made it to the first round of CIF-SS Division III playoffs. And on Nov. 14, National Letters of Intent were signed by water polo players Rachel Spadt (UCLA) and Meghan Lopez (CSU Northridge); Ladycats Stephanie Lee (Biola) and Casey Fust (Hope International); swimmers Liza Parahnevich (Biola), Leah Johnson (Dartmouth), and Annika Johnson (Claremont Mudd Scripps); and softball player Nicole Stark (Cal Baptist). First quarter highlights in the Arts: We experienced plot twist after plot twist in Play Production’s performance of “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night.” Marching Band qualified for the California State Band Championships Finals, while Chamber Singers held a successful performance at the Fullerton College
Amy’s Societal Struggles by Madeline Allen
2
STAFF EDITORIAL
November 2018
Choral Festival. Choir produced three sold-out shows of the annual Fall Magic event. Graphics teacher Franco Ciccarello produced playing card-themed t-shirts for the BOHS staff to wear on Halloween. Academically, BOUSD administered the PSAT to every single freshman, sophomore, and junior on campus for free, creating College and Career Readiness miniconferences for seniors to prepare for life after high school. Physics teacher Kurtis Chan led his annual physics bridge-building activity, leading to impressive demonstration of weightbearing wood, while World History teacher Bryson Burns recreated the French Revolution for an exciting and immersive in-class activity. Wildcats listened to guest speaker Keith Hawkins during Red Ribbon Week as he gave a motivational speech on overcoming life struggles. Wildcats raised almost 470 dollars during the annual Coin Drive, donating 100% of all profits to in-need families throughout the city of Brea. In addition, BOHS proudly recognized the new National Honors Society inductees and four different National Merit Semi-finalists (page 3). It’s been a busy first quarter for Wildcats, and it’s necessary to take a step back from it all and look at the successes we’ve had during the first nine weeks of school. We may choose to measure our worth as a school in CIF qualifications and academic scores, but at the end of the day, it’s being a member of this Brea Olinda High School community that matters the most. We are all Wildcats, and despite our differences as individuals, we’re all in this high school experience together. So, take the time to greet your classmates as you enter next period, and provide words of support to those anxiety-ridden seniors juggling college applications, essays, academics, sports, and extracurriculars. We’re a quarter of the way through the year, and we hope that the rest of your semester continues to be as “WILD!” as ever.
WILDCAT Issue 02 VOL. 88
since 1930
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicole You PHOTO EDITORS Daniel Cho Angela Lee Indigo Lopez NEWS EDITOR Choyun Lee OPINION EDITOR Kenneth Kim ILLUSTRATORS Madeline Allen Justin Lee STAFF WRITERS Gunnar Cierley Indigo Lopez ADVISOR Alex Koers The Wildcat is published by the students of Brea Olinda High School’s Newspaper class. The purpose of the publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as highlight campus life and student achievement. Opinions stated in the Wildcat do not necessarily belong to Brea Olinda High School administration, faculty, and students. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the staff.
cover photo by DANIEL CHO
Write to us! The Wildcat represents the voice of free speech at Brea Olinda High School, valuing discussion, discourse, and opinions from all walks of life. Send in questions, comments, concerns, feedback, and story ideas to become a part of the next issue. Email us at: bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com Please include your full name in your correspondence.
The Wildcat
Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821 bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com
FAST AND FURIOUS: Jared Buys, junior, participates in a tricycle race as part of Homecoming Spirit Week. photo by ANGELA LEE
November 2018
NEWS
3
Pointers from National Merit Semifinalists BOHS’s National Merit Semifinalists provide tips for study success.
Kenneth Kim
“A lot of [my study habit] revolves around phone management and schedule making. Also, I take hour long naps when I get home [from school].”
Kate Hsieh
“Having a study buddy helps, but I think the REAL trick is to have a lot of snack breaks and naps! Also I reward myself with a dessert to keep myself motivated.”
Jacob Linder
“Read a lot of books, preferrably nonfiction. It helps with vocabulary.”
Matthew Yu
“I take breaks often, about every 30 minutes or so.”
