Polytechnic School

Vol. XXVI
ISSUE V
December 19, 2013
Polytechnic School :: Pasadena, California
Poly Pilferer strikes again
By MANNY MEDRANO
Staff writer
Courtesy of the Pasadena Outlook
Upper School dancers performed in their production “Art of Motion,” a culmination of their efforts over the f irst
semester. The proceeds from the show were donated to the non-prof it organization the Elizabeth House. See page 7.
With the second quarter firmly underway, the
Upper School community has begun to discuss a
hardly new occurrence—the theft of items on school
grounds. Especially due to Poly’s open campus, the
beginning of the year has already seen the disappearance of many items, ranging from school supplies to
expensive electronics.
Upper School administrators have continually
warned students to keep their belongings either on
hand or in their lockers. Accompanying warnings
have included paper reminders in unattended backpacks, as well as a teacher-made animation in morning meeting alerting the student body to the problem
and advising a similar course of action.
The thefts have taken a uniquely difficult toll on
the students. Sophomore Jack Amsbry has experienced the events firsthand, having had two Ti-84 calculators stolen out of his backpack—one was found
in the French classroom (Amsbry takes Spanish),
and the other needed to be replaced. In addition, he
has had the batteries taken from his calculator several times. Junior Bryan Gleason has voiced the same
sentiment; his calculator, lost in early December, will
require a replacement.
Senior Michael Bowman has also been a victim
of the thefts, reporting that “I have had two iPhones
stolen at Poly in the past two years… both out of the
boy’s locker room.”
See Poly Pilferer, page 2.
New Director Martin Haase to head Development Office
By RICHARD HATHAWAY
Staff writer
Martin Haase, currently Director of Institutional
Advancement at New York City’s Browning School,
will assume the role of Director of Advancement in
Polytechnic’s Development Office in February 2014.
As a new addition to the staff, Haase will continue
strengthening Poly’s extensive development and alumni
relations programs. He will be replacing Diane Binney,
who has taken a position as Assistant Vice President of
Campus and Community Relations at Caltech.
Through his involvement in two East Coast schools,
Haase brings extensive experience in development programs to Poly. During nine years at Browning, he successfully rebranded the School, increased annual donations by 66%, revitalized alumni involvement and
oversaw an increase in Browning’s endowment from
$12 million to $50 million.
Prior to Browning, Haase served eight years in
various positions in the Development Office at Blair
Academy, a boarding school in northwestern New Jersey, including Director of Annual Giving, Director of
Alumni Relations, Major Gifts Officer and Associate
Development Director. While at Blair, Haase and his
wife, Barbara, were also housemasters for ten years in
a dormitory which houses seventy-five freshmen and
sophomore women.
NEWS
National Hour of Code at
Poly. See page 2.
Winter Play to be in Black
Box Theater. See page 2.
Haase attended the Pennsylvania State University,
and its Graduate School of Business. Before entering
the field of development, he spent twenty years in the
corporate world in various public relations, sales and
marketing positions.
Haase is looking forward to begin working at Poly
and to getting to know the entire Poly community. He
said, “We want to continue to advance the development program and certainly focus on increased alumni
involvement. Expanding the major gifts program will
also be a priority as we move forward.”
Coming directly from a school of under 400 students that encompasses 50,000 square feet, Haase is
excited to be working at Poly. He commented that the
“the pool, the athletic field, the performing arts center
and the three divisions, each with their own distinct
personalities, are all very appealing.”
Haase looks forward to being connected with all aspects of Poly life. He commented, “I very much thrive
in an atmosphere where I am involved with the different constituencies at the school, including faculty, administrators, staff and of course, our external constituencies of alumni, parents, grandparents and friends.”
He continued, “I find that I get a lot of professional
and personal fulfillment from these interactions, and
I also find that I am more effective at my job when I
can establish great lines of communication with each of
these respective groups.”
OPINION
A reflection on the life of Nelson Mandela. See page 4.
How political is Poly? A survey of Poly’s young voters. See
page 5.
Courtesy of Poly Communications
The Upper School recently hosted Open Mic night, an
event in which students performed various music, poetry
and prose. See page 8.
SPORTS
LIFE
Introducing Firebaugh. See
Page 9.
Faculty Profile: Jose Melgoza.
See page 6.
Panthers in College during
the Fall Season. See page 10.
A Los Angeles Christmas See
page 8.
2
NEWS
the paw print
Feminist Activists host
first bake sale of the year
By JULIA WOHL
News editor
The Feminist Activist Club recently
organized a bake sale to support the Lotus
Pedals Foundation, an organization that
provides bicycles for Cambodian girls. These
bikes provide a quick and effective means of
transportation to help prevent girls from
being subjected to sexual abuse or abduction
that can happen girls travel on foot.
In the past few months, the Feminist
Activist Club has become a prominent
organization representing women’s rights in
the Poly community. The club’s 43 members
span across all grades and include all sexes.
Created this year by sophomore Julia
Rocha, the Feminist Activist Club strives
to stand against injustice and advocate for
women’s right to equal opportunities.
Rocha said, “Although there is so much
aggression in today’s society, without
education it is just something we conform to
and dismiss. The only way to stand up to the
misogyny in today’s society is by being aware
of it in the first place. My goal is to create
a community of empowerment in which we
can learn about issues in our community and
strive for equality together.”
The bake sale raised $133 to donate to
the Lotus Pedals Foundation. The Feminist
Activist Club meets every Tuesday during
lunch in room 107.
December 19, 2013
Upper school students participate in National Hour of Code
By JULIA WOHL
News editor
A group of Upper, Middle and Lower
School students recently participated in
the Hour of Code, a national event which
aims to teach kids about algorithms
and coding through computer-based
exercises in order to develop their
awareness of computer science. It takes
place during Computer Science Week,
an annual event dedicated to teaching
kids in kindergarten through twelfth
grade about computer science.
Upper School Computer Science
instructor Richard White, Educational
Technology
coordinators
Laura
Holmgren and Kelly Ward, Director
of IT John Yen and student mentors
Courtesy of Michelle Feynman
from the Upper School AP Computer
Science class took to teaching “Python” Senior Liam Wilt taught a f ifth grader the programming language “Python.” The
to fifth and seventh graders. “Python” is children also learned about algorithims and coding.
a programming language that allows its
users to work quickly and to integrate coding, but by the end of the hour, programming that they were asking
systems effectively.
all of them seemed to understand me how they could go home and write
Senior Anisha Cook, one of the what they were doing and had started code. My one regret is that I wish I had
student mentors, commented, “There experimenting with the code.
been introduced to programming in a
were definitely several kids who had
She continued, “It was exciting to language like Python when I was that
some kind of previous experience see a few of them get so pulled in by age.”
Winter play to take place in black box theater Upper School Orchestra performs for first graders
By ISABELLE PHINNEY
Staff writer
For the first time in history, Poly’s
winter production will take the form of a
contemporary musical instead of the usual
play. The musical, A New Brain, by William
Finn and James Lapine, will be performed in
the new black box theater.
A New Brain centers around Gordon
Schwinn, the writer of a children’s show,
who hopes to one day write a great musical.
Sophomore Diana Leon says the musical
focuses more on musical numbers than
spoken dialogue.
As well as being the first winter musical
production, A New Brain will be the first
production to be set in the new black box
theater which places the audience and actors
in much closer quarters, placing the focus
entirely on the actors.
Unlike the Garland stage, the black box
theater has no wings; the actors will not
be able to enter or leave the scene. Luckily,
A New Brain was written for a small cast.
Props, lighting, and sets will also be kept to
a minimum.
Poly Pilferer
Continued from page 1
In a campus that witnesses countless visitors passing through the athletic
area for games and practices, locking
up one’s belongings appears to be logical. The PE department has responded
with weekly reminders to ensure that
students secure their belongings in assigned lockers during athletic tournaments that include other schools.
Students have also had more expensive items disappear on the campus.
Sophomore Mia Fernandez recently
discovered a large amount of her personal jewelry to be missing, including
her CIF soccer championship ring.
Her response was understandably one
Senior Brianna Chu said of the new
venue, “I’m delighted to be a part of the first
class to work with the black box theatre.
There’s so much to discover and learn from
the experience.”
Sophomore Diana Leon was slightly
more skeptical. “We have more actors than
we anticipated, so the black box will be quite
crowded. I really like the songs, though.”
Performing
Arts
Director
Tina
Cocumelli explained the difference between
the winter and spring musicals: “The winter
production period is short and choppy, as it
spans winter break, finals and the start of
the new semester, so the shows we do are
presented quite simply; we’re approaching A
New Brain like a workshop production.”
