www.gomvhs.com Please recycle. email: kwinn@murrieta.k12.ca.us

Murrieta Valley High School’s

talonWed. March 18, 2009 Volume 18, Issue 4

“I never think of the

future - it comes soon

enough.”

--Albert Einstein

opinion

Our thoughts and some

of yours about life

--pgs 2 - 4

nest

What’s going on in the

community and school

itself--pgs 5 - 11

a&e

A&E is the name and

entertainment is the

game--pgs 14 - 17

sports

See how the Nighthawks

have performed on and

off the field--pgs 20 - 24

See how the

winter sports

teams finished

their seasons

off and how the

spr ing teams

are expected to

perform.

--Page 20-24

Campus Art Murals The Festival of Arts week inspired

us to take a campus walk to

discover MVHS’s art treasures.

-- Page 12-13

the

By Ian Massey

editor-in-chief

By Justice Flores

sports editor

By Emily Raese

staff writer

On Sunday, Feb. 8, Murrieta Valley High School lost an educator, a colleague, a teacher and a good friend. Math teacher Jeffery Allen Lamb passed away in his sleep at his residence in Corona at the age of 41. Lamb is succeeded by his two boys, Maxwell (5) and Isaac (8), as well as his wife, Loretta. He was a big man with a big heart and in his 41 years of life, he touched the lives of many around him. Lamb grew up in El Monte, California where he attended Arroyo High School. At the age of eight, he started playing baseball, a game that he would grow to love. He developed into a star pitcher, and his Senior Babe Ruth all-star team went to the organization’s World Series, where his team took second place. After high school, Lamb moved on to Cal Poly Pomona, where he continued his baseball career as a pitcher and where he

earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and obtained his teaching credentials. He later continued his education at Cal State San Marcos and Concordia

University, and was awarded his Master of Arts degree in Math Education. At the age of 21, Lamb took a job at the happiest place on

Isaac Lamb takes advantage of Pi Day activities, held in honor of his

father, to “pie”math teacher Michael Stowe. Stowe expressed how

much he enjoyed it, saying “It gave me pleasure to see the smile on

his face when he pied me.” The March 13 event raised over $1200,

which will go to assist the family.

Earth, Disneyland. The job began as nothing more than a sweeping job to make some money, but it was this place of employment that introduced him to the love of

his life, who was then known as Loretta Anne Chilvers. The two fell in love and in October 1993, they became husband and wife. Lamb was a loving father

and a caring educator. His uncle by marriage, Randall Heyn-Lamb delivered his eulogy at his Feb. 14 funeral. In his speech, he stated, “Jeff’s patient character

was also readily apparent while teaching his sons to fish and untangling lines just like his dad had done for him. Last summer while fishing at Convict Lake [California]… a bear came ambling along the shore. Jeff dropped all poles and lines and brought Isaac and his nephew, Brandon, to safety until the bear settled farther down the shoreline.” This story exemplifies Lamb’s selfless nature. He would often spend hours after school tutoring students and would make time to ensure that his students succeed in their endeavors. Senior Eric Taylor Hamilton said he had the privilege to experience Lamb as a teacher in his sophomore year Math Analysis class.

“I knew he loved his job, because he was never in a bad mood. He really loved to see his students improve and I would

UC’s Revamp the Admissions

Requirements in Response to State

Budget Cuts

Remembering Mr. Lamb:

Staff Prepares for Possible Future International Baccalaureate English teachers Nicole Saylor and Victoria Barr’s recent educational trip to England is one of

many steps that Murrieta Valley High School is taking to get teachers accustomed to the IB

program that could debut in 2011

English teachers Nicole Saylor and

Victoria Barr take a break from their

International Baccalaureate seminars

in order to take a trip to a London

museum where they posed with a

statue of William Shakespeare.

Athletic Updates

The focused, hard-working student population of Murrieta Valley High School has reason to rejoice. MVHS is currently in the process of applying to become an International Baccalaureate World School , a t i t le that would not only add prestige to MVHS but would also increase the competitiveness of students in their college applications if they choose to participate in the program. The International Baccalaureate was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a non-profit educational foundation. Today, the International Baccalaureate’s mission is “to develop active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand

that other people, with their differences, can also be right.” Students have the choice to take specific IB classes that they feel they will most excel in, much

like how they can currently select specific AP classes. However, it is recommended that students instead wholly participate in the IB diploma program. This is a

two-year program, starting in students’ junior year. There are six classes within this program, divided into categories: language, individuals and societies, m a t h e m a t i c s , t h e a r t s , experimental sciences, and a second language. The specific classes tha t s tuden ts would be offered at MVHS would be English, history, economics, psychology, math, French, Spanish, biology, chemistry, physics, visual arts, and music. Within these classes, are two levels, Standard Level, that is similar to AP, and the Higher Level, which is more comparable to a college class. See IB Page 11

