The Crusader May 2018

Campus News, Pages 4-7

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VOLUME LXVIII ISSUE iv

SERVING RIORDAN SINCE 1949

Arts & Entertainment, Page 10

Online Gaming, Page 9

Sports, Pages 8 and 15

May 2018

ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL

THE NEWSPAPER OF CRUSADER COUNTRY

Pilar wins Crusader Games, Cana wins Chaminade Cup By Eddie Monares ’19

After a year filled with competitions, rallies, and excitement, the Chaminade Cup was decided after the first annual Crusader Games. With the first year of the new House System coming to a close, the last chance to earn points for their respective houses was the Crusader Games. The Games started with an opening ceremony honoring Mary, and Drama Director Valerie O’Riordan singing “Ava Maria.” The Crusader Games was a fun day for the students who instead of focusing on academics, focused on an assortment of games and events in an effort to win the Crusader Games Trophy, but also gain points in order to win the first ever Chaminade Cup. Joey Klobas ’07, director of student activities, thought the event was a success. “For it being our first time doing this, I thought it was very successful. The students look to be engaged, up-beat, and I saw lots of smiles,” he said. At the Crusader Games,

some events students seemed to enjoy were: dodgeball, capture the flag, relay races, and batting cages. The seniors had the gym to themselves, where they played basketball strictly against each other, emulating their Frosh Olympics. Christopher Fern, House of Cana Provincial, said, “It was so great to see so many people all competing in all these different events. The day was full of excitement and energy and it was

Photos by Chris Peterson ’18 At left, Pilar Provincial Stephanie Lundin, Stephen Blecha ’19, Sean Mullins ’19, Dillon Ruggiero ’19, and Chang Liu ’18 with the Crusader Games Cup. Above, House of Cana celebrates winning the Chaminade Cup. because it was the first time we ever did anything like this.” The Crusader Games concluded with two seniors in each house running a gauntlet for the chance to have their names engraved in armor that will be in Riordan’s trophy case for years to come. The winners were Joseph Kerrigan ’18 and Giovanni Mendoza ’18 from the House of Pilar. The winner of the Crusader Games was House of Pilar with

883 points, barely edging out the House of Cana with 832 points; Russi followed with 824 points, and finally, Bolts with 739 points. The Chaminade Cup, however, was won by the House of Cana. For next year’s Crusader Games, Patrick O’Brien ’19, next year’s School Captain, said, “There are definitely games and activities we will add and remove, but we want to leave that as a surprise for the students come next Crusader Games.”

Phelan family’s past prompts name change proposal By Keven Ariel Muñoz ’18

family name with racist remarks— Since 1949, students, campaigning to be elected into the faculty and staff have driven to United States Senate with the Archbishop Riordan High School famous slogan “Keep California at 175 Phelan Avenue. That soon White.” might change because of an effort Phelan, the son, is also recognized to rename Phelan Avenue due to for being a great patron of the its namesake’s connection to San arts in San Francisco. However, his racist political history is the Francisco’s questionable past. Just this past month, the main reason why several people community was asked to vote are behind the idea of changing for a brand-new name through the street’s name. an electronic voting system. Ernesto Castillo ’87 said, There were five names to choose “There are plenty of streets and from, but the winner was “Frida other things in San Francisco that Kahlo Way.” City College of San are named after people who were Francisco and Riordan High also questionable in their moral School were among the bigger character or political beliefs, and votes since they fill up most of the I would hate to see this turn into a Salem Witch Hunt and renaming street. Phelan Avenue is named after every street in SF because of the father of the 25th Mayor something he or she did in the of San Francisco. He was an past.” Irish Immigrant, a very wealthy Supervisor Norman Yee is banker of his time, and founder the leader in this operation. of the First National Bank of Before working for the City of San Francisco. However, the son, San Francisco, he was a board member of City College. He James D. Phelan, tainted his

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 Supervisor Norman Yee has proposed to change the name of Phelan Avenue, where Riordan is located, to Frida Kahlo Way. divided the votes by making 40 percent of the vote belonging to City College, and another 40 percent belonging to the residents. The last 20 percent was equally divided between

Archbishop Riordan High School and a miscellaneous group. A meeting was held in which the

Please see “Phelan Avenue” on page 6

2 Opinion

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

May 2018

Nationwide student-led walkouts inspire stricter gun control laws By Tomas Palpallatoc ’18

On Feb. 14, at around 2:19 pm; Nikolas Cruz entered Majory Stoneman Douglas High School carrying nothing but a backpack and a duffel bag. Only minutes later, Cruz pulled a fire alarm, sending the school into disarray. And only seconds after that, he removed an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle from of his duffel bag. Then, he opened fire. The shooting ended almost as abruptly as it began, lasting only six minutes. Yet, he left in his wake 17 people dead and another 17 wounded. 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz is responsible for the world’s deadliest school shooting. This incident, in addition to many like it in past months, and years, is what sparked the series of student led walkouts these past few months. The first took place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a location very close to Stoneman Douglas High school, only three days after the shooting. This spark soon grew into a fire, as the walkouts and protests began to spread out of southeast Florida and to the rest of the country. Students all over the United States put their foot down against gun violence and demanded stricter gun control. These protests would culminate on two separate days. The “Enough! National School walkout,” which brought together students from more than 3,000 schools across

the US to walkout on March 14 and on April 20, March for Our Lives, held in Washington, DC with more than 800 partnering marches taking place the same day throughout the United States, and even the world. As a result, massive waves have been made across the country. The question asked by many critics is: Is this a good thing? Gun control is a very complex subject, and one that has been debated over for years by some of the most informed and influential people of the United States government. In no way can anyone expect a high school student to know everything about gun control laws, so how can we let our political opinions be swayed so heavily by someone who doesn’t? I only bring this question up because it’s the words of students that have brought people together in these walkouts and protests. And it’s good that people are able to take action for something they believe in, but at the same time, one must realize that very often the public opinion is fickle. They are swayed by emotions more often than facts, and when influenced more by the latter, it is often due to harsh exaggeration. The truth is that it becomes hard to argue an opinion when the opposing side is made of people who have lost family and friends to the issue. The truth is that no Local, State, National, and World News Editors Vince Francisco ’19 Owen Murphy ’19 Photo Editor Chris Peterson ’18

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175 Phelan Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112 Riordanhs.org @R_CrusaderNews Editor in Chief Roman Peregrino ’18 Opinion Editor Tomas Palpallatoc ’18 Campus News Editors John Regidor ’18 Harrick Wu ’19 Features Editor Jabriel Andrade ’18 Sports Editor Karl Vanuska ’19

Copy Editors Keven Ariel Munoz ’18 John Regidor ’18 Staff Reporters Jakeclark Bennett ’18 Stephen Blecha ’19 Brandon Castro ’18 James Chun ’18 Danilo Herger ’20 Ricardo Hernandez ’20 Ian Martin ’20 Shane McKnight ’18 Eddie Monares ’19 Aidan Murtagh ’20 Anthony Oropeza ’18 Steven Rissotto ’20 David Rodriguez-Mendez ’18 Alexander Ruivivar ’20 Brandon Vargas ’20 Harrick Wu ’19 Photographer Stephen Aguirre ’18

Meteorologist Arts & Entertainment Editors Antonio Maffei ’20 Sebastian Fazio ’18 Henry Novicki ’18 Adviser Susan Sutton, CJE

change in law or legislation led to the Parkland shooting. The state of gun violence is unchanged and a march on Washington happening two weeks before Feb. 14 would have the same amount of backing and justification as one that happened on Feb. 17. Events like these don’t reveal new problems. They simply serve as ways to make people realize the problems that have already existed. Yet, the problem is when people become aware and open their eyes, they can still only seem to find half the picture. Those who have taken up the political flag against gun violence have not bothered to look to the other side of the crowd to see exactly what they’re arguing against. That saddest truth, however, is that there are likely those who are using these students for political gain. Both sides are guilty of this, whether it be using them as vehicles of political gain, or targeting them for their immaturity. In the process of standing up for themselves, these students have marched right in the middle of an intense debate

that they perhaps never wanted to be in. At their heart, these student walkouts are not an attack on right wing politics, nor are they conspiracies by the left. I believe their intentions are genuine. I also believe that student involvement in political action is something to be applauded. Today’s society is too filled with apathetic and disinterested people. However, simply being involved does not make them right. Gun control is a difficult and complicated issue that doesn’t lend itself to easy solutions. We need to come up with real, practical solutions, not just subscribe to the loudest viewpoint. Though the Parkland shooting was a terrible tragedy, and I hope it will never be repeated, this is not a single sided issue. There are legitimate arguments that need to be recognized. This is an issue that should be resolved by debate in the halls of Congress, not by uninformed people impassioned by tragedy. It is important that we as citizens are not only active in political action, but also informed about those actions.

