Sports

Finding something to believe in

By: Edward Nadurata

As numerous teams battle it out in the middle of the NBA playoffs, players insult each other.

Think of this scenario: you’re in the heat of the game, dribbling and aiming for the hoop and there is a 6’7” man in front of you. It’s either you’re going to hit him and fall or you’re going to be aggressive and yell at him. One of these reactions are bound to happen.

The problem with society is that it frames us to play victim. We are the victim of the words thrown at us because “words hurt.”

Wouldn’t it be different if the words didn’t matter to us? If we played victor?

Knowing that such words do have a major impact on people, instead of changing the behavior of other people (aka cussing or insulting us), why don’t we change our thinking?

Why can’t we just say to ourselves that those words are meaningless? We should know better about ourselves at least and know that we’re better than whatever is being said.

I admit that when I sit down on my couch watching a basketball game, I eagerly wait for the next fist fight to occur (I mean it’s funny and interesting), but just think that if one of the people involved basically discarded the meaning of whatever was thrown at him by his opponent. I bet the fight would not occur. It would have been a meaningless taunt that was basically worthless.

I guess you can say this is my early goodbye column. A sense of what I learned in high school and what I want to share to Hoover’s posterity. Well, this is it.

You are your worst enemy and your best friend because if you don’t believe in yourself, who will? There will be nothing that will go your way and you will fail because you yourself think that you are going to.

Self confidence is key in all aspects of society and words should not bring you down as Christina Aguilera said. High school is but the start to a bigger and brighter world, and in order to succeed, you only have to do one thing: believe in yourself.

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Sanidad spikes and states

By: Samantha Mariano

Any day after school, take a walk around campus and observe the number of sports teams hard at work. Each minute they spend practicing is a moment well-invested. Each minute is a step closer to reaching, and even surpassing, their potential.

After a year on hiatus, the boys’ volleyball team made its comeback with a fresh new set of players, each player determined to showcase his capabilities and guarantee that bringing back the sport will have been worth the trouble.

According to volleyball coach Christian Hong, one player in particular encourages each member to bring out their A-Game and “provides leadership on the court with his playing abilities.” First year member Dan Sanidad (’13) was recruited as the varsity team’s middle hitter.

Sanidad was first convinced to join by fellow junior friends Christian Pacificador and Marc Fuentes because of how high he jumped.

“Everyone in this school basically knows what he is capable of when it comes to sports,” Pacificador said. “It’s a blessing having him on our team.”

During weekdays from 2-4:30 p.m., Sanidad heads over to the main gym to practice with his teammates. For his first year competing in the sport, he is determined to improve his abilities to become a skillful player.

As a middle hitter, Sanidad is often placed in a difficult position since he is constantly up against opposing middle hitters that are greater in height. Sanidad is only 5’7” while most others are usually 6’ and above.

“Seeing other people in the Olympics hit harder than me is motivating,” Sanidad said. “If I see a good play from a certain hitter, I try to copy it and improve my hitting.”

Teammates also rely on him to “block every single hitter” on the other side of the net.

“Dan is a really athletic guy,” JV player Kyle V. Almendras (’13) said. “He has natural passes and high hops, so he does a great job blocking the ball.”

Although some may consider volleyball a “feminine sport,” Sanidad states that boys’ volleyball has a “more competitive game-play” than girls volleyball and challenges players to “react to events quicker.” For boys, the volleyball nets are raised to a different height. Therefore, they are expected to have higher jumps and verticals. Spikes also tend to travel faster, requiring players to be much more agile.

Not only is he known as a volleyball player, but Sanidad can be spotted riding around on his skateboard.

Sanidad first got into this hobby during his seventh grade year. Around that time, skating “used to be an important part of his life.”

His most memorable moment was skating over the nine-stepped staircase at Carr Park “because of its height and length.”

Recently, however, he feels that skating has become “an extension of [his] feet.” Nowadays, he mainly uses his skateboard to get from place to place.

Sanidad and Brandon Kim (’13) first started skating together during freshman year and used to skate four to five times a week.

Kim even recalls being kicked out of Hoover by the custodian for “seshing the seven stair,” otherwise known as skating over all the steps and landing safely on their boards.

Still, Sanidad remains true to his hobby and continues to use his board once in a while to pass the time, “finding people to skate with and traveling to different spots.”

As a student, time management is another important skill that Sanidad has mastered.

“Balancing my life is pretty easy,” Sanidad said. He plans his day to fit homework, games, and sports but still has “enough time to spend with family.”

“He never fails to always reiterate that school is the first priority,” mother Azucena Sanidad said. “He manages his time well for having multiple sports activities.”

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Athlete of the Month: Paul Ingram

By: Christine Babayan
The most dreaded part of a physical education class for most students is running. So why would some kids choose to take classes and spend hours of their day doing just that?
For track and field runner Paul Ingram (’12) it is the accomplishment he feels after a good run that motivates him to continue. It is knowing he had enough willpower not to listen to the little voice inside his head begging him to stop, or give in to the muscles getting more and more sore with each step.
When Ingram started running four years ago, he never imagined it would turn out to be such a big part of his life.

“It’s a grueling sport, I have to admit that,” Ingram said. “But over the years it has made me stronger, both mentally and physically.”

According to Ingram, to be a good track runner, the first thing you have to have is a positive perspective about the sport. After that you must motivate yourself to “give it all you got,” whether it’s during practice with your teammates or by yourself at home.

