Paul's Portfolio 2022

Paul’s Amazing and Spectacular Portfolio of the Year 2022

Editing The main thing that I learned this year was how to manage my

Design Travel

THE CSPRESS

FEBRUARY 4, 2022 ● 15

ARIZONA NATURAL

Livia Lowe science editor

A

LL ACROSS THE country there are pieces of land, called national parks, set aside for people to visit and see the natural beauty of the country. Arizona has three national parks in the state, those being Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro.

National parks weren’t always a thing. It wasn’t until 1906, when president Theodore Roosevelt created the United States Forest Service which protected 230 million acres of land.

Arizona’s most notorious national park is Grand Canyon national park which was established in 1919 under Roosevelts’ administration. The canyon, which features brightly colored layers of millions of years old rock that goes down for a little more than a mile, brings visitors from all over the globe to see one of the seven wonders of the world.

According to the U.S. National Park Service, the Grand Canyon is one of the most studied geological landscapes in the world as it offers three of the four eras of geological time, an extensive fossil record, and an array of geologic features and rock types, and numerous caves containing significant geological, paleontological, archeological and biological findings.

In total, the canyon is 277 miles long and 11 miles wide, though it is not close to being the biggest canyon in the world, it is the largest in the United States. The park is located about two hours north of Flagstaff in the state’s more

Three National Parks highlight the diversity of the state’s beauty

time well. In order to deal with all of the people that wouldn’t do their stories on time, I had to plan my page as soon as production week started to give myself time to write stories if needed.

Implementing this helped me get done quicker on production days. I was typically done in three to four hours which I was

THE LARGEST canyon in America continues to bring in visiters year around.

The cancelation of flights disrupts travel

Jordan Kern staff writer

happy about. I started to do this during the second semester more because I didn’t want to be stressed out on production

aCooper Lake

With Covid surging throughout the world this year, major airlines are having to cancel flights due to shortage of staff.

On January 1, 2022, over 1000 flights were delayed and hundreds were canceled. People are taking risks when entering an airport, whether it involves covid or possibly their flight getting canceled. There are a plethora of tips that people can follow before flying in 2022.

Being prepared to fly comes in handy when it comes to a smooth airport experience. According to the New York Times, it is important to “make sure you have all the necessary documentation required for travel, such as a negative Covid-19 test or proof of

vaccination, which many countries require for entry.

Knowing the rights shouldn’t be a “must know”. Airlines try to get

“

A lot of people don’t have the right information before they get to the airport, and then there’s a lot of confusion,” Michael Holtz ,

Chief Executive of SmartFlyer, a New York City-based luxury travel agency

barren parts by the native american reservation. It includes three entrances; two south entrances and one north entrance. The south entrances are open all year round while the north entrance is closed during winter.

The Petrified Forest is located just outside of Holbrook in the northeast corner of the state. The forest is known for its collection of colorful tree fossils that are older than 200 million years old, something that fascinates archeologists.

Located within the forest is the Painted desert, which is named after a Spanish explorer in the 16th century called the area El Desierto Pintado. What causes the colorful sediment is called the Chinle Formation. The Chinle Formation are river deposits that appear in different colors depending on how old the rocks are.

There are two visitor centers, the Painted Desert Visitor Center on the north and the Rainbow Forest Museum to the south.

Though, there is plenty to see without having to stop at the visitor centers.

Saguaro National park in Tucson showcases the large saguaros that grew in the area.

The park is separated into two areas, one section east of Tucson and the other west. The Park is not just desert and saguaros despite its name. Saguaro Park includes some of the Catalina mountains which at their peak have pine trees as well as other plants that contribute to the greenery.

The well-known McCallister house can be rented on AirBnB for 25 dollars

their way by manipulating people.

Don’t let them sway their way into situations that don’t help the customer out. Having an idea of what the passenger is able to receive as part of a canceled flight should be known. In addition, try not to go on flights that require layovers.

Although some people may have no option to get to their final destination, with all the cancellations happening now, nobody wants to get their connecting flight canceled and be stuck in a state that’s not where they are supposed to be.

Keeping your composure and staying calm will allow for less stressful traveling. When asking questions to the flight assistants, it is important to not get angry with them because there isn’t a lot they can do during these times.

