ELAC Campus News Spring 2023 Issue 21

EarthDayspeakers’getpushback

BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer

Comments in the Zoom meeting during Friday’s virtual Earth Day Month Speaker Series criticized Los Angeles Community College District’s Sustainable Environment Institute for the topics and speakers chosen for the event.

Denise Robb, Political Science professor at Pierce College criticized the event organizers for the event’s programming.

“Literally 50% of our Earth Day presentation is promoting the killing and eating of animals by two groups that sell the dead animals for consumption,” Robb said.

Eugenie Lewis wrote in the chat, “I appreciate learning about holistic grazing as an alternative to concentrated animal production. I still would like to learn more about plant-based farming.” Robb added “These two beef presentations on Earth Day make no sense.”

Beth Abels of Pierce College defended SEI’s speaker choices.

“Our speakers today have been: an Academic from Tufts, a representative of an industry creating alternative protein organization, and local farmers and ranchers who are working to change food production with the specific goal of improving our climate, soils and to avoid desertification,” Abels said.

“All looking at ways to significantly redirect us from our current dangerous path.”

In one of the non-cattle-related presentations, Hanna Barlow of the Good Food Institute said the non-profit focuses on advancing alternatives to traditional meat, like cultivated meat.

Barlow said the process uses animal stem cells to grow into tissue using bioreactors and growth serums, which mimics the

process that happens inside the cow’s body.

“We don’t need to raise an entire cow for this meat. It would take a

few stem cells to create a steak on its own,” Barlow said.

Ken Pucker, Tufts Fletcher School professor of practice, focused his discussion on the harms of standard practices in the fashion industry. Pucker compared organic cotton to nylon. Even though organic cotton seems like the more

environmentally-friendly choice, cotton is a crop that requires large amounts of water.

Nylon on the other hand, lasts longer but uses fossil fuels to create it.

“It’s fossil fuels, spun and extruded,” Pucker said. “Polyester is oil that has been treated, extruded into thread and sewn into garments.”

Pucker said the time and access to information about these issues makes it even more difficult for consumers who want to do the right thing. He believes more companies like Patagonia can still run a successful business while changing standard business practices that cause harm to the environment.

Other things people can do to offset the harm that fashion can cause on the environment, is to shop at second hand stores, Pucker said.

He said the U.S. Congress can be helpful by passing the Fashion Act This is a bill that could confront issues like chemical use on garments, as well as stolen wages from garment workers.

George Leddy, moderator of the event and director of the LACCD Sustainable Environment Institute, said “We can’t consume our way out of the crisis we’re in.”

The events for the SEI Earth Day Month were in partnership with The Professional Development College of the District Academic Senate.

Mariachi Club returns to campus

BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer

After 24 years, a Mariachi Club has returned to the college campus. The newly chartered East Los Angeles College club is open for business and accepting members.

The club’s adviser is Jesus Martinez, who also leads the symphonic band on campus.

Alondra Reyes, club president, and Sally Hawkridge, club vice president, are the active performers while the club is getting started. Reyes’ father, Aurelio Reyes, also performs music.

The three often perform together

as “Mariachi Trio Palenque.”

Currently, there are 11 members in the club, but during club rush, 30 potential members signed up. The club participates in fundraising events on and off campus. These events fund the purchase of traditional mariachi suits and instruments.

Off-campus events include the “Mariachi Trio Palenque” performing at birthdays, weddings, and many other events.

While they work on fundraising for suits, the club currently coordinates in all-black attire during campus performances. Though many may think the

club is solely about performing, Hawkridge reminds those interested that the goal is to also teach about the culture behind the music. The culture can be traced as far back as the 1800s.

“They prepare you to use this to make a living,” Hawkridge said. The ultimate goal of the club is to travel across the country to perform.

To join, students must have a 2.0 G.P.A., exhibit good behavior, own their instrument, if possible, and know music background. The club will also accept beginners and teach them if needed.

Practices take place Mondays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the S2

building. For more information contact Professor Jesus Martinez at bbbchuy@gmail.com or (562) 746-2277.

The Mariachi Club hopes their return to campus will inspiring other missing clubs like Ballet Folklorico to make their comeback.

The Mariachi Club will play at tomorrow’s town hall, Theater of the Sphere: Celebrating Luis Valdez and Teatro Chicano event, taking place in the quad. A pre-event celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to noon, which includes music from the band and food. The Mariachi Club will perform at 1:30 p.m.

