Assistant principal Chris Sweet passes out literature during the year’s third English Learner Advisery Committee meeting in the media center, Wednesday. PHOTO/VIRGINIA TANG

Volume 41 February 6, 2009Number 21 WWW.PAWPRINTSWEEKLY.COM

Glen A. Wilson High School Hacienda Heights, California 91745

the INSIDE story

Cats to serenade concert-goers with love songs

SAY AH! - Choir members harmonize Thursday as they practice their songs for the upcoming concert.

Funds insufficient for yearly Valentine’s dance

EDITORIAL | High school coach charged with homicide creates serious ramifications for the coaching community. pg 3

PHOTO/FION LING

By LUBINA KIMSTAFF WRITER

Love may be in the air, but the Valentine’s dance is not. The annual dance has been cancelled due to the Associated Student Body’s (ASB) limited time and budget.

“The year has been really overwhelming for us. We already have Mr. Wilson and Sadies to prepare for and another dance adding onto that would be too difficult,” said ASB secretary junior Jessica Kim.

Last week, ASB held a class meeting to decide whether they should host the dance or not and the majority of the class decided to veto the dance due to the preparations for Mr. Wilson. They then gave the chance to host the dance to other school groups.

ASB adviser Jamie Millan said that sophomore and senior advisers Mark Thompson and Claudia Van Gorden had initially taken interest in the offer. However, Thompson and Van Gorden then decided that there was not enough time to prepare.

“I had previously asked Ms. Millan if the sophomore class could host the dance. However, we were only given two weeks to prepare and that just wasn’t possible,” said Van Gorden.

Some students say they’re angry that the dance has been cancelled.

“It’s unfair for the other kids that can’t afford to go to the more expensive dances like Winter Formal. I went to the Valentine’s dance last year and it was really fun. A lot of people went and I think it’s because the dance was affordable,” said junior Katerina Bobluk.

Others say they don’t mind the cancellation because they have other plans for Valentine’s Day.

“I don’t want to waste my lunch period at a dance with corny love music. I have to buy a gift for my Valentine and purchasing a ticket will add on to the expenses,” said sophomore David Cho.

To make up for the loss of the experience, ASB is selling carnations and love song dedications.

Students can reserve a song to their Valentines for $1. The song will be played during lunch on Feb. 12 and 13. The song grams can be bought beforehand or on the day the songs are set to debut.

“The flowers and song grams are probably going to bring in more money for ASB than the dance,” said ASB member sophomore Martin Ronquillo.

Carnations are being sold until next Thursday for $1 each or $10 a dozen. Love song dedications will also be sold for $1 next Thursday and Friday. Both will be offered near the amphitheater.

ENTERTAINMENT | President utilizes video streaming technology to foster political awareness among Americans. pg 6

By LAURIE ALLREDSTAFF WRITER

In the famous words sung by Elton John in The Lion King, “can you feel the love tonight?”

The Wilson Choir will be dedicating a night full of music to Valentine’s Day titled Love Songs from the Coast.

This concert will feature songs such as the Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat duet “Lucky” and “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. There will also be classic songs by Shania Twain and *NSYNC.

Students from each of the three choirs will be singing solos, duets and group numbers.

The Jazz Cats will also be performing three jazz songs. Their show set includes “Hey There” from the musical The

Pajama Game, “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra, and “Trashin’ the Camp” from the movie Tarzan. They will have

an additional song sung only by the Jazz Cat girls.

“‘Man, I Feel like a Woman’ by Shania Twain is

about female empowerment. It’s a very upbeat song with a little choreography,” said Jazz Cat member senior Christine Gozun.

Choir director Claudia Turner says she enjoys the whole Jazz Cat show set, but likes Hey There the most.

“It’s my favorite song because it’s such a great song. It reminds me of New York City,” said Turner.

In preparation for this concert, choir members such as junior Gina Van Stratten say that little things like singing in the shower help her practice.

“Mrs. Turner makes us sing our songs during class a lot in order to prepare for being in front of an audience,” said Van Stratten.

Some students say they feel this year’s concert will be

different than the previous year’s.

“This year’s concert doesn’t have as much variety as last year’s concert, but it’ll still be a fun show,” said Jazz Cat member junior Rebecca Guzman.