Max Hancock Opinion editor

An iconic symbol of pop culture and tradition, the McCallister home from the classic movie: Home Alone, is now available to be rented out as an Airbnb location where fans can live out their childhood dreams.

The actor who portrays Kevin McCallister’s older brother, “Buzz,” owns the residence, and has volunteered to open his home to a select few lucky visitors. The home will be open for a one-night stay and open to four guests, with Big Brother Buzz only charging a surprising 25 dollars.

Buzz’s timeless residence includes much of the original furniture and features multiple additions to the home where guests can relive the story first hand. Re-creations of some of Kevin’s booby traps and his candle lit dinner of microwavable mac & cheese and Chicago’s finest

pizza as seen in the film will also be provided for the lucky guests.

In honor of the first-ever stay at the McCallister home, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Chicago’s La Rabida Children’s Hospital, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of victims of chronic illnesses and other complex conditions.

I am the most proud of my February page because the colors pop which makes it look amazing. I like the stories that are on the page. The picture of the Grand Canyon really stands out which is what the main picture is supposed to do.

aCreative Commons

THE FAMOUS house used in Home Alone is now available to rent.

days. I wish I would have done it sooner because it would have made my life a lot easier.

The most difficult part of editing for me is staying focused

Travel

THE CSPRESS

MARCH 4, 2022 ● 9

cause the colors are dull. The

What are your plans for Spring break?

quality of the main picture

to find the mistakes. I can edit stories if I am in the zone but when I am not, it takes a lot longer and sometimes I miss out

“I am going to Mexico to swim in the ocean and hang out with my friends” Wyatt Ferguson

on major mistakes. The most common mistakes made this year were formatting and punctuation.

is’t the best either. It’s a very

Camping in the desert Jordan Kern staff writer

“I am going to Cabo.

I plan on going to the beach and hanging out with family”

Gracie Goulder

For next year, teaching the format of articles will make the

Camping in Arizona is a popular activity and it’s important that campers are prepared enough in order to have a great experience. Arizona has a wide variety of different kinds of camping spots all around that are very easy to find and camp in.

Out of the entire state of Arizona, there are many different camping areas, but locally, there are popular sites.

“Seven Springs, Bartlett Lake area, Lake Pleasant, and are my favorite places to camp at,” said Hayden Leamon, a senior.

In addition, there are spots in areas like Flagstaff, Payson, and the White Mountains that all offer opportuni-

staff writer

“I think I am just staying home. Most of my frineds are so I will just chill with them,”

Z ander

easy mistake. It got really annoying as the semester went on.

Punctuation is just something that everyone should know which makes me mad because so many people don’t know how to properly write a sentence.

ties for either camping or backpacking.

There are also campsites down south in Tucson that provide good spots to camp in.

Camping in general requires not only tools and resources, but skills as well.

Knowing how to start a fire is importanting, especially if something is broken, such as a lighter or fire starter. Keeping a fire going and boiling dirty water to kill all germs if no clean water is accessible is also key. If someone is going camping, being extra prepared is always a priority.

Knowing how to get a good spot or a spot in general must be gameplanned before entering the site.

“Go to an area that has a lot of space. A good tip is to get there early because sometimes people get there at the beginning of the day,” said Tommy Staats, a senior.

Another priority is to be prepared with all food and sleeping gear. As most know, tents and sleeping bags contribute to a huge portion of the “survival”, because without them, the camper would be sleeping on the hard ground.

Depending on the weather in the area, some may not even need a tent. A hammock is an alternative item to sleep in and can be easier to set up as well.

“A good tool kit and first aid equipment are always important if you will be traveling off-road in wilderness areas.

Adequate amounts of food and especially water,” said Mark Lauch, a science teacher.

Although there are many more items that could be useful to bring on a camping trip, these ones are perhaps the most important and should be considered when going on a trip where survival knowledge should be known.

Beautiful music to Scottsdale’s ears Chris

editors’ lives easier because they won’t have to fix such an

I honestly hate this page be-

The Museum of Musical Instruments is one of the attractions of Scottsdale that has succeeded in enrapturing the history of music. The MIM has been able to give the opportunity to demonstrate to new generations of kids the importance of music and the chance to spark an interest in the craft.

