Home Run Of A Season

The team started a strong 2018 season by winning their first preseason game of the year 16-3 with a win over Fairfax High School.

The Jaguars baseball team has had a good run in this season. The team ended with a 6-4 league record. The Jaguar baseball team also ended the year with an overall winning record of 15 wins and 9 losses.  

Seated third in this year’s playoffs CIF  Los Angeles City Section Division II playoff bracket, the Jaguars made a deep run in this year’s playoffs.

The boy’s baseball team won their first-round game against Contreras High School 8-0. The Jaguar baseball team also won their quarterfinal game against Fairfax High School, 11-0.

However,  the road to this spot was not an easy one. Eric Pasillas, senior  in the Tech & Media magnet and a pitcher said, “ This season has been the best that  South East has ever, had and it has been very difficult.”

Therefore, the team had to come together.  “Every player on the field knew what they had to do and we all worked hard at practice,” said Kevin Zamudio, a sophomore in the Justice and Law small school and the 1st Baseman.

The team made sure to stay focused throughout the season. They stayed focused and prepared themselves for every next game. Cesar Urena, a senior in the Tech & Media magnet  and a pitcher says that “We would always put in the extra work and stay after practice and try to get better and prepare ourselves for our next game.”

The Jaguars advanced to the semifinals of the CIF  Los Angeles City Section Division II playoff where they faced off against Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) and lost 4-2.

However, the team did not let this bring them down. Junior Eric Martinez, in the Business, Innovation, and Leadership small school and the catcher said this season was “amazing because many teams and people doubted us and didn’t think we could beat high leveled schools.”

 

Girls Swim team looks to win Back to Back League Titles

BY GABRIEL ANGUIANO

The Girls Swim team had a strong 2016-2017 season going undefeated and winning league. However, with the addition of new swimmers to the team, as well as the departure of senior swimmers, the team knew that this season would be a very different one.

This season, the Girls Swim team started off with a win and made sure that they ended it with one as well. Even returners like Mirra Albisurez, a senior in the Justice, Law & Service small school, felt  pressure to play with the same intensity and winning mentality “ I felt pressure, because we knew that we wanted to win again, and, in order to win, we had to keep on practicing and step it up.”

Step it up they did. The girls swim team ended the season with a perfect record, going undefeated with a  6-0 record, going undefeated in back to back seasons. Even with new swimmers like Luz Contreras, a senior in the Business in Law small school, who felt tons of pressure to keep up with experienced swimmers, “I felt pressured [because] everyone around me was in swim their whole life.” The team was able to end the season with a perfect record. Even with this pressure on her shoulders, Contreras was able to perform well.

 

With the season now behind them, the team has their eyes set on a new goal: to retain their league championship title this Friday, May 4. And with adrenaline running high, the Girls Swim team will look to bring the trophy back home once again.

Immigration & Water

BY GABRIEL ANGUIANO

The journey that people in Latin America take to the United States can be a long and grueling journey. Many pack tons of food and water for the long journey, sadly some will underpack for the journey and face dehydration from the strong desert heat. However, thanks to many organizations and projects such as Border Angeles, people travel to the the desert between the United States and Mexico to leave gallons of water all throughout the desert.

Water is the difference between life and death; nothing in this world can live without water. The water drops held every month by Border Angeles can – and have saved many

lives. However, these gallons also inspire these people to keep fighting and keep going until they reach their destination because the Border Angeles write messages such as “ No te des por vencido“ and “ya casi llegas a tu nueva vida.”

This new administration has created a new fear and hatred towards immigrants. This has been shown in recent viral videos that show border patrol cutting open the gallons of water left by Border Angeles. They pour tons of gallons of water out;  water that could have  saved a life or an entire generation.

Undocumented immigrants anonymously report that  dehydration almost killed them, and the mindset of death was the only thing on their mind after running out of water.  Many first generation children such as myself all depended on the success of their parents to cross the border. Thanks to Border Angeles, a whole new generation of first generation children can be born in the United States and fight for a nation of acceptance, where  this deadly journey will no longer be needed and my people will finally be accepted with open arms.