Top 3 Academic Seniors Receive Riverside County Superintendent’s Award

With our nation in an economic crisis, President Obama and company have created a $787 billion rescue package in an attempt to save the squandering economy and stimulate economic growth. W h i l e t h i s s h o u l d provide some relief for struggling California, which is suffering from high unemployment rates and a record number of homes in foreclosure, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Senate have taken further action and passed an economic bill that includes $15.1 billion in budget cuts. Of the cuts, $8.6 billion are being deducted from education, and there has also been a ten percent cut to the University of California and the California State Systems. These cuts are expected to save California up to $264.4 million, but it is likely to raise competition for admission to these colleges and reduce student See UC BUDGET Page 9

The passing of beloved math teacher Jeff Lamb inspires staff members and students

See LAMBO Page 7

Seniors Dominique Salazar, Chandler Miller, and Matthew

Diamond proudly show off their Riverside County

Superintendent’s Awards on March 4, along with Principal

Renate Jefferson. Forty-six high schools in Riverside County

sent their top students to receive this award. At the ceremony,

Salazar was chosen to be one of ten students on the All-County

Academic Team. “It was very unexpected, but very much

appreciated,” says Salazar.

nestThe Talon March 18, 2009 5

February’s Seniors of the Month are Shelby Moraga and Jake Tarabilda. Shelby Moraga has accumulated above a 3.5 GPA, with a senior course-load including ASB, Advanced Bio Med, AP English, AVID, and Economics, while also excelling in student leadership and other activities outside of the classroom. During the senior of the month ceremony Feb. 28, Principal Renate Jefferson noted Moraga’s “strong finish to the year,” and Moraga’s parents say that “we’re extremely proud of her, whether or not she was even nominated for Senior of the Month.” When she isn’t spending her time working with ASB or AVID, building floats, setting up school dances, or tutoring younger AVID students, Moraga spends her time outside of school

working at Kalmia Tanning, a job she describes as being “really fun and a laidback.” After high school, Moraga plans

to attend either San Marcos or Pepperdine, with her hopes set on Pepperdine, saying she “would love to go to college near the

ocean because the ocean is my place. I would love living near the beach.” Though she is ready to move on to her future plans, some of her favorite high school memories include sophomore prom and “being a part of Vista’s defeat in both football and basketball.” Her inspiration that has driven her throughout high school is her older cousin Brandon, an MV and Notre Dame Alum. She says that “we’re very close, having grown up together, and he’s accomplished all his goals and exceeded them. He is a very driven person and he is living the dream and I aspire to follow in his footsteps.” Jake Tarabilda, noted for his “hard work, persistence, and diligence” by Jefferson, takes his work ethic and his commitment to excellence to both the classroom and outside of school.

Tarabilda is a leader in both ASB and on the basketball court. He is part of the Activities team in ASB, and as such helps plan school

activities and dances designed to promote student activism. Tarabilda also plays guard for the Nighthawk varsity

basketball team, and this season led the team to a 20-2 record, including their CIF victory. A talented player, Tarabilda has won the Southern California Sportsman of the Year award with other players in the state, and has been recruited by UCSD to play for their school. Says Tarabilda of his commitment to UCSD: “It will be awesome playing for UCSD alongside my buddy Dylan Bohanan. We have played basketball together for years, and to continue playing with him into college is an exciting opportunity.” Tarabilda’s parents are proud of his accomplishments saying, “It’s been a great ride these four years, and he has worked very hard.” “He has put so much time into school and basketball that we’re glad he was nominated for this award. He’s a really great

person,” they concluded.

SHELBY MORAGA JAKE TARABILDA

Seniors of the Month named for February

The Murrieta Valley High School Interact Club extended their helping hands on Friday, Feb. 13, at the annual local Valentine’s Day dance for special needs adults. Along with Vista Murrieta High School’s Interact Club, members helped with the set-up, served dinner and desserts, and danced with the community guests. The clubs “worked really well together,” according to Interact president, senior Darryl Valdez. Junior Bodin Rojanachaichanin (above) commented, “We all had a fun time dancing and serving everyone, and the Vista students all seemed to be really nice and hard-working,” added Rojanachaichanin. Juniors Brittany Agnihotri and Joanna Arguelles, who helped distribute wristbands to the guests for Valentine photos, agreed that “the guests were all so fun and sweet. They all kept the party going and they were all so eager to interact with everyone there.” Agnihotri added, “The night was at its best when the DJ brought out his collection of crazy hats and everyone got to put them on. We all formed conga lines and had a great time dancing.”