4
NEWS
November 2018
2018 MIDTERM DIVIDES CONGRESS
The Nov. 6 midterm elections resulted in the House returning to the Dems; the Senate remaining under the GOP; and an OC Blue Wave by CHOYUN LEE illustration by JUSTIN LEE
America’s heated fight for Congress, and its ultimate split between the Democrats and the Republicans, has led the nation into another battle for legislative advantage. The 2018 midterm elections held a race between the Democrats and the Republicans that were “a marker for the direction of America — and whether Trumpism had fully taken root,” according to vox. com. Trump’s controversial policies had dropped his approval ratings to 40% nationwide before the elections, correctly “predicting that the president’s party will lose seats in midterm elections” and beginning a tight race for Congress, according to cookpolitical.com. With 35 seats in the Senate and 435 seats in the House of Representatives in the air, voters had the opportunity to determine healthcare, tax plans, and immigration policies. The midterms divided Congress between the Democrats and the GOP. Democrats took control of the House with a 232-to-198 majority. Meanwhile, the Senate remained under the Republican party’s control with a 51-to-47 majority. The two groups will be forced to battle to pass bills favorable for their party until the 2020 elections. California’s in-state elections mirrored the tight race for Congress. The 53 designated Congressional Districts in California held several key races for the Democrat and Republican parties needed to take control of the House of Representatives. The most competitive races included the 39th district, which comprises most of Orange County. OC is traditionally Republican -- to this day, registered Republican voters outnumber Democrats, which had a surge in registration in recent
years due to the midterm elections “being a referendum on Trump” and his controversial statements that “entice younger voters, suburban moderates and minorities,” according to bbc.com. Still, Republican voters outnumbered Democrats by 4% for this election. The race in OC had been close since Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, won the 39th district in 2016 by 5% against Donald Trump for the first time since the 1930’s. The district contains the most diverse population compared to others with key races “with a population that’s 28.5% Asian, 31.6% Hispanic, and 34.1% white” which the former two can especially influence the voter turnout, according to qz.com. The key race for the 39th district in Orange County between Young Kim, Republican, and Gil Cisneros, Democrat, resulted in a victory for Cisneros by a margin of 1.6%. With his victory, the Republican reign within the OC ended with a historic sweep by the Democrats. The seven districts comprising the county, including the 38th, 39th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th districts, have been completely Republican since the 1930’s. (Cisneros, a former navy veteran, plans to increase access to healthcare, raise the minimum wage, protect LGBTQ+ and animal rights, and pass gun reform policies as the new Congressman.) The blue wave in the OC has marked the end of the Grand Old Party (GOP) in California, many Republican Assembly leaders, including Kristin Olsen, has stated.
Trump’s presidency has lowered the popularity of the Republican Party more than ever before. Not all believe Trump is the main source for the GOP’s downfall in California, however. Former state GOP chair Shawn Steel, a member of the Republican National Committee, stated that the Democrat’s “dark money” from big organizations and industries in Silicon Valley that influenced Democratic voter turnouts. The House of Representatives now has subpoena power to investigate the many scandals plaguing the Trump administration, from Russia’s involvement in the 2016 elections to sexual allegations against the current president. Control of the House will allow Democrats to subdue Trump’s policies from being passed easily, but the Senate’s favor for Trump will most likely result in a long-term stalemate; the split Congress will fight to prevent major changes from either end. The Republican Senate may have raised the likelihood for Trump’s reelection in 2020 “thanks to Republicans picking up more seats in the Senate,” according to newsweek.com. Ultimately, the Democratic wave of the 2018 midterms were met with equal amounts of resistance. Trump’s low approval rating along with the split Congress contradict the race being a “Big Victory” for his party, as he commented on a Tweet. The close turnout of the 2018 midterms spells out a potential for the Democrats to secure the White House in the 2020 elections, but nothing is clear.
SPEECH AND DEBATE ATTENDS FIRST TOURNAMENT by CHOYUN LEE
Speech and Debate students attended the Orange County Speech League’s (OCSL) annual 2018 Novice Tournament on Oct. 20. Hosted by California State University Fullerton (CSUF), the competition included students with under two years of experience in high school debates. Varsity members were eligible to judge the novice participants. The tournament was split into two events: speeches and debates. Debates were done by teams of two that speak for or against a given prompt with a time limit. Speech tournaments were held with solo speakers speaking for five minutes on a given prompt. While BOHS did not place in this competition, the team’s goal was to gain experience for future competitions. “I thought they did a great job,” Amanda Louis, Speech and Debate
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teacher, said of her students. “We spent a lot of weeks preparing This event was probably the best experience to improve for the future.” To prepare for the tournament, the underclassmen were coached on Public Forum, a type of debate that focuses on two teams arguing with two arguments on a given topic. Tooba Amin, sophomore, elaborated on what she learned in the tournament and the class. “It is a good start considering that it was our first year, so we got some good experience,” she said. “For any tournament, you can always research more. But confidence is important. You have to be saying it in such a way that it seems like you’re an expert on the topic despite not knowing what it’s about.” Vivien Coop, varsity member and judge, remarked on her enthusiasm for the competition. “It’s really
courtesy of AMANDA LOUIS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE: (left to right) Speech and Debate students Avery Plummer and Tooba Amin, sophomores, Sebastien Guevara, Lauren Ortega, Allison Jackson, Andrea Vizzuett, Vivien Coop, Daniel Seo, seniors, and Richard and William Kim, sophomores, pose for a photo at CSUF.
