November 9, 2012

Prowler anther

Pages 6-7: Marijuana on Campus

Cassie Stephenson / Prowler

Friday | Nov. 9, 2012 | Issue III

Newbury Park High School | 456 N. Reino RD., Newbury Park, CA 91320

Politics impact Newbury Park Mock Elections get students involved

Prop outcomes to impact school Anita Agopyan-Miu / Prowler

Alexa Hanson and Grace O’Toole

Prowler Features and Entertainment Editor

On Nov. 6, 2012, citizens all over America entered the polls to cast their votes. On Oct. 30, students at NPHS had the opportunity to experience a mock voting situation as they selected choices that adults on the 6th weighed in on.

The entire school voted on the eleven propositions, the presidential candidates, and on the state senators in a statewide election.

It was handled by ASG, who also released a special edition of Panther TV to explain the different propositions and candidates. In both the school’s and official results of the nation, incumbent Barack Obama won as well as current senator Diane Feinstein.

In addition to the school wide ballot, the history department held a true-to-life election that implemented the actual ballot that the real election used. This election was complete with real ballot machines, and the county director of education was also present.

Teachers have very strong opinions on the importance of making students aware of the importance of their vote. According to statistics, the age group that is least likely to vote is 18-21 year olds -- students just out of high school. Advanced Placement US History teacher Steve Johnson commented on “how important it is to know your voice counts… how you want to be a part of the process.”

The mock election served a dual purpose in this manner as well; not only did it alert the general student body to the upcoming elections, it also spread the word to students that are eligible to vote.

NPHS VOTED YES on 30 NO on 32 YES on 37 YES on 38

ing up on a number of mornings lead at the front of the high school ed their her ed gat voic rs and che tea ters S pos NPH gn Taking a stand voters, they made campai ent stud and in the ent par hed e plis enc e goals wer accom to election day. In order to influ proposition 30. Both of thes on yes and 32 ition pos pro opinions, such as no on election.

Alexa Hanson and Grace O’Toole

Prowler Features and Entertainment Editor

The proposition ballot is often very confusing, with a “yes” vote sometimes meaning no and vice versa. Out of the eleven propositions on this year’s ballot, the three that will impact schools and the educational system the most are Propositions 30, 32, and 38. In NPHS’ mock election Props 30 and 38 passed while 32 failed.

Prop 30 - Passed

The purpose of Prop 30 is to raise revenues to fund education, public safety, and balance the state budget. A “yes” on Prop 30 meant an increase of Personal Income Tax (PIT), a tax on “wage, businesses, investments, and other income”, according to the Official Voter Information Guide (OVIG), for individuals and families making more than $250,000 a year. It also increases sales tax rates by .25%.

However, schools are not guaranteed the money, as the proposition states that revenues from the taxes will be available to fund the state budget. If Prop 30 failed, $6 billion from the state budget would have been taken from education and public safety programs in a series of “trigger cuts”, incurring more cuts to education and other projects.

Prop 30 passed by a slim margin.

Greg Ropes, a teacher at NPHS, stated that Prop 30 was “designed by the government to put extra money into education.” AP US History teacher Steve Johnson added that the school year would be cut by twenty days or more next year if Prop 30 fails.

The argument against Prop 30 in the OVIG criticized its lack of “requirements or assurances that any more money actually gets to the classroom.”

Prop 32 - Failed

Up until this point, unions and corporations had the ability to contribute money for political purposes, sometimes by withholding employee paychecks. They will continue to do so now that Prop 32 failed. However, if Prop 32 had passed, their capacity to do so would have been severely limited.

A “yes” would have prohibited unions from donating money to causes relating to politics and would have had an annual fiscal impact of $1 million to investigate allegations of the law being broken. The OVIG’s argument for Prop 30 urged for a “yes” vote to “cut the money tie between special interests and voters as well as to stop unions and other special interests from deducting employee’s paychecks to give to political causes involuntarily.”

Johnson claims that unions use the dues of members to contribute to politics, and the passing of Prop 32 gives an unfair advantage to big corporations that can give money to politics without using employee paychecks. “The way it’s written, it would ban public employees from contributing and being a part of politics.” Since Prop 32 received more ‘no’ votes, donations from organazations such as these will continue to donate to politics.

Prop 38 - Failed

Like Prop 30, Prop 38 proposed PIT increases for 12 years for everyone who makes an annual income over $7,316.

Unlike Prop 30, 38 guaranteed that 60% of revenues would go towards K-12 schools. Another 30% would go towards state debt payments until 2015, at which point more money would be allocated to state debt payments. Prop 38 failed by an astronomical margin.

Obama re-elected for second term As is now common knowledge all over the world, President Barack Obama was re-elected for his second term in the Oval Office. President Obama’s major policy is his Race to the Top (R2T) program. It rewards states monetary incentives for reaching standards and performance goals, with $4.35 billion allocated to it.

2 News

The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

ASG decides Grad Night location Kylie Everitt

Prowler Staff Writer

Associated Student Government(ASG) decided in mid-October, on behalf of the seniors, that California Adventure is this year’s Grad Night destination. The students of the senior class were not able to vote for the location like previous years due to the fact that Dave and Buster’s was unable to secure the school’s reservation, thus leaving California Adventure as the only option. However, seniors Taylor Driscoll, Dom Centanni, Fran Gonzales and Jeffrey Dees are pleased with this executive desicion.

As the first quarter of the 2013 school year finishes up, graduation day for the senior panthers on campus is drawing anxiously close. It can be a day where the students’ status as high schoolers will change into college bound, young adults; a day marking maturation in their lives and optimism for their future. Senior graduation night is a chance to reflect on all the memories shared here at Newbury Park, and enjoy one last night as a high school student with the friends who have always been there.

When deciding on the Grad Night location, in the past it has been hard to please the entire senior class. Gonzales expressed her view on the choice of California Adventure when she stated, “To be honest, I don’t really care where we go because I have fun with my friends no matter where we are.” She also commented “I feel like last year everyone was complaining about Dave and Busters and they will still continue to complain about going to California Adventure.”

Dees indicated his approval when he said, “my experiences at California Adventure have

News in Brief:

Anita Agopyan-Miu

Prowler Photographer

beginning of my adulthood.”

Centanni, who is a member of ASG, demonstrated his validation of California Adventure when he noted, “I feel that it beats go-karting. I remember that was one of the options offered freshman year. I have always enjoyed California Adventure.”

Driscoll is also excited about this year’s choice for Grad Night, after hearing how much fun her sister had at her own Grad Night. “When my sister had grad night a couple of years ago, they went to Disneyland, and she always tells me stories about that night,” she said. “When I found out that we may go to Dave and Busters instead of a theme park, I was really disappointed.”