The MIM has been running for almost 12 years now ever since its grand opening in April of 2010. It is the largest musical instrument museum of its type holding over 15,000 instruments

from over 200 countries and territories around the world. The former CEO of Target, Bob Ulrich, is the founder of the MIM. Ulrich was inspired to develop the museum to display the instruments everyday people play around the world.

There are many galleries to visit inside to appeal to many interests. The geographic gallery takes visitors around the world to show the instruments developed by hundreds of countries. The artist gallery, showing instruments and relics of musical icons like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Elvis Presley. The experience gallery lets people play and try

out some instruments. The mechanical music gallery has instruments that can play themselves like barrel organs and automatons.

The Collier STEM gallery teaches visitors about how music relates to science, technology, engineering, and math, like how humans experience sound or how some instruments work. There is also the conservation lab where people can see through a window workers repair and document old instruments so that people in the future can enjoy them in the museum.

boring page. I would like to get a different camping photo with more color that way the picutre stands out.

Writing

Leading When working with staff members I just be myself that way they are comfortable with me. Based on the tone of my voice they will know if I am just joking around or being serious.

This semester I took over news briefs. News briefs are an important part of the News section in the paper.

In my opinoin it is the most important on the news page. They are very easy to write however it is difficult to come up with ideas. I start of with coming up with ideas and then brainstorm what to write for the topics. Doing the news briefs were my favorite stories to write because they were short and sweet.

The main challenge this year was having the staff members take when I told them seriously. They would just brush off what I said and act like I didn’t speak to them. Sometimes people would just agree with me to make me happy which I think happened to all of the editors. It’s better to be respected in a leadership position because people take you more seriously.

I loved being a leader because I felt in charge of little peasants running around the classroom. I enjoy bossing them around whether or not they actually listen.

Creating an award winning paper can be challenging to us but because it is a standard at our school, it’s simply easier to do. We do well on designing the pages. Most of our papers look better than some real newspapers which is very impressive.

The quote means that you have to have a plan when giving orders because if you don’t have a plan, it makes you look like a terrible leader. I agree with this quote because there was a few times this semester where someone gave an order and it ended up working out poorly.

TEAR SHEETS

February Travel

THE CSPRESS

ARIZONA NATURAL Three National Parks highlight the diversity of the state’s beauty

THE LARGEST canyon in America continues to bring in visiters year around.

aCooper Lake

The cancelation of flights disrupts travel

Jordan Kern staff writer

With Covid surging throughout the world this year, major airlines are having to cancel flights due to shortage of staff.

On January 1, 2022, over 1000 flights were delayed and hundreds were canceled. People are taking risks when entering an airport, whether it involves covid or possibly their flight getting canceled. There are a plethora of tips that people can follow before flying in 2022.

Being prepared to fly comes in handy when it comes to a smooth airport experience. According to the New York Times, it is important to “make sure you have all the necessary documentation required for travel, such as a negative Covid-19 test or proof of

vaccination, which many countries require for entry.

Knowing the rights shouldn’t be a “must know”. Airlines try to get

“

A lot of people don’t have the right information before they get to the airport, and then there’s a lot of confusion,” Michael Holtz ,

Chief Executive of SmartFlyer, a New York City-based luxury travel agency

their way by manipulating people.

Don’t let them sway their way into situations that don’t help the customer out. Having an idea of what the passenger is able to receive as part of a canceled flight should be known. In addition, try not to go on flights that require layovers.

Although some people may have no option to get to their final destination, with all the cancellations happening now, nobody wants to get their connecting flight canceled and be stuck in a state that’s not where they are supposed to be.

Keeping your composure and staying calm will allow for less stressful traveling. When asking questions to the flight assistants, it is important to not get angry with them because there isn’t a lot they can do during these times.

FEBRUARY 4, 2022 ● 15

Livia Lowe science editor

A

LL ACROSS THE coun-

try there are pieces of land, called national parks, set aside for people to visit and see the natural beauty of the country. Arizona has three national parks in the state, those being Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Saguaro.

National parks weren’t always a thing. It wasn’t until 1906, when president Theodore Roosevelt created the United States Forest Service which protected 230 million acres of land.

