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Volume
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Volume 64 Issue 7
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968
Happy Halloween! Art by Kyra Lefebvre
INSIDE
California ShakeOut
Horror movies
Kid costumes
He’s 104 and she’s 17
Cheer camp
See News, page 3
See A&C, page 4
See Feature, page 6-7
See Opinion, page 9
See Sports, page 11
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The USD Vista
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October 29, 2026
A new ‘Space Race’ underway
Resources on the moon may help with future space settlements NORA FENDLEY NEWS WRITER For decades, space administrations across the globe have pursued lunar exploration. Following the first human moon landing in 1969, modern technology and capabilities grew, reframing what was once possible for space travel. After nearly a decade of preparation, the United States may be closer to the next crewed moon landing than expected. However, China and other competing countries are making similar efforts. The famed “Space Race” may be making a comeback. On Feb. 27, the NASA administration announced updated projections for the Artemis Lunar Program timeline. Artemis III is a low Earth orbit test flight set for mid-2027, while Artemis IV will be the program’s first crewed moon landing, projected for early 2028. The mission will send two astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, to the lunar south pole, collecting samples and data on the lunar surface’s composition over six days. Upon return, Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Artemis II also landed at this predetermined location due to the predictable weather conditions and the proximity to the U.S. Navy infrastructure. Additionally, China is nearest to the U.S. in achieving this goal. China National Space Administration (CNSA) has lined up missions Chang’e 7 and Chang’e 8, which will be uncrewed to assess the conditions of the lunar surface. Between 2029 and 2030, the CNSA plans to send the crewed Mengzhou spacecraft to the moon. Modern lunar missions are unique because of the presence of ice craters at the lunar south pole. Modeling of the lunar surface conducted by NASA confirmed the presence of ice in these southern areas using Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). These craters, formed by the lack of sunlight, could provide practical resources that ease the burden of preparing for space travel,
Artemis IV is projected to launch in early 2028.
including additional drinking water or rocket fuel. Taking this into account, weight on the spacecraft typically used by these resources could be allocated differently, or removed altogether allowing for lighter travel. Raquel Martinez, a USD assistant physics professor with a doctorate in astronomy, shared the possibilities these ice craters create. “The discovery of such vast reservoirs of water definitely increases the prospects of establishing human settlements on the moon,” Martinez wrote. “We wouldn’t have to rely on creating water from the fuel cells of our spacecraft or
The USD Vista Riley Rains - Editor-in-Chief Calla Jordan - Managing Editor Amelie Sedlack - Copy Editor Sophie Hummel - News Editor Julianna Flores - Feature Editor Cristina Trice - Arts & Culture Editor Katt Harding - Sports Editor
Kyra Lefebvre - Art Director Emma O’Connell - Photo Editor Lucas Meza Ehlert - Distribution Manager Ella Fitzpatrick - Social Media Manager Sasha Sepatjian - Director of Finance Nina Dameri - Advertising Manager Dr. Byron Howlett - Operations Advisor Blake Nelson - Student Media Advisor
carrying the water we’d need to use with us from Earth. We have a lot of current capabilities that could help us to have a presence on the moon.” Beyond scientific possibilities, international relations play a significant role in the potential outcomes of space exploration. The competition for resources and territory raises questions about geopolitical possibilities and the impacts of world powers’ control of extraterrestrial areas. Chris Kenney, a candidate of the Master of Arts in International Relations program at USD, elaborated on the role international relations play in space expeditions.
“Acquisition of territory in space is not very different from acquisition of terrestrial territory in that it provides the holder with potential resources, prestige and leverage,” Kenney wrote. “The big difference is that in space, at present, there isn’t a large defensive force fielded by one nation in order to prohibit taking of resources by another nation … It’s kind of like the wild west.” In both modern and historical space expeditions, high stakes often stem from the lack of regulation and international cooperation about the resources space has to offer. “The main thing students
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should be aware of is that each of them accesses space multiple times per day, whether using Google Maps, or sending a location pin to a friend … space activities and space policy affects everyone, however unequally,” Kenney wrote. As modern advancements make space exploration more accessible, opportunities for resources and expansion come closer to being achieved. Pursuing these possibilities, however, means entering new territory for international relations, beyond the reach of current policies. For more information on the upcoming Artemis launches, students may visit NASA.gov.
The USD Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee. Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an expressed or implied endorsement or verification of such commercial venues by the staff or University. The USD Vista office is located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The USD Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or of its student body. Letters to the Editor can be submitted to The USD Vista office. Letters should be limited to 300 words and must be signed. For identification purposes, USD identification numbers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The USD Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.