She went on to explain that the fact that the graduating class is going to California Adventure makes her look forward to her own experience.

“I like the choice of California Adventure because now one day, I will be able to tell my sister stories of my own experiences, and be able to relate to the excitement that she had on her Grad Night.”

On the

Web...

Swap Meet:

The Swap Meet was held on October 27 in the parking lot from 8 to noon. This was the first time this event was held but there are hopes to make it an annual event around the month of October. The swap meet was held so that all the clubs could partake and raise money for whatever it was that the groups needed; for example, the office was raising money for office furniture. Unfortunately, not as many clubs participated in the event as anticipated but there were a lot of boosters for sports such as soccer, cheer and lacrosse.

IB Dance Class:

The IB Dance class taught the IB Spanish 5 class how to dance the flamenco on October 24 in the Girls Activity Room in order to teach them about the culture of Spain. After pairing up, the IB Spanish 5 class was taught the basic flamenco movement by IB dance teacher Cameo Carolan. The result was a performance for their peers.

Band Haunted House:

Mr. Crystal’s band students put together a Haunted House in their room, M2, on October 26 starting at 7 P.M for $5. The Haunted House included people such as Slender Man and creepy clowns. The band, ironically, raised a total of $666 dollars with the help of parents, gruesome effects and treats.

Anita’s Music: Jake Bugg, 18 year-old musician, recently released his new EP on iTunes in America and his debut album in England. His songs are a mixture of generes. He is the Taylor Swift of Rock.

Preston’s Food Review: This week, Preston decided to expand his appreciation for food by going to Mandarin Bistro and experiencing authentic Mandarin cuisine. He tried tofu and mushu pork, and found it very “dank.”

Opinion 3 The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Editorial: It’s Personal

By the Panther Prowler

We’re firing you because you like to go to McDonald’s and make Youtube videos of you eating five Big Macs at a time. We think that’s a bad influence.

Yea, Nay, Impartial How the Editors Voted on this editorial:

Sravya Singampalli/ Prowler

There have been teachers who have been fired for apects of their personal lives or past. In this issue’s editorial, the Panther Prowler discusses the relevance of a teacher’s personal life in relation to the classroon.

It can be shocking for students to realize that teachers have entire social lives outside of school, but how exactly are students affected by what teachers do once they leave the classroom? Teachers are meant to be authority figures, role models, and sources for advice. Most students, however, are not familiar with their teachers on a personal level outside of school grounds. Seeing teachers at a grocery store or bumping into them on the street is one of the few times that a student may have a decent amount of contact with their instructor outside of the classroom.

Like any job, the importance of a teacher’s personal life is directly related to their school performance.

However, because is it the morals of students as well as their academic careers that are the responsibilities of teachers, personal lives take much more effect. At times, this puts more pressure on teachers to lead responsible lives, or at least omit any harmful influencial behavior that may lead to negative consequences for how their students learn. The hard decision is where to draw the line.

For example, providing students with an insight into personal political ideals, regardless of the relevance of events such as the recent elections, is highly controversial for teachers in the United States.

The view from a person of influence obligates teachers

Running for the Soul

Alex Paun/ Prowler

to provide an unbiased view for all students and allows them to make their own decisions.

Even more personally, teachers have elements of their lives outside the workplace that may affect the way a student view their instructors, such as dating websites or information about their past careers or hobbies. With the introduction of the Internet and popularity of social networking websites, keeping lives out of the classroom is more difficult than ever.

Student now have the ability to search a teacher and discover private information that may not necessarily be described as school related. In some cases, the incident or information was only valid prior to their career as a teacher. The problem forms when students become aware of this kind of information and it starts to distract from their education. However, teachers should not be penalized for events that happened before they even started teaching. Teachers are not distracted by what students do over the weekend, as long as it does not disrupt the performance of the classroom. Teachers should receive the same treatment.

Every teacher is entitled to their own ways of life just as they are entitled to their own teaching methods.

However, they are responsible for their personal choices just as they are responsible for their teaching methods.

Rachel Cross John Dichirico

Copy Editors Liam Brown Nadia Lynn

News Editors

Drew Andros Justine Sizemore

Opinion Editor

Sports Editors

Features Editors

Chief Photographer

DPS Editor Nadia Lynn Alex Paun

“Impartial”: 2 editors had no opinion

Heart pounding against my chest, the wind rushing through my hair, the fresh scent of the morning filling my nostrils, and the sound of my dog’s frantic breathing; there are few things in this world better than a solid run in the outdoors.

A fantastic stress reliever, running can take one’s mind off of anything, whether it be school, family issues, or just overall stress. On countless occasions, I have found myself overwhelmed and frustrated with schoolwork, sports, and just life in general. Every time, the reaction has been the same; I throw on my running shoes, leash up my dog, and step outside for a refreshing run. And every time, result is the same; I return home as almost a different person. I return home, yes, dripping with sweat, but also with a whole new mentality.

Now I’m not saying that running is for everybody; others may prefer less strenuous activities such as reading. All I’m saying is that running would probably help the majority of us. The next time you

Courtney Brousseau Patrick Rewers

Alexa Hanson Cassie Stephenson

rial

Prowler Opinion Editor

Justin Buchanan Kishen Majithia

Sara Anderson

Photographer

Anita Agopyan-Miu

Online Editor

Courtney Brousseau

11 editors agreed with the editorial

“Nay”: 1 editor disagreed with the edito-

Kishen Majithia

Editors The Panther Prowler Staff Entertainment Liam Brown Preston Hill 2012-2013 Grace O’Toole Editors-in-Chief

“Yea”:

Staff Writer

are sitting at your desk, stuck on a word problem or stuck with writer’s block, take my advice and go for a light run. I am positive that it will provide you with the same results as it has for me.

All that being said, being a reliever of stress isn’t the only remarkable ability that the act of running possesses. Another benefit of running is one that is rather obvious: its role in keeping people in shape.

One could even argue that running is the best form of natural exercise that we humans have. As we all know, running greatly strengthens the heart. Running several times a week can help maintain healthy weight as well.

Additionally, we athletes know how much running on a regular basis can help increase one’s endurance, allowing us to push through and take control of those final two minutes of a big game. While short sprints and agility exercises are equally necessary, a solid run can fine tone one’s body for the long term.

So there you go; running is both crucial for the mind as well as physical fitness. There is definitely more I can say here, but I think I’d rather go for a run first.