Interact volunteers their Valentine’s night away These are the names for the February Students of the Month, nominated from the Math

Department: Melanie Grieder, Natalie Joseph, Maria Obeso, Mason Gray, Carissa Hames, Max Murphy, Cheyanne Hunter, Casey Henry, Jon Ethan Nussbaum, Noah Aguilar, Adielyn Mendoza, Melanie Daly, Halley Bishop, Casey Howley, Abrahim Vojdani, Kyle McCaughey, Candace Fulton, Johanna Heinmueller, Casandra Quintero, Nathan Lee, Bryton McCluskey, Kelly Kirtland, Nichele Anderson, Amy Cohen, Christina Bryson, and Abigail Corn.

February Students of the Month

Makin’ banana pancakes, pretend like it’s the weekend

Today vegetarians exist in all parts of the world and from all walks of life, each with their own reasons for their choice of diet. Yet with its spread, the definition of what it means to be a vegetarian has also become somewhat ambiguous. While some choose not to eat meat, some partake in fish as well, and others even eat chicken. And though there is no doctrine upon which a vegetarian must strictly abide, many may feel confused on what the lifestyle truly entails. One more strict group of vegetarians, called vegans, chooses to refrain from the use of all animal products. This includes not only foods like meat, eggs, and dairy, but other products like leather and wool. While the choice of veganism could be due to a variety of religious or dietary reasons, a large number of those who choose to be vegan do so because of ethical reasons, claiming that animal abuse does not just end with the meat industry but with the entire

factory farming business. Opposed to what many may think, vegans have not confined themselves to a life of boring, monotonous health foods and salad. In fact, the modern vegan diet may not look at first glance any different than that of anyone else. Faux meat and

dairy substitutes have allowed almost anything imaginable to be made animal-free. Pancakes, an All-American favorite, can be easily altered to fit any animal-conscious diet. Here is a quick and painless recipe for dairy free banana pancakes:1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour2 tablespoons sugar or natural sweetener

2 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/8 teaspoon ground allspice1 ¼ cups soymilk or other dairy-free milk3 medium-size ripe bananas, peeled and sliced In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder,

salt, cinnamon and allspice and set aside. In a food processor or blender, combine the soymilk and half of the bananas and process until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing with a few swift strokes until just combined. Fold in the remaining bananas. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and heat a

lightly oiled griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Ladle about 3 tablespoons of the batter onto the hot griddle. Cook on one side until small bubbles appear on top. Flip the pancakes with a metal spatula and cook until the other side is lightly browned. Keep the cooked pancakes warm in the oven while finishing the remaining batter. Serve on a cool morning and with a tall glass of soymilk and enjoy.

By Bryan Thomasstaff writer

Photo by COLLEEN KLINEFELTER

Photo courtesy of INTERNET

The MVHS Food and Beverage Production class is definitely getting down to business. The students of th is c lass a re se r ious abou t cooking, and they are determined to follow their passion. Seniors Rebecca Webster and Liberty Riego are planning to cook up some s u c c e s s a f t e r graduat ing by attending colleges specializing in the culinary arts. Seniors Aaron S a n c h e z a n d Cassie Ramsey a re cur ren t ly preparing for the Top Teen Chef scholarship competition sponsored by The International Culinary School of the Art Institutes. Clearly, these students know what they want and are on their way to getting it. Becky Webster has recently been accepted into the Johnson & Wales’ Baking and Pastry program. It is a four-year university in which the first two years are spent on general education and the second two years are heavily focused on the major, with the Baking and Pastry major as the most popular. Webster applied online for free and only a week and a half later she received her acceptance letter. Three to four days after the happy news she received a scholarship letter in the mail: for $22,000! If she goes to Johnson & Wales’ North Carolina campus, Webster will receive $5,500 for each year she attends. The money won’t cover the entire tuition – which is around $35,000, but it sure is a great start. However, Webster is unsure if she is going to attend

the prestigious culinary school. “I don’t know if I’ll start out there, but I’ll end up there. It’s my dream school,” said Webster in a recent interview. In fact, she visited the campus over the summer for a week, where she stayed in

the dorms like an a t tending s t u d e n t a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d in two days of laboratory c lasses . She might Riverside C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e i n order to get all of her general education out of the way. In the future, Webster

aspires to operate her own bakery, a combination o f “ P a n e r a

Bread and Starbucks.” She also “wants to l ive somewhere on the east coast,” or maybe even in England or France one day. She wants to name her bakery something “French-esque,” so maybe France would complement her cozy little bakery perfectly. North Carolina is thousands of miles away from here, but Webs te r i s “ rea l ly excited” about it. “I like to be independent,” she explained. She “learned a lot about herself” while attending the summer program at Johnson & Wales. Senior Liberty Riego has committed to attend Le Cordon Bleu program within the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, starting as early as July 1 this year. The school specializes in culinary arts, and