CN/STEVEN ADAMO

“We don’t need to raise an entire cow for this meat. It would take a few stem cells to create a steak on its own.”

HANNA BARLOW

CN/TERESA ACOSTA

ZACATECAS Alondra Reyes and Sally Hawkridge, club president and vice president, practice an upbeat tune with a blended class of band and mariachi musicians.

You should critically engage with news media

BY S. HENNESSY MACHADO-HIDALGO Staff Writer

Everyone should critically engage with news media.

To critically engage with news media is to ask the same six questions journalists ask when covering a story: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Anyone can ask themselves these questions while consuming content. It does not mean to fall down a misinformation rabbit hole. A key step to account for reliability and biases is to consider who is telling the story.

The how and why of a traffi c accident is likely simple to gather but, understanding the intricacies of a Supreme Court ruling is more likely to be complicated.

Despite the complicated nature of some news events, they are worth analyzing; in a democratic society critical thinking is key to daily life.

“To trust news organizations that follow the ethics of the journalism field and have an established trustworthy reputation.”

JEAN STAPLETON

Journalism Department Chair

This does not mean consumers need to dedicate hours of research to every single story they come across.

Critical engagement is pausing, realizing one is not as familiar with a certain subject and being mindful of how that informs one’s worldview.

It’s corroborating a social media news post through a search engine.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Soleil Cardenas

MANAGING EDITOR Teresa Acosta

FRONT EDITOR Max Miranda

OPINION EDITOR

Beatriz Garay

NEWS EDITOR Marissa Valles

FEATURE EDITOR Luis Diaz

ARTS EDITOR S. Hennessy Machado-Hidalgo

SPORTS EDITOR Oscar Martines

Jean Stapleton, Journalism Department chair, said to trust news organizations that follow the ethics of the journalism fi eld and have an established trustworthy reputation.

The core tenet of journalism ethics is to tell the truth. Stapleton said not to trust any organization that doesn’t make corrections.

Consumers can then check multiple news sources to corroborate what, when and where an event factually occurred.

From there, understanding why and how something happened can vary from simple to complex.

It’s consuming news from politically opposite sources more often than one usually does.

It’s also deciding to do further research when necessary, such as researching for whom to vote.

Annette Quijada, former editor in chief of East Los Angeles College Campus News, said, “Letting the people know what’s going on outside of their circle is important… because any event can eventually impact their circle.”

To engage with the news is to engage with the circumstances that make life what it is today.

That’s worth taking a pause to allow yourself to think.

Bill makes finance classes personal

BY LEONARDO CERVANTES

Staff Writer

Assembly Bill 984 requires high school students to complete one semester of personal finance and that is a good thing.

It has the potential to be the most important class for students to take during high school. The bill would require high school students to complete a one-semester course in personal finance to graduate.

This will begin with students graduating in the 2028-2029 school year. This includes students in charter schools. The bill would require local education agencies to provide the course starting with the 2025 - 2026 school year.

Students currently don’t have any finance classes offered to them. This would be essential for a brighter future not only for the students but for society as a whole.

One of the benefits to personal finance is learning about different business ideas and models. Entrepreneurship is one such business model.

One of the most important skills entrepreneurs have is leadership and vocal skills. Of course, it will always vary with individuals but many successful entrepreneurs have these qualities. Not only will these skills help students in the business industry but also in their daily lives.

Some students aren’t fortunate enough to rely on experience from their families when it comes to personal finance.

By the time they turn 18 with no financial guidance they can get taken advantage of by credit card companies and car dealerships. With a focus on personal finance, young adult’s decision-making will be improved and won’t be exploited as easily.

A finance class can show pupils the importance of income,spending and savings. Almost every student will know about income and what terms like income, savings, investments and expenses. In a class, a teacher will be able to break down each section and offer

advice. Savings is perhaps the most important lesson pupils will learn in the class.

Obviously, every young adult’s financial life is different and most don’t earn money or are in a position to save money monthly.

A class like personal finance can help those who find themselves not being able to save to understand how they can save from

their earned income. A lesson as simple as saving 5 or 10% of their income with each paycheck adds up quickly. If they save a small percentage each month, within three to 12 months they will notice how beneficial it was saving monthly.

Over the last few years stocks and cryptocurrency have seen an uptick in popularity around the internet and

young adults have begun investing more than ever.

However, because of the sudden internet popularity young adults have been exploited by more of these stocks which have resulted in foolish financial losses due to making uninformed investments.