Ingram has created incredibly strong bonds with several teammates throughout his years on the team.

“They feel like a family to me now,” Ingram said.

Former captain Brian Trejo (’09) is one of the people Ingram looks up to every day for motivation.

“As his teammate and captain I could always rely on Paul to put forth his best effort,” Trejo said. “Now he is captain himself, which is a job that entails an extremely motivated person and someone that is absolutely passionate about the sport.”

Although the sport may not be “the most enjoyable,” it teaches him something new about himself every time he is on the field.

“Every day holds another challenge,” Ingram said. “You have to be tough; after all, you can only get out what you give into the sport.”

Determination is one of the many things he learned from Coach Jack Sallakian. Sallakian taught him that if he is not willing to put time and effort into running, he won’t achieve anything from it.

“Paul is a very knowledgeable team captain,” Sallakian said. “He keeps his teammates relaxed and constantly setting new personal records for them.”

Sallakian also noted his admiration of Ingram since “he is not afraid to try new events, which is both inspiring and encouraging to the rest of the team.”

In their last meet against Glendale High School Ingram ran the 110m hurdles, 300 hurdles, one-mile race, and then completed the long jump.

Fortunately for him, Ingram has never experienced a bad physical injury from the sport, and he plans to keep it that way.

“For me it’s always about what I can do to keep from getting injured,” Ingram said. “That means frequently buying new shoes, stretching properly and, of course, resting.”

Aside from his dedication to running, Ingram also holds a strong passion for acting.

“I like exploring the different emotions of my character,” Ingram said. “I use those emotions to bring a character I’m playing to life and experience things I usually wouldn’t as my normal self.”

Ingram plans to continue running during his college years while he majors in fire science studies.

He hopes his experience on the team will give him an upper hand on the field when he becomes a firefighter.

“It’s something that I’ll always love to do,” Ingram said. “It’s a part of me now.”

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Punching out the competition

By: Alejandra Rosas

The adrenaline rushes, the rapid heart beats, the sweat drips from his forehead, and a focused mind on where to throw the next punch embody Aram Oganesyan (’15) when he wears his 10 oz. blue Everlast boxing gloves in the boxing ring.

Oganesyan began boxing at the age of seven and has been training at the Main Event Gym in Glendale ever since.

Boxing is a competitive sport in which two people hit each other with their fists and use different types of stylistic approaches during the fight.

Oganesyan’s passion for boxing first arose at the age of six when his father took him to see professional boxer Vanes Martirosyan. Since childhood, Oganesyan’s eyes were glued to the television screen whenever Martirosyan’s matches were on.

“[Martirosyan] became my idol and I realized I wanted to be like him in the ring,” Oganesyan said.

At the age of seven, Oganesyan was strongly encouraged by his father and his father’s friends to box. Even though he was involved with swimming at the time, he was willing to quit and constantly train in order to become a boxer.

Rough, tough, and independent are adjectives that describe boxing and embody Oganesyan’s personality.

Father Haykaram Oganesyan says he always got him all the training he needed to continue boxing since the first day Aram told him he wanted to become a boxer.

“I always encourage him to train harder because his coach, his friends, and I all see the potential in him to get really far with professional boxing,” Haykaram said.

Without hesitation, Haykaram agreed to take him to a boxing gym where he began learning the basic skills and techniques from a trainer, 62-year-old Abo Gharapetyan.

Gharapetyan was an underground boxer with the title of European Champion in Abovyan, Armenia. Thirty years ago, he retired to become a trainer and has used his life-long experience to help kids like Oganesyan develop the skills to fight.

According to Gharapetyan, Aram is a very “keen” and dedicated boxer who shows his passion every time he steps into the gym ready to fight.

“I constantly tell Aram that he’s very strong,” Gharapetyan said. “[He] knows he has the potential to go pro if he wanted to.”

Aram started off competing at the Golden Gloves competition and moved on to Silver Gloves which he both won.

Recently, he competed at the Chino Hills Boxing Club on April 14 for the Junior Olympics in which he won the title of “state champion.”
His next competition is on May 13 at Reno, Nevada for the Junior Olympics regionals.

He trains on a strict regimen three times a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. until he feels he has done enough preparing for the day.

Although he already trains three times a week, he used to train five days a week, but because he recently joined football, he has decided to take time off of boxing to balance both. Aram decided to join football because he considers it more of an intense and aggressive sport.

“I like the moment when you’re pressured to do well, and similarly to boxing, in football, you either make it or break it,” Aram said.

He says that boxing has become his entire life and is something he puts constant effort into on a daily basis whether it is by practicing, looking at videos of boxing matches, or building up his stamina by constantly working out.

Aram trains by doing a lot of cardio exercises usually consisting of running and sparring. He believes that working out and eating an abundant amount of carbohydrates and proteins every day is what improves his strength and his ability to do better in a match.

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Throughout his day, Aram eats at least one plate of whole grain pasta, two plates of meat, and replaces unhealthy snacks with apples, carrots, and other items.

“I love the feeling of relieving my stress in the ring with gloves on my hands and my arms ready to swing,” Aram said.

Every time he has the opportunity to go to the gym, he lets out all the emotions and aggressions he has bottled up through practicing his punches.

Aram often practices his fighting skills with friend Armen Gumrikyan (’13) who has been boxing for five years.