offers three majors: Hospitality and Management, Patisserie and Baking, and Culinary Arts. Riego plans to major in Culinary Arts. For the 18 months that she is there, Riego will be learning to cook cuisines from all over the world. The program is designed to be 15 months in length -- 12 months on campus followed by a three-month internship where students apply their newly acquired skills in the “real” world. Riego is most excited to be “cooking with ingredients I’ve never heard of and then eating it for the first time.” Le Cordon Bleu seems to have fallen into Riego’s lap perfectly. She was researching colleges and came across it, at first just putting it in the back of her mind for future reference. But then she saw a poster for it in her Foods class. Talk about fate! “Wow, I really like

this [school],” thought Riego. The Foods class, led by teacher Marguerite Smith hasn’t only helped her find the perfect college. It helped Riego to understand

spices, where they come from, and where different dishes come from. “Basically I have learned the history behind it all,” said Riego. Riego has some big plans in the future, as evidenced by her commitment to Le Cordon Bleu. She sees herself across the world on the tiny island of Japan, working under a top chef in a top restaurant. This isn’t surprising, seeing as her favorite dish is sushi – any kind of sushi. “My greatest dream it to find a job in the Food Network or try and open a restaurant,” said Riego. She even aspires to open an interactive bakery shop where people can make their fantasy cake, and wants to open a branch in Murrieta. With so much ambition, Riego has a good chance of being quite successful in the future. C o l l e g e i s n ’ t t h e

o n l y t h i n g m a r i n a t i n g in the minds o f s t u d e n t s i n F o o d s . Sanchez and Ramsey have e n t e r e d t h e Best Teen Chef Competi t ion 2009 at The International C u l i n a r y School at The Art Institute of California – San Diego. On Mar. 14 these two students p l a n n e d t o put their best foot forward a n d c o o k e d to the best of their abilities. Winning this compe t i t i on

would result in a full-tuition scholarship toward a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, certificate or diploma program to study culinary arts.

The first place local winner will progress to the National Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition, which will be

held on Saturday, May 9 at The Art Institute of Charlotte. In addition to a full tuition scholarship and the title of Best Teen Chef 2009, the national first place winner, in partnership with Food Network, will be an “Intern for a Day” at Food Network Kitchens in New York City. Sanchez is “really thankful” to Smith for informing him of this competition. Part of the application process included cooking a favorite dish, and Sanchez chose a chicken vegetable stir-fry. “If you love to do it, and you’re driven by it... just do it,” said Sanchez confidently, clearly excited about following his dreams. Just as enthused is Ramsey, who really wants to attend The Art Institute of California, San Diego. “It will definitely be an experience I’ll never forget,” said Ramsey. Her favorite meal to cook is all Mexican food because “it tastes the best and it’s the most fun to cook.” Whether it be a passion for baking or for sushi, this kind of attitude seems to be the one that will get you where you want

to be.

By Laura Vogelnest editor

MV’S Own Top Chefs of the Future Food and Beverage Production students looking to earn scholarships and attend culinary academies

Seniors Aaron Sanchez and Becky Webster cook up some success. Sanchez entered the National Best Teen Chef Competition and Webster has been accepted to the Baking and Pastry Program at Johnson & Wales in

North Carolina.

Photo by FELISHA MILES

Photo by JAY LEVY

Photo by JAY LEVY

Class of ‘09: Close To The Finish Line

Important dates:

March 20: Mr. Nighthawk Contest; 7PM TheatreMarch 30-April 3: Prom Tickets on Sale (Seniors Only)April 2: Prom Fashion Show; 6PM TheatreApril 6-17: Spring BreakApril 22: Deadline Knott’s Berry Farm Tickets; $40April 28: Knott’s Berry Farm; 9AM-6PM April 28-May 1: CST TestingMay 2: Prom; 6PM-12AM The Wild Animal ParkMay 4-15: Announcement Delivery and DistributionMay 5: AP Exams

Reminder: To participate in senior activities, students MUST have all discipline and debts cleared.

On Tuesday Feb. 17, Murrieta Valley High School held a blood drive sponsored by the San Diego Blood Bank. The drive went from 8 AM until 1 PM. In total, 103 pints of blood were collected from approximately 130 donors that included students, staff members and community members. Senior Taylor Robinson (above) has o-positive blood, which is the universal blood type. “When I turned 17, I was excited to be able to give blood,” she stated. “This was my second chance to give blood and I love the possibility of my blood saving lives.”

Liberty Riego hopes for a culinary career.