Mr. Geier will serve as both the musical
director and pianist for the show. The
piano will likely be the actors’ only musical
accompaniment.
Auditions for the musical took place
December 11th through 13th. The
performances will take place February 5th
through 8th at 7:30 pm. Seats must be
reserved with Ms. Cocumelli.
of disappointment, stating that “having
your personal belongings and meaningful items stolen at school is very disheartening. The thefts are unnecessary,
and I feel that more should be done
about them.”
Among the most perplexing of situations arose with junior Mitch Buangsuwon: having secured his DSLR camera
in his locker over the Trips Week, he
returned to discover that his locker was
empty, devoid of his expensive equipment. He is not unfamiliar with the
thefts, as a portable boom-box was stolen from him as a freshman. Buangsuwon was obviously upset with the situation, adding,“it’s not comforting that
anyone can walk onto [school grounds],”
yet that the situation is still preferable to
having “to put a fence around campus.”
By JON WONG
Staff writer
Members of Poly’s Upper School
Orchestra recently performed for the
first graders as a part of Giving Bach, a
program that aims to enrich the lives of
children by giving them the opportunity
to attend educational and interactive
concerts.
During the performance, the first
graders were able to walk up to the
musicians and observe each instrument
up close.
After performing a selection of lighthearted pieces, the musicians gave the
students the opportunity to play the
instrument themselves.
Violist Maya
Barajas-Tavera
commented,
“When
I was
younger,
I was inspired to take up an instrument
when I saw high school students playing
and explaining their instruments in
a performance similar to that of the
Giving Bach performance. Hopefully,
there was a first grader with the same
reaction during our performance.”
The casual atmosphere of the
performance
allowed
both
the
audience and performers to easily enjoy
themselves. “The important thing is not
to get every note right but to really enjoy
it,” Jessica Jin explained.
In the coming years,
Poly plans to take
the Giving Bach
program off campus
in order to
reach a wider
audience.
Courtesy of Michelle Feynman
Fencing team hosts toy drive for sports teams
The Poly fencing team is hosting its second annual toy drive.
Head Coach Laura Holmgren brought the Toy Drive to Poly after the team
competed at a tournament where a donation of toys was required for entry.
After the tournament, the fencing team decided to set up a competition at
school, dividing people by sports teams to see which team could donate the
most toys.
Though the team did not enter the same tournament this year, ASB
Community Outreach representative and member of the fencing team Erik
Chan commented, “I thought it would be a shame not to do it again as it was
fun to organize.”
The fencing team will be collecting unused and unwrapped toys worth at
least ten dollars, and the winning team will get a pizza party.
- Leigh Samuels
December 19. 2013
Should class participation be
graded?
By Peregrine Lang
Some students have voiced concern and annoyance
because class participation is a substantial part of students’
grades. To whit: 1) Students who feel forced to participate
will not make insightful comments and the drive to
receive high grades can induce pointless questions that
just waste class time for those who actually want to learn;
2) Reserved or shy students find verbal participation
stressful; 3) Comprehension of a subject like English can
more easily be displayed in written form; and 4) Grading
class participation tends to be ambiguous because it is
impossible to grade insight and opinion objectively.
Socrates -- the renowned Greek philosopher -said, “Learning is nothing more than a boy and a man
on a log, talking.” Socrates argues that learning is based
on dialectic learning or dialogue, of mutual involvement
between pupil and teacher, where learning takes the form
of asking rather than telling. Communication, especially
verbal communication, is vitally important in our society.
Sharing and debating ideas, no matter how foolish they
seem, lends itself to excellent learning. A recent article in
The Atlantic cites Dr. Kendall Hoyt, an assistant professor
of medicine at Dartmouth Medical School and a selfdescribed introvert: “You don’t get a free pass for your
personality type... I understand that social anxiety is a real
thing ... but part of my job as a teacher is to teach people
how to articulate and be heard.” Hoyt argues that, in life,
people need to know how to talk — and encouraging class
participation by grading it is the place to start.
In the same vein, class participation is an essential part
of English class. Saying that grading class participation is
unfair or discriminatory to more introverted students is
similar to saying that grading math homework is unfair or
discriminatory to students who are unskilled at math.
And, of course, the class will wind up with questions
and comments from kids who are just saying things to get
the grade, but one hopes that the students (or at least the
teacher) in the classroom will be able to see through obvious
attempts to improve one’s grade through meaningless
participation. The whole point of class participation is to
be able to defend what you say, better understand what
your peers are saying and progress together as a group.
Yet there are always ways to improve the current
system. Discussion forums for class websites would be an
excellent alternative for more introverted students in order
to make up for lost points.
At the same time, we need to avoid distancing
people from one another. The immediacy of direct human
interaction is a difficult but important part of growing up,
and kids need to be faced with it.
Participating in class and sharing ideas is great,
but many still believe that class participation should not
be graded because they believe that doing so would be
discriminatory. First of all, dangling the proverbial carrot of
grades in front of students’ faces is not what teachers really
want to be doing. They would much rather have students
be active, thoughtful people of their own accord. However,
students go to school in the first place because one is not
born a thoughtful and interesting person, so Poly, like any
school, uses grades to do what Poly parents pay it to: help
students grow up and evolve. In essence, grades are not
only for incentivizing participation but also for providing
students with feedback and showing them how they can
improve. If grading participation is discriminatory, then
so is the entire grading system. Teachers are not by any
means trying to separate the good from the bad. They
want students to care about what they are doing in class,
to evolve and to develop–and the only way students can
do that is by raising their hand and opening their mouths
every now and then.
OPINION
the paw print
3
The problem with Poly’s Human Development program
By NIKOLAS ANGELOPOULOS
Staff writer
Human development is an extremely important
subject. Everyone is in accordance that students
must have an outlet for discussing social, family,
and school-related problems. As an extremly vocal
sophomore who engages in my human development
class, I struggle with school-related issues, and
am passionate about the arts. However, I am very
dissatisfied with the way the human development
program works at Poly for two major reasons.
First, the structure of Human Development is
not conducive to student discourse and does not
help solve problems. An 18 or 19 person class that
encompasses nearly a fifth of the people in a grade
is far too many people to discuss fully the individual
issues of the students within it. Side discussions
inevitably pop up. Much of the class is not engaged
emotionally in the conversation. Students are
inevitably jaded by the great tedium of being in a
long, useless period, so we only get to discuss deep
and important issues superficially or sometimes
somewhat intellectually.
Even if we assume the best about Human
Development–that it always results in an intellectual
discussion about teen problems (which has its place),
–Human Development’s purpose should be different.
Poly already has
many venues for
education about
topics like drugs
and sex. In fact,
students
are
given education
very often, from
both
parents
and the school.
Most people
at Poly already
know
the
dangers of drinking sex and drugs and are already
familiar with “ways to solve” time-management and
stress. Yet, they are still problems. Why? Education
about these issues is not enough to solve them.
Counterintuitively, even though Poly students are
very smart, we are sometimes irrational and do
not see solutions to our own problems even if we
have been “educated” about their solutions in the
hypothetical.
For most major situations in which high schoolers
need assistance, we need personalized help tailored
to specific situations from people we trust and
around people we trust. Therefore, the purpose of
Human Development should be to bring together a
very small group of classmates who can develop deep
trust among each other and discuss individual issues
that they would not discuss in a larger group.
I am an example of how small groups could
help a Poly student. I struggle greatly with time
management, prioritization and stress. These are
topics often discussed in Human Development.
However, even though I have identified my problem
to the class, I have not gotten the attention I need
to manage my dilemmas. The class does not have
enough time to spend on my problems and the
group is just too big to develop true assurance that
everyone will respect you and have your back.
Thus, almost everyone feels uncomfortable
expressing their most personal and innate
machinations. All of my classmates do the
same thing when they want advice: they do
not go to Human Development class, they go
to a teacher or their close friends.
A very small group of classmates guided
by a mentor in non-structured discussion
would be an ideal and intimate way to give
detailed advice on issues. The classmates
could develop strong friendships and know
each others’ lives in a way structured and
overpopulated Human Development class
escan never hope to match.
Advisory groups are supposed to be exactly
what Human Development is supposed to
be: a small group session in which a mentor
guides us in discussing our issues but it has
become a mandatory food meeting with little
purpose.
Poly has all the tools necessary to create
an effective Human Development program.
The administration should eliminate Human
Development and replace it by extending
advisories, making them smaller in size, and
making long discussion blocks less frequent
to preserve the X
period while still having
effective personal talks.
