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March to the Top

nicolewalters — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:27:21 +0000

Maverick Brigade takes 4th place in Vista Competition

Consisting of over 70 members, the Maverick Brigade can be seen on the field at halftime of every home football game, as well as at select away games and marching band competitions all over the country.

For the successful, award-winning band that they are, many students claim to have never even heard of the Maverick Brigade.

“I think people appreciate us but nobody really understands how much we practice,” junior Lalia Al-Shamma said. Their full rehearsal schedule earns them more and more recognition each day.

“This year, we won a Unanimous Superior for concert band. We marched in [the 2011 New Years Day] parade in London, and the Queen was there,” Al-Shamma said. Both the Marching Band and Color Guard participated.

A “Unanimous Superior” is the highest award that bands can receive at tournaments. It is the title that they strive for at each tournament they attended.

“Also, we recently had 3 tournaments with 7 to 8 schools and placed 4 out of 20 in the very final,” Al-Shamma said.

The Maverick Brigade spends an average of 6 hours a week rehearsing, although it can get up to 10 hours or more when they have practices for competitions or games.

“We spend so much time together in rehearsal and at tournaments that everyone gets to be really close,” junior Kamalia Freyling said.

“We’re like a family,” junior Brianna Johnson said. “We encourage each other. Some people also work together for duets, which always end up really pretty.”

The band members interviewed agree that the Brigade is not largely recognized by the school. Principal Kyle Ruggles agrees.

“I think a few people, though not nearly enough, are finally starting to understand that we do in fact have a top-notch band here on our campus,” Dr. Ruggles said. “I am extremely proud of how all of their hard work and practice pays off. There is definitely another side to LCC besides sports.”

The bulk of activities and rehearsals for marching band take place during the first semester, with students meeting for band camp in August and ending the competition season in late November.

Students in marching band can receive PE credit for their time, which is especially important if one is looking to free up a spot in his or her schedule to take other classes required for graduation.

According to Band Director Carissa Mattison, in order to earn two years of PE credit, band members must show up to rehearsals after school, attend all home football games, and participate in four competitions during first semester.

In addition, students need to do four years of marching band to get two years of PE credit. Students who choose this path would have to fulfill the Health requirement on their own time.

Anyone who is looking to catch a glimpse of the Maverick Brigade’s performances can visit their YouTube channel under “TheMaverickBrigade” or “like” their page on Facebook.

Making A Splash

willjones — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:17:38 +0000

In the cold, early hours of a Sunday morning, most members of our school’s sports teams lay fast asleep.
All of them, except for those on the Maverick surf team, that is. A highly dedicated squad containing some of the best young surfers in the county, the surf team can be found in the water at any opportunity.
“Our team practices every Wednesday at Pipes. However, even though we only meet one day a week, the kids are out there practicing every day,” Randy Giusta, surf team coach, said.
Giusta, who has been with the surf team since the school’s beginning, now coaches with his son Ryan Giusta, who teaches Spanish on campus. Often called “Papa Giusta” by his surfers, the elder Giusta has shown his true love of the sport through his willingness to spread his passion far beyond his own team.
“In 1998, we took the team to the Philippines, where we stayed in Daet. We donated 24 surfboards to some of the locals, taught them how to swim and surf, and started a surfing program in the Philippines,” Randy Giusta said.
The surf team continues to shine today as one of the top teams in the area.
“In a surf competition, riders are sent out in heats, with six people in a fifteen minute heat. Normally, they will need to catch around ten waves in that time, and they are scored on tricks, length of ride, difficulty of maneuvers, and, like gymnastics, the landing. Their top two scores are added up, and the person with the highest score wins,” Randy Giusta said.
In competitions this season, the surf team has yet to fail to rise to the occasion. The mens’ short board team has thus far gone undefeated, including in their most recent showing, a seven point margin win against Torrey Pines at the Oceanside Pier on January 23rd. Anchoring the team are key surfers Sam Zaiser, Alec Macauley, and Tommy “Tommy-grom” Wehsner, recent champion of a countywide competition in both long board and short board. Much of the team’s success can be attributed to the unique way the team practices.
“We practice in fifteen minute heats, like the competitions. It teaches them wave selection, timing, and landing, and trains them to surf competitively,” Randy Giusta said.
Just as plentiful as the surfers’ successes however, is their love for the sport itself.
“I think their favorite part of it is the contests. Just being together and cheering each other on,” Randy Giusta said.
It is within this very spirit and passion that true athletes are made, as they continue to carry on the highly acknowledged school tradition of surfing.

