Cypress High May 2017

May 2017

9801 Valley View St., Cypress, CA 90630

Volume 17 Issue 8

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Churned- pg. 6

Ryan Lane- pg. 2

Glo-up- pg. 5

Memories- pg. 4

13 Reasons Why- pg. 7

Centurions Have Enchanted Night At Prom

by Hannah Shuff Copy Editor

exciting! I was surprised at how nice the venue was. My date and I had a great time with the good songs the DJ was playing.” The DJ did an amazing job at keeping the students moving and keeping their energy up. The students on the dance floor were always moving and were exhausted by the end

of the night. The students whose first prom was on Saturday had a really good time as well as for the seniors graduating. Senior, Tatum Gee, says, “I saved the best one for last! It was a night I’ll never forget.” Cypress High School prom 2017 was a night to remember.

On April 29, 2017, The Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills hosted Cypress High School’s annual prom. Prom is mainly for juniors and seniors, however, juniors and seniors are able to bring under class men as guests.

Students were able to dance in the ballroom, relax outside, sing karaoke, or play pool and arcade games outside. Students also had the opportunity to make a flipbook of a movement. The photographers in charge of the flipbook took a variety of pictures and included them in a book. Many couples loved this, the flipbook was able to capture a kiss or a hug which was a great memory to have.

Lisette Barrera says, “My FANCY AND FORMAL: Students first prom experience was really had a great time dressing up for the night

PROM ROYALTY: Prom King Helio Taipe with Prom Queen McKenna Keough take their crowns

photos courtesy of Ms. Takacs

Dance Throws It Back to the 90’s

by Arianna Rodriguez Taira Ramdhani Distribution Chief/ Sports Editor

On April 20th-21st Cypress dance took us back to the age of scrunches and leg warmers for two memorable nights.

Summing up the 90’s in music seems hard, but Mrs. Fenton had no problem incorporating artists from Destiny’s Child to Biggie.

As always, the show was filled with creativity and new dances that have the crowd coming back year after year. Mrs. Binford, who has attended almost yearly,

loves going to the shows because “Mrs. Fenton always surprises and always brings something new.”

The theme for each dance show is different and causes a lot of excitement in the dance room when it is revealed. Junior and advanced dance member, Natalie DeVries thought that this semester’s dance theme was “one of the best themes yet. . . all the songs were popular and familiar to us and the audience, which made it super fun.” The girls and boys made the dances look effortless on stage, but that couldn’t be done without all the hard work they put in to make the show run smoothly.

DeVries said, “the energy and time put into it definitely showed on stage and displayed our full potential and love for dance.”

Solos are another big part of Cypress dance shows where individual dancers can display their unique talents. Freshman, Delaney Prescott, advanced dance, showed off her tap dancing photo by Arianna Rodriguesz skills on both nights of the show. DANCE IT OUT: Students give it Prescott has been tap dancing their all for their last show of the year for ten years, starting when she was five years old. Although Prescott’s favorite thing about tap dancers, and themes each she was nervous to perform, it is how she can express herself time, there is no excuse to miss ended up being her favorite part and “the music through feet.” one of Cypress’s unbelievably of the show because she got to With two dance shows unique dance shows. show the crowd her love for tap. a year and new dance moves,

Sports Shake-Up: CHS Remains in Empire League

by Kevin Silveira Jacob Mercado Staff Writers

Despite rumors of Cypress High School potentially moving to Sunset League in the 2018-2019 school year, Empire League will remain as the home of the Centurions. As of May 8th, league reconfiguration proposals have been voted on and finalized. The only change

that will affect Cypress is Crean Lutheran private school replacing Western High School as part of the new Empire League.

Representing Cypress at the meeting were Dr. Wales and Athletic Directors Jeff Russell and Mark Slevcove. As Dr. Wales explained, “There were seven proposals we had to vote for.

We narrowed it down to five, and then to three. People started

negotiating after that. Two of the proposals had Cypress going to Sunset League. Proposal six completely eliminated Empire League.” The seventh proposal had Cypress staying in the Empire League, which received 58% of the votes but required 60%.

Conclusions were reached as the many Athletic Directors and other administrators negotiated the final decision. Among numerous

changes to the Sunset and Golden West Conferences, Cypress would stay in the Empire League and be joined by Crean Lutheran.

When asked what changed the minds of those voting, Dr. Wales admits, “There is just not going to be competitive equity. We need to look out for students, and make sure they have a fair chance. On a positive

note, we get to stay in Empire League. However, we do not know much about Crean Lutheran.”

These next few years should pose interesting challenges for Cypress sports teams, as a new competitor has joined the league.

No matter the opponent, Cypress High School sports teams are sure to give their best efforts all the time.

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STUDENT ACTIVITIES

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

ASL Meets Switched at Birth Actor Ryan Lane

by Davin Nguyen Staff Writer

Ryan Lane, noted for his work as Travis on the drama series Switched at Birth on FreeForm, came to the American Sign Language class on April 7th to encourage students to continue their studies. From 6:51 AM to 2:37 PM, Ryan signed to every class. By the end of the day, Ryan Lane concluded his visit with an interview.

Traveling with Ryan Lane, Tanya Winterson and Jason Johnson were volunteer interpreters for the day. They said they enjoyed volunteering to help Lane that day. Winterson and Johnson also said it was also a great opportunity working with Lane and getting to know him better.

When asked if they were famous, they both decided, “Not yet.” They translated for students during class and also for those after class.

The interpreters were also the ones to help make this article happen.

Along with the interpreters was Henry CdeBaca.

CdeBaca is Lane’s bodyguard.

CdeBaca is a “bodyguard for deaf people.” CdeBaca is also a bodybuilder, and a deaf advocate. The way the two met is a “very long story.” CdeBaca was “in the background” once on Switched at Birth; however, he also played a role in Always a Bridesmaid? - a short film that

gave a special thanks to Ryan Lane.

CdeBaca’s son, Henry CdeBaca, is a sophomore who attends Cypress High School, currently taking ASL 2 with Ms. Ruby. Ruby learned ASL because she “needed a foreign language” in college. She loves the language and how it has “lots of art.”Ms. Ruby loved “how interested students are” and how it changed their lives.

As many as ten students from last year were accepted into ASL programs in college. Next year, ASL is expanding to year four so that students can receive the Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas.

There are going to be more sections and teachers. Starting next year, Lexington Junior High students will be able to take ASL 1.

Ms. Ruby became acquaintances with CdeBaca’s father. They talked for awhile and he offered to visit the class last year. This year he offered to invite Ryan Lane as a guest presenter. Ruby and Lane talked about “how it was being deaf growing up, the challenges, and how he became an actor.”

That day, Lane gave suggestions to students about getting involved in the deaf community.