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Staff Adviser

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Kylie Everitt Dana Foley Melody Forsell Nevnit Gill Samantha Meyer

Business Manager

Victoria Koi Sravya Singampalli Michelle Saremi

4 Opinion

The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Eminem, the best rapper alive Drew Andros

Prowler News Editor

Although I am not an avid fan of music, in the sense that I sit in my room at night and just listen to it for hours on end, I do think that it is enjoyable at the gym, in the car, and when I am doing many other things. I appreciate many different kinds of music, and when someone asks who my favorite artist is, it’s hard to say.

If I hear a song and like it, it goes onto my iPhone. However, if someone asks what my favorite type of music is, I tell them hip-hop/ rap.

A frequent question that comes up when talking to people about this genre of music is: Who is the best rapper? There are many talented rappers out there, and in my opinion, Eminem is the best. I have so much respect for the man as an individual, as well as an artist.

Anyone who has seen the movie “8 Mile” understands that Eminem had an extremely difficult life until he was discovered, and even

after he was discovered, he had some demons that affected his life. He had drug addictions, as well as numerous problems with his wife Kim. Despite his traumatic childhood and drug addictions, he truly embodies the traditional American dream. He came from nothing and proved that hard work, dedication, and passion for what you love can pay off in the long run.

Some other inspirational rappers are Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Lil Wayne, and Jay Z. However, the difference between them and Eminem is the content they have in their songs. Just like a novel or an autobiography, music is another type of writing. It gives you the opportunity to express yourself, and that is exactly what Eminem does. Although many people feel that he may sing angrily or obnoxiously, it gives credence to the idea that he really cares about what he is putting into his music. Not to sound too cliché, but he is truly putting his heart and soul into these songs, and that’s what I respect. It is one thing to make

rhymes about something with no meaning; however, to make a four minute rap about a life event takes much more skill. I mean, seriously, listening to a song about never giving up or quitting, hence “Till’ I Collapse,” is much more enjoyable than listening to Lil Wayne rap about something obscure, such as in “Best Rapper Alive”, when he raps about “Boogie man, pistol pete, ammo mammal, gun man, blum blam”. Lil Wayne is also very talented, and his songs are very entertaining.

However, Eminem is a more meaningful rapper, and has much more talent. To wrap it up, here is a simple statistic giving evidence to who the world thinks is the better rapper.

Lil Wayne has won four Grammy’s, has about 370 million YouTube views, and has about 10 million total record sales. Eminem, on the other hand, has 13 Grammy’s, over 1 billion views on YouTube, and has over 42 million record sales. The answer to the question is now very simple: Eminem. Game, set, match.

During Thanksgiving, we gather with all the relatives around the table to share a heartwarming meal and talk with family members we haven’t seen in ages, such as good Grandma Anna and kindly Uncle Bill and sweet Cousin Susie. We all take turns cutting the turkey and passing around bowls and plates and food as we share in this annual festival of thanks.

Then, once our bellies are full with food, we transition to the living room, where with jerseys and war paint we cheer on our team as they smash their way through the opposition’s defense, placing bets on which team draws first blood. All the men break out beers and start yelling at the TV, and Uncle Bill has become all but kindly - and he’s magically turned San Diego Chargers blue.

Thanksgiving dinners have heartwarming conversations in which people catch up on each other’s lives and talk about issues that affect our lives. We compliment Grandma Anna for the turkey and the stuffing, Aunt Nana for the mashed potatoes with that hint of garlic and herbs and the fantastic homemade gravy, and Albertson’s for the amazing French bread.

In the living room, the surround sound HD television blasts the sound of every one of the 30,000 screaming fans that occupy the football stadium, mingling with the commentators from ESPN and your family.

Amid all this auditory mess overlays yet another wave of screaming cousins and

arguing siblings that completely interferes with your ability to listen to Young the Giant.

Then, when the game is done and the defeated team grudgingly admits … well, defeat, we all head back to the kitchen, where we all get together on this joyous holiday to celebrate eating and war paint.

Because that is probably the best part of Thanksgiving - that people wear war paint.

No, wait, the food is the best part. While others typically root on their team, I’m usually gorging myself at the dinner table, because when it comes to choosing to eat or watch football, I usually choose eating. But as for the rest of America, I think it would be safe to say Americans love competition.

We transition from a season that features elephants and donkeys to one that features Bears and Falcons and Giants.

In spite of it all, Americans realize that competition isn’t everything; politics gives way to sitting down and devouring a turkey, which gives way to watching football games.

After all the politicking, name calling, accusations, and lies that highlight our amiable political contest, we Americans just suck it up and ask someone to pass the potatoes. It brings us together.

Football rivalries may flare up, but at the end of the day, we all know it’s just a little friendly competition. Besides, the worst you lose is 15 bucks betting on your team.

And whatever it cost for the war paint.

Gatherings suspend differences Justin Buchanan

Prowler Opinion Editor

Well, the election is over, which was ironically right after Halloween. I guess all the Democrats made their kids wear a scary costume, and when the person at the door asked them who they were, they said “Mitt Romney.” And the Republican kids did likewise with Obama. But now that little friendly competition – which the two parties together spent 1.5 billion dollar on - is behind us, and we can turn our attention to more pressing matters, such as Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a great holiday. There is no other holiday whose entire purpose is to celebrate eating. Yeah, also something about the Pilgrims, whatever; but it’s about eating.

Eating, more or less, brings us together, one that will bring Republicans and Democrats together right after elections to eat a turkey that was cooked by an Independent. We will all sit down around a giant bird filled with stuffing and dig in, all while engaging in idle chat with our table neighbor.

All except for Romney, who does not particularly care for Big Bird.

It is also the season of football, which sees families divided into diehard partisan groups of loyal fans bent on the supremacy of their team. It’s the season when people will paint their bodies different colors, much as the Celts did before they went into battle.

Pit profanity needs to stop Kylie Everitt

Prowler Staff Writer

The Panther Pit is known to be a loud, supporting group of students coming together to cheer on the different sports teams. However, what most people don’t realize is that there is a lot of profanity that goes on in the midst of all the excitement.

Additionally, many students are feeling the need to use a variety of drugs and proceed by getting hammered before joining the Panther Pit. As a freshman, I remember the amebic amount of school spirit at our school, as well as the low turnout at sporting events.

The Panther Pit has been a great catalyst in getting more people to become more involved with school sports, however I feel that the drinking, profanity, and drug use that is now associated with the Panther Pit is unnecessary.