exciting to see people as passionate as I was back when I first started,” she said. Speech and debate benefits students by giving them “confidence in speaking situations, spontaneity in interviews, [and] diverse perspectives,” according to nfhs.
org. They develop “soft skills”-interpersonal skills that are essential for social interactions. Louis plans to attend future tournaments held by the OCSL, including the Fullerton Union High School Winter Classic on December 15.
s!
B.R.E.A.D. PRESIDENT Sean Patrick ROOM PA1 DATE every other Tuesday MISSION STATEMENT: We are dedicated to making bread and donating it to the homeless. PERK OF BEING A MEMBER? Interesting to be a member because the creation of it was a joke. DESCRIBE YOUR CLUB IN 5 WORDS Being really excited about dough.
YOGA PRESIDENT Gillian Hidalgo ROOM 223 DATE first Thursday of every month MISSION STATEMENT: To improve the mental health of the BOHS student body. PERK OF BEING A MEMBER? Bonding with peers while improving physical and mental health. DESCRIBE YOUR CLUB IN 5 WORDS Good times with fun people.
HAPPY TAILS PRESIDENT Aileen Kim ROOM 234 DATE every other Thursday MISSION STATEMENT We help Korean animals find permanent homes in America. PERK OF BEING A MEMBER? Interactions with animals at shelters during volunteer days. DESCRIBE YOUR CLUB IN 5 WORDS Happy, fun, interactive, and memorable.
ARTS TO BOOKS PRESIDENT Isabella Jeong & Bella Kang ROOM 220 DATE 1st & 3rd Monday of every month MISSION STATEMENT We make arts & crafts to sell and use profits to provide children’s books. PERK OF BEING A MEMBER? Being happy to help children. DESCRIBE YOUR CLUB IN 5 WORDS Having fun and being happy.
SURFRIDERS PRESIDENT Kyle Song ROOM 224 DATE every Monday MISSION STATEMENT Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans. PERK OF BEING A MEMBER? Lots of fun, service hours, bonding between members. DESCRIBE YOUR CLUB IN 5 WORDS Fun, eco-friendly, interactive, WILD club.
CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE PRESIDENT Emma Wood & Katelyn Nanez ROOM 225 DATE every other Tuesday MISSION STATEMENT Inspiring positive change in the community. PERK OF BEING A MEMBER? Feeling the reward of making change. DESCRIBE YOUR CLUB IN 5 WORDS Positive volunteering thorughout Orange County.
November 2018
NEWS
5
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DID
YOU
V TE? T
he midterm elections have proven what months of political prognosticators had predicted: this year’s midterms would boil down to whether Congress would experience a first-ineight-years “Blue Wave,” or maintain its “Red Wall.” However, despite the elevated importance of this year’s midterms, the lack of youth turnout to the polls is appalling: “18-to 29-year-olds accounted for 13 percent of voters nationally,” according to abcnews.go. (A 2% uptick from 2014’s youth turnout, according to theatlantic. com, but a shockingly low number overall.) “Voting is the only way to ensure freedom and equality, and if there has ever been a time to be politically engaged, and more than that, to be educated, it’s now,” said Allison Jackson, 17-year-old senior and student activist, said. Given what was at stake in these elections, did you vote? In Orange County, Democrats did. OC Dems voted in large enough numbers to hold all seven House seats in Orange County, marking the first time since 1940 that OC is entirely blue. Republicans, did you vote to elect Republican representatives, or did you idly watch by as Democrats dominated the region? At stake for the Democrats were accessible healthcare and immigration policies, 51 seats to swing the Senate, and a net gain of 23 seats to hold the House. Republicans, however, needed to hold “every seat in the state” to stop “any chance of stopping the Democrats’ agenda,” said Matthew Fleming, communications director
for the California Republican Party. For both Democrats and Republicans alike, the added significance of the elections is its potential to impact the 2020 presidential elections. “Politics impact every aspect of our day to day lives” said Cole Derian, a right-leaning 18-yearold senior. “The midterms this year [decided] who represents me on the school board and city council, as well as impact taxes on everything from gas to eggs. Regardless of how you vote, it is important to represent yourself in politics. Voting is an important and foundational right that out nation relies on.” In many cases, seats were determined by just a couple thousand votes. Were you one of the voters who nudged your preferred candidate to victory? In our very own 39th district, which includes Fullerton, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Brea, Buena Park, Anaheim Hills, Placentia, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights, Democrat Gil Cisneros beat Young Kim by 4000 votes. That’s just double the population of BOHS’s student body. Katie Porter, Democrat candidate for the 45th district, which includes cities in southern OC, won by a margin of just over 9,000 votes, becoming the first ever Democrat to win the district. Did you vote? Because, in these cases, especially in our 39th district, each and every vote counted. Sure, one vote does not equate to 100, but when many students collectively rise together, and each donate their voice to a political cause, their voices add up. One voice becomes ten, ten become a
