Cypress High April 2017

April 2017

9801 Valley View St., Cypress, CA 90630

Volume 17 Issue 8

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Senior Skate Night- pg. 2

Spring Playlist- pg. 8

Wheel of Fortune- pg. 4

Choir- pg. 3

Track- pg. 12

Creativity Shines At Night Of The Arts

by Ashlyn Salao Editor-in-Chief

On Thursday, April 6th, Cypress High School hosted its first Night of the Arts. The event was organized by Mr. Johnson and the Photo Club to showcase more than 100 original works of art ranging from Photoshop creations to black and white photography.

Students from all different grade levels were able to submit their photos for a chance to earn prize money.

Judged by guest judges, the top three in each category won cash prizes. The winners for the color included Katherine Moreno (1st), Gabriella Doran (2nd), and Charlotte Win (3rd). For the black and white category, the winners included Katherine Moreno (1st), Mia Jones (2nd), and Lauren Antonucci (3rd). For the final category, Photoshop creations, the winners were Brandon Nguyen (1st), Michael Sanchez (2nd), and Marcus Swain (3rd).

Along with the gallery spanning the whole 100 building’s hallways, the show also had performances from other students. Blush, a band made up of senior Maya Santos, junior Niko Sanchez, and junior Daniel Mikhail, played an original song and a few covers to kick off the show. Artemis, a local folk band featuring senior Brayden Davis, closed the show. Kenta Kodama, a senior here at Cypress High School, showed us his sick beats throughout the show using his DJ equipment and skills. A surprise flash mob also made an appearance, organized by Mrs. Fenton and her advanced dance class. Tae Kwon Do Club showed off their kicks and punches knocking boards in front of the audience.

Guests also enjoyed delicious tacos from the taco vendor at the event, along with a dessert cart with sweets baked by senior Fathima Shiham.

For people who wanted to place their own votes, there was

a People’s Choice category whose winners won cash as well. The winners were Gabriel Ocampo and Hayley Rice. Johnson said this year was “a big improvement”

If you didn’t go over last year’s event, a photo contest, because it included to the Night of the Arts, many more types of artistic make sure to go next year! expression in addition to photo.

photo by Ashlyn Salao

CYPRESS’ GOT TALENT: Students got to perform and show off their special skills

Mr. Eastridge Named PTSA Teacher Of the Year At Open House

Gold Ribbon Recognition

by Athela Fadul Student Activities

MR. EASTRIDGE was awarded PTSA Teacher of the Year

photo by Ms.Takacs

by Jason Nguyen Staff Writer

This year Cypress High’s Open House was on March 29th, an event attended by the parents, relatives, and students. At Open House, clubs were fundraising by selling food. The Jazz Band kept people entertained with a performance of several jazz classics with fine style. “We have preparing since the semester, and I liked how it turned out. It was entertaining and I think they did a good job, especially since there

FOOD GALORE: Various clubs sold food as a fundraiser was the first time performing,” said Jazz Band teacher and conductor James Quirion.

After the Jazz Band performance, PTSA members received awards for their service.

Sandi Bustos, one of the winners of the outstanding PTSA member of the year award, said, “Honestly I was shocked when I got it and I am thankful.” History teacher Scott Eastridge was named PTSA Teacher of the Year. After the ceremonies, students and parents were free to go to performances

photo by Jason Nguyen

in the gym, to visit displays in the Media Center, or to just stroll around school and visit classrooms.

Summer is almost here and we should appreciate school events as they pass by, as you can never have these times ever again.

“I think that Open House can be more than just parents seeing how their students are doing. We always tried a different format every year and I think that they are not only just seeing how students are doing, but students in action,” said Principal Jodie Wales.

On March 24, Cypress High School prepared for Gold Ribbon Recognition.

Schools are selected for the Gold Ribbon Recognition by demonstrating excellence within the school and by showing the school’s achievement in implementing state standards in priority areas.

The Gold Ribbon Committee went to some classes and toured around our school to learn more about what kind of school we go to. Selected students and staff were able to get the chance to explain to the Gold Ribbon Committee how wonderful Cypress High School is. A selected student, sophomore, Davin Nguyen, said, “The Gold Ribbon Committee were comfortable to talk to.” Nguyen is glad that he got the opportunity to show “what a great school Cypress is.” One of the questions they asked was, how do teachers support student

photo from California Department of Education in their education? Many people in the conference room said that teachers have supported them throughout their years in Cypress High School by always being there when help was needed for the lesson. Another student who was able to attend the conference, Senior Kevin Silveira, said, “It was an honor to represent our school, I had such a great time.”

Recently, Cypress High was in fact awarded Gold Ribbon Recognition. Way to go Centurions!

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STUDENT ACTIVITIES/OPINION

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Cypress Elects New President and ASB Cabinet

by Vanessa Felix Layout Editor

With the coming of Spring comes the Associated Student Body holding its elections.

The 2017-2018 Executive ASB Board will consist of President Lea El Haddad, Vice President Alison Harper, Secretary Erin O’Crowley, and Treasurer Eve Huang. The Class Presidents will be Senior Class Kristen Loeffler, Junior Paul Gang, and Sophomore Rebecca McDevitt. Haddad, the President-Elect, believed that the entire election process was difficult, but it’s an honor to serve as ASB President,” she said. ASB has “taught me so much,” especially with so many people dedicated to making the year best as possible.

The campaigners were allowed to advertise themselves through social media, posters within campus, and a short video broadcast to classes during the voting period. Freshman Elizabeth Woo revealed that a lot of the people campaigning personally messaged her on

Facebook asking for support, which had a huge impact on her votes. Along with Sophomore Cindy Yi who thought it was nice seeing the “creativity and passion the candidates put into their campaign”, Woo thought the Facebook election group pages, graphics posted on social media, or reading catchy slogans were interesting. Overall, students like Sophomore Camille Villarreal chose the candidates who demonstrated the most leadership, determination, and “concern for what the student body wanted regarding certain policies.”

Some students also raised concerns about the ineffectiveness of elections. Yi saw the impact that campaigning had on the outcome of the elections and believes that people voted in accordance to “which person they believed advertised the flashiest/was more popular,” but she doesn’t know what the school could do to prevent this inherent popularity contest. She doesn’t believe that the candidates elected

are “incapable by any means,” however it’s definitely noteworthy.

Other students such as Senior Stephen Liem thinks ASB does “little to change the school” and what they do achieve only affects a certain group of people, such as their friends. Because of this students don’t feel “included and are indifferent to the elections as they are ineffective within changing their experiences.” He thinks ASB is “doing their best, but BITTERSWEET GOODBYE: As the way they do things isn’t right we say goodbye to our old ASB, we to gain student interest.” Despite welcome our new ASB board this slight negativity towards the organization, Sophomore Joshua Suh, two year ASB member, asserts that they strive to represent the student body, raise student voices, and act as “role models.”

He believes that ASB means to raise morale, and heighten school spirit, and show how “all of us symbolically bleed blue and orange because we love CHS so much.”