Turner encourages students to come to this one-night only concert because of its environment.

“There are only about a hundred seats available, so it makes you feel like you’re in a club. It’s very inviting,” said Turner.

Love Songs from the Coast will be held on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m in the Little Theater. Each ticket costs $3 for both students and adults and can be purchased from any of the choir members until the day of the concert. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

LOOK AT MY GUNS! - Sophomore Jenny Sohn and teammates twirl their rifles in the gymnasium, yesterday.

Retraction

On the second page of last week’s issue, we mistakenly wrote that this would be the last year of the Lunar New Year Bazaar at Wilson. This has been confirmed as untrue because their will be one next year. The ICAA wishes to inform students that they may still volunteer in 2010.

February 6, 20092

Team confident despite loss of members

PHOTO/VIRGINIA TANG

Academic Decathalon Competition

AcaDec to close year with county competition

Cat TracksSpring semester

applications for the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) are due Feb. 20. The form is due with five dollars and a copy of last semester’s grades.

News

Renovation of neglected courtyard in planning

LOOK AT THIS! - Juniors Sofi Lam and Kenneth Lo review their notes in preparation for their competition, last Saturday.

By YUHUA WANGSTAFF WRITER

Instead of roses and chocolates, the Wilson Winter Guard will attempt to win the hearts of judges with rifles and batons this Valentine’s Day.

The group has begun practice in preparation for their first match of the season.

“This year we hope to make it far in the competition. Our members have been practicing hard after school and on the weekends so that we can achieve this goal,” said Coach Wendy Lomeli.

Each school will be judged based on their movement, general effect, timing and penalties. As part of the higher Scholastic A division, Lomeli says Wilson will be facing many tough and experienced opponents.

The team has lost a few students since last season.

“Many of our dedicated members are [here], but others couldn’t find the time in their schedules and had to drop out. In total, we lost about five players,” said Lomeli.

Despite this, some say they are very confident about the upcoming competition.

“Everyone on the team has been working hard and we put so much time into our practices. I just know that we are going to have a good season this year,” said sophomore Ariel Wong.

Some nonmembers also share this point of view.

“I’ve seen the Winter Guard practice and it seems like they always try so hard. I’m confident that with all the effort [they are] putting into their practices, they are definitely going to beat the other teams,” said sophomore Nicholas Alba.

The competition is set for next Saturday, Feb. 14 at Arcadia HS.

By JACOB EWALDSTAFF WRITER

As we approach the new season, part of the campus is starting its spring cleaning early.

The Peer Listeners organization, along with other student volunteers, will be revamping the area behind the media center and clearing it of debris.

This will be the first step in a continuous process that will eventually lead to the complete cleanup and renovation of the area through other cleanup days.

Peer Listeners, an organization whose members help other students deal with personal or school problems, does not usually host school beautification events. They chose to make an exception for this area because it is unused and they are considering using the area for outside meetings.

“We have decided to clean up and beautify the area so students can have a nice place to look at or eat lunch in. It is a mess,” explained adviser Claudia Van Gorden.

The group plans to further improve the area by planting flowers. Once the beautification is finished, they will maintain the area to ensure it does not become cluttered again.

“This is going to be a work in progress. Hopefully within six weeks students and the faculty will see a major transformation in that area,” said Van Gorden.

Some participants say the chosen location for the Peer Listener cleanup is a worthy location for its lack of attention.

“It’s a very creative idea because it is an overlooked area. Not a lot of people would think of doing something to it but Peer Listeners is taking matters into their own hands,” said member senior Francis Poon.

Peer Listeners hopes to start renovation next Thursday, Feb. 12 and they will continue the project each successive Thursday. The volunteers will work on this project for about a hour each week.

PHOTO/TOBY ZHANG

By MELANNIE POLIDANO STAFF WRITER

Just as the new semester has started, Academic Decathlon is coming to a close. The team will be competing against various L.A. County schools for awards in their final match of the season.

“This is our competition at county level, and we hope to do well in our last competition,” said adviser Gino Barragan.

With several local schools competing, Barragan says that

the Academic Decathlon’s toughest competitors are Arcadia and Rowland HS.