When Ryan was just two weeks old, he was diagnosed with congenital nerve deafness.

After he graduated from deaf

photo by Davin Nguyen

Tanya Winterson, Henry CdeBaca, Ryan Lane, and Jason Johnson

school, he was approached by a director who wanted him to play the lead role in a documentary as Dummy Hoy, a deaf baseball player from the 1800’s.

Many of his Centurion fans, including those who are not in ASL, came after school and asked for photos and autographs. He said, “Thank you” and “You’re welcome,” to every single one of them.

Lane said, “Today was the best.” He appreciated how students “are willing to take ASL to communicate.” That day was a “really great experience, so are the

students” who made that day great.

Ryan Lane learned ASL when he was a junior in high school.

However, when he compared his high school experience to the one day experience at Cypress, he said Cypress is better. He says that in high school, nobody noticed him.

He told the students asking him questions that they should “keep going” and never stop trying. He strived to become an actor even though not many people noticed him and ignored him because he was deaf. He had no experience, yet he was able to play his role.

His Switched at Birth coworkers are “like family,” he’s basically close to “all of them.” He is glad that they were able “to be a part of [his] life.” His favorite scene was when Daphne, a character on the show, came to his fictional character’s house and they couldn’t communicate with each other.

He enjoys weightlifting, triathloning, and climbing, but “that’s it for now.” Also, when asked if he would ever date a fan, he said sure “if they’re the right one.”

Even though the show has ended, “friendship will never end,” says Lane.

Cypress Theater Performs 12 Angry Jurors

by Kevin Silveira Staff Writer

On April 27th and 28th at 7:00 PM, the Cypress theater department was able to perform their live adaptation of 12 Angry Men, called 12 Angry Jurors, in front of friends, family and guests. The students took on the roles of jurors who try to decide if a young man should be found guilty of murder. These jurors make pretty strong arguments for and against the boy’s guilt.

The play started with the judge’s monologue. Next, the guard took the jurors to the room (the stage) and finally the jurors

started their arguments. Juror 8, the main protagonist, is the only juror in the room who believes that the young man is not guilty, so she has to convince the other jurors to be on her side, including the hardest of them, Juror 3, the main antagonist, who insults his way to getting people to listen to him.

The play was directed by drama teacher Mrs. Mills, who stated that, in the end, “it was a perfectly executed play.”

The play was met with praise from the audience. Audience members especially praised jurors 3, 4, 8, 10, 11 and the guard.

Haylee Barsumian, who played Juror 8, stated: “I was glad

they could see our show, we put a lot of effort. When I performed, it didn’t feel real, I felt like I was rehearsing. In the end, the show was fantastic.” When asked about what she could have improved, she wanted to “try different ways to say some of [her] lines.”

“It was a pretty good turnout,” said Jackson Hart, who portrayed Juror 10, an angry juror who screams frequently during the play. “We worked pretty hard, we put in our heart and soul, in the end it turned ANGRY CENTURIONS: Theater out amazing, ” stated Hart. put on an entertaining adaptation of 12 Overall, the play was Angry Men (Jurors) a great time for students and was also a critical success.

Is This The Death of Creativity?

by Nicki Roberson Staff Writer

Over the years, there’s been one thing that appears consistently in society but only matters to a certain number of people: a loss of creativity.

What really happened to creativity today? Time happened. Modern time. We live

photo from Hongkiat.com in a world where different types of technology, like your average “virtual assistant,” are supposed to do everything for you. This is why the internet is like an ideadispenser to some people. They use that to their advantage, but find less and less motivation to be original.

After watching movies, listening to music, and reading various newspapers year after year, you may realize that many areas of the “arts” world is built on a formula. The same song melodies and music videos, same storylines of t.v. shows, and same red carpet fashion, nothing genuinely new or fresh. As long as it’s entertaining, or meaningful in some way to some people, then that’s considerably all that matters.

What people out there don’t realize is that much of it is nothing more than recycled ideas brewed up by other people in the past.

For years, much of the music industry or the fashion industry let’s say, has relied on these formulas, because they

make it seem like coming up with their own ideas is as impossible as drinking a whole Unicorn Frappuccino in one sitting. It’s the fact that these people are focused on keeping up with the era of trends, and other pop culturerelated things that give them reasons not to try. This is why so many new TV shows out there for example, don’t stick. They last for a season or two and then they get canceled, and people move on to something else, especially since plenty of them figure out that it’s nothing really new or exciting.

Then there’s music artists who get sued for copyright infringement.

But if a song is nothing special in particular, then it’ll only last so long before it fades into the background.

photo by Kathryn Silveria

This dramatic decrease in creativity has affected different parts of society, more than what can be described on a sheet of paper. It’s caused so many people to lose sight of what it truly means to be original, or break the barrier of familiar ideas. Many may find it ironic that society attempts to stress the value of uniqueness, but at the same time criticizes you for being different. You can see this everywhere: school, local theaters, and art competitions, because even a certain percentage of the public masses tend to act allergic to anything unusual or unheard of. If more people would focus less on ideals and attempting to please other people, this may revive so much of the originality lost in society. Or is it lost?

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT ACTS/FEATURES

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Best Buddies’ Mini Prom 2k17

by Mohamad Doughani Distrubution Chief

The 7th annual Mini Prom was held at the Cypress Senior Center on April 28, 2017.

Teacher Mrs. Lewis said, “The reason behind Mini Prom is to create moments for students who are part of the Best Buddies Club… there is less pressure, the music is more old-school, mixed with some new day music.”

This night is one of the most special days for the Best Buddies program and also one of the most anticipated. The students had the time of their lives at the Best Buddies Mini-Prom, dancing along to DJ Maxx who played great songs like “Gangnam Style.”

“Suavemente” and “Don’t Stop

Believing.” The dance floor, which was provided by the Cypress Senior Citizen Center, was filled the entire time with all the students, parents and teachers. The dance floor was lit up like a disco. Every person was dancing and grooving.

At random moments everyone on the dance floor would make a train and the best part was when suddenly you just had to stop what you were doing and join the groovy choo choo train.

Oliver Dazo says “I always look forward to this day and because it’s a great day out for the best buddies to dance and have fun.”

Before entering the dance, you had to pay a small fee

Volunteering Opportunities Over Summer Break

by Andrew Kim Staff Writer

There is a new policy affecting freshmen and younger future students, stating that they must fulfill 40 hours of volunteer service to graduate.

There are many ways to fulfill this requirement over the summer.

Cypress Senior Center: The Cypress Senior Center is a lesser known opportunity when it comes to volunteering, but they are always looking for volunteers.

Esther Bae while she was a volunteer, “greeted people and helped the elderly with lunch.”

One humorous tidbit she learned while she was at the Senior Center was that “old people steal a lot more than I first thought.”