He and other ASB members will continue to do this because it is THE CAMPAIGN: Students got a “privilege to represent school creative as they ran for the 2017spirit and raise everyone’s spirit.” 2018 year

photo courtesy of Lea Haddad

photo courtesy of Lea Haddad

Seniors Roll Back to the 80’s At Skate Night

by Miranda Santos

On Monday, April 3rd, 12th grade Centurions met at Holiday Skate in Orange for this year’s Senior Skate Night. The 80’s themed event lasted from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and students came dressed in attire varying from neon tights and legwarmers to scrunchies and tutus.

Arriving in a tank top and knee pads, Chadd Saw gave his take on the apparel when saying, “Funny story actually, I was going for an ethnic mix of the different cultures and people of the 80’s and needless to say, I think I pretty much nailed it!”

This was a decade in which the lines between men and women’s fashion blurred. Unisex trends were all about big hair, bold colors, and experimentation. Saw added, “Namaste and rock on.”

Not only was the night lively and colorful, students were also able to put in a good workout for the day. Sabrina Ichiho remarks, “Skating was a little shaky at the start of the night, but seeing everyone having fun, whether good at skating or not, made it an enjoyable event to spend with our senior class. It was easy to put myself out there and try something new because everyone was so encouraging and having such a good time.”

With a huge thanks to ASB, who spent much dedicated time planning and setting up the event, it’s fair to say the night was a great addition to the many shared memories of Cypress High’s traditional senior events.

ASB’s advisor, Sarah Binford, adds, “It was a really good way to have the seniors bond as the year is coming to an end.”

nature of the horses? Does the whip actually come in contact with the animals? Do the horses ever get to see the light of day?

The fact is that a healthy life of a horse recommends a stocking rate of one horse per two acres

in order to maintain pasture quality (Equinews.com). At a performance arena, the ability to fulfill this proposal is highly improbable. Calls and emails to Medieval Times regarding care of the animals were not returned.

Features Page Editor/Illustrator

BACK TO THE FUTURE: Seniors were all smiles as they showed off their throwback outfits

photo by Eric Chung

Seniors Visit MediEVIL Times

by Miranda Santos Features Page Editor/Illustrator

On March 6, 2017, Seniors gathered for the Cypress High annual tradition at Medieval Times Dinner and Live Show in Buena Park. The show consists of jousting, weaponry, falconry, and horsemanship.

They start guests off with a crown with a color that corresponds to the knight they’ll be siding with. Then all are gathered in The Great Hall until the trumpets play and the crowd is directed to the huge performance arena. “In myth and in legend, the Knight and the horse are forever linked. Few things are held in such great esteem by the Medieval warrior than a stalwart horse, who possesses the bold courage of his master and the

quiet strength of his ancestors,” starts the narrator of the show.

Sure, an exciting intro, that medieval feel, and food suiting the taste of both meat-lovers and vegetarians; but how can one be oblivious to the animal treatment going on behind the curtains?

Senior Sarah Hughes says, “I’m really against circus type shows, so the show at Medieval Times was pretty hard for me to watch.”

The horses seemed to be foaming from the mouth, although, it is unknown whether it be from illness or just your ordinary horse saliva. Additionally, one of them even seemed to be limping as if it had been wounded.

Regardless of the unknowns, the life of these horses is undoubtedly a life of restriction. Hughes also adds, “The life of confinement and

training those horses have had to live through just for an hour of our entertainment is heartbreaking.”

This event brought about many unanswered questions as the show went on-- Do the noise level and bright lights disturb the

NO HORSING AROUND: Centurions cheered on the “Blue Knight”

photo by Miranda Santos

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

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Choir Shows Off Their Skills

by Amy Nguyen Chief Layout Editor

On Tuesday, March 21st, Cypress Choir Music Director Ms. Harvey and Cypress Performing Arts presented the Spring Showcase at Kennedy High Performing Arts Center. Featuring groups such as Shockwaves and High Voltage, the show covered many different genres of music, including rap, some dance moves, and even drama scenes.

The show began with soloists Autumn Carroll and Kiersten Rubinkan singing Down in the River to Pray quickly joined by all choir members as they entered from the audience and grouped themselves on stage. High Voltage ended their set with a rendition of True Colors, a crowd pleaser.

Shockwaves started their set with Bonse Aba, which the singers performed with much enthusiasm.

Interspersed between the group numbers were various solos, including some dancing and drama scenes. One notable performance was by freshman

photo by Ms. Takacs

SING YOUR HEART OUT: Choir displays their harmony as they wow the audience Sarah Rodriguez, who played her ukulele and sang Piece by Piece.

Finally, the entire group of choirs sang Joyful, Joyful in a style reminiscent of the film Sister Act II. The soloists included Ean Ramos, Jordan Sims, Kyla Anderson, Sarah Rodriguez,

and, with a beautiful and strong voice, the opening lines were sung by freshman Vanesa Bernal.

Lastly, there was a “senior moment” in which all seniors sang and reported on where they would be going in the future. This led

to a surprise gift for the director, Ms. Harvey. In addition to the traditional flowers, etc., a group of singers gave Ms. Harvey a special song, which they rehearsed over Spring Break without her knowledge. Directed by senior

Kelsey Ashton, the performance touched hearts in the audience as well as on stage, as Ms. Harvey and many choir members teared up with gratitude and thanks.

It was a fittingly emotional ending to a wonderful concert.

most interesting hotels may have been the Mozart Motel in Vienna, where soldiers from World War II stayed. Junior, Andrea Alba’s favorite part of the trip was being in both Budapest and Vienna.

“The people in Budapest had the best hospitality and I really loved the ‘Szechenyi Baths and Pool’. However, Vienna was the most beautiful architecturally.”

Similarly, Eastridge’s favorite place was Budapest as well, “We also took a boat ride on the Danube River at night. The city looks so beautiful at night with all the lights. The Parliament building in particular was one of the most impressive sights in Budapest. Oh, and the goulash was really good too!”

Taylor Cervana, junior, says that what she loved most about the trip was, “getting out and just exploring the city.” Her personal favorite place being central Vienna as well for all the magnificent castles.

Besides all the breathtaking sights, the students

on the trip were able to form special bonds amongst each other and have continued to hang out even after the trip. Eastridge adds, “I value the shared memories we have from the trip. Traveling creates all kinds of opportunities for learning, laughing, and loving. Sharing the experience with my students makes it all the more special.” The most beloved moment from the trip for all was when all the students and the teachers got out on the dance floor for their waltz dancing lessons in Vienna where they learned both the waltz and polka.

Students and teachers returned home safely from an unforgettable experience in central Europe. It is safe to say that not only were they able to learn many new things and experience different lifestyles, the group formed stronger bonds with each other allowing for them to cherish these memories like these together, forever.

Spring Breakers in Europe

WHEN IN EUROPE: Students were immersed in European culture during their trip

photo by Andrea Alba

by Taira Ramdhani Sports Editor

On Spring Break, a were able to travel to some of the select number of lucky students most beautiful, central European

countries alongside both Mr. Eastridge and Ms. Lightner. They embarked on their adventure on Saturday, March 11th and returned on March 18th. On their trip, they visited Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. They spent two days in both Budapest and Vienna, and three days in Prague. There, they visited many cathedrals that embodied Gothic and Renaissance Architecture.

The students and teachers enjoyed the wide variety of food while taking in all the sights. One very special place was St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest which happens to be where Dr. Wales got married! All the students came back to say that they would love to take another trip to Europeany time, any day. Mr. Eastridge shared, “Students who explore the world broaden their minds and develop a better understanding of others, and themselves.”