Journey of Luis Funes

By GABRIEL ANGUIANO

Imagine moving to a new schools and having to make new friends, having new teachers, or moving to a new state. For many, like Luis Funes, moved countries, has to not only make new friends, but learn a new lifestyle and language.

Luis Funes, a senior in the Business, Leadership, and Innovation small school, was born in El Salvador. Funes moved to the United States about a year and a half ago. He was forced to learn a new lifestyle in the United States and he faces cultural and language barriers

Funes faced many difficulties such as, “ the language “ [and] “making new friends.”  He said that everyday tasks such as going to the store were difficult, because he did not know English. Funes would have to ask for help if he ever had to go somewhere only English was spoken only spoke English.

Even harder was making new friends. For many, moving to a new school and making friends is hard; Luis had to not only make make new friends, but find people who also spoke Spanish just like him saying, “I had to find people who spoke the same language.”

Luis Funes believes  that it would be very difficult for him to to go back to  his old lifestyle in El Salvador. Many foreigners, like Luis, who come to America would be faced with culture shock if forced back to their origin country after so long in America and this country’s lifestyle. This is the fear many DACA recipients face when they are threatened with deportation from the country they grew up in and the only country they know, which could create a shaky life or worse destroy their lives.

 

With the new Trump administration in office there is fear in the Latino community. However, when asked, Funes said he “has no fear or the administration at all.”

Band, Color Guard march in 72nd Annual South Gate Christmas Parade

  The city of South Gate held its  72nd annual Christmas Parade, in which local schools, businesses and residents all participate in the parade. This year the Jaguar band and colorguard teams mark their 4th in a row, after missing 2013.

   The Jaguar band is led by a senior in the Visual and Performing Arts small school, Miranda Blanco. She said, “I am very excited and honored. This will be my final parade and being able to lead the band is amazing,” she feels the drum major is an important responsibility.  “It’s a huge honor and even a bigger responsibility. Once you become drum major it’s hard not to feel like a part of something special,” Blanco said. A senior in the Visual and Performing Arts small school, Evelyn Antonio said, “ I felt safe with Miranda, she’s very confident and hardworking.”

   A total of 21 band students will participate in this years parade, as well as 13 members of the color guard will be part of the parade. Making it a total of 35 Jaguars that participated in the Christmas parade.

   Not all participants who will participate in the celebrations have as much experience as Blanco. Evelyn Antonio, a senior in the Visual and Performing Arts small school, joined the school band team this year. Making this year her first and final parade.

  Even though the South Gate Christmas parade is an important event, students do not get a lot of practice to solely focus on the parade.

 

In fact, according to Blanco, the band doesn’t fully focus on the parade until after season. “ We are currently in season, and we do not fully focus on the parade till a week or two before,” Blanco said.

  All students participating during the parade are very excited. “ I use to watch the parade every year as a kid with my parents. I always wanted to perform, and now I’m actually part of it,” said Isaias Ceballos, a senior in the Visual and Performing Arts small school.

  Afterwards, when band and color guard members were asked how they felt, they all said they felt tired and relieved. They felt a pride in representing, not only themselves,  but the school as well.

 

Girls Soccer Tryouts

Gabriel Anguiano

 

  The girl’s soccer team held tryouts in October. Varsity is looking to add depth to this year’s roster. Coach Pelayo will be looking to bring a CIF Division 1 champion, after winning a Division 2 CIF champion two years ago.

  Many freshmen and sophomores tryout each year hoping to make the varsity team.  Coach Pelayo said, “We got tons of high quality players. If they can play, they can jump straight into the varsity team.”

  Girls soccer coaches believe if any player has the talent and can help the team, then they can make the varsity team.  Junior Ashlynn Gonzalez joined the varsity team her freshman year, and was “The South East Girls Soccer Player of the Year” breaking the school’s record for most goals scored in a single season.