Downey Columbia Memorial Space Center: At the Columbia Memorial Space Center, you must go through an interview and submit a resume, but as long as you are a sociable human being with a passion for science, the chances of getting accepted are high. The work at the Columbia Memorial Space Center is diverse,

you can help lead summer camps where you help children build Lego robots, lead a computer science class, or help with various holiday events dedicated to important dates in Astrophysics history.

Muzeo: The Muzeo is technically open to volunteers throughout the year, but you can start this summer. If you are interested in the arts and culture, then Muzeo is perfect for you. If you like greeting people, constantly learning, and have a passion for the arts, Muzeo is most likely going to accept you.

Cypress Library: The local favorite is always hiring eager volunteers, with benefits such as flexible hours. Minh Le states that the responsibilities include “planning events, putting back books, and in general provide a helping hand.” The library provides a variety of activities such as tutoring, helping kids learn how to read and helping plan events.

For more information about volunteering opportunities near Cypress, visit the Cypress High School website.

of only five dollars and you also got to pick out a beautiful boutonniere for free. It was very affordable due to of all the fundraisers Best Buddies created during the year, such as an after school donut sale and the donations from events such as the A.B.D.C. Dance Show, which recieved a $1,000 dollars.

This event was very affordable due to all the fundraisers and sponsors Best Buddies had.

Kohl’s also generously donated $500 dollars to the club, and Best Buddies had a donut fundraiser which was very successful making over $80 dollars! They sold Krispy Kreme as well as donuts from The Donuttery

donuts. They also had 1$ dollar for all who attended. Hopefully, it fundraiser which made over $300 will be for many years to come. dollars. The mini-Prom was a blast

FUN SIZED PROM: Everyone had fun at the smaller sized prom

photo by Mohamad Doughani

Senior Class of 2017 Top GPAers

by Jenny Tong Front Page Editor & Business Manager

Cypress students are phenomenal and are driven to succeed in life. In high school, students meet some of their toughest obstacles and take the opportunities to expand their knowledge and challenge themselves academically. Junha Gu, Aurora Ignacio, and Minsu Jung deliver the characteristics of true scholars and attain the top three Senior class’ grade point averages. They have achieved one of the most honorable

Aurora Ignacio

accomplishments a student could possibly have. Inspired by her hardworking mother that works two jobs and raises six children, Ignacio “keeps going to see what I am capable of.” As a UCLA-bound-student, she advises underclassmen to “only take classes you want to take, but don’t be scared to push yourself.”

Similarly Jung looks up to his single mother who never complains. The incoming MIT freshmen doesn’t have a particular goal set in stone, but wants to keep learning and believes that “knowledge serves

Minsu Jung

as a great tool in life that can give you limitless opportunities.”

Junha Gu is an active scholar who doesn’t like being lazy and aims to excell anything he puts his mind to. Although the end goal is to become a doctor, the main picture is to “support my parents as much as they support me.” He plans to attend Pomona College in the fall and leaves high school behind with the advice, “don’t wait util junior or senior year to plan and don’t focus on one area; spread out and find out what you want to do.”

Junha Gu

Seniors Appreciate Their Favorite Teachers

by Ashlyn Salao Editor-in-Chief

As the school year comes to a close, seniors reflect on the teachers who made their four years of high school a little more bearable. Teachers can often be unappreciated, but with graduation approaching, seniors take some time to share who their favorite teachers were and their favorite memories.

Heaven Lee: My favorite teachers would be Ms. Weule, Mr. Herrick, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Sandvig

because they try their hardest to relate to the students and make the lessons while still preparing us for the tests. They’re all super funny and easy to talk to. They treat their students like their kids, so it’s nice to feel like they care.

Sarah Lawlor: I love Mr. Herrick because he was such a good teacher. I loved his class. I also like Mrs. Espinoza because she made me actually like statistics.

Sebastian Apahidean: Mr. Lundberg is one of my favorite teachers because he was my coach and he’s cool.

Christine Perez: I love Ms. Monera and Mr. Herrick because they’re real with me.

Bana Khalil: My favorite teacher is Mr. Sandvig because his teaching style is the best I’ve responded to, and his puns are hilarious.

Sofia Herrera: My favorite teacher is Ms. Reyes because she’s a very independent woman that inspires me to always do my best in school Juliana Dominguez: My favorite and be proud of my culture. teacher is Mr. Dwyer. He likes to She cares for all of her students, have fun with his students, and and she shows compassion. he always shows that he cares. She’s motivational, and she inspires each and every one of her students to never give up.

Natalie LeSage: I like Ms. Rodriguez because she’s not a native Spanish speaker, but she doesn’t let that affect her passion for teaching the subject.

She’s created a comfortable environment for me to be able to speak Spanish, and she comes from a similar place as I do so she understands the embarrassment or discomfort that comes with learning a different language.

FEATURES

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CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Seniors Look Back On Four Years At Cypress High

by Miranda Santos Illustrator/Features Page Editor

Four years ago graduation was just a dream. It was just something to laugh about with your friends to get your

photo courtesy of Haelee Strong

Haelee Strong: “Looking back on high school, I’ll always remember Best Buddies, a club that I’ve always looked forward to going to every Thursday to meet new people and learn the importance of respecting one another. I’ll miss seeing Ms. Cook and hearing her open personality when it came to talking about anything from my passions to my life outside of school. Most of all, I’ll remember memories from senior year with friends as we part our ways to go do whatever we love. Along with missing small parts of high school, I won’t miss waking up at 6:50 for zero period.”

photo courtesy of Natalie Lesage

Natalie Lesage: “When I think about high school, many memories come to mind. However, what I am reminded most of is cross country. I will always cherish all of the distance runs and workouts we stuck through and accomplished together. I will never forget when Chris fell out of the tree at OC champs, I will always remember everyone’s falling stories and where each and every scar came from. I will hold all of the water balloon fights and dog days close to my heart, simply because I love each and every one of you and throughout these past four years, you all have impacted my life in some way, shape, or form.”

mind off of that math test. It was just something your counselor would come in to talk about when your only true concern was

photo courtesy of Sabrina Bajamundi

Sabrina Bajamundi: “My favorite memory from high school would have to be going to Disney World when I was in choir. I don’t think many people get to say they went to Disney World for a choir competition.

We didn’t win, but that didn’t matter because it was still one of the coolest parts of high school to look back on. Now that I think about it, this event completely changed the direction of the person I’ve been throughout high school and I cannot be more thankful for that experience. It changed me and was ultimately the reason why I decided to quit cheer, which eventually lead me towards more creative things and opened me up to an entire world of art, boosting me into my career choices. Since then I’ve been more aware of who I am and what I really like to do. In short, I just had way more time for things that I actually enjoyed and was able to “find myself ” (I say this in the least cliché way possible).”

photo courtesy of Shelbi Purtell

Shelbi Purtell: “Looking back at high school I think I’m going to miss all my friends the most.