Cassie Ramsey loves to cook Mexican food.

Photos by DANIEL BALOGH

October 17, 2005 The Talon6 nest

Bloo

d D

rive

a S

ucce

ss

The Talonnest

March 18, 20097

Talon SponsorsPlatinum--$500+The Fantozzi Family

Ceravision Ltd.

The Walker Family

MVHS ASB

Diamond--$300Ernie and Jean Van Dorn

Homerun Pizza

Gold--$150Robert D. Mitchell

Silver--$50Corre’s Concrete Pumping

S&C Vocational

Rehabilitation

Services

Paul and Arezu Carrol

Island Home Tech

Gateway Kids’ Preschool

Sponsor Information The Talon has a sponsor page for

businesses, families and individuals

who would like to provide a one time

donation. Sponsor names will appear

on this page for eight consecutive

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M.P. Style

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Maxim Crane Works

Phil and Susan

Dominguez

Technical Elevator Cons.

Rancho Financial

Freeman Property

Management

Joe and Lauro Diko

Brian and Constance

Youens

Western Printing Services

Reynolds & Associates

Mary Ann Davenport,

Postal Connections

even see him at least once a week in the library after school tutoring students that weren’t even in his class,” Hamilton stated. Since joining the staff in 1999, Lamb has left a lasting impression on the MVHS campus. His passing has allowed a plethora of stories to surface from staff members and students that show the essence of his character, his humor and the legacy he leaves behind. Junior Rebecca Liechty was one of Lamb’s students who served as his teacher’s assistant this year. Just days before her teacher’s passing, Liechty nominated her favorite teacher for a Feather Form, which is an MVHS student nomination-based award that honors inspirational

teachers. In a school-wide scrapbook designed by students and staff, Liechty wrote a special message following her teacher’s death. “I know I failed at being your student, but I still hung around. Being your TA brought me pretty close to you. I got to know you a lot better as a friend. You were always there for me as a father figure. If I do become a teacher it was because

I was inspired by the man who loved Pi,” Liechty wrote to her inspiration. Math teacher Michael Stowe delivered speeches at both Lamb’s funeral and MVHS’s

memorial service (Feb. 24). Last June, Stowe, Lamb and fellow math teachers Teddy Ko, Dean Nielson and Jameson LeRossignol traveled to French Camp on Rock Creek, just south of Mammoth Lake for five days. The trip allowed the math teachers to have “male bonding” and relax following the long school year. The group called themselves Mathmen of Murrieta.

Stowe explains, “Jeff was more than a best friend, he was my brother. I respect and admire him as a teacher and a friend, but even more as a father and a husband. He was a model family man if there ever was one.” According to Stowe, the Mathmen of Murrieta are not disbanding. To honor Lamb and keep the tradition alive, “We are going to schedule this trip every year and hopefully more men of math will participate,” Stowe stated. Lamb was a wellrespected teacher, friend, husband and father. Principal Renate Jefferson wrote in the late teacher’s memorial scrapbook that “Mr. Lamb was a wonderful colleague. He was so connected to his students and was always willing to do extra things to write curriculum, explore a new program and support students. We will cherish our time with him forever.” In honor of Lamb, the math department held its annual Pi day celebrations, which he used to love to take part in. Pi is an irrational number that is truncated to 3.14. Therefore, March 14 has traditionally been known as MVHS’s Pi day. However, since March 14 was a Saturday, the math department held Pi day on Fri. March 13, this year for a different purpose. It was to honor Lamb, the man whose

life was so enveloped in his work that he tattooed the Pi symbol on his arm. There were a number of activities held, including a pie throwing contest that allowed students to throw pies in the faces of staff members. All proceeds collected will be delivered to Mr. Lamb’s family. Students are also encouraged to drop off donations for Lamb’s family in the Bookkeeper’s Office.

In 41 years of life, Jeffery Allen Lamb’s influence stretched across numerous lives. Although his untimely death has surely saddened those who

Continued from Page 1

Many of teacher Kevin Bradley’s robotics students wanted

to pay tribute to Lamb. Using a laser, they created a “Lambo”

logo that will be affixed to their robots for the remainder of

their tournaments. The class also created a smaller acrylic

version that was included in a scrapbook presented to the

Lamb family.

Photo by KEVIN BRADLEY

came into contact with him, it is comforting to know that he was able to inspire, to teach and to make a difference in the lives of many. Rest in peace, Mr. Lamb.

Wendy Mendez helped in the face painting booth, one of

the many activities offered at the Pi Day lunch celebration.

Other activities included a pie-eating contest, musical

chairs, slices of pie for sale, a raffle and memorizing pi.