hundred, a hundred become a thousand, which might just be enough to tip an entire election. There is no excuse to not be registered, or even pre-registered, to vote. Got five minutes to spare? It’s as simple as typing in registertovote. ca.gov., and clicking on “Register to Vote Now” or “Pre-register to vote”. After five minutes, you’re now logged into the voting system, and as soon as you turn into a legal adult, your ability to vote will be set up for you. Did you vote? If you have Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, or Facebook, you were reminded daily in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections to register and vote. In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 6 elections, you were even bombarded with pleas to get involved by your favorite influencers and celebrities (including Taylor Swift, who, up until 2018, had steered entirely clear of politics). Registering to vote is as easy as a literal click of a button, a few typed characters, and sacrificing just five minutes of Netflix binging to be a part of local and national change. Be a part of the local and national change you read about on your Instagram feed. Your vote is your voice. Register, or preregister to vote; better yet, go out to the polls, and vote like your vote is your voice to create change. Please, in 2020, vote.
by NICOLE YOU illustration by JUSTIN LEE & NICOLE YOU
November 2018
OPINION
7
A NATION
WHAT N by NICOLE YOU
F
or many of us, weeks leading up to Nov. 6, our social media and YouTube ads were filled with celebrities and representatives encouraging us to register and utilize our votes in the midterms. However, with Democrats winning the House and Republicans holding the Senate, uncertainties of the future direction for Congress, states, and local counties arise. Democrats determined control over the GOP in the House by securing 229 seats over the GOP’s 199. According to cnn.com, voters from Democratic suburban areas “performed strongly,” attracting “a higher proportion of younger voters” that welcomed a more diverse Democratic party which influenced the voter turnout. By “picking up seats in several suburban districts where the party did traditionally well,” said by the New York Times, Democrats were able to swing the House with the necessary net gain of 23 seats from the Republicans after eight years. “Midterm elections are always important because they can decide who controls Congress,” said Bruno Morlan, AP Government teacher. “Presidents whose party loses control of Congress during the midterms have historically
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CENTERSPREAD
November 2018
had their policy agenda slowed. At stake for the Republicans is the ability to continue their policy agenda. At stake for the Democrats is having a way to check the executive branch.” The Senate remained under the GOP, with the Republican party leading with 51 seats over Democrats’ 47 seats. According to economist. com, “states vote in the college in proportion to their combined representation in both houses of Congress,” which gives Republicans, who depend on victories in smaller areas and states, an automatic geographic advantage; these results grant a win with more votes in fewer, but bigger states. Seen in key wins in North Dakota, Indiana, Florida, and Texas, the Republicans, despite having 12 million fewer votes less than Democrats, were able to secure enough seats to maintain the Senate through the electoral college. In addition, according to washingtonpost. com, consistent Democratic voters are located in states such as Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, California, Hawaii, Delaware, and Illinois, many being the most densely populated states in the US. Furthermore, Democratic candidates traditionally receive favor among “city-
dwellers, highly educated white suburbanites,” and minorities, especially immigrants who are targeted by Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, according to vox.com. With this trend of Democratic voters centered in larger states and those ineligible to vote, Democrats faced another disadvantage in gaining seats for the Senate.