Poly’s Human
Development program
also takes an X period
that could be better used
on an art. Due to the
schedule, a Poly student
who is passionate about
two arts programs, as I
am, has little opportunity
to do both. In the past,
members of the jazz band could also be in the
orchestra, vocal ensemble or acting program.
For many arts programs, this is impossible
now. I know many people who have been
prevented from taking two arts because of
this.
Poly has an incredible arts faculty and
talented students, and it seems unfair and
wrong that Human Development, the class
that nobody likes, takes away our opportunity
to train in arts that we love.
A change is in order, and it will
mean modifications to the schedule and
modifications to the way Poly conducts its
classes. Human Development has gotten
to the point where it is almost universally
despised. I told my classmates that I was
going to write this article and they practically
cheered. We need a representative way to
solve our problems; we do not need them to
be glossed over. I do not think Poly students
should be quiet about our hatred of Human
Development any longer. If you want change,
speak up. Talk to your teachers, talk to your
friends. If we push, we can make this happen.
4
December 19, 2013
OPINION
the paw print
Get your teeth checked: Poly alumna depicts generations of body shame
By PAULINA PINSKY
Paulina Pinsky (Poly ’11) recently published this article in the
Columbia Spectator. We are reprinting it with her permission.
We were driving back from a family dinner at a posh Los
Angeles restaurant, the kind whose clientele doesn’t dare to
touch the breadbaskets. My mother could not stop blabbing
about the owners of her gym, because that’s what you do
when your daughter is home from her first year of college:
“One time I went to dinner with them and they both ate steak
and one order of French fries. But they still look amazing. But
they split the fries...” I felt like I couldn’t even hear her. My
ability to listen to my mother talk about her gym owners had
disappeared when I had hit rock bottom four months prior
and had put myself into therapy. Purging eight times in one
day to cope with the emotional stress of being home during
spring break had finally scared me enough to take action.
And here I was again, stuck in a car with her.
Without even thinking, the words erupted from my
mouth.
“Well I’d rather have an over-eating disorder than an
under-eating disorder.”
She said, “You don’t mean that,” to which I replied, “Yes I
do. I’ve already had an under-eating one.”
Without missing a beat, she responded, “No, you haven’t.”
I paused, but before I knew it, the words were out of my
mouth. “Yes, I have. I’ve been throwing up since the seventh
grade.”
All of the air was sucked out of the space we both shared.
This was not the way I wanted to tell her; this was not what
I had planned. I had imagined a triumphant moment that
involved eating a whole cake with my hands without breaking
eye contact and saying, “YES, I HAVE BEEN A BULIMIC
AND ANOREXIC FOR SEVEN YEARS. BUT NOW I
AM BETTER. I AM EATING THIS CAKE BECAUSE
I WANT IT AND I’M HUNGRY. AND GODDAMN
IT TASTES GOOD.” But the words flew out of my mouth
before I had a chance to take them back. The following
moment was the longest and most painful silence of my life; I
felt like my stomach was going to fall out and that I was going
to projectile-vomit onto the windshield. After a silence that
lasted far too long, she responded.
“Well, get your teeth checked.”
***
Two years later, I can say that for the first time in my entire
life I have a functional relationship with my mother. Part of my
recovery has been essentially creating a new relationship with
her from scratch. Our bond has become stronger as a result of
my letting her get to know a more genuine side of me. And
as we get closer, I finally understand her reaction to the first
time I opened up to her about my relationship with food. She
needed me to be perfect, something that neither I nor anyone
else can be.
My mother was not the only one demanding perfection
from me. I was the pretty blonde girl who was a cheerleader
and an ice skater. I got good grades, had a boyfriend, and was
thin: I was living the life everyone had always told me I should
want for myself. But I was suffering under the weight of
“perfection” in a way that even I didn’t completely understand.
And how could I have understood it? My 13-year-long
figure skating career fostered my eating disorder, which was
normalized by the people around me. Both inside and outside
the world of figure skating I was repeatedly praised for my
“perfection.” Everyone constantly inquired about my thinness,
asking how I did it and how they could emulate it. My hunger
didn’t matter, I was told, because it was merely a means to an
end. A friend’s mother told me that if I went to bed hungry,
I would lose weight. And it was true. I began to realize that
people liked me better thin. I had boyfriends who never failed
to comment on how “amazing” and “beautiful” I looked; my
friends and their mothers asked me what I ate and how I
worked out. Thinness became my entire identity. Everyone
needed me to be thin and, even worse, I needed myself to be
thin.
I’m not the only woman who has suffered, though. Women
are supposed to be small. As I watched my football-playing
brothers stuff themselves with spaghetti carbonara, steak, and
hot fudge sundaes, I would pick at my salad, as my mother did
the same. It wasn’t just I who had been affected by society’s
demands for my body. It was my mother and her mother
before her.
As I started to let go of my mother’s mistakes, she started
to let go of the idealized image she held of me. Only one
month ago, I went shopping with her and she did not bodyshame me by stewing in silent judgment when I needed a
bigger size. That shopping trip is engraved as deeply in my
mind as the infamous “teeth” moment. We laughed at the
sweater that made me look like a butterfly-turned-cat lady.
We zipped each other in and zipped each other out. The size
of our bodies wasn’t the issue; the fit of the clothing was. In
these two years, I’m not the only one who has grown—she
has as well.
My grandmother lost all of her teeth when she was 20 years
old. My mother has veneers because she didn’t like her smile.
And me? I’m obsessive about my teeth. I brush them at least
twice every day but, thanks to my genetics, I still get cavities.
As with my teeth, when it comes to body image, I can’t expect
a change overnight when the problem is not just mine but
that of generations before me. Normalizing eating disorders
reaches so much further than my nuclear family, where “diet
and exercise” is our religion. We live in a society where an
ideal of streamlined bodies occupies our every day. I’ve come
to realize I can’t subject myself to that anymore. I am meant
to have a butt, and “Czechoslovakian-baby-bearing” thighs
(inherited from my great-grandmother Marie, according
to my mother). That’s not to say that there aren’t women
who are naturally thin and fit the ideal; no woman deserves
criticism for her body. And no woman—neither I nor anyone
else— can reverse generations upon generations of damage.
We can, however, make our generation better than the one
that came before it.
I am 21 years old and I still have all my teeth. But honestly,
I’m a work in progress. Rather than punishing myself for the
body I inhabit, I’m starting to care for it. It’s much easier, I’ve
found, to like myself the way I am... and to make sure I brush
my teeth every day.
A man for all seasons: reflections on the life of a civil rights icon
By HENRY BROOKS
Opinion editor
All eyes looked to South Africa earlier this month when
former South African president Nelson Mandela passed
away at age ninety-five. Mandela, who died at his home in
Johannesburg, was renowned across the globe for leading
the struggle against South Africa’s oppressive system of
apartheid – even keeping the flame alive during a 27-year
imprisonment – & eventually bringing the system to an
end. With Mandela’s death, South Africa’s current
president, Jacob Zuma, announced a ten-day
mourning period to be observed in his country.
The state held a memorial service for Mandela
on December 10th at a major sports arena
in Johannesburg. Eighty-one heads of state
National Congress to plan the bombing of a government
building in Johannesburg, Mandela was sentenced to
twenty-seven years in prison. His spirit was hardly broken,
however. In his final address to the jury, he said, “[The
ideal of a democratic and free society] is an ideal which I
hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal
for which I am prepared to die.”
Long years in prison made Mandela considerably more
thoughtful in his approach to dismantling apartheid, leading
[The
ideal
of
a
democratic and free society] is an
ideal which I hope to live for and
to achieve. But if needs be, it is
an ideal for which I am prepared
to die.
With Mandela’s death,
South Africa’s current
president, Jacob Zuma, announced a
ten-day mourning period to be
observed in his country.
attended, including President Barack
Obama and three former U.S. Presidents, making
Mandela’s memorial service the second largest
gathering of world leaders in history, following
the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
Mandela – who became an icon in the global
struggle for civil rights – has been likened to
figures such as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin
Luther King, Jr. for shaping the world with
his ideas. Although Gandhi and King were
outspoken pacifists, Mandela’s philosophy was
never so simple.
In his youth, Mandela was quite militant in his
opposition to the apartheid regime. Feeling as though
he and other blacks had no legal recourse in a country
governed by a policy of white supremacy, Mandela teamed
up with the South African Communist Party in taking
up arms against the government. At the urging of the
communists, he attended a six-month guerrilla training
camp in Ethiopia, bringing his newly acquired skills with
him when he returned to South Africa.