Photo by KAREN WINN

Science teacher Mariano Aranda laughs after having a creamy

pie smeared in his face by one of his students. Aranda was

one of several teachers who took a pie for a great cause.

Photo by DAVID LEONARD

JEFF LAMB

nest 8 March 18, 2009 The Talon

Rachel’s Challenge’s Vision

The Rachel’s Challenge club recently collected 40 pairs of glasses and 16 glasses cases to donate to Lenscrafters, which takes the glasses to children living in a third world country. The glasses are tagged by Lenscrafters and fitted to impoverished youths, who receive the ocular aids from employees of the organization who are sent on mission trips. “These glasses may become their only pair of glasses they own in their lifetime,” said club adviser Nicole Saylor, speaking about the positive impact the club’s drive may have. “Our mission is to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion within our campus and community,” Saylor said. Pictured above are freshmen from Saylor’s 4th period English class, who helped her organize the proceeds of the

eyeglass drive.

Places to Go: The AdobesTake a visit to the Santa Rosa Plateau, a Murrieta pleasure

The typical Murrieta resident may find it difficult to escape the humdrum life of daily rituals. Everyday is the same: school, work, traffic, sleep, school, work, traffic, sleep, and the cycle continues day in and day out until Monday does not become Tuesday but rather is Tuesday, and the days of the week are just mere versions of each other. And then the weekend comes, and with it a slim chance at freedom. And what better way is there to spend your chance at freedom than escaping the monotonously industrialized world that we have created? A trip to the adobes at the Santa Rosa Plateau can alleviate the pains of this boredom. To get there, follow Clinton Keith west. At the first left past the La Cresta entrance is the visitor center, which is open from 10 AM to 4 PM Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday. The adobes can be reached from the visitor center, but a more interesting hike can be found about three miles west of the visitor center. This trailhead is after the second stop sign and is

marked simply with spaces on the side of the road for cars to park. This trail is a nice walk

any time of the year, but it is especially beautiful during spring and early summer when the plant life is vibrant with color and the air won’t suffocate walkers with heat or cold. During the spring, after the first major rains, the vernal pools will start to fill. At the moment, water is up to the knees at the pools. The vernal pools are a rare sight unique to the area. They are simply seasonal pools that teem with life once they are drowned in water; everything from frogs and water spiders, to the elusive and endangered “fairy shrimp” can be found at the pools. After passing the vernal pools, a nice downhill hike awaits adventurers. The trail goes through sections alternating with coastal sage scrub, chaparral, Engelmann Oaks, and bunchgrass. It is at this point that hikers must be wary, however; coyotes and mountain lions can be a real threat in the area. No person should go alone or unprepared. Soon, something out of place will appear. A giant palm tree will loom above in the horizon and will mark the final destination. The adobe houses lie near this non-native tree, and provide a nice rest area. Right

next to the house is a 400-year-old oak that gives shade to those who want to spend time relaxing after the mildly tiring walk.

The adobes also have a rich history. They were originally built and used as bunkhouses for cowboys in 1846, when the plateau was home to a working cattle ranch. Since then, the houses have been preserved to mark the past importance of the area. A newer addition to the area is a garden that is a home to exclusively native plant life. In front of most of the plants are plaques that indicate the names of the plants and what early

settlers used them for. Cures for headaches as well as teas could be made from the plants grown in that garden. Another upside: minimal maintenance is required. Of course, the downside to the trip is that once you reach the adobes, you must leave at some point. That means a walk back uphill. But when all is considered, the beauty and rare sights of the trip overshadow any walk uphill. A trip to the adobes and the Santa Rosa Plateau is a perfect way to escape the pattern that at times can be so hard to break.

By Jake Steelecirculation manager

Dance Teams Compete Recently, the Murrieta Valley’s dance teams competed in the USA regionals. O n March 1 the varsity dance team

competed at Fountain Valley High School, and qualified for the USA national’s competition at the Anaheim Convention Center. To qualify for nationals the team had to score an 85 percent or higher in competition, which requires little to no mistakes. They placed third in hip-hop and sixth in jazz within the champion category. Coach

Hollee Romero said, “I was pleased. Of course we want to win every time, but it was nice to qualify for the championship

division. We have the potential to do very well at nationals.” Junior varsity competed on Feb. 22 at Aurora High School in their first and “by far strongest performance,” said junior Michelle Jones. The team competed in the large open division and placed first in jazz and second in

hip-hop. Sophomore captain Cambria Schmiz

and junior captain Kayla Peralta both agreed that, “this is by far the best jazz year, and in general we’ve scored all around better than previous years.” In regards to the junior varsity team, coach Romero commented, “I am so thrilled to see how well they did on their first competition, and they too have so much potential. I couldn’t be more proud.”