Editorial: Freeing the Press

willjones — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:41:27 +0000

In the recent light of the turmoil in Egypt we as Americans have been thrust into the debate over the value of free press. Long has our country argued over the responsibilities and liberties of the media. From yellow journalism to the red scare era censorship int the media has not only brought controversy to light but has also been the source of it.
The crisis in the Middle East centers around the call for President Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for more than 30 years, to resign. Images, videos and stories that have filtered through to the American audience depict scenes of terror, bloodshed and destruction. Many of us who go home with the assurance of safety cannot process the conflict occurring continents and oceans away. Yet it is pivotal that we take time to reflect not only our good fortune but also the basis of government and the right of the free press.
Our founding fathers thought that freedom of the press was so pivotal to a free democracy that they inserted the right into the first amendment. Centuries later, that amendment has kept an essential status as a check and balance to our government. From Watergate to Wikileaks, this right has been tested and has held firm against numerous assailants.
Egypt, however, has had no such luck. From the early signs of protests in Cairo, mass government censorship erupted throughout the country. Egyptian media was stricken from their power over the airwaves,. Before Mubarak shut down access to the Internet, journalists used social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to penetrate the journalistic blackout throughout the state.
One might say that if the news was interrupted for a few weeks it would give everyone a much more positive light on life but unfortunately media plays a large role in our society. Without journalism, we as citizens are left blinded and dumbed by those in power. Without an external watchdog checking every move of politicians and world leaders, one can only imagine the amount of misuse of power. Imagine if the genocides in Africa were never brought to light or if the Nazi concentration camps stayed forever hidden; these atrocities would continue and their perpetrators left to go free.
Thus one must realize that our right to the freedom of the press without prior restraint is momentous to keeping order and balance to our nation. Our district understands the gravity of this and has established a first amendment policy that mirrors that established in our constitution. We as students have not let this vital opportunity go to waste, our school was one of three recipients in the nation of the First Amendment Student Free Press Award. We at Mavlife find that our right as students to publish content without prior restraint of administrators is essential to keeping a balanced and transparent high school where there are no hidden dealings or unfair situations. We press for this to be continued in the years to come and implore that surrounding districts and our nation as a whole give students back the right to publish their voice once again.

Kyle Gaan: President of Comedy Sportz

willjones — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:43:13 +0000

Being funny is a great quality, one that senior Kyle Gaan embodies flawlessly. Gaan joined on-campus club Comedy Sportz freshmen year, and became club president this year. He has been involved in different theatre productions on campus, where he embodied various comical and serious roles. Gaan is not solely known for his comedic skills, but additionally his dedication to doing well in school and aiding the campus to be a joyful environment for all students.
“People probably think I’m a bit of weirdo because of the weird things I do in Comedy Sportz, but hopefully I’m a nice weirdo. I wouldn’t know though. I’m actually more serious than people might think. I’m a lot more mature and responsible offstage, not that I really show that on a daily basis,” Gaan said.
Following the footsteps of comedic prodigies Ryan Hunt, Miles Daniels, Omri Kruvi, and Chris Gurley was a difficult task, but Gaan accomplished the role effortlessly. Since his involvement in the club, Gaan has hosted various-on campus activities and written commercials for teams such as Speech and Debate.
“When I was a freshmen and Felder convinced me to join Comedy Sportz, there was no way I ever thought I’d be as funny as the seniors. But now, I’m definitely more self confident and I feel more at ease with a lot of the social things I do.”
Gaan also participates in the drama performances on campus. He has been involved in multiple plays and musicals throughout his four years on campus. Gaan has a natural acting ability, derived from his loud voice and confident manner. His talent has been a fantastic addition to the drama department, even if acting is just an additional hobby for Gaan.
Living by the motto, “take it upon yourself to make the world a better place”, Gaan is clearly a sensitive man attempting to make people laugh for the sake of establishing an air of positivism. Although he will be off to college soon and moving on with a future filled with laughs, his hysterical legacy will be remembered at La Costa Canyon.

