College towns, page 5 & 6

Dragons Tale
By Chelsea Krause & Giana Monterosso

Mr. Dragon, page 7

Cities to visit, page 8

February 2013 - Volume 22 -Issue 5 - Sonoma Valley High School

Galley News
By Weston Updegraff

Home period changes to be implemented next year

only to students who are taking calculus, which is only offered as a zero period. In addition, the work experience class will earn a home period because the student must be able to leave school early and work in order to ll class requirements. The administration is also in the process of exploring possible pathways, though they likely would not be implemented in the near future. Currently, the only pathway offered at SVHS is Engineering and Design. The intent of the pathways is to cater to the student interest because it will provide them with experience in their academic and professional pursuits. Next year, the engineering pathway will be open to juniors instead of only sophomores and will soon be expanded to add seniors in 2014-15. Freshman will stay on the Freshman Team until their sophomore year when they will be able to join a pathway if desired. The goal is to help students explore possible career choices while simultaneously preparing them for the competitive college atmosphere they will encounter after graduation.

Pink and White Ball

The Pink and White Ball was a remarkably low attended event, with only 80 people buying tickets, 40 of whom were in leadership. It is hard to keep dances fiscally responsible, especially with the added cost of security. The dance was Djed by Isak and Cal, who did a excellent job considering the lethargic crowd. We can only hope that the Juniors step it up for from planning.

Wolf Club
The SVHS Wolf Club, headed by Gianna Biaggi, senior, is celebrating an upcoming event called Jacks Ambassadors. This is a 3 month long program that is going to focus on community service at Jack London State Park. They will work with middle school students to do community service. Anyone is welcome to the event, which will be held on Mar. 3 from 2-4 p.m., simply meet at the parking lot of JLSP.

The SVHS administration is making drastic changes to the 2013-14 class scheduling options. Home periods and pathways are two major changes that are being disputed. This year, many students were given home periods without meeting the typical protocol, which includes zero period and work experience classes. Counselors generally do not recommend home periods, for they can be frowned upon by colleges who expect students to maintain a rigorous course load all four years of their high school career. Personally, I think home periods are really helpful in allowing me balance my workload, comments Raul Corona, junior. I usually spend my home period catching up on homework or studying for tests. During the 2013/2014 school year, home periods will be eliminated with few exceptions. This change because colleges look for consistency with core classes. In the upcoming years, home periods will be extremely limited

Photo by Giana Monterosso A student completes a scheduling form for next year.

Seniors on Road to Reality

By Grace Bon For many seniors, what lies beyond graduation is a mystery; some will attend a fouryear university, while others will pursue a career and work full time. Regardless of the path that lies ahead, students require a certain set skills in order to succeed in the professional world, skills that are not necessarily learned in a tradition classroom setting. Road to Reality, hosted by the Soroptomists International of Sonoma Valley, is an event designed to do just that. SVHS seniors attended the event on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Veterans Building. Over the course of the day, students selected four of the eight workshops offered, ranging from Dress For Yes to Be Your Own Boss And Succeed. Speakers all professionals in their respective fields offered an opportunity to win dozens of prizes donated by local business, including gift certificates to Marys Pizza Shack and two bikes from Wine Country Cyclery. Senior Grisha Papadins logo design for the event was featured on the brochure as well as T-shirts. Jessica Karner, who works as a lawyer in Marin, served as a guest speaker for her first time at the event, titled Age 18 Freedom at a Price. It seems like an extremely beneficial day for the students, she noted. There was a great level of engagement from everyone involved, and I was impressed with the way students took advantage of the sessions by asking questions. Other instructors of the day included James Marshall Berry, Sue Albano, Avram Goldman, Alex Leader, Teresa Cruz, and Fran Meininger.

Senior Project update

Upcoming due dates for Senior Project includes the poster, which is due on Mar. 1. All essay revisions are past due, so if you havent gotten around to it, fix your paper and turn it back in. The hours are not due for a while but start working towards getting them done because you do not want to get stuck with all 20 in late Apr.

Photo by Eric Webber Nawang Sherpa, senior, excitedly accepts his grand rafe prize, a gift certicate to Wine Country Cyclery for a bike of his choosing.

insight and advice regarding life after graduation. Overall, I think [Road to Reality] was a very helpful event for students, commented Hannah Cenci, senior. The guest speakers were all knowledgeable and offered a lot of great

guidance that I know will come in handy in the next couple of years, both academically and professionally. Upon arrival, students were served breakfast and later, lunch and dessert. Throughout the day, names were drawn for

News

Challenge Day inspires SVHS students

Participants address the conflicts of high school
By Liam Casey Centered around group oriented communal therapy and structured through mutual respect and und e r standi n g , C h a l l e n g e D a y t r a v elled to Sonoma Valley High School to spread their positive, heartwarming message. Proclaiming that their vision is that every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated, the group used a hip-hop themed pep rally to encourage interaction between SVHS students who attended the event in the pavillion. Challenge Day leaders discussed how their own personal experiences as children and adolescents help them relate to the teens and adults they work with today. In order to demonstrate the confining restrictions that many teens place upon themselves to feel socially can die if not given enough affection; they can have all the nourishment they need, and still perish. Emotional interaction between humans is vital to our well-being. Among the students participating in the event, teachers also took the opportunity to challenge themselves; all in all, I thought it was a very meaningful and emotional experience recalled Ms. Rivara, who was among several SVHS teachers to senior, recalled that it was fun at first, but then quickly got serious and more emotional as the day progressed. Challenge Day programs increase self-esteem, help shift dangerous peer pressure to positive peer support, and reduce the acceptability of teasing, oppression, and all forms of violence. Students learn to accept others, learning that each individual has probems they must overcome. Their programs inspire youth and communities to

Caught in Thought
What is your opinion on home periods being taken away?

Emotional interaction between humans is vital to our well-being.

at ease, group leaders discussed the concept of the so called comfort zone which enshrines each and every one of us as we go about interacting with our peers, and even teachers. In addition to exploring social norms and personal boundaries, the challenge duo demonstrated the varying shades of appropriate hugs, and how to best navigate and identify the ideal embrace. This exhibition was brought about after one leader explained that babies

I thought it was a very meaningful and emotional experience.

have participated in the event. Tsarina Secyugu-Claver, become the change they wish to see in the world.

Cyle Gusse Sophomore They are good. It sucks they are not being offered.