Arizona’s most notorious national park is Grand Canyon national park which was established in 1919 under Roosevelts’ administration. The canyon, which features brightly colored layers of millions of years old rock that goes down for a little more than a mile, brings visitors from all over the globe to see one of the seven wonders of the world.

According to the U.S. National Park Service, the Grand Canyon is one of the most studied geological landscapes in the world as it offers three of the four eras of geological time, an extensive fossil record, and an array of geologic features and rock types, and numerous caves containing significant geological, paleontological, archeological and biological findings.

In total, the canyon is 277 miles long and 11 miles wide, though it is not close to being the biggest canyon in the world, it is the largest in the United States. The park is located about two hours north of Flagstaff in the state’s more

barren parts by the native american reservation. It includes three entrances; two south entrances and one north entrance. The south entrances are open all year round while the north entrance is closed during winter.

The Petrified Forest is located just outside of Holbrook in the northeast corner of the state. The forest is known for its collection of colorful tree fossils that are older than 200 million years old, something that fascinates archeologists.

Located within the forest is the Painted desert, which is named after a Spanish explorer in the 16th century called the area El Desierto Pintado. What causes the colorful sediment is called the Chinle Formation. The Chinle Formation are river deposits that appear in different colors depending on how old the rocks are.

There are two visitor centers, the Painted Desert Visitor Center on the north and the Rainbow Forest Museum to the south.

Though, there is plenty to see without having to stop at the visitor centers.

Saguaro National park in Tucson showcases the large saguaros that grew in the area.

The park is separated into two areas, one section east of Tucson and the other west. The Park is not just desert and saguaros despite its name. Saguaro Park includes some of the Catalina mountains which at their peak have pine trees as well as other plants that contribute to the greenery.

March

THE CSPRESS

Max Hancock An iconic symbol of pop culture and tradition, the McCallister home from the classic movie: Home Alone, is now available to be rented out as an Airbnb location where fans can live out their childhood dreams.

The actor who portrays Kevin McCallister’s older brother, “Buzz,” owns the residence, and has volunteered to open his home to a select few lucky visitors. The home will be open for a one-night stay and open to four guests, with Big Brother Buzz only charging a surprising 25 dollars.

Buzz’s timeless residence includes much of the original furniture and features multiple additions to the home where guests can relive the story first hand. Re-creations of some of Kevin’s booby traps and his candle lit dinner of microwavable mac & cheese and Chicago’s finest

pizza as seen in the film will also be provided for the lucky guests.

In honor of the first-ever stay at the McCallister home, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Chicago’s La Rabida Children’s Hospital, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of victims of chronic illnesses and other complex conditions.

aCreative Commons

THE FAMOUS house used in Home Alone is now available to rent.

MARCH 4, 2022 ● 9

What are your plans for Spring break?

“I am going to Mexico to swim in the ocean and hang out with my friends” Wyatt Ferguson

Camping in the desert Jordan Kern staff writer

“I am going to Cabo.

I plan on going to the beach and hanging out with family”

Gracie Goulder

Camping in Arizona is a popular activity and it’s important that campers are prepared enough in order to have a great experience. Arizona has a wide variety of different kinds of camping spots all around that are very easy to find and camp in.

Out of the entire state of Arizona, there are many different camping areas, but locally, there are popular sites.

“Seven Springs, Bartlett Lake area, Lake Pleasant, and are my favorite places to camp at,” said Hayden Leamon, a senior.

In addition, there are spots in areas like Flagstaff, Payson, and the White Mountains that all offer opportuni-

ties for either camping or backpacking.

There are also campsites down south in Tucson that provide good spots to camp in.

Camping in general requires not only tools and resources, but skills as well.

Knowing how to start a fire is importanting, especially if something is broken, such as a lighter or fire starter. Keeping a fire going and boiling dirty water to kill all germs if no clean water is accessible is also key. If someone is going camping, being extra prepared is always a priority.

Knowing how to get a good spot or a spot in general must be gameplanned before entering the site.

“Go to an area that has a lot of space. A good tip is to get there early because sometimes people get there at the beginning of the day,” said Tommy Staats, a senior.