How to take rejection like a BOSS

willjones — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:40:29 +0000

Do you smell that? That’s the smell of dreams being crushed, or as many would label it “Formal Season.” Nobody’s perfect (with exception to Jessica Alba), so here’s a “How to” to help you cope with being barred by your hopeful formal companion

1) Ask out your man/woman/other.

2) When rejected, immediately follow up with obnoxious laughter claiming, “I can’t believe you thought I was serious.” and “clearly, this is an early April fool’s joke” (slapping of the knee is suggested for dramatic effect).

3) Plot a diabolical plan for revenge. After all, no one rejects you and gets away with it.

4) After you have disposed of the body, take a moment to indulge in comfort foods and entertainment. This may include, but is not limited to, Rocky Road ice-cream, re-runs of Boy Meets World, Cher, and shouting off rooftops that love is nothing but a lie.

You are now ready to move on, and find the formal date of your (2nd best) dreams. Happy Hunting!

Just Do It

willjones — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:00:44 +0000

Lawson (4th from the right) is awarded a medal for finishing 4th in the state championships in Fresno, California. Photo by Brenna Lyles.

On the morning of November 27th, under the fall-colored leaves of Woodward Park in Fresno, California, fourteen athletes of the Cross Country team competed in one of the most important races of their lives, the CIF State Cross Country Championships.

Despite the chilling, wet conditions on that Saturday morning, a state-ranked group of runners took the field with a fiery desire for victory. The girls’ team finished second in the Division I California Championship with 110 place points and an overall time of 91 minutes and 5 seconds. Their overall time was the third fastest ever recorded on this 5 kilometer course, which also qualified the girls for Nike Cross Nationals, a meet of elite teams and individuals from across the country in Portland, Oregon on December 4th.

The first ever LCC boys’ team to compete at state ran an overall time of 79 minutes and 58 seconds, scoring 260 points, and placing an impressive 11th within Division I.

“State was very fun and a great team bonding experience. The race, though, was tough and very fast because the course was so flat,” said Ryan Hershey, junior.

Every runner agreed that this particular course may have been one of the fastest they had ever raced on. This was due to Woodward Park’s extremely flat terrain containing just a few small, rolling hills and one “Killer Hill” that was “not-so-killer” after all. Both weather and course conditions proved to work in favor of a few talented individuals, including Kelly Lawson, sophomore, who placed 4th in her race and Darren Fahy, junior, who placed 11th.

“Even though the race was hard, and it was cold,” Lawson said, “I was happy with the results. I definitely wasn’t expecting to get 4th, even though my goal was to finish in the top ten, so it felt nice.”

Lawson’s outstanding performance included an amazing race to the finish, jumping from sixth to fourth place in a matter of 20 meters by out-sprinting two of her fierce opponents. One of those opponents was heavily favored: Rancho Bernardo’s Molly Grabill, who was recently ranked third in the nation by Milesplit.us, a high-school competitive-running network.

“Those who competed at state, and even those who didn’t, worked really hard all season to get there,” said the team’s co-captain, Gabi Al-Shamma, senior. “Everyone who went gave it their all, even though some had more weight on their shoulders than others. [We’ve] come a long way as a team.”

Players to Watch

willjones — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:44:48 +0000

Annie Lovell – Field Hockey

This field hockey Junior Olympian has been playing since the sixth grade and has since proven that her gentle demeanor is just a front for her substantial and aggressive athletic ability. She has been awarded MVP in several field hockey tournaments, and the Union Tribune’s “Athlete of the Month.