With a personal finance class, many students won’t be so easily taken advantage of and will have some understanding of what’s worth risking in investments.

Investing always comes with risks. There’s no correct formula to follow. Adults that dedicate their lives to investing are still prone to lose thousands of dollars because the stock market is unpredictable.

A personal finance class can at least teach pupils some of the basics and what are some smart trends to follow instead of relying on internet personalities advertising their stocks.

The only downside of this bill would be requiring students to pass yet another class in order to graduate.

Young adults are already burdened with having to attend school, do chores at their house and think of their future.

However, the positive outcomes this bill will have on the next generation of teenagers far outweigh the potential inconveniences some students will have.

COPY EDITORS Juan Calvillo

Brenda De La Cruz S. Hennessy Machado-Hidalgo

STAFF WRITERS

Leonardo Cervantes

Janet Guereca

Nicholas Jimenez

Jonathan Bermudez

Kimberly Chinchilla

Yaneira Rodriguez

SOCIAL MEDIA

Adonia Burciaga

CARTOONIST

Angelina Viramontes

ONLINE EDITOR

Annette Quijada

ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo

ADVERTISING

Stephanie De La Torre

ADVISER Jean Stapleton

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With a personal finance class, many students won’t be so eaily takend advantage of and will have some understanding of what’s worth isking in investments.

Runway empowers survivors of sexual violence

BY KIMBERLY CHINCHILLA Staff Writer

East Los Angeles College Sexual Assault Awareness Violence Education Team (SAAVE) concluded a month of events aimed to raise awareness on sexual assault with a runway on April 28.

The runway featured sexual assault survivors, advocates, professionals in the community of East Los Angeles and an art exhibit presenting an interactive photo, survivors’ written stories, and artwork.

The East Los Angeles Women’s Center had on display “Red Lips, Hoops On, Invincible” an art exhibit, and “Invincible: Who I am and what I wear does not justify sexual violence,” an empowering runway show for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and according to the U.S Department of Health & Human Services, “is a time where advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the community come together to talk openly about sexual violence to support survivors, increase knowledge and awareness, and identify strategies [along] with resources to prevent sexual violence.”

In 1976 the ELAWC was founded by Latina women leaders in the East Los Angeles community. This became the first bilingual rape hotline. It reached hundreds of survivors who did not previously have a voice or access to services. Their mission is “to ensure that all women, girls and their families live in a place of safety, health, and personal well-being, free from violence and abuse, with equal access to necessary health services and social support, with an

emphasis on Latino communities.”

Rebeca M. Melendez, the program director, opened up the show by reminding the audience that though the event “may be colorful, fun, interactive, and may be even considered a celebratory event.

“But the truth of [their] work, is that 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 6 men in the U.S will experience sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime.”

She continued, “sexual violence at its worst, is a cruel weapon of war, power and intimidation, and at its least is the complicit acceptance of normalization of sexually charged jokes, insults and innuendos directed towards others, especially women.

Melendez emphasized that ELAWC’s message can only be one, and that is “sexual violence must stand and our collective work must be continued, because we know for certain to heal a survivor is to heal our community.”

Every woman that walked the runway had red lipstick and hoop earrings on, which is a symbol for their powerful campaign.

“[It] serves as a reminder that: Who I am and what I wear does not justify sexual violence.”

The idea of the Invincible Runway show was born from a suggestion of a dedicated ELAWC volunteer, Ashley Guereque, a stylist and graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Guereque styled every model to represent that anyone can be a survivor, in all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds. The courageous individuals that walked the runway either respond to sexual violence, are healing from sexual violence, or work each day to end sexual violence.

Each runway model chose a song. Every model had a picture and a motto projected in the background that they use when they are at home or when they simply feel beautiful. As Melendez put it, “We are where fashion trends begin. Brave, fierce, magical, powerful, unique, faithful, fearless, focused, determined, unwavering, and yes, invincible women.”

The art exhibit included paintings, hand-written stories of survivors, and other projects created by advocates on campus from both ELAC’s Women’s and Men’s Support Center and ELAWC.

ELAWC raffled away three donations individually, including a bracelet and $250 hoop earrings. Sonia Rivera, who is nearing her 24th year working with ELAWC,

closed the runway show by advising the audience on how to support ELAWC.

By being there for survivors, ELAWC is a place where “your silence is heard, [ELAWC] are the ones that will stand by the survivors, [who] will listen, [and that will] be there, a reminder that [ELAWC] is the place.”

Speaking up against violence is another way to support, because

violence is “intersectional and it affects the fabric of our society.”