There are ten categories in which Academic Decathlon students must compete in such as math, science, literature and art.

“We are hoping to win awards in categories we’re competing in. We are expecting to do well in social science, math and economics,” said Barragan.

Both the coach and co-captain junior Stephanie Oishi say they feel that students

will put in their best effort and make the best of their weaker subjects.

“Even in our worse subjects we still want to make an effort to win awards in literature, art and music,” said Barragan.

The adviser says that he sees the team being successful tomorrow.

“I have confidence in the students. They will win awards in some categories even though the event is extremely competitive,” said Barragan.

Some students say they took to heart Barragan’s optimism.

“I feel that we’re prepared, but I’m still a little nervous because we’ve been waiting for this for so long,” said co-captain senior Ricky Yao.

Other students expressed that their nerves have been getting to them during this last week, but still hope to make the best of it.

“We’ve been studying really hard this week from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. I hope we do well, because we want to earn

medals,” said member junior Sofi Lam.

The competition is set for tomorrow at the University of Southern California, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Homicide charge alters coachingART/ PETER SUH

Sports have always been about sweat, tears and glory. Athletes endure grueling hours of conditioning and practice in hopes of enhancing their physique and strengthening their minds.

But bodies have their limits. During summer football practice on Aug. 20, sophomore Max Gilpin reached his, collapsing while running sprints. Three days later, Gilpin died from complications of a heat stroke. Last Monday, his coach, David Jason Stinson, was arraigned for reckless homicide.

Stinson’s trial is unique: never has a fatality in school athletics resulted in a criminal charge. And like with most cases, there are key details that will come into play in deciding this verdict despite the fact that Pleasure Ridge Park High (Louisville, KY) has not yet released the circumstances of the event in its entirety. The day in question had the same heat index as six other prior practices that Gilpin took part in. In addition, 12 other schools in the surrounding area held football practice with no reports of major incidents. Nevertheless, some eyewitnesses claim that the coaches denied the players water in the hot summer day; others insist that the practice seemed like conventional training. What is interesting is that a majority of the community seems to support Stinson, recently holding two rallies to champion his innocence.

No matter the verdict, the case will have resounding ramifications for all high school coaches. With the conclusion of this trial, the issue of liability will haunt athletic directors everywhere. It’s terrifying to think what misinterpretations may arise from as a result of the trial. With a guilty verdict, precedent will hold coaches criminally responsible for broken legs or fatigue. The result of Stinson’s case could bring about a barrage of flippant charges.

While it’s too early to judge whether Stinson will be found guilty, the public must be able to distinguish between bringing an abusive coach to justice and punishing one for blameless mishaps and accidents.

The public must realize that risks are inherent in all sports. There are no absolute ways of avoiding these dangers, save for not participating altogether. The best that anyone—coach, parent or player—can do is exercise caution during strenuous physical activity: having water and other resources on hand, recognizing the physiological signs of potential problems, etc. Casualties and fatalities are taxing for all those involved. And the process of pointing fingers—even at those who may deserve it—only serves to exacerbate the situation, doing nothing to change the fact that an athlete chose to put himself in danger for the sake of a game.

Number 21©Volume 41

Glen A. Wilson High School16455 E. Wedgeworth DriveHacienda Heights, CA 91745www.pawprintsweekly.com

Alyssa RobertsAdviser

Double EaglePrinting

An open forum, Paw Prints encourages the written opinion of its readers in the form of signed letters to the editor or longer commentaries on topical subjects.

While we recognize the individuality of all forms of expression we reserve the right to edit and / or censor that which we feel necessary in accordance with California Education Code 48907 and standards of good taste.

All communications must be signed. It should also be understood that the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of individual Paw Prints staff members or the policy of Glen A. Wilson.

Billy LinCharles Tsuei Editors-in-Chief

& By Guest Artist VIVIAN HSIAO

suchSUCH

‘Blending in...’