S wee tw ate r s teps into Sonom a

By Arthur Morgan Deirdre Sheerin, CEO of Sweetwater Spectrum, a new non-prot to the valley, cut the opening ribbon on Sonomas newest community last November: Sweetwater Spectrums autism facility for adults. Nestled behind a few residential houses on the corner of Fifth St. West and West Spain Street sits the sprawling facility. One-of-akind and fully Sonoman, Sweetwater stands as an ode to what can be done with enough motivation and love. A group of families came together in 2005 with a plan: to build a living community that would cater to the needs of their autistic children; today, Sweetwater is open and accepting applications. Sweetwater is composed of a community infrastructure that stresses Sonoma is a tting place to host these communal bonds through four, four residents, as the tight knit community bedroom houses, each with their own bathroom. There will also be a full organic farm, an activity center, teaching kitchen, media center, and gym with a pool. Sweetwater is ready to accept 16 residents in 2013, and of Development plans courtesy of sweetwaterspectrum.org the dozens of applications already received, more than three have already is as welcoming as it is warm. As a city we have been given an enormous been accepted. gift, said City Councilmember Tom

Rouse. Sonoma Valley has long been home to a diverse base. Our community benets from that base. Diversity is what Sweetwater is all about, presently, applicants from as far as Saudi Arabia have voiced interest in the community, how to join, and how to build their own. Autism is a 21st century phenomenon; 85 percent of those living with autism are currently under the age of 22. This remarkable statistic means a huge surge is gathering speed, explained Sherrin, Sweetwater will serve as a model for one option to help foster independent living. When asked what kind of life sons and daughters with autism will have Sheerin replied, A life with purpose an ideology that ows through the community and the ideas that inspired the community, to live with purpose.

Emma Handron Junior I like them, I dont think they should be taken away.

AP Test Sign-Ups:
If you are enrolled in an AP class this year, dont forget to register for the AP tests by March 15 in the Student Activities Ofce. The cost is $90 per exam. See Jo Fichtenberg at the Activities window for more information.
The Dragons Tale is a public forum newspaper produced by the Sonoma Valley High School Newspaper class. The newspaper attempts to inform its audience in a broad, fair and accurate manner on all subjects, and to encourage an exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers. The newspaper staff encourages letters for opinions and responses on the content of the publication. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all letters for content. No material, opinionated or otherwise, will be printed which is libelous, irresponsible, advocates an illegal activity or which the editorial staff deems in poor taste. Editorials reect the collective views of the staff and will not contain bylines. Other opinionated pieces will include editors columns, feature columns, letters-to-the-editor, and entertainment reviews. If the staff discovers that a mistake has eluded the editors, a correction will be printed in the next issue. Dragons Tale

Attention all students!

Convention is March 15, and primary voting is March 11 and 12 This years Slates are: Slate 1 - Jesse Summers (SV), Mitch Hood (SAD), Jimmy Flatt (FA), and Miles Hagin (CM). Slate 2 - Joel Bremner (SV), Zach Thompson (SAD), Seamus Swendsen (FA), and Rich Denning (CM). Slate 3 - Paulina Prasad (SV), Maria Hawing (SAD), Jack Murphy (FA) and Vinny Albano (CM). Slate 4 is Itzel Macedonio (SV), Tasi Sherpa (SAD), Maria Ayala (FA) and Janet Cabrera (CM).

Emma Nyberg Sophomore It doesnt bother me much that they are being taken away.

Editorial Policy

SV is Student Voice; SAD is Student Activities Director; FA is Financial Advisor; CM is Campaign Manager
Page 2

Ronnie Cotter Junior I want a home period next year! Its disappointing because I was looking forward to it.

February 2013

Opinion-Editorial Environmental issues heating up

By Soa Jeremias Climate change, air and water pollution, deforestation, and simple overuse of the worlds resources have been persisting problems since the dawn of industrialization. Scientists have warned time and again against the dangers of mass consumption and careless destruction of ecosystems. The United States response to scientic fact has been to turn global warming into a political debate. Rather than making initiatives to decrease emission of greenhouse gases or conventional pollutants an array of weather contrarians have arisen, declaring global warming a farce, a conspiracy theory and an attack on big business. However, facts cannot be disputed. If one is apt to not believe in global warming than one certainly cannot discredit air pollution, deforestation, or the islands of trash oating in the ocean. All of these problems are direct results of the waste created by a consumer based society obsessed with things and economic gain rather than preserving the planet. Perhaps many do not believe that environmental problems will directly affect them, and thus its a problem of another generation. However, they would be remarkably wrong. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors published a study in 2010 which found air pollution in the form of microscopic particles contributed to 3.2 million deaths in that year alone. In India air pollution is the fth greatest killer. The Global Ocean Commission has warned numerous times of the exploitation of offshore wealth. The commission explained that This large proportion of the global ocean is under severe and increasing pressure from over-shing, damage to important habitat, climate change and ocean acidication. While the commission has striven to make improvements to conditions they lack a governance framework that delivers its aims and objectives for todays global ocean. One would expect that preservation of a planet would be one of the top priorities of every nations government. Yet, this unfortunately is not the case, and the Global Ocean Commission is far from getting the kind of government support it requires. Some small measures have been proposed in the United States, but for the most part they have been postponed or argued to oblivion. In 2011 a cap-and-trade program was introduced under a climate change law. The suggested program turned from an argument about environmental change to one based upon what policy would best benet the economy and consequently postponed. Until real initiatives are made and nations awaken to the increasing environmental problems, it seems that we will be in danger of facing a science ction inspired future. Until the government is moved to change its policies, it is up to the individual to reduce his/her consumption and waste and make what little indent one can on an adverse set of problems. Dragons Tale

Boy Scouts refuse to fly rainbow flag

By Laura Amador As same-sex couples continue to ght for their right to tie the knot, openly gay individuals are likewise, unable to tie knots of their own in Boy Scouts. After recently considering to uplift the ban of homosexuals in their organization, the Boy Scouts of America have decided to postpone their decision once again, as if delaying an ofcial announcement will suspend in the Boy Scouts after his troop leader refused to award him the Eagle Scout honor because of his sexual orientation. However, after nearly 2 years of supportincluding an online petition signed by 463,151 people and a letter sent to the organization from California Senator Barbara Boxer- Andresen was given his rightful award as a result of an overrule decision by the ofcial Eagle Board of Review. homosexuality are delicate. Nevertheless, in recent years, the gay community has been achieving more and more equality, leading many to believe that the Scout Oath promise to be morally straight has been taken out of context by the organization. Another main part the Scout Oath, which all Scouts must abide by, is to help other people at all times, yet the Boy Scouts exclude an entire community of