Among many of the hotels they stayed in, one of the

Pre-Registering to Vote

photo from California Secretary of State

by Gina Le Copy Editor

In the past, you would only be eligible to register to vote if you were 17, and going to be turning 18 before the next general election. However, in California, you are now able to pre-register starting at the age of 16. With pre-registering, you will automatically be registered

to vote on your 18th birthday.

You can pre-register at :https:// covr.sos.ca.gov/? at any time.

The central goal of preregistration is to encourage voting among young people, the group that consistently has the lowest turnout rates. The benefits of prregistering at 16 is that when the

next election comes up, you don’t have to register then. Many people forget that they need to register, and by the time they go to register it’s too late(You must register at least 30 days before the election).

Dareh Nguyen, junior, has already completed the preregistration. He stated, “I thought it

was really cool to be able to do this, I know a lot of people don’t vote because they get too lazy to register by the time voting comes around.

Eve Huang, newly appointed ASB treasurer, was unaware of this until recently.

She stated, “Now that I know I can do this, I’m definitely

going to sign up as soon as possible. It’s definitely important to be as involved as possible.

Ethan Gragnano, government teacher, stated, “It’s a good thing because it gets younger people interested in politics and voting at an earlier age.”

FEATURES

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CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

First Job, First Paycheck: Centurions At Work

by Mohamad Doughani Distribution Chief

Who hasn’t dreamed of their first job? Getting your first job can be very exhilarating.

Most first jobs are inspired after the money and not the actual job itself. Most people have conditions to what they will do, for example, some people wouldn’t work at a fast food restaurant, and others would. Some people would rather do something more formal, like working at an electronics store. Some Cypress High School students have some really cool fun jobs.

Ashley Han is a party host at John’s Incredible Pizza and loves her job. She is very passionate about the work she does and loves to talk and loves to play with the children. She has been working there for about a month. She has been trained to make all sorts of balloon animals - the flower bracelet being her favorite to make. Although there aren’t many benefits working there, the greatest benefit would be the tips. She makes around 50 to a 100 dollars on average for tips.

Han said her favorite moment was when “This little girl ran up to me and told me, ‘Thank You for making 10th birthday memorable’”

and gave her a personalized goody bag and hugged her.

Not that many students have two jobs and not many students have a twin brother. The Gutierrez brothers, Osiris and Orion, each have two jobs. Orion works at The Original Grind and The Westin Hotel. He needed a job and his grandmother worked there, so she helped him get his position. His favorite part about going to work is the drive. He says he loves the scenery and the view of the beach. He enjoys working there because he doesn’t have that much of a workload and he gets to listen to music he enjoys. Orion says that “at night it seems kind of haunted as if there is some sort of ghost, but it really isn’t, it just looks creepy.” His second job is at The Original Grind, a coffee shop.

His favorite drink there is the Dirty Chai, “I love the taste,” he says. All his associates are “really friendly and fun to work with.”

Osiris works at Pacsun and Green Crush. His favorite out of the two is Pacsun, because he can dress however he likes and he could get discounts for a great percentage. His favorite things to get are graphic t-shirts and shoes. He says that working there “is cool and fun.” He also really likes working at Green

Crush because of how relaxed the environment is with his associates. “Everyone has the same mentality.” Something that annoys him is that when customers come back and complain about their

drink when it’s really fine. The best part about working there is that he only pays a dollar for his drinks.

A first job is one of the biggest moments and steps of someone’s life for you learn

TWO’S BETTER THAN ONE: Twin brothers Orion Gutierrez (left) and Osiris Gutierrez (right) both work two jobs

a work ethic that will last and will always be memorable. No matter if you take pride in your first job or not, it will always be memorable and the best part is that you made some extra cash.

photos by Mohamad Doughani

Two CHS Best Friends Spin to Win

by Avylon Kemna-Berg Equipment Manager

On February 27, 2017 at 7 p.m., Wheel of Fortune, the popular game show, aired “Teen Best Friends Week.” Teen Best Friends from high schools across the county appeared on the show with high hopes to solve puzzles to win cash and prizes.

In order to apply for the show, aspiring contestants must submit an application and a short one minute video about themselves and why they want to be a contestant on the show.

Among the contestants were two CHS freshmen and best friends, Adam Jones and Tyler Jones. Adam and Tyler solved the Mystery Round in the category of same letter with the solution, “Sending Silly Screenshots.”

“Tyler and I have been friends since third grade and we met when our teacher, Mrs. Price, she called us up to the front of the room by last name and since we have the last name of Jones we both walked up,” said Adam Jones.

“We won $20,000 in total and since we split in half

between the two of us, we each got $10,000. I will probably spend $1,000 of it and save the rest for a car,” said Tyler Jones.

“My favorite part of being on Wheel of Fortune was just spinning the wheel, I mean you see people do it on TV but then to actually spin it, it was amazing.

The whole experience was awesome, we got to meet Pat Sajak, Vanna White, and Jim Thorpe; and yes, I would absolutely do the show again,” said Adam Jones.

photo by Ms. Takacs

SPINNER WINNER: Our very own Cenutrions got to spin the infamous wheel

photo from WheelofFortune.com

Centurion of the Month: Audrey Sims

by Ashlyn Salao Editor-in-Chief

Cypress High School’s Centurion of the Month this April is freshman Audrey Sims.

Sims recently won The Kinjaz’s dance battle at the Anaheim’s Best Dance Crew show held here at Cypress, but not many know that she also won first place in the 100m race for the Little Olympics.

Sims proudly states, “I was the face of the Special Olympics’ newspaper – I was on the cover.”

In addition to those achievements, Sims also takes

pride in her kindness. She says, “I’m proud of myself because I can do whatever I want and be whoever I am which is a kind woman.” On campus, Sims is well known for her kindness and friendliness, befriending everyone she encounters. She describes Cypress High School as “the best place to be.” She continues, “A lot of people know me from going on the announcements.

My goal is to make new friends at school.” Sims also enjoys being part of the Best Buddies club.

Outside of school, Sims likes to hang out with her dad. “We’re going to the movies

tonight to watch the Power Rangers movie,” she explained excitedly. She also dreams of going to prom and being like a princess. She says, “I want to be like a princess and be even more beautiful. I’m going to be a kind princess, and I’ll find my prince.”

Sims explains that the things that she loves the most about herself are her happiness and her hair. Her advice to everyone is to not give up on themselves, and she adds, “I’d like to thank everyone for being so kind to me and for being my friend. Also, shoutout to Tristan Rowell.” photo by Ashlyn Salao

FEATURES

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CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Seacoast Grace Church Makes It “A Night to Shine”

by Nicki Roberson Staff Writer

Seacoast Grace, located on Cerritos Avenue in Cypress, was thrilled to be one of many churches around the world to host the 4th annual “A Night to Shine” on February 10th. Champions Club director Cindy Gilmore says that, “organizing the event took many more hours than I had anticipated. The more we worked on the prom and special dinner for the parents, the more we knew we wanted this to be an event that honored and exemplified the excellence of God. It became bigger than us and we felt that we had a responsibility to make it the BEST it could possibly be.” Having taken place in more than 200 churches in eight countries all at the same time, the prom-like event is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, created by former football player and current baseball player Tim Tebow (who attended the event this year in Memphis).