In 1962, after working in conjunction with the African
formative in shaping a new vision of South Africa – a
vision that provided for racial equality. When 1994
arrived – the year of South Africa’s first open elections
– these ideas gained Mandela massive support from all
demographics.
By the time of his presidency, Mandela was older
but wiser, grayer but just as vigorous. He struggled to
combat many pressing issues that faced his country,
including not only the creation of a “rainbow” nation that
allowed for black-majority rule while
him to reject some of the violent tactics he had espoused in
his youth and to embrace the idea of reconciliation with his
soon-to-be-former oppressors. By the time of his release
in 1990, Mandela’s popularity soared, with many viewing
him as the preeminent global civil rights idol.
Mandela’s post-prison views shared little in common
with the ideas he held in his youth. Aside from his
continued opposition to apartheid, Mandela had changed
considerably, seeking reconciliation with his oppressors
while simultaneously looking to empower South Africa’s
disenfranchised black population. These ideas were
providing strong minority rights, but
also the equally intractable problems
of extreme poverty and an AIDS epidemic that
afflicted millions of South Africans. Even in the
face of these challenges, Mandela’s presidency was
characterized by, and, in fact, created, a noticeable
boost in national morale. Mandela, more than just
a president, was a beacon of hope and a symbol of
victory after a sixty-year national struggle against
apartheid. This alone won him the undying support
of his constituents.
Much of the remainder of Mandela’s life was
devoted to charitable causes such as managing the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, an organization
that Mandela founded in 1995 to build hospitals
where all children could seek treatment, regardless
of race. Additionally, Mandela became a global advocate
of human rights, preaching strongly against racism, sexism
and government censorship, all of which he viewed as
obstructive to freedom and equality.
By the time of his death, Mandela had taken his place
among the greatest civil rights leaders of the 20th century.
Joining the likes of Gandhi, King, Parks,and countless
other icons, Mandela wielded tremendous power without
having to rely on the military force on which the apartheid
regime had relied. He used his strong communcation
skills and exemplary leadership to guide South Africa into
a new age. And in the process, he led the world as well.
the paw print
Do you believe it is every American’s duty
to vote in an election unless they are unable
to vote due to an extraneous situation?
“I’m conflicted on this one. On one hand, I believe that the whole ‘majority
rules’ strategy we have going on would be improved if the ‘majority’ was the
actual majority and not just the majority of people willing to go vote. So from
a governmental perspective, yes. But I also believe that there are sometimes
issues that just aren’t important to an individual, and that person shouldn’t be
forced to weigh in or go through the voting process if it’s perfunctorily and
not driven by the person’s conviction one way or another.”
-Senior
OPINION
Voting
Survey
December 19, 2013
5
If you are going to vote, then what are the reasons?
If you are not going to vote, then what are the reasons?
“When eligible, I will most likely vote in the presidential (and other)
elections...I also believe, going to a school that teaches accepting and valuing
different opinions, that I can make an educated decision and opinion based
upon research of candidates rather than based upon my parent’s ideas, the aesthetics of the candidates and the shallow yet appealing aspects.”
-Sophomore
“Americans have the right to voice their opinions and choose who they truly
think deserves to be in a position of power within the country, but it should
not be a mandatory and enforced law for all Americans to vote as many
Americans simply don’t find politics to be anything important in their day
to day life.”
-Senior
“I feel that it is important to express your right to vote...As a black women it
took a long time for women and African Americans to earn their right to vote
and for me not to acknowledge the power I have would be a shame. Instead of
people feeling that voting is a burden rather than a privilege, we should turn on
the news or open a newspaper and awaken the political side in us. All Americans should understand what is going on in our country.”
-Sophomore
“No, I do not believe that everyone should be required to vote because many
Americans are completely unaware of the political matters affecting the society around them. They would see voting as a formality, and their arbitrary
selection of a candidate could impact those who possess the knowledge and
understanding to pick the person best suited for office.”
-Senior
“The decisions that our politicians make affect us either directly or indirectly.
Most of us at Poly have experienced very sheltered lives where we are not
directly affected by cuts to welfare programs, increase in taxes and other laws
enacted by our government. Still, all these policies affect our future, and we
cannot be complacent about who is directing our country towards the future.”
-Senior
Poly students express their desire to vote in upcoming elections
By HENRY CAFFERATA
Assistant Opinion Editor
Polytechnic School is full of politically minded
people who enjoy hearing about all areas of politics.
That interest inspired me to ask the question
“How many of these students intend to vote in our
upcoming elections and in the future?” Recently, a
survey was conducted of Poly students that asked
questions about what elections they wanted to
participate in and how they thought the American
people voted in presidential elections. The results
reflected my observation and expressed how such a
politically motivated community would vote.
All of the juniors and seniors have the privilege
of participating in one or two of the upcoming
elections, depending on their age. Next year marks
another midterm election in November. 60%
of Poly respondents said they would vote in the
2014 elections. If 60% of the entire youth vote
participated in a midterm election, that would be
unprecedented. Currently, only about 27% of young
people vote in midterms. Even the total percentage
of eligible voters is still only around 40% for each
midterm election.
Our largest, most expensive and most publicized
election is the presidential one. This election garners
the most American vote. Even though the election is
the most popular election in our country, on average
only 55% of eligible voters cast their ballots. When
asked if Poly students would vote in 2016, 87% of
respondents said they intended to vote. Only 1%
responded no and 12% said they were unsure. Those
numbers are a clear indication that Poly students care
about our nation’s future. On average, only 45% of
young voters participate in our presidential races.
The other question about presidential elections
asked students what percent of voters they thought
participated in presidential elections on average. 51%
of respondents thought that on average either 50%
or 60% of voters partake in our presidential elections.
Those two percentages are closest to 55%, which is the
actual average since 1960. 17% believed that 70% to 80%
voted and 31% thought that 30% to 40% participated.
The question was illustrates how low our political
activity is as a nation. Each of these percentages should
indicate to people, whether they are wrong or right,
that our voter turnout is very low. Compared to other
western countries, the American people vote far less
in elections. In the French
presidential elections, 85% to 90% of their population vote.
One method of receiving the greatest voter turnout
possible is enacting compulsory voting laws. Countries like
Australia, Belgium and India all have compulsory voting
laws. The idea is that candidates will be elected by a true
majority and not just politically motivated individuals.
When Poly students were asked if they believed the
United States should have a compulsory voting law, only
22% responded yes. Compulsory voting is not the only
way to obtain a higher voter turnout. 95% of the people of
Malta vote in their national elections. In order to achieve a
higher voter turnout, we as Americans need to change the
way we view voting.
98% of Poly students responded that they would express
their right to vote in local, state and national elections.
If more people had the conviction or interest in voting,
I believe we might see a different political landscape.
Political issues would no longer be a deadlock because the
senators and representatives would have a real fear of being
voted out of office by a majority. Presidential races would
no longer be decided on a small difference in Electoral
College votes. Hopefully the majority of Poly students will
be in an electorate that cares deeply about the future of our
country and acts on those concerns on election day.
6
the paw print
Teacher Profile: Jose Melgoza
LIFE
September 27, 2013
By NATALIA SANCHEZ-NIGOLIAN
Life Editor
Jose Melgoza, passionate teacher and avid historian,
might have never brought his talents and expertise to Poly.
Instead, if he had conformed to his parents’ wishes, he might
have been a doctor or a lawyer.
Melgoza grew up in the working class “Back of the Yards”
neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Despite having
limited opportunities themselves, Melgoza’s immigrant
parents instilled in him the importance of education.
His mother, in particular, dedicated herself to fostering a
hardworking and successful young man. He attended public
schools before being encouraged to apply to the University
of Chicago Laboratory Schools for his high school years.
Although Melgoza’s family had limited financial means,
the school’s financial aid program made his attendance
possible. During high school, Melgoza combatted the
pervasive image of his family’s socio-economic status.
“While some of my classmates were hung up on the fact
that I received financial aid to attend, I found that many
others were not. At the Lab School, I made friends with
people from a variety of different backgrounds. My long
lasting relationships were with intelligent and accepting
individuals who possessed values similar to my own, despite
our very different backgrounds.” An academically adept
and focused student, Melgoza excelled in his high school
career, overcoming a difficult transition to the competitive
environment. Melgoza acknowledged that this experience
“built up my resilience and taught me to how to deal with
difficult circumstances.”
After high school, Melgoza attended Pomona College,
initially tailoring his studies to follow his parent’s advice that
medicine or law would be a sure route to career stability.