Armstrongs reputation becoming Frail

By Jacob Little There was a time when a small yellow band caught a nations heart. Ten letters carved into a silicon-gel bracelet and there was proof you could do anything. That nation wore those yellow bands with pride, proclaiming their support for both the less fortunate, and the man who walked out of the very clutches of death to rule the world without ever forgetting those he had left behind. That was six years ago. Today, the yellow bracelets are pushed to the bottom of our trash-bins just as we try to push away the memory of Lance Armstrong. His is a story of a traitor, one who not only took all of our trust, love, and admiration and tossed it to the ground, but one who threw it back in our face and laughed. Armstrong took PEDs. That is not the issue. In his own words, everyone took PEDs. They probably still do. But Lance Armstrong isnt just anybody. He isnt just the bicyclist, nor the guy that won seven consecutive Tour de Frances. This is the person who battled cancer, survived, and fought past it, fought through it, to stand on top of the world and still have more to do, people to save, the world to reawaken. Then came the allegations, the accusations, and the hard-fought denials. He apologized, slinking onto national television like a beaten dog, with his tail between his legs and his head bowed, ery eyes and gleaming fangs just below the surface. Is that enough? To pour out your heart in front of a nation, to say you are sorry and ashamed claiming it will never, ever, ever happen again? For a normal man, perhaps. But Lance Armstrong is hardly a normal man. This the person who engineered the greatest doping scandal ever. The person who drank testosterone like it was water, shot up erythropoietin and cortisone like a heroine addict. This is the man who bullied, coerced, and forced his teammates into following suit with drugs of their own. The man who attacked fellow bicyclists long after the allegations were out, and denied his own story well past the point of disgust. In 1997, this man started a charity. 15 years later, the Lance Armstrong foundation became the Livestrong Foundation, tearing down the very name of its founder, struggling, desperate, to forget that which will always be remembered. Six years ago, Lance Armstrong was the top of the world.. He had survived cancer, won an unprecedented 7 Tour de Frances, and was giving back to his people more than any other. Then, with his own hands, Lance Armstrong ripped down his empire. For a normal man we would cry, feel sorry, ponder bleakly the fate of humanity. Lance Armstrong, however, is not a normal man. February 2013

Art by Laura Amador

public outcry involving the issue. Although this blatant discrimination based on sexuality may seem to be a violation of civil rights, under the United States Supreme Court, it is classied as free speech by a private organization. The motivation to change their policy came from justied criticism from those affected and outraged by the outdated tradition. Ryan Andresen, 18, was one of many victims of this conduct and became a gure of discrimination Other inuential individuals have supported a reform in Boy Scouts membership requirements as well. Although Barack Obama and Mitt Romney differ in their opinions of many issues, both men have condemned the Boy Scouts for their policy. So why does the Boy Scouts organization continue to tiptoe around the issue? Because the Boys Scouts is still a predominantly Christian-supported organization, matters involving people with the defense of simply following tradition. If America were to have blindly continued traditional patterns of discrimination, however, there would have been no civil rights movement, no progressive change. For an organization largely based on serving ones duty to his country, the Boys Scouts have yet to relinquish a particularly un-American ideal.

A d d e r a l l : A s t u d e n t s b e s t friend or worst enemy?

By Adelia Gregory Over the course of a decade, it has become increasingly popular to fake the symptoms of attention decit hyperactive disorder (A.D.H.D.) in order to attain the drug known as Adderall. This particular drug is a deadly enemy for high school and college students alike--more and more are looking to adderall as a stimulant to keep pace with academic pressures, encouraging a lifestyle of cramming all night long and going on binge reading and study sessions, which often results in severe exhaustion and dependency. A.D.H.D. is characterized by an inability to pay attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive actions, which have become a popular diagnosis for students who apparently are medically unable to concentrate or focus on their studies. An overow of prescription drugs have been introduced that control the levels of certain hormones, which effectively, if only temporarily counteract the symptoms of A.D.H.D. Drugs like Adderall are being used recreationally by those who admit to not having A.D.H.D., who claim that they perform better with its attention-enhancing properties-- numbing the effects of stress with its notable prescription high, sharpening areas of the brain that were already functioning properly, producing an overdrive effect in the brain that enables unbelievable amounts of productivity to be accomplished. A.D.H.D. is thought to be caused by a deciency of dopamine in the frontal cortex, causing all primary functions like reasoning, planning, focusing, and problem solving to sufferthus, all A.D.H.D. drugs contain active ingredients that stop the reuptake, or using up of dopamine in the brain. Page 3 Adderall is an extremely powerful stimulant for the brain, and its effects are especially potent in young, developing brains of students whose cerebral abilities are often pushed to the edge in college academics. These brains that are functioning properly become hyper-actively enhanced, mentally and physically addicted to the drug, and experience exaggeratedly slow reexes and mental capacities when off the medication. Adderall is like the combination of the drugs athletes take for enhanced physical achievement and the drugs the depressed take to counteract depressionAdderall, simply put, is like a steroid for a brain. In small doses irregularly, Adderall is most likely harmless. Nonetheless, Adderalls near-promise of dependency and nearly deadly effect on pre-existing medical problems can prove fatal.

Opinion-Editorial

Females on the frontlines

By Jamie Ballard Think of the women in your life - your mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, or friends. Can you see them marching 15 miles in the desert, hefting a 70 pound rucksack and a rie? Can you see them physically defending themselves as an enemy soldier tries to pin them to the ground? If your answer is no, then you havent met the women of the U.S. military. Female soldiers, who were previously barred from frontline units due to a 1994 U.S. directive, now have the right to ght in on-ground divisions such as armor, infantry, and artillery units. The new directive, signed Jan. 24, allows women into combat units - given that they can prove themselves as physically capable. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta emphasized that qualications for certain positions will not be altered to specially accommodate female soldiers. If members of our military can meet the qualications for a job -- and let me be clear, Im not talking about reducing the qualications for the job -- if they can meet the qualications for the job, then they should have the right to serve, regardless of creed or color or gender or sexual orientation. However, many military ofcials and civilians alike believe that this is a poor decision which will ultimately endanger both male and female soldiers. Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin wrote a column for CNN in which he praised the women currently in the military but criticized Obama and Panetta for what he believes is an ideologically based idea (as opposed to a militarily based one). He writes, It appears that the people who did this are engaged in a vast social experiment in which hundreds of thousands of men and women will be the guinea pigs. He continues on to say that the living conditions are abysmal (apparently too abysmal for any woman) and that erasing the gender divide will lead to sexual tensions within these units. In addition to concerns about sexual tensions, several people are worried that allowing women will apparently change the group dynamics and prevent unit cohesion. Interestingly enough, the same objections were raised when the U.S. decided to let homosexual men and minorities serve. But as far as the reported data shows, allowing homosexuals and minorities into the military hasnt signicantly prevented group bonding or caused uncomfortable sexual tensions. Why should we assume that it would be any different with women? Others have argued that women will be more susceptible to sexual assault by the enemy if they are allowed into units with hand-tohand combat and a higher risk of kidnapping by the enemy. The problem with this - and its a big problem - is that female soldiers are sexually assaulted by their fellow soldiers far more often than they are assaulted by an enemy. The integration of women into more units isnt likely to worsen this problem. It may even begin to solve it, as women becoming equal to men militarily may lead to men viewing women as peers and treating them with more respect. Objecting to Obama and Panettas decision to endorse females on the frontlines is objecting to the hard-earned equality that American women have been ghting for since the establishment of our country. The women who make the choice to ght in frontline units are absolutely aware of what theyre signing up for. To imply otherwise is insulting to their intelligence. If a woman wants to risk her life or her privacy to help defend her country, that is her decision to make, and no one should have the right to interfere with or prevent it.