Because the Panther Pit is such a great entity in itself, I don’t think that it is necessary to include people in the Pit that don’t want to be there to cheer, but rather use it as a place of refuge to be loud and obnoxious without people wondering what is wrong with them. As for all the students having the inclination to get extremely wasted to the point where they are staggering drunk up and down the bleachers, it poses a safety risk. A piece of advice I would give the sober students; stay out of their way so they don’t take you down with them as they face-plant on the metal bleachers. Honestly, there is no need to engage in activities that bring negative publicity to the Panther Pit. When Austin Ebner started the Panther Pit last year, I truly feel that his goal was not to fill the Pit with a bunch of high, drunk high school students. I am sure that in his mind, it was a place for

people to come together and bond in the culmination of a greater good. I’m pretty sure you need to be able to open your eyes to watch the game.

Although there are no home football games left in the season, and there are no volleyball games left on the schedule either, I hope that the Panther Pit changes back to its beginnings next year. The lack of self-restraint from cussing, drinking and drug use is amusing no doubt, but at the same time, pathetic.

I will be gone and off at college, however I do care about this school. I want the future students of the school to experience the same kind of camaraderie that I have gotten to experience over the past year with my classmates. I just want the Pit to get back to the core of what it represents, which is good, clean sports fun; not the profane group of seniors that it is now.

Web extra: You can follow us on Twitter (@NPHSProwler), and don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook for updates

Nevnit Gill

Column: Human Sound effects, an echo of the toads

Prowler Staff Writer

If I were the average homosapien, I would have guessed human sound effects; such as squealing, grunting, and laughing, have progressed through the ages, when in fact they haven’t.

Men still grunt like cavemen during strenuous activities such as changing the channel, and women still make bear-like noises … when horribly attempting to imitate others. Now, before you argue, “omg, but that’s natural!”

I’d like to propose my counterargument: yes, although these are natural noises, we sometimes exaggerate them.

For instance, imagine a bored girl sitting at her desk. Suddenly, some idiot goes as far as poking her. Right in the side. Then, this victim of poking squeals. Not just any normal “eek” or “gasp,” but an actual prolonged, high-pitched, annoying, squeal. I cannot contemplate why girls exaggerate these reactions, for it sounds like they were in the midst of eating a pig-hyena alive.

It is very possible they distort these reactions in order to impress their significant other with the amount of girliness they have deep inside, but I honestly believe it is just plain unattractive to squeak like a trapped mouse.

Cackling is an abomination. I am nearly positive many of you have experienced this laughing at least once in your life. Sure, it may not be intentional, but is it not annoying to hear a girl start cackling, as in full on throat clucking gorilla gasps, in the middle of class because her boyfriend said something amusing? No offense, girls.

I find the imitations stereotype to be really funny. Has anyone noticed how common it is to make your voice 20x higher when imitating a girl and 40x lower when imitating a guy? Real people don’t sound like that, so there’s no point in failing at sounding like that guy you’ve held a grudge against since the first grade. Even when girls imitate other creatures of their kind, they raise the pitch of their voice in order to make the girl they are trying to recreate even more dislikable.

A few other interesting noises I have witnessed during my class periods included an odd form of laughing involving extremely unrealistic throatjabbering. It is a robotic chuckle that consists of making no vocal noises, and just that weird throat-frog thing. Why do people even DO that?

Like, what the hell man, are you seriously going to make yourself even more of a distraction?

Anyway, I think you fellow homosapiens should refrain from exaggerating your laughter and imitations, it really sounds unrealistic and forced. If you want to do that, practice sounding fake, and by all means do it at home.

In the October 19 issue, on page 4, credit was not given to Victoria Koi for her graphic.

On page 12, Justin Buchanan’s name was spelled incorrectly.

On page 1, the word “principal” was spelled incorrectly.

The Prowler deeply regrets and apologizes for any errors. Email errors we missed to prowler.newspaper@gmail.com

Features 5 The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Clubs fencing

Club or Team?

club

President: Evan McDonald Meetings:

Wednesdays after school in the cafeteria Ricky Medina / With Permission

co-ed hip hop

crew

This year, groups like the Co-Ed Hip Hop Crew (pictured above) are taking on the title “Club” instead of “Team” due to district insurance President: Ricky Medina restrictions.

Dana Foley and Samantha Meyer Prowler Staff Writers

Throughout Newbury Park High School, it has come to certain students’ attention that not all sports are allowed or able to become a team, thus resulting in club formations instead. At first, the club members wondered if their sports and hobbies were being discriminated against, but through further investigation this was found not to be the case.

According to Allison Kennedy, the Dean of Activities, many school clubs aren’t able to legally become a team, because of regulations, safety and insurance policies.

“If someone gets hurt, they would sue us and we’d lose all of our insurance,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy explained that each club has a safety level, which guarantees how and if they are able to become an actual team.

The green level means no permission from the district is required, the yellow level means that a person must be granted permission from the district, and if one is at the red level, then the answer is an automatic no. Examples of a red level sport would be mountain biking, skiing or rodeo.

With a red level sport, “risk management can’t cover (the insurance) if someone gets hurt,” said Kennedy.

Ricky Medina, senior, is the president of the Co-Ed Hip Hop Crew, which has had struggles with becoming an official team in the past, doesn’t mind its club status.

“As a club we have a little more freedom with what we do

and how we spend money, but we also have to find our own coaches, choreograph our own dances... But ultimately I think we’re pretty content with where we’re at,” said Medina.

The school is not financially responsible for this crew, and although they are “under the school’s name”, they manage to budget themselves.

“In previous years, the dancers in the crew were less responsible and unorganized with getting their funds in on time, so the team had to step back and get ourselves together,” said Medina when asked about the lack of school funding.

The Co-Ed Hip Hop Crew will be competing in about three competitions this year, and are going through a tryout process.

Although they aren’t a team, these guys take their talent very seriously.

“With proper training and self-awareness, you’ll have a less likely chance to hurt yourself,” said Medina, “ Just like everything else, as long as you’re careful and take things seriously it shouldn’t be dangerous.”

Also, as a new forming club at Newbury Park High School, the Mountain Bike club is attempting to become a team as well.

“We’re not allowed to start until December,” says Jake Legg, freshman. “We’re going to ‘work around it’” Being a new forming team, they have run into problems of needing more members as well as lack of female racers. “We want to get people interested in the sport, it’s to raise awareness.” says Kyle Legg, freshman. “We’re allowed to race but we can’t be affiliated with the high school in any way.”

Features Editor

the band while Assistant Drum Majors and seniors Anthony Narag and Evan Wardell supervise.

Sara Anderson / Prowler

mountain bike

club

President: Jake Legge Meetings:

Tuesdays in room D5

equestrian

club

President: Kylie Everitt Meetings:

Once a month on Fridays prior to competitions

leading the BAND

Cassie Stephenson

Taking charge - Senior Taylor Beverage (center) conducts

Meetings:

Tuesday and Thursday nights

Keeping the NPHS band running is a big job . To help with everyday tasks, Director of Instrumental Music, Dennis Crystal chooses one drum major and one to two assistant drum majors to become student leaders each year.