I’ll never forget all the crazy memories and drives to the beach or anywhere we could think of with the music blaring and the windows down. I’m going to miss the senior class too because to me we were one

photo courtesy of Alex Medina

Alex Medina: “Most of my memories have to revolve around my friends. I’m not one of those people that has a bunch but the ones I do have have definitely made high school memorable. Things could be stressful at times but friends would be there for you.

Volleyball, too, will definitely be something to remember for me. During our upper classmen years, we have now gone two straight years 10-0 in league. It’s crazy to think that we all played together since junior high and all throughout high school.”

photo courtesy of Darian Patton

Darian Patton: “Throughout the many journeys in life, high school is a big stone that you overturn in your pathway to success. As you mature through these four years, your mind does too. No matter who you are and what background you come from, you’ll see how far you’ve come even though you have so many years of life left. You form bonds and make connections with others

finishing up homework that was due the next period. It was almost a fantasy. Now, as seniors are so close to grabbing that piece of

photo courtesy of Ariana Ortega

Ariana Ortega: “High school is a time of learning not just your typical math, english, science, etc but about yourself and the people around you and essentially the real world. Engaging myself in clubs like BSU and FU helped to discover how great it can be when we all come together. Having such a progressive community and being involved in that progress was the honestly best part of high school. It opened my mind and heart to things i never would’ve. I truly couldn’t have done it without the support and love I get from my ladies. Me, Yohan, Cali and Ash have hung in there all four years and I think the relationship we share is something so irreplaceable and I’m glad high school has brought me into that. Ultimately I will hold every moment of high school so close to my heart just because of the experience as a whole, whether times were good or bad-- it’s a part of my life that I can never forget or even truly regret.

THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS UP.” of the closest classes as a whole and I’ll miss having bonfires and senior events, dances, and games and hanging out after all of them. I know everyone’s going to go off to college and parting their separate ways. I wish I had more time with the friends I’ve become close to this year. Also I’ll miss being apart of cheer and asb even though I took it for granted most of the time. I’ll also miss Ms. Vaughn, Ms. Cook, Ms. Binford, and Ms. Chavez. Everyone I’ve come across in high school has impacted my life in a positive way, I love you class of 2017.” that can last a lifetime and benefit you both in the future. No matter how rough these years can be for you, you’ll see that high school is a learning experience not only with the things you learn in class, but with your surroundings everyday that you adapt to. My four years of high school have been an amazing journey and I’m thankful for being able to play on my football team and be a part of other people’s lives for a shoulder to lean on and an ear they can vent to. I am truly blessed to have made the friends that I have and I thank God for placing me where I am now. So I guess you can say that in the end when I look back at high school, what I’ll see first is all of the bonds I’ve made and connections I’ve formed with people through playing sports and being a social butterfly in a bustling process we call high school.”

paper and starting the rest of their lives, the high school experiences we look back on have turned into that ‘something’ to laugh about--

photo courtesy of Ben Navarro

Ben Navarro: “I’ll remember complaining about swim but actually liking it and doing it all four years- it was like a love hate relationship between swimming.

Of course I didn’t like how hard practices were-- swimming three to four miles a day and waking up before the sun rose just to train, but meeting the people I did made it all worth the work.

I’ve met some of my best friends right on the pool deck and I’ve learned so much about how to work hard and act like a winner all through the aquatics program.”

that dream, that fantasy. We have all walked the same halls yet have shared so many different memories. Here are a few.

photo courtesy of Maile Okazaki

Maile Okazaki: “When I look back on high school I will think about going to football games and cheering my friends on. I love how everyone from school comes and shows their school spirit loud and proud. I will miss all of the fun cheers we had and all of the fun times I had while in the stands. I will also miss playing basketball for cypress and I will never forget all the great times I had with my team. My favorite memory from basketball was when we beat Kennedy at an away game during my junior year. It was the most intense and exciting game I have ever played; nothing beats the thrill that we got from winning. I made a lot of great friends through basketball and my coaches were great mentors to me throughout high school.”

photo courtesy of Eric Moran

Eric Moran: “All my favorite memories from high school involve my friends. The most memorable moment I have is when Chadd, Diego, Jacob, Tim, and I won the Make a Wish charity dodgeball game as freshmen. Being in Best Buddies and the preschool class were really fun as well because I’ve always liked working with kids and I’ve really enjoyed being in the club with all of my friends. Senior year is a really fun time because it’s when you start to mature and figure your true opinions/views on the important things in life.”

photo courtesy of Maya Santos

Maya Santos: “When I look back on high school, I’ll always remember the late night adventures with my coolest of friends, starting a band, concerts, and morning coffee runs before 0 period. All four of these events that have taken place during my high school years will never be forgotten and will forever be loved.

I am content with the memories I’ve made and the friends I’ve kept throughout high school.

I wouldn’t change one thing.”

photo courtesy of Jeremiah Skipps

Jeremiah Skipps: “When I look back on high school I’m definitely going to see all of my friends. Our tight knit group has been together since freshman year. Even though we’ve made so many memories throughout our four years together, the biggest aspect of high school that I will remember is my family. Our family is very close, rarely do we use the word “cousin” because we are all close enough to be called brothers and sisters. Every year in high school I’ve had my cousins by my side. Even my freshman year I had my brother, Elijah Skipps, and my cousin, Jazmine Manu, here with me. Last year in 2016 my cousin Kiona Powers graduated and this year in 2017 I get to graduate with my cousins, Agnes Manu and Malia Lefaoseu. High school was an amazing experience knowing that if I ever needed something, at least one of my family members was a few classes away.”

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FEATURES

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Friends Who Grow Up Together Glo-up Together

by Athela Fadul Student Activites Editor

We all have people who we grew up with and shared memories with. As we grow, our friendships get even stronger than before. Seniors Eric Chun, Diego Schindler, and Jacob Mercado have been friends since they played football in Freshman year. Schindler was friends with Mercado since 7th grade, and they soon after both met Chun and have been friends ever since. A memory which they had together is when Chun invited them to a sleepover and the whole time they had a tickle fight. Mercado’s favorite moment was when he and Chun jumped into someone’s backyard for a “secret swim.”

Schindler describes Mercado as someone who always puts a smile on his face and describes Chun as someone who makes him happy and know what to tell him at the right time. Chun describes Diego as “a colorful dude with a lucha libre tattoo.” “I think these two guys are some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet. They each carry their own personalities that never seem to falter or change, and that’s what makes them the genuine people they are. In these last four years, we have all grown and become our own people, and that’s the beauty of life,” said Mercado. Chun says, “Mercado and Schindler are funny and cute.”