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owever, despite the roadblocks faced by Democrats and Republicans in gaining seats for the Senate and House, the lack of consistent voting contributed to the shifting of seat assignments. According to a recent study conducted by the United States Election Project, only 47% of people eligible to vote actually voted in this year’s midterms. At California’s standing of 75.7% of eligible adults, as of May 2018, the turnout only slightly increased from 2014’s statistics, with a 1.03% increase.
illu
N DIVIDED NOW?
illustrations by JUSTIN LEE
Despite the eligibility in nearly three-fourths of adults, a large margin of 25% of eligible adults remains unregistered where only an additional 0.26% of eligible adults register per year. Although Orange County’s registration turnout stands at just 0.7% less than the adult population, the margin of those under 18 who are eligible to pre-register -- 16 and 17 year olds -who roughly account for 2.7% of Orange County’s population (84,570), remains unaccounted for. To eligible, un-registered Californians, according to ppic.org, 30% “cited a lack of confidence in elections and politics”, 24% mention “lack of interest or time”, 17% state “time or schedule constraints,” and from a poll from Suffolk University and USA Today, 15% felt their “‘vote doesn’t count/won’t make a difference.’” The data reveals that many citizens are unaware of the difference they can make in the elections and the importance their political stance holds on their lives. For eligible Wildcats who were not preregistered, confusion on how to register,
busy schedules, and lack of political importance prevented them from finding the resources, means, and time to pre-register. “I haven’t pre-registered because a lot of the process is relatively unclear. Students who aren’t expressly offered the ability to pre-register will most likely not pre-register unless they are very active within politics,” said Mallhar Gupta, 17-year-old senior and ASB Treasurer. “As someone who is wrapped up in high schoolrelated work, I, and many others my age, do not have the time nor the immediate necessity to deal with midterms or other elections.” In the 2012 presidential election, California was ranked 38th among the 50 states in the number of those who were unregistered, but were eligible to vote. In response to the disparity in the number of those who are un-registered, eligible voters, California enacted automatic voter registration (AVC) initiatives. By building atop “the original 1993 Motor Voter law that made it possible to register to vote at motorvehicle departments everywhere”, according to nymag.com, California signed a bill in March, effective Jan. 1, 2019, “that will automatically pre-register all 16 and 17 year olds to vote when
they receive a California driver’s license or state identification card”, said by thinkprogress.org. This not only boosts the amount of registered voters, but also stands as a solution to creating an accessible two-in-one process for eligible teens.
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o aid student accessibility to preregister, students may also choose to pre-register online. By visiting registertovote.ca.gov and following the instructions on the website, students can quickly get access to the ability to get ready to vote. “Politics are everything in life. People may believe that they’re not, but they are. From civil rights, to one’s income, to the housing industry, it’s all politics, and that’s why citizens need to be informed and involved,” said Allison Jackson, 17-year-old senior and student activist. “My entire livelihood depends on the politics in this nation.” While on National Voter Registration Day,
See page 10
November 2018
CENTERSPREAD
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from pages 8-9 Sept. 25, a record 800,000 people registered to vote in the midterm elections, according to time. com, PEW research revealed that “the vast majority of Americans who are registered to vote do not show up to the polls. An issue that arises is that even with the lack of people that go out to the polls to register, at that, many don’t return to cast their ballot. Despite 15% of unregistered Americans feeling that their votes do not make a significant difference to the millions of votes accumulated across the country, according to npr.org, “a single vote can make a big difference.” Further said by npr.org, “there have been more than a dozen races decided by a single vote or ending in a tie over the last 20 years.” The tightness of votes, with even Orange County’s 39th district’s election between Democrat Gil Cisneros and Republican Young Kim ending with Cisneros’ 4,000 vote lead, is testament to the importance of registering, and even more so, being an active voter. “It’s crucial to teach young people the value in voting; we are so lucky to live in a country that even allows us to choose our laws and who governs us” Jackson said. “Also, pre-registering to vote is extremely important… it gives under 18’s an introduction to the world of voting and
VOTING by the numbers
sources: ppic.org, commons.wikimedia.org
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CENTERSPREAD
forces us to become educated on issues and people that we will soon be voting for ourselves.” Despite the divided Congress and concerns that “divided party control of policymaking dramatically increases the time it takes to enact important legislation”, according to blogs.lse. ac.uk, bipartisanship bills in Congress are already taking effect. On Nov. 14, just days after the midterms, President Donald Trump publicly announced support for the First Step Act, a bipartisan prison reform bill that would “unwind
75.7% of voters in california
eligible
are registered
November 2018
44.4% of eligible
voters IN CA are democrats
some of the tough-oncrime federal policies of the 1980s and 1990s that incarcerated AfricanAmerican offenders at much higher rates than white offenders,” according to the New York Times. This bipartisan legislation, an agreement reached by two political parties in Congress to pass a bill, is just one example of the benefits of a bipartisan Congress successfully finding compromise, and in effect, creating change. Seen in past bipartisan administrations, longterm success through compromise was found. According to thehill.com, “legislation that is passed with the most bipartisan consensus is the most likely to endure with longevity.” They have a strong record of successes, seen in Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton’s bipartisan partnership in 1996. Under the bipartisanship, a welfare reform that “strengthen[ed] work requirements for welfare and increase spending for education and childcare” was successfully passed. Historically, bills passed through collaboration between two political parties last longer and please the general public. However, despite the low 47% voting outcome from this year’s midterms, according to npr.org, it was “the highest turnout for a midterm since 1966, when 49% of the population showed up to vote.” Ultimately, it is the unified efforts of bipartisan compromise, voting registration and pre-registration, and the act of actively voting that will enact change under a bipartisan Congress.