Letter to the Class of 2018 Dear Class of 2018, Thirty years ago this month, I was right where you are now, about to graduate high school, enter college, and take my first steps into adulthood. I remember my senior year clearly as one of the best years of my life. I had been involved in a ton of activities and I had had a blast with my Riordan brothers. Toward the end of the year, I was feeling a great swirl of conflicting emotions, like many of you are feeling: pure adrenalized excitement and anticipation about what was to come next, but also serious melancholy and heartache at leaving the school I loved so much. Like you, Riordan was the very place in which I had experienced intense, formative growth, which is why it was and is so special to me. Nevertheless, also like you, I was ready to begin my next adventure as the hero of my story. As I am writing this, I must tell you that I am feeling that same great swirl of conflicting emotions, but this time it is about you leaving. I am so excited for your next adventure in your hero’s journey, but I am also melancholy because I know I will miss you. What an incredible year it has been. So, a few things before you go… In “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche writes: “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.” First, never underestimate the power of your own story to transform the lives of others. Likewise, never underestimate your capacity for love, hope, and change. At the heart of your Marianist education is to always keep the most vulnerable of society at the center of everything you do. This is how you change the world. With all of your incredible gifts and talents, you are expected to do nothing less. Be fearless in your pursuit of peace and justice. Be relentless in following your bliss. In this tech-centered, rapidly changing and chaotic world, remember Friar Lawrence’s words in Romeo and Juliet: “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.” Stay grounded in your humanity. In reviewing your Senior Soul-Journ self-reflections, I was incredibly moved by your words of kindness, praise, and gratitude that you shared with me. I am extremely grateful that you have allowed me to be a part of your lives these last four years. Peace and Love and Snaps, Mr. Michael Vezzali-Pascual ’88

May 2018

Opinion

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

3

Name change trend arrives in San Francisco with mixed reviews

Chris P’s Corner

Vanuska’s View

By Karl Vanuska ’19

By Chris Peterson ’18

“We have to accept our history and acknowledge the fact that history is not a pretty picture, but that doesn’t mean we cannot learn from this and move forward.”

San Francisco is a progressive city and should not change its ideals just because some people want the names of streets to remain the same, even though these street names are named unseemly people. This movement to change the names of monuments, street names, and national holidays is a nationwide idea. We have seen it with the changing of Confederate statues, and even the changing of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. As these movements started to form, it spread to other areas as well, like in San Francisco, where there are more street names being looked at for possible changes—and for good reason. The names of streets should be used to acknowledge great people and their deeds. Sometimes, history needs to be changed to atone for our mistakes and actually celebrate true heroes. Too many times we want to keep our history for the sake of not ruining it or thinking that we want to completely erase those memories, when in fact, changing these streets actually acknowledges these mistakes and we learn from this. It is misguided to protect some of these street names and call it “protection of our culture,” when in fact, sometimes these street names don’t represent our city as a progressive city. In fact, Riordan High School is located on Phelan Avenue, and many do not know that it is named after the father of James D. Phelan, who was a

mayor of San Francisco and U.S. senator from California. While Phelan was an important political figure to California and San Francisco, it doesn’t change the fact that he was racist and ran on the campaign slogan of “Keep California White.” This is part of history and we must accept that, but we cannot support or honor horrible people. We have to accept our history and acknowledge the fact that history is not a pretty picture, but that doesn’t mean we cannot learn from this and move forward. By naming streets after dictators and racists we give them recognition and honors that shouldn’t be allowed. Let us leave learning about our history to our museums, where we learn from our mistakes and see our history for what it is. Give street names the glory and honor they deserve by naming them after people who should be rewarded for making positive contributions to our community. For example, San Francisco renamed Army Street to Cesar Chavez and although people complained about that name change, that too, is now part of a history that many no longer remember. When we do re-name a street, it should be in order to admit our mistakes and to right our wrongs, not just because we don’t like a particular part of history. We need to erase those that have done detrimental deeds and recognize those who have accomplished outstanding achievements.

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“Those people shaped our history, whether people would like to admit it or not. We need to remember that, and we need to live with the fact that it happened.” The city of San Francisco is a progressive and forward thinking city that always looks to better itself in incorporating everyone, but sometimes that way of thinking is completely invalid. As I’ve said, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors make questionable decisions and slowly destroying this beautiful city of ours. The history and beauty of this city are getting completely ravaged by these outsiders who only wish to ruin our city. It has affected me as a city goer because they are changing what made this city different and not one of the norm. This city was the odd sibling out, the one who instead of doing sports went into dance. It was that flashy noticeable city that stood out amongst the concrete skyscrapers that pierce through the skyline. Our differences made us special, and though some might not acknowledge it, it’s difficult to have such strong strides without those people that just pushed us over the edge and gave us that kick in the rear. Names are important; they have history. Without acknowledging what was here before us, we grow up more ignorant than those who came here before us. Former Mayor Willie Brown’s comments about renaming the historical monument of Lotta’s Fountain to honor the late mayor Ed Lee is ridiculous. Of course, Ed Lee was a good man, but there is no reason to change something that I believe is even more important than him to fit the agenda of

making everything forward thinking. There might be names that don’t fit well with everyone and isn’t exactly from the nicest roots, but those names are the ones that need to be remembered. If you take away everything that has a negative past or a bad connotation to it, then what’s the point of knowing anything? It’s important to keep knowledge of what has happened so that it doesn’t repeat. As George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Those people shaped our history, whether people would like to admit it or not. We need to remember that, and we need to live with the fact that it happened. Denying things that have happened is not only negatively hurting us, but making us all desensitized about what has happened and is merely accentuating the problem. Changing everything to not be offensive and making things all politically correct is hurting us by taking away our individuality. Being different and hitting people’s nerves are a part of our lives, and without that, we would be so hurt by the tiniest of things. Changing names is by nature not good. Now, I’m not saying that getting rid of the names of dictators and those who commit genocide is not justified, but getting rid of those who haven’t done everything right is completely idiotic. Stop ruining our rich history and what made us get to where we are today.

The Crusader is launching an interactive website with more news, photos, polls, podcasts, and video. Go to RCrusaderNews.com and bookmark it to stay up to date on news around campus.

4 Campus News

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

May 2018

New student leaders elected for 2018-2019 school year By Harrick Wu ’19

As the 2018 school year comes to an end, a new student council is needed for the following school year for the house system. On April 23, a student election was held for candidates to try to woo their peers to elect them for the position of School Vice Captain, Vice Captain of Spirit, and Vice Captain of Program. The position for School Captain was passed down to Patrick O’Brien ’19 as he ran uncontested. Estefan Granucci ’19, Michael Gray ’20, and Sean Moore ’19 ran for School Vice Captain; Louie Mezie ’19, Thomas Monfredini ’19, Ryan Quock ’19, and Vherny Rustrian ’19 ran for School Vice Captain of Program; Cheyne Fernandez ’20, Marcus Reimer ’19, and Christopher Yung ’19 ran for Vice Captain of Spirit. Following their speeches, students were dismissed to their second block class to cast their votes on Schoology. At the end of the day, the votes were tallied and the new electees were announced. Granucci was elected Vice School Captain, Rustrian was elected Vice Captain of Program, and Fernandez was elected for Vice Captain of Spirit. Even though this is the second year for Student Parliament, the electees have already seen improvements from the old student government and wish to better it under their newly obtained leadership roles.

“The old system was definitely biased, especially in rallies where it was hard for other classes to get involved and feel apart of it, especially the freshman class, and so I think there is definitely more brotherhood than there already was and deeper connection between your classmates and more rivalry between your classmates,” O’Brien said. “Before, it was seniors versus juniors and that’s cool, but now your friends and the people you have been going to school for four years are talking it up in the hallways about how your house is better as opposed to their class.” Granucci wishes Riordan, as a whole, to be committed to making the school the best it can be. He hopes to improve the new house system by giving more power to the voices of the students in their ideas and opinions. He said, “I want to incorporate a system where any complaint or constructive criticism from the students can be heard and physicalized, whether it is in mentor groups or any other facet the house system covers in our day-to-day life and able to adhere to student complaints.” Fernandez hopes to be persistent and manage time better for next year to make spirit week and rallies more enjoyable for everyone. This year, he saw flaws on how these events were advertised to the school and desires to fix it.

“I didn’t really see a good amount of organization and inclusiveness. I felt like we were not on top of our game informational-wise,” he said. “I want the community to be in the loop of what’s going on. I want to be on top of the timing of [when] these things are announced because announcements had been really lax the past few months when we had these organized events, and I want to show the students that these events can be really fun with added planning.” The electees all feel prepared to take on their positions for next year because of their previous years of experience in student government and/or other leadership roles in activities they participate in at Riordan and because of the chemistry some of

has actually led the administration to name the new field the Mayer Family Field.
 Other noteworthy donors include Philip Cazahous ’70, Mike Mayer ’71, Steve Mayer ’72, Kevin Barry ’72, Brian Spiers ’75, Steven Herrera ’76, and Dr. Frank Castro and John Calonico from the class of 1979. The new field’s plan is ambitious and contains three phases of work: the first is the area inside the track and the second and third are the area surrounding it. The plan for the field includes not only refurbishing it, but also retrofitting it for more sports and allowing it to be more available. The plan of converting the field to turf will allow multiple teams to play in quick succession without damaging the grass. The hope is that this increased availability will allow more Riordan teams to play their home games at Riordan.
 Riordan’s field is not only used for sports, and the benefits of this project will extend to the entire school. This project will be improving an important piece of Riordan that hosts the Riordan

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 Students play football on the future Mayer Family Field. Band practices, Camp Crusader, completing the project and it is intramurals, and school and expected that work will begin House activities. in May 2019 or May 2020 at the Unfortunately, this project latest. Donations can be made is still not ready to break ground. either through an online gift at With a donation requirement www.riordangiving.com or by of $2.4 million, the project still sending a check to ARHS, 175 needs a lot of work. But, the Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, administration is dedicated to CA 94112.

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 New Student Parliament leaders: Vherny Rustrian ’19, Patrick O’Brien ’19, Estefan Granucci ’19, and Cheyne Fernandez ’20. them have together. Joseph Klobas ’07, Student Activities Coordinator, believes that the new team has potential and are positive assets in moving forward in the house system. He encourages students to run for other positions in the house system in the future. “For anyone who is interested in running for office, but isn’t sure, I would suggest for them to give it a go and try,” Klobas said. “The way our structure works is that if you lose one of the school captain positions, you can interview for house captain positions and you will be able to have a say on what your house does and what is going in your house and you will be able to have a voice in student parliament for change.”