Seniors Jesse May and Tiffany Knight known each other since sophomore year sitting next to each other in English class.

Their most memorable moment that they had together is during summer of 2015, when they hung out with a group of friends and they had a water balloon fight and went swimming. Their friendship is full of laughs and a lot of adventures. Knight says that, “Jesse has the most contagious laugh and he’s such a warmhearted person. I never would want to lose him from my life no matter what.” They are both happy to have crossed paths with each other. May says,” We are practically

Top: Jacob Mercado, Eric Chun, Diego Schindler Middle: Alexis Fenger and Nick Raymundo Bottom: Amber Velasquez and Samantha Torres family now and I don’t know what my school year could have turned out to be if she wasn’t in my life.”

Seniors Nick Raymundo and Alexis Fenger met in 8th grade pre-algebra class. At first a friendship then spurred into a strong relationship when they became freshmen. Raymundo says,

photos by N. Raymundo, A. Velasquez, & E. Chun

“Alexis, is very driven, intelligent, grounded, caring, thoughtful, kind, and very beautiful.” A favorite memory of theirs is when they slow danced the night away with classic blues music at the Nixon Library sophomore year. Fenger believes that, “ Nick has helped me change from an

antisocial person, to an outgoing person.” They both concluded that what is different about them then and now is that, “We are stronger and wiser than we were before.

Nothing will break us apart as long as we fix it together as team.

Seniors Swetha Jayasinghe, Karina Castorena, and Hayley Roberts have all been great friends ever since freshman year and met one another through mutual friends. One favorite memory that they share that they did together is going to LA at two in the morning. Roberts describes Jayasinghe as, “the wildest person that you would know.” Jayasinghe describes Castorena as, “kindhearted person who never stops laughing.” Castorena describes Roberts as, “strong minded. She likes to do things her way no matter what people say and she’s very open to meet new people.”

Although all their personalities are different they always supported one another and being there for each other had helped friendship grow more as the years have gone by. They are all thankful for having met one another and could never ask for better best friends. Roberts says, “they have made me a better person overall.”

Seniors Gabriella Doran and Sarah Hughes have been friends for nine years. They met at Landell Elementary School. They didn’t really like one another at first, but with time they became closer. Their trip to the beach at Oregon and collecting sand dollars was an unforgettable fun moment that they had together. They both love to go on adventures together and make memories that will last a lifetime. They both helped each other grow without any drama. “I love Sarah because throughout all my ups and downs and awkward phases, she never judged me no matter what I did. She was always there to give me advice and help me through hard times. I don’t know what I would do without her she has the kindest heart and always makes me laugh,” said Doran. “I would want Gibby to know that she has set the best friend bar very

high and she is extremely creative, passionate and has the best sense of humor,” said Hughes. “I think the people I surround myself with really affected me in a negative way in the past, but I’m glad that I have finally found a friend that helped me mature and become the person I am today,” said Doran.

Seniors Nathalia Quintana, Gianna Zapanta, and Alicya Siler have been friends for seven years ever since they met each other at recreational volleyball and they instantly clicked. A favorite memory of theirs is when they all had biology first period and sat next to each other. They were all laughing about something and Mr. Lundberg heard their laughter and called out “Hey there weirdos,”and they all looked up in perfect unison and said “yeah” at the same time. For the rest year they were known as the weirdos in the back.

Quintana is thankful for their, “ unique and crazy friendship and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

They all matured and became more confident in themselves by having each other by their sides.

“They are always supportive and caring and they always know how to make me laugh when I get upset,”said. Zapanta wants to let them know, “that you guys are beautiful people inside and out and don’t let anyone change you.”

Seniors Amber Velasquez and Samantha Torres have been friends for five years and known each other from eighth grade volleyball team. Their most memorable moment is when they went to a Drake concert together, “the Drake concert was awesome and to experience it with my best friend was incredible,” said Velasquez. They always push each other to become better people and they are always there for each other to give advice to one another. “I am so thankful to have Amber by my side and have so many great memories with her, I can’t wait to go to college with her,” said Torres. They love each other from the inside and out.

Student Spotlight: Writer Michael Gomez

by Jacob Mercado Staff Writer

In an age of blogs, vlogs, and social media, it seems as if the art of novelized imagination has been pushed to the back.

Self-expression has grown from the creativity jotted down in a story or a poem, and fiction no longer tends to come within the bounds of a book. Though it is true that originality spans several different outlets, creative writers seem to have become a rare breed.

That’s where Michael Gomez changes things.

Gomez has taken on the arduous task of becoming a fiction writer, a dream he has held for his entire life. Starting his story in October 2016, he has worked relentlessly to put each and every thought and feeling he has in the pages of a book. When asked his

motivations for writing, Gomez says, “I started writing this book because I wanted to read a story that embodies everything I personally would like to see in a novel. Also, the feeling I receive after finishing an amazing story urges me to pursue a story of my own. I want to endure the experiences an author has, and I need to know all of the hard work that goes into a best seller.

If I could extend that same feeling to readers, then I would be truly accomplished as a writer.”

It has been almost seven months of writing for Gomez, and he was impressed with his work ethic in that period. As he recalls, “When I started writing back in my freshman year, I never really made it past 10-15 pages.

However, the more I practiced, the better I got. I am now around 130 pages and counting.” He

was able to share some details about his story, which revolves around a self-centered pirate who takes a contract from a shady individual. As the story progresses, the job spirals into much more than what he believed.

When sharing his opinion on the absence of creative writing, he admits, “It does indeed seem like a rare thing nowadays, but it has undoubtedly taken form in different ways such as game creators and musicians. The stories are still being told, yet it is not in the traditional way that many are used to.” Gomez left with a piece of advice for writers as he concludes, “Don’t be afraid of expressing yourself through writing fiction. Writing is like any other skill that a person is trying to learn. Just practice, read, and Michael Gomez let your imagination run wild.”

photo by J. Mercado

OPINION

6

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Local Sweet Treats Keep Sweet Tooth Satisfied

by Avylon Kemna-Berg Equipment Manager

On April 3, 2017 Churned Creamery opened a new location in the Cypress Village Plaza located on Valley View St. near Waba Grill.

Churned offers customers a unique and unforgettable ice cream experience as mechanical churns constantly mix the ice cream ensuring that it stays cold, silky, and creamy.

Churned Creamery is most well-known for their Crocream, a fresh croissant stuffed with a scoop of their signature ice cream for $6.50, and $7.00 for a Crocream with up to three toppings. Churned additionally handcrafts specialty

desserts like creamy milkshakes, soda floats and affogatos, a coffee based ice cream dessert.