You can also donate at elawc.org

The ELAWC offers services for survivors facing sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking. Their confidential crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (800) 585-6231.

Women’s Center offers awareness, resources on addiction

BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer

The East Los Angeles Women’s Center hosted a workshop on Monday discussing all the different types of addictions and traumas anyone can become susceptible to.

The workshop was led by Daniela Herrera, a college program advocate for the center.

Alcohol and drug addictions are always at the forefront, but she was sure to highlight all the other types of dangerous addictions, like food addictions, that can harm a person’s body and well-being.

SURVEY FINDINGS— A survey conducted with 674 participants, found that 46% of the participants had a mental health strain from social media based on the six variables self-esteem, trouble sleeping, fear of missing out, gender, extroversion and empathy. Of 674 participants, 75% were female, 23% were male and 2% identified as other.

Social media usage negatively impacts mental health

BY MARISSA VALLES Staff Writer

A survey conducted by members of the Psi Beta Club found that social media has negative impacts on mental health.

Last Thursday, students Samantha Rodriguez and Quoc Cao presented findings from a survey they conducted on social media and how it affects mental health and wellbeing.

The survey consisted of 35 questions and was taken by 674 students in community colleges throughout Southern California.

Of the 674 participants, 75% were female, 23% were male, and 2% identified as other.

Participants were recruited in psychology classes. The survey asked how often participants used social media, their average usage on a daily basis, and which apps they used the most.

They were also asked to rate their feelings of anxiety, loneliness, depression and stress as well as

whether they considered themselves introverted or extroverted.

“We wanted to study how social media use is linked to certain mental health outcomes and how personality characteristics such as introversion and extroversion determine these outcomes,”

Rodriguez said.

The survey found that people who are extroverted are less likely to be negatively impacted by social media despite spending more time on it.

Negative outcomes linked to social media usage include depression, anxiety, loneliness or stress.

Using the six variables of selfesteem, trouble sleeping, fear of missing out, gender, extroversion and empathy, the survey found that 46% of participants had a mental health strain from social media.

“A mental health strain is a negative outcome on ones mental status,” Rodriguez said.

The biggest predictor for how social media impacts someone’s mental health is their self-esteem.

“The higher your self-esteem, the lower your mental health strain is and vice versa,” Cao said.

The survey found that females were more likely to suffer from mental health strains than males.

This aligned with other studies that have shown that women are more likely to be negatively impacted by social media usage.

“Women are more susceptible to mental health strain because they’re more scrutinized and have harsher expectations when it comes to personality and appearances,” Cao said.

“In general, women are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health struggles than males. There’s different reasons for this, including being more likely to seek out help,” ELAC professor Bryant Horowitz said.

The survey didn’t find that there was one single app that causes more negative impacts on mental health than others.

“The impacts of trauma can lead to loss of safety. The world has become a place where anything can happen,” Herrera said.

Herrera emphasized that addiction and trauma are medical issues, not personal failures.

This leads to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol or medications,” Herrera said.

Drug and alcohol use can have an everlasting effect on a person. It can lead to depression that can take months to recover from.

Addictions can serve as deadly logic as it numbs the pain.

“Self-medication is an escape that helps you feel happy or euphoric,” Herrera said.

It is a solution to the pain from trauma but it can be lethal and dangerous.

This is a terrible thing to do because instead of improving on your wellbeing, you are masking it with medication.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased risk factors for substance use in youth including social isolation, boredom, grief, trauma and stress.

“One out of every three students had poor mental health during the pandemic.

“Two out of every five students felt emotional distress during the past year. One out of every 10 students attempted suicide during the past year.

“Poor mental health and suicide attempts were less common among students who felt close to people at school,” Herrera said.

If you have experienced trauma and do not feel the symptoms have reduced over several months, it is important to seek support.

Addiction and trauma are medical issues, not personal failures. People shouldn’t feel down on themselves because they feel they need to seek help.

People shouldn’t feel down on themselves because they feel the need to seek help.

When humans hear addictions, they automatically think of drug and alcohol addictions, but addictions are not limited to substances and alcohol.

There are many other addictions that can physically and mentally damage a person just as much as drugs and alcohol.

There are food, social media, sex, exercise, work, plastic surgery, pornography, video games, and gambling addictions that can equally derail ones life just like drugs and alcohol do.

“The Institute of National Health defines substance use disorder as a treatable mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior.