The prom itself was held on campus in their Warehouse

building. When guests arrived, they were surprised with a red carpet display at the entrance to the warehouse. Accompanied by a buddy, the prom guests strutted across the red carpet as their parents, other care providers, and church members cheered them on and took pictures while standing on opposite sides. Throughout the night, prom attendees were also treated with Cinderella style horse-drawn carriage rides as well as limo rides. As they made their way into the warehouse, each special needs person was given a name tag and had the opportunity to take pictures in front of many background posters with funny accessories that were available.

The inside was nicely decorated, and a large assortment of food and drinks were provided for the prom-goers and their buddies.

These honored guests experienced a special night filled with dancing and endless joy.

Meanwhile, parents, other care providers, and some church members were given a high quality dinner and a

show, which was performed by Christian standup comedian Ron McGehee; he’s also been a screenwriter for Jimmy Kimmel Live. This event portion was held in an upstairs building across from the Warehouse. Church elder and Cypress City Council Mayor Pro Tem Jon Peat and wife Bonnie Peat, who both hosted the event, greeted the audience and briefly spoke before introducing McGehee.

As his comedy act unfolded, McGehee immediately charmed the audience with his infectious but clean humor.

Touching base on subjects such as his childhood, heritage, and family, his jokes caused a whirlwind of laughter to fill the entire room throughout his performance.

Towards the end of the show, McGehee opened up about his own special needs daughter and gave a heartfelt message about her and his wife.

At the conclusion of the dinner and show, Peat returned to the stage and spoke once more, thanking everyone for attending.

Once he finished, a video made

photo courtesy of Seacoast Grace

SPECIAL NIGHT: Guests had a great time on the horse drawn carriage

by Seacoast Grace was presented to the audience, which showed the highlights of the prom.

As they exited the warehouse, each special needs guest was given a bag, which was filled with “A Night to Shine” items, such as a reusable cup and straw, picture frame, and bracelet.

“A Night to Shine” proved to be an incredible event that not

only invited thousands of special needs individuals to be honored for their uniqueness, but encouraged them and many others to join with the church communities and feel the love and value of themselves. Gilmore believes that every person’s heart was touched in “a very special way during the Tim Tebow Night to Shine prom.”

Alumni Corner: Johnson and Herrick

by Kyla Marisse Salas Business Manager

Cypress High’s Photography teacher, Mr. Johnson and European History teacher Mr. Herrick, go way back from being preschool buddies to being CHS graduates together. In an interview with both teachers, they remind themselves of good old times, teachers that they loved and classes that they will never forget. This is their ultimate high school experience in question and answer form.

volleyball for hours and hours in high school and in college when he came home for summer.

K: What kind of music did Mr. Johnson listen to in high school?

H: We listened to actually a lot of similar stuff. For him he was, Ska, No Doubt. The drummer went here and Gwen Stefani went to Loara.

J: He was more classic rock and I was more English Beat.

K: Did you have any classes together in high school?

QUESTION AND ANSWER: H & J: Soccer K: How did you perceive each H: I was Honors/AP. other in high school?

K: Wow, way to diss, I thought H: He was very stylish with his you said you were a regular kid? curly mop of hair hanging over (to H) his forehead. Our opinions were H: No, I said I just didn’t formed way before. He’s a better care. Except for History and athlete than I. computers. I took Honors and AP. J: Well we had a relationship K: What did you think was Mr before high school; we were Johnson’s favorite class in high classmates since kindergarten, school? and we went to church together.

H: (laughs) Dale Rousey, the art He’s better at academics than I teacher, had wheels for throwing was. pottery, kilns to fire it, not to K: What kind of person was Mr. mention drawing and painting.

Johnson in elementary?

[Johnson] ended up taking an H: Generous, happy, always had art major in college, focused on a good laugh, let me play with his prints. He could draw something dog whenever I wanted to, her fierce too. He did give me two of name was Mandy. his pieces.

K: What kind of person was Mr K: What were Herrick’s favorite Herrick? classes in high school?

J: Fun, loving, generous, I loved J: Well I would assume History going to his house because he and English. Your brother was a had lots of games to play with, math guy right? and collected baseball cards that K: Growing up was it tiring to were fun to look at all the time. see each other?

His mom would make awesome H: (laughs) NO. snacks. Craig was always a “go-to” K: How popular was Mr. guy for goodies. Adventurous.

Johnson in high school?

We played tackle football and H: He was very popular,

DYNAMIC DUO: Johnson and Herrick have many memories together from their childhood to today

everybody knew who he was. How many years in the homecoming court? Two? Plus he was a three sport varsity athlete in Baseball, Football and Baseball.

Everybody knew who Chris was, plus he dated a cheerleader. You were a stud, dude.

K: How popular was Mr. Herrick in high school?

J: As popular as I was.

H: Ha, liar.

J: We sat at the same table.

H: Yeah but nobody knew who I was.

J: (Sarcastically) Right.

K: Which teacher did Mr Johnson admire the most?

H: I’m gonna guess Dale Rousey.

K: Which teacher did Mr Herrick admire the most?

J: I wouldn’t even know. I don’t even know who the honors teachers were.

K: What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen Mr Johnson do?

H: (laughs) We’re not talking about that here.

K: Well what’s the least crazy thing you’ve seen him do?

J: (laughs) Well we’re so close that he ran into the back of my car in the parking lot. We had to straighten all the metal out, that was fun.

H: He surfed and skateboarded, and we had BMX bikes but he was much better than I. J: Most of the soccer stuff, or camping, but there was nothing really crazy.

H: Yeah but we weren’t the crazy ones J: Yeah we didn’t do crazy in high school (laughs) H: I was boring.

K: I didn’t expect that, Boring?

H: I read for fun, that’s boring.

photo by Taira Ramdhani K: That’s not boring J: I had a mean dad.

H: I loved his dad.

K: Who’s most likely to get into a fight?

J: ME. K: Who’s more likely to learn a second language?

H: ME. K: Were there any clubs you both joined?

K: Skiing club. We went to Utah for Winter break.

K: What was the worst rumor you heard about each other?

H & J: Nope, none.

Our class was close.

K: What advice would you give to 16-year-old Mr Johnson?

H: Read - it’s worth it.

K: What advice would you give to 16-year-old Mr Herrick?

J: Don’t buy any more CD’s, it’ll all be on the Cloud soon.

FEATURES

6

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Spring Into the New Season Outside

by Tala Essayli Photo Editor

Spring bloom! This is where all the landscapes awaken in this boring, old, suburban area and when the ground finally emerges with a symphony of color. What’s a better way to spend your Sunday mornings than at your local plant nurseries and gardens? Leave behind those technological devices and step outside and breathe in the beauty and freshness of this spring.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and

Botanical Gardens is a botanical landscaped garden located in San Marino, California. This ninetyeight years old property covers over 1,200 acres of different specialized gardens such as the markable “Japanese Garden,” the “Desert Garden,” and the “Chinese Garden.” There are more than a dozen themes, including the Australian Garden, Camellia Collection, Children’s Garden, Desert Garden, Herb Garden, Japanese Garden, Lily Ponds, North Vista, Palm Garden, Rose

Garden, the Shakespeare Garden, Subtropical and Jungle Garden, and the Chinese Garden. These plants from around the world are fitting for all sorts of people.