Churned scoops up a wide array of 12 deliciously creamy ice cream flavors for only $4.50 a scoop: Nutella, Oreo, Salted Butter Caramel, Dutch Chocolate, Italian Espresso, French Vanilla, Green Mint, Whiskey and Cream, Reese’s Peanut Butter, Honeydew, Dolce Latte, and 100% California Pistachio. Churned sells a variety of four refreshing sorbets including: Mango, Strawberry, Blood Orange, and Dole Whip.

“Our most popular flavor is Oreo and we just unveiled a new ice cream flavor over the weekend: Taro,” said a Churned employee.

Single, double, and triple scoops are available as well

Hot Spots for Summer

by Marissa Zaidi Copy Editor

Summer is held up to such a high standard for high school students. The pressure is on to find new and cool things to do before summer is over. Here is a list compiled of some of the interesting things that can be done locally: If you like to hike there are some hiking trails that have amazing views. Turtle Rock is one of them. The trail is located in Irvine and has a duration of nearly three miles. The trail surfaces are concrete which makes for easy hiking. Another trail that has an amazing view, especially at night, is Signal Hill trail in Signal Hill. The trail is about two miles long, is rated moderate, and is primarily used for walking. This is a great trail if you are a beginner.

The Griffith Observatory is another great spot to visit over summer. It is located in Los Angeles and admission to the building and grounds is always free. There are dozens of exhibits inside and outside allowing

visitors to become observers.

Roller skating has become a top favorite amongst many students. Fountain Valley Skating Center is ranked one of the best roller skating rinks around. The majority of their scheduled days for skating are open skate, but they do also offer skate nights like 18+ and R&B skate night. The standard skate night is $8 per person.

There are also many concerts that will be scheduled for this summer. So if you’re willing to spend a little bit more money, a concert is a great option.

There are countless numbers of venues around Orange County that are easily accessible. There is a small venue in Anaheim called Chain Reaction. If they don’t have any shows scheduled, they usually have an open mic night. Upcoming bands and individual artists often perform on these nights which is a great way to find new artists.

Although these are only a couple of suggestions, there are so many more options to explore.

as pints which make a perfect and delicious take home treat. If you are not a fan of ice cream in a cup, Churned serves Tahitian cones and brownie bowls for an additional charge. For only $1.00 more you can also add delicious toppings like candies, cookies, nuts, cereal, and fruit to any scoop of ice cream.

“My favorite flavor of ice cream to get at Churned is Salted Butter Caramel,” said sophomore, Lianna Siriban.

Another sophomore, Victoria Ignacio, said that her first impression was that the ice cream was “very expensive,” but the Nutella was her favorite flavor.

Don’t forget to stop by Churned to indulge in amazing silky smooth ice cream available

by Tala Essayli Photo Editor

Summer 2017 is right around the corner, and summer season is hitting everyone hard.

Cypress High School is coming back next year renovated and refreshed with the new Measure H improvements to the campus.

All the teachers and fellow centurion students will be starting a fresh, brand-new school and school year, giving everyone something to look forward to.

Each school year brings new realizations and teachings to the teachers themselves, and they learn from both their students and the year in general. Photo teacher, Mr. Johnson, expressed his perspective on this school year and how “It taught me I need to know how to deal with cell phone addiction and how I need to manage that better in

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my class.” His hopes for next year revolved around cell phone usage, saying “I would love to change cell phone usage in classes and around the campus because it is obnoxious, out of control, and frustrating.” World History teacher, Mr. Eastridge, expressed a different outlook on the school year, as he indicated “It is better to be feared than loved.”

His hopes for next year were said as, “I want to be a better teacher.”

U.S. History and Government teacher, Mr. Gregnano, learned from this school year “To be more patient and get more organized.” and his ambitions for next year were to continue being patient and organized. Different perspectives on 2016-2017 will bring more new expectations for the up and coming school year.

Fellow Centurions as well communicated their thoughts on this year and what they wish to

come from Cypress High School next year. Freshman, Deema Essayli, voiced “I would really like for this school to become more well rounded next year, balancing more time between academics and the arts instead of academics being the only focus.”

With new expectations for the dance program to be removed from the 2017-2018 school year, it is stirring fear amongst the lowerclass men who looked forward to programs like this. Senior, Matt Alhafez, noted “As I leave Cypress High School, I really hope that that school becomes more open minded to new ideas and takes into consideration the wantings of the entire student body more seriously.”

Hopefully, these expectations and wishes will be fulfilled and the new year will bring new visions about the school to life.

High Stress in High School Layout Editor

by Gabby Doran Photo Editor

Unleash the Unicorn On April 19, 2017, Starbucks unleashed the highly anticipated and extremely rare Unicorn Frappuccino.

It is rumored that Starbucks released it to catch up with the latest trend: unicorns.

The magical Unicorn Frappuccino was only available until April 23, 2017.This sweet and sour concoction is made with a base of Starbuck’s Classic Crème Frappuccino with two pumps of mango syrup and sugar-based pink powder.

If that’s not enough to fulfill the unicorn frenzy, the cup is also swirled with sour blue syrup.

Adorning the fluffy whipped cream is glittery “fairy powders” of bright pink, blue, and purple.

The Unicorn Frappuccino was able for $4.75 for a Grande sized-cup, and lemonade versions of the drink were also available upon request.

Many Starbucks locations sold out of the rare drink in just two short days. This left many Starbucks lovers going crazy to try and find the coveted Unicorn Frappuccino.

While many enjoyed gulping down the decadent drink, others loved it’s bright and vibrant colors that were worthy of Instagram and Tumblr pictures.

“The Unicorn Frappuccino was really interesting.

It was kind of gross but addicting,” said freshman, Samantha Young.

Changes and Expectations for 2017-18

by Amy Nguyen

Summertime Jams

in a variety of delectable flavors from noon to 10:00 p.m. every day!

As the year starts to roll to a close, the work starts to pile up. Homework, finals, crazy AP classes, and seniors’ college anxiety hang over you constantly, and at this point, you really just want to close the textbooks and wave goodbye to school. But giving up is never an option.

Using these tips, you can save yourself from a mental breakdown and finish the year strong.

1.

Love yourself Easier said than done, but putting off some time every day, even just 10 minutes after school, can improve your mood and help you destress after a long day. Simple down time can save you from crashing later on during your studies, and will leave you feeling energized.

Light physical activity, eating a healthy snack, or listening to music can improve one’s sluggish mood and let you break away from your non-stop day.

2.

Get organized By planning out your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule, you can physically see your entire agenda and how much time you have surrounding your events. It helps out your brain by pouring out all the info onto something else so you can focus on the moment, rather than have hundreds of things calling to your attention. When you organize your life, you’ll find it much easier to manage one chunk at a time and be less anxiety-inducing.

3.

Know your limits Don’t chew more than you can swallow. If your schedule is already packed, don’t make it harder for yourself by taking on more things. Lower your personal goals, and shoot lower. If you can achieve that goal, then you can start stepping up to bigger ones. If you take it easy and go at your own pace, you’ll be more productive, rather than have too many things and give up all together.