Mayer Family Field of Dreams closer to reality By Owen Murphy ’19

Riordan is finally building a new sports field. After years of effort, the plan has now gained traction. The ambitious refurbishing of the school’s field has been in the works for several years, but now a generous challenge grant from the Mayer family may have just made it possible.
 The Riordan administration has been raising money for the new field project since 2012, and at this point in time, has managed to raise around $500,000 in cash and $800,000 in pledges for the cause, including a recent, generous challenge grant from the Mayer family that has given the cause a chance to massively increase its funds.
 Mike and Steven Mayer, along with other Riordan graduates from the 1970s, have donated and pledged an amount totaling more than $1,000,000. The largest of these pledges is the Mayer family’s challenge grant, which promises to match every dollar of donation to the project up to $500,000. This incredible contribution

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Campus News

5

Time to book summer reading adventure

By Ricardo Hernandez ’20 Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s It’s almost that time of the Remarkable Odyssey from North year again. Summer is quickly approaching, and that means students have to read a book and complete an assignment on the first day of school for the Fall of 2018. Riordan’s telecast has been showing trailers of the books that students can read. Every year, the Summer Reading Committee gives students a list of books they can choose to read. The 11 books are separated into lower and upper divisions. These divisions include fiction and nonfiction books. The lower division books titles are, Fantastic Voyage, Tears of a Tiger, A long way home: A boy’s Incredible Journey from India to Australia and Back Again, and The Boys Who Challenged Hitler. The Upper division books are, Shadow Lessons, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime, Ball Don’t Lie, Into Thin Air: A personal account of Mt. Everest Disaster, This Boy’s Life: a Memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, and

Korea to Freedom in the West. Freshmen and sophomores may choose any book from the list, while juniors and seniors can choose only from the Upper division list. The list of books are posted on the school’s website. The goal of this summer assignment is to keep minds stimulated over the long break, so when students come back, they are not completely devoid of thinking. Vaizaah Taito ’19 said, “Honestly, I feel like Summer Reading is unnecessary.” Summer Reading is also mandated by Riordan to keep students busy over the summer and to keep students’ intellect from slipping or disappearing. The benefits of reading are many, but some students will balk at the assignment, claiming it is not fair to assign something over the summer. Spanish Teacher Debra

Jensen, said, “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to read. It’s a treat!” Students are pretty busy during

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 The books offered for Summer Reading 2018 are proudly displayed in the school library, and ready to be checked out by eager students. the summer, anyway. They play sports and video games. They travel, read, draw, paint, attend camps, play music, socialize, date, dream, exercise, work, sleep, visit family, and more.

English Department Chair Diana Assereto said, “Summer Reading is beneficial because students are exposed to books they might not have been exposed to in the classroom.”

almost always had a high total.” Before teaching at Archbishop Riordan High School, Dalton was setting records, served in the US Army, taught at a public school, and worked at the California State Archives. When he was a student at San Francisco State, he broke the record for the half-mile, but that only lasted for a few years. “In 1964 and again in 1965, I broke the San Francisco State College record for the half-mile. The record lasted a few years, but it has been

Riordan High School. By the fall of 1978, Dalton was hired. He taught English for grades 9, 10, and 11. He also taught French and German. Additionally, a passionate subject of his, he taught World History, World Geography, and California History. At the AP level, he has taught English Language Composition and European History. After 40 years of teaching, Dalton believes it is time to say goodbye to teaching. During his retirement, he plans to do a lot of reading, and would like to spend time in the gym. He and his wife also hope to travel, especially to the East Coast. “I try to read at least 25 books a year. In retirement I plan to read more. Two books which I have read so many times are 1984 and for pleasure, Ian Fleming’s James Bond spy novels.” Dalton said that he will miss certain aspects of teaching. “Interacting with the students and my fellow teachers, as well as support staff, and members of teh administration. I’ll also miss learning new things in the subject areas I teach.” Conversely, he won’t most miss some of the aspects of teaching. “I will not miss commuting across the Bay Bridge and Highway 80 traffic.” Lastly, many students and colleagues love Dalton’s old school persona. When asked about his favorite software program, he responded: “What’s that?

‘Brother’ Dalton ready for retirement By Alexander Ruivivar ’20

After four decades of teaching at Archbishop Riordan High School, Robert Dalton ’61 is retiring. Many admire Dalton for his easygoing personality and his sense of humor. Librarian Danny Appel said, “He’s an excellent teacher. He’s been around Riordan for 40 years. He has a great sense of humor. He has a great rapport with the students, and he’s passionate in what he teaches. He’s dedicated in what he does, and I think students can take away valuable things from Mr. Dalton.” Fellow English teacher and daughter Mary Dalton commented on what it has been like working with her father. “It’s an extremely special experience that not a lot of people are able Photo by Alexander Ruivivar ’20 to have,” she said. Robert Dalton ’61 is retiring. Alberto Huang He ’19 said, “He likes to joke about things. He his book prowess, saying, “Just likes to talk with other students the fact we have so much in personally.” common in terms of literature. I Although he will be missed, will also miss his sense of humor many students and members of and deep knowledge of English the faculty hope he enjoys his literature.” retirement. One of the most memorable Diana Assereto, English moments of being Dalton’s Department Chair, said, “I’ll student is his tardy fees. miss the walks, the jokes, and his According to Dalton, “I don’t laughter. Also, his intelligence, really keep track of it lately, but his knowledge of life, and a when I was full time and I had colleague I can count on.” a homeroom, believe it or not, I Sean Moore ’19 said, “I’ll miss combined tardy fees with money his understanding of the books collected by Homeroom 204 he gives us and the late fee. I for various school fundraisers: hope he has a great retirement.” disaster relief, and Marianist Mary Dalton concurs about schools overseas, assistance for

broken at least four or five times.” During the height of the Vietnam War, he was drafted and served in the US Army for two years. “The Vietnam War was at high tide, but fortunately I did not have to go overseas.” During his military service, he spent most of his time in Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The highest rank that he reached was Specialist 5, which is equivalent to a sergeant. After his service in the Army, he worked for five years in a Southern California public school. Around 1977 or 1978, Dalton and his family moved to Sacramento where he worked in the California State Archives. It was from there he went on to teach at Archbishop

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Campus News

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Crusaders pray for Parkland at solemn service By Aidan Murtagh ’20

On March 14, the Liturgy and Marianist LIFE Teams hosted a prayer service in honor of victims of school shootings, especially the shooting that occurred on Feb. 14 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The prayer service served as a way to unite the school community against the devastating school shootings that occur across the nation. As a Catholic school, students saw others in need and earnestly prayed for their wellbeing and recovery together as a school community. Director of Campus Ministry Alex Datoc ’87 said, “Just to show a response from our student body, by how solemn, respectful, and in tune our body was during the videos and images of the faces, I could tell that they were affected by the students and teachers who were killed in Parkland, Florida.” During the prayer service, a candle was lit for each of the 17 victims of the shooting, accompanied by a brief summary of each victim’s hopes and/or accomplishments. Prayers

were accompanied by a song performed by the Chorale club, reassuring all that evil will not be victorious in the end. Current CORE Team member Roshan Thomas ’19 said, “As a Catholic school living out the Marianist tradition, taking part in the prayer service was a good way to take time out of our busy lives in class and to just take a moment to give our undivided attention and emotional support to the victims in Parkland, Florida.” Living out the Marianist tradition, the school community came together to show that they are with the victims of the Parkland shooting. Through the prayer service, Riordan showed that students are hoping for, and believing that a better future is to come. LIFE Team member Mike’l Gregory ’18 said, “We as a student body came together in a different way compared to other schools that really showed solidarity for the people from Parkland. We stopped, reflected, and went to the best result, which was prayer.”

Photo by Marco Celi-Aguirre ’21 The Riordan community came together on Feb. 14 to pray for the victims of the Parkland school shooting, and pray for peace.

“Phelan Avenue,” continued from page 1 residents and other people were able to present possible names. Phelan Avenue resident, Bonnie White, said, “I left the meeting feeling like what the residents wanted didn’t matter. It was a done deal, and Frida Kahlo was the new name.” Many Phelan Avenue residents have spoken out about their disapproval of the street’s name change. Barbara Fitzpatrick, mother of Cavan Fitzpatrick ’18 and resident of Phelan Avenue, said, “I feel City College has taken over this vote with the name of Frida Kahlo because they have the Diego Rivera Theater. We have not had a voice in what names we, as the neighborhood, would prefer.” The choice of Frida Kahlo Way comes from her international recognition as a female artist of color. It is also a romantic choice to have “Frida Kahlo Way” lead to the Diego Rivera Theater at City College. The theater is adorned with the famous Pan American Unity Mural by Diego Rivera, which features the artist’s wife, Frida Kahlo, in the third panel. Leslie Simon, an interdisciplinary instructor at CCSF told NBC Bay Area News, “This is a whole movement. It is a response to an anti-immigrant time.” There are mixed feelings among the neighbors. Some are in favor of the name change, some are opposed, and others do not feel like dealing with the hassle that goes along with the renaming of the street they have lived on for

so many years. Tomi Cunningham, a nearby resident, said, “It’s important that names that have been attached to buildings, streets, sports teams be re-examined as we culturally/ historically become more aware of any racist legacy attached to them.” Riordan did not cast a vote due to lack of communication between the school and the name change committee, according to Andrew Currier, President of ARHS. Currier said, “Norman Yee explained that they were definitely going to change name. I told him it was never explained to us how to vote and therefore I think it’s unfair.” He added that Riordan’s biggest concern was not the idea of a name change, but the process. They would have wanted to suggest “Tyrone McGraw” in honor of the alumnus who died this past year. The Crusader contacted Supervisor Yee’s office for an interview, but he did not respond by the publication date. Backers of the name change hope to see that happen in the next nine months, but the proposal still has to go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval. Edward Vallecillo ’85, a Riordan alumnus who also worked at the City College Bookstore, said, “Twenty-nine years [I] spent on that street. The street name matters in so much that it’s a reference point for a large part of my life. Yet, it’s only a name.”