“Aram is a boxer who puts a lot of time and dedication into boxing,” Gumrikyan said. “He’s really good in the aspect of being fast, having a strong right [arm] and a pretty good jab.”

Balancing school work, football, and boxing is not an easy task, especially as a freshman, but Aram plans to continue being involved in the sport he grew up with and couldn’t be more fervent about.

“I would never stop boxing, even if I had a million things to do and no time,” Aram said. “Boxing and being in that ring is just part of who I am.”

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Choosing the “right” side

By: Edward Nadurata

Each leap year comes with one more day in February and the ever so anticipated Summer Olympic games.

This summer, the whole world will congregate in London to compete for coveted medals and honors in every sport you can think of. A sense of global competition that does not involve war is expected with each ethnicity rooting for their home country.

A question arises in a country like the United States, which holds a salad bowl of nationalities, mixed together into one but each culture is still distinct in its own way.

How does ethnocentrism play in a society like this? Who will you support? Should you support the country you are now living in or the country where you are from?

Many feel as if we are betraying our motherland if we do not support it but if we are citizens of the U.S., isn’t the U.S. technically our home now since we have renounced our citizenship from the home land?

I myself am faced with this dilemma. As a Filipino immigrant, I honestly do not know who to support when it comes to international events like this. I feel obligated to support the Philippines as I was born there but I want to support the teams of the U.S. more.

As a more present and future oriented person, I think that because I live here now, I should support the U.S. teams more as I am part of this society now. I am not forgetting my culture; I am merely looking and situating myself where I am now.

There are basically two extremes in this situation that people can stereotype, which is totally wrong. On one side is the so-called “white-washed” person who would support the U.S. and to some may seem to be alienating their culture. On the other end of the spectrum are the “fresh off the boat” or “FOBs” as they are degradingly called who do not adapt to the new culture.

It’s inevitable. The narrowmindedness of people will always prevail. It proves that you can’t please anyone in any situation, there is a person that will judge you no matter what you do, a very unfortunate truth about the human nature.

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Tennis thunders through season

By: Paul Hong

Tennis may not seem as such a rigorous sport in relation to football or baseball, but in truth, it is the same amount of work and dedication that a player must exert.

With one of the best group of players ever to have been formed within a six-year period, the boys’ tennis team is segueing their way into the spotlight, prepping up to insure victory in their upcoming games.

“Tennis is a great sport that takes determination and strength as well as agility and speed,” JV member Michael Akopyan (’13) said.

The varsity team is currently 4-3 in league. They won the First Surf Tennis Tournament in Torrance.

“Both varsity and JV have proven to me that they have been one of the most successful teams I’ve had for the past six years,” Coach Julie Hoppe said. “The season is off to a good start.”

With the strength of the singles players as well as the supportive doubles, the varsity team beat Glendale 12-6 last Thursday. As a result, boys’ tennis now positioned themselves as third in league.

“I expect only the absolute best from my team,” Hoppe said.

Edward No (’13), who has been a part of the tennis team for three years and is currently a varsity member, says that “the singles are stronger this year.”

“Overall, our doubles are good, but they need more work,” No said. “Even though they struggle in the beginning, they always finish strong.”

Practices are held everyday after school from sixth period to 5 p.m.

Practices consist of basic conditioning which is running, stretches, warm-up games, drills, and actual practice matches depending on if they have games the following week.

“Tennis is my getaway from stress,” No said. “I always look forward to a nice fair game after school from a day of academic work.”

After beating Glendale here last week, there is one more BGD game on April 26 at Glendale.

“I’m very impressed with their improvement over the past several years,” Athletics Director John Van Patten said. “I could see us winning the CIF title in the near future.”

The next game is tomorrow against Pasadena at the tennis courts.

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Athlete of the Month: Briana Manzanero

By: Christine Babayan

“Let the bodies hit the floor! Let the bodies hit the floor! Let the bodies hit the floor!” This is the repetitive chorus of the song “Bodies” by metal band Drowning Pool that softball player Briana Manzanero (’12) uses to mentally prepare herself before every game.

“I listen to the song and it gives me a sense of ‘play hard or go home,’” Manzanero said.

Manzanero has stuck with this mentality for 13 years. Her first experience began in kindergarten when she joined a newly formed t-ball team and immediately fell in love with the game.

“Softball is 95 percent failure and five percent success,” Manzanero said. “You have to teach yourself to persevere throughout the whole game.”

According to Manzanero, good hand-and-eye coordination, quick feet, team spirit, and knowledge of the game build a good softball player.

She was recently offered full academic and athletic scholarships to Odessa and Frank Phillips College in Texas but decided to accept from La Sierra University in Riverside so she could stay close to home.

“She’s extremely fast,” softball coach Rich Henning said. “It’s her speed and hitting skills that turn her into an outstanding player.”

Not only does she pitch for the school team, but Manzanero also plays for the Easton Elite 18u Gold team, which she joined at the age of 11.

Throughout her years on the team, Manzanero has received many different awards. From the school team she has been nominated team captain, won the Silver Slugger Award two years in a row by having the best batting average in 2010-2011, earned 2nd in league for the most amount of stolen bases and on base percentage, and 4th in league for batting average.

Manzanero also coaches an 8u softball team called Ruthless along with her father Angel.