John Razmajoo – Water Polo

Despite having only played since his entrance into high-school, John Razmajoo has obtained several athletic achievements including being awarded second team all-league, being a competitor in the Junior Olympics, and now being one of the top scorers in the league.

Natalie Bausback – Volleyball

Six foot two middle blocker Natalie Bausback is a force to be reckoned with. She has been unstoppable with 186 kills , 86 blocks and 109 digs in her high-school career so far. The best part- she is only a junior.

Students Threatened Over Senior Shirts

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:32:31 +0000

When two dissatisfied seniors decided to design their own senior shirts, neither expected the waves of backlash and criticism from the Associated Student Body.

Every year ASB creates a senior class shirt sold exclusively to the senior class. The process began during the summer, when ASB created a Facebook page inviting seniors to solicit suggestions on possible slogan ideas. Some seniors assumed that ASB was empowering them to vote on the shirt design, which was not the case. In fact, ASB did not end up using any of the suggested ideas.

Ultimately, ASB hired Ryer Flaker to design the image. After seeing the that Flaker created, ASB officers considered changing the design, but miscommunication and lack of time left the shirts unaltered.

“We were unaware that the printing process would take so long and we

weren’t able to add the amount of detail we wanted. Given the unforeseen time

constraints we were happy with it. We just straight up ran out of time,” Chris

Leigh, senior said.

Student Designs New Shirt

The rushed effort to design the shirt resulted in many seniors expressing

discontent upon viewing the final image. Several students were upset that our school’s name was not printed on the shirts.

“The senior shirts were pretty bad. They didn’t capture the essence of the Mavericks. So we came in to fix it. We were only planning on making twelve and then it just exploded,” Sam Owen, senior, said.

Frustrated with ASB’s choice of senior shirts, Owen decided to create one of his own. Owen contacted Brooke Hartley, an alumnus with a degree in graphic design from the University of Arizona, to help create a new shirt. Owen’s design contains the slogan, “The Good Life” paired with an image of sunglasses and the Maverick logo.

Controversy Erupts

While popular among seniors on campus, the shirts solicited disapproval and even threats from ASB.

According to several ASB students, after Owen started selling the shirts, ASB Advisor Kailtin Wood discussed the situation in an ASB meeting. At that meeting, Wood allegedly stated that ASB could potentially sue Owen for using the Maverick logo without permission. Several ASB students were upset with Owen’s actions.

“I was confused on why they would want to break the unity that ASB

tries to create for the Senior Class through these shirts. It brings our morale

down; even our own members bought the shirts. I think the reason they did it

was to bash on ASB,” Secretary Katarina Uebelhor, said.

After the meeting between Wood and the ASB students, a member of ASB approached Owen and warned him that ASB could take legal action against him.

“[An] ASB individual threatened me with the possibility of a lawsuit, said there were copyright violations, legal issues, and that I was infringing on the duties of the ASB class. They told me that ASB was contacting my parents and that I could be prosecuted,” Owen said.

ASB Advisor Denies Lawsuit Threat

Wood denies all accusations of even mentioning a lawsuit and denies that

ASB ever intended to press legal charges.

“It is possible that a student misinterpreted the agenda that day. ASB never intended for this to be a legal issue,” ASB Treasurer Jenna Maffucci, said.

ASB asserts that the student who approached Owen was either misinformed or seriously mistaken. However, because of the individual’s position of authority in ASB, many people believed that the threats against Owen were plausible.

“It’s just frowned upon to use the Maverick logo without permission,” Wood said. “What’s ironic is that they are taking money away from their own [ASB] fund.”

As it stands now, there is no lawsuit, no parents have been contacted, and no

students have been called in for questioning. According to Wood, the Maverick logo is in the public domain, which means that anyone can use it. As long as Owen sells the shirts off campus, the Administration cannot do anything to stop students from wearing the alternative shirts.