Yet, at Pomona, Melgoza discovered his love for history
in the midst of the campus’ rigorous academics. In his
sophomore year, he took a class with Professor Tinker
Salas, well known on campus for his challenging
coursework. In Salas’ Latin American history course,
Melgoza realized how much he had to learn about Latin
America—and history in general. Such a shift in focus
necessitated him conquering still another challenge:
facing his parents. Confronting them about his desire
to study history as opposed to going on to medical or
law school was incredibly difficult. Melgoza explained,
“I think one of the most difficult things my parents had
to deal with was to let me go and allow me to follow my
own instincts.” Letting his intellectual curiosity guide
him, Melgoza would graduate in the top 5% of his class
and earn honors for his senior thesis project.
Following his time at Pomona College, Melgoza
traveled extensively throughout Latin America,
immersing himself in its many cultures. “My travels to
Mexico, in particular, helped me to see the commonalities
between Mexico and the United States, and how such
nations’ histories are inextricably linked.” Now at Poly,
Melgoza tries to instill in his students a passion for
history and a willingness to explore the world around
them. As Poly alumni Cat Davidson states, “Mr. Melgoza
made what might otherwise have been a stressful class
into one I really enjoyed attending. His conversational
teaching style was engaging and cultivated my love of
history.”
David D’Amico/The Paw Print
Art in Motion: GSL Dance Concert features wide range
By SHUCHI SEGHAL
Asisstant Life Editor
Courtest of Poly Communications
Courtest of Poly Communications
Poly held its annual dance concert, “Art in Motion,” on December 6-9 featuring students from all grades of the high school. The dances ranged from ballet to hip hop to tap and
drew in a large supportive crowd. Even though some dancers were missing on opening night due to a basketball tournament, the remaining team of dancers worked hard to fill in the
gaps, and the show ran flawlessly as a result.
Sophomore Maddie Kim, an active member of the tap community commented, “Although I did not take any of the dance classes offered at Poly, I loved performing my tap piece
in the show. The atmosphere both onstage and offstage was very welcoming, and I immediately felt comfortable with all the dancers by the first dress rehearsal. Together, we put on an
amazing show.”
Victoria Gu, graduating senior and accomplished ballerina, agreed. “I thought this years dance show was a great experience to have as one of my last performances. I really loved how
‘Art in Motion’ had a variety of genres that showcased a lot of students’ talents in different areas. The crowd was also extremely supportive all three nights as well as during the assembly,
and I am thankful to have had such a wonderful experience at Poly.”
Sophomore Matthew van Citters was new to the dance community this year and loved his experience as well. “It was so much fun. I hadn’t done dance before, so it was a different
experience for me. I’m very glad to be a part of the Poly dance program.”
Lauren Wilmore, sophomore and dedicated ballerina, explained, “I love doing the dance show and I am so glad that I could be a part of it this year. It is really cool to get to know
people from other grades. There were so many awesome, hilarious moments backstage. There were also some really emotional moments, especially before the last show. It is just a great
group of people.” Other dancers describe the process as a way to build a family and support group that will last for years to come and a life changing experience that will be missed once
they graduate.
Audience members were blown away by the range of talent showcased. Sophomore Joe Edwards commented, “It was great to see all the grades come together and dance. The diversity
of the dances was fun to watch and I am looking forward to the next show.”
Senior Stephanie Pham said, “The dance show was absolutely outstanding. There is so much talent in the Poly community. When I saw my classmates up there, I could not help but
be amazed. The revolution piece was fierce and perfectly choreographed.”
Senior Kaitlyn Olah was impressed by the dedication and commitment of everyone involved in the production. “I really enjoyed seeing different facets of the Poly community come
together to create such an elaborate performance. From the GSL to everyone who worked behind the scenes to all levels of the dance program, all the hard work and dedication that
was put in was evident. A highlight for me was seeing all of the seniors who have given so much to the dance program these past four years be showcased.”
the paw print
LIFE
September 27, 2013
7
Winter Wonderland
Artist of the Issue: Sarah Bellack
By ERIN LEE
Life Editor
“I am inspired by anything. I might be eating something and think how well it would
work in the portrait I am doing.” Chocolate, chewing gum, tea bags, feathers—all are fair
game for senior Sarah Bellack. She specializes in using unconventional media to create
beautiful and intriguing pieces of art.
At Poly, Bellack has taken the AP Studio Art course during both junior and senior
year. Students in the course submit a portfolio with three different areas of focus: breadth,
concentration and quality.
Last year, Bellack focused on portraying age using food and other substances instead
of paint for her concentration project. She comments, “I had so many unanticipated
issues that came up during the process because I had never worked with these media. I
had issues with chocolate hardening too fast to get it on the canvas. It was fun though,
and I am glad I did it.”
Bellack’s interest in art emerged with arts and crafts projects as early as Pre-K. She
started developing her talent in middle school through the art classes at Poly. “I liked it
because I was sort of good at it. It was fun and relaxing. Right now, I do it because I like
pushing myself to come up with things I have not thought of before.”
In addition to pursuing her interest in art at Poly, Bellack has taken summer classes
at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As she finds her artistic voice, she takes
her inspiration from Doris Salcedo, an artist famous for stacking chairs between two
buildings to create a sculpture.
Bellack explains, “Art is about having an idea and putting it in action. It does not
matter that anyone could do it or that it is easy to execute; she is the artist because she
actually did it.”
Bellack tries to make choices with her art that will surprise and intrigue her audience.
Her experience in AP Art has pushed her to take more risks, and she hopes to continue
to grow as an artist in the future. One of her main principles is being flexible in her art
and not having a concrete end result in mind. “If I plan, things always end up going
wrong. I think it is better to just see what happens rather than being too meticulous
about damage control.”
Though she is not planning on pursuing art professionally, she is interested in
exploring design in college. She advises aspiring artists, “There is no right or wrong way
to go about art. If you put in the effort and are happy with the product, then the piece is
a success. The only person you have to please is yourself, which might be the hardest.”
Juliet Johnson/The Paw Print
8
LIFE
the paw print
September 27, 2013
A Los Angeles Christmas
By CAROLINE IAFFALDANO
Assistant Life Editor
Christmas in Bali? New Years skiing in the Swiss Alps? As winter break approaches,
the hallways are filled with the voices of many excited students flaunting elaborate
winter vacation plans. If you are staying in Los Angeles during the upcoming winter
holidays, LA’s mild winter temperatures and vibrant nightlife will be sure to provide
you with an unforgettable winter vacation.
The Nutcracker, a favorite holiday ballet, is shown at many southland theaters
including Long Beach, UCLA and the Valley Performing Arts Center.
Since sitting through a three-hour ballet may not be for everyone, other festivities
include ice-skating, Christmas light viewing and, of course, attending holiday parties.
One of the best ways to have an LA white Christmas is to go ice-skating. There is
a local, year round ice-skating rink right in Pasadena, as well as a seasonal rink at LA
Live downtown. The LA Live rink, a perfect way to add some holiday cheer to your
break, will be open until December 31st.
Some of the simplest, yet most beautiful things about December are the holiday
lights. Every year, Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena is completely decked out in
Christmas tree lights. Bring a mug full of hot cocoa and you will be sure to enjoy a
simple yet memorable night.
Winter break will be filled with gatherings and parties full of giving. Some of the
best parties occur on New Years Eve, and you do not need to be in Times Square to
have a fun filled night. The annual N.Y.E. L.A. at Grand Park party will include live
music, dancers, art installations and food trucks. This free event occurs from 6 pm to
12:30 am and would be the perfect way to start off the New Year.
Finally, on New Year’s Day be sure to show up at the Rose Parade to support the
rose queen, Ana Acosta.
Courtest of TimeOut Los Angeles
Open Mic Night
Water polo program hosts first annual alumni game
By MADDIE KIM
Student Contributor
By EZRA SUNSHINE
Student Contributor
At the Open Mic event, students, faculty and artists from
Poly, as well as neighboring communities shared their poems
and musical talents on the Garland stage. The wide variety of
performances ranged from villanelle poems to prose, tin whistle
to electric guitar. Held on Friday, December 13, the Open Mic
gave underground artists a chance to perform personal pieces in
a welcoming and enthusiastic atmosphere.
Emcee and DJ Josh Silverstein opened the show along with
former Poly student and accomplished pianist Cindy Lam. The
duo performed a piece that combined beat boxing and piano.
Poly students read a variety of political pieces, personal anecdotes
and reflective commentaries.