“When Briana first wanted to play softball I thought she was too girly for the tough sport,” Angel said. “But as soon as she stepped onto the field she turned into my little all-star.”

One of Briana’s favorite memories is a bet she made with her father during a game in 6th grade: if she hit a home run he would finally buy her the contact lenses she asked for. By the next day, she wasn’t wearing glasses anymore.

The two have grown closer while spending a lot of time together traveling across the country for various softball tournaments. A tradition while on the road for the two is having an early breakfast at McDonald’s.

Being a pitcher, Manzanero has to depend a lot on her teammates to set up plays for her.

“Good communication is the key to teamwork,” Manzanero said. “Even if we’re in the middle of a personal fight or just dislike each other, being able to communicate on the field goes a long way.”

Manzanero makes an effort everyday to encourage her teammates to trust their instincts on the field and “never give up.” She’s constantly cheering for them during games whether they’re winning or losing.

“I’ve learned a lot from watching Briana play,” teammate Lilian Rivera (’12) said. “She’s a supportive teammate both on and off the field and knows the game extremely well.”

As much as she enjoys softball, Manzanero plans on taking a break during her college season to start her nursing career.

For now she focuses on perfecting her game, Manzanero even taking private hitting lessons with softball Hall of Famer Sandra Durazo.

“Throughout the five years I’ve worked with her, Briana has always strived for excellence,” Durazo said. “I know she will have a bright future at La Sierra University because of her strong work ethic and dedication to the game.”

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Rising through adversity

By: Edward Nadurata

Unbeknownst to many, the volleyball team ceased to exist last year due to the lack of players and the rather flailing season they had for the past few years.

With the persistence of a few players last year, the former team became a club as they were determined to keep boys’ volleyball alive as an organization in the school. They got girls’ volleyball coach Charles Min to help them around and the spring season of 2011 ended.

Now, the team is back in full speed under the direction of social science teacher and former coach Christian Hong.

It is admirable to say that a bunch of kids made a difference by successfully reinstalling a team that was haphazardly removed last season despite the fact that there were kids interested in actually playing.

Numbers should not ever determine the fate of a team. Just because they are not successful, it doesn’t mean that a sport should not be offered. A player builds a skill; it doesn’t stem out of nowhere.

The players were almost deprived of improving themselves with the sport but it was clear that they did not let anyone stop them from doing what they wanted to do.

How can we, as idle as we are, sit down and not do anything while the things that we take for granted are being slowly taken away? Each small thing is of value, one way or another.

This doesn’t only apply to sports, clearly evident with the students rallying behind the beloved substitute, Mr. S, when he was wrongly accused of pushing a student which then lead to his temporary removal.

Facebook groups were made, petitions were signed, and we made a difference.

So what’s the lesson learned? Stand up for what you believe in.

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Complaining out of context

By: Edward Nadurata

Having a younger brother has its benefits. I get to visit and bother him when I want to. I also get to hear freshmen talk about their plans for high school as I walk down the freshman quad. Not that I eavesdrop or anything…they speak loudly.

An interesting thing to note about students in our school is that they are whiners. They whine about how the school’s team sucks at sports, and moan and groan about how we never win games.

It’s a funny thing to say considering these kids have, one, never been on a sports team and, two, never even bother going to support the teams’ numerous games when they’re but a few yards away from their lockers.

So according to this group of brawny freshmen who were eating their lunch and loudly speaking at the same time, they only plan on staying on whatever team they are on for two years. In short, to fulfill their physical education credit.

There are many problems associated with this mentality.

Why would one join a team when they’re not fully dedicated to it? All programs in the school rely on people who are willing to do work in the said programs because they want to. That’s why it’s by choice to join a sport or an elective.

A school in our league actually has no Physical Education classes. Arcadia forces its students to either join a sport or marching band to meet the 2-year physical education requirement.

Although teams with a lot of players may seem intimidating, do you think half of those kids love what they’re doing?

How dare people complain about how we “suck” as a school with sports when they themselves have no dedication in the sports they are in. If you are not fully committed to something, don’t even join. The team would be better without you as they work with the players who actually want to be there.

It has been really tiring to hear peers complain about Hoover and its sports programs. How do you think the players feel when they lose a game after trying their best every single time, not even seeing a single student supporting them?

Before you complain, put yourself in an athlete’s shoes and see the issue through his eyes. It’s not easy to play a sport. It involves dedication and will.

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Stephen runs LA

By: Paul Hong

An inspiring program known as Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA), challenges students to experience the benefits of goal setting, character development, and improved health through running.

People might think that running is a waste of time, but Stephen Ghazikhanian (’12), who has been in this program for four years, has been dedicating his time towards this program.

Each student must accomplish 26.2 miles of running in order to finish the marathon. To train for this event, students practice three times a week along with Saturday morning practices.

Ghazikhanian joined this program knowing that it was going to be a challenge, but a self-gratifying one. Running provides him stress relief.
“The hardest thing about running is maintaining your speed and stamina,” Ghazikhanian said. “But once you start getting used to it, running is an enjoyable activity.”

Throughout the years, Ghazikhanian has attended 10 races in total.

In 2009, he took part in a ten kilometer races in which he finished with a time of 56:41 and a five kilometer one with a time of 33:39. The same year, he also ran in two Honda marathons in which he finished both with 6:32:16.