Student Arrested at Football Game

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:30:14 +0000

A La Costa Canyon student was arrested for alleged public drunkenness during the LCC football game vs. San Clemente High School on Friday, September 17, 2010. No information about the accused student could be released because the student involved is a minor (age 17 or younger).

The juvenile was removed from the stands after exhibiting inappropriate behavior. The student was escorted by a school official and another police officer to Officer Cobian, the new school resource officer, who made the actual arrest. Although no alcohol was found on the student, the arrest at the San Clemente football game caused the administration to ban bringing in bags at the following football game against Redlands High School on September 24, 2010.

While little information could be gathered about the specific actions involved in the incident. The actual actions of the student that was removed could not be revealed, as well as which officer and school official removed the student. No school property was damaged in association with the student’s alleged intoxication. As is school policy, the student was referred to the READI program as an alternative to suspension.

The Recovery Education Alcohol Drug Instruction Program (READI) helps students involved with drugs and alcohol. The program is run by two substance abuse counselors Joseph Olesky and Tiffany Findel.

Mr. Olesky explained the specifics of why students get referred to the READI program and what students will accomplish during the program.

“You can be referred to the READI program for being intoxicated, in possession of drugs or alcohol, or you can refer yourself if you realize you need help, and your parents can refer you as well. Phase one of the Readi program lasts two days. The course is physco-educational and we discuss how drugs and alcohol affect the brain, the body, and future experiences. Phase two requires six weeks of group discussion every other week, 10 hours of community service within 60 days, recovery meetings, and completing a relapse prevention packet.”

Mr. Olesky also expressed that the READI program is optional, but the program erases the suspension off a student’s record. However, suspensions may still be active for sports teams or extracurricular actives. If a referred student chooses not to do the program, record will show that a student has been caught using or in possession off illegal substances and a five day suspension will be issued.

Mr Olesky added, “The program is designed to change lives. If you just get suspended what do you get out of it?”

Principal Ruggles, in response to the arrest, said, “I’m disappointed with the student’s decision. It is against the law for students to use substances like that. I become a little angry when students break Ed Codes and laws.”

Principal Ruggles made clear that the school is doing all it can to prevent incidents like this from occurring. “We have a climate committee made up of staff, parents and students that solve issues at the school. “Climate” refers to the climate of the classroom. Are students learning, are they happy? And, most importantly, are they safe?”

When asked if an arrest is a frequent occurrence at LCC Principal Ruggles replied, “I wouldn’t say that it is frequent, but I won’t deny that it happens. It is a problem, and it needs to stop. Stopping it starts at the family level, expressing the seriousness of contraband.”

“If students are under the influence of alcohol and get behind the wheel of a car, it is a death sentence. Students should never be involved with contraband at any time. Also, when applying for college students are asked if they have ever in trouble at school. This student would have to answer ‘yes’,” Principle Kyle Ruggles warns.

Ruggles Declares “Respect” as Word of The Year

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:26:52 +0000

In an attempt to bring change onto the campus, Principal Kyle Ruggles has decided to draw attention to the word “respect.”

He selected this word after he was inspired by a student forum last spring. The forum was organized by senior Breonna Mabry in an attempt to bring change to campus. It helped people to express what they felt and thus lead to a better environment.

“Respect is a nice start but the administration has to do something with it, such as bringing challenge day back and other activities,” Mabry said.

During the forum, Ruggles noticed that a lot of students discussed the lack of respect received by their peers. After the forum, he met with Mabry to discuss ways to promote a more positive environment. Ruggles decided to make a word of the year in response to this issue.

“So far I have seen a nice feel around campus about the word respect and that students are being more respectful of themselves and others,” Principal Ruggles said.

Ruggles and the staff are working cooperatively to create harmony on campus by creating the “Student for Student Safety” program. The program would consist of one student representative from each grade to discuss issues and ways to help students feel more secure with Ruggles. Similar to the student forum, this program hopes to promote more respect on campus. Principle Ruggles and the staff are still in the process of creating the program. They plan to present to the district in the near future.