Mr. Strom shared a heated poem concerning his nemesis, a
“creepy” illustration of a turtle, while Mr. Allard performed a
song as an ode to the spirit of Oklahoma.
Students from Learning Works School and Triumph School
presented poetry about religion, relationships and personal
experiences.
A student from Triumph School, Diana Torres, eloquently
and passionately recited a poem about her broken relationship.
Nicky Steidel’s band played an original song, and Sam Astorga
played the tin whistle before he read his piece “The Girl with the
Blue Ribbon,” a love poem.
Natalie Edwards, a returning poet to the Open Mic,
commented, “The open mics always have such a great vibe
because it is informal enough that you feel really comfortable
laughing and cheering for everyone, but it is serious enough
that you can share your words in a place where you know they
will be appreciated. We had such an amazing turnout, and Ms.
Hamilton organized everything flawlessly.”
Each poet and artist presented an aspect of his or her artistry
with poise and courage—art is personal, and each performer and
audience member was there to support the others. Some students
had never read anything for an Open Mic before and enjoyed the
ability of all the performers and the variety of the performances.
Erica Goodwin, a student in Ms. Hamilton’s poetry class,
explained, “The best part was hearing poems that were honestly
amazing from people who had never performed at open mic and
are not in the poetry class.”
Opinion editors
Henry Brooks
Brett Laudeman
Nicky Steidel
Assistants:
Mohit Aayush
Henry Cafferata
“An upper school publication of student news and views”
Editors-in-Chief
Noah Kim
Ian McKnight
Faculty Advisor
Greg Feldmeth
News editors
Nathan Lee
Julia Wohl
Assistants:
Stephanie Chai
Michelle Chen
Teddy Debreu
Life editors
Erin Lee
Natalia SanchezNigolian
Assistants:
David Ohta
Shuchi Sehgal
Megan Tcheng
The water polo program hosted its first ever alumni game. Last month the water polo program invited graduates
back to play a casual game of water polo during the Thanksgiving break.
Many returning alumni participated, including varsity water polo coach Ryan Katsuyama, to current student
athletes. The teams were divided randomly, resulting in a very tight game.
Current coaches Colin Allen and Eric Reaves officiated the game.
Lauren Lantry, class of 2013, commented that it was “especially nice to meet some of the older players who
went through the program long before my time.” Other participants included current Poly players Brock Hudnut,
Claire Rossi, Allie Hodgen, Henry Brooks, Lindsey Kelleher, Spencer Rogers (committed to Stanford for water
polo), as well as current college players Kelly McGee (MIT) and Henry Pray (UCLA).
Coach Ryan was proud of his team’s victory, and agreed that the event was a success. He looks forward to the
game becoming a Poly water polo tradition.
Courtest of Ryan Katsuyama
Midge Zuk
Caroline Iaffaldano
Sports editors
Charlie Ramirez
Hunter Worland
Assistants:
Evan Kim
Jared Lim
David Orndorff
Staff Writers
Kyle Beerman
Zack Bern
Michael Bowman
Christine Choi
Jack Moore
Stephanie Pham
Isabelle Phinney
Himmat Sahi
Shirali Shah
Celine Lee Vendler
Copy editors
Shannon Wu
Lily Wu
Photography supervisor
Harry Templeton
Managing Supervi-
sors
Juliet Johnson
Nate Young
Staff photographers
Max Chau
David D’Amico
Sam Shafia
Kayla Valencia
Kiki Yang
Milan Mosse
Business Managers
Avra Juliani
Stephanie Liu
Assistant:
Natasha Pinon
Art editors
Shannon Wu
General info
Staff members can be telephoned at (626)
396-6698, visited in the South campus Publications Room or emailed to the email address
[email protected]. The advisor can
be reached at (626) 396-6610.
Newspaper policies
The ideas expressed in the articles reflect the
views of the writers and are not necessarily the
views of the newspaper, the editorial board, or
Polytechnic School. Initialed editorials are the
opinions of the Editors-in-Chief. If you would
like to write a letter of no more than 300 words
to the editor, please send an e-mail or place the
letter in the box of the opinion editors. Anonymous submissions will not be published, and
names will not be withheld.
9
the paw print
SPORTS
December 19, 2013
Firebaugh High School of Lynwood to replace Webb Schools in Prep League next year
By HUNTER WORLAND
Sports Editor
for our boy and girl athletes,” Wishek
said. “When looking over the near and
Next school year, Marco Antonio long term, Webb’s girls teams have had a
Firebaugh High School will replace the much different experience then our boys
Webb Schools in the Prep League in teams when it comes to competing for
most sports. The Gauls will leave all pro- league championships and playoff posigrams except track and field and swim- tion.”
ming.
Poly Athletic Director Steve Beerman
While most teams in the Prep League noted, “We were disappointed to hear
have been there for decades, every four Webb was leaving. Their student body
years brings the opportunity for new and academics are very similar to Poly’s.”
entries and exits as the California InterWebb’s success has varied, but in recent
scholastic Federation (CIF) conducts a years the Gauls have often finished at the
period of league rearrangement. Webb’s bottom of the Prep League. In the past
decision came as a surprise to schools school year, Webb won only one league
in the league after twenty years of Prep title. Webb has particularly struggled in
League competition.
football and cross country, two sports in
Webb Athletic director Steve Wishek which Webb has not won a league chamexplained that Webb decided to leave the pionship since 1991. In school history,
league so that it could better compete. the Gauls have brought home only three
“There were many factors that were con- CIF Championships. Only one of those
sidered but I believe what won out in the came in the last two decades. Meanwhile,
end was the desire to even the experience the Panthers boast 46 CIF Champion-
ships and 140 Prep League titles in the
last 20 years.
In its new league, Wishek stated,
Webb “looks forward to new experiences
as we play new teams and travel to new
locations like Avalon on Catalina Island.”
Nevertheless, Webb plans to keep ties
with its former Prep League adversaries.
Wishek noted that Webb will “still face
some Prep League teams in the preseason
and postseason parts of our schedule.”
After Webb’s decision, several schools
submitted proposals to the athletic directors from the Prep League to join. Following criteria set by the CIF, the directors chose Marco Antonio Firebaugh
High School in Lynwood.
Firebaugh played freelance in many
sports and sought a long-term home for
all of its programs. According to Beerman, “Firebaugh was excited by the organization and well-run administration of
the Prep League, as well as the league’s
emphasis on character.”
Although a public school, the directors
saw Firebaugh as similar to other Prep
League schools. Firebaugh was a charter school until a couple of years ago and
still maintains a high academic standard.
With 1,600 students, Firebaugh will be
the largest school in the league by far.
However, Beerman said that the athletic
directors preferred taking a large school
over a smaller school that might not be
able to maintain a junior varsity program.
Despite Firebaugh’s advantages, Beerman, along with other Prep League athletic directors, voiced concerns. Due to
lack of facilities, Firebaugh has not maintained a track and field or swimming
program. However, the school told the
Prep League that it intends to not only
create these teams, but build the proper
resources to support them. Firebaugh has
planned to construct a new football field
with a track course in the next several
years.
Introducing Firebaugh
School Size: 1,600 students
Motto: Pride and ownership
Year of Establishment: 2005
City: Lynwood
Distance from Poly: 18 miles, 28 minutes
Mascot: Falcons
School Colors: Yellow and Black
Demographics: 95% Hispanic, 4% Black,
1% Multiracial
Fencing gains momentum early in the season
By NOLAN MATHEWS
Student contributer
The fencing team started its winter season with a strong showing at the Robin
Hood Tournament earlier this month with seniors Kendrick Wu and Maddy
Mendell winning the men’s and women’s varsity divisions, respectively. Freshman
Maya Barajas-Tavera and sophomore Michelle Chen also placed in top three for
the Women’s division.
Senior Erik Chan commented, “The winter season has been a blast so far.
Fencers who joined us in winter have added fascinating strategies to an already
diverse pool while returning fencers have been honing their skills. Novice fencers have become impressively competitive against experienced fencers. All in all,
the team as a whole has become much more stronger and better prepared for the
three remaining tournaments of the season than we have ever been.”
The fencing team is very optimistic about their prospects for this season, especially with the addition of many new underclassmen fencers. With three tournaments left before the season’s conclusion, the fencing team hopes to continue
their winning streak.
Freshman fencer Michael Hatch said, “We are being counted on to always
perform at our highest level in both practice and competitions, and although it’s
a lot of work, it is a very gratifying experience when we go to a tournament and
leave with a medal.”