His decision is based on written submissions and face-toface interviews. According to Crystal, a successful drum major’s characteristics include “having a great attitude, being able to take direction, being easy to work with, being responsible (and) being an excellent musician so that no one will ever question your authority.”

This year’s drum major is senior Taylor Beverage, who has been involved in band since sixth grade. Her primary function is to be a “musical leader”, conducting the band at field shows and providing assistance to Crystal and other members of the staff.

“Being drum major means that I have this extra responsibility, not only to myself, but to the band, to make sure everything is going smoothly (and make) sure people get the help they need when they need it .” she said. “(It means) being prepared for everything all the time and just being there if people need to talk.”

While they do not conduct the band, the assistant drum majors, seniors Anthony Narag and Evan Wardell play an integral part in keeping practices and performances running smoothly. Their responsibilities include setting up the field prior to practices, being active in fundraisers and events, and collaborating with the band director and drum major. Assistant drum majors

also play their instruments with the rest of the band in competitions and shows.

This position brings opportunity as well as responsibility. “For the past three years I have always felt like I had (an) idea on how to do things right but then there were always other people in charge.” Narag said.

“Now that we’re in leadership roles we can finally put those ideas into action.”

Communication and cooperation between all three drum majors is key in keeping everything in order. “All three of them are collectively responsible for making sure that everything that needs to be in place for a rehearsal to happen is there,” Crystal said.

According to Narag, this year’s drum majors have no problem maintaining a good group dynamic. “Taylor, Evan and I have known each other since freshman year... so we know each other well enough that we have no problem communicating,” he said.

This year, one of Narag’s goals is to make himself and his fellow drum majors seem more approachable.

This goal is shared by Wardell, who has been involved in music since the sixth grade. “We try to treat it more like a family as opposed to a hierarchy,” he said. “We take care of people rather than just telling them what to do all the time.”

Beverage also said that the band is working to achieve higher scores in competitions and possibly make it to the top ten at finals. Wardell has high hopes for this year.“I think we have a better vibe than we did in years past just because everybody’s trying harder and everybody’s more friendly toward one another,” he said.

6 Marijuana

Marijuana 7

The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Prowler Staff Writer, Copy Editor, and Editor-in-Chief

Melody Forsell, Nadia Lynn, & Rachel Cross

Marijuana The use of marijuana has become very controversial and debatable throughout California since the 2010 state-wide ballot which included Proposition 19. The proposed law would have legalized marijuana in California, but was not passed. While some believed the proposition would expand the economy and create jobs in California, others believe it would have created more substance abuse and health risks.

Chris Soury, health teacher, notes the health risks which can come from the use of marijuana. “The health consequences can be similar to smoking a cigarette due to the effects on the respiratory system. It can also affect the brain and different organs in the body and is known to have cancer-causing substances,” Soury said. The teenage brain is especially altered by the use of pot since it is still developing, according to Soury.

At the age of 18, a person can obtain a medical marijuana card, which would allow them to legally smoke weed. But despite the legalization of medical marijuana, the school district has strict guidelines against the use of this drug, even for those who use it legally. According to Athol Wong, principal, if any student is found providing marijuana on campus, they are recommended for expulsion and law enforcement is contacted. If a student is found to be under the influence of marijuana at school, they would receive a 5 day suspension.

Despite the consequences, students at Newbury Park High School continue to smoke. However, Wong disagrees with the so-called “stoner stereotype” that NPHS has garnered amongst other high school students in the district. “I know that there are students who are drug involved on this campus,” Wong said, “but I believe that the vast majority of students either do not do drugs or are smart enough to only do it on the weekends and not compromise their education.”

Interestingly, senior Violet Jones* confessed that marijuana is actually what helps her cope with the amount of schoolwork her IB and AP

courses require. Jones is considered to be a hard worker by her teachers, seemingly burning the candle at both ends in order to complete assignments long before they are due, but sometimes she feels that the pressure is too much to deal with.

“Sometimes people have been pushed harder than they wanted to be, so it’s a way to cope with the anxiety,” she said. Jones’ struggle with anxiety typically stems from school stressors, such as the pressure to make the grades that will keep her in one of the valedictorian slots for the 2013 graduating class.

Despite it being a way to help her momentarily escape from the anxieties of reality, she also stresses the fact that she keeeps it completely seperate from her school life, saying that “it has no purpose being involved at school.”

“You’ve heard the saying ‘work hard, play hard.’ Well that’s my play hard,” she said.

Another senior, Alex Fredrickson*, explains his marijuana usage as “something that isn’t a big deal, just a lifestyle choice.”

Like Jones, he claims that people should not make it a huge part of their life because, just like any other substance, it is all about moderation.

“A drug doesn’t define you unless you let it define you,” he said. “It’s all a question of, are you mature enough to handle yourself ?”

He expressed his annoyance that people would get penalized for using the drug when “they aren’t harming anyone but themselves, and even then it isn’t significant.”

“Some people use the excuse that ‘you’re changing as a person,’ but everybody changes. It’s part of life,” he claimed.

Like so many other advocates of the legalization of marijuanna, Fredrickson pointed out the irony that alcohol, a substance which has

“In 2011, 7.2% of eighth graders, 17.6% of tenth graders, and 22.6% of twelth graders used marijuana in the past month.” -Drug Facts, drugabuse.gov

more negative side-effects than marijuanna, is legal. “People need to do research before they pass judgement,” he said.

Jones agrees that marijuanna should be legalized because it would be “safer and people wouldn’t use it as a way to rebel,” but she also recognizes the dangers.

“It causes more issues for some people than it does for others,” she said. “It depends on the individual.”

Jones is not the only student to acknowledge the problems, yet other teens see it as a risk for all users, not just those who are supposedly “negatively affected” by it, not only because of the drug’s illegal status, but also because of the affects it can have on ones health and social life.

“I have a lot of friends who use [marijuana] and the only thing it does is make you hard to hangout with,” Shaun Kiefer, senior, said.

The drug can affect people’s mental state and has the ability to change their mood and their way of thinking. Not everyone who uses the drug is affected in the same way. The variation of reactions to the substance can cause danger because they are unaware of how they will be affected. While marijuana can be considered one of the safer drugs because its health risks aren’t as severe as other drugs, there is always a risk when you are putting a foreign substance into your system. “… I think it’s sad when young kids get hooked on it and let it control their lives,” Sara Christiansen, senior, said.