Another priority is to be prepared with all food and sleeping gear. As most know, tents and sleeping bags contribute to a huge portion of the “survival”, because without them, the camper would be sleeping on the hard ground.

Depending on the weather in the area, some may not even need a tent. A hammock is an alternative item to sleep in and can be easier to set up as well.

“A good tool kit and first aid equipment are always important if you will be traveling off-road in wilderness areas.

Adequate amounts of food and especially water,” said Mark Lauch, a science teacher.

Although there are many more items that could be useful to bring on a camping trip, these ones are perhaps the most important and should be considered when going on a trip where survival knowledge should be known.

Beautiful music to Scottsdale’s ears

The well-known McCallister house can be rented on AirBnB for 25 dollars Opinion editor

Travel

Chris

staff writer

“I think I am just staying home. Most of my frineds are so I will just chill with them,”

Z ander

The Museum of Musical Instruments is one of the attractions of Scottsdale that has succeeded in enrapturing the history of music. The MIM has been able to give the opportunity to demonstrate to new generations of kids the importance of music and the chance to spark an interest in the craft.

The MIM has been running for almost 12 years now ever since its grand opening in April of 2010. It is the largest musical instrument museum of its type holding over 15,000 instruments

from over 200 countries and territories around the world. The former CEO of Target, Bob Ulrich, is the founder of the MIM. Ulrich was inspired to develop the museum to display the instruments everyday people play around the world.

There are many galleries to visit inside to appeal to many interests. The geographic gallery takes visitors around the world to show the instruments developed by hundreds of countries. The artist gallery, showing instruments and relics of musical icons like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Elvis Presley. The experience gallery lets people play and try

out some instruments. The mechanical music gallery has instruments that can play themselves like barrel organs and automatons.

The Collier STEM gallery teaches visitors about how music relates to science, technology, engineering, and math, like how humans experience sound or how some instruments work. There is also the conservation lab where people can see through a window workers repair and document old instruments so that people in the future can enjoy them in the museum.

TEAR SHEETS

April Sports

18 ●APRIL 8, 2022

Paul Wernes sports editor

STRIKE. Senior Jayden Bahora steps

up to the play and gets ready for the first pitch of the count.

aLexi Lecari

Baseball’s back in business Kolton O’Connor guest writer

The 2022 baseball season is finally getting started and fans and players all over the country are ready for the season to start.

“These are players and owners making more in one year then the average person will make in their life, I think it’s kind of silly,” said Kenneth Zarda, a government teacher.

The MLBPA which stands for the MLB players association, and the owners of the teams have finally agreed on new terms regarding the MLB draft, the minimum minor league salary and many more new rules regarding the game itself. The Owners have also been pushing for more games overseas to try and expand the influence the game of baseball has on the world.

“I’m just happy baseball is back and I’m sure the players and owners are too,” said Zach Valentine, a senior and member of the baseball team.

The Lockout itself was imposed

by Rob Manfred, the commissioner

of baseball because the owners, the players, and the commissioner could not agree on new terms and new rules for the league. While the lockout only lasted 99 days and only

“

I really like the new rule changes. I think it will be good for the game and I can’t wait to see the Diamondbacks opening day game K al Goff

Senior

pushed opening day back two weeks, many thought this would go on longer and baseball fans and players around the world are ready for the sport to be back.

“I really like the new rule changes. I think it will be good for the game and

I can’t wait to see the Diamondbacks opening day game,” said Kal Goff, a senior.

Along with some logistical rule changes there has also been some actual gameplay changes. The bases for the 2022 season will be larger than seasons prior, also there will be a new expanded pitch clock. Also the “ghost” runner that was placed on second base to try and speed up games that went into extra innings has been removed and teams will no longer start with a runner in scoring position.

“Obviously there is still more to be discussed between the owners and the players but we will see a full season of baseball this year so I am excited,” said Goff.

After 99 days and a whole lot of worrying from fans and players people will get to see the MLB resume play. There was doubt from people that the agreement would get done but at least for now, there will be baseball played in 2022.

May

THE CSPRESS

Baseball players commit to college The quality of a baseball field impacts the players that play on it. Cactus Shadows has many committed baseball players.