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 On March 28, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone celebrated Spy Wednesday Mass, along with Deacon Joe LeBlanc and Fr. John Jimenez, in preparation for Easter Sunday. As is tradition, the archbishop granted ARHS a holiday, which was taken on April 30.

Math + contest = winners

By Anthony Oropeza ’18 The math contest allows students the opportunity to show off their math skills and compete against top schools in California. Anyone who is interested or wants to participate is welcomed. Roughly 50 percent of students in a math class participate in the math contest, while most are from Honors or AP classes. The California Math League starts in October and holds competitions once a month. The test is 30 minutes long, and the students are allowed a graphing calculator. Department Chair of Mathematics, Mary Ann Datoc, said, “The contest challenges each student’s ability to solve difficult problems that usually are not seen in a textbook. The questions test the students’ ability to solve probabilities, patterns, and be able to think critically.” In February, several students

competed in the annual American Mathematic Competition. Students have to answer 25 questions within an 80 minute time period. Similar to the California Math League, the questions are extremely out of the ordinary, and really challenge the student to think out of the box. Lei Chen ’18 is currently in first place. Chen scored high in the American Mathematic Competition, which granted him a spot in the second round of the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Exam). Chen said, “The math contest is great because it offers training and experience to learn the different types of math problems that usually are not seen.” Keye Li ’18 is close behind. Last year, Li almost advanced to the third round, but missed by only four points. Results are out and posted around campus.

May 2018

Campus News 7

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Riordan wins benefit rally over Mercy SF By John Regidor ’18

On March 9, Riordan and Mercy High School took up arms as they competed in the annual Mercy-Riordan Benefit Rally. After a night of fun games and competitions, Riordan emerged victorious for the first time in four years. “I would say that it was more fun being in the games and interacting with others,” said Mercy Senior Jolly Curameng. “It’s sad that Mercy continues to lose the games, but with the many Mercy students who attend, their spirit makes up for it.” The rally was a night of fun, fellowship, and friendly competition. The night began with a stunning ceremony. Members of the San Francisco Foster Youth thanked everyone for their contribution and time in the event. The night kicked off with a prayer from the combined religious teams of Riordan’s LIFE Team and Mercy’s Core Team. They recited a beautiful poem regarding child abandonment and the living conditions of those who are less fortunate. Following the prayer, Mercy students Maddie Anderson and Tiera Cummings sang the National Anthem. The first event was the “The Mummies.” During this event, teams of 10 each took turns wrapping tape around each other. However, there was a twist to

this seemingly simple event. The “mummies” could only use their hands at the beginning to hold the tape; afterwards, they could only use their body and their luck. After 20 intense minutes, Riordan came out on top. “We had such a disadvantage with a miss start and extension of wrapping. We were behind at the time I got up and I helped our guys catch up to get ahead. [I] spun like heck and eventually caught up and surpassed Mercy,” said Trevor Paulbitski ’18. Up next was the student parliament’s favorite game, “Giant Chopsticks.” During this event, Members of Riordan’s Student Parliament competed with Mercy’s Student Council in an intense head to head competition. Students were tasked with transferring a number of small items into a hoolahoop using large, overly sized chopsticks. Once again, through their grit and skill, Riordan’s Student Parliament came out on top. The rally was not only filled with competitive challenges, but also fun matches featuring couples. The event was done in a relay-race style of competition, where couples raced to complete a series of objectives. The first part was to throw one person over a low hanging bar. Afterwards, the couples picked

Photo by Stephen Aguirre ’18 The Mercy and Riordan mascots pause for a smile before the games.

up clipboards, and hit a small paper ball into a recycling bin. The next challenge was for one person to lift the other onto their shoulders to take a bite of a doughnut hanging on string, dangling from the top of the gym. The final game was another relay-race, however this time, this race mattered. A series of obstacles were set before each team. Each team was tasked with putting on “drunk goggles,” then put on the opposite school’s formal wear. Afterwards, the students ran to the hoola hoops and passed it through four other

members without letting go of each other’s hands. After a close race, Archbishop Riordan emerged victorious. “Overall, participation is meh, not outstanding. It felt like there were a lot of seniors attending just to get extended privileges. Could’ve been better, but a win is a win,” said Andrew Hipon ’18. As part of the reward for winning the Benefit Rally, seniors enjoyed a week of extended privileges. Students also enjoyed a day of free dress the following Monday after the rally.

Lockdown app ensures Schoology test security By Aidan Murtagh ’20

Technological developers have created the newest app to prevent cheating in classrooms. This app, called LockDown Browser, creates a custom browser in which students are able to take exams and quizzes on Schoology and other platforms, but, this custom browser prevents students from going to other websites, exiting the application, taking screenshots, and copying the questions given on the exam. Teachers at Riordan have taken an interest in incorporating it into the curriculum, and 16 teachers have agreed to participate in the pilot version of the app. Director of Academic Technology Viggen Rassam ’87 said, “I think this is a step in the right direction because companies like Apple have been asked to decrease the dependency on technological devices. Since technology allows students to be fed endless information, it is important for [the students] to train themselves to be independent in learning.” Not surprisingly, this app is not very popular among the students

who use it. Feeling as if their privacy is being breached, angry students have bombarded the app with bad reviews, bringing its rating to a 1.6 stars on the App Store. Some students have even gone so far as to say that this app will be the cause of World War III or send the FBI to their home. Sophomore Parth Solanki said, “I do not like the idea of because I feel it shows a lack of trust in our student body, and the process is more tedious than it needs to be.” However, some students feel that is app is exactly what schools need. Varsity Golf player Aidan Horgan ’20 said, “I think the app is a good thing for the school because it prevents kids from cheating.” By not allowing students to cheat, LockDown Browser ideally forces students to study and actually learn the material they are being tested on. LockDown Browser provides schools with a chance to improve the learning environment, encouraging every student to fulfill their roles in the classroom.

LockDown, a new app used in conjunction with Schoology tests, prevents students from taking screen shots, air dropping, multi-tasking, and leaving the test before submitting answers. The app has low reviews, mostly from students who do not like the idea of being restricted to only view the test, but teachers are in favor of it, and say it is long overdue to maintain test integrity.

8 Sports Spotlight

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Top athletes in each sport look back on high school careers Baseball Michael Altman

Baseball Matthew Calhoun

“I feel humbled, having received multiple offers from Division-1 colleges for baseball, and for signing to play at Santa Clara University.” “My most proud accomplishment was when the team beat #9 ranked Serra at the beginning of the season.”

Cross Country Trevor Paulbitski

Football Travis Benham

“I am most proud of continuing the legacy instilled by my previous captain that enabled me to become the runner and ARHS brother I am today.”

Soccer Giovannie Rodriguez

“I am most proud of being recognized as part of the WCAL soccer all league second team.”

“My most proud moment is beating SI in overtime. It was a great team effort and all of us fought together to beat SI and get the trophy back to Riordan.”

Tennis James Schmalz

Basketball James Chun

“This season we made it to the second round of Nor Cals and won CCS D3. It was good to hang a banner up and do well despite not having a gym all summer.”

Golf Matthew Audibert

“I want to thank Coach Isola and Riordan for giving me the opportunity to play golf in the WCAL all four years. It’s been truly awesome.”

Wrestling Gene Aberouette

“I’m proud to have been a four year varsity athlete and grateful to everyone at Riordan for giving me this opportunity. I am hyped to continue at the collegiate level.”

“The greatest memory I had in wrestling is when we won a league title and making it to the state championships.”

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Online Gaming

9

Fortnite continues to build up to victory By Thomas Prudden ’18

Fortnite is a new Battle Royale game that is on the rise, but Fortnite did not always have the popular Battle Royale mode. The objective of a Battle Royale game is to loot around the map and outlive opponents. The game was developed from 2011 to 2017, and the first alpha for the game came out in mid 2017. “Save the World” is a survival based gamemode in which players must take out rounds of zombies to kill from the storm. Players have to pay for this portion of the game, but this mode is not what made the game popular. The popular free to play Battle Royale mode that made this game famous first came out in September of 2017.What makes Fortnite different from any other Battle Royale game is that you are able to get materials and build structures to help yourself in a fight. The game is available on all platforms which are PC, PS4, Xbox, and Mobile. “Fortnite is an amazing free to play game that other people around the world like me enjoy

playing,” said Noah Yamsuan ’18. “What I honestly enjoy about Fortnite is how competitive and fun it could be. Even when playing alone, you can have lots of fun, even more so with friends. I also like how you can play with people that have the game on different devices and systems. It gives everyone a chance to play the game however they want and whenever they want.” Yamsuan added, “With the addition of private implemented into the game, it makes it easier to play with whoever you want to play with, and could be used to set up friendly tournaments with friends.” A few famous people have played this game. On twitch.tv, a streamer who goes by the name Ninja played with rapper Drake, rapper Travis Scott, and JuJu Smith of the Steelers. “It was pretty cool seeing famous people play Fortnite,” said Gabe Santos ’21. This stream also broke a record on twitch.tv of 635,000 people watching at once, which is incredible. The New Season of Fortnite,

Fortnite, which recently released Season 4, has players all ages obsessed with looting around the map to outlive opponents. which is season 4, has gotten a lot of attention. The theme is superheroes. In the battle pass, there are some new superhero themed skins. A special event also occurred.A meteor has hit Dusty Depot and changed the location to Dusty Divot. There is also a new location on the map called Risky Reels. They have also added to the game, art you can spray, and armor you can equip your character with.