In 2010, Ghazikhanian ran in five races including two half marathons in which he finished with a time of 2:14:08 and 2:39:16, one 10 kilometer and 15 kilometer in which he finished with a time of 1:05:43 and 1:31:36, respectively. The last race of the year was the Honda marathon in which he finished in 5:57:58.

This year, Ghazikhanian ran an 18-mile trail run with a time of 3:27:05.

“My greatest accomplishment involving this program would be actually finishing each race without quitting,” Ghazikhanian said.

Last year’s Honda marathon, however, received a fair amount of rain which created a slippery road which delayed the race about thirty minutes. Despite the dangerous run Ghazikhanian had to face, he did not falter.

“What motivated me the most that day were my family, friends, and random strangers in the crowd saying I could do it,” Ghazikhanian said. “I will never forget the amount of effort I put in that day along with the amazing feeling of accomplishment at the end.”

Ghazikhanian loves to test himself with activities that are not common within the student community. He first discovered SRLA from his cousin Elin Ghazikhanian (’10), who took part in the program when she was in middle school and found that it was also offered at school.

“Even though running seems like a boring activity to do on a daily basis, I have made numerous memories with fellow runners standing beside me towards the finish line,” Ghazikhanian said. “Just the feeling of crossing that finish line is a [precious] memory for me.”

Although running is an exerting activity, Ghazikhanian still manages to do well in school. He is ranked number two among the whole senior student body.
“Stephen is very well mannered and gets along well with everyone in the class,” math teacher Vandana Sood said. “We need more students like him on campus.”

According to mother Marlet Ghazikhanian, Stephen still makes time during the weekends to spend it with family despite his busy schedule with school and running.

As well as having that substantial feeling of triumph, this program also gives seniors a $500 scholarship with the completion of the marathon.

“The only reason why I stayed in this program is because Stephen stayed,” physical education teacher and SRLA adviser Jennifer Capehart said. “As adviser, it was my responsibility to continue to run this program for the sake of the students still committed to it.”

“He trains very professionally,” Yervand Azatian (’12) said. “During his long mile running, he knows how to pace himself and is able to complete the race smoothly.”

Johan Sangalang (’12), who has been in this program for a month, already finds this program beneficial because of the great feeling of success after running.

“Stephen gives me advice such as not stomping my feet and to be sure to wear running shoes,” Sangalang said.

Although nothing affects Stephen and his determination towards the program, the small number of members slightly discourages him. He believes other people should be aware of this grand opportunity.

“­­­­I am sad that more people don’t know about this program,” Stephen said. “It really is a great way to stay in shape and also helps you motivate yourself to complete your goals.”

At this point, SRLA will be discontinued due to the “lack of members” in the program, Capehart said.

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Abraar wrestles wrangler

Photo Credit: An Uong

By: Victor Garcia

Imagine moving from a little town of around 9,000 people in Colorado to a comparatively bustling metropolis of 200,000 and then becoming the team captain of a team that has never before existed on campus.

In 2010, Abraar Khan (’12) moved to Glendale from Delta, Colorado and became the captain of the newest and fastest growing team on campus – wrestling.

Khan started his affair with sports in eighth grade when he started playing on the boys’ basketball team as post and point guard.

“My self-esteem boosted big time [while playing sports] so I thought ‘why not try wrestling?’” Khan said.

He began wrestling for the Delta team that year, but did not continue into his freshman year because he wanted to focus on school. However, he continued in cross country so he could stay conditioned for track season.

This came as a great surprise to his former wrestling coach Luis Meza who still teaches at Delta High.

“He was [one] heck of a kid,” Meza said. “He was always one of my favorites to have in class.”

When he came to school last year, Khan was surprised that there wasn’t a wrestling team so he created the short-lived weightlifting club. When he discovered that coach and social science teacher Mark Betteti was planning to start a wrestling team, he was one of the first to sign up.

Khan’s typical day starts with him getting up at five in the morning and beginning a light workout at home that consists of mostly weightlifting that targets different body parts. He then spends even more time after school in sports such as wrestling and track.

“I come home exhausted after whatever practice I happened to finish that day,” Khan said. “I try to do my homework until 11 but I sometimes just end up passing out at 9.”

Aside from being the captain of the wrestling team, he is also involved in other sports. Khan ran cross-country both his freshman and sophomore years, and has also been in track since his freshman year in which he participates in field events such as discus and shot put.

All in all, the biggest time consumer for Khan is being wrestling captain.

“It was a little overwhelming at first.” Khan admitted, “I thought I wasn’t right for the position.”

Khan had to consider balancing the responsibility of being captain with his classes, but with a lot of coaxing from Bitetti, he decided to become captain.

“He is very mature,” Bitetti said. “Abraar is a great leader; I think he’s a wonderful influence on the [other] kids.”

Whenever he is in front of the team he says he feels as if he has to push himself to do his best because if he didn’t he “wouldn’t be able to define what the limit would mean for the rest of the team.”

Khan said that he feels personally responsible for the future of the team because he wants the wrestling program to become more than just a sports team, and wants his teammates to not only be great athletes and students but to be good citizens as well.

He also tries his hardest to be a role model for the players by excelling in class and by doing his best on the mat so he pushes his team to be the best they can.

“I have to always set the example,” Khan said. “I have to control my composition in times of stress so the team knows what sort of behavior is expected.”