Studies go back and forth trying to decide if marijuana is an addictive substance. One theory is that the substance itself is not addictive, but that people can begin to crave the sensations they get from using the drug, while others are drawn to using it as a mental escape from depression or anxiety. *Names changed upon request

Features 8 The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Student Teacher VS Chris Soury Shreya Chattopadhyay

Shreya Chattopadhyay, freshman, and Chris Soury, Physical Education, test their trivia skills.

Samantha Meyer

5

Prowler Staff Writer

What year were Converse shoes invented?

1

What zoo did the “crooked-neck” giraffe live at?

Chattopadhyay:1906 Soury: 1904 Very close Chattopadhyay! But Mr. Soury takes the lead by a narrow one point.

Chattopadhyay: Santa Barbara Soury: Santa Barbara Nice one! The well-known crooked-neck giraffe did spend its life at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

2

6

How many chambers are in the human heart?

Chattopadhyay: Four Soury: Four

How many stomachs does a cow have?

Chattopadhyay: Four Soury: Four Exactly right! I wonder how long their digestion takes?

Very good seventh-grade biology skills right there!

3

7

4

8

What is the tallest roller coaster in the world?

How many U.S. Presidents have there been including Obama?

Chattopadhyay: Kingda Ka Soury: The one in Las Vegas on the stratosphere Chattopadhyay ties up the score board once again! Good guess, Soury, but she obviously knows her roller coasters.

Chattopadhyay: Forty-four Soury: Forty-four Nicely done, hopefully you both kept up on the election!

Statistically, what’s the most popular breed of dog?

Chattopadhyay: Golden Retriever Soury: Golden Retriever Perfect yet again. Do you study trivia in your spare time?

What year did Columbus sail to America?

Sara Anderson/ Prowler

Final Score: It’s a tie!

7-7

Chattopadhyay: 1492 Soury: 1492 Awesome! Looks like it’s a tie of 7-7, neither of you win. But wow, what a high score!

Mountain biking rides to the classroom Nevnit Gill

Prowler Staff Writer

The NPHS mountain bike club, which struggles to become a team, competes in many races. This group consists of only 15 members, and meets every Tuesday in D-5, Mr. Svoboda’s room. The club was originally started to get people interested in mountain biking, but now focuses on races. Despite the different reasons involved with joining the club, the members get along quite well.

Jake Legge, freshman, the official club president, joined the club because of his father and their experience in mountain biking together, and Oliver Chow, freshman, another member, joined because he “loves the ride and the rush.” The group eagerly described the talent involved with mountain biking, along with a very

detailed description of the feeling involved with the sport.

The mountain bike club participates in several races. They have about six races coming up with the help of Bo Knickman, freshman, who was titled as “semi-pro” as a result of some of the individual competitions he has gone to.

“We ride down trails (and) go down roads,” said Knickman. The members described their races as fast-paced, saying that “you basically ride until you throw up.” Races include speeding through a special trail system in order to win.

These races can often get

Alexa Hanson/ Prowler

dangerous. The races are all over the state, some being in Temecula and the SoCal league. This group is also very passionate about becoming a team, which has not yet happened due to the danger of the sport.

The club is also accepting new members.

“Especially girls,” Jake jokingly mentioned.

“You don’t have to be good to join,” agreed the members. The group doesn’t do much during lunch besides “talking about bikes.”

The majority of the club’s work is involved outside of school during their races. Despite their rather uneventful meetings, the club is planning a lot for their future.

Charlotte’s

B E W

Entertainment 9 The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

First play to debut under new leadership Patrick Rewers

Fast Facts: Showtimes and Tickets

Prowler Sports Editor

Nov. 10 at 10:30 p.m.

Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.

Tickets: $5 for children under 10 years $8 for students and $10 for adults $5 on www.nphstheatre.blogspot.com

Sara Anderson / Prowler

Down on the farm - Katie Owens, senior, Shelby Corley, junior, Mark Daftari, sophomore, Searra Short, junior, in a scene from Newbury Park High School’s children’s play “Charlotte’s Web”.

Student

The school play, Charlotte’s Web, began performances on Nov. 3, and will continue though Nov. 13 at the Newbury Park High School Performing Arts Center. This has been the first play under the supervision of Billy Woody since his assignment as drama teacher for the school.

In response to the new leadership of Woody, casting and management have changed to better fit student involvement.

Those interested in taking up the position became managers and worked with teams to complete assigned tasks. This system gave the students more involvement with their play in addition to lessening the volunteering needed by parents. Woody’s main responsibility has been to oversee the work done by students and regulate it, as well as pick the new cast. The roles are played by many new actors as well as experienced returning cast members from previous plays, such as Shelby Corley, junior.

“I am so happy to be Wilbur. He is a really cute pig and it is exciting to be him.

When I was trying out, a lot of people said I could not be him since Wilbur is a boy, but I proved them wrong.” Corley said.

While the play is directed in large part to remain true to the book, one important change has been made for its presentation to younger visitors.

“For the most part, we are sticking right

to the play version. The district has asked us to get rid of Charlotte dying at the end, which I really do not want to do, since it goes against the whole idea of the play, but because of the fact that we are doing it for the Focus on the Arts program, which brings in about 300 first graders, Charlotte dying at the end will be too much for them to handle.

So Charlotte basically goes to sleep, and never comes back to the barn.” Woody said.

The adaptation from a novel makes the play dialogue-heavy, and requires the actors to know their lines thoroughly.

“It was more difficult in the beginning, since I have a lot of lines,” Corley said. “But as it goes on it gets easier.”

To prepare for the production, the tech theater students prepared multiple lighting sets and new ideas for sound, props, and lights. Among these were the effects for nighttime, fireworks, and lighting. In addition, there are two backgrounds created entirely by Mindy Vu, junior.

“The hardest part is getting everything the way you want it to. We have gone through probably five different lighting plots just trying to perfect it, and we always have new ideas.” Justin Formanek, senior, said.

“The play is going really well. It’s one of the more successful productions we have put on, and I think that it is also one of the more high quality shows,” Oren Torten, junior, said.

Previous NPHS generations

Dana Foley

Prowler Staff Writer

(Cal State st year and is in la d te ua d ra g “My sister ridge).”

University North g Camille Kin

in hool s. c s s i 0 to th in his 5 t n e w w o ” uncle d he’s n ury Park. y y M n “ eag e ast a in Newb p K e r a th up Gin phomo rew He g o s

e Stat e s o J blic an g in Pu S n n is i majori r ss s e sist , and i mu or h y t ) i y M r “ Ba sen ersit v i h n (U ions.” nna t Ha Rela

“My b r schoo others grad l in W uated a both i n colle shington, (a in a high ge no nd) th w.” ey ’re Aria nna Smit h

junior

seni or

Yes

55 people 43% “My brother told me to find something I love and pursue it. I feel I can do that here.”