Eugenics: immoral manipulation or worthwhile pursuit?

By Arianna Maysonave The word eugenics often evokes horrid images of Nazi Germany, surfaces memories of American racist campaigns intended to prevent the mixing of inferior black blood with superior white blood. But what exactly is eugenics? Does it still exist today? Genetic control, heredity, eugenics - for centuries, society has toyed with the idea of genetic manipulation, a method of articial selection that could potentially modify organisms to increase efciency. Juxtaposing harshly with the Darwinian process of natural selection, eugenics, literally translated to well born in Greek, promotes selective breeding. In dogs, sure, we all know breeds have been isolated to produce purebred animals however, the controversy arises when this manipulation is applied to humans. In theory, eugenics has the potential to weed out undesirable traits and amplify those that are most successful. There are two questionable aspects of this proposal rstly, who would determine which traits to be eliminated, and secondarily, how would it be done? In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the idea of bettering society through science was so widespread that nearly every country enforced some sort of eugenics policy. The countries differed, however, in whether they practiced positive or negative eugenics. Positive eugenics increases the presence of desirable traits, while negative eugenics decreases the presence of undesirable traits. has been dismissed; however, what remains prevalent is the necessity for population control as natural resources become scarcer. An additional application is genetic counseling, which allows parents to screen fetuses for disease prior to delivery. Considered to be interference with human reproduction, some argue

The most primary fault of genetic manipulation is the need for human experimentation - atrocities have been committed in the name of eugenics, most famously the Holocaust, which was so historically horric it nearly halted all pro eugenics arguments. Today, the idea of using eugenics to create some sort of social utopia

that this is morally wrong. Another hotly debated issue lies in the fact that the traits eugenics breeds for intelligence, appearance, athletic strength - are not solely, or even primarily, genetic. If we seek a more intelligent population, it would be more worthwhile to ensure that everyone has access to adequate nutrition, health care,

and schooling than to enforce selective breeding. African Americans, for instance, were often targeted for eugenics programs from perceived inferiority, but its now obvious that their economic and social status is a repercussion of centuries of systemic racism, not a result of innate genetic dysfunction. But what are better humans? What is this prototypically ideal individual with no faults, physically or mentally? The human race is dened by its diversity while eliminating disease may seem initially desirable, what about those with mental disabilities who lead fullling, happy lives? If we obliterated Aspergers, we would lose a whole spectrum of quirky, wildly intelligent, creative individuals. The tortured artistic genius exists for a reason. If people were perfect, there would be no value placed upon individual successes. Where is the ne line denoting how much is too much? Should we try to lter out genetic diseases? Susceptibilities to cancer? Allergies? Stuttering? Crooked teeth? Breeding programs can be malevolent enough for dogs and horses, where relatively simple bred-for traits precipitate disasters, but is this relevant for humans? I would prefer not to see that disaster unfold.

France legalizes gay marriage

By Adelia Gregory Frances lower house of parliament approved a bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex adoption, a major liberal victory for President Francois Hollande. The measure was approved in the National Assembly in a 329-229 vote, putting France with a dozen nations, mostly European, to allow gay marriage. Despite recent demonstrations by opponents, polls indicate a narrow majority of French support legalizing gay marriagesteadily, all of Europe will likely follow suit. With this vote, France joins Britain in a pivotal legislative and cultural step toward legal equality, joining Britain as the two largest European countries to do so. The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Argentina, Canada, South America, District of Columbia, and nine U.S. States have ofcially authorized gay marriage. Recent demonstrations against enacting the bill stem from Frances conservative religious roots, including Roman Catholics, who ranted that gay marriage would destroy the traditional family. Luckily, the rising power of the Socialists and progressiveminded leftist legislative majority in ofcially secular France has led to the sweeping current of the pursuit for equality. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault went on to comment, Contrary to what those who vociferous against it sayfortunately theyre in the minority this law is going to strengthen the institution of marriage. This law is going to extend to all families the protections guaranteed by the institution of marriage. Similar to other controversial reforms in France, the bill raised weeks of debate as conservative opponents tried to stall for time using amendments, harassment, and other forms of derision, which proved unsuccessful, since it was a social evolution that benets society overall, noted Socialist representative Corinne Narassiguin. And as the law is established and blends with contemporary customs and traditions, there will undoubtedly be a huge shift in cultural perception toward homosexuality and its role in society, with America hopefully following suit in the coming future.