Khan’s parents Mustafa “Mark” Khan and Nadira Begum have been very supportive of their son’s interest in sports. Khan is the only person in his family that was ever allowed to play in a contact sport because his parents trust his judgment that he will not be hurt during practices or spars.

“When I come home with a mat burn on my face, busted lip or even a bruise my mom always gets very scared.” Khan said. “She trusts that I will be able to take care of myself.”

However, Khan has had his share of injuries, one of them being that he tore his rotator cuff, a group of muscles that are located in the shoulder.

It still hurts him when he uses it too much. Nevertheless, he is glad to have been spared the injuries his seen others get such as broken noses, dislocated shoulders, blackouts and worse.

Mark says that he is proud that his son turned out to be so athletic.

“It’s good that he does all those sports,” he said. “I encourage him because he is so self-conscious and sports help him get his mind off of it.”

The team is proud that they can call someone like Khan as their captain. They are even more grateful to have someone like him on the team guiding them.

“He encourages us and shows us that some can be an athlete and still get good grades,” Roman Acosta (’14) said.

Photo Credit: An Uong

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NBA’s Stern double dribbles

By: Edward Nadurata

The NBA lockout ended, dear old basketball was back, and all the drama was gone…until the on again off again Chris Paul deal came along.

Supposedly, New Orleans Hornets player Paul was to be traded to the Lakers in a complicated move of players involving the Hornets, Rockets and the Lakers. Lakers Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom would have been shipped off to the other teams in order to acquire Paul. But before all this could have happened, NBA commissioner David Stern stopped it.
Stern should not have done this. It was a legitimate business transaction and calling it off was uncalled for. He may have thought that the Lakers was already a “strong” team, but why should that be a reason for the team to be more formidable.

I thought that the Lakers deciding to rid Gasol and Odom, or trying to at least, was too extreme in action. They are arguably some of the team’s most important players and without Gasol, the team would not have a center. The team would have been virtually incomplete.

But now all is done. Odom is with the Mavericks (yes, the same team that swept the Lakers last year during the second round of playoffs) and Paul is now with the Clippers.

Paul is joined by another star player, Chauncey Billups, and, of course, the Clipper’s main attraction, Blake Griffin.
When you hear Los Angeles, you think of Hollywood, sunshine and the Lakers not the Clippers.

The Lakers was and has always been the dominating team in the city and now with the decision of one man, the Clippers, which has always been the subpar secondary team stands against the prestige and strength the Lakers has had for decades.

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Zalin recovers while helping the team

By: Paul Hong

An injury is bound to happen when one pushes himself to participate in many sports. One such athlete is soccer player Allison Zalin (’13).

Zalin’s injury was inflicted upon her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the main four knee ligaments, which is crucial for an athlete and needs immediate attention including surgery if needed.

The ACL is located deep within the notch of the distal femur. When an athlete does a sudden turn on her leg while in motion, a tear or strain can happen which causes this common injury.

Her ACL injury has caused her to withdraw from all her sports: basketball, soccer, and track and field. If she wants to partake in any sport-related activity, she can only stand on the sidelines and watch her fellow teammates play while shouting words of encouragement.

She got her injury when she “turned the wrong way” during her first soccer game two months ago with the American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO), which caused her to withdraw from the entire season.

“There was a lot of pain involved with my injury,” Zalin said. “But the worst pain was the fact that I couldn’t play my sports for the rest of the season.”

Rather than getting immediate surgery, Zalin’s current doctor Mark Getelman, proposed the idea of receiving physical therapy, such as wound management, therapeutic exercises, and regular stretching, until she is able to fully regain motion in her leg.

Getelman conducted various amounts of tests and measurements like the Lachman’s test, which measures a person’s knee at a 30 degree angle with a physician gently pulling on the tibia to check the forward motion of the leg.

Zalin plans to get as much rest as she can, as well as doing conditioning such as working on her shots and walking for a period of time so she does not lose her “edge.”

“When you play sports you often take risks, ones that could possibly involve injury,” father Bill Zalin said. “It’s unfortunate that this happened to my daughter, but I know she’s a tough girl and that she’ll pull through.”

Her dedication is reflected upon the amount of love she puts into her sports. Although much movement is not recommended while going through this injury, Zalin makes sure to attend all practices.

“Her absence from the team is a tragic loss because of her skills on the court,” teammate Caitlyn Teng (’13) said. “Although she’s out for the whole season, she still comes to every practice to help each player improve their skills.”

Her teammates, who are relatively smaller than her 5’11” frame, rely on her height and her ability to play as both center and forward in basketball.

“She is our best starting center,” basketball coach Stanley Watson said. “It is such a disappointment that she is out for the season.”

Zalin also plays as a goalie in the (AYSO), which is where her injury originated.

“I always thought Allison was a really good goalie,” soccer teammate Lori Berberian (’13) said. “I know after her knee gets better she will be back and stronger than ever.”

As well as participating in the school’s basketball team and the AYSO, Zalin is also part of the track and field team as the main field eventer. She participates in the high jump, long jump, poll vault, and shock put. The ACL injury crucially affects this particular sport because it requires much running.

“She is one of our best field eventers,” track and field teammate Kenneth Trejo (’13) said.

Afterwards, if her leg feels more stable, she can get fitted for an ACL brace which is useful to prevent further damage by keeping the leg in place.

As soon as she feels better, she plans to go straight back to what she loves the most – sports. If her knee does not feel stable in the next couple of months, Zalin’s doctor might have to request surgery.