Apart from the gardens however comes the notable library on the property that was designed in 1920. The library contains a substantial collection of rare books and manuscripts, that varies from fields of British and American history, literature, art, and the history of science. The library holds materials that span from

FULL BLOOM: Visitors can experience the beatiful gardens with a rare book to read

the 11th century to the present, leaving a total of about 7 million items. Over 400,000 of these items make up the rare books, and over a million make up the photographs, prints, and other memorable works. The art collections held within the library include works from the 18th and 19th century British & French paintings, sculptures and decorative arts such as The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough and Pinkie by Thomas Lawrence. American art collections exist within the

library as well most notably Small Crushed Campbell’s Soup Can (Beef Noodle) as well as the Brillo Boxes sculptures, both done by the prominent, Andy Warhol.

This garden is well worth your time during these blooming months and is open all year. It’s always a good day to explore luscious gardens and rare-book collections so don’t hesitate to pay it a visit.

photos by Tala Essayli

Senioritis

by Miranda Santos

7

OPINION

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Self Care: All Natural Products For Healthy Skin

photos from pinterest.com

by Maya Gutierrez Entertainment Editor

Taking care of our bodies and mental health the natural way should be something that’s considered popular, cool, and important. The reason most people are unaware of these natural remedies is due to the fact that society advertises products full of chemicals and side effects that are harmful to us in the long run.

Getting a job at a Vegan Juice bar a year ago really aided in my effort to consume and use products that are as natural as possible and good for my well-being. With all the thousands of complications that could go wrong medically within our bodies, it’s important to take care of ourselves now, because our body is essentially our only permanent home.

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil- Coconut Oil comes straight from the meat of a coconut.

Coconut Oil acts as a good natural skin moisturizer/lotion for your

body and face. It works really well when I use it to take off my mascara and eyeliner. I also used coconut oil as a substitute on my tattoos that were in the process of healing. You can also rub coconut oil daily on places of your body where you have stretch marks.

It’s good to do a coconut oil hair treatment once a month. Be sure to wash it out and not leave it in overnight. The past couple years, my family has been using coconut oil as a substitute the majority of the time when cooking, rather than using olive or vegetable oil.

Tea Tree Oil - Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil derived from the plant Melaleuca Alternifolia known to fight bacteria and fungi.

Tea tree oil has been known to work wonders for piercings that are in the process of healing and for prevention of infection. Tea tree oil is also good to rub on your temples as a form of a soothing treatment and relaxation. I have been putting Tea Tree oil on my temples after I get out

the shower right before I go to bed, and I’ve noticed how much better the energy in my dreams have been and how well I can remember them in the morning.

If you are breaking out, Tea Tree oil has also been known to bring down your acne as a “spot treatment.” It is also good to treat wounds, sunburns, and rashes.

Oregano - Oregano is derived from the roots of the Oregano plant. Dropping Oregano leaves into a hot cup of water with honey and lemon to make Oregano Tea is one of the best home remedies to cure a cold, cough, vomiting, fever and nasal congestion. Oregano’s properties are also known to relieve menstrual cramps in women. My mom used to make my brothers and me down coffee mugs of Oregano tea when we didn’t want to, but I recently have grown a liking to the taste.

Cayenne Pepper - Cayenne comes from the plant originally said to have been grown in South America.

Cayenne pepper is good for your blood, aiding in lowering blood pressure. It is also good for your cardiovascular system, decreasing your risk of heart disease. If you have a cold, consuming cayenne pepper will also help rebuild your immune system. It’s easy for me to introduce cayenne into my life because all I do is add it into my water every day at work. Cayenne pepper has helped me get better when I get headaches or migraines, especially since a lot of the women in my family have a bad history of having migraines. Cayenne pepper can also be used to relieve joint pain, especially in people who have arthritis. Cayenne also helps speed up your metabolism, therefore aiding in weight loss.

Sage- Sage has one of the longest histories of use as a culinary or medicinal herb. You can make sage infused tea by putting the leaves in boiling water, which helps aid digestion and reduce fevers.

People also gargle it or use it as a rinse for inflammations. Sage can

also be used as steam inhalation for people having asthma attacks.

Burning sage is not only good in its ability in improving brain function and memory, but also cleansing the air of “bad spirits”. In my family, we burn sage a couple times a year in all the corners of our room in order to make sure there are no bad spirits or bad energy left lingering around.

One time I wrapped Lavender in the Sage before I Sage-d my room, and it smelt amazing.

Turmeric - Turmeric has a lot of good benefits for your body and brain. Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. My friend Vanessa puts Turmeric in her tea when she’s sick and has a sore throat. Vanessa says her dad drinks Turmeric with her milk when he wants to get rid of his cough.

My sister makes a homemade Turmeric face mask that helps to clear her bumps on her face as well as make her face less oily.

Are You Or a Loved One Suffering From Procrastination?

by Daniel Park Staff Writer

The end of the school year is approaching and the effort level for the school year seems to have died down. The end of the school year means different things for each person. While the good students are trying to maintain their good grades, the others are just waiting for the last day of school.

Senior Louis Monfiero says, “I’m only looking forward to the end of the school year so I can get out of here; I had a great time in Cypress but I feel I need to move on already.”

He continued, “I haven’t been trying as hard as I should have, but it’s almost all over for me now.”

Arian Namavar, junior, still has his mind set on a good school year, “from the start to the finish, I want to be able to say that I did my best and I want to achieve my goal.” He continued, “I have been noticing more people not being excited for class and a trend of a lot of students not coming to class on time as the year progresses.

Also the number of students not turning in assignments blows my

mind.” As he gathered himself, he stated, “procrastination is the major obstacle that students face when they want to achieve their goals.

To overcome procrastination you have to have a well-planned schedule, take the actions needed to tear down the

barrier, and reach the ultimate destination. It begins when one does not have enough motivation or they don’t have an organized life, which halts their progress.”

After a few minutes, he thought to himself and said, “Procrastination is part of life. Humans have the

photo from pinterest.com

tendency to choose the easier ways, because that is in our DNA. This behavior helped us survive millions of years ago. However, this natural instinct may come back to bite us. In modern times, our actions have side effects that are greater in magnitude than

previous times, which is a side effect of globalization. Everything is rapidly changing, and our brains have not had the chance to adapt to it yet. So teachers please don’t blame us for not turning our Spanish homework in on-time.”

photo by Daniel Park

8

ENTERTAINMENT

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Music Moods For Springtime

photo from spotify.com

by Niko Sanchez Staff Writer

Throughout spring, it is essential to acknowledge the delicate flowers. We take this month to appreciate the world and all it has to offer.

Spring means the transition to summer is finally here!! The grass is greener and the sun is shining brighter than ever. Spring time is full of happiness and love!! It’s a time to smile and be positive.

1. These songs show the relaxed side of spring time. They will help you calm down and feel at peace

with the world. I listen to this playlist when I’m relaxing in my room reading a book or blatantly staring at my ceiling fan. This playlist will relieve your body of all negative energy. If you’re stressed, grab a snack, lay on your bed and put this playlist on.