4. Stay balanced Unless you’re superhuman, it’s almost impossible to stay still for hours on end. You’ll just fry your brain trying to study for that long, and a tired mind doesn’t hold any information. Take breaks every once in awhile, and yes, that means going outside of your room after locking yourself in there for days. You’ll feel refreshed, and won’t be sitting at your desk biting your nails over a test for the next four hours.

No matter how hard you push yourself, constant focus can tire anyone out and just make you feel more stressed. Take a breatheryou’ll thank yourself later.

The overwhelming last few weeks of school are only temporary.

Remember that your own well being should always be put before everything else, and before you know it, you’ll be done with school.

ENTERTAINMENT

7

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Harry Styles’ Debut Album Rocks Music World

by Niko Sanchez Copy Editor Harry Styles fans rejoice, the wait is finally over! The former member of One Direction released his highly anticipated self-titled debut album on May 12, 2017. T The album immediately skyrocketed to number one on iTunes. The album consists of ten richly produced tracks filled with weary melancholy and dulled heartbreak. We sit and wonder how many stories Styles has to tell and how many blurry and impactful nights lie in his past. Styles draws you in with his alluring voice,

revealing parts of him we have not seen before. The album is a mix of space rock, psychedelia, Britpop, and balladry. It’s rock and roll, but also soft and sensitive.

On his self-titled debut Styles opens, not with a boisterous, up-tempo rock song you might expect but with “Meet Me in the Hallway,” a track that twists gently until it reaches “Sign of the Times,” one of the two singles off of the album. There is also a faint hip hop influence in his ninth track, “Woman.” Styles is a true child of the internet age, therefore this album does not stick to one genre in particular.

There are references to things such as, folk to funk to pop rock.

The song that may catch everyone off guard is “Only Angel.” This track starts with a slow, relaxing intro (about 50 seconds) then, jolts you with a strong bass line and 70’s rock feel.

Styles has always been known for being in a teeny boppy boy band; now he is showing his maturity and individuality, and the results are entertaining.

photo from Vanityfair.com

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Baseball Wins League

by Alexandra Moreno Varsity baseball finished with a strong 8-2-0 record in league this season. Senior, Ezele Wicks said, “ This season has really had its ups and downs.

Towards the beginning we were really struggling with pitching, hitting, and overall not playing as a team. I’m confident if we all come together to work on our execution and perform selflessly then we can have a big run into CIF.” On April 19th, Wicks sparked the 5-1 win when he hit a home run against Kennedy. Wicks

said, “It felt so great. I’ve been struggling for a while and it felt good to finally get my hitting going again since it’s been so up and down during this season.” Wicks is one out of four Varsity captains and said,” I’m happy we could figure out the things we needed to fix and work on all our problems.

I’m proud that we can easily talk to the sophomores and lead them to become the successful leaders they will be next year.” Wicks is currently undecided, but plans to attend Golden West JC if there are no Division I schools that approach him. He said,” I want to congratulate my teammates

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The teenager that gets in the car accident is not relevant to the story at all. He doesn’t even have a name in the book.

There is no lawsuit.

Clay is tape #9.

Clay passes the tapes to Bryce Walker.

Clay and Hannah never have a real conversation until the day of the party.

Clay doesn’t seek revenge towards the rest of the people on the tapes.

The tapes aren’t given to Hannah’s parents.

Hannah overdosed by swallowing pills which lead to her death.

Show 1.

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

Clay listens to the tapes over night.

We don’t see how the tapes affected Hannah’s friends and family, nor do we hear their side of the story.

Clay is an average guy that everyone seems to like.

There is no diversity that is talked about.

The book is solely based around Hannah’s story and Clay’s traveling around the town to experience what she went through based off the map Hannah provided.

Reasons Why series, some fans were skeptical and some were ecstatic. Here are some differences between the book and the series:

Parra, Salazar, and Murphy for committing to Division I colleges.”

With the season ending rapidly, Wicks reflected back on his years on the team and said,” It changed my life. I used to be very quiet and I never talked. It made me social and a better person. It taught me to be humble since it’s such a competitive sport. It has helped me stay focused.I wish my teammates their best and hope they get close to their dreams.” In addition to their great season and record, the varsity head coach, John Weber this season celebrated the milestone of 250 career total wins.

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Clay listens to the tapes within a week.

In the series we see the impact Hannah made on others.

Clay starts to become a bully himself by seeking revenge on the other people on the tapes for what they’ve done to Hannah.

LGBTQ+ members surfaced on the series and there is more diversity.

Netflix took the “bullies” and made them so we’re able to relate to their home lives and personal issues.

Jeff (who gets in the car accident) has a bigger role in the show. Clay tutors him so he is able to stay in baseball.

There’s a lawsuit which

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Hannah’s parents sue the school for not being able to prevent her suicide.

Clay is tape #11.

Clay passes the tapes onto Mr. Porter rather than Bryce Walker which results in him skipping 3 people.

Clay and Hannah are closer than Clay says.

They have nicknames for each other.

Clay wants revenge so he makes a 14th tape which has Bryce’s confession that he raped Hannah.

The tapes are given to Hannah’s parents.

Hannah slits her wrists in the bathtub which ends her life.

SPORTS

8

CENTURION SPOTLIGHT

Track Team Exceeding Expectations, Breaking Records

by Maya Gutierrez Entertainment Editor

Track is a sport centered on community, competition, and self-determination. Here’s a closer look into the lives of some current track members.

Mohammad Dadabhoy - Mohammad has been a part of the track family for one year. He joined the team because he “did cross country for three years, and [he] decided [he] might as well try track to see if [he] like[d] it.”

Dadabhoy said that he wasn’t too good at the beginning of the season since it was his first year, but he has been doing amazing the last couple races, placing every time, “I finally broke five minutes on the mile in the race against Cypress vs. Pacifica and I was so happy.” He said the best part of being in track is the people, they “are what makes it good and worthwhile.” Mohammad is a senior at Cypress High, who will be attending Golden West College this Fall of 2017 to run Track and Cross Country.