RCade adviser Chris Fern said, “I can see why Fortnite is addicting. The game is very chaotic and when you die, it is fast to put you in another lobby. What got me into the Fortnite genre was a Japanese movie called “Battle Royale,” which is 100 teens fighting each other to stay alive.” Fern added, “I do not play Fortnite until my homework is done. I read my children bedtime stories before I play. Master yourself before you master Fortnite.”

Battle Royale games launch ahead of competition By Jabriel Andrade ’18

It’s no secret that Battle Royale games currently dominate the gaming market. Many were introduced to the genre with 2017’s Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a game that broke Steam, an online gaming distributor’s, record for concurrent players. Yet, the game that comes to mind when the words “Battle Royale” are uttered is most likely Fortnite. However, the history of these games doesn’t start in 2017. The Battle Royale genre is ever growing and evolving; its growth is almost terrifying, and yet, the future remains unclear. Will these games cement themselves as part of the gaming landscape, or will they disappear like the other passing fads before it? The Battle Royale genre takes most of its inspiration from two movies, the Japanese movie “Battle Royale” released in 2000, and “Hunger Games” from 2012. The concept is simple: a group of people is placed in an area that is slowly getting smaller from all sides. The combatants must then eliminate each other, with the last one standing being crowned the winner. While both movies had more rules and nuances to their respective versions, the basic concept is what really caught the eyes of game developers. The first popular example of this concept being executed in games is the

Hunger Games mod for the game Minecraft. Although this version is still popular, it stuck close to the movie it’s named after, and thus has more in common with that than the modern Battle Royale game. The man who truly created the Battle Royale genre as we know it is Brendan Greene, better known by his gamertag PlayerUnknown. At the time, DayZ, a zombie mod for the military simulator game ARMA 2, had become extremely popular, with online personalities and events pushing the viewership even more. The most important of these events being, Survivor GameZ. GameZ was an online event that saw 16 teams of two trying to be the last ones standing in a private game of DayZ. This combined with the recent release of Hunger Games prompted Greene to try his hand at modding and create DayZ: Battle Royale. The success of the mod was moderate at best, yet the concepts found in it still persist, such as weapons generated around the map, rather than in one place a la Hunger Games, and the circular safe zone. When the mod moved onto the newer ARMA 3, renamed ARMA 3: Battle Royale, the feature of spawning in a plane so you can choose where you start was implemented, creating the term “dropping.” However, Greene’s talents were limited, thus prompting him to accept a

job from Sony Online Entertainment (Planetside 2, DC Universe Online) who had hoped to license out the concept for their zombie game H1Z1. In 2015, Greene was brought on in an advisor role, as the gamemode would start as a side event for H1Z1 before spiraling out into its own separate game as H1Z1 King of the Kill in 2016. Yet, Greene had aspirations for something better, a game he could call his own and one that could realize his vision, thus bringing in PUBG Corp. (Formerly Bluehole Studios) to create his own game. PUBG hoped to capture the gaming public by creating a solid experience, while avoiding the anti consumer missteps that H1Z1 committed. To many, PUBG seemed like lightning in a bottle. On release, it destroyed the popularity of its only competitor H1Z1 and its sales just kept rising. Yet, a competitor still arose, with Epic Games’ Fortnite. PUBG’s wings, clipped due to a litany of problems ranging from glitches to a cheater epidemic, couldn’t hold the spot as top dog of the genre for long, against a more polished, and free Fortnite. While Greene had previously supported competition, saying in a 2017 Reddit AMA that, “Other companies will of course enter the marketplace, but I would just hope they put their own spin on the game-mode and not just make

a carbon copy! I try not to worry about them to be honest and instead just concentrate on completing my vision for a Battle Royale game.” Contrary to popular belief PUBG isn’t dead, but it is on its back foot to Fortnite which seems to have the same, it’s only growing bigger, moniker thrown at it daily. The biggest question at the end of the day is will these games be able to sustain this audience for a long amount of time? The general consensus is a resounding no. Gaming, like all other entertainment industries, is one of passing fads. Whether it was survival games, zombie games, World War II games, each of them slowly died as the gaming public lost interest. However, that is not an absolute statement. It would not be surprising if the Battle Royale genre went the way of the MOBA with only two to three games remaining popular and viable while the others whittle away in disinterest. Only time will tell of these games’ staying power, yet one cannot forget the stranglehold it has on current popular culture. Whether it’s Esports Ready, Where are We Dropping, Go Tilted, or any other saying that permeates through the Riordan hallways, it’s very easy to see that right now these games are booming like California in 1849. The only question is, what happens when all the gold is gone?

10 Arts & Entertainment

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

May 2018

Crusader band ends school year with crescendo By John Regidor ’18

The sound of music begins to fade from the band room as the scent of summer break encompasses the once lively room. Though competition season has officially ended, the band has gone on to perform in various parades and competitions outside of fall band reviews. On Feb. 18, the Crusader Marching Band performed at San Francisco’s famous Chinese New Year Parade. The sound of firecrackers and cheering crowds were not the only thing that filled the air that night. Sounds of the band filled the air as they performed. “Walking through Union Square playing ‘Pick up the Pieces,” said Logan McLaughlin ’19, “[it was] exhilarating. You had Tommy playing the solo and everyone’s side stepping. It really gets you in the mood.” The final parade of the 20172018 season was the long-awaited Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. While Photo by Edwin Serrano often the least attended of the band’s three parades, this year, The Crusader Band was among the chosen few to march in Disneyland. the Marching Band was greeted marching in Disneyland. I think win some trophies,” Miranda said. with cheering crowds. when I was [last] there, there Since joining the band, Ricardo “It felt nostalgic in a way. Even was a band marching down Main Miranda ’18 had not only though I’ve been doing this for Street and it was just fun to dedicated himself to performing a year, it felt good to walk down finally be a part of it.” concert, but also taking on the San Francisco and play for other Around this time marks the end role as a member of the Riordan people,” commented Capsinol of a four-year journey for the class Color Guard and the prestigious Granucci ’19. “It feels good to play of 2018. As they play their last Jazz Band. He has accumulated for people. It’s entertainment.” notes, sight read their last piece, more than 20 trophies during his The Riordan Marching Band and hang up their instrument for time four years in band. has traveled everywhere, from the last time, a sense of pride and “I wasn’t in marching band Rome to Canada, and this year accomplishment fills the class. coming in. My first day of band was no different. As part of their “First time walking in to the class we were asked if anyone annual tour, the band decided band room I thought it was pretty had played an instrument before. to stay close to home and revisit cool. First thing you see is all I told him I had played piano for Disneyland after first performing these trophies. I was like, ‘Wow, 10 years and Mr. Souza told me there during the spring of 2014. this is a pretty cool band. They’re to audition for marching band,” The marching band paraded down winning trophies.’ I didn’t even Aguirre said. Main Street USA performing, know they had trophies in band “First day of marching band I making the “happiest place on in the first place. I thought didn’t really expect anything was earth” just a little bit happier. this would be a fun and cool going to happen. I didn’t have any “You always see videos of bands experience. And hopefully I could expectations for band, because I

thought it was just another class. Over the years, I have quickly learned to love band class because of what it provides and what you can do in band.” Stephen Aguirre ’18 has been drum major for the 2017-2018 school year. He has help the band gain many victories and has even won first place drum major at Fairfield Winter Guard Review. “My favorite piece is a piece were playing right now called Legend of Bafe. I’m playing first trumpet. I’m taking all the pressure as being the first player in wind ensemble. Taking on the task of being first chair was actually really surprising for me. I’m grateful this experience was brought upon me because with this I’ll be able to show my talents in wind ensemble.” Brandon Flores ’18 started his band career in the Instrumental Music Ensemble. After four years of hard work and rigorous practice, he was able to earn a spot as first chair in Wind Ensemble. Though the band is losing many of its members, it looks to the freshmen as the future of the marching band program. “I think the band program is really good compared to other schools. I really like music. I used to play guitar and piano. It’s a lot harder than piano. I want to try and get into Jazz Band,” said Edmund Tiao ’21. As the seniors hang up their uniforms, the remaining band begins preparing for a new start. “[For next] year, [we need to] keep the spirit of the band going, because I know the past two classes had strong classes, and I want to keep that tradition going, and have a strong, departing year,” said McLaughlin. It’s gonna be difficult, but I feel like we keep the band successful and go different places with it.”

Spring musical succeeds in entertaining audience

By David Rodriguez-Mendez ’18 Originally a book released in 1952, later adapted to a musical in 1961, and then into a movie in 1967, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” is a whimsical tale about climbing the corporate ladder. The Riordan production followed closely to the 50-year anniversary 2007 Broadway rendition of the movie. On Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe played the window washer turned chairman of the board, J. Pierrepont Finch. Here, Estefan Granucci ’19 took on the role, adding his own flamboyancy and charm to the wacky and crafty character. This was Valerie O’Riordan’s last show as the Riordan drama director after many years of directing top quality shows.