By Arthur Morgan

Te o t a c k l e d by love

In twelve hours, Notre Dame star football player Manti Teo lost both his grandmother and his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua. Less than three months later, Teo discovered that his girlfriend never existed. The sports world, like Teo, soon went crazy. How could you have a girlfriend that never existed? A Facebook friend is realistic. But dating, a girlfriend, love? Can that be a description for someone never seen? Was it a hoax? Something set up by Teo, perhaps in an effort to achieve more fame? After all, Teo had become a national superstar becoming a favorite to fans and the media alike. Slowly, the story began to unfold. Teo had met with Kekua on Facebook, and the two had grown close to the point where they spoke for hours together on the phone. But it wasnt Kekua talking on the phone. Instead, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a gay ventriloquist, had set up the Facebook account and talked with Teo on the phone. Tuiasosopo, the man behind the female voice that describes himself as 22-year-old Stanford University student under the psuedonym Lennay Kekua, says the root of his hoax resides deep in his troubled childhood, where he sufDragons Tale Staff fered sexual abuse at the hands ADVISER - Alison Manchester of a relative. Duping Manti EDITOR IN CHIEF - Jamie Ballard Teo, in fact, was nothing more COPY EDITORS - Grace Bon, Arthur Morgan than a cry for help, a cry for NEWS EDITORS - Grace Bon, Chelsea Krause someone to love him. OP-ED EDITORS - Laura Amador, Arianna Maysonave Interviewed on the Dr. Phil FEATURE EDITORS - Lindsey Jasperse, Ellen Angeloni show, Tuiasosopo explained CULTURE EDITORS - Sebastian Amara, Anneliese Koch that after being sexual abused PHOTO & TECH EDITORS - Matt Amatori, Jess Marioni as a child he went on to creSPORTS EDITOR - Connor Griggs-Demmin ate an alternate personality, a BUSINESS MANAGERS - Connor Griggs-Demmin, Arthur Morgan fictional Lennay Kekua to REPORTERS - Jamie Ballard, Laura Amador, Sebastian Amara, Ellen help him cope with his emasAngeloni, Grace Bon, Liam Casey, Brennan Cole, Adelia Gregory, Con- culation. When asked why nor Griggs-Demmin, Javia Headley, Lindsey Jasperse, Soa Jeremias, he created a fictional woman Anneliese Koch, Chelsea Krause, Jacob Little, Arianna Maysonave, rather than a man, Tuiasosopo Giana Monterosso, Arthur Morgan, Riley ODonnell, Giordi Serani, responded, because when I Brooke Slack, Jonah Son, Jesse Summers, Weston Updegraff, Eric Webber was abused I was abused like a ART & GRAPHICS - Pio Valenzuela, Liam Casey, Laura Amador, girl. Tuiasosopo would go on Soa Jeremias to relate his love for Teo, how

the feeling he had for him was real, and how their breakup was one of the toughest moments of his life, though he knew it was for the best. Tuiasosopos coming into contact with Manti Teo is just as strange as Tuiasosopos entire story. He says that shortly after creating his new persona he created a Facebook, adding people at random. Within days he was put into contact with Mantis cousin, and then, only a few days later, Teo himself friend requested Tuiasosopo. After facebook conversations their relationship developed into over-the-phone love. And soon, the two were dating. Looking back now, Tuiasosopo realizes his gamble was not worth the risk, confessing that although he made a grave mistake his motives were pure, and that he never tried to make money off their relationship. I just wanted to help him become better, he said. Teo, too, seems to have gotten past the entire affair. This past Saturday, in front of over 200 reporters at the NFL drafting combine, Teo delved deep into what he had learned, and how he would move on from his dreadful experience. Ever since I was young if somebody needs help, you help them out. Unfortunately, it didnt end up the way I thought it would, he explained. Teo, in his first major interview after his shake-up, sounds anything but shaken up. Teo, a fighter on the gridiron, is a fighter off the field too. One of the most controversial stories in sports in the last decade, Teo and his pseudolover created a buzz worthy of the outrageous story, creating perhaps one of the most bizarre events to ever occur in the history of sports. Though now broken up, Teo and his fictional girlfriend, perhaps against both their wishes, will be married together in sports infamy - till death do them part.

Dragons Tale

Page 4

February 2013

Culture

Best college towns in the USA

The diverse nature and cultural inucence in these towns offer a unique, exciting, and rich environment for proscpective students to enhance their college experience. These schools, located across the United States, do not only offer excellent academic programs, but provide an array of extracurricular activities that will help shape any student into the individual they invision themselves becoming after college.

New York University:

New York City

University of San Diego:

San Diego
By Anneliese Koch and Lindsey Jasperse than 360,000 residents with naval ties. There are 70 miles of coastline, the bay covering roughly 8 square About the school: The Univer- miles of water. sity of San Diego overlooks the San Things to do: San Diego has an Diego bay and is a medium-sized, idyllic climate, with attractions such 4-year, private Roman Catholic uni- as the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, versity. It is LEGOlocated in a LAND, large city and a n d has an urban m a n y setting. The more. San Diego Outdoor Torreros are activiNCAA Dities are vision 1, so popular there is never among a lack of spirit t h e or excitement people at sporting of San events. Diego, The Busiincludness/Marketing surfing major ing, sailis the most ing, and popular maswimjor, followed ming. by Social There Sciences, and are 15 Communicamuset i o n s / J o u rums, and nalism. The about University 6,400 of San Diego restauhas a sophorants. more retenKnown tion rate of as the 90% and has hub of Photo courtesy of Google Images activity, a 15:1 studentfaculty ratio. music, and food, visit the many festiFun Facts: San Diego is the sec- vals that are offered in the city. The ond largest city in California, and the Memorial Day weekend of 2013, the eighth largest city in the U.S. It is a Gaslamp Quarter will host the 2nd proud military townhome to more annual Music and Art Festival.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

By Sebastian Amara

Tulane University:
New Orleans

About the school: NYU is a private, 4 year university with worldwide campuses such as its Abu Dhabi Portal Campus. NYUs main campus is located in Lower Manhattan. Any NYU student will tell you that if you want a traditional college campus, then NYU is not the school for you. Students attending NYU tend to seek the experience of truly living in the city, with its skyscrapers

and incessant trafc, as opposed to the experience of a more traditional college campus. Fun facts: NYU is organized into 18 schools, colleges, and institutes that are located in six centers throughout Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. Their motto translated from Latin is To persevere and to excel. NYU offers one of the most racially diverse campuses, with minority students making up more than 60 percent of the population.

Things to do: NYU is located at the heart of New York City. The campus is surrounded by hundreds of theatres, museums, nightclubs, and restaurants that offer a plethora of daytime and nightlife opportunities. No matter what you are craving, it can be found in NYC. Many students also use the city to launch their careers. The city offers NYU students the opportunity to intern for the many of the worlds largest and most inuential companies and organizations based in the area.

University of Minnesota: Minneapolis/St. Paul

By Pio Valenzuela missed. Dinkytown, an area north of the East Bank campus, is a viAbout the School: The Universi- brant street community and center. ty of Minnesota, often referred to as Its also a popular off-campus stuthe University of Minnesota - Twin dent housing area. Minnesota also Cities, is located in Minneapolis boasts the second most theatres per and St. Paul, a large metropolitan capita in the United States, secarea in Minnesoond only to New ta. It is one of the York, offering nations largest many chances to universities, with see top plays and over 65,000 unperformances. dergraduate and Fun Facts: The graduate students University of enrolled. Minnesotas AnThere are two dersen Library campuses; the boasts the worlds main campus is largest colleclocated in Mintion of Sherlock nesota - a large, Photo courtesy of Google Images Holmes-related busy, and more books, text, and urban campus. The other campus memorabilia. Residents of Minis in St. Paul, the states capital, nesota refer to the city having two which offers a greener atmosphere seasons - winter and no sledding. with plentiful trees, also housing The university offers a 4 Year the universitys food and agricul- Graduation Plan, which ensures ture centers. eligible students a graduation plan Things to do: UMN offers 600 in four years - if the school doesnt student organizations and 40 frater- offer a needed course for the denities and sororities, giving students gree pursued, the university pays plenty to do. The city, however, is for the extra credits or creates a a cultural center that should not be substitute course.