Tori Reese freshman

No

73 people 57% “My brothers went to (Adolfo) Camarillo (High School) but the classes weren’t good and were so small, so my parents said I could go to Newbury.”

Joy Begg

junior

Total surveyed: 128 people

“My si ste brother r and I hav e an o lde gradua and sister ted.” who b r oth Seren a Fra nsen senio r

“My b r major other goe st ing in comp o Moorpa rk an uters. d is ” Meg an K isch enm soph ann o mo

re “My c o goes usin w to N h orth o is 20 ridg e.” attend ed N ewb ury and now Dian a Ga fresh rcia “My olde man r sister is 19 Newbury Park High now and went to Sc live in De nmark so hool. We used to now she college th is going ere.” to

AJ Ols son f reshm an

10 Entertainment

The Prowler • November 9, 2012

Liam’s Review Corner The Many Plotlines of “ ” lawyer in the 1800s finds an injured slave stowed away on his cabin pianist in the 1900s takes up an apprenticeship under a has-been composer journalist investigates a corrupt oil company publisher runs from creditors and must escape from a nursing home waitress in a futuristic South Korea rebels against the system goatherder in post-apocalyptic Hawaii decides whether or not to help an advanced race of humans

Liam Brown Copy Editor

“Cloud Atlas” takes some getting used to -- and also a little patience.

Reiner Bajo / With Permission

Based on a 2004 novel by David Mitchell (which I haven’t read), the film is a collaboration between writer/directors Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, and Tom Tykwer, one of the few films in history with three directors that share the credit equally. The Wachowskis are (of course) known for the groundbreaking “The Matrix” and its two sequels, while

“Cloud Atlas” has been met with a polarizing reaction from

Tykwer’s might be a name unfamiliar to those in the States. A

mainstream critics and made only $9 million on its opening

German director, his 1997 film “Run Lola Run” was critically

weekend. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it film that will probably never

acclaimed both in Germany and the U.S., and 2006’s “Perfume:

make its budget back, but maybe that’s meant to be, and in

The Story of a Murderer” enjoyed modest success. His main

an age when people are quick to decry the film because of its

attempt at connecting with mainstream audiences, 2009’s

almost three-hour running time and what they believe is a

“The International”, went largely ignored. “Cloud Atlas” has

confusing storyline, let me put in my two cents in favor of it. Its

reportedly been a labor of love for the three, often encountering

unconventional storytelling is a blessing and a curse, providing

uncertainty, with many believing the book to be unfilmable.

something unique while also condemning it to most likely being

Warner Bros. did give $20 million to the project, securing

described this way: “Well, it’s about...um...” Like multiple parts

distribution rights in the States, but the three directors had to fund the rest of the money themselves, making it the most expensive independent film ever made with a $100 million budget. Not knowing how to market the film in a traditional two-minute time-frame, the team first released a five-minute worth checking out.

Those who said the book was unfilmable may have been right, at least in regards how the directors would tackle its Jay Maidment / With Permission

multiple storylines, but they do manage to

succeed.

There

are

six

storylines

running constantly throughout, crossing different locations and centuries, and featuring a wonderful ensemble cast. The movie explores how one single act can impact generations. Each actor in the movie plays multiple roles, often changing ages, ethnicities, and even genders, all demonstrating an admirable versatility.

The

Wachowskis

directed

the

1849

Atlas” is a beautiful, dreamlike film that examines what it’s like

Tykwer helmed the other three. Each segment has its goods and

to be human. A film like this will probably never come along

bads, with the Hawaii storyline I found to be the weakest. I’m

again, which is what makes it great. It takes awhile to get going,

thankful for the present-day publisher storyline, which made

but it’s a poignant, emotional, often funny experience, and it’s

me laugh and helped to take the edge off the others, although

absolutely worth seeing.

Reiner Bajo / With Permission

“extended first look” online before the official trailer, which is

of a symphony coming together to create a concerto, “Cloud segment and (understandably) the ones set in the future, while

why the creditor goons were coming after the publisher in the first place was unclear. Sturgess is cast in the Seoul story as Hae-Joo Chang, a revolutionary who aids Somni in her quest, but all the while I felt he was supposed to be this story’s Keanu Reeves--the fact that he is made up to look like Reeves doesn’t help much.

The movie does take awhile to get going, but at around the 1 ½ hour mark it slams on the gas and doesn’t let go. This is the point where the film’s tagline (“Everything is connected”) really comes to fruition, showing us how each person’s storyline is paralleled in a variety of ways. The excellent score, composed

by Tykwer, Johnny Kilmek, and Reinhold Heil, is comical, mysterious, and often haunting ; a wonderful addition to the action on-screen.

Intertwining Times - (Left) A waitress in the future drinks synthetic juice as part of her daily routine. (Center) A woman and her protector run from a corrupt oil company. (Bottom right) Two composers, one aging, one young, collaborate on a song that will be heard across generations.

Student Voices: Alex Paun

favorite fashion trends among NPHS students

DPS Editor

“How do you answer that question?

‘Most of my fashion depends on

It’s a hobby.

how much money I have. Some

It’s a way for me to express

call it hipster fashion,

myself.”

I call it not

having a job.”

-Abby Gillmore, senior

-Mariah Cosner, junior

“I don’t try and be fashionable,

I

just dress how I dress and [people] think it looks nice. This is

“It doesn’t mean much to me

I’m always fly.”

Mickey Way’s [the My Chemical

except

Romance bassist] jacket.”

-Weston Spencer, sophomore

-Zack Veazey, freshman

Sports 11

The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Cross country finishes season with new school records Justine Sizemore

Prowler News Editor

In the fast paced world of competitive sports, dedicated athletes must always be prepared to push themselves harder, in light of constant changes and developments. This has proven especially true for both the male and female cross country teams, as up and coming runners from both teams are rising to the occasion to break a number of all-time school records.

“There are a lot (of records being broken),” Marty Maciel, male cross country coach, said.

“We have got some great kids coming through the program.”

Ranked highly among these is a new addition to the team, freshman Logan Beteta.

“He’ll probably be the best freshman in Ventura County,” Maciel said. “He’s just a really great runner. He’s my number three runner currently. So he’s breaking all the school records for freshman.”

According to Maciel, Jonny Byrne, junior, and Freddy Pond, junior, are also very strong runners.

“I think Jonny and Freddy are on the top ten fastest times in the history of the school which is a great feat,” he said.

Byrne, Pond and Beteta were the three fastest

C

ross ountry

runners in the five kilometer race with times of 15:22, 15:58, and 16:06 respectively. Along with Chris Hamilton and Davis Garner, juniors, they set the school record for fastest team time at 80:40.