Editorial 3Feburary 6, 2009

Sabrina DeaAllison Ko

Carey LeungBrandie Wong

EDITORSNEWS EDITORIAL

Stephanie Chang

FEATURE PERSPECTIVES

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS VISUALS

Renee Tang

Howard Li

Charles TsueiChris Chiang

Jennifer ChowMichelle GorSonia Tellis

ASST. FEATUREAlice Wen

Advertisement4 February 6, 2009

Feature 5February 6, 2009

Looking into the lives of our friends across the seaBy MELODY WANGSTAFF WRITER

Many students at Wilson have seen the awed Chinese students roaming the hallways, watching classes and trying to get a glimpse of the American Experience. But have you ever wondered what life is like for students who attend Yu Hang High School?

They go to school, do homework and face stress as we do, but how exactly do the American and Chinese lifestyles clash?

A typical day for a Yu Hang student starts with waking up at six in the morning and arriving at school by seven. Some stay in the school’s dorms for transportation conveniences.

Upon the ringing of the first bell, students have 30 minutes to study, followed by morning exercises. The entire school gathers to stretch before splitting up as student monitors check to ensure that each person is in uniform.

Classes, usually consisting of

a round 50 students, begin at eight. Each period lasts 45 minutes and p a s s i n g periods are 10 m i n u t e s long.

Though lengthier, these passing periods do not exhibit the expected image of students c h a t t i n g a n d rushing to their n e x t classes.

I n s t e a d , teachers are the ones walking across campus.

In some aspects, instructors in China are similar to those at Wilson.

“Some teachers are strict; others teach us more than what is required and there are some that just make sarcastic jokes,” said high school first-year Sunny Jiang.

The courses offered at Yu Hang HS, which include m a t h e m a t i c s , physics, history and physical education, are similar to those at Wilson.

H o w e v e r , Americans may be shocked to discover at what levels these classes are being taught.

“ T h e math that s tuden t s at Wilson

are doing now, we learned in our elementary and middle schools,” said first-year Evelyn Wan.

Such intensive learning is only possible with significant focus from students. At Yu Hang, there is a high degree of discipline and order for students.

“Our school is very strict and serious,” commented first-year Seven Chen.

Eating and irrelevant conversations are not allowed in the classroom.

As expected, there are penalties for misbehavior. If a student is tardy, a machine scanner takes points off a card that holds the student’s information. If more serious trouble arises, the school makes calls home or deducts from class points and individual grades.

But all that strict regulation and studying doesn’t come without some school-sponsored relief.

Students are required to learn Tai Chi and perform various eye resting exercises to preserve their vision.

Once lunch begins, students go to either of the two cafeterias which feature new menus each day.

Some students find their favorites from among the selection.

“I like eating noodles. It doesn’t matter what kind of noodles they are, I just order them,” said first-year Funny He.

After lunchtime, students must resume several more classes.

With eight classes and three study periods each day, students finally end school at 9:20 p.m.

Because of the amount of work students receive, they usually stay awake until midnight and spend their weekends completing assignments.

Extraordinarily, as most Wildcats spend their weekends away from the school grounds, students at Yu Hang continue to attend school on Saturday mornings.

In addition to regular classes, the school hosts seminars, with topics ranging from famous locations in China to health education.

Many students take advantage of the optional nature of these seminars.

“I don’t like to go because I’m not interested in some of the topics they discuss,” said Jiang.

To get away from the homework load and extra day of school, Yu Hang students enjoy spending their free time watching television, surfing the net and hanging out with classmates a t various functions.

“During the weekends, I don’t go karaoke

very often, but I play sports with friends and go to concerts,” said first-year Taylor Hu.

But the importance of education in their lives is clear.

“I was really bummed about missing the Celine Dion concert last month in Shanghai because I had to study for the upcoming midterms,” said Hu.

Although school takes up much of students’ time, they are still teenagers who enjoy spending

time with friends and family.There are clear similarities and differences but

the sea is not vast enough to keep some Wilson students from developing friendships that last a lifetime.

“Of course I’ll keep in touch with people I’ve met here. If you are friends, isn’t it natural to stay connected?” said Jiang PHOTOS/ZJHZYG.NET

GRAPHIC/ALICE WEN

By ALICE WENASST. FEATURE EDITOR

It began in 1933, with former president Franklin D. Roosevelt’s immortal words, “Good evening, friends.”

The Great Depression and World War II witnessed Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” over the radio, through which he devised an innovative way to connect to the American public in a time of economic and political disaster.