25.5% of
eligible
voters in california
are independent
25.1%
of eligible
voters in California are republicans
photo courtesy of MICHAEL KITADA / OC Register
FALL SPORTS WRAP-UP Clockwise from top left: Senior Jordan Alcala protects the football as he approaches the end zone. Varsity football, 8-5 at presstime, will play in its third ever CIF championship game on Nov. 23. Senior Jennifer Hernandez gets ready to return a volley. Girls’ varsity tennis finished their season at third place in North Hills League with a 2-4 record. Junior Whitney Valenti and girls’ cross country finished eighth at the CIF-SS Finals on Nov. 17. Fellow junior Mia Douge advanced to the State Championships, held on Nov. 24 in Fresno, by placing ninth out of 181 runners. Boys’ cross country, led by Shane Gaffikin, placed fifth at the meet and advanced to the State Finals. (Results of the meet were not available at press time.) Senior Jacob Linder attempts a pass. Boys’ varsity water polo finished in a three-way tie atop North Hills League and ended their season with a 12-15 overall record. photos by DANIEL CHO
November 2018
SPORTS
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t the ready of the judge’s signals, Noah Nakayama, senior, raises the bamboo shinai, pacing back and forth to dodge his opponent’s swings. After a swift trade of parries, Nakayama lands a successful jab at his opponent’s stomach, and the tokei gakari (timekeeper) raises a flag to signal the end of the round. Walking to the center with his opponent, they respectfully bow to each other and step backwards, marking the end of the match, and another kendo win for Nakayama. Nakayama’s journey with the ancient Japanese sport of kendo began when he was eight years old when his mother introduced him to the family’s kendo tradition, a tradition that has been passed down through generations on the maternal side of his family. Ever since, kendo has been a way for Nakayama to reconnect with his mother’s side of the family and to bond over ancient Japanese culture.
A
endo is not just a sport, but a way of life and a vehicle for building of character with the unity of both the body and mind,” Nakayama said. “I think the cultural and spiritual aspects of kendo are super cool, and they are definitely what separates kendo from being just a sport and being a martial art.” Kendo is practiced utilizing traditional Japanese protective armor and requires a bamboo shinai, or sword, which is used for training and competing. A full set of kendo armor, or bogu, is made up of a caged helmet called the men; a pair of padded, cumbersome gloves called the kote; and an armored front core protector called a do. When combined, the finished armor set resembles the intricate armor used by ancient samurai or traditional Bushido warriors. Nakayama took an instant liking to his family’s tradition, training every week at a dojo (training gym)
“K
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SPORTS
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photo courtesy of NOAH NAKAYAMA PREPARING TO STRIKE: Noah Nakayama, clad in traditional bogu armor, prepares to lunge with his bamboo shinai at an opponent.
Nakayama Strikes True by GUNNAR CIERLEY, KENNETH KIM, CHOYUN LEE photo on facing page by DANIEL CHO
in the City of Industry with sensei (coaches) twice a week. The sensei prepare him for his physically taxing competitions. To further hone his skills, he occasionally visits other dojos around Orange County (there are about 50 dojos in Southern California), often practicing into the night until he nearly drops from exhaustion. Nakayama competes in about seven to eight kendo matches a year, with each one separated into different rankings or age groups. Each match pits two kendo players against each other, which is judged by three judges, or referees. Competitors must obtain two points in total to win the match by striking the head, stomach, or wrists, or have more points than the other player by the time runs out.