“I joined these sports because it’s what I love – it’s me, it’s what I do,” Zalin said. “I can’t wait to recover from this injury so I can get back to the fields and courts.”

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Kristina’s not “horsing around”

Photo Credit: An Uong

By: Victor Garcia

After Kristina Hambley (’13) finishes her sixth period AP U.S. History class, she heads out to her parent’s waiting car to drive out to Hayley Farms in Lake View Terrace where her horse Bremen Star is kept and where she’ll spend the next three hours caring for and training with her horse.

Ever since she was six when she rode a horse for the first time, she has cultivated a deep running passion for equestrian riding, a passion that stemmed from her love of animals.

Parents Robin and Sofie Hambley support Kristina by driving to the stables every day. They bought Bremen for Kristina to show their confidence in her abilities.

“I’m glad that Kristina is in a competitive sport,” Robin said. “She sets her goals and accomplishes them.”

Faithfully, without variation, she commences with her daily routine. She goes into the barn and grooms the horse for at least 15 minutes, brushing his coat to a glossy sheen. She then picks the hooves to make sure that there aren’t any stones that could hurt him.
After she tacks up, putting on the saddle, bridle and boots, she then trains for about an hour with her trainers Tommy Lowe and Shari Rose and then walks the horse slowly for a cool down.

“She is extremely talented,” trainer Shari Rose said, who has been teaching Kristina for seven months, but has been training riders for nearly 40 years. “She could go to the Olympics if she wanted to.”

When the training is finished, she takes Bremen to the shower racks and proceeds to clean this1,500 pound grey, 12-year-old Hanoverian Warmblood that she had gotten near the end of the last school year.

She then starts making his feed to very close specifications by hand, adding specific amounts of different grains as well as adding O & M, a hay like product made out of shredded processed oats and molasses.

“These horses are athletes,” Kristina said while mixing the vitamins and joint supplements into the feed. “They need their feed to reflect that, which is why I spend so much time on it.”

It is one thing to just own a horse and ride it recreationally, but is it quite another to have to ride that same horse competitively. Hambley, tired of people having “this notion that riding is not a sport” decided to create the equestrian team last year to serve the purpose of “showing them that it is.”

Currently only Kristina and her 14-year-old sister Danielle (’15) are on the team, both riding for the school in the Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL).

The IEL is the Southern Californian league for high school with equestrian teams to participate in. Kristina started competing for the school last year and will continue until graduation. Many other schools such as Harvard Westlake, La Cañada, and Granada High attend. It is nominally held in the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Lake View Terrace, and the people who place the highest in their respective classes get prize ribbons for their efforts.

“It’s not only the horse that gets judged,” Kristina said, “but it’s how well we work together, so I always try to be as close to him as I can so that shines through.”

Kristina said that her horse is a partner in this because they must both trust and believe in each other if they are to pull off the amazing feats of riding . She said that until recently she didn’t trust anyone but herself to make Bremen’s food.

For competitions, Kristina must rise at about 5 a.m. to prepare herself for the big day. She then drives out to the location of the show and upon arrival goes through her regular routine of tacking and warming up. When she finishes preparing Bremen, she walks the course and studies how best to approach it for her coming performance.

She then waits for her class to be called up to jump for the judges. After having completed jumping in a number of classes, she leaves after the awards are given for that particular class.

Kristina’s most recent exploits were a show on Dec. 4 where she placed fourth in the flat class and one on Oct. 30 for the IEL in which she placed fifth out of 68 in the jumping class.

Kristina remembers that one of her favorite shows was one in which she did not even win.
“I’ve only had him for a few weeks and I was so nervous,” said Kristina. “When were [called back] and got second I knew that there was going to be great things from him.”

When she is on her way home, she has to remind herself that she should not get “caught up in the competition [and that her] horse is [her] partner… no matter what color ribbon [they] walk home with.”

Friend Anayenzi Acosta (’13) was well aware that Kristina rode and said that she was “amazed” that Hambley could be so good at this “beautiful strong sport.”

Acosta is “in awe” at the way that Kristina manages to balance the riding with school. She pushes and challenges herself by taking four AP classes, coupled with the fact that she is secretary of the National Honors Society, treasurer of the Spanish Club, and a member of the California Scholarship Federation.

When asked about what her plans for riding were she said that she would “follow this out to the end” and see how far it takes her. She plans to continue competing at an amateur level until she becomes qualified enough to compete in professional circles. Hambley also expressed interest in going to the Olympics if the opportunity arises.

“There is a lot I’ve learned in this sport about perseverance.” Hambley said “This sport is full of ups and downs [but] what really counts is that you move forward and try just as hard after a bad day as you do on a good one.”

Hambley posing with all the ribbons she has received over the past few years.

Photo Credit: An Uong

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Balancing school and sport

By: Paul Hong

The amount of dedication and time needed to perform well in a single sport is tremendous. However, imagine what it takes to perform in two sports?

Juniors Rachel Rosas, Samantha Flores, Arely Aguirre, and senior Christine Huynh participate in both volleyball and pep team.

A regular day for these girls can best be described as “busy.” On weekdays, Rosas heads to school before 7 a.m. for pep flag practice, then carries on through six classes, followed by volleyball practice after school. Along with volleyball games twice a week, Rosas must also attend weekly football games to cheer alongside other flag girls to motivate the team to win.