OPEN FROM:

THURS. - FRI.10AM TO 4PM

SAT. - SUN.9AM TO 5PM

Photos by DANIEL BALOGH

Recent rains have filled the seasonal vernal pools at the top of the Plateau.

A highlight of the Santa Rosa Plateau is a visit to the historic adobe houses.

Palm trees guide the way to the adobe house.

Dance Team recently competed at the USA regional competition.

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Contribute your guest commentary or letters to the

editor to Mrs. Winn in Room 627

Investing now may be the best strategy for studentsBy Jai Levin

creative corner editor Investing (especially as a teenager)—why do it? It seems as though many people have been discouraged from investing in the stock market since the start of our nation’s economic downturn. Many prior investors have subsequently decided to leave the stock market until the economy shows signs of bouncing back. Nevertheless, as in many circumstances, patience is a virtue. Snopes.com has taken a unique approach to investing. In a facetious posting, the website argued “Beer outperforms shares of publicly traded companies as an investment.” The following figures were then posted onto the website: “If you had purchased $1,000 worth of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you will have $49 today. If you had purchased $1,000 worth of shares in AIG one year ago, you will have $33 today. If you had purchased $1,000 in Lehman Brothers shares one year ago, you will have $0.00 today. But if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank

all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for the recycling refund, you will have received $214. Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink beer heavily and recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.” After closer scrutiny, however, we come to learn that the math doesn’t necessarily add up. First, the recent stock market collapse has lowered the worth of these stocks a considerable amount. Second, the money that it would take to buy the cans would in truth leave you with a net loss of $960 after the purchase of all the beverages. The point here isn’t to suggest everyone go out and buy (soda) cans; it is instead to emphasize the value in creative thinking, and most likely to help blow off a little steam. Living in the 21-century provides us with an abundance of tools to help us get accustomed to the stock market and all of its various facets. In an article titled “Start on your first $1 million at age 16,” MSNmoney.com states, “It’s easier than you think to become a millionaire. The magic combo? Getting an early start saving and having the discipline not to raid the piggy bank.” The Motley Fool

online wrote that typically “Five percent is about what you might get from a certificate of deposit (CD) or with a government bond over time, 10 percent is about the historical average stock market return, and 15 percent is what you might get if you decide to learn how to pick your own stocks.” Why is it that starting to invest at a young age is so strongly suggested? One word—compounding. By starting now, especially when so many stocks have plummeted in response to the economic situation, you are positioning yourself to have a huge advantage and receive literally thousands through compound interest. So why not? Are a few thousand dollars worth the ten minutes it might take to Goolge up “beginner investing strategies,” or even “compound interest?” Try it today, this weekend, set a date and a time. There is no law that says investing is only for the old or the rich. If anything, it is the teens that have the unique option to hold onto stocks for a good amount of time; positioning you—yes you—in a key period to make pretty hefty returns, whether you choose the stock market or aluminum can route.

UC Budget. . .Continued from Page 1

Once a year the American Sign Language club from Murrieta Valley High School combines all its efforts to put on a performance. This collaboration of creativity and skill produces the ASL variety show. The show encompasses a number of different activites dealing with deaf culture. It includes skits, musicals, and other demonstrations of sign language done completely in sign, many of which include English speaking translators. Though many people from the deaf community come to watch, the show is for all people, who speak any language. The show will be in the MVHS Performing Arts Center on March 26 and March 27 starting at 7 PM. Tickets are $5 with ASB, $6 General Admission, $1 for children 12 and under, and free for children under 3. ASL show t-shirts and DVDs will be available at the show.

ASL to present variety show

Mock Trial ends their season in the Elite EightBy David Leonard

graphics editor

“Poly High School, Prosecution.” With these words, Murrieta Valley’s previously undefeated Mock Trial team finished off their season on Wednesday, March 4. They walked into the Riverside Hall of Justice with their heads high, expecting a close round against Riverside Polytechnic High School’s always-impressive attorneys and witnesses. The round was close – prior to rendering his verdict, Riverside Superior Court Judge Paul E. Zellerbach expressed his “high regard” for the efforts of both teams, and the extent to which they had prepared and performed their parts. Judge Zellerbach then declared that he found the defendant “guilty,” a ruling agreeable to Murrieta Valley, prosecution. However, it held no actual sway in who won the round. The Mock Trial competition has been taking place in Riverside County for around 30 years. Twenty-eight teams competed in the four “regular season” competitions, with eight, including MV, moving on to the “playoffs,” known as Elite Eight. Each team received their “casebook” in October – a 70-something page booklet filled with all the rules and materials required to compete. Each team then builds a case theory for both the prosecution and the defense,