Nakayama’s long-term training and dedication to kendo has led to winning individual third place at the 2016 Junior National Championships in Detroit, Mich.; ranking as the third best kendo player in his age group in America (according to Nakayama), and winning first place in the National Championship with his SCKF regional team at the 2017 National Championships in San Jose, Calif.
endo originated about 1000 years before the Edo Period (16031867) ended, where samurai warriors “worked for their lords, protecting and fighting for them using weapons such as swords, spears, bows and arrows,”
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according to web-japan.org. By the 17th century, however, Japan was at peace, and the battle-trained samurai were no longer required to serve. This freedom gave way to kendo, in which these former warriors used bamboo swords as a medium to strengthen the mind and the body through training. This focus upon unifying the strengths of the mind and body is something that both the samurai of the 17th century, and Nakayama, draw inspiration from, connecting centuries of tradition in the process. Masako White, Japanese teacher, compares kendo to the struggles within our own everyday lives. “Our daily lives are very scattered [where] we have to do either this or that. [However], once [you] go into kendo, you have to center yourself. The art of using the shinai to look and see what you have to do.”
espite his success with kendo, Nakayama admits that there is a struggle to balance his time spent practicing with other aspects of his life. He stated that there are “long nights” where he has to pick up his studies after grueling hours of practice, a process that inevitably takes a toll. But instead of becoming discouraged, his “drive to better [himself] in school and kendo doesn’t stop [him] from trying less in one or the other.” Currently, Nakayama has his eyes set on the American National Kendo Team, with an end goal of competing in -- and winning -- the World Kendo Championships, the final step in the long kendo journey Nakayama has worked so hard on. Nakayama’s family tradition of kendo gives him a sport that doubles as a way of life. His respect for the spiritual importance of kendo is unparalleled, and this is apparent in his individual success. “[Kendo] is basically my life,” he said. “It [has] shaped me into who I am today, and has taught me numerous life lessons. It has helped create lasting memories that I can look back on and cherish forever.”
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‘THE WAY OF THE SWORD’: Noah Nakayama, senior, wears the men, the traditional caged helmet facepiece used in kendo. Nakayama, long-term kendoist, has been training and competing for nearly 10 years at local OC dojos.
November 2018
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Valenti
Races
Forward
Whitney Valenti, junior and varsity cross-country runner, has been running her whole life, with her family right alongside her, supporting her every step of the way. by GUNNAR CIERLEY & KENNETH KIM photo by DANIEL CHO
“She’s wo her weaknes 14
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his sisters’ races, cheering her on. Vital to Whitney’s training and success have been her parents. Her father has provided her with a tangible goal to reach: to be able to match and surpass her parents, both of whom are veterans of the sport. And he provides insight on running technique and strategies to get the most out of her training. Pam Valenti, Assistant Principal, also talks strategy with Whitney, but she also provides For Whitney Valenti, junior, much-needed emotional support running is not just one of the during the often-grueling cross most important parts of her life; country meets and seasons. Pam it’s also a full family affair. She, also draws on her long competitive her brother Tommy (‘18), and career in her support of her her parents, Pam and Dreux daughter. Pam is a veteran of many Valenti, are all active, and road races and three full marathons. successful, distance runners. Her high school relay team finished Whitney’s most recent 8th in Michigan, and she ran successes: leading, with competitively at the University of fellow junior Mia Douge, Michigan, where she “was one of girls’ varsity cross country the first 900 women in Michigan to an eighth place finish at history to earn a varsity letter.” CIF Southern Section finals. Despite having parents who Alex Turner, sophomore, are long-time competitive runners, said of her long-time teammate, Whitney never felt obligated to photo courtesy of WHITNEY VALENTI “[She’s] really motivational, follow in her parent’s footsteps. ONE LAST HUDDLE: Whitney gathers with her team before her race at CIFand she always encourages us to “My parents never forced the SS Division Finals on Nov. 17. The Wildcats finished 8th at the meet. do our best. She’s humble about sport onto me,” Whitney said. “They her times and placements, and is would constantly ask if I felt like I had always pushing herself in practices and workouts.” the end, it ends up being a really fulfilling sport.” to be a runner because they were. The answer was “[Whitney’s] an incredible worker,” Dreux Her individual success as a cross country always ‘no.’ [My parents] inspire me to constantly Valenti, girls’ cross country and track coach, runner has roots in her relationship with her family. give it my all…they always have my back.” said, adding that, “A lot of people think she As a family of talented runners -- her mother was Pam commented further on their involvement, has this natural talent, which, [and] she would a 2008 inductee into the CIF-SS Hall of Fame explaining that “[Coach Valenti] writes workouts, be the first one to tell you, she doesn’t. She’s -- Valenti enjoys a unique relationship with and I gives my two cents, [trying] to find places worked for everything she’s gotten. Coming them that focuses on mutual advancement. She on the course where few spectators go to give into freshman year, I didn’t think she was often finds herself practicing with her brother or adjustments or strategy comments to help. going to be as good as she was. She analyzed parents, working out and running alongside them. As for the kids, they cheer for each other.” her weaknesses on her own, and she worked A year ago, Tommy raised the bar for his sister Each member of the Valenti family has stood her butt off to overcome those weaknesses.” by setting a personal record of 15:25 minutes at out in the world of competitive distance running Whitney began her running career in earnest the Woodbridge Invitational during the 2017 in their own unique ways, and Whitney is no in the sixth grade. Valenti describes her running season and being crowned an Orange County exception as she continues to carry on her family’s career since then as “a giant roller coaster [where] champ during his senior year. Now, the Boise State running legacy by leading Wildcat cross country there have been a lot of ups and downs, but in University freshman stands on the sidelines during to success after success, season after season.