“Logan has a counterpart on the girl side; her name is Swathi Samuel. She’s a ninth grader and she is doing the same thing for the girls, getting all the ninth grade records and getting a lot of top ten records as well,” Maciel said.

With each new record set, the program continues to grow. The bar is forever being raised for new runners entering cross country, giving them higher goals to reach for and allowing for constant improvement of the school sport.

“A few years ago we had a kid named Sean Grumney, who is now at UCLA. He was coming through and he was breaking all the records and it (seemed) like nobody (was) going to be as great as him,” Maciel said. “And then Jonny Byrne comes along and he breaks all Sean’s records or gets close to them. And then you’ve got Logan who comes along and he’s breaking all Jonny’s records. So I think the program as a whole is really developing.”

Johnny Byrne 15:22 Chris Hamilton 16:26

Broken Records Secilia serves up a strike

Meet Preparation - Kathick Basappa, Chris Dunn, and Dillion Scamana, seniors, and Bryce Lawrenceson, junior, run their final practice before the final cross country meeet

Freddy Pond 15:58 Davis Garner 16:48

Melody Forsell

Prowler Staff Writer

For most people, bowling is just a hobby or a fun pastime, but for Secilia Kalvelage, sophomore, it is a lot more than that. Kalvelage started bowling at age 10 when she had to quit soccer due to her allergies.

Since then she has been bowling competitively for awards and scholarships. While some may not consider bowling a sport, Secilia argues otherwise.

“I would consider it a sport because you have many opportunities to get scholarship money compared to other sports,” said Secilia. “You also have a lot of tournaments to go to which is another way to gain scholarship money.” Preparation for competitions requires practice a few times a week. “Before a competition I must get all of my equipment ready and calm myself down and not get too hyper,” Kalvelage said, “that’s what happens when I am waiting.”

The bowling experience has led Secilia to opportunities she would not find elsewhere like meeting professional television bowler Chris Barnes. “He was teaching a clinic and I asked him

for his autograph,” said Kalvelage,”that was one of the best moments of my bowling career.” Bowling has helped her meet new people which is another reason for her love of the sport.

Art Leseberg, Kalvelage’s coach, has just started working with her this year and is already impressed by her positive attitude and work ethic.

“One of the best things Secilia has going for her game is that she doesn’t get mad. She keeps a level head,” said Leseberg. “She is able to acknowledge a bad shot and then leave it behind her and not have it effect her negatively.”

Kalvelage’s hard work and dedication has even caused her to win various awards and scholarships from competitions such as the Junior Bowling Tournament and the Grand Prix Tournament. These successes give her a good chance of bowling for a collegiate team one day, according to Leseberg. After high school, Kalvelage plans to take her bowling career even further and go the professional route.

Strike! - Secilia Kalvelage, sophomore, practices her swing technique in preparation for an upcoming bowling competition.

Logan Beteta 16:06 Davis Garner 80:40

12 Sports The Prowler • Nov. 9, 2012

Way made to CIF Justin Buchanan

Prowler Opinion Editor

The head coach for the girl’s tennis team, Harvey Mardyks, described the feeling as “great,” sophomore Diana Tai was “very excited,” and senior Kelly Everest was “excited and nervous at the same time.”

They are referring to the team’s advancement to the California Interscholastic Federation championships, where they placed fourth in what Mardyks called “a very tough league,” and accumulated eight wins out of 14 games. Tai explained, “We’ve been doing a lot better this year than past years.”

Getting to CIF was the team’s goal this year, and Lauren Heller, junior, believes that “every additional round (of CIF) is like a bonus round.” Heller also explained that the team’s goal was to then make it through wild card round.

The entire varsity team played their first game, the wild card round, on Oct. 30 against Woodbridge High School and did not win.

According to Heller, Calabasas, which placed third, and Westlake, which placed second, were also eliminated from the tournament.

This is the first time, however, the team has gone to CIF in over ten years. The competition was what Mardyks described as a “combination of experience.”

“A lot of these girls were good freshmen; they contributed to the good season we had,” Mardyks said. Heller concurred, describing the team as having been “a young team” for the past two years.

The final game against Simi Valley High School, in which Newbury Park won 10 to 8, determined whether the team got into CIF or not. “Beating Simi that was huge,” Alexa Klipp, senior, said.

The team started practice right after the Fourth of July in summer, and this season ended in a victory against Simi Valley High School.

The summer consisted of lots of practicing according to Everest.

“We got to CIF this year based on our doubles (matches),” Heller said. Of the nine starting varsity

members, six play doubles matches while only three play singles.

“You can tell who’s been playing together for a while,” Klipp said.

Everest also explained that playing a doubles match well takes “a lot of communication.”

“Our doubles are a lot better than our singles,” Heller said. The team sorts and matches players based on skill level, age, and playing style.

On the team’s overall performance, Mardyks said “They did what they had to do to win.

I’m really proud of the hard work they did.”

Serving it up- (Right) Alexa Klipp serves the ball during practive

Alexa Klipp/ With Permission

Nadia Lynn/ Prowler

Boys water polo ends season strong Moving in for the goal - Aaron Sobieski, senior, faces off against his competition from Calabasas as he attempts to score for the team.

“We had some close games but we got the bad end of the outcome,” Ratekin said. “In addition we had some new Prowler Business Manager talent on the team that were doing their best to play at the The season for boy’s varsity water polo came to a close varsity level.” recently. The team hoped to make California Interscholastic The team’s overall record was 13-14 and one more win Federation playoffs for this year at the start of the season and would have qualified them for CIF as well as a .5 record. bonded throughout the experience.

“Even though we didn’t make CIF we all really enjoyed Despite any negative events, the players have no regrets our season and played each game as a team, going through throughout their experiences playing water polo. both wins and losses together” Arjun Majithia, senior, said.

“Water polo has been a huge influence in my high school The team also hoped to beat their rivals, Thousand Oaks experience,” Majithia said. “I met my first friends in high and Westlake High School, according to Nicholas Ratekin, school through water polo when I started freshman year [and] senior. it gave me something to work for outside of academics.”

Victoria Koi

The game also gives the players something to look forward to and work towards, especially younger players looking to make varsity for the next season. “All of the coaches are great guys and we have a lot of fun,” Paul Smith, junior, said. “I can’t wait to be on varsity next year.”

The sport benefitted the players in many ways as well, past the game.

“Water polo has given me a way to meet some great guys, get involved in the student body, as well as represent the school,” Ratekin said. “It has taught me to work hard towards my goals and not waver to obstacles or circumstances.”