-Different State of Mind - Kid Bloom -Let’s Not Talk About Love Enjoy -Making a Fool of You HOMESHAKE -Chamber of Reflection - Mac Demarco -Closer - Goapele -Dark Red - Steve Lacy -Death & Texas - Daniel Caesar -Song To Sing When I’m Lonely -

John Frusciante Wounds - Ourselves the Elves -Emptiness Is a Closet Full of Your -Old Clothes - Wishing -Chelsea’s Hotel - Darwin Deez -Running - Nicotine’s Famous Honey 2. These songs will remind you of all the fun memories you make during spring break. They’re songs you can listen to while taking a drive or hanging out with your friends. I listen to this playlist when I’m in a happy mood. I love all of these songs and I hope you will to.

-Heartbreaker - Bad Suns -Who You Are - The Genius Buddha Band -Silver Bullet - SWMRS

-We Try but We Don’t Fit In - Day Wave -Raspberry - Grouplove -Electric U - Kid Bloom -Last Nite - The Strokes -I Don’t Want To Dance - COIN -Outskirts of Paradise - Bad Suns -Freaks - Surf Curse -Days - The Drums -Here It Goes Again - OK Go 3. These songs show the romantic side of spring. Fun love songs that you can listen to while hanging out with your honey.

These lovely songs will make your heart flutter. My favorite off of this playlist is Karen, You’re An Angel by Sleeping in the Aviary.

I recently discovered this song

and I can’t stop listening to it.

-4EVER - LANY -Love It All - The Kooks -Everybody Wants To Rule The -World - Tears For Fears -This Must Be My Dream - The 1975 -Gold Silver Diamond -Generationals -Little Taste of Heaven - Leach -Pink Skies - LANY -Sleepover - Hayley Kiyoko -Bae - Mura Masa 10,000 Emerald Pools - BØRNS Youth - Glass Animals Infinite High - Panama Wedding Karen, You’re An Angel - Sleeping in the Aviary

Khalid’s American Teen Living the American Dream

by Jenny Tong Business Manager/ Front Page Editor

Khalid, the rising 19-year-old R&B singer and songwriter from Texas, released his first album American Teen on March 3, 2017 after his debut single Location, which reached number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 because of his major success from his single, he gained a considerable amount of fans internationally and had a great turnout for American Teen. Junior, Sandra Nguyen has known the artist since his debut and her favorite song from the album is “Literally all of them, but if I had to choose it’d be Young, Dumb & Broke. I was hooked from the first verse.” She followed him on Spotify long before his release and was immediately updated on the new album. Sandra says

passionately, “I think he’s an amazing artist with a unique style. It’s a fresh and a new sound to the table which is probably why everybody loves him so much! I really appreciate how relatable all the songs are. He’s one of my go to artists if I ever need to simp.”

Khalid was named Apple Music’s New Artist of the week and won a Woodie Award for the category, “Woodie to Watch” based on being premiered in The Fader, a video that accumulated over six million views in the span of four months and was listened to 35 million times a day! Although he looks at artists like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and Frank Ocean, Khalid’s style is no doubt different and exclusive. Junior, Arianna Rodriguez, describes it as “very calming and low, yet upbeat. I like it-it’s really good and laid back. His voice is amazing and really soothing.”

photos from spotify.com

ENTERTAINMENT Spring Page-Turners 9

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

by Andrew Kim Staff Writer

The Tao of Pooh: The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff, is a book that goes into depth analyzing how the iconic Winnie the Pooh has the qualification of being an eastern philosopher. In this story, the world of Taoism is introduced in this analysis by showing how the calm, carefree, and content Pooh goes about life. To read the Tao of Pooh is to gain greater insight on life and its struggles. Ashlyn Salao states, “It gave me a new understanding and perspective on life, and I recommend this book to anyone who may feel stuck or overwhelmed in their lives.”

A Man Called Ove: A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman, tells the story of a bitter old man, who goes through each day dealing with his community.

As he goes through his bitter life, he decides to try and end his suffering, but his multiple attempts are thwarted by his new neighbors. As one flips through the pages, it makes you laugh aloud but breaks your heart as learn the backstory of a man named Ove. I Love My Love: I Love My Love, by Reyna Mays are a collection of poems that all follow themes relating to life, love, and happiness. The words of Reyna Mays speaks the heart and mind. “I Love my Love sends

all photos from goodreads.com a message that loving yourself is the most fufilling and beautiful love life has to offer,” Regina Yang states.

The Glass Castle: The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, is an autobiography that depicts the hardships Jeannette suffered growing up. It depicts her struggle as a woman fighting

to climb up the socioeconomic hierarchy to improve upon the situation she has been given. As Jenny Tong states, “It’s a touching story of a strong girl growing up through tough barriers and eventually becomes successful.

I’ve read the book three times and it never gets old. The novel

Underrated Artists To Look Out For

by Nicki Roberson Staff Writer

Grace Vandell

photo from musicnews.com In a world full of so much artistry, there sometimes seems to be very little recognition of the genuinely talented people that are trying so hard but can’t catch a break. Take singers for example.

Many of these mainstream artists, especially nowadays, rely more on gimmicks and a controversial public image rather than voice. In a lot of ways, the music industry has created what’s almost like a formula for singers when it comes to their whole style and image. Which is why it’s safe to say that you’ve likely come across the same type of songs, music videos, and albums over a million times. While not every singer has jumped on the mainstream bandwagon, a lot of them are somehow sucked into it anyway.

The people out there that truly showcase something meaningful in their music are the people that deserve to be noticed more.

Grace Vardell, a 17-yearold singer-songwriter, and self-

taught pianist from California, has been making music since she was seven years old. Although she’s earned an impressive following over the years from her presence on Youtube, Soundcloud, Last. fm, Instagram, Twitter, and other parts of the internet and offline, she still has yet to truly make it big.

With a unique, angelic tone to her voice that has a mesmerizing effect on her listeners, it’s almost hard to imagine why she hasn’t had that chance. Her songwriting is also one of the many things about her that’s drawn in some moderate attention. Original songs such as “Run Away,” (which has a music video that can be found on Youtube), “Grey,” “Poison,” “Fly (Secret Song),” and “Raindrops” show off a high level of maturity that really spells out the definition of raw talent. With over 70,000 subscribers on Youtube, Vardell is also known for covering songs like “Wicked Games” by Chris Isaak, a slowed down rendition of “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, “Volcano”

by Damien Rice, “Heart of Stone”

by IKO, “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse, “Survival” by Eminem, and “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy. Pennsylvania native Mia Zanotti, aka Mia Z, is a 17-yearold blues singer-songwriter who’s known for her shockingly mature, raspy voice and wide range.

Zanotti notably grew up around music. She developed a taste for it after her mom, who also sings, and her uncle, who plays the guitar, put together a band and made

her the lead vocalist. Spending most of her time performing with her family and making music in her personal studio, Zanotti had already made an album called “The Beginning” in 2012 when she was twelve years old. Her sound can be identified as “oldsoul blues,” with a mixture of rock, R&B, pop, and some other genres.