It is now 2009, and the need to address the nation’s citizens remains both imminent and growing.

Mr. President is utilizing a powerful tool to get through to Americans in this time and age: the good ‘ole Internet.

Let me introduce you to Barack Obama’s Weekly Video Address, available on YouTube.

Yes, that’s right. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. (that’s the White House) has its very own YouTube channel.

Beginning Nov. 15, Obama began recording weekly four-to-five minute addresses every Saturday and will continue doing so for the remainder of his administration. Others, such as Cabinet members, will

Hope via YouTube: Obama hits Web 2.0

‘Yes, that’s right. 1600 Pennsylvania

Ave. has its very own YouTube channel.’

also be recording messages to the general public.

Innovative, yes—but it would be a stretch to say we didn’t see this coming.

How else is the nation going to make sure Americans, especially teens, are informed of the current socioeconomic status?

Many citizens can already recognize the level of maturity young adults have held in the face of the election.

It was through Obama’s campaign, run largely through the Internet, that people discovered what he stood for: change, hope, renewal. It was this strategy that gave the election record-breaking numbers with regards to voting or

simply, interest. For the first time,

educators and their students from all over the world cringed at the thought of missing live feed of

the inauguration for school. Students suddenly realized that a pre-calculus test was no longer significant when placed during the exact same time as Obama’s highly anticipated Inaugural Address.

Now, it is through this cyber-stimulated method of delivering messages through the Internet that the awareness and unity of the American people are maintained and hopefully augmented.

The accessibility of YouTube, the concept that Obama’s words can come to us free of media filters, even the fact that his addresses are limited to five minutes (about the time of a teen’s attention span), encourage us to watch and listen.

Grumpy meets ‘gook’ in Gran TorinoBy BILLY LINEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“A gook, a Jew, and a colored guy walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, ‘Get the [heck] outta here.’”

Most of what falls out of Clint Eastwood’s mouth in Gran Torino is either an angry growl or a hilarious racist outburst. While he could be a bit more civil and refined, any change to Eastwood’s character would slam the entire movie into failure.

Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski lives in a neighborhood taken over by Asian immigrants (and no, it isn’t set in Hacienda Heights).

On his porch Walt drinks coolers full of beer, brandishing his evil glare, fake finger gun, and due to new circumstances, a real gun (all equal in power).

The irony is that Walt disrupts his own quiet life when he accidentally saves little “gook” neighbor Tao (Bee Vang) from the local gang.

A few days earlier, Walt had caught Tao at gunpoint hopelessly trying to steal Walt’s 1973 Gran Torino car. For mercifully not firing, Walt unluckily (or so he first thinks) finds two of his closest new friends.

What ensues is a torrent of gifts and invitations from the Hmong (it’s a people, not a place, duh) and Tao’s sister Sue (Ahney Her), who is the first to crack Walt’s mean old man exterior.

The gun-waving veteran takes in Tao, who is basically a tiny, wimpy tool, and tries to man him up. Thankfully, the writers refused the cliché of transforming Mr. Wimpy into a strong-spirited tough guy.

In the end it is Walt who goes to the lion’s lair and solves the problem of the Asian gang. Meanwhile, hysterically angry Tao is locked in Walt’s basement, botching the serious

vibe with the most pathetic “let-me-out” scene in history.

Gran Torino is more of a comedy than the action-thriller it claims to be, but it is no doubt one of the year’s most amazing movies.

The interactions between Tao’s family and Walt are charming, humorously illustrating the awkwardness of two types of people who can’t understand a word the other is saying.

Walt’s pseudo-racist outbursts are said in such an annoyed, abrupt fashion that none can help but laugh.

And all anti-racists beware, because Walt’s old-man charm

is just too lovable to feel offended by him.

But for its small faults and odd feel to it, Gran Torino will have to fight to win any awards.

T h e long period b e t w e e n m e n t i o n s of the gang

and their actual a p p e a r a n c e made their e v e n t u a l entrances feel more like an i n t e r r u p t i o n than an integral part of the drama.

The acting of the Hmong family members was better than of Sue, Tao and the gang. Ironically, most family members didn’t say a word.