Nicholas Rosales Nicholas is a sophomore at Cypress High, who has been in CHS’s Track Family for a total of two years. The reason Rosales runs Track is because he knows he has the chance to represent his school and make his family proud. When asked if he plans on pursuing Track after high school, he responded, “I plan on running Track and Cross Country after I graduate, hopefully with a scholarship to a school I would like to attend.” Rosales said he “has made too many good memories with the people in track,

Softball Places 2nd in League

by Ashley Han Staff Writer

Softball season started off with a bang as the girls defeated Kennedy 6-4. Junior Emily Iannotti said, “Our team is working hard every day to reach our goal which is to win CIFs this year. Before each game one of our team captains, Paige Hallam (12th grade) gives us a pep talk to make sure we are motivated and prepared for each game. The one thing that is different from last year is that our team is very young we only have a couple seniors, but that doesn’t stop us from trying our hardest to reach our goals. ”On April 27th after 16 long innings, Cypress Centurions came out victorious over Valencia with a score of 2-1. Junior, Carlyn Hernandez, said “Our game was very intense. All the players were trying their best to score a run in. Emily Iannotti worked really hard in this game to stop the other team from scoring. All of the players contributed to this game by staying focused throughout the game, and Hannah Corrado

it’s impossible to pick just one.” He explained with a smile on his face that “the people in track have such a close bond that we’re practically a family.” Rosales said his best accomplishment so far this year was breaking into the 4:30’s in the mile race at the Yorba Linda meet.

Zari Dyer - Zari is a Junior here at Cypress High School who has been running Track since 7th grade. She stated, “In track, you learn independence and how to push through because there is no one out there to help you.” Dyer said that when she’s

Boy’s Volleyball Set to Win CIF

by Taira Ramdhani Arianna Rodriguez Sports Editor

ended up winning the game with a walk off single to centerfield scoring Katherine LoVerde.”

Junior Jessica Martinez stated “ We are playing Kennedy High School for our upcoming game and we’re hoping to win the rest of the games coming up to be qualified for CIFs. Before each game we play, “Bring em out by TI” to get us pumped for the first inning.”

Senior (Captain) Paige Hallam stated, “As a team captain it is my job to keep the girls in focus, and communicate on the field and the dugout. With the season halfway over we are more focused than

ever to win every game coming up and reach our team goals, which is to be qualified for the CIFs. Coach Dull said,” Our team bonding is going very well. The girls are coming together really well and preparing for the playoffs which is coming up very soon.

Yesterday’s game against Valencia was one of the greatest game I’ve been involved in. The team beat Valencia 2-1 all the girls were focused and contributed to the victory. We have a great team this year and it is very fun to be a part of this amazing teamwork this year.”

out running, it’s “just my mental strength and I motivating me.”

Zari hopes to pursue track when she attends college because it’s a way to “find great friends” and experience. When asked her favorite memory, she said, “Running the relay against Pacifica and handing off to Sennia Corbin because I ended up falling, but it was okay because we won.”

In the last couple weeks Dyer has accomplished faster times and broken her personal record.

Another winning season for Boys’ Volleyball ended with the team going undefeated! With a strong group of returning coaches and players, Coach Alex Griffiths felt that the program was able to come together and be victorious yet again. Griffiths explained how this year differed from last year’s, “We made preseason matches tougher and we just set standards higher. We know that our program can accomplish a lot like winning a championship.”

Even with leading a winning streak during the season, the team constantly “keeps the bar high all the time, while being physically and mentally present.” Junior Erik Papke always makes sure to “keep practicing hard and keep the goal

in mind.” The boys hope to win CIF and make it to state this year.

After the extraneous beach conditioning and the hours of strong dedication poured into every practice, the team, along with the coaches, sees a bright future. With CIF coming their way, Griffiths reminds the team to “enjoy the journey… we can see the hard work and tough practices were worth it.” The players start their journey in CIF on May 9th.

After seeing what they’ve achieved so far, there’s no doubt that the boys will accomplish their goals and win CIF and possibly go to state. Griffiths adds, “Everyone has improved mentally and physically since I’ve met them last year. The coaching staff loves the family that we have created at Cypress. It’s great to see the boys set such a high standard for our program and school.”

Boy’s Varsity Swim Goes to Finals

by Gabby Doran Photo Editor

It’s getting warmer and swim season has come again! The swim coach, Darren Sandvig, has been preparing Cypress High’s swim team for a successful season, “I would like to improve the young swimmer’s on how to be better leaders and see the worth in seeing a good example.” Boy’s Varsity has a 4-0-1 record, with one tie against Valencia. This year is their first time at a three-peat for league

championships. Sandvig added, “All of our athletes are making huge improvements. In particular are John Nguyen, Ziad Shouman, and Brandon Nguyen. Ezra Kim is having a fantastic season. Watch out for Alberto Cortes trying for a new school record in the 100 free.”

Sandvig has been coaching at Cypress High School for many years and has a very broad swim background. “Swimming is HUGE in my family. My brother, Erik, has been coaching the girl’s team here with me for many years.

Erik, my other brother Kirk and I are alumni of this school’s swim team. My two sons are beginning their journey in this fantastic sport as well and are becoming little swimming studs. Not only that, but I consider all those who join the team as members of my aquatics family. We spend so much time together and grow much together that a special bond by Gina Le forms with those who partake of Staff Writer this elite program.” Now it’s the end of the season and our swim As the school year draws team made it to league finals. to an end, Cypress Badminton continues to play with all their might. The team continues to have a strong season, just The goal for the competing in finals. The first week season was for the team to win of May, they are competing in CIF. the League title and since the Varsity team captain, team has accomplished that, Hien Le, stated, “I’m really excited the next goal is for the team to for CIF because we’re going to be “play well in the postseason to playing against even better players. have a chance for the CIF title,” Our team came a long way and according to Coach Mitchell. I’m really proud of my teammates Six players have advanced for placing in league finals.” into League Finals, the same six At finals, many of the players will represent in the team players did well, including: Tony CIF competition. In the coming Baek and Daniel Byun getting 2nd weeks, each player will determine place for boys doubles, Connie their own destiny by their Lee with 3rd place for girls singles, results to lengthen their season. Connie Lee and Isaiah Delos Reyes with 2nd place in mixed

Cypress High Badminton Smashes League

Boy’s Golf Wins Empire League

by Daniel Park Staff Writer

For the third consecutive year, the boy’s golf team secured the Empire League title with an undefeated record this season of 14-0. Most of the wins were by a large double digit margin, while only two matches were decided by single digits. Now the goal for the team is to play well in the coming weeks to be able to play well in the post season.

“I feel that I had an average season and the coming

weeks will bring the best out of me and my teammates,” says Roman Aragon. He continued, “It’s been a long wait for this part of the season, which is the part I anticipate every year and I can see that this year will be different.”

Preston Narciso added, “This is the part of the season where you have to fine tune your game to the best you can to be able to make a name for yourself.” Narciso also gave an insight to what he does to get better by “grinding for four hours a day practicing and playing almost every day of the week.”

photo courtesy of Hien Le

doubles, and Isiah Delos Reyes getting second place boys singles.

Coach, Lindsey Lin, says, “I’m proud of what the team has achieved so far and I’m ready to see how they’ll play at CIF. I’m sure there will be good results.”

Be sure to support Cypress Badminton at CIF these upcoming weeks!