The songs were catchy and dances were mostly in sync. A majority of songs were meant to be funny, but lyrics being skipped or ran together made it hard to understand the comedy. The music was solid. If there was a mistake, it was rarely ever heard, or was just accepted as something supposed to happen. Pit member Daniel Chan ’21 said, “It was a bumpy process, but we pulled off a great show in the end. I ended up learning a new instrument, which surpasses the word ‘cool.’ The most difficult part would have to be the Pirate Dance in which there is a lot of movement going on and it starts off slow but it slowly starts accelerating.” He added, “My most favorite

Photo by Edwin Serrano Audrey Lai ’19, Stephen Aguirre ’18, Estefan Granucci ’19, Michael Patterson ’18, and Jalen Viray ’19 perform in the spring musical. song would have to be ‘Brotherhood of Man’ because it reflects what

Riordan is, a brotherhood in which everyone is invited.”

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Environment

11

Faults found in Bay Area earthquake safety By Ian Martin ’20

As everybody who lives or works in San Francisco knows, the beautiful city is right on the ring of fire. Thanks to this geographical fact, San Francisco is always at risk for a major earthquake. Since earthquakes are so incredibly random, the only ways to be safe is to retrofit buildings and buy earthquake supplies, but even these steps don’t ensure survival. Among the many items one could be saving for an earthquake, there are some must haves if it’s a big one. Non-perishable food and water is top priority, but make sure to store some utensils such as can openers. Some sort of water purifier or filter is essential if the water goes out. “I have lots of canned food, water, solar chargers, batteries, and an electrical generator that uses gas,” stated Connor Rapier ’20. If anyone is injured, people will need medical supplies like bandages and medicine. In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the earthquake caused a lot of destruction, but what caused the most damage was the huge fire that followed. In case something like that tragedy happens again, a fire extinguisher is extremely important for safety. Riordan is ready for a big quake.

“On the field, there is a shipping container filled with earthquake supplies for 72 hours that has food, water, blankets, propane and other supplies,” said Scott Rea ’87, Director of Facilities. The USGS reports that if a 7.0 magnitude (or higher) earthquake on the Hayward fault occurs, the damage would be colossal and power could go down. There’s a study that takes in a great number of possible outcomes and lists them so residents are able to plan accordingly for the big quake. The study is known as the Haywired Fault and its groundbreaking strategy can be used for other faults and locations too. According to Kron 4 News, around 2,000 buildings in San Francisco are still made of concrete, one of the deadliest types of structure to be in during an earthquake. Those inside during an earthquake, should stay away from windows, protect their neck, and find something sturdy to hide under like a doorway or a desk. Jim Cayabyab ’20 said, “I stay calm and hide underneath a desk. At home I have flashlights, medkits, and a surplus of food.” Theology teacher Joshua Keeney said he would have to access the situation, then act. “I have to realize I’m in an earthquake, then monitor the severity of the earthquake.”

USGS.org This map, produced by the United States Geological Society, shows the likelihood of a major earthquake striking the various California faults. Two faults that cross the Bay Area, the San Andreas and Hayward faults, are among the highest at 22 and 33 percent, with the Calaveras Fault in between with a 26 percent probability.

Fame rains down on up and coming meteorologist By Antonio Maffei ’20

Happy almost summer, guys! Now, on to the weather! Summer is coming up and that means one thing in San Francisco: fog. There will be a lot of fog if you live along the coastal regions, and heat inland, but the AWI Model (My Model) is saying we do have changes for possible June snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the chance of thunderstorms here in the Bay Area! That model is pretty far out though, so as always, make sure to stay tuned to my social media for more weather updates. In other news, I have a very exciting announcement for all of you! The announcement of my very own book! My Journey (SO FAR!) of Becoming a Meteorologist opens up a lot about me, as there are things in this book which not even my best friends know, like how a Starbucks barista swearing made me go into weather and so much more! There are points where you will laugh and cry. Also, in the late spring/early summer, I will be launching Cumulus, which is now in beta testing and is going great. Get ready for instant weather right on your phone, tablet, watch, or smart speaker! Antonio’s weather website

My Journey (SO FAR) of becoming a Meteorologist

Photo provided by Antonio Maffei ’20 Meteorologist Antonio Maffei has launched a new weather app and published a book.

12 National News

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Harassment survivors tell abusers: ‘Time’s Up’ By Brandon Castro ’18

Through moving speeches and a grassroots movement, the Time’s Up Movement has taken the world by storm and gained millions of supporters, hoping to end sexual harassment. The Time’s Up movement has helped millions of men and women across the world share their stories of sexual harassment and have found that millions of others share similar stories. On Nov. 10, an open letter by the Nation Farmworker Women’s Alliance was published. The article covered the stories of 700,000 female farm workers who exposed the sexual misconduct they faced on a daily basis in the workplace. They wrote this in solidarity with the dozens of actors and actresses who revealed they were sexually harassed by those of a higher position in the workplace. Once the powerful letter caught the eyes of the general public, dozens of actors and actresses started flooding social media in response and thus, the Time’s-Up movement was born. Big names in Hollywood helped boost the movement into the public’s eye during the 2018 Golden Globes. Actresses like Eva Longoria, Reese Witherspoon and Viola Davis were some of the advocates of the movement that night, encouraging all people to join, and promote the movement even further. Other big moments where the movement gained publicity include The 2018 Grammy Awards, America Ferrera and NFWA president Monica Ramirez on NBC’s “Today,” and the world-.

wide Women’s March Not only has the Time’sUp movement received a large number of women supporters, but men have also stepped in to tackle the situation head on. Male actors, screenwriters, singers, and producers have stepped up and told their own stories of sexual harassment. Mark Ruffalo, Nick Jonas, Khalid, and Timothée Chalamet are some of the movement’s male activists, constantly promoting the movement to end sexual harassment. Encouraging men to be open about their experiences is important to the movement, but in some places, men do not have that type of environment and are restricted by common gender roles. In a school full of boys, sometimes being open is not

TimesUpNow.com Time’s Up Now encourages men and women to speak up against harassment in an effort to bring equality to the workplace. commonly practiced, but it is still encouraged. Counselor Vanessa Martinez encourages male empowerment by saying these words directed to all Riordan students: “Whenever you have a student who comes from an all-boy school where it might not seem ‘ok’ to admit to that, that you had that taken away from you (power), so that’s what I think my role is, and that’s what Time’s Up is about.” Science teacher Julia Balistreri said, “The environment at Riordan is really supportive. There is no bad mouthing between the teachers and they’ll always be there to help classroom managing issues or pretty much anything

else.” Comedian and ex-NFL player Terry Crews opened up in November about being allegedly sexually assaulted in 2016. With his openness, the actor sparked a conversation on social media about male sexual harassment survivors and the black community. Roshan Thomas ’19 said, “I truly believe it is bad that people think they have the right to sexually harass other people in a professional setting.” He added, “I respect those people who have decided to speak out against it because they need to be that voice for the people who are in silence and are afraid.”

Childhood favorite Toys R Us left in the dust By Steven Rissotto ’20

Some 735 Toys R Us stores around the country are closing down after the company filed for bankruptcy back in September. The retail chain owes more than $5 billion of long-term debt. In 1957, the very first Toys R Us store opened in Maryland, under the close eye of founder Charles Lazarus. Before the franchise became popular, Americans thought of toys as presents for a birthday or holiday, opposed to shopping for toys at any particular time. Lazarus changed the way everyone thought about toys by opening hundreds of stores across the United States. In 1994, Lazarus stepped down as the company’s CEO and veered smoothly into retirement. He died on March 22, just a week after the bankruptcy announcement of the popular company he once called

his own. Since the opening of Toys R Us, there has been multiple spin offs, including Babies R Us, which has supplies for infants and toddlers. The closing of Toys R Us makes many wonder what was the exact reason they were in debt, and why they can’t keep their stores viable. Experts say that the online shopping competitors like Amazon have completely overshadowed retail all over the country since its rise to power in 2015, and this is just the first of many popular retail stores ready to call it quits. Now that everything is connected to technology, it’s just one click away to buy your child the bike of choice. As the stores were getting ready to flee the scene, billionaire Isaac Larian submitted an offer to buy some Toys R Us stores.

Photo by Steven Rissotto ’20 Toys R Us is closing all of its stores, including Babies R Us. According to CNN, Larian entered $675 million of his own money to save the company and turn it into a potential entertainment hotspot, like a mini-Disneyland. The front office of Toys R Us has declined to comment on this development.

Overall, the company looks to shut down operations or sell as soon as possible. Chairman and CEO Dave Brandon said, “I am very disappointed with the result, but we no longer have the financial support to continue the company’s U.S. operations.”

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Local and State News

13

DMV introduces REAL ID for California residents By Owen Murphy ’19

California identification cards have changed. The state passed a law to implement the federal REAL ID standards, which will alter California IDs and driver’s licenses. Although not required at the moment, this change will become required on Oct. 1, 2020. The US REAL ID standards are a set of federal requirements for identification cards, including driver’s licenses. The REAL ID requirements were created in 2005 under the federal REAL ID Act in order to increase the minimum security requirements for identification. This act was passed with the intention to increase national

DMV.gov The Department of Motor Vehicles launched the REAL ID in October.

security through DHS transportation regulation in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. However, although the REAL ID Act set the federal standards for IDs, state compliance is voluntary for state provided identification. Because of the voluntary nature of the REAL ID, California has only recently opted to comply with the standards, with REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs becoming available on Jan. 22 of this this year. It is important to remember the actual uses of REAL IDs. REAL IDs are only needed for federal identification, which are most commonly used for the TSA, military, and federal institutions.