The biggest challenge in juggling volleyball and pep team is the time management. Because pep team practice is held in the morning and volleyball after school, there is little time to really do anything for Rosas. Along with the task of time management, there is much physical exertion that comes with it as well.

“People think that pep team is not a real sport, but in reality, it’s more physically demanding than it appears,” Rosas said.

Flores, on the other hand, has a strategic way of juggling her daily schedule.

“I sometimes try to finish my homework during school before games so I don’t have to worry about it after practice or games,” Flores said. If she doesn’t complete her homework during school, she tries to finish it at night until she “knocks out.”

Flores loves trying new things varying from sports, church affiliated activities, and anything else that interests her. Above all, she enjoys challenging herself with multiple activities.

“I am very appreciative that she makes time to attend church and spend quality time with family considering her schedule,” said grandmother Pearl Flores.

Flores also possesses the good qualities of a volleyball player when on the court.

“She could fill any position in a game,” coach Charles Min said.

Because of the activity and mobility that comes with volleyball and cheer, it wouldn’t be shocking that a player could be changed physically or emotionally.

Huynh was very shy even when she was a child, but joining volleyball and pep flags gave her the opportunity to break out of her shell.

“Pep flags changed me by embracing my feminine side,” Huynh said.

“All of them adjust well to their activities,” said pep coach Melanie Moreno. “It’s good to see students who take up multiple sports along with their academics because it shows how well rounded they are.”

As a third-year volleyball player but a first-year cheerleader, Aguirre has adjusted well to both sports. She tried out for volleyball with the influence of her older brother Juan, who convinced her that joining a sport would be a great learning experience.

“I will never regret joining the sports I participate in,” Aguirre said. “It’s part of my high school life and I’ll never forget the friendships and memories I have made and will make.”

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Athlete of the Month: Elizabeth Dardov

By: Ani Kirakosyan

Determination, leadership, and passion are all characteristics of a great athlete—all qualities Elizabeth Dardov (’12) possesses.

Since her freshman year, Dardov has worked her way through many struggles and pain to becoming the captain of the girls’ varsity volleyball team.
“I feel she is being rewarded for her hard work,” parent Gina Dardov said.

Dardov initially planned on trying out for the water polo team because she already knew how to swim, but “randomly” decided to give volleyball a try and ended up liking it “so much that I didn’t even want to go to the water polo tryouts anymore.”

“I was also pushing her towards swimming,” Gina Dardov said. “But once she started volleyball she became so attached.”

“I can’t choose what I love about volleyball the most,” Dardov said. “It’s a mentally challenging and skill-oriented sport.”

Dardov injured her ankle several times during her sophomore year, causing concern over how the injuries would affect her jumping. However, she was able to continue working towards her goal on overcoming her injuries, continue playing volleyball, and becoming captain of the team.

“She keeps us up when we’re down,” teammate Shania Barrett (’13) said. “She is an inspiration to all of us.”

Although her performance has been “rocky” due to her injuries, coach Charles Min appreciates her talent and diligence. Min suggested Dardov, in her sophomore year, to join Formula One, a team outside of school that plays from February to June. Dardov played as an outside hitter and passer for a season and a half, and is currently playing the same positions on the school team.

Besides playing at Formula One, Dardov has worked as a lifeguard at the Burbank YMCA for the past three years.

Not only does Dardov juggle work and volleyball, she is also a four-year member and president of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) club.

“There are two things that stand out in Elizabeth ,” AVID teacher Rae Etta Emmett said. “She is independent and she always gets it done.”

Dardov, at the beginning of her volleyball career, planned on playing throughout college, but is currently undetermined, as she wants to pursue a career in the medical field as a doctor or nurse, helping people in third-world countries.

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Frances sprints down the track

By: Alex Mikhailpoor

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Bitetti goes to the mat for wrestling

By: Alex Mikhailpoor

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When the going gets tough, the pills start popping

By: Cody Senteno

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Policky appointed as new football coach

By: Alex Mikhailpoor

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FLAGS PLACES AT NATIONALS

By: Alex Mikhailpoor

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You just got served

By: Asher Landau

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Shooting isn’t always fatal

By: Maryam Soorma

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Volleyball partially reinstated

By: Asher Landau

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Bringing swagga’ to the campus

By: Alex Mikhailpoor

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Hakop splashes over to Glendale

Photo Credit: Allen Au

By: Alex Mikhailpoor

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New coaches prepare for upcoming season- Donal Kennedy

Photo Credit: Cain Buckler

By: Edward Nadurata

“The team is doing fantastic work, has good ethics and has worked hard,” Kennedy said. “All we have to do now is apply what we learn onto the field.”

Donal Kennedy, the new girls’ soccer coach, grew up in Ireland and played soccer on a semi-professional team called Bohemia in Dublin.

“I have been passionate about soccer since I was a kid,” Kennedy said. “From then on it has been an integral part of my life and I want to share what I know about the sport.”

When he moved to America, he coached in schools throughout Southern California. He also worked for the Olympic Development program for the regional youth level in Southern California.

Kennedy’s training is focused on building on the fundamentals because the majority of the team is “vastly inexperienced with most players having no soccer background.”

His workouts for the team are composed of cardiovascular and endurance exercises that enhance the condition of the girls.

His goals for the season are for the team to be more competitive to make up for the inexperience of the group and to get into the playoffs.

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