University of Chicago:
Hyde Park, Chicago
By Anneliese Koch and Lindsey Jasperse About the school: University of Chicago is a medium-sized, 4-year, private university. It is located in an urban setting, in the hamlet of Hyde Park, a small district just south of the vibrant center of Chicago. There are countless opportunities to show school spirit while cheering on the Chicago Phoenixes at one of the many sporting events. The Universitys strong academics give it the reputation as one of the worlds greatest intellectual communities, with a core curriculum of systematic study of the arts and sciences. Although the city of Chicago may be lined with exciting events, bars, clubs, and pubs, the university campus remains the hub of academics--a calm atmosphere square miles of land, 15 miles of beaches, 36 annual parades, and a plethora of theatres and art galleries. It is known as the windy city, the Second City, the City That Works, and the Home of the Blues. The lively city is home to the largest collection of impressionist paintings outside of Paris and has one of the only three major free zoos in the United Statesthe Lincoln Park Zoo. Things to do: Attend the Taste of Chicago, a gathering of more than 3.5 million people in Grant Park each summer to sample food offerings from local restaurants, or stop by Wrigley eld to catch Photo courtesy of Google Images a Chicago Cubs baseball game. In addition, grab a to the universitys strong curricu- bite to eat at one of more than 7,300 lum and programs. restaurants that Chicago boasts, or Fun facts: There are 2,695,598 snag a 3-day weekend pass to Pitchresidents in Chicago proper, 237 fork Music Festival in mid July. full of study halls and hard working students. While it may not earn an A+ in its party scene, students are generally focused and dedicated

Photo courtesy of Google Images

By Riley ODonnell About the school: Tulane University is a private research university with 13,000 students enrolled. Tulane strives to connect its students and faculty with the community of New Orleans and encourages involvement in the growth and rebuilding of the city. As a well rounded school, there are countless opportunities for students to grow both academically and socially. Close student-teacher connections and strong educational values combined with participation in a once in a lifetime

chance of regrowing an urban city makes Tulane University an amazingly unique experience. Fun facts: Located on the Mississippi River, New Orleans is known for the world famous Mardi Gras, a custom originated from Europe that celebrates food, music and fun just before the Catholic celebration of Lent. It is also known for the Superdome, one of the worlds largest domed stadiums. New Orleans is the number one port with Latin America, and much of the worlds food, coffee, and oil pass through the port. Things to do: There is music

to see 365 days a year, sensational ballet, opera and Broadway shows, and 45 top festivals, along with dozens of others year round. Mardi Gras is a big attraction, and can occur on any Tuesday within the 47 days before Easter Sunday. The extravagant parades include dance groups, motorcyclists, band members and clowns, along with very spirited, often dressed up observers. Gumbo and Jambalaya are typical New Orleans foods, and the Avenue Pub is a highly recommended restaurant. The nightlife, museums, culture shopping and outdoor recreation make New Orleans a prime destination.

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February 2013

Feature

Mr. Dragon lights up Little Theater

By Jamie Ballard Contestants dove for the balloon, in several cases chasing it off the Mr. Dragon, the annual SVHS stage entirely and nearly injuring male pageant, commenced yet themselves in the process. Magagain, this year featuring upside- gioncalda and Montano kept the down stripteases, neon water questions coming, before calling wings, jazzy unicycles and more. an intermission to prepare for the The ve contestants this year spiritwear competition. were seniors Matthew CharlesCharleston began the spiritwear ton, Keaton Davis, Jose Here- portion with a clarinet rendition dia, Rory Johnston and Jonah of Lets Go Band that got the Son. Each contestant entered the audience singing and clapping Little Theatre, anked by female along. Both Davis and Johnston escorts as emcees Greg Mag- performed dance routines while gioncalda and Stephen Montano dressed in school colors, before announced them. Heredia ran out wearing a footThe rst event was a trivia ball jersey (which he proceeded contest, where the seated con- to take off and swing around). testants had to leap from their Son wrapped up the spiritwear seats and pop a balloon before portion with an intriguing perforanswering the trivia question. mance in his baseball uniform. The beach wear competition was next, with all ve contestants showing off using boogie boards, otation devices, and tanning oil. But the talent competition was the event that really excited the audience. Son rode a unicycle around the stage, while juggling and wearing a Bob Marley-esque wig, much to the delight of the audience. Heredia told jokes onstage, before jumping down Matthew Charleston poses for the beach wear competition. into the crowd and Photo courtesy of Anna Robles wooing girls and

Caught in Thought
What did you do on Va l e n t i n e s Day?

Rory Johnston and Jose Heredia show off their dance moves on stage. Photo courtesy of Anna Robles

By Brooke Slack Weston Updegraff

Love is in the air

ers getting the right thing for that special someone. Alternatively, Liam Casey, senior, who wasnt burdened with the onerous Birthentines Day Natalie Minuzzo, is away at college at Unitversity of Oregon, sent a care package for the day of love. The package contained a

guys alike with his pickup lines. He elicited an awww from the crowd when he directed his last pickup line at his girlfriend sitting in the audience. Johnston juggled a soccer ball around as he sang The Show from the movie Moneyball, convincing Maggioncalda to play guitar and get the crowd involved. Davis began with a simple handstand and then used his impressive acrobatic skills to remove his shoes, socks, shirt and pants without ever breaking the handstand. Charleston brought out some of his chemistry equipment and joked with the audience as he performed an experiment using yeast to create a volcano-like eruption. The last part of the show was a group dance portion, where the contestants, dressed in white shirts and sunglasses, performed

a dance medley to songs such as Pretty Young Thing and Live While Were Young. The culminating moment came when judges Mr. Donnelley, Ms. Lovejoy and Mrs. Reagan handed in their votes and declared the winners. Davis took third place, Son received the second place award, and Charleston was declared Mr. Dragon 2013. Along with bragging rights, Charleston also won 2 free tickets to Prom. I feel really blessed! Charleston remarked right after his big win. When asked about his favorite part, he commented that he really loved the camaraderie between the contestants. The Mr. Dragon competition was a clear success due to unusual talents, entertaining performances, and a very enthusiastic crowd.

Michael Sunia, junior, and Shelly Marmaduke, sophomore The day after Valentines Day we spent the day at the beach and laid in the sun.