worked for everything she’s gotten. She analyzed esses on her own, and she worked her butt off to overcome those weaknesses.” Dreux Valenti, Whitney’s father and coach November 2018
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Football advances to CIF Championship by KENNETH KIM
Three years after this year’s seniors watched 2015’s varsity football team advance to CIF Finals, their playing careers come full circle with a return to the championship game on Nov. 23. It’s the third time in school history that the Wildcats have advanced to the title contest. It’s a book-end moment for this year’s graduating class, a football journey that began in 2015 when the Wildcats enjoyed a 9-6 season that ended with a 31-21 loss against Canyon High School in the CIF-SS Division XII Finals. In the ensuing two years, varsity football failed to reach the heights of that 2015 squad -- in 2016, the Wildcats went 4-7, and in 2017, 3-7. But this year’s varsity program is on the cusp of achieving something no other BOHS football team has accomplished: winning a section championship. With a record of 8-5 and a four game winning streak entering their CIF Finals game on Nov. 23, the Wildcats face 10-3 San Gorgonio High School of San Bernardino, who beat Garden Grove High School, 40-27, on Nov. 16. San Gorgonio has scored 40 or more points in each of their three play-off games, including a 53 point outburst in the quarterfinals. (Results of BOHS’s matchup with San Gorgonio in the CIF-SS Div. IX title game were not available at presstime.) The Wildcats advance to the championship game with an atypical number of losses for a championship-caliber team. But the Wildcats’ record doesn’t faze David Seo, senior middle linebacker, who even takes pride in the uneven record. “We can’t change the mistakes we made [during the regular season], but we can definitely fix them for [the championship game]. But this season is by far my favorite season, regardless of our uneven record. No one actually expected us to be here, and that’s fine with all of us because we love being the underdog and it’s always been us against the world,” said Seo. The Wildcats’ march through play-offs includes wins over Norte Vista High School on Nov. 9, and Heritage Christian High School on Nov. 2. In the semifinals game on Nov. 16, the team earned a tense 28-19 win against photo by DANIEL CHO 16
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the North Torrance High School Saxons. In that game, the Wildcat offense applied consistent pressure, scoring a touchdown in each quarter. Finding the endzone were seniors Nate Wyse and Noah Tango, and junior Kion Marshall. The defense -- led by Marshall, junior Eugene Kim, Seo, and senior Ethan Parish -- tallied 62 tackles. The victory advanced Wildcat football to their third CIF Finals appearance in school history -- the second time was in 2015, and the first was in 2011. Wyse feels that his long history with his teammates has played a large role in the Wildcats’ play-off run. “I have been a part of the varsity team for three years now, and the main difference many of us can see is the bond we have with one another,” said Wyse. “We have all grown up playing football together, ever since we were in elementary school, and have learned to work as one, which plays a major part on Friday nights.” Highlights through the first 13 games include senior quarterback Jacob Moon’s four rushing touchdowns against Fullerton Union High School on Sept. 14, and his 345 passing yards against Canyon High School on Sept. 28; Wyse’s 143 rushing yards against Heritage Christian High School in a CIF playoff game on Nov. 2; and Kim’s 10 solo tackles against Yorba Linda High School on Oct. 5. To Moon, his four years in BOHS football had been leading up to this moment -- in turn, the stress associated with such a big moment in BOHS’s history has left him with mixed, but ultimately positive, feelings. “It’s a really good feeling knowing you’re a part of [BOHS’s] history,” said Moon. “There’s a lot of pride in getting this far, but there’s also anxiety leading up to the championship game.” Wyse agrees, stating that the successes of the varsity football seniors three years earlier in 2015 created a goal for Wyse and his teammates. “As freshmen, we were introduced to a winning atmosphere and set expectations we knew we had to work hard for. This season was something special, whether the outcome is what we expect it to be or not,” said Wyse.