DANIELA HERRERA College program advocate for the East Los Angeles Women’s Center

Once the high of drugs and alcohol wears off, it can lead to a depressive state. When in depression it can lead a person to take even more substances which will continue to harm their body and well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of millions nationwide, but it had a resounding effect on children and young adults attending school.

“Two out of every three students reported difficulty completing schoolwork.

“One out of every four students experienced hunger. One out of every four students experienced parental job loss.

“One of our every 10 students experienced physical abuse by a parent,” Herrera said.

There are many resources that can help with trauma anyone is facing and are encouraged to reach out to get help.The ELAWC Crisis Hotline is available 24/7 and can be reached at 800-585-6231. Other resources for those who are in need are listed below.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is also available 24/7 and can be reached at 800-854-7771.

• To reach the Crisis text line, text LA to 741741

• National Suicide Prevention

Lifeline 800-273-8255

• Disaster Distress helpline 800-985-5990

• Trevor project lifeline 800788-7386

• Substance abuse service helpline 844-804-7500

• SAMHSA’s national helpline 1-800-662-4357.

CN/KIMBERLY CHINCHILLA

INVINCIBLE— Lindsay Mondido walks down the runway on April 28. The runway serves as both a way to empower survivors and a reminder that ones clothing doesn’t justify sexual violence.

CN/SOLEIL CARDENAS

Baseball loses final game of the season

Not out just yet: Huskies receive bid to the So Cal Regional Playo s

BY JANET GUERECA Staff Writer

In a close game against Rio Hondo College on Friday, the baseball team lost its last game of the regular season on a walk-off run.

After winning the first two games in the series, the Huskies could not complete the sweep against Rio Hondo. They left the bases loaded twice and left runners stranded multiple times throughout the series’ final game.

The game was off to a slow start as both teams remained scoreless through the first three innings.

The Huskies scored the game’s first run during the top of the fourth inning.

The scoring started with batter Ruben Hernandez who singled up the middle. The next batter, Beno Olmeda, bunted, and an error by Rio Hondo allowed him to be safe at first base.

With no outs and runners on first and second, left fielder Alex Mendez hit a sacrifice bunt and advanced the runners.

Following a walk allowed by Rio Hondo pitcher Ryan Perez, Rio Hondo had a meeting on the mound.

The bases were loaded for third baseman Emiliano Campos, who hit a sacrifice fly. Eskridge advanced to second, and Olmeda advanced to third. Hernandez scored after Rio Hondo’s catcher did not control the ball thrown to home plate.

The Huskies ended the top of the fourth inning with the bases loaded after first baseman Daniel Vierra was down 1-2 in the count and struck out looking.

It did not take long for Rio Hondo to respond to the Huskies’ one-run lead. Rio Hondo’s first

baseman Joshua Perez hit a home run, tying the game 1-1.

That was Rio Hondo’s only run scored in the inning. The fourth inning ended with Huskies pitcher Francisco Dominguez striking out the next two batters.

The momentum for Rio Hondo continued into the bottom of the fifth inning, where they took a 2-1 lead.

They quickly had runners on first and second. Shortstop

Freddie Madera singled, and second baseman Adrian Soto scored.

The Huskies attempted to tie the game during the sixth inning.

The first batter of the inning, Mendez, reached second base after Rio Hondo centerfielder

Nolan Anguiano made an error in the outfield.

The next Husky batter, Eskridge, singled, advancing the lead runner to third.

The Huskies had runners on first and third with zero outs, which brought a pitching change for Rio Hondo. The head coach chose pitcher Nicolas Masucci out of the bullpen to finish the inning.

The first out of the inning came on a fielder’s decision to get the runner advancing to second.

The inning was not over. The Huskies still had an opportunity to score with runners on first and third.

Batter Nicholas Bobadilla showed discipline at the plate and got the count to 3-1. Masucci threw another ball, and Bobadilla walked to first.

The bases were once again loaded with only one out for Vierra. The count got to 2-2 before he hit the ball into an inning-ending double play.

A promising inning for the Huskies ended with no runs scored.

Rio Hondo responded with a single in the sixth inning but could not take advantage of it to increase their lead.

In the seventh inning, the Huskies faced Ramon Brion, the third Rio Hondo pitcher of the game.

The Huskies were once again in a position to tie the game after the lead-off batter Matthew McIntire singled. The next batter Michael Easter also got on base.

With no outs and runners on first and second, Hernandez hit a sacrifice bunt and advanced the runners.