SF fur sales ban gets hairy as activists challenge furriers By Jakeclark Bennett ’18

San Francisco is one of the first major cities in the United States to ban sales on new fur products. Clothing that includes any real fur will be prohibited from being sold by retailers in San Francisco, starting January 2019. Many retailers dislike the ban, as it may hurt their business. They will see a fine of $500 if they attempt to sell new fur after the ban. This is just first violation. However, it is still perfectly legal to continue selling old fur products. Animal rights advocates rejoice in response to the news that animals will no longer be killed for their fur to be worn. Local retailers who object to the ban contend they will see a decline in business in the fur department. In the foreseeable future, there may be a massive decline in the desire for fur, or an uptick in the demand of fur. However, renowned animal lovers and protectors of animal rights believe that the era of fur is now dead. A tweet from the official Peta account on Twitter, posted on March 20, states, “BREAKING: #SanFrancisco has banned fur! They are the first major US city to ban fur sales. Everyone is realizing that #FurIsDead.”

With the belief that “fur is dead,” supporters of the ban hope to take it a step further, and expand the ban to a new world, and create a new era free of animal cruelty. Parker Zachary ’19 said, “It’s a ban on new ones, not all of them. So that means there’s not going to be a big demand for fur items. The market for new fur will crash. So I’ll think it’ll create a more animal-friendly world.” The ban only affects new fur products, so there is no word on the ban on other animal products. There is still a long way to go before a true animal cruelty free world can be made. Economics teacher David Elu said, “I don’t think San Francisco has any reason to ban fur. If people are are against furs, they shouldn’t buy it. If they want fur, that is their choice. So, in terms of the ban, unless the goods are directly harmful, I’m not sure we should go as go far to ban them.” While people believe it is unethical to wear the dead skin of animals, it is purely an individual choice. Others think it is a choice that shouldn’t be enforced regardless of morals, as it doesn’t cause any direct harm. Elu added, “I am aware of the harm it does cause to animals,

Geograph.org The mink is one of the most popular animals targeted for its fur. along with how they are treated. Food and clothes are necessary Again, it is an ethical decision to ensure survival when and I choose to not engage in that combating the natural elements. marketplace. I do not believe it However, fur ban supporters is up to the state to tell us what say that consumption of food we can and can not do on a scale is something that is natural, of morals.” while wearing animal skin is not Tomizo Callejas ’20 said, needed for survival. “Well, it is unethical—but at the Many see the ban as a same time, ethical, because we historic event, as the day animal kill animals for food. If we kill advocates won a battle to protect animals for fur and also food, it animals from being profited off should be fine.” of by being turned into fashion.

U.S. retaliates against Syria for chemical attacks By Vince Francisco ’19 On April 11, President Donald Trump tweeted that missiles “will be fired” at Syria. Two days later, missiles were fired in a jointstrike, hitting Syria in several locations, including Damascus. The attack led people to wonder: what exactly is the goal of this mission? The air strike on April 13 was initiated in response to chemical attacks in Douma that killed dozens the week before. The U.S., France, and the U.K. launched

this joint strike, bombing three scientific research facilities. The first facility hit was a scientific research laboratory near Damascus, which was allegedly connected to constructing chemical and biological weapons. The second and third locations were near Homs, a chemical weapons storage facility and a command post. Contrary to their alliance with Syria, Russia chose not to fire at the U.S. missile warplanes. This suggests that Russia does not want risk the situation turning

into a shoot-out-war with the U.S. and its allies. This is the second time Trump has authorized a missile drop on Syria. The first time was in April 2017, when the U.S. fired cruise missiles at the Middle Eastern country. Videos have surfaced from social media about the status of Syrians both after the attack by Syrian President Assad and after the U.S.’s joint strike. The videos show hospitalized and pale victims being given inhalers and breathalyzer masks to stabilize their breathing.

Syrians in local neighborhoods were forced to evacuate their homes because the strike damaged nearby buildings. The United States can help Syria. Religion teacher Deacon Joe LeBlanc said, “World leaders should provide aid to the suffering as opposed to using violence. We should fight fire with water, not fire.” These attacks were a surprise to the world, revealing to many the extreme tensions within Syria, and now the world.

14 Health

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Promising new drug to help people plagued by peanut allergy By Roman Peregrino ’18

Another group of subjects, also Those with severe or moderate with allergies, is used as a control peanut allergies will soon be able group, and given a placebo pill. So to breathe easier. A new drug far, the results are encouraging. has begun going through trials While the control group has that has the ability to increase had more than 80 percent of the immunity to peanuts for those subjects react to peanuts at the with allergies, and hopefully save end of the trial, those with the pill react in only 20 percent of the lives. “I think it’s great,” said cases. chemistry teacher Chasen Mock. More rounds of testing are “It shows how our research and expected, yet these numbers will technology is always improving.” be a good place to start. It’s true According to everydayhealth, that there is likely no way to “More than 3 million people in the completely cure peanut allergies; United States report having an however, there are ways to build allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, or up an immunity. The goal of this both, according to statistics from pill isn’t to eradicate the allergy. the American Academy of Allergy Instead, it gives the subject a Asthma & Immunology. Peanut chance to react less severely allergy affects a small population, to small amounts of peanuts, but it packs a serious punch, and will hopefully allow for the causing deadlier anaphylaxis consumption of peanuts, in small doses. than any other food allergy.” This number has been rising. While it may not seem as though At the recent American College of this product is revolutionary, it Allergy, Asthma and Immunology can truly be life changing to those (ACAAI) Annual Scientific with severe peanut allergies. Meeting, it was reported that While those with the allergy peanut allergy in children has will never be able to enjoy a increased 21 percent since 2010. PB&J, they can go out into the With all the dramatic increase world knowing that they won’t of this dangerous allergy, those have to worry about accidental affected and those related to contamination.” them, have been raising their Matthew Driskill ’18, who is allergic to strawberries, voices for a possible cure. This new treatment for peanut thinks that the new product allergies has researchers hoping will be incredibly helpful. “If I it will lead to an increase of those was immune [to my strawberry immune to the allergy. Studies allergy], I wouldn’t go out and buy have been done wherein the test a bag full of strawberries. It would subjects with peanut allergies be nice to have that option and not been exposed to low levels of fear accidental contamination” peanuts in pill form over a This may also decrease the need for EpiPen renewals. As duration of six months.

DBV-Technologies.com Those who suffer from peanut allergies may finally find relief in the near future.

EpiPen prices have been increasingly dramatically and are necessary for those in danger of anaphylaxis from an allergy. Now, it will be possible for the kids who needed to carry the EpiPen to leave it at home without a worry. Moving forward, tests for this product will continue. The FDA will need to approve the new therapy, which is far from a given.

According to Mock, “My only concern is that it has to go through a rigorous testing process and the timeline for that can be lengthy. Then, once the human trials have been completed, [the next issue] is affordability. They need to get the drug to those who need it.” However, for the first time in a while, things are looking up for those with peanut allergies.

American Psychiatric Association declares ‘Internet Gaming Disorder’ an official diagnosis By Shane McKnight ’18

Some teenagers and adults start to detox, or go into complete withdrawal, after admitting they are powerless over their addiction, but they aren’t hooked on alcohol or drugs. Addicts are undergoing withdrawals to break their dependence on video games. Society seems to be gradually adjusting to the idea that video games are here to stay and that they did not take part of a societal catastrophe. One of the remaining issues is being called an “Internet Gaming Disorder,” or IGD. Introduced as a prospective factor for more in depth study by the American Psychiatric Association, IGD correlates with what people often call “video game addiction.” This is a clinical impulse control disorder, but it can be seen in the same sense as compulsive gambling. Compulsive gaming also meets the criteria for drug or alcohol addiction, which is: The person needs more and more of a

substance or behavior to keep him going, and if he does not get more of the substance or behavior, he becomes irritable and miserable. “I don’t think video games are bad because it is a part of our culture, but just like anything else, too much of one thing is bad for you, no matter how fun it may be,” said Anthony Miron ’18. For some individuals, playing video games can become very troublesome to the point where it can interfere with basic life functioning. To make the situation even worse, scholars and clinicians claim that video games are as addictive as heroin. ADHD symptoms also predict video game addiction in the future. Gaming addiction signs include playing for an increased time, thinking about gaming during other activities, gaming to escape real life problems, lying to everyone to conceal gaming, and feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming. It is not clear that this is

something that appears solely from video games, or if it is due to a different underlying disorder. Excessive gaming may seem relatively harmless compared to the dangers of something like a

drug overdose, but video game addiction can ruin lives. Children with IGD have no time to socialize, do homework, or play sports. IGD in adults can jeopardize relationships and jobs.

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

Sports

15

Baseball team comes out swinging By Brandon Vargas ’20

Riordan’s baseball program has been great over the past few years. Led by Varsity Head Coach Brandon Ramsey, the program has really trained its players in playing the game. As of May 5, the ARHS Varsity Squad is 7-15, the Junior Varsity Team is 2-19, and the Freshman Team is 6-13. The ARHS Freshman team is managed by Tom Harlan ’08. Born in San Bruno, Harlan attended Fresno State University. He was then drafted in 2012 by the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for the AA affiliate of the MLB team. The ARHS Junior Varsity team, headed by Coach Gerald Criswell, has been off to a rough start in the season so far. Allaround player Steven Elsner ’20 said that one of his main goals

Photo by Eddie Monares ’19 Matt Yeung ’19 gets a hit against Sacred Heart Cathedral. as the JV season ends is to “get a league win.” Even though the season hasn’t been great so far, the Junior Varsity Crusaders look to turn the season around. Elsner also said that “our future is bright” despite the season the JV team experienced.

