Campus News, Pages 4 - 5
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VOLUME 76 ISSUE 3
SERVING ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 1949
Features, Pages 12 - 13
Business & Tech, Pages 18 - 19
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Sports, Pages 20 - 23
February 2026 THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY
Riordan remembers brave Beteta By Daniella Lainez ’26
the medication weakened his There are certain people at immune system, and he developed Riordan whose presence becomes Lymphoproliferative Disorder. ingrained into the school itself, Despite multiple rounds of and over time they become part chemotherapy, he continued to of the school’s identity–whether fight. “Edgar continued to battle it’s in the dugout during baseball and went through a couple rounds practice, in the classroom first as of chemotherapy; however, it did a student, and later as a teacher, not completely kill the lymphoma or at school events that bring cells, and they spread,” said close the community together. Edgar friend Randy Bickel ’86. Beteta, Class of 1985, was one of “Edgar passed quietly while those special people. sleeping, surrounded by many On Feb. 18, the Riordan fellow Crusader brothers and community lost a teacher, coach, family,” he said. alumnus, and mentor whose Bickel described his friend influence reached far beyond his as “kind, loyal, friendly, caring, job titles. Beteta taught Spanish ethical, loving, fun, heartfelt, and History and coached baseball comical, strong, persevering, and football. What defined him courageous, faithful, reverent, was his consistency in showing up dedicated, loving, and giving.” Photo provided by the Beteta Family daily for his students, his players, Teacher and coach Ed Beteta ’85 loved Riordan, the Giants, and San Francisco. Outside of school, Beteta stayed and his fellow Crusaders. connected to his Crusader roots. As a member of the Class of times and he always kept it real.” colleague and friend. Castillo recalled playing in an 1985, Beteta once walked along For fellow faculty members, adult softball league with him That authenticity was felt the same hallways he would later by many, especially on the Beteta was equally respected in San Francisco and winning a guide his own students through. baseball field. “Coach Beteta as both a colleague and friend. championship in the early 2000s. He lettered in both baseball and was an outstanding coach and Fellow Spanish teacher Armando Beteta was a Raiders fan, a loyal band as a Riordan student before an energetic person,” said Collin Castillo said, “He was just an Cal Bears supporter, a passionate returning years later, committed Barry ’27. “He will be greatly overall good guy. He was working Giants fan, and a lover of classic to giving back to the community missed in our community.” on his masters and was almost Volkswagens. that shaped him. Over time he Above all, he loved Riordan. For Anthony Tentes ’26, Coach going to complete it.” became a renowned presence on Beteta’s impact extended beyond Beyond the classroom and the “Edgar loved teaching at campus, someone who students practices and games. “Coach Ed field, Beteta’s life was marked Riordan,” Bickel said. “He loved and players counted on for would always be in our corners with resilience. Diagnosed with staying connected to the Riordan encouragement, leadership and through baseball on and off the Lupus as a teenager, he faced community and loved coaching.” enthusiastic commitment. Though he is physically gone, field, in the classroom, and just decades of medical challenges. The When asked to describe him helping us out in everyday life,” disease attacked his kidneys, and his impact remains present in the in one word, close friend Ernesto said Tentes. after years on dialysis, in 2007 he classrooms he taught in, the fields Castillo ’87 responded without Those everyday interactions received a kidney transplant from he coached on, and the students hesitation, “GENUINE!” before and encouraging words are what a family member. he mentored. The example he adding, “No one was more many students will remember. For For 20 years, he took anti- set of authenticity, resilience, generous than Edgar. You knew fellow faculty members, Beteta rejection medication to preserve and brotherhood reflects the very where you stood with him at all was equally respected as both a the transplant. Over time, spirit of a Riordan Crusader.
Valverde celebrated with Chaminade Award By Luna Weng ’28
This year’s deserving Joseph William Chaminade recipient, Ottilie Valverde, has worked at Archbishop Riordan for 45 years. She has moderated multiple programs and taught numbers of students in mathematics, but, most importantly, she has made a lasting impact on the Riordan community. Valverde’s involvement at Riordan for over four decades made her a suitable candidate
as this year’s Chaminade Award winner. The bestowal of the Chaminade Award is a sign of high recognition. According to President Tim Reardon, the Chaminade Award is “the highest honor our school bestows on one reserved for those who live out our Marianist mission – faith, service, and enduring commitment to the Riordan community.” Valverde has lived out the Marianist mission through helping students connect with
their faith. She assisted the first ever Kairos, a faith-based school trip for seniors, which she described as finding “the heart and soul of ARHS.” In 1991, she began directing Campus Ministry, which she led for eight years. Along with Valverde’s faith, her service to the school and its community has proven her worthy of receiving the award. She has taught multiple math classes, including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. While speaking of her specialty
in mathematics, she remarked, “I think that math is fun and I enjoy sharing it with people.” Others have reflected on her performance as an educator. A former student of hers, Jonathan Pangilinan ’28, shared, “She’s a nice teacher and makes sure that everyone in the class understands the topic before moving on.”
Please see “Valverde celebrated with Chaminade Award” on page 4