  Girls tryouts lasted three weeks, longer than any other female sports. This may be seen as too much; however, Coach Pelayo believes,  “ We have about 75-100 players tryout every year and one week, like many sports, isn’t enough. This year around 75-80 girls tried out.

  During tryouts, the girls speed, strength, and skills were put to the test with mile runs, upper body workouts, lower body workouts and shot practice.   

  

Final squads for Varsity and JV were announced on October 20. Coach Pelayo set up two home scrimmage games this month, against Linda Marquez High School on October 23 and against Legacy High School on October 30.

  During their first scrimmage game on Monday, October 23, the girl’s soccer team  beat Linda Marquez by a score of 3-2.

End of The American Dream

Gabriel Anguiano

  The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was an executive order policy in 2012 passed by the Obama administration that would help undocumented students attend college and gain temporal residency, however, President Trump has recently decided to end DACA. According to CNN, recent government figures show over 800,000 undocumented people would be affected by the removal of DACA.

 Trump’s choice to remove DACA over a six month period will affect many high school students trying to enroll in college and college students themselves. However, Californians may be the least affected by Trump’s decision.

  Ms. Barnes, the college counselor, is telling students to remain calm, “Under the California Dream Act, AB 130 & 131 California students can attend college,” she said. Ms. Barnes wants to ensure students don’t feel afraid or discouraged from attending college.

  Trump’s DACA decision would also leave a huge hole in the American economy. Millions of dollars earned from taxes would be lost,  according to, The Bustle, Over the last couple years money earned from DACA recipients taxes were about 2.3 billion dollars a year. The economy would suffer as DACA recipients lose their work permits.

   Even worse, thousands of high school students and college students would be forced to forget about a college degree across the nation.

  Many believe removing DACA would open up new jobs for Americans lowering the unemployment number. However, what they fail to see is that around half that number is made up of retired workers, disabled, and those with no college degree. Yet the jobs taken by DACA recipients require a college degree and youth.

  Removing DACA would also create more fear as ex DACA recipients will fear deportation. This does not only include Hispanics, but it also includes and affects the black community. Undocumented Jamaicans, Haitians, and Africans would also be affected.

  The removal of DACA is just one of many criticisms Trump has received. Trump has tried to lower tension on both sides, however, with such radical ideas it may not be possible.

    

Trump steers ship into the past

Gabriel Anguiano            

 

    President Donald Trump’s recent hate speech has created a platform for terrorist attacks like those that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia. A-hit-and-run terrorist attack took place at a “Unite the Right” protest in Charlottesville, Virginia killing one and injuring more. Ms. Anas, a magnet teacher believes, “There is not a rise in white supremacy. They have always been there, hiding in their living rooms waiting for a president like Donald Trump.”

This is a problem because many of these racist white supremacists are, as Business, Innovation and Leadership teacher, Mr. Palencia says, “everyday people.” These people are bankers, teachers, firemen, police officers, college administrators, who will let their hate and racist ideology affect their everyday jobs.

Confederate statues preserve American history, but should confederate generals be praised for their ideology?  Confederate statues praise a history full of hate and racism, an era in American history where people were mistreated for the color of their skin. Blacks and browns alike were beaten and mistreated for one simple reason: not being white, and still to this day racism exist and more people need to stand up to this hate.

During this year’s Video Music Awards Robert E Lee IV, descendent of confederate general Robert E. Lee, urged white viewers to use their privilege to help stop and confront racism bye condemning the recent acts in Charlottesville, Virginia. Like Robert E. Lee IV, I believe that change is possible if we all work together and don’t give racist white supremacists a platform as President Donald Trump has done.

How can we stop racism?  I believe, Business, Innovation and Leadership Senior, Vidal Zazueta says it best; “there is no real way to stop racism.” Racism stems from culture, and until we all come together as one and fix this broken, old, racist culture we cannot fix racism.

This change must start with our Commander-in-Chief, who took took more than two days to openly condemn hate groups and their actions in Charlottesville, Virginia. Until then, hate crimes and acts, like those in Charlottesville, will continue to occur.