IMAGE/YOUTUBE.COM

NOT OFF THE PRESS - Weekly video updates on YouTube allow Obama to address the nation directly, without relying on the media to relay information.

This “multimedia opportunity,” as Obama calls it, will gear the public masses into a brighter, more politically involved future.

With this new apparatus through which information can be transmitted, the hope is with the youth of America. The texting and Internet-driven young adults of today will not, as older generations fear, be lost to the clutches of self-absorption and ignorance for real situations at hand.

PHOTO/YAHOO.COM

AIM AND FIRE - Don’t worry. Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) isn’t really about to fire at an Asian gang; he just wants them off his lawn.

Eastwood himself may have an easier time winning awards: his performance made the movie.

When Walt put on the serious demeanor cultivated through years of war and loss, the level of drama and thrill soared. The hate under his threats and glares could freeze an audience member mid-breath.

We knew the poor Asian gang was going to get it. Walt was going to destroy them. And Clint Eastwood destroyed this movie (in the good way).

DTV Transition

POSTPONED - Originally set for February 17, the DTV transition date has been postponed to June 12. By law, all full-power television stations will begin broadcasting only in the digital format. If you will require a converter box to receive digital signals on an analog TV set, be sure to have it properly installed before then. Visit www.dtvanswers.com for more information.

SOURCE/DTVANSWERS.COM

EntertainmentFebruary 6, 20096

February 6, 2009 7Sports

By CHARLES TSUEISPORTS EDITOR

Nearly two months after Greg Hoyd resigned, the administration officially announced the appointment of Brian Zavala as the new head football coach in a press release on Monday.

After a disappointing and winless season, athletic director Dave Merrill and assistant principal of activities Jamie Millan said they agreed that the man who had previously coached at Workman, Rosemead and El Rancho before moving on to Northview HS was the best choice.

“He’s been a part of the district before, coached at strong programs and he knows his defense,” explained Merrill.

Brian Zavala named as next football coach

Soccer defeated twice in opposite fashionsBy MICHAEL ZUBIASTAFF WRITER

Despite fighting until the last play and enduring through two halves worth of overtime, the girls soccer team barely lost to Bonita (1-0).

The reason for the loss was unexpected.

Bonita’s Lissa Pina (11) took her shot and Wilson goalie Amaris Ixtupe (9) attempted to block, but by the time she got there, the attacker had already kicked the ball.

Sonia Tellis (12) quickly went for a save, but accidentally kicked the ball into the goal.

On Tuesday, the Cats were faced with bad news as well.

Although the girls on the sideline stood strong and loudly cheered for their teammates, the team suffered another loss on Tuesday.

This time it was to Charter Oak, 4-0.

With one goal scored in the first half and the other three scored within the second, it was apparent that more errors occurred in the latter.

“We made two major mistakes and missed on several opportunities in the first half,” said Coach Adam Clark. “On top of that, we gave up two goals in the second half just trying to win the game with more of an aggressive style.”

The defense and heat also played a key role in the loss.

“Charter Oak was stronger than I had expected; some of their players just seemed impossible to block,” said Becca Guzman (11). “It was also very hot and running around got everyone tired fast.”

Even though their opponents’ defense was stronger than what

OVER THE TOP - Sara Martinez (9) moves out of the way as her opposing forward beats her to the ball in Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Charter Oak.

Leaving his position as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings program that had reached the CIF Finals the past two years, the 11-year coaching veteran said that the chance to be a head coach in the area sparked some interest.

“When the opportunity came about, I already knew that Wilson was one of the spots in the valley I could have success in,” said Zavala. “They’ve gone through some tough times but we just got to work with the kids to put this [program] back on the map.”

According to Millan, the lengthy process composed of receiving resumes, conducting interviews and practical applications (workouts with returning players).

“We had a handful of interested and qualified

candidates that really knew their football. It came down to two people but the weighing factor was the fact that he knows the community and San Gabriel Valley [style of the game],” stated Millan.

Northview only gave up an average of 10 points per game last year and Zavala said that size won’t be the key issue in developing a stingy defense that he describes will cause havoc and dictate the game.