“I am playing at the University of Kansas. I never travel club ball till the summer going into my junior season and prior to that I only had a few calls from colleges,” said Antonio Gianni, a baseball commit.

Having a former professional baseball player as a coach has helped students out when becoming a better player while being a part of the baseball program. The coaches have pushed their athletes to become the best players they can possibly be while playing for Cactus Shadows.

“Recruiting came easy but the road to it was the biggest challenge. During COVID-19 I didn’t take a single day off of playing baseball. Everyday, my dad and I went to the field and worked on something new, whether it was catching outfield or infield. I do believe this played one of the biggest roles and how I play today,” said Gianni.

In all sports, the simple things benefit players the most.

Playing catch is where baseball players start their careers but they use these little skills for the rest of their career.

“Cactus Shadows is really proud of all the hard work and dedication these athletes have shown throughout the years,” said Tandehl Collentine, Athletic Director. “We are excited to see how they continue to excel in college.”

Being a student athlete

Z achary Valentine

Glendale Community College

comes with many challenges.

The athletes have to balance their school workload along with their baseball workload.

Big schools tend to have higher gpa requirements which is why it is so difficult to commit to big D1 schools.

Overall, a little over seven percent of high school athletes go on to play a varsity sport in college and less than two percent of high school athletes go on to play at NCAA Division I schools.

18 ●APRIL 8, 2022

In times of need...

Athletes take care As sports become more and more competitive, atheletes and sports medicine professionals are finding ways to keep the tip top players in tip top shape.

Overall, a little over seven percent of high school athletes go on to play a varsity sport in college and less than two percent of high school athletes go on to play at NCAA Division I schools.

Many students play at the next level for community colleges.

“I am going to Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California. I really liked talking to the coach which is the main reason why I chose to go there,” said Jimmy Williams, a baseball commit.

Playing college baseball is a big step for many athletes and the school is proud to have so many athletes playing at a high level.

Antonio Gianni

University of Kansas

Jimmy Williams

Antelope Valley College

aCooper Lake

THE CSPRESS

Will Donegan Staff writer

As modern medicine and the understanding of the human body advances, athletes are taking new approaches to how they take care of their body’s. For instance, a torn acl in the old days was a career ended. But now because of revolutionary new sur-

geries athletes can have a new surgery that allows them to get the procedure done and fully recover in a matter of months.

“The world of sports medicine is rapidly developing, we are seeing new procedures, as well as new ways of recovery that allows athletes to get back to the field, fully healed in little time,” said Joe Harvey, athletic trainer.

Athletes dieting has also greatly improved as the years have gone on, before athletes were not all that concerned in what they put into their bodies , because there was no knowledge on how to properly diet.

Today however the opposite can be said, athletes today have advanced

meal plans and take careful note of what it is exactly that they are consuming, down to the very carb. New dieting helps athletes perform on a level that is highly effective.

“I actually take very careful note of what exactly goes into my body, I am constantly having to adjust the levels and go from there, I do see major improvements in my play however,” said Diego Romario, a junior.

Dynamic workouts are also vital in the way athletes of today function. Before athletes did not take working out very seriously and it showed with their performance on the field. Today however athletes are taking a different approach to

the way they condition their bodies, the idea of routine in working out was only developed a couple of decades ago. Before people had no idea that a large amount of working out came down to consistently.

“I actually used an app to workout when I started and it helped me get into the rhythm of consistency in working out, “ said Dylan White, a junior.

There are many new ways of working out today and apps have been developed for that very reason to teach people how to work out.

MOS: Who is winning the NBA playoffs?

NBA playoffs start with a twist Jordan Kern 400

This year’s NBA playoffs officially began on Tuesday, April 12th and are set to end in June. The playoffs as of last year have changed a bit due to some disagreements with seeding.

There are two conferences in the league, a western and eastern. As of last year, entering into this year, the first six teams of each conference with the best records make it into the playoffs.

The other four teams below that spot enter the play-in tournament to fill in the seventh and eighth seeds. The way it works is the winner of the seventh and eight seeds play each other once. The winner of that game automatically gets a spot into the playoffs.