Birthday plus Valentines Day equals Birthentines Day. Senior Molly Lobsingers birthday falls on Valentines Day, meaning her boyfriend, Grifn Hill had a lot of work to do. This year, Hill found his A game and planned a very special day for his girlfriend. On Feb. 14 he was on double duty. This self professed romantic went to Lobsingerss house before school, with not only Valentines Day chocolate but also birthday chocolate and on top of that a birthday gift as well. But that wasnt the end of her Birthentines Day. That night he borrowed a friends Tesla and they went to a movie and watched the sunset on the beach. With the season of love now behind us there were those that had a more difcult time than oth-

kept it classy and original with a pleasant dinner at Saddles and a late night movie. Jonah Son, whose girlfriend,

Mr. Z, a student teacher and substitute teacher, had the ultimate Valentines Day plans. In his dream plans he took his girlfriend sky diving. In the eld where they landed, he had burned a heart shaped hole in the grass. In the heart was a dinner set up, xed with 1923 Don Perignon and sturgeon caviar for the rst course. Then came the foie gras and Caciocavallo Podolico tted with ritzy Ritz crackers. The next course was a mixed green salad with toasted pecans and sweet vinegrette. Next came the main course, surf and turf with Maine lobster tail and Kobe beef let mignon. Then he looked at his bank account and had a stay at home date instead. Mr. Gibson, social Photo courtesy of Google Images science teacher and his wife had to delay their celebrations due to conbox of chocolates and three pairs licting schedules but when they of fuzzy socks. Along with this were able to they went to St. Helwas some extra chocolate and a ena and had an amazing dinner at Jonah specialty card. Rutherford Grill.

Lexi Dobson, freshman, and Brian Casillas, sophomore

Brian really wanted to watch The Notebook so we spent the night watching movies and eating pizza.

Anneliese Koch and Rory Johnston, seniors We went to the beach, missed our reservation at Girl and the Fig because of Greg Maggioncalda, so we ended up eating at The Swiss Hotel.

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February 2013

Feature

Tr aveling the World

Top Four Cities of 2013

Sydney, Australia is a scenic beach town famous for its fascinating sea life and great surng.

Surfing the seas of Sydney

ing, and sparkling views.

Eyeing London
dons many iconic buildings, exciting events, and nique restaurants makes London a great city to visit in 2013.

Annual events:
Sydney Mardi Gras is a spectacular celebration with fascinating activities and excellent way to experience

the iconic sights The alluring attractions of Lonof the city.

Places to eat:
The Bucket List: great for casual dining and modern, trendy cuisine. Tom Walton, famous for his work at Bistro Moncur, provides all the best seafood-focused fare. Harrys Caf de Wheels: this cafe situated in a caravan in Woolloomooloo. It is known for its tasty pies and peas. Tetsuyas: a gourmet restaurant that fuses Japanese and classic French cuisine. It was named the S. Pellegrinos Best Restaurant in Australia.

Places to eat:
The Ivy: the Ivy is one of the few restaurants frequented by such

celebrities. In the last year alone, Daniel Radcliffe, Jessica Simpson, and Rihanna were all spotted in the Ivy. J. Sheekey: this is another restaurant to visit if youre hoping to sight a celebrity and eat delicious food. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay: the restaurant of the celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay of the hit T.V. show Hells Kitchen

Places to see:
London Eye: the worlds largest observation wheel that views 55 of Londons most famous landmarks in just 30 minutes Buckingham Palace: this home of the royals of London is opened in the summer to see the famously stoic palace guard year-round. Piccadilly Circus: the Circus is surrounded by large moving billboards and tourist attractions.

Places to see:
Manly Beach: the beach is a peninsula, bounded by the sea on three sides. You can visit the breathtaking harbors of Sydney via ferry. Island hopping is a common activity for tourists. There are guided tours, camp-

Annual events:
London Fashion Week: one of the big four fashion trade shows in the world.

Beyond New York

Underneath the Big Apples jagged skyscraper skyline, museums display their latest collections, celebrity chefs reveal their newest creations, and Broadway continues to stage elaborate shows. Beyond the hustle and bustle of New York is a city that is iconic, hip, and ever-changing. tourist magnet surrounded by history, pedestrianization, and entertainment. Statue of Liberty: the French gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a gift to mark the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. Museum of Modern Art: located in Midtown Manhattan, identied as the most inuential museum of modern art in the world includes architecture, painting, sculpture, electronic media and much more. achievement in live Broadway theatre. Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade: 10,000 Macys employees, volunteers and parade enthusiasts kick off the longest running show in New York City. Paris has long been known as a city of artists and intellectuals, a breeding ground for revolutionary ideas. It is a fiercely romanticized city of dreamers.

To Paris with love

tartare and roast lamb. Ze Kitchen Galerie: features more modern French gastronomy. Chef William Ledeuils trendy restaurant is styled like a sparse art gallery, furnished with steel tables, parquet flooring and post-modern art. Le Bambou: the quirky Vietnamese restaurant features some of the items on the menue twice, and does not give the customers a choice of seating. Once seated, the waiter draws a line down the table and seats a stranger opposite of you. by King Francis I. There are over one million works of art in the Louvre. Arc de Triomphe: was built in 1810 and it once served as one of the entrances to Paris. Notre Dame: built in 1163, features gothic architecture, flying buttresses and gargoyles.One can obtain a lovely view of the city by walking up the 387 steps to the top tower.

Places to eat:
Le Bernardin: French seafood restaurant, and has taken Top Food and Most Popular honors in ZAGAT surveys. Peter Luger Steak House: a Williamsburg beef bastion has been voted NYCs Top Steakhouse for the 28th year in a row. Lucali: one of Brooklyns pizza legacies with just two items on the menu: pies and calzones.

Annual events:
If you are looking for a more structured trip you can take one of the many available walking tours. Currently, the most popular company is Paris Walks, founded in 1994, and is highly recommended by the New YorkTimes.