acting as if it were a real trial. This year, the case was arson, and each team was tasked with either prosecuting or defending the defendant, Leslie Lane. Murrieta Valley had distinguished itself early on. Scoring exceptionally high in the first two rounds of competition, Murrieta Valley secured victories over both Chaparral High School

and La Quinta High School. The second two rounds, also held in the Riverside Hall of Justice, saw somewhat stiffer competition. However, the team succeeded in pulling off two more victories, knocking both Indio High School and Temecula Valley High School out of the running for finals. Following the fourth

round on Saturday, Feb. 28, all 28 teams in Riverside County attended the “Blue Ribbon” ceremonies at the Riverside Convention Center, just a few blocks away from the legal district. Murrieta Valley distinguished themselves in taking away two “Blue Ribbon” awards, given to the attorney, witness, or supporting teammate

who was determined to have performed their role best out of anyone in the county. Receiving the two awards were senior Sara Connors, for the witness role of H. H. Hingel, and sophomore Anna Seo, for the position of court bailiff. After the proceedings, the team was informed that every person had received at least one

nomination for a “Blue Ribbon.” After the awards were given, the names of the teams advancing to Elite Eight were announced. Murrieta Valley was matched against Poly High School, whom they had defeated twice in their previous season. Going into this round, Murrieta Valley had not only the previous four competitions

to prepare them, but also a handful of scrimmages. This included two at a prestigious invitational in Santa Clara, which they had attended in January. The resounding thought in their minds was perhaps reflected by their slogan this year, “We Live It, We Win It, You Know It.” As they exited the courthouse into the cold, rainy courtyard in downtown Riverside, many Nighthawk team members looked back and realized this would be the last time they would walk out of those doors as high school students. Perhaps some would return as spectators, or even future lawyers, but all understood the gravity of the night. With five of the nine team members preparing to

graduate in just a few months, some of whom had participated on the team for three or four years, it was more than just a loss. It was the end – the end of many long nights of work, many early mornings, and enough team dinners to feed an army. (See adviser Mary Byun in room 626 for applications to join Mock Trial.)

The Mock Trial team spent the weekend from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18 competing in the annual Santa Clara Mock Trial Tournament. The team, although not scored, secured two victories against Northern California teams.

Photo by MELLISA STROMAN

financial aid. In response to these cuts, the UC systems have enacted the biggest overhaul in their admissions system in nearly 50 years, designed to expand the number of undergraduate applicants, while reducing guaranteed entry to the number of high-achieving students. This new system places a higher value on students who worked hard throughout high school, with UC schools admitting fewer people based solely off intelligence demonstrated by high test scores. Its design ensures that the UC system receives a larger number of applications while providing more seniors with opportunities to attend their universities. With admissions being less exclusive to the elite few who have sparkling GPA’s and ridiculously high test scores, the write of review will now apply to more people’s transcripts. This ensures that the student’s body of work will be assessed rather than having their numbers analyzed and rejected by a computer. This evens out the playing field for the UC schools, which should encourage more people to hopefully submit their applications and create more revenue for the UC system. The current freshman should be the first wave of college-hopefuls that will be affected by these changes, with the college board aiming to implement their plan by 2012.

Students pictured here signing A-S-L

The Talon March 18, 2009nest 9

nest

The Nighthawk Robotics Club had another competition on Feb. 28 at Orange Coast College. After the qualifying matches, one Nighthawk team remained, but was able to choose the other two MVHS teams to compete within the playoff rounds. All of the teams were eliminated in the semifinals but the Nighthawks didn’t leave empty-handed. In the awards ceremony, two of the three Nighthawk teams received three different awards from the judges. Team 569A received the “Think” award, which was given awarded to the team that could successfully utilize programming modes. Team 569A received the “Innovate” award for an innovative robot, and the “Design” award was given to the team with solid organization. The Robotics Club has a tournament in San Diego on Mar. 21 and they are headed to Omaha, Nebraska for the Championship of the Americas competition on April 2–5. Two of the three Nighthawk teams are competing in Nebraska against 100-200 teams. The competition will be a tough one, according to junior Chris Patton, but everyone is prepared to work hard and do their best. Many of the members are excited for the championship. “I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that all of our hard work paid off,” Patton said when he found out his team would be able to go to Omaha. “We’ve learned how to work together and handle stress. We also learned not to mix acetone with rubber,” Patton joked as he remembered a mistake his team had made. “I’m really looking forward to trying to win,” junior Chris Clark mentioned. Robotics Club adviser Kevin Bradley says that he is extremely proud of all of the members for making it this far. “ I think they’re doing excellent looking at how we made it to the finals or received a judge’s award at every competition. Last year, we only went to a championship in L.A. It’s nice that we’ve gotten to go halfway across the country to compete