Girls soccer begins the season undefeated
By KYLE BEERMAN
Staff Writer
The varsity girls soccer team continues their success from last year’s stellar season with an early 6-0 record. The defending CIF Southern California Regional
champions scored 24 goals in their first six games of the season and recorded
four defensive shutouts. They began their season with wins over larger schools,
Cresenta Valley, San Marino and South Pasadena with scores of 1-0, 3-0 and 4-0
respectively.
After posting a 23-2-1 record last year, the Panthers look to defend their Prep
League title while also making an exciting CIF playoff run.
When asked about her thoughts on the season so far, senior Evan Gancedo
commented, “I think we have played very well together as a team. We have had
some good tests and our remaining schedule looks to be challenging, but we are
an experienced group and I believe we will handle it just fine.”
After losing one of the best senior classes in Poly soccer history, the rising
juniors and sophomores now have a much larger role on the team. When asked
about her new responsibilities, junior mid-fielder Kayla Valencia added, “I think
everyone has grown into their new roles with ease. Everyone has stepped up and
helped each other out. Although we lost a lot of girls last year, many of the underclassmen now have a larger role on the team and are playing well.”
Playing behind senior leaders Noel Askins and Gancedo, the Panthers are
expecting to have another big year.
The Panthers won their first league game against Webb 4-0.
10
SPORTS
the paw print
December 19, 2013
Panthers in College during the Fall Season
Jack Birkenbeuel- Soccer
University of California,
Irvine
After redshirting his
freshman season, Jack
played left back and
went to the NCAA
Sweet Sixteen.
Katie Wardlaw- Soccer
Williams College
Wardlaw played midSCAC Women’s Soccer
Player of the Week after
scoring two goals in her
college debut.
Kelly Maggee- Water
Polo
Massachusetts Insititue
of Technology
Maggee played driver, for
the Engineers, who were
ranked 8th in Division III.
Julia Blanco- Soccer
Claremont McKenna
College
for the Athenas, who
of NCAA Division III
Championships.
Kelleher and Woo lead
girls water polo to 5-1 start
By ZACK BERN
Staff writer
After a disappointing loss in last year’s CIF quarterfinals, the girl’s water polo team looks to bounce back this
season. Despite losing five seniors, the team was able to
start the season off with an impressive five and one record.
The team is led by junior standouts Alison Woo and Lindsey Kelleher.
The juniors combined for 47 out of the 74 goals, and
exactly fifty percent of the team’s assist. In addition, Woo
and Kelleher have an amazing shot percentage at above
sixty percent each.
The junior duo led the Panthers to a 5-1 start. The team
recently beat Pasadena High School 21-4 in their home
pool, and finished the Annual Varsity Conqueror Classic
nearly undefeated, with four wins and one loss.
When asked about this season, Woo commented, “I’m
really excited for this season. Although we lost valuable
seniors, many players have stepped up to fill their roles. The
team has gained two new club players from Rose Bowl:
Colleen Woo and Allie Hodgen. The new varsity players
display a fierce aggression and a high level of play. Because
of this, we can play as a team and play well together. I think
that we will do well in the Prep League, but CIF will be
a good challenge. I look forward to the many practices,
games, challenges, and fun times with these girls.”
Woo’s mention of the “team” mindset is evident on paper.
All but two players on the roster have contributed with a
steal, assist or goal. Lindsey Kelleher, the junior who leads
the team in goals, assists, and steals also commented, “I
think that our team has a lot of potential this year. We are
working and training very hard and have been working
well in the games together. If we continue on the path we
are currently on, we will hopefully be able to make it far in
CIF.”
Although Poly will break for the upcoming holidays, the
water polo team looks forward to their return to the pool
with league games and a tournament.
Colin Woolway- Water
Polo
Harvard University
Woolway completed
his sophomore season
CWPA Defensive Player
of the Week honors.
Graham Nesbit- Water
Polo
University of California,
Berkeley
Nesbit completed the
fall season with six goals
and earned Scholar-Athlete Water Polo Player of
the Year last season.
Alexis Genske- Volleyball
University of Pennsylvania
Genske played lebaro
and earned Second
Team All-Ivy. Genske
also earned Ivy Player of
the Week.
Michael CaughronCross Country
Tufts University
Caughron ran the 10th
fastest time on the team
at the USM Invite, with
an average mile time of
5:37.
Henry Pray- Water Polo
University of California,
Los Angeles
After redshirting his
freshman year, Pray’s
season was sidelined by
injury.
Sarah Mendenhall- Soccer Princeton University
Mendenhall, a three-star
recruit, did not see playtime this season due to
an ACL tear from high
school.
Boys Basketball begins the winter season with big wins against
local high school competition
By DAVID ORNDORFF
Assistant Sports editor
Poly’s boys basketball team opens the season with a 6-1
rovia (54-47) and San Marino (53-49). We play hard-nosed
record, placing first in the Webb Classic Invitational Tourdefense and that alone will keep us in most games so I am
nament and third in Poly’s Invitational Tournament.
confident that the sky is the limit for us.”
For a basketball team to be successful, the team must not
While Genske brings emphatic scoring ability, scoring
be made up of all scorers, all great defenders, or all great
22 points against Monrovia, as well as a solid jump shot,
rebounders. The team must be made up of players who have with the other four starters consisting of Kyle Beerman
complementary areas of expertise. These include, but are not (point-guard), Griffin Carter (shooting-guard), Jared Lim
limited to, rebounding, shooting, dribbling, communicating,
(small-forward), and Brad Shanks (power-forward) bringing
defense, knowing the game, boxing out, screening and husunique skills that help add to the team’s depth.
tling. Each member of the team must possess some ability
Beerman contributes dribbling skills and outstanding
in each field and use each other’s unique skill to generate a
passing ability to complement the other players’ scoring
win.
abilities. Carter provides
With a new winter
speed and agility to
season upon us, the boys
quickly get down the
varsity basketball team
court for fast breaks
is striving for another
and solid transition
successful record. Condefense. Lim combines
sisting of four returning
his passing and shootseniors and two returning ability to get buckets
ing juniors, the team will
when the team needs
have plenty of veteran
them. Shanks’ midrange
leadership to carry them
game and basketball
throughout the season.
knowledge allows him
to be an emphatic scorer
The Panther’s opened
at times and an effective
their season with wins
defender.
against Sherman Indian
(52-34), Fairmont Prep
Beerman adds, “We
Courtesy of Poly Communications
(46-38), and WestJunior Griff in Carter (left) and senior Kyle Beerman (right) carry the ball are a group of guys
ern Christian (59-50), down to the court on offensive counter attacks.
who have been playing
securing first place in the
together for a while, so
Webb Invitational Tournament.
it will not take that long to find our identities and individual
responsibilities. Once we do that, we will be a strong opHowever, a 34-43 loss to the Holy Martyrs was enough
ponent when Prep League action starts.”
to move the team out of first place contention in the Poly
Invitational Tournament. On Saturday, the squad defeated
Before league, the Panthers play in the San Gabriel TourSan Marino (53-49) taking third place in the tournament.
nament against local high schools.
Senior forward and co-captain Will Genske states, “We
The squad starts league on the road on Friday, January
had some rust to our game and it showed early on, but we
10th against rival, Flintridge Prep.
are gaining cohesiveness and have had big wins over Mon-
SPORTS
the paw print
December 19, 2013
11
Boys soccer looks to carry preseason momentum into Prep League competition
By JARED LIM
Assistant Sports editor
With wins against Chatsworth and
North Hollywood on Saturday, the Poly
boys’ soccer team has opened the season
with a 4-1-1 record in non-league play.
The Panthers have distinguished themselves in the early season as a much-improved squad. Unlike last year’s rocky start,
the Panthers were quick to make a statement. Behind a strong core of upperclassmen, the squad’s experience and talent
serve them well in close games, and this experience will translate to their future PrepLeague and CIF runs.
The squad opened the preseason with
wins against Buckley (4-1) and San
Marino (3-0), however, tough competition in the Ralph Brandt Tournament led
the Panthers to a 2-1-1 tournament record.
The Panthers entered the tournament representing the lowest division (CIF Division
6) of all entries, and after a 0-4 record in
the tournament last year, the squad showed
much improvement against strong competition.
Tournament play opened with a 0-7 loss
to Burroughs and a 1-1 tie against West
Ranch, but the Panthers rallied with wins
against Chatsworth (1-0) and North Hollywood (3-0) on Saturday, placing 13th in
the tournament.