Zanotti had auditioned for season eight of The Voice in 2015. She performed the iconic “The Thrill is Gone” by the late, legendary B.B. King. This earned Zanotti a turn of two chairs, the first from Blake Shelton and the second from Pharrell Williams. Praising her tone and range, Pharrell convinced Zanotti to choose him as her coach. Although she proved to be a huge favorite among many, she only advanced to the Top 12. Following her elimination, Zanotti came out with her own song and music video called “Child” with help from Williams.

She later made a video of a live session at Mr. Smalls recording studio, performing another original song called “Drive Me Crazy.” Tying in with her soulful and bluesy style, both songs are part of Zanotti’s second album called “Mia Z,” which was released early last year. As of the present, Zanotti continues to perform and make music. But despite her ground-breaking voice, Zanotti has yet to surface the airwaves and gain national prominence.

Most of her music, along with covers, can be found on Youtube.

is extremely inspiring and I highly recommend reading it.”

The Underground Railroad: The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead, tells the story of a slave named, Cora. Cora’s story begins with her attempt to escape from plantation from Virginia going awry, and

leaves a white boy who tried capture her dead. In this story, the Underground Railroad is not a metaphor, and is literal in this story.

Her story of escape and hardships are riveting and a page turner.

Warped Tour 2017

photo from Youtube.com

by Marissa Zaidi Staff Writer

Warped Tour is an annual traveling rock festival that has been around since 1995. It is the largest traveling music festival in the United States and it is all thanks to a man named Kevin Lyman. The tour has always been held outdoors and is considered the “Coachella of rock music.”

It originally started off as a rock music festival but branched out to other genres such as punk rock and metalcore. Because the event is yearly, the lineup is constantly changing. There are at least seven stages for bands to perform on and the festival typically carries around 90 bands that play throughout the day. Vans Warped Tour was created to bring notice to upcoming bands in the scene and it is now international reaching

Australia, Japan, and Europe.

As it is approaching its 22nd year, the 2017 Vans Warped Tour lineup, announced on March 22, has many people excited. They’re playing at least two cities in almost every state.

The California dates are August 5 in San Diego and August 6 in Pomona. This year’s lineup has different variations of genres ranging from pop-punk to metal to pop. But according to altpress. com, you can expect “more metal than anything this year.” There are bands that are new and veteran bands that are old to the scene that are joining Warped Tour this year. There is more variation in terms of the age of bands this year than any other year.

SPORTS

10

Tennis Team With Near Perfect Record This Season

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Badminton Ends With a Bang

by Davin Nguyen Staff Writer

So far, this season, boy’s tennis has a 13-1 record. The Centurions’ only loss was against Valencia, but after the loss, they had a second match on April 6th.

This time, Cypress took the win.

For the last six years, boy’s tennis has been one of the strongest teams in our league. They are on track to finish the season with the same record as last year, especially since the boys are “much deeper team this season,” Coach Paul believes.

The match against the Tustin Tillers on April 4th on the Tiller’s courts was a predictable match. Our Centurion Boys were able to dominate and get the win. Varsity and JV worked together to defeat the Tillers, 18-0. When asked, Zachary Chung, JV player, said that it “felt good to put the things you have practiced to use.” On Thursday, April 6th, the varsity boys defeated their main competition in league, Valencia, with score of 11-7. With that win, they tied for first place in Empire League.

When varsity player, Andres Roa was asked about

IN IT TO WIN IT: Varsity Player, Yessel Jheong, receives a drop

by Andrew Kim Staff Writer

VICTORY: Adam Pham hits El Dorado with his best shot.

photo by Kevin Qian

how it felt this season, he stated that this season and match felt “great,” and felt that the team did a great job against the Tillers. They are confident about playing against Tustin next time.

Coach Paul, feeling optimistic for the rest of the

season, wants to let him team know that, “Team tennis is all about the entire team. We need to support everyone while they are playing.” For the rest of the season, the team is looking forward to the postseason both for the team CIF and individual CIF.

Boy’s Golf Swinging Toward CIF Victory

As the season draws near an end, Cypress Badminton is playing with everything they have. The team initially started the season with a strong start, but due to ineligibility issues, their record of 8-4 is most likely going to be brought down.

Despite the disheartening news, the team has not lost any spirit, only losing to their rivals Gahr and Cerritos High Schools.

This ineligibility issue will demote the Cypress Badminton Team from Division 1 to Division 2 and lower Cypress’ ranking from 3rd in the league to an undetermined ranking. However, the issue does not affect the

PRACTICE: Makes Perfect

by Mohamad Doughani Staff Writer

by Avylon Kemna- Berg

On Tuesday, April 4, Boy’s Golf defeated Tustin 212 10 247. Three members of Boy’s golf medaled in the match against Tustin: Roman Aragon, Eric Hsu, and Logan Bittner.

In a previous match on Tuesday, March 28, Boy’s Golf beat Long Beach Poly with a score of 208 to 213. Boy’s golf also defeated one of their top competitors,

Valencia, with a score of 208 to 228.

Coach Mitchell said, “We have one more league team to play. If we beat them we will go into league undefeated.

Our goal is to make it to CIF’s and go far in the playoffs.”

Boy’s golf has played seven matches and they still have nine more to go. “We have a lot of talent and potential this year. We are playing well and winning,” said Mitchell.

teammates’ individual placement for League Finals. This means that the players as individuals now have a chance to win more.

As League Finals are fast approaching, Head Coach Brian Jeon had this to say, “I am confident in my Boy’s Singles 1 (Isaiah Delos Reyes) and Boys Doubles 1 (Tony Baek and Daniel Byun) and also in all of the mixed players! I feel like we should be able to place first, second, or third in Mixed Doubles, Boy’s Double or Singles. The only schools that will give us trouble are Gahr and Cerritos. So if we are able to push through, it should be an easy tournament.” Despite all these complications, Cypress Badminton will fight to the end.

Boy’s Volleyball Goes Undefeated

photo courtesy of Coach Mitchell

ERIC HSU: Hits a tee shot at Friendly Hills

Staff Writer

photo by Andrew Kim

“Preston Narciso has medaled a couple of times and he has improved from last year,” said Mitchell. Preston has played golf at CHS since freshman year and is now a junior. “The whole team is really close and we are all friends,” said Narciso.

Boy’s golf is eager to make it to CIF and so far they have defeated all of their competitors. “I really want to get to CIF,” said Narciso.

Volleyball is a sport all about communication and coordination. This year boy’s volleyball is undefeated 5-0. They are working hard and striving to bring Cypress High School a CIF and State title. This hard-working team is coached by former University of Hawaii volleyball player Alex Griffiths. Last year the boys did very well, sweeping league and getting to the semi-

photo courtesy of Khaled Kishawi

finals. All the hard work and strong mental mindset has really paid off for the 13 Centurion players.

Winning a game takes hard work and team cohesiveness.

The most important skills are serving and passing. “If we serve tough and pass well we can beat any team,” says coach Griffiths.

Varsity Volleyball is very dedicated and the boys are very confident in winning league and CIF this year.

From past experience of last year they know what to improve on.

SPORTS

11

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight Shines on Salazar

by Jacob Mercado Staff Writer Coming off of a dominant 7-0 victory over Valencia, Cypress Baseball looks strong behind the leadership of the senior class.