Annual events:
Fashion Week: kicks off the global calendar of Fashion Weeks, and is immediately followed by Fashion Weeks in London, Milan and Paris. Tony Awards: recognizes

Places to eat:

Places to see:
Times Square: Times Square is a Dragons Tale

Le Stella: is one of the few independent brasseries left in Paris. It serves escargots, sole meunire, steak Page 8

Places to see:
The Louvre: is one of the most famous museums in the world. Originally the museum was a palace but its art collection was established in the 16th century

February 2013

Wrestlers grab SCL title, send 10 to NCS

By Giordi Serani Its about time we won the title. I feel great for my fellow seniors to be able to nish our last season on top, and also for the younger wrestlers who will hopefully be motivated to win another, beamed senior co-captain Aidan Lacy. After nishing league duals with a 6-0 record this year, the Sonoma wrestling team headed to El Molino high school for the SCL league tournament on Saturday, Feb. 16 with determination to win the league pennant. At the end of the day, with ve individual medals - 1st place medals, two second places, and three bronze medals - the Dragons won the tournament, claiming the 2013 SCL title. At the league nals tournament, rst place medals were won by cocaptains Sam Denning (senior, 128 lbs), Giordi Serani (senior, 122 lbs), Aidan Lacy (senior, 222 lbs), and Max Schimm (junior, 147 lbs), while Jonny Amandoli (senior, 195 lbs) also claimed gold. Second place medals were given to Harris Meglen (junior, 115 lbs) and Dalton Ester (freshman, heavyweight division). Lastly, three wrestlers achieved

Sports

Opinion

Everidge returns to Sonoma

By Brennan Cole and Jonah Son While our school may tend to go largely unnoticed for the majority of our sports programs, baseball is one program that is in contention year in and year out. There are many areas that contribute to the programs success including the coaches, students, youth programs throughout the valley, and the impressive list of alumni that we have to inspire us. Arguably the most notable alum in school sports history is baseball standout Tommy Everidge. As a Dragon, the 2001 graduate was an All-Empire force as he helped lead his team to multiple winning seasons. In college, Everidge was a collegiate All-American at Sonoma State University, where he was later inducted into the schools athletic hall of fame. In 2004, Everidge was drafted by the Oakland Athletics and bounced around within the organizations farm system until being ultimately called up to the big leagues in July of 2009. In his relatively short stint with the Athletics, Everidge hit a homerun off of CC Sabathia in the Bronx, and hit a double off of former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon at Fenway. Fresh off a lengthy stay in professional baseball, Everidge has become an assistant coach to our schools varsity baseball team. He is actively participating as a handson hitting coach, which has proven to make strides for a number of our teams hitters, including slugger Vince Bruton. When asked about his thoughts on working with Tommy, Bruton responded by saying, Hes incredibly understanding and is great with relaying advice with specific individuals. Collectively, the team is very appreciative for the time donated by our great coaching staff, and look forward to all of the critical feedback throughout the year. For the first time since his senior year of high school, Everidge will put on the Sonoma Dragon uniform which has been kept safe for him in the schools Hall of Fame. With all his great advice and extensive knowledge of the game, the baseball Dragons are looking to earn a North Coast Section Championship.

Photo courtesy of Alex Ohan Seniors Alex Ohan and Johnny Amandoli can hardly contain their emotion after capturing an SCL title on Sat. Feb. 16.

well-earned third place medals to qualify for NCS - Alex Ohan (senior, 172 lbs), Chris Lohnes (junior, 108 lbs), and Jake Randuch (sophomore, 134 lbs). These wins not only qualied these wrestlers to NCS, but also assured Sonoma of the SCL title. Individually, the ten wrestlers that placed at SCL headed to the North Coast Section Championships at Newark Memorial High School - where over 100 high schools

were represented Feb. 22-23. The Dragons looked strong at the NCS championships by showing up with a loaded ten-man team. Schimm showed his readiness by stating, I think weve been ready for this all year. There was some tough competition, but it was nothing Sonoma Wrestling couldnt handle. At NCS, the Dragons took home four medals - and one will move on to the State tournament. Serani

claimed a 7th place medal at 122 lbs, Denning 6th at 128 lbs, Amandoli 4th at 195 lbs, and Lacy triumphed with a close 2nd place nish at 222 lbs and will therefore move on to the California State Tournament in Bakerseld next weekend. Currently for the team, Lacy is ranked 20th in California, while Serani and Denning are both honorably mentioned in the state rankings.

Time Out!
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming spring sports season?

Competing with other schools and running the 200 m.

Lily Carranza Track and Field

Getting to practice with varsity

Shauny McVeigh Softball

Winning NCS Dan Deely Baseball

Girls basketball falls in Snow sports at SVHS Lindsey Slack SCL, NCS tournaments
By Connor Griggs-Demmin Although Sonomans have not seen snow fall on the town since January of 2001, the community is lled with people who take part in winter sports, particularly skiing and snowboarding. This remains true at SVHS, as many students of all ages spend three day weekends skiing or snowboarding with family and friends. With world class resorts just a three hour drive away near Lake Tahoe, visiting for the weekend is relatively easy and a welcome break from academics. Here are just three of the many avid skiers and snowboarders at SVHS.

Photo courtesy of Owen Barrett The Dragons pump themselves up for a key league game.

By Jesse Summers Fueled by the huge crowd, the Novato Hornets, led by sophomore Janea Earlytook, who scored 13 points, eventually took the lead in the fourth quarter and captured a decisive victory over the Dragons, sending Novato onward in the playoffs.The Lady Dragons ended up suffering a 56-45 loss to the 6th seeded Novato Hornets in the rst round of the Division 3 NCS playoffs. Prior to this NCS showdown, the Dragons still had championship hopes entering the rst round of the SCL playoffs, even without senior captain and starting point guard Kendall Ashe who suffered a high ankle injury. After defeating the Analy Tigers on

their senior night, the Dragons saw a clear path to the championship game if they could repeat their performance against the Tigers for a second time. However, they were not expecting the offensive outburst that the Tigers exhibited last Thursday night. The lady cagers maintained a 12-9 lead after one period, but could not stop the surging Tigers, who nished the second quarter on a 23-11 run. Despite a solid performance from junior guard Giana Monterosso, who replaced Ashe as the point guard, and nished with 8 points and 3 assists, the Dragons defense allowed 27 second quarter points a decit they could not make up. The Dragons were simply outplayed by a hungry Tigers squad, and eventually lost by a score of 54-48.

Graham Herder

Just after learning to walk, senior Lindsey Slack learned how to ski. She has continued to go around three times a year, and now has developed the abilities to condently ski down any black diamond run. I love spending the weekend skiing with my mom, brother, and sister. Sugarbowl is my favorite, added Slack.

Ian Bon

Sophomore Graham Herder began snowboarding three years ago, and found a new weekend hobby. He goes with his friend Sam Sondheim on the bus trips from Santa Rosa Ski and Sports. The buses leave early and return late, giving riders a full day of snowboarding at various resorts around Tahoe. Its fun, cheap, and denitely the best way to get up there, remarked Herder.

I love it all, park and mountain, says freshman Ian Bon. He has been skiing since he was four and continues to go up to Tahoe around eight days a year. My favorite resort is Sugarbowl, added Bon. Bon enjoys skiing with both his family and his friends, as he has close friends who enjoy skiing along with his two sisters who both love skiing and snowboarding as well.

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February 2013