Junior midfielder Hunter Worland comments, “The early games of the season have
given us the confidence we need going into
the Prep League in January. Last year, we
didn’t have a winning record this time of
year, now we’re 4-1-1 against teams mostly
in higher divisions. The Prep League will be
especially strong this year, but I think we’ve
demonstrated since the start of the season
that there’s no reason why we shouldn’t win
league.” In the first six games of the season,
Worland has contributed two goals as well
as consistent production on both sides of
the field.
The offensive attack has been led by senior Ali Kamal (2 goals, 4 assists) and juniors Ben Hubsch (5 goals, 2 assists), Skyler
McLean (2 goals, 2 assists) and Worland (2
goals, 1 assist). Alongside this strong offensive front, sophomore Jack Queen established himself as a key component to the
Olah and Yang lead girls basketball to win Poly Tournament
By EVAN KIM
Assistant sports editor
The girls varsity basketball team begins the year on a
good note after beating Flintridge Sacred Heart in the
Poly Tournament Championship by a score of 56-47.
Earlier in the season, the Panthers had a stellar performance at the San Marino tournament where they won
three out of four games, losing only to Santiago High
School 14-63. The momentum the squad gained from
this tournament propelled them into the Poly Tournament with high hopes.
In the first match up of the tournament, the girls beat
Marshall Fundamental 56-22. The girls continued their
success in the next three games where they beat Highland High School, South Pasadena High School and
Flintridge Sacred Heart with scores of 58-54, 42-36 and
56-47 respectively.
The team hopes their success in preseason will translate over into a successful year in the Prep League. The
squad leans on the leadership of seniors Kaitlyn Olah
and junior Kiki Yang. Olah averages 12.8 points and
14.0 rebounds per game. Yang leads the team in scoring
by averaging 22.7 points per game, 4.3 assists per game
and 9.3 steals per game. As the majority of the roster
is composed of young athletes, Olah and Yang will be
depended on to be role models.
Senior captain Natalie Edwards notes: “We have a
pretty young team this year, but that gives the veterans,
especially seniors, a great opportunity for more leadership on and off the court. We all work very well together,
and the overall team dynamic has been really wonderful
so far. We are looking forward to an amazing season both
in our league and games beyond.”
Recently, the Panthers were recently moved two divisions down to their starting division, 5AA, where they
hope to excel in league and CIF playoffs. “We have a very
good chance of winning CIF this year which is really
exciting” Olah commented. “After being placed in such a
high division the past two years, it’s nice to be in a division where we can have some real success again.”
The girls basketball team is currently fighting through
multiple minor injuries; however, all the girls are aiming
on recovering quickly before league season begins.
squad tallying one goal and three assists
before being sidelined with a foot injury
halfway through the tournament.
On the other side of the field, senior Ian
McKnight and juniors Vince Porter and
Will Hubsch have led a strong defensive
with two shutouts in the Ralph Brandt
Tournament.
“Currently, our team has been looking
really strong,” McKnight adds, “in our last
two matches of the Burroughs tournament,
we proved to be strong on both sides of the
ball by scoring four goals and allowing zero
scores in two games. Our senior leaders
have set a tone which has set a precedent
for the remainder of the year and currently
encourages the squad to train hard and remain focused on and off the field.”
Evan Gancedo finishes 6th in
State Cross Country
Senior Evan Gancedo finished sixth at CIF State
Championships, after earning silver at CIF Finals.
Gancedo ended her four-year varsity career with a time
of 19:08 at the Woodward Park course in Fresno. Gancedo’s run marked her third State qualification and the
highest a Poly girls cross-country runner has ever placed
in the CIF State meet.
Earlier in the season, Gancedo surrendered her reign
as two-time Prep League champion, finishing second to
Flintridge’s Sarah Yoho at Prep League Finals by 14 seconds. She bounced back in her next run at CIF Prelims
at Mount San Antonio College and clocked a 19:08 run,
ranking her second going into Finals.
At CIF Finals, the senior trimmed her own Poly record for fastest time at the Mount San Antonio College
course from 18:53 in 2011 to 18:36.
-Hunter Worland
Girls Basketball Leaders
KIKI YANG
22.7 Average points
per game
4.3 Average assists per
game
KAITLYN OLAH
12.8 Average points
per game
14.0 Average rebounds
per gane
ALANA JACKSON
45% field goal percentage
14 points against San
Marino
PANTHER SPORTS
the paw print
Athlete of the Issue
Ali Kamal
December 19, 2013
In his fourth year as a starting forward on the varsity soccer team, senior Ali Kamal looks to lead his
team to a successful season to end his high school
career. The Panthers’ success this year will depend
greatly on Kamal’s speed, knowledge and skill to ignite their offensive attack and provide a good example
for the younger players.
Senior goalie Brian Ward comments, “Ali has been
an integral part of the team for the past four years.
He leads the team by example rather than by orders
in practice, games, and off of the field. He has crazy
good footwork as well as great game sense, which
makes him an excellent forward.”
With his success in the first six games, Kamal is on
track to gain all-CIF and all-area honors for a second
straight year. “Ali is a great player because of his ability to make plays happen,” said sophomore teammate
Jack Queen. “He is fun to watch, and even more fun
to play with because of his skill and unmatched work
ethic on the field.”
As the Panthers continue in the season, they will
rely on Kamal to ignite offensive attacks in their run
for Prep League title.
Midfielder Hunter Worland notes, “Ali is the has
the speed, work ethic, and vision to lead our team to
a successful season. With his experience, he is one of
the most reliable players on the field. When league
starts, he will be, without a doubt, one of the most
feared players in CIF.
Athlete of the Future
Colleen Woo
- Charlie Ramirez
Kayla Valencia/ The Paw Print
Sam Shafia/ The Paw Print
With a great deal of previous experience, Colleen
Woo, a freshman on the Poly girls varsity water polo
team, is playing an important role for the success of
the squad. In addition to having five years of club water polo experience, Woo has also played on the youth
USA National Team. Woo’s experience and skill will
greatly make up for the five key senior players that the
Panthers lost from graduation.
In addition to the contributions she brings to the
team, Woo has the added element of being a younger
sister on the squad. Her older sister, junior Allison
Woo, a third year varsity returner says “Colleen is a
smart and talented player, so I’m excited that she’ll be
helping the Panthers. She can and will fill the roles
of the older players and past players. Colleen’s size
doesn’t stop her; although she may be small, she is
feisty and plays extremely aggressively.”
When asked how she feels about playing this year
with her younger sister, Allison Woo responded by
saying “It’s pretty cool getting to play on the same
team as Colleen. Because we are in different age
groups at Rose Bowl’s club water polo team, we have
never really played together much, but it’s awesome
that we get this chance at Poly.”
The Panthers have started off the season strong,with
wins against Temecula Valley, Claremont, Schurr and
Los Altos en route to a 4-1 opening record. Undoubtedly, Woo’s contributions will be appreciated
throughout the season and in the future.
Athlete of the Issue
Evan Gancedo
With a perfect season thus far, the varsity girls soccer
team appears to be maintaining their success from last
season as Southern California Division III champions.
Great credit for this success is due to the stellar play of
senior captain Evan Gancedo, who has led the Panthers
to a 4-0 record so far.
A third team all-CIF and second team all-area selection last year, Gancedo played a key role in last year’s success, scoring eight goals while tacking on 13 assists. Her
ball-handling skills and breakaway speed provide a valuable asset for Poly to rely on in the middle of the field.
“Evan is an amazing soccer player,” commented fellow
captain Noel Askins. “Her skills on the ball and composure in games are only some of the qualities that make her
one of the best players in the Prep League. She always has
an upbeat attitude at practice even when we do fitness. I
am grateful to call Evan my teammate and lucky to not
have her as an opponent.”
In the Panthers’ closest game this season, a 1-0 win over
Crescenta Valley, Gancedo played a prominent role in setting up the Panthers’ lone goal with a 30-yard free kick.
As the season progresses, the Panthers look to Gancedo
not only for leadership and reliability but also for a major
role in their high-powered offensive attack.
- Charlie Ramirez
- Will McConnell
Nate Young/ The Paw Print
The Panther Scoreboard
By The Numbers
22.7
Average number of points
junior Kiki Yang scores per
game.Yang currently leads
the team in points for the
2013/2014 season.
22
Boys Soccer
Poly vs. North Hollywood
3-0 (Poly)
Girls Basketball
Poly vs. Highland
58-54 (Poly)
12
Girls Soccer
Poly vs. South Pasadena
4-0 (Poly)
Number of points senior
Will Genske scored against
Monrovia.
24
Number of goals the girls
varsity soccer team has
scored in six games.
47
The combined total of goals
juniors Lindsey Kelleher and
Allison Woo have scored this
season so far.