Senior Raul Salazar received a win on the night, and he looks to continue this type of performance as the season progresses. Being an integral part of the baseball program during his tenure as a Centurion, Salazar reflected on the past seasons, “Cypress baseball has been the biggest blessing in my life. Not only have I grown tremendously as a player on and off the field, I connected with some great ball players and coaches that will be lifelong friends.”

Salazar’s style of pitching exemplifies confidence, and that makes him an easy choice when coaches decide who should take the mound. He says, “When I get the nod to start, I get excited because I love leading the team on the mound, and to prepare I work

photo courtesy of Jimmie Martin

PITCH PERFECT: Salazar sends a sizzling strike from the stretch. out throughout the week and I mentally visualize getting the other team out.” If things do not seem to be in his favor, Salazar maintains his calm demeanor as he explains, “Breathing keeps my mind at ease

when the pressure is on. Stepping off the mound and taking a long deep breath can really change your performance. On the other hand, when I’m having a good game I try to keep pumping up

my teammates and make sure they are energized and ready to win.”

Salazar is a passionate leader as he says, “When I’m not on the field I lead by becoming our number one fan. I try to encourage

Swim Races Towards League

by Arianna Rodriguez and Nicki Roberson Distribution Chief and Staff Writer

All swim teams have high expectations for this year that they plan to achieve with the help of their teammates. One thing that the Boy’s and Girl’s swim teams have in common is their determination to win league.

Boy’s Varsity player Senior Alberto Cortes won’t let anything get in his team’s way as he hopes “to become back to back to back undefeated league champions”. Besides winning league, Cortes is going into the new season with the intent to meet his goal of winning state and breaking records. However, wanting to win is not the only thing Cortes likes about swim, the team bonding events outside of school have help them to become a family.

Sharing some of the same views as his varsity teammate, Junior Irving Vega loves how his team “always works together,” and his lane buddy Cortes. One of Vega’s personal goals for this

season is to get a CIF consideration time. Like Cortes, Vega’s goals for his team is “to win league for the third time in a row” and to win Finals. The boy’s swim team has big goals for this season that with hard work and determination, they have every intention of going far.

With similar goals the Girl’s varsity Swim team doesn’t plan for the boy’s to be the only ones ending this season in victory.

Girl’s Varsity player, Sophomore Lily Powers wants her team to succeed in winning league with her team as well as the boys team.

To Powers her teammates aren’t just people she sees at practice, they’re “like one big family.”

With getting ready to meet their goals, Powers doesn’t forget to appreciate her coach Mr. Sandvig who “takes the time out of his day, that he could be spending with his family, to coach us.”

During practice, the team works on things like “starts, finishes, flip turns, stroke techniques, breathing pattern, weight training, cross training, yoga, and reaction drills,” says

Coach Darren Sandvig. To recover from a loss, the team never looks back. Senior Dominick Ta feels that “pushing through when things get tough and pushing past your limit” is what’s hardest.

However, sophomore Marko Ilincic really enjoys “the feeling that [he] can prove to [himself] that [he] can go to swim and work hard every day.”

Last Months match against Garden Grove was a victory for our team, which lead by the final score of 12058. Girl’s varsity also triumphed, their final play resulting in a score of 113-62. Junior varsity contributed to swim’s success, earning a score of 125-49 for boys and 95-63 for girls.

Throughout the game, supporters of Cypress and Garden Grove roared with excitement and encouragement as the two teams competed hands to feet to attain victory.

Come out to support Boy’s and Girl’s swim at their next home game on April 25 vs.

Valencia.

Softball Dominates Mira Costa

CYPRESS WINS 12-1: Iannotti throws a perfect pitch across the plate.

by Hannah Shuff Staff Writer On Thursday, March 30, 2017, Cypress Varsity softball defeated Mira Costa by a score of 12-1.

To start off the game, Cypress’ pitcher, Emily Iannotti pitched four out of five innings with no runs scored. Cypress junior Jessica Martinez, hit a grand slam in the second inning, quickly making the score 4-0, Cypress. Shortly after the grand slam, CHS junior, Caitlin NEXT SWIM MEET ON THE 25TH: Swimmers feeling good as they practice.

photo by Nicki Roberson

and help the whole team any way I can, whether that be jokes to lighten the mood or a serious pep talk.” He extends a message to the younger players, saying, “For the younger guys I want them to know anything they want to accomplish is possible if they put in the right work. Make a plan and chase that dream like your life depends on it.”

With great hopes and aspirations, Salazar progresses through the season with one goal: “By the end of my senior year I hope to win another league title and chase a CIF ring. I think our team is young but dangerous, and you know what they say about playoffs, anything can happen.”

A true example of a student-athlete, Salazar will be continuing his baseball career at Pepperdine University on a baseball scholarship while pursuing a degree in business management.

Good luck to Raul Salazar and the Centurion baseball team as they continue to battle for the ring.

photo by Hannah Shuff

Koenig also hit a home run making the score 5-0, Cypress.

Early in the third inning, Koenig hit a double, bringing in senior, Paige Hallam. A double from sophomore Catherine LoVerde, brought in junior, Chelsea Laufer making the lead 7-0. One run was scored for Cypress in the fourth inning, and four more runs were made in the fifth, making the score 12-0.

Starting off the fifth inning, junior, Marissa Zaidi pitched 13 pitches, only allowing one run. Cypress ended the game with a 12-1 win.

EXTRA

12

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Track Runs Straight for the Prize

GOING FOR GOLD: Track team races toward league finals

photo by Kevin Silveira

by Kevin Silveira Staff Writer

This season, the track team is running straight toward one destination: the CIF Championship. “Our boys and girls work hard every day so that we can win league and make CIF,” stated runner Kyle Carrico.

Cypress has had a strong start to the season, but can always

improve, “We need to improve our injuries, we have to take better care of ourselves,” says Carrico.

Even if injuries are a problem for the team, there are other places to put energy, “We need to focus more mentally; we got to keep doing the workouts that our Coach is giving us,” stated senior Mohammad Dadabhoy.

When asked about their toughest

opponent, he stated, “Valencia is the biggest challenge for me because they have pretty good runners. My goal is to break 4:30 this season.” Currently Mohammad has a mile record of 4:46,which he broke in an invitational track meet.

Sennia Corbin and Zari Dyer, partners participating in the 4X100 Relay event, got 1st place in the meet against Valencia, “We’ve

been doing this for three years, and we have a strong connection, and we handle it smoothly.” Erik Papke, who also got 1st place in high jump, by reaching 5’10”, stated that “playing other sports contributes me to this team. One thing that we need to improve is our technique, listen to what the coach gives and the team.” When asked

about their biggest competition, he stated that “his own teammates are the biggest competition, “My goal is to reach 6’3 this season.”

Coach Eyman stated that, “We are doing well, the boys struggled because of injuries. The girls are trying to win league.”

Night of the Arts Photo Contest Winners

TOP LEFT: First Place Color by Katherine Moreno BOTTOM LEFT: Second Place Color by Gabriella Doran

TOP MIDDLE: First Place Photoshop Creation by Brandon Nguyen BOTTOM MIDDLE: Second Place Photoshop Color by Michael Sanchez

TOP RIGHT: Second Place Black and White by Mia Jones BOTTOM RIGHT : People’s Choice by Gabriel Ocampo