Following the sacrifice bunt, Olmeda singled, and McIntire scored, which tied the game 2-2.

The Huskies had only one out with two runners on base for a chance to score more runs and increase their lead. Unfortunately, that did not happen, as the next batter, Mendez, was the second out of the inning.

Rio Hondo switched pitchers for the third out, and pitcher David Medrano took the mound.

Husky outfielder Eskridge fought to get the count to 3-2 before he struck out swinging. Once again, the Huskies were unable to score another run.

Dominguez pitched a quick bottom of the seventh, only facing the minimum batters.

As the game went on, neither team scored another run. The close game seemed as if it was headed toward extra innings.

The Huskies started the eighth inning with a double from Campos. He was tagged out on the next at-bat on a fielder’s choice after a Bobadilla bunt.

Meanwhile, Rio Hondo started the bottom of the eighth with a single from Madera. They were also unable to take advantage of the runners on base.

The Huskies ended the inning

Competitive Swimming, Diving freshmen help team improve

BY SOLEIL CARDENAS Staff Writer

The Swimming & Diving team completed the season in 4th place at the South Coast Conference Championships.

Coach Diana Romero credits the improvement from last season to a strong class of incoming freshmen who had the ability to contribute right off the bat.

“This season we placed 4th, which is a big leap from last year. We were able to get strong swims from many of our swimmers rather than a select few such as last year,” Romero said.

Freshmen Camila Zacarias, Alina Perez, Hannah Belt, Jenny Navarro and Rianna Santivong all came into the season with competitive swims.

“They all had their own specialty and because of that they were able to establish themselves in their events,” said Romero.

“We have improved on all aspects. It is a matter of showing up to get better and to improve,” Romero said.

Despite Swimming & Diving being an individual sport, the Huskies came together and showed each other support that helped the team this season.

Romero said not all teams can come together, although it is important for a team to be able to support each other.

Sophomore Maria Robledo was an example of a supportive teammate this season.

“She (Robledo) was always there to encourage her team. It is something quite special to see how supportive this team can be with each other. I am not saying they are perfect, but they had a lot of growing moments,” Romero said.

Zacarias said the team would make it a habit to show up for each other’s swims.

“We believe team spirit makes us do better,” Zacarias said.

Zacarias has been swimming competitively for 12 years and started at Commerce Aquatics.

Throughout her swimming

career, she has developed a passion for the sport. This passion pushed her to continue swimming after graduating high school, even though she had planned to stop competing.

“I did miss the competitions, and I still had goals for certain events that I still wanted to achieve,” said Zacarias.

Zacarias’ biggest swim inspiration has been Coach Romero.

“She is an amazing water polo player that has been able to see and go to so many places because of her skill and talent,” Zacarias said.

Next season, Zacarias hopes to

with a defensive double play.

During the second at-bat in the top of the ninth inning, the Huskies had a chance to score again.

An error from shortstop Madera allowed Hernandez to reach first safely.

The Huskies singled at their next at-bat, and runners were on first and second for Mendez.

Rio Hondo responded with another pitching change, with pitcher Dominic Versluis entering the game.

The change proved effective

for Rio Hondo as Versluis got the next two batters he faced out. This brought the Huskies’ momentum to a halt.

After a solid pitching start from Dominguez, he walked the first batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth. With only one out and runners on base, Rio Hondo’s Soto singled to the outfield.

Husky right fielder Elkridge dove in an attempt to secure an out. However, the ball was out of reach and landed just outside his outreached glove.

Rio Hondo won in walk-off

fashion as lead runner Dylan Schumacher scored.

The Huskies walked off the field in defeat as Rio Hondo celebrated their 3-2 win.

Despite the loss, the Huskies’ record was enough to receive an invitation to play in the CCCAA Baseball So Cal Regional playoff.

The Huskies will look to perform their best as this is their first playoff appearance in five years.

The Huskies will play the first game of the playoffs against Palomar College on Friday.

improve her times, swim more events and qualify for state.

Zacarias will begin to prepare for next season through Water Polo conditioning.

The team will begin to prepare for summer Water Polo as many swimmers on the team participate in both.

“It is a special thing to be a dual sport athlete. Not many can say they’ve played two sports in college,” Romero said.

The team will host State Championships on campus May 4 to 6.

SPLISH SPLASH Camila Zacarias and Alina Perez holding their medals after competing in the 200 meter indivdual medely. Zacarias placed third and Perez placed fifth.

COURTESY OF HANNAH BELT AND FAITH ACOSTA