Some key players to point out on Riordan’s Varsity Squad include Ace Michael Altman ’18 and shortstop Matthew Calhoun ’18. Altman had a key game against the Serra Padres, tossing a fivehit shutout gem; Altman led the way to victory over the Padres.

Coach Ramsey manages Riordan’s baseball program as well as Varsity. Coach Ramsey noted advantages and disadvantages of his team. Ramsey believes that “the seniors have a very good attitude” and that “this team works very hard” and is “trying to get better.” On the contrary, Ramsey pointed out that injuries early in the season hurt the team tremendously. Moreover, Ramsey emphasized the importance of practice. One of his mottos is “Game time all the time.” Furthermore, Coach Ramsey explicates the team’s goals. He said, “We want to make it to CCS playoffs. We haven’t made it in eighteen years; it’s been a long time.” Ramsey also mentions that “it’s not about wins and losses, but it’s about how we play the game.”

ARHS Golf team continues to drive to the top By Roman Peregrino ’18

For several years now, the Riordan golf team has been languishing in the bottom of the very difficult WCAL. This year, unfortunately, was no different, yet things are unquestionably looking up for the program. “The guys were much improved from last year,” said varsity head coach Jeff Isola ’98. “As a team, on average, our team scores about 25 strokes lower per match [from last season]. Everyone from last year has improved.” For the second year in a row, the team has been anchored by Matthew Audibert ’18. Last season he qualified for CCS and was the undisputed number one on the team coming into the year. While the season has had ups and downs, Audibert has still had a successful season. “So far, my senior year has gone alright. It definitely hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to go, but [I qualified] for CCS again. Golf is funny because it only takes one good day to advance far in high school golf. I’m pretty sad that my Photo by Viggen Rassam ’87 golf career at Archbishop Riordan is coming to a close but I want to finish with a bang and show Robert DeGroot ’21 knocks down one how Riordan golf can contend with all the of the many putts he hit this year.

powerhouse schools such as St. Francis and Bellarmine” Joining Audibert have been returning Aidan Horgan ’20, Ethan Daly ’20, and Dominic Stevens ’20. Each improved by more than four strokes from their inaugural seasons and have momentum going into their junior campaigns. The two intriguing members are freshmen. Robert DeGroot ’21 and Jaymar Agtang ’21 joined the team this season and brought surprises. The two slotted in immediately as the team’s second and third performers. In addition, both qualified for CCS, an outstanding achievement for the young players. All of this adds up to exciting times. According to Isola, “The thing I’m looking forward to most is that of the six guys only one is a senior and the others are sophomores and freshmen. A very young team that will continue to improve.” Undoubtedly there is more hope than usual surrounding this team. Audibert is the only upperclassman on the roster, with the rest being freshmen and sophomores. “I’m leaving a small dent in the program, but I’m sure that all the returners will be able to step up next year and continue to get better,” Audibert reflects. “Riordan golf has a lot of hope for the future.”

Track and Field makes a run for CCS Finals By James Chun ’18

Track and Field is often a forgotten sport, due to the timing of it. It’s in the spring, and everyone has just about checked out of school by then. But the team works hard, traveling far to participate in events, and spending hours in the sun waiting for their moment to shine. Not many people ever go to the track meets, except for scouts, coaches, parents, or players. Conrad Carrigan ’18, said, “Many people do not attend the meets, because the marketing around campus is not good for it. The meets are extremely long with a lot of sitting and waiting; students don’t understand the

sport, and there are no rivalries.” Coach Benny Willers ’08 said, “It’s undertandable. It has never been a popular sport. It’s painful and boring. It doesn’t make me mad. I only care about my athletes and them loving the sport, and reaching their potential.” Riordan Track and Field has been pretty good the last couple years, and is looking to improve this year. Two years ago, Jason Smith was awarded several scholarships for his impressive leaping ability and he is now at Long Beach State, furthering his track career. Similar to Smith, Carrigan competes in the long jump and

also runs the 4x4. He is also trying to earn himself a scholarship and continue his athletic and academic career. He said, “We will have a bunch of athletes going to state this year.” Track is an individual sport, just as much as it is a team sport. The state meet is one of the best experiences to get exposure, so this is important for the program. Trevor Paulbitski ’18 runs the 800, the mile, the 2 mile, and said, “This year, we have attempted to improve the distance team’s culture. We focus on mileage and being consistent.” The team has competed well so

far in dual meets, and looks to do well for the WCAL trials and finals. How well the team does in these events determines who goes to CCS and state. Making it far is extremely competitive, and the team is doing their best to prepare. The top two from the WCAL finals makes it to CCS, and after that, the top three from CCS qualifies for the state meet. Support is everything, and just showing up to cheer on the track and field team can go a long way. Stay tuned as the track and field team plans to make a run for the upcoming CCS finals.

16 Features

May 2018

The Crusader Archbishop Riordan High School

House of Russi radiates Crusader Spirit By Sebastian Fazio ’18

With the help of Provincial Valerie O’Riordan, Russi honorably climbed out of last place by the end of the Chaminade Cup challenge. Russi had a rocky start to their year, but despite all that, they managed to pull ahead when it counted. “Russi has been the underdog most of the year, but that doesn’t mean we will stay the underdog,” said O’Riordan. They consistently participated and continued to pull their weight in House events despite loss after loss, just another testament to their strong sense of perseverance. Senior House Captain Hunter Harold said, “I am proud that my house has accomplished the ability to not give up and the mindset of being able to work hard. I assure you that Russi is going to accomplish a lot more in the near future.” Again, during the Crusader Games, they managed to pull ahead of Bolts with an 85 point lead. Overall, they ended the Crusader Games in third with 824 points. Harold said, “I think Russi has given a great effort throughout the entire year, and nothing exemplifies this more than our performance at the Crusader Games.”

Photo by Chris Peterson ’18 The House of Russi is represented by Brandan Lee ’21, Tarik Shami ’18, Hunter Harold ’18, Provincial Valerie O’Riordan, Brandon Vargas ’20, Zach Quanico ’19, and Antonio Maffei ’20.

History Bowl team makes history with trip to nationals By Roman Peregrino ’18

feeling quite like History Bowl We were never supposed to be Nationals. I was blessed with a here. No History Bowl team in body of a twig, yet the athleticism Riordan history has ever competed of a water buffalo. So, going at the National Championships. to National Championships for In order to qualify, our team athletics was never in the cards. needed to win three games in a History Bowl, though. History Northern California tournament. Bowl was something I was good Our division was one of the most at. History Bowl was a place difficult in the country, and our that I and a few other individuals team had the least amount of could shine in competition and experience in the competition. We represent the school on a big stage. were never supposed to be here. At the beginning of the year, our Discounting a single meeting team was downgraded from a full I attended freshman year (where time to a part time club and not I was blown out of the water and given a budget. Without a budget, learned that I truly knew nothing we wouldn’t even been able to about high school history), I joined attend competitions to qualify. the team in earnest during junior We were never supposed to be year with a number of my friends. here. We fought for that funding, Because of some external factors, and we fought to qualify. After all I couldn’t attend competition for that, we still needed to pay for our much of the year, so our team trip. It was going to cost $6,000 to didn’t know what talent we had. stay on budget for the whole trip, We just needed a chance. a Herculean effort for our team. I was finally able to go to a We were never supposed to be competition at the end of the year, in the final tournament. Our here. We worked for months trying team was very raw, and had little to put things together. We talked training, yet myself and Jabriel to the administration and tried to Andrade ’18 were able to lead our scratch up the money any way we team to two wins, and almost pull could. When not fundraising, we out a dramatic third win against were studying for the event itself. Valley Christian. Hours a day, our team would While we left the day feeling quiz ourselves, read over facts like we could have done better, and stories and try to commit as we were content. We knew we much information to memory as had the potential to qualify for possible. A few weeks before we nationals the next year. Jabriel were set to leave, the funding and I would improve and we would came through. Nationals was on. find new members to improve our We were never supposed to be supporting cast. We just needed to get there. here. But here we were. Those members came from I know I will never have a

Photo by Francine Zelaya Matthew Driskill ’18, John Regidor ’18, Roman Peregrino ’18, Jabriel Andrade ’18, Michael Gray ’20 and Dominic Borrego ’20 competed for Archbishop Riordan High School at the National History Bowl Championships for the first time in school history. surprising places. John Regidor ’18 was already on the team with us and took strides to earn a role in nationals. Matthew Driskill ’18 and Matthew Ko ’18 went from being part time members to full time contributors, filling in gaps in history that no one knew. Finally, sophomores Dominic Borrego and Michael Gray stepped up to the plate and became dedicated members of the team. It was this group that was able to go to Saratoga High School and gut out the mythical third win that sent us on our way to the national championships. Nationals was truly an amazing experience. We went up against

some of the top schools in the nation, and performed well. As the first team in Riordan history to even attend Nationals, just being there was no small feat. Yet, in our first grouping, our team went 3-2, vaulting ourselves into the top half of the 180 team competition. While we ran out of gas in the second grouping, going 1-4 with all four losses falling within 50 points, we left with our heads held high. We were proud of what we had accomplished in DC. We represented Riordan High School on the biggest stage and it will be a memory I will never forget. We were never supposed to be here. But we were.