“Places I’ve been to did not have the biggest kids. But they had heart, discipline and desire. I’ll take the players that are not as fast or as big but gives the team 100 percent of their effort throughout the game,” said Zavala.

He continued by explaining that the coaching staff will

have to believe in what they are preaching to the athletes in order to convince many of them, as well as rest of the student body, to jump on board.

“When the kids see you as someone that is real they’ll give it all they have,” said Zavala. “The difference between winning and losing is the ability to play at a high level [the entire] game.”

However, the coach explains that winning is not his only goal.

“Academics are huge, and I also truly feel that to learn as individuals and as players, we need to build character. The football program will be an extended family that interacts with the student body,” stated Zavala.

He also agrees with Merrill’s assessment that in order to be

successful, the Cats will need to surround themselves with coaches that also teach on campus.

However, Zavala noted that he will not promise wins and championships.

“I don’t want to come in and sell myself. I’m here as an educator and coach,” he said. “We got to get the foundation down first and what I will promise is that we will go after it. I just hope the kids come out to have fun and compete. They just got to give it a try.”

According to Millan, Zavala will most likely teach physical education, a field he had previously instructed at Northview.

The administration also plans to formally introduce the new coach to the student body in the near future.

PHOTO/P. VANGCHAROEN

most of the girls were expecting, a few attempts to score were made throughout the game.

“The girls were taking shots, but most of [the time the ball] was just kicked so high into the air that it never made it in,” said Veronica Paz (12). “Not only that, but [the opponent] was doing anything to get the ball back into their position as quickly as they could.”

Even though the girls didn’t qualify for CIF, they hope to finish well in the two remaining games for a variety of reasons.

“The next game is senior night, against Diamond Ranch, which is the last home game for the seniors,” said Clark.

The team is also hoping to make a comeback in the anticipated Los Altos match-up next Tuesday and finish the season with a winning note.

Two weeks ago Wilson finished its last rout with the Conquerors with 2-1 loss.

The next contest will be against Diamond Ranch held on Tuesday at home as the Cats look to win their first league match of the year.

February 6, 20098 Sports

MOVE! - Tiffany Ting (11) attempts to split a pair of Charger defenders during Wednesday’s league victory.

Girls basketball ‘charge’ into third place

Up and coming

Girls waterpolo swept by common foes

By CHRIS CHIANGSPORTS EDITOR

With the chance to play in CIF on the line, the girls basketball team stepped up their game beating Charter Oak Wednesday, 46-37, and clinched third place in league.

“I think we could have played much better, especially during the first half,” said Lauren Holguin (12). “We need to come out ready and execute the game better.”

According to head coach Ed Bruyninckx said he agrees.

“We only had four points in the first quarter and only took seven attempts,” explained Bruyninckx. “We turned the ball over too much and were not getting good shots.”

The Chargers did no better, putting up five points, although

By HANNY KISHAWISTAFF WRITER

Girls water polo suffered losses in both games this week as they faced two of the fiercest teams in the league.

On Wednesday, Wilson competed against Charter Oak losing 12-1.

According to Coach Billy Cavezza, the team did not have the game play and experience to battle in the pool.

“We just weren’t fit enough to swim against other schools. It wasn’t because we aren’t a good team; it was because we didn’t know what to expect,” said Cavezza.

Additionally, with players out due to academic ineligibility, the team was at a disadvantage. They were also missing Captain Tori Moreno (12), who did not show up for the game.

“We did not have a few of our best players participating, which made it difficult to overpower the Chargers,” said Mia Icamen (12).

In order to compensate for the loss, they recruited Dianne De La Torre (11) from JV, who was more than qualified to compete with the varsity team.

“She was great out there and was familiar with the other team’s strategies, but it wasn’t enough to fill in the support we needed to win,” explained Icamen.

WHERE’S THE BALL? - Gary Quintero (12) jumps with his opponent during the 1-0 victory over Charter Oak. Wilson also defeated Bonita yesterday, 3-0. PHOTO/FION LING

Although De La Torre put up a good game, members say they believe that most of the team’s strength stemmed from senior veterans such as Isaura Balderama and Icamen.

On Monday, they experienced another disappointing defeat against Rowland HS, 14-8.

Players say it was their lack of motivation that caused them this loss.