Volume 64 Issue 7 •
NEWS
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The USD Vista
Drop, cover and hold on The Great California ShakeOut returns to campus MAE O’MALLEY NEWS WRITER The sound of piano keys interrupted classes on Oct. 15, leaving some professors, students and faculty wondering whose phone alarm was going off. Others quickly recognized the sound as a signal for the Great California ShakeOut: an annual earthquake drill, occurring every October. Created by the Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) in 2008, the drill was designed to prepare state residents for a seismic event. The initiative promotes the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” strategy during an earthquake. The ECA was created to encourage resilience and preparation for California residents in the event of earthquakes or tsunamis and aims to translate scientific language from seismologists into layman’s terms, so the general public can better understand the risks and effects of natural disasters. At USD, Toreros were spread out across campus and San Diego when the alarm sounded. Some students were in class, including USD senior Julie Garabet. “I was in Knauss during the
drill and we were taking an exam so the screen was off,” Garabet said. “Then we found out what was happening and I was really confused, but [my professor] told us what to do. In Arizona we do fire drills and regular drills like that but never earthquake drills.” Forty states are represented on USD’s campus and 56% of the 2026-27 first-year class is from California. Schools statewide are legally required to practice emergency drills, including those for earthquake preparedness, according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Some students, particularly native Californians, are used to earthquake drills. USD senior Anna Jackson grew up in Palm Desert, Calif. where natural disaster drills are a common practice. “My high school is right on the fault line in the desert,” Jackson said. “We had these drills all the time in high school but I’ve never heard of a college doing it.” Earthquakes are caused by tension between tectonic plates. When the tension builds, the rocks beneath the earth’s surface will slip or crack, causing
ground movement that can range from mild to severely damaging. California’s unique location between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate is what leaves the state so prone to seismic activity. The state also sits on multiple fault lines, most notably the San Andreas Fault, which runs throughout the majority of the state. The ECA recommends dropping to the ground under a table, covering your head and neck and waiting until the shaking stops. Researchers have proven this to be the most effective way to prevent injuries, according to the organization. “This is a test of the University of San Diego’s Emergency Notification System which is being done in conjunction with the Great California ShakeOut,” the voicemail and email both said. “If this were an actual emergency you would be notified of additional actions to be taken. This is only a test.” The university sent out the same email during the drills in 2024 and 2025. DPS’s email also included sources outlining earthquake
safety policies. The USD website discusses preventative measures, preparation tactics and what to expect after an earthquake, including aftershocks. Those indoors should follow the drop, cover and hold on protocol. Students in labs should exit into the hallway. Those outdoors should try to get into as much open space as possible; standing near buildings increases the risk of falling debris and flying objects. Anyone driving should stop as soon as it is safe and wait inside their vehicle. The ECA also includes accessibility options for those who may use a cane, wheelchair or walker. The main objective is to cover your head and neck with anything nearby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention debunked the rumor that hiding under a doorway is a best practice during an earthquake, claiming that a doorway is no sturdier than anywhere else inside a building. “Residence halls are subject to applicable building safety requirements, and Residential Life staff provide students with information about safety procedures and emergency
preparedness,” wrote a USD spokesperson. “Our dorm rooms are equipped with heavyduty furniture, such as sturdy desks, designed to provide immediate cover during a seismic event. Students should also familiarize themselves with their surroundings, identify potential hazards, and know their building’s evacuation routes and designated assembly areas.” San Diego State University also sent email and text notifications encouraging students to practice safety protocols for emergencies at the time that the drill took place. The University of California, San Diego held an event that participants could sign up for to prepare for various drills. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department also lists tips for earthquakes on their website. Preventative measures include identifying safe spaces under sturdy tables or furniture, having a disaster supplies kit on hand and bolting any heavy furniture that could potentially fall. Whether or not the next earthquake is felt on campus, the ECA’s advice stays the same: drop, cover and hold on.
March for Jane Doe
Dozens of college campuses held sexual violence demonstrations in October SOPHIE HUMMEL NEWS EDITOR On Oct. 22, students gathered on the Paseo de Colachis at 12:15 p.m. to participate in a walk for Jane Doe. Other California universities, including UCLA and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, have also held walkouts and protests in October, following the reopening of a lawsuit against Cornell and its former fraternity chapter, Chi Phi. Last month, Cornell University’s student newspaper published an article detailing the lawsuit: “Cornell, Chi Phi Sued by Victim of Alleged Gang Rape, Drugging in 2024.” The seven men named in the lawsuit are Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. All seven defendants have denied wrongdoing. No criminal charges have been filed in the case. The case is expected to go before a grand jury this fall. New York state judge, Phaedra Perry-Bond, ruled on Oct. 23 that Jane Doe’s identity will not be publicly disclosed in court proceedings based on concerns for Doe’s safety. The story has amassed national attention over the
last six weeks, reigniting decades-old conversations about the normalization and prevalence of sexual violence. Members of the Magenta Movement — a studentled club — organized USD’s “March for Jane Doe.” “The biggest thing [we advocate for] is making sure that students at USD feel safe and protected and informed about all things reproductive justice and safe sex,” said USD senior Sophia Raia, president of the Magenta Movement. Representatives from the LGBTQ+ Commons, Women’s Commons, relationship and sexual violence prevention peer educators and campus assault resources and education advocates, attended the event. These groups all offer survivor resources and support on campus. “The goal was to bring resources that USD has … both confidential and not confidential that people could go to if they [are] a survivor of domestic assault or rape,” said the student who planned the event. USD’s march follows weeks of nationwide pressure on college campuses to strengthen Title IX regulations and further address rape culture.
October brought nationwide demonstrations in support of Cornell’s Jane Doe. Photo courtesy of @farhadjphotography/Instagram
EDITOR’S NOTE: Anonymity is rare in our reporting. But in this instance, it was necessary to protect the event organizer, given a series of social media discussions referring to the march.
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Volume 64 Issue 7
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ARTS & CULTURE
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The USD Vista
The nightmare before midterms
USD students share their experience with the paranormal “The Del,” the hotel gained its paranormal reputation after a guest by the name of Kate Morgan In the quiet midnight hours checked in on Thanksgiving day of at the Hotel Del Coronado in San 1892, and never checked out. After Diego, USD junior Grace Fortney five days in the hotel, Morgan was awoke suddenly on her family found dead in an exterior staircase vacation, feeling that someone leading to the beach from an had disappeared. To her relief, alleged self-inflicted gunshot the beds beside her were full, wound. Now, as the story goes, her her family members soundly spirit haunts its hallways and room asleep. For a moment, Fortney’s 302 (now room 3327 after building panic subsided. That was until renovations and renumbering). she looked up and noticed the Guests have reported seeing bathroom light, turned on apparitions, hearing and flickering from mysterious voices behind the door. and footsteps and Before she could feeling strange do anything, temperature she heard the changes. toilet flush. “I feel like Nobody even just walking was in around this hotel, there. I get this vibe,” The Fortney recalled. next morning, “I mean, despite her maybe convictions, there her family are told her what ghosts 8-year-old or Fortney spirits that dreaded are bad, but I feel like hearing most of them that — ghosts are here are good. aren’t Kate Morgan, I’ve real. heard, doesn’t haunt the hotel to The scare people, she haunts infamous it because she thinks it’s hotel on Coronado Art by Kyra Lefebvre funny to mess with Island is just one of San people. It doesn’t Diego’s many haunted really freak me out sites. Known to many locals as because I think of it as a positive.” CRISTINA TRICE ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Beyond the hotel, San Diego is home to many other haunted sites, such as the USS Midway, a spooky museum at the Navy Pier downtown that is said to be home to a significant amount of spiritual activity. The Whaley House in Old Town, regarded by many as the “most haunted house in America,” is another popular haunted attraction for paranormal enthusiasts. While USD sophomore Lovey Farrell believes in the ghosts and hauntings around the city, she avoids going out of her way to find them. “I am such a scaredycat, so I don’t mess around with that stuff,” Farrell said. “I would not be surprised if [those locations] were haunted though. I think too many people have had experiences with ghosts where it’s not just some freak accident.” Despite the fervor of some paranormal believers, others find it difficult to believe in such a concept. USD sophomore Shane Green is a strict non-believer in all things paranormal. He shared his thoughts on the alleged hauntings across San Diego. “I don’t believe in it because I haven’t seen it yet,” Green stated. “I feel like if they did exist, there’d be some proof, like a thermal heat wave, or some kind of presence or even just on camera.” USD sophomore Megan Whyley considers herself a logical type of person, and also finds it difficult to believe in the paranormal. “I used to watch ghost chasing shows with my dad when I was
younger, but I never believed in them,” Whyley shared. “Even at a young age, I was never like ‘oh yeah, they are real.’” Whyley stayed at The Del when she was younger and discussed her experience at the haunted hotel. “I was just honestly really intrigued by the story,” Whyley recalled. “Are we trying to make something up to explain these weird happenings? It’s so intriguing.” The abundance of haunted sites around the city are not the only ones that intrigue USD students. USD itself is home to its own local supernatural ghost story. “I heard a rumor about a nun… apparently she was going to get excommunicated from the Catholic Church so she killed herself in Founder’s chapel, and now there is a blue orb that haunts Founder’s chapel,” Farrell recalled. Whyley, despite not believing in the paranormal, remembers hearing about haunted spots on campus. “I’ve heard about the basement in Founders and Camino being haunted,” Whyley said. “I haven’t heard a whole lot, but I have heard rumors that a nun died down there back in the beginning [of the school] and that she haunts the halls down there.” University archives have no record of either event, but this
commonly told campus legend still manages to proliferate USD’s student body, even decades after it was first conceived. The USD Vista’s 2021 Assistant Social Media Manager Abigail Cavizo contacted the then Head of Archives for Copley Library Diane Maher about the sightings of “The Blue Nun.” “About 10 years ago, a grad student contacted me about her experience in the library’s Mother Hill Reading Room (aka the Harry Potter Room),” Maher said. “She wrote, ‘I observed a nun in a full length blue habit walking up the tiled steps of the reading room with books in her arms.’” Tales of hauntings and horrors continue to make their way to students all across campus. From on campus urban legends to eerie tales in the greater San Diego area, paranormal phenomena continue to captivate its listeners, especially as fall begins and Halloween approaches. Whether students are sleeping soundly in The Del or in a Founders bunk bed, they best watch out for the plethora of paranormal that haunts their city. EDITOR’S NOTE: The USD Vista has reported on the nun hauntings before, to see past work visit The USD Vista archives in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2021.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Horror creeps into award season
‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ lead the genre to new heights SAVANNAH HARLAN ARTS & CULTURE WRITER We come to this place … for horror? September marks the start of the 2027 award season, and for the third year in a row, horror movies are predicted to creep into several key categories. Leading the charge are Curry Barker’s “Obsession” and Kane Parson’s “Backrooms,” which both grossed over $400 million worldwide. Horror films have historically faced an uphill battle in the fight for award season glory. Since 1991’s “Silence of the Lambs,” no horror film has been given the Academy Award’s highest honor of Best Picture, and only three have been nominated since. Senior Ella Connelly-Smith, a self-proclaimed horror movie superfan, argues that the genre deserves all the recent recognition. “To make a good horror movie, you need to put so much effort into it, it’s a lot deeper than
what you would expect,” ConnellySmith shared. “The actors have to be mentally tough to give a performance that really scares people, and I think Inde Navarette did a great job with ‘Obsession.’” “Obsession” is widely predicted to win at least one of the Big Four (Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director) categories, specifically due to the performance of its leading lady. Inde Navarette’s portrayal of the possessed “Freaky Nikki” has been widely considered by critics as one of the best of the year, making her, in the minds of many, a shoe-in for an Oscar nod. “She deserves to at least be nominated because this role has had such a big impact on pop culture,” Connelly-smith said. Navarette’s acclaim mirrors another horror success story from the 2026 season, when Michael B. Jordan took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual-role in Ryan Coogler’s vampire hit “Sinners.” Many viewers can expect
a slew of nominations for “Backrooms” as well. The A24 film was directed by 21-year-old Kane Parsons, who would go on to make history as the first Gen Z nominee in the Best Director category. Parsons’ age is a reflection of how Gen Z has embraced horror films, shifting them from low to high art.
USD senior Jane Hunt shared why she thinks this genre has success with younger audiences. “I feel like our generation has been through a lot in our lifetimes, and scary doesn’t bother us that much,” Hunt reflected. “I think it makes a lot of sense that we want to see
Kane Parson’s ‘Backrooms’ stars actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. Photo courtesy of @imdb/Instagram
something that thrills us because we’ve become wired that way.” Another plus for the genre’s comeback is the money. Horror’s recent ability to draw in massive audiences has caught the attention of both critics and Academy voters, explaining their recent awardseason glory these past three years. USD sophomore Harper Posnick, who is currently taking media studies courses in the communication department, commented on how the genre has evolved from small-screen to awardwinning, blockbuster success. “I think it’s so interesting to see the evolution of horror in modern-day culture, especially with ‘Backrooms,’ as its creator began his career on YouTube,” Posnick shared. “It’s such a great example of media convergence.” Many critics expect this shift in the horror genre to pay off. As the Golden Globes creep closer, viewers should keep an eye out for horror hits winning big.
October 29, 2026
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The USD Vista
Victoria’s Secret models walk the runway in uniquely crafted outfits.
Angels walk the Earth
Art by Kyra Lefebvre
USD students react to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show JULIANNA FLORES FEATURE EDITOR Click, click, click, down the runway they went. The audience watched in awe as the Angels glided across the 70-foot-long runway in their heels. The women bore wings that can reach up to 50 pounds, all the while wearing lingerie. The show is a spectacle of women where viewers react to the models, the music and the wings. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned to Los Angeles on Oct. 18, bringing with it both cheers for the more diverse array of women, and critiques toward the celebrities and influencers that took up space in the lineup. USD senior Katerina Martir has been a fan of the show since the 2010s and has a ritual for her viewing experience. “I’ve never watched [the show] alone,” Martir reminisced. “It has to be a night thing, it has to be something that I can see on a big screen and I can just chat in the middle of and rewatch.” The show began in 1995, adding the Angel models in 1998 when the Angel collection dropped. This moment was pivotal to the brand’s image, as this line showed the new lingerie with the models wearing angel wings. Tyra Banks wore the first pair of wings on the runway for this specific collection in 1998. The show aired annually on CBS from 2002 until 2017. NBC News reported that the show’s viewership fell from more than 10 million viewers in 2010 to just over 3 million in 2018. In 2018, then-chief marketing officer for L Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, Ed Razek, made a statement about transgender women, claiming they do not have a place in the show. “Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show?” Razek said. “No. No, I don’t
think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is.” Razek also made a statement regarding how he feels about plus-sized women in the show. “We attempted to do a television special for plus sizes [in 2000],” Razek stated. “No one had any interest in it. Still don’t.” In 2019, the show was canceled amid controversy and declining viewership. Consumers were driving sales to brands like Savage X Fenty, who made it a point to have inclusive sizing. This, along with many viewers bashing Victoria’s Secret for these statements led to the demise of the brand at the time. Razek has since apologized for his comments about transgender models. “My remark regarding the inclusion of transgender models
in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show came across as insensitive,” Razek stated. “I apologize.” In 2024, six years after its cancellation, fan demand and rebranding brought the show back, this time featuring a more diverse group of models to walk the runway. In 2025, Angel Reese became the first professional athlete to walk the runway. Influencers like Quenlin Blackwell also participated, alongside models Alex Consani and Ashley Graham. Barbara Palvin is a veteran model who appeared in the show in 2012, at the age of 19. This year, Palvin returned to the show only six weeks after giving birth to her first child, sparking a debate on U.S. timelines for women’s maternity leave. USD Communication Professor Kristin Moran
Model Barbara Palvin walks the runway six weeks after giving birth.
commented about the diversity of adding a recent mom as a model. “I think that their attempt to claim that they are now diversifying their models is performative at best,” Moran stated. “It demonstrates that it’s okay to be a mom who goes back to work.” USD first-year Carmela Porco is not a viewer of the show, but discussed why she thinks it’s important to include a diverse set of models. “Growing up as a young girl, there wasn’t a whole lot of diversity,” Porco said. “Even going to Sephora or Victoria’s Secret and seeing more realistic people that look like me, it brings me hope. Especially now with the rise of Ozempic and seeing how it affects little girls, [the diverse models] show that you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it.”
Photo courtesy of @realbarbarapalvin/Instagram
However, many viewers online spoke out about their overall distaste for influencers who were seen on the runway. Martir spoke on why she disagrees with adding the influencers to the runway. “Influencers can do multiple things but I think there’s a line to be established between career and opportunity,” Martir remarked. “For some [models] this is their entire life, this is exactly what they’ve been doing since they were very small girls.” The show also featured musical guests, many of which are a spectacle in themselves. In previous shows male singers such as Justin Timberlake and Harry Styles performed, but the past two years of the show have spotlighted an all-women lineup. This year performers included Megan Thee Stallion, KATSEYE, Tate McRae and Megan Moroney. USD senior Julia Waterbury has been a viewer of the show for the past two years. She expressed her opinions on Megan Moroney’s performance. “I do like [Megan Moroney] but some of her songs were slow, and I feel [the models] need a beat to walk to,” Waterbury stated. Despite the critiques, many return to watch the show every year. Waterbury spoke on why she enjoys the show. “It’s girlhood, watching everyone feel so empowered, makes the watchers feel good,” Waterbury remarked. “You can tell they feel so pretty, that’s why I love it.” As the last Angels leave the runway, the conversation about diversity and inclusion on the runway continues even after the show ends. Viewers debate on who gets to wear the wings and who should be left out. Despite the show’s many critiques, fans still come together to be
The USD Vista
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October 29, 2026
Terrifying Tore Photo courtesy of Brynn King
Photo courtesy of Ava Ricci
“I f w
c fav w
Photo courtesy of Jaidyn Navarro-Rodriguez
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“I dressed as Superman because he was my favorite superhero when I was younger. It was special for me because I was dressed as someone I look up to.” Jaidyn NavarroRodriguez, sophomore
“Doughnuts are my favorite food so I wanted to dress up as a sprinkle doughnut. Halloween was so fun as a kid.” Ava Ricci, senior
As kids, the scariest n filled with candy, trick costumes. As Hallowee share what they dressed kids. From fairy prin students reminisce a costu
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FEATURE
I chose to be Taylor Swift for Halloween because I went to The 1989 World Tour and became completely obsessed. My vorite part of the costume was the light up dress and microphone.” Brynn King, sophomore
night of the year was k or treating and clever en approaches, Toreros d up as when they were ncesses to Superman, about their childhood umes.
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Volume 64 Issue 7
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Photo courtesy of Annie Dorelien
Photo courtesy of Izzy Visconti
“My favorite childhood Halloween memory would be going to the local firefighters station and getting king size candy bars.” Annie Dorelien, junior
“I loved Halloween growing up because I got to dress up and feel cute! Dressing as a princess was always my favorite because I got to wear a sparkly dress and a crown.” Izzy Visconti, first-year
Volume 64 Issue 7
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OPINION
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The USD Vista
OPINION
Boo! No Halloween tunes! Reviving the ghost of Halloween music
KATARINA MARIC OPINION WRITER During the holiday season, turning on the radio to jingle bells is the perfect way to ignite the Christmas spirit. Almost every popular artist has covered one of the thousands of notable Christmas anthems, and the genre is such an essential part of the holiday. Halloween, however, has a ghostly presence in the music industry — one that should be revived. Ask Spotify for a Halloween party playlist, and what you will find is a Frankenstein patchwork selection of songs. erhaps the lack of a dedicated music genre can be attributed to why Halloween spirit isn’t as powerful as before: why nostalgic, whimsical Halloween is dead. There only ever seemed to be distinct Halloween music following the post-war baby boom of the 50s and 60s: a period when Halloween solidified into a child-centric, commercial holiday and the tradition of trick-or-treating became a cultural phenomenon. Blues, early rock and R&B blended with doo-wop and rockabilly to create Halloween anthems such as Sheb Wooley’s “Purple People Eater”
and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ 1956 classic, “I Put a Spell on You.” This momentary Halloween genre never died out, rather specific songs became so canonized that the style fragmented into yearround heavy metal, punk, synthwave and modern pop. Since the turn of the century, there has never seemed to be a cohesive genre due to Halloween’s smaller commercial window and its aesthetic being primarily driven by visual media. With its macabre undertones, Halloween music strays from the glittery and more cheerful images of modern pop artists — imagine Taylor Swift writing a song about blood-thirsty vampires. Random, right? When you think of Halloween, you imagine jack-o’-lanterns, skeletons and witches — and maybe the sound of screams from haunted houses — but you certainly don’t imagine anything auditory akin to jingle bells or grand orchestras. Instead, movies are the drivers of Halloween culture. The holiday’s identity isn’t grounded in music, but it can be. There is enormous potential, especially considering Halloween music was immensely successful in the past. In horror
Music can be a great way to revive the spirit of Halloween.
movies, minor keys tend to evoke eerie sounds that producers rely on to spark fright, a trend that can be extended into music. By engaging in the musical world on a greater level, Halloween culture could be deepened and expanded for the better. Despite criticism, there does seem to be space for at least certain artists to release Halloweenthemed music. KATSEYE’s recently released song “Animal” sounds rhythmically and thematically similar to “I’m in Love with a Monster” from Hotel Transylvania, and artist Tame Impala released “Dracula” last October. Music is an important contributor to culture and a scientific trigger of nostalgia. By engaging networks for hearing, emotion and memory all at once, hearing a familiar song activates the hippocampus and amygdala and releases dopamine in a process known as autobiographical memory. By solidifying a music genre, a nostalgic vision and culture of Halloween could be preserved, amplifying excitment for the holiday and creating a more immersive experience. USD sophomore Pia Kellems agrees. “I think having a more
established Halloween music genre would definitely increase Halloween spirit because people would gravitate towards that music like they do for Christmas. It would make it feel more like Halloween especially in San Diego when it’s hot and there’s no fall vibes,” Kellems explained.
Imagine Halloween parties with spooky songs. Imagine turning on the radio and eerie melodies casting a spell over the month. Especially in San Diego, with our lack of crunchy leaves and cool weather, we are in dire need of an actualization of a Halloween aesthetic. Not only will reviving the long-lost Halloween music genre overcast autumn in a more prominent spooky tone, but it will preserve the cultural identity of Halloween and spirit for future generations. Just as Christmas music excites Americans and USD students alike, Halloween music could have the potential to revive the holiday. It’s time to raise Halloween music from the dead!
Art by Alicia Higuchi
Have an opinion? We want to hear it! The Vista is now accepting essays from students, faculty, staff and community members about the issues that matter to them. If you’d like to submit an opinion piece between 400 and 800 words, please reach out to vistaeditor@sandiego.edu. The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
The USD Vista
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October 29, 2026
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OPINION
He’s 104. She has homework. ‘How long have you been 17?’ ‘A while...’
PRATINYA BODANAPU OPINION EDITOR In 2008, a 17-year-old girl fell in love with a man who had been alive since 1901. He watched her sleep without her knowledge, followed her around town and repeatedly warned her that he might kill her. Naturally, he became one of the most desirable romantic figures of an entire generation. His name was Edward Cullen; “Twilight” was only the beginning. In the early 2000s, Hollywood was obsessed with vampires. Not the grotesque, bloodthirsty monsters of traditional horror, but attractive men with extraordinary wealth, tragic backstories and a peculiar interest in high school girls. Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” saga sold more than 160 million copies worldwide, while its five film adaptations collectively earned over $3 billion at the global box office according to Deseret News. When “The Vampire Diaries” premiered in 2009, Hollywood Reporter stated that its first episode attracted 4.8 million viewers. These were cultural phenomena that helped define an era of entertainment. Millions of girls were divided into team Edward and team Jacob, team Stefan and team Damon (Edward and Damon are obviously the right choices, but that’s beside the point). We debated who was more romantic, attractive and deserving of the heroine’s affection.
Vampire romances became a staple of teenage pop culture.
Somehow, the question of why these men were pursuing high school students rarely entered the conversation. In fact, the vampires’ ages were never treated as a disadvantage in these stories. Edward lived for more than a century and decided Bella was the most extraordinary person he had encountered. Stefan and Damon survived generations just to become captivated by the same teenage girl. Imagine being so interesting that a man who witnessed the invention of sliced bread, two World Wars and the rise of the internet, decides you are the most exciting thing to happen to him.
Except Bella and Elena are hardly the most fascinating people alive.
They spend most of their time stressed, confused and caught between men who, despite having centuries to develop personalities, seem to have acquired nothing but emotional baggage. There is also a peculiar pattern in these stories. In “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” a teenage Buffy falls for Angel, a vampire more than 200 years old, while “True Blood” pairs 25 year old
Art by Alicia Higuchi
Sookie Stackhouse with 175 year old Bill Compton. The immortal, powerful character is almost always a man, while the person he falls in love with is a teenage girl who is, conveniently, exceptionally mature for her age. Bella is responsible and reserved, while Elena is compassionate and emotionally intelligent. Both characters are presented as equipped to understand men who have been alive for eons. Being mature for 17 does not make someone an appropriate romantic partner for a 104-year-old man. Of course, this is not to suggest that we should stop watching vampire romances.
The dramatic love triangles, questionable decisions and impossibly high stakes make for excellent entertainment. Fiction does not always need to model healthy relationships, and the absurdity is precisely what makes these stories enjoyable. However, the values these stories reinforce are still worth examining. Wealth, physical attractiveness and female youth are repeatedly idealized, while girls are celebrated for their purity and innocence. This shows young female viewers that a woman’s greatest achievement is to remain innocent enough to be desired by a man who can give her everything. Still, the irony is hard to ignore: the worst qualities of these characters were often presented as their most romantic ones. Jealousy became passion, surveillance became protection and possessiveness became devotion.
The more a vampire consumed a girl’s life, the more extraordinary their relationship appeared. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a questionable fictional relationship, but for men who had witnessed centuries of human history, it is remarkable that high school was still the most interesting place they could think to be.
The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the
Halloween Crossword Puzzle University of San Diego, or its student body.
Crossword theme: Halloween
SHY BROWN GAMES EDITOR
Across 1
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1. Mind-related, unsettling 3. A road where you might be lost in scary dreams
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8. Commonly debated 1993 holiday 4 6 8
film
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10. A friendly white ghost
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11. We all ___ for ice cream 12. Short name for Charles
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Down 2. A fictional village named after the
Scan For Answers
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end-of-October eve 4. Blamed for strange airplane mechanical failures in WWII
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5. Tasked with removing bad energy 6. Spotted, with your eyes 7. “I’m the ghost with the most, babe.” 9. Mumbo jumbo?
Down: 2. A fictional village named after the
Across: 1. Mind-related, unsettling
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Volume 64 Issue 7
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SPORTS
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The USD Vista
Athletes stay in style
Athletes rely on uniforms with sport-specific features ELLIE HARDMAN SPORTS WRITER
As she swings her racket toward a hurtling ball, first-year tennis player Lila Bachour hones in on her technique to bring home a win for USD athletics. In her favorite navy and light blue combo, the unique tennis skirt design allows her to move easily on the court. While students across campus play dress-up for Halloween, athletes spend all year in a costume of their own. In her first few months on the team, Bachour has taken advantage of USD’s official partnership with Vuori, USD’s official co-branded partnership for Torero merch and the athletic program. Founded by USD alum Joe Kudla, the brand pops up across campus, from the student store to Name, Image, Likeness Athlete Manager intern programs. The tennis team’s uniform features four variations of skirts and dresses in classic Torero blues. “I love Vuori; I think it’s super classy,” Bachour said. “I think it’s different from Nike and every other brand, so it’s nice.” The team has also received workout sets and clothes for off-the-court style from Vuori, which Bachour felt 10/20/26, 12:34 PM the helps team fit right into the fashionable world
Navy lettering and cream trim give USD’s light blue jersey its signature look. Tommy Doyle/The USD Vista
of professional tennis. Bachour, for example, draws inspiration from former professional Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova. “She’s so classy,” Bachour said. “She dresses so elegant, and everything that she wears is pretty. I hope I look like her.” First-year rugby player Souhiel Tahiri hopes to one day represent the French national team. The rugby uniforms rely on specific designs that keep the clothing in place during Editionintense - Word Searchcontact. Labs rough Halloween plays and “Our shorts are really short
and they’re really thick so that they don’t rip and people can’t grab them,” Tahiri said. Rather than a soccer uniform with a longer and more breathable fabric, according to USA Rugby, rugby shorts typically have a 2- to 4- inch inseam and are sometimes paired with compression shorts underneath. These features help players’ mobility in fast-paced games and keep players from being pulled down by opponents. As a club team, men’s rugby partners with Paladin
Halloween Edition C H P S H A Y Q G Q V N R R U F C D S N T O C Y Y J M D Z H P B H A L L O W E E N N F K R J S Z S K E L E T O N O U Q A Y N P X Q J W Z U X N D R A C U L A S I P D E T N U A H A U V O L W S T M Z X S W W E K P P E I B M O Z X Y F I B U Q P W Y E W W W R I B F A O M W N H A I M T F H R T Y L W C M M V I D R R J N O V X I C T W M A P Q Z I A R W U T Y A D H V Q W K S U S H D N E J H P V S X Q N P D Q A C L D N C Q J L U E P C J I B K O Q I Z J H P B E A J R K F S E V X U I R E N J T O C Y H H L P B K N C K K Y M I W Y V T D O G R Z O D E S R T A E R T R O K C I R T C I N H Y X S A W T F E B B B V L R U D A P X G M W D S Q I Q B P W P O A P L I C I V D M T S P O O K Y I H X C O O Z S T U F Y T J H G Y F E U O C S D S N G N X R O R V R Q M G W V P C O O M M G E KE P B Z A B B D L B Z F L C O F F I N V M U O K R Z F G W N U H N Y H D R Y H L H Q I F H T C K J B C A S Y W K D D T Y M W T W L A A E T N C P I E P M Q Y Q Z H L K C C C Q Y D Q I F O K Y U E C W R J Q G V P W I H U A N O D E X Y V R R O J W H SHY BROWN GAMES EDITOR
1. PIE
2. JULIAN
3. HALLOWEEN
4. SPOOKY
5. SCREAM
6. GHOST
7. ZOMBIE
8. COFFIN
9. SKELETON
10. CANDY
11. OCTOBER
12. CREEPY
13. HAUNTED
14. DRACULA
15. TRICKORTREAT
Sportswear, a global brand that works with cricket, frisbee, netball and more throughout the U.S., U.K., New Zealand and Australia. The brand’s designs feature many sponsorships and pay specific attention to the unique needs of rugby players. However, not all teams get the most ideal fit and design for their uniforms. While many teams receive tailored uniforms, junior softball player Michelle Delgado has noticed that the softball uniforms skip this step of outfitting their players. “I think the only issue is
being able to get our sizes fitted and measured so it fits more like our own size, rather than just being a small, medium or large,” Delgado said. “There’s different sizes of small. What might be a small for this person might not be the same for another person.” While Delgado has enjoyed working with Nike and loves being able to wear the brand in warmup and underlayer sets, she has noticed many of her teammates struggling with tight sleeves, limiting mobility during games. Also, Delgado noticed how many bigger Division I schools, such as the University of Oregon, have very tailored and modern uniforms. She began to see there are many programs right here on campus that do the same for their players. “They say, ‘look good, feel good, play good,’ so I think the uniforms fitting right would just kind of give us a little confidence boost,” Delgado said. While many students across campus may be donning a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader uniform or digging out an old football jersey for Halloween festivities, Torero athletes rely on these outfits for more than just a fun look for a night out. A well-tailored uniform can make or break a player’s performance, and a stylish look can make all the difference for athletes’ confidence.
The USD Vista
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Flyers, stunts and frights
Cheer hosts spooktacular clinic for aspiring cheerleaders MADDY SPADA SPORTS WRITER
Basket tosses, pom-poms and Torero Blue is what USD cheer is made of, holding down the sidelines at each sporting event. The team does everything from rallying the crowds to performing choreographed stunts. On Oct. 31, Torero cheer will host their “Spooktacular Halloween Youth Clinic” dubbed “Trick or Cheer,” according to their Instagram. The same day, football will face off against Marist University at Torero Stadium. The clinic is geared toward young athletes with interests in cheer, providing a setting for them to learn under the collegiate athletes in a festive way, and will be the second youth clinic that the program has hosted thus far. The team is composed of 24 women who perform at football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball competitions. They spend the majority of their season preparing for these games alongside gearing up for cheerleading competitions across state lines, most notably being the National Cheerleaders Association College Nationals event in Daytona Beach, Florida each April. Their 2025-26 season was the first year in which the program returned to competitive cheer post-pandemic, and returned for the 2026-27 season with plans to continue competing on this level. Tryouts entail a rigorous evaluation, as prospective athletes are expected to have mastered 17 different skills, including standing tumbling skills (skills which have no prior momentum going into the flips) and flexibility, along with their capability to control the stands and bring the energy up in a crowd of up to 6,000 fans in Torero Stadium, as stated by Torero Athletics. Athletes must complete summer conditioning packets and participate in an on-campus training camp for a week during the summer months, as the team aims to bring in athletes who are ready to perform and compete on a collegiate stage. Even with these expectations, USD cheer
COMING UP THIS WEEK
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October 29, 2026
Weekly athletics recap ROCCO PASQUINI SPORTS WRITER
Cheer finishes a performance for fans at Torero Stadium. Photo courtesy of @lo.wash.photography/Intagram
operates separately from the university’s NCAA Division I sports programs and is not an NCAA-sanctioned sport. Breyer Mubuuke, a first-year on the team, emphasized her experience with this lack of recognition. “We are all very hard working athletes and it can be difficult sometimes as we are not technically considered a Division I sport,” Mubuuke described. “We are an independently funded team, so we take every chance we can to fundraise.” This past October during Torero Tuesday, the cheer team was able to raise nearly $19,000 for their program, which is siphoned into uniform costs, travel expenses, training and development opportunity funds. Camille Richards a firstyear on the team, additionally won the student scavenger hunt earlier this month as well, earning an additional $2,000 toward the team. The cheerleaders’ goals to bring energy, pride and tradition to Torero athletics, according to their statement from Torero Tuesday, reflects the familial aspect within the cheer team. Charlie Eggert, a first-
year student at USD, commented on her experience with the cheer team. “I see them practicing all the time and have watched them perform at some games,” Eggert said. “They are pretty amazing and I wish that they got more recognition by the school. They work together very well and really are true athletes.” Cheerleaders balance a packed schedule of cheering for athletic games weekly while preparing for nationals everyday. With practices squeezed between classes, it is difficult for athletes to get done everything they need to do in a day. Breyer personally struggled with this overlap, and described that her teammates did too. “Our schedule definitely can be very taxing but we are all doing our best to juggle everything,” Mubuuke said. “We love cheering for as many games as we can but it can be difficult because we are gradually preparing for our nationals cheer competition.” Come Oct. 31, the cheerleaders will be balancing performing and cheering at the football game while simultaneously running the
youth clinic before and midgame. At the clinic, participants will experience tricks and treats, eat pizza, face paint and a halftime performance will all be included within the experience. Jamie Arroyo, head coach of the cheerleading team, shared what the clinic would be like for the young athletes. “This is our second youth clinic in my tenure here as head coach,” Arroyo stated. “However, ‘Trick or Cheer’ is our first-ever event. Participants will be performing a pregame show with a ‘Thriller theme’ where they will dress up in their Halloween costumes and receive a trick or cheer goody bag for their participation.” Running from 9 a.m. to noon, participants join USD cheer on the sidelines and perform for the stands at Torero Stadium. The team asks that participants arrive in all black attire, and change into their costume, if desired, at halftime, in order to perform for parents and fans mid-game. The flat cost for the event will be $65, and will give an opportunity for young athletes to get experience and mentorship by the athletes of the USD cheer team.
WVB v. USF Thursday, Oct. 29 7 p.m. San Diego, CA
XC v. WCC Championship Friday, Oct. 30 10 a.m. San Diego, CA
WVB v. Santa Clara Saturday, Oct. 31 12 p.m. San Diego, CA
WSOC at Pepperdine Saturday, Oct. 31 12 p.m. Malibu, CA
FB v. Marist Saturday, Oct. 31 1 p.m. San Diego, CA
MSOC at Seattle U Saturday, Oct. 31 7 p.m. Seattle, WA
This past week the Torero’s faced off in competitions around the nation. The women competed in volleyball, soccer and cross country while the men competed in football, soccer, tennis and cross country. Football played at home against Valparaiso University during homecoming weekend, winning 38-13. They lost 37-32 against the University of Dayton on Saturday despite racking up 531 yards. Senior quarterback Dom Nankil threw for 471 yards, completing 37 or 56 passes without an interception. Women’s volleyball swept University of Portland in three sets on Oct. 17 and Pacific University in three sets on Oct. 22. In Malibu, Calif., men’s tennis competed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association tournament this past week. The team had three semifinalists with junior Adrien Berrut in singles and sophomores Manvydas Balciunas and Vincent Marysko in doubles. All three Toreros lost to Pepperdine University in the semifinals. Men’s soccer won 3-0 against Pacific with goals by Taj Eagleston, Steven Ramirez and Iain Wagner. The team also won against Santa Clara University 3-1 on a rainy Wednesday with goals by Ethan McNaughton, Devin Dillon and Elijah Zelkind. They then went on to lose 3-1 against No.19 UCLA. Women’s soccer traveled to St. Mary’s on Oct. 17 and lost a low-scoring duel 1-0. The cross country men’s and women’s team traveled to Riverside to compete in the University of California, Riverside, Highlander Classic, where they both placed sixteenth in their races. Women’s volleyball swept Saint Mary’s 25-21, 25-13, 25-17. Senior BayLea Sparks helped on four blocks, and senior Nemo Beach won 1o points with shots Saint Mary’s couldn’t return. Women’s soccer beat Portland 2-1 at Torero Stadium. Junior Ella Callanan opened the scoring, and firstyear Veronica Osejo scored the winner 16 seconds after entering the match, answering Portland’s 77-minute equalizer. Men’s basketball opened exhibition play with a 73-58 win over Colorado State University. Graduate student Jevon Hill scored 18 points, making 5 of 10 3-pointers. The Toreros forced 20 turnovers throughout the game.
The USD Vista
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October 29, 2026
AR TS &
From sea to summit USD sophomores take on a 40 mile run JULIANNA FLORES FEATURE EDITOR ADELA TABEK FEATURE WRITER At 2:00 a.m. on Oct. 24, two USD sophomores, Chase Tesoro and Jacob Szilagyi, started running from Mission Beach toward the El Cajon summit, a total of 40 miles. Twelve miles is the farthest that either had run. Tesoro and Szilagyi believe they may be among one of the firsts to conquer this feat. The students gained a total of 6,278 feet in elevation. They ran a total of 42.82 miles, ending their run at around 2:00 p.m. that afternoon. Tesoro spoke about their decision to conquer this challenge. “Both of us are really into the outdoors and running,” Tesoro remarked. “This summer, I ran seven fourteeners in Colorado in a single day, which was my first taste at these endurance challenges and I really loved it. A lot of people thought it wasn’t possible, and it felt really good to prove them wrong. We were thinking of stuff that we could do around San Diego that would kind of scratch that itch.” Szilagyi noted how he originally had no interest in running.
The Strava map shows the trail from Mission Beach to El Cajon summit.
“I always hated running,” Szilagyi stated. “[Coaches] made us run a mile, warm up and do a bunch of sprints, but I really started to fall in love with running over the summer. It’s just fun to be outside for a long time.”
Tesoro and Szilagyi pose after finishing their run. Photo courtesy of Chase Tesoro
Rowan McCain, their roommate, commented on what his day looked like while supporting his roommates. “I’m the man on the chair,” McCain stated. “When they leave and start their journey at 2:00 a.m., I’ll be at the dorm waiting and have my phone ready. If they call me with an emergency I’ll drive out there with whatever they need. I have food on standby. The biggest request was once they are done, I meet them at the bottom of El Cajon with as many dirty carbs as possible.” McCain addressed his initial reaction to hearing they were attempting this sea to summit journey. “They have been building up to this,” McCain said. “Our dorm revolves around sitting and watching mountaineering and long runs. I knew they had totally thought through all of the steps, they are very chronological with everything, my first reaction was, ‘wow, what’s my role and how do you need my help?’” Their love for nature and exploration motivated their willingness to defy the odds. Tesoro highlighted his experience prior to this with outdoor adventures. “Anything longer than that has been hikes and climbs, where I’m running part of it, but more elevation gain, more climbing,” Tesoro added. USD sophomore Jules Conklin has been friends with Tesoro and Szilagyi since their freshman year. She spoke of their spontaneous personalities. “They are constantly finding new adventures, whether it is going climbing, camping or planning some crazy outdoor trip,” Conklin stated. “At the end of last year, they even got a dog named Major and took care of him all the way until summer. I feel like they just live life differently
than most people. They are always looking for the next adventure and actually following through with it instead of just talking about it.” Tesoro and Szilagyi became friends their first year at USD and are now roommates.
“We are very similar in some of our strengths, capabilities and I think he’s better at stuff than me and I’m better at stuff than him,” Tesoro said. “I think that was a problem in my hometown doing all these challenges. Either people are way faster and way stronger than me, or they can’t keep up,” Tesoro stated. One concerning factor to this challenge is the possibility of injury. Attempting to run this many miles can have severe consequences if not properly trained. According to a study done on first time New York City marathon runners and injuries, less training time and completion can lead to more injuries. Szilagyi commented on his confidence in himself to finish the run without fail. “I’m the least injury-prone person,” Szilagyi stated. “We’ve both never been super injured from our runs or climbing or anything. I’ve only been super injured once. I think we’ll be fine.” First-year cross country and track and field first-year student-athlete Nora DoyleNewe noted how this amount of mileage is something she would never consider doing, even as an experienced runner. “I don’t run super long runs,” Doyle-Newe said. “I’m more of a middle-distance runner, so my long runs are eight miles. Some girls on my team go up to 14 or 13
Art by Kyra Lefebvre miles but I can not do anything like 40, that’s insane. If they can do this then it might inspire other people in running or getting into it because it’s a sport for everyone. As a USD runner, knowing that someone with little experience can run 40 miles gives me more confidence in my abilities.” Both Tesoro and Szilagyi hope that one day they will be able to do this for charity, and inspire other students to push themselves further than what they have done before. “We definitely thought about running for more of a cause and getting a charity or a nonprofit involved and maybe getting partnerships with brands so they can fund our challenges,” Tesoro said. “That would be the ultimate goal. Doing stuff like this is building our resume for endurance athletes.” After finishing their 40 miles, Tesoro spoke on how difficult it was to finish.
“For pretty much the entire hike, I was limping and I had found two sticks to use as crutches,” Tesoro said. “The last 13 miles were really, really rough for me.” Tesoro spoke of his excitement start another challenge. “I feel like these challenges, the whole training aspect and building up to it, is super motivational and almost lifechanging,” Tesoro said. “But once you complete it, you’re already looking for the next thing.” Despite their challenges, Tesoro and Szilagyi ran more than three times longer than any they have done before, proving to themselves that the journey was worth it in the end. At the bottom of El Cajon, the dirty carbs were waiting. to