The ninth and tenth seeds also play in which the winner of that game plays the loser of the higher seeded team.The twist is the loser of the seventh and eighth seed game still has one more chance to make it in by playing the winner of

the ninth and tenth seed game.

“I think it’s great. It adds more excitement and you get more teams that still have an option. It makes games more relevant down the stretch during the NBA season,” said Chris House, a basketball coach.

With the bracket set out currently, the playoffs have officially begun. Beginning with the western conference, the number one seeded Suns play the number eighth seeded pelicans in the first round.

The number two seeded Grizzlies play the number seven seeded Timberwolves in the first round.

The number three seeded Warriors play the sixth seeded Nuggets in the first round.

Lastly, the number four seeded Mavericks play the number five seeded Jazz in the first round.

“I think the Western Conference finals are going to be Warriors vs Suns and I think the Suns are gonna beat them in seven games,” said a Christian Waters, a senior.

In the Eastern conference, the number one seeded Heat are set to

play the Hawks in the first round.

The number two seeded Celtics play the seventh seeded Nets in the first round.

The number three seeded Bucks play the sixth seeded Bulls in the first round.

Lastly the number four seeded Sixers play the five seeded Raptors in the first round.

“I think the Heat are going to make it out the eastern conference because they have the deepest roster in the NBA,” said Dylan Lies, a senior Although predictions are predictions, according to sportscenter, a trusted sports network, the Celtics have the highest percentage to win the title at a 40.2% chance with the Suns behind them at 21.8% chance.

With the playoffs still occurring, contending teams have put on a show for fans but in the end, there will only be one winner and one happy fanbase.

“Suns and Sixers. Suns will win that series in six,” Thomas Ajeggquist

Sophomore

“Suns, doesn’t matter who their competition is and they’re winning in four gamersonally,” Antonio Gianni

Junior

“I got the Suns and the Sixers in six games.

The suns are winning that,”

Michael Macdonald

Senior

THE CSPRESS

Sarah Love

Trending now editor

Sports offer many benefits for people of all ages both mentally and physically. Softball among other team sports provides an opportunity to learn needed life lessons while also being active.

APRIL 8, 2022 ● 19

In 2006 the Falcon Fast Pick Softball Team was constructed creating an opportunity for girls to play softball. Many of the girls who started through this feeder team are now playing for the Cactus Shadows Softball team. Mrs. Gianni has been a coach and role model to the majority of these girls for a very long time.

“Even though I had to step down as a coach, I am still in contact with

the girls that played for me, I went to their senior night, I have some in class and others as TA’s because I have known them since they were little our relationship is strong,” GIANNI, retired coach.

When playing a team sport the players become very aware of each other. Team sports give kids the opportunity to win and lose with others, and learn to overcome challenges as a group. While also giving players a chance to learn how to work with others in high stress situations. Developing a team mentality helps kids gain the social skills that will be

needed in school and the workplace later on.

Team sports not only give players the chance to grow as a team but to grow as an individual. Many life lessons come forth while playing a sport. Whether that be reliance, commitment, or self discipline. The lesson will be taught whether the player knows it or not. Bringing the classroom to the fields.

“Softball has definitely taught me that failure is inevitable but you can’t let it stop you,” Sara Patterson, softball player.

When a player plays a sport for so long it becomes a major part of the day to day routine. As the softball season comes to an end, the senior players are getting ready to pack up to

head off to what’s next, bitter sweet feelings are coming to the surface.

Having to say goodbye to something that has been the norm for so long can be challenging. Most players have dedicated the majority of their lives if not more to the sports that they play. For some athletes, it may be a relief that their athletic career is over.

“I’m a senior and I don’t really plan on playing in college so it’s really sad that I won’t be able to play ever again but it has been a good run and I feel like I left everything I could out on the field,” Kennedy Brandon, Senior softball player.

Not only do team sports like softball affect the physical health of the players, it also affects the mental health of the players, from a boosted mood to an improved concentration and better sleep.

Softball offers all of this plus more.

According to Madison Hughes, a writer for SWOSU Sayre Student Anthology, while hitting a softball player the player has around .350 seconds to react, and the visual of the ball can be misleading. Adding to the list of mental benefits, reaction time and hand eye coordination can be considered a must for softball.