“We weren’t very optimistic when we entered their pool, but we knew that we had to at least give it all we got,” said Sierra Gardner (10).

However, Cavezza says that the Cats’ defense showed up for their performance.

“Even though we lost, the team stepped up. We were down 4-1 in the first quarter, but because of their terrific defense we were able to catch up a bit,” said Cavezza.

Regardless of their losses, the coach says that this competition will give the swimmers the experience and anticipation to win in future matches.

They will face West Covina, Walnut and Los Altos next week.

“We’re a good team and [we] know that with good communication and cooperation, we will be able to show our best out there on the pool,” said Gardner.

Cats continue league struggles, lose captain

their defensive intensity did have an effect on the Cats.

“Charter Oak is a very physical team and it takes some getting used to since they play rougher than [we are accustomed to],” said Bruyninckx. “Also they went to the free throw line often and that disrupted our offensive flow.”

Despite the sluggish beginning, this game was, nonetheless, one of the most important match-ups for both teams as win for either school would help them to solidify their hold on a playoff spot.

“Although we are basically a whole new varsity team, one of goals was still to make CIF and do our best in each game,” said Holguin.

Fortunately for the Cats, they began to warm up later down the stretch as they put up seventeen points in the second quarter alone.

“After the first quarter, we did much better,” said Bruyninckx. “All season long, we seem to start out slow.”

Another factor that the girls had to overcome was reintegrating Naijah Calhoun (11) back into their line-ups and plays.

“Most girls in the team, except for Lauren, never played with [Naijah] before so the other girls still have to adjust to her.,” said Bruyninckx. “Plus it’s only her third game. She’s still a little rusty so it’s a bit rough on her.”

However, with their key player back, the girls can once again clog up the post and open up their outside shot, where the girls’ strength lies.

Wilson was led by Calhoun with nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Jamie Hou (9) contributed seven points and three steals while Tiffany Ting (11) grabbed eight rebounds as well.

The Cats will play against Bonita today, looking to possibly tie the Bearcats for second place with a win.

“They’re a really tough team and they beat us the last time we played, but we did not have Naijah then,” said Bruyninckx.

By JON JON LEWSTAFF WRITER

After losing to Charter Oak on Wednesday, 59-38 ,the boys basketball team is still looking for their first league victory.

Coming out of two tough defeats to Los Altos and Rowland last week, the Cats were looking to put the past behind them.

“The two previous losses were the farthest thing from my mind; I try to treat each game as a whole new experience,” said Coach Chris Roberts who replaced Head Coach Jack Dunbar for the night, due to an ejection at Rowland.

The game started off well for the Cats, and their defensive efforts held the opponent to just 11 points in the first quarter.

They continued to pressure the Chargers during the second quarter, which helped them gain the

lead, despite their offensive shortcomings and a slew of airballs.

Even though the Wilson defense managed to keep the Chargers to 28 points, they still trailed by four at the end of the half.

Three minutes into the third quarter, Charter Oak had gone on a 10-0 run, extending their lead to 12.

“They came out more focused in the second half and stepped up offensively, but we didn’t,” explained Roberts.

Although the Cats were down by double-digits at the start of the fourth, there was still hope.

However, captain Eric Cheng (12) was soon badly injured.“I was going up on a rebound against a Charter

Oak player and he kicked my knee so that it bent backwards. When I landed my knee hyper-extended and I couldn’t get up,” stated Cheng.

The guard was incapacitated within two minutes into the fourth, a major blow to the team since captain

Michael Wong (11) had already been experiencing cramps in his calf muscles.

“Injuries definitely took away from our team offensively. I mean, without Mike and Eric, there was no ball movement, no offense,” stated Roberts.

Wong eventually re-entered the game, but it was too late for a comeback.

With three minutes to go, the third string subbed in.To add insult to injury, Cheng may be out for two

weeks. If so, he may have to spend the rest of the season on the bench, including the second rivalry game against Los Altos. His MRI test results will be available within five days.

Despite all the obstacles the Cats have faced, players still maintain their optimism.

“It’s just another loss for Wilson. Morale is still way up. Eric will recover and we’ll beat LA,” said Andrew Lee (11).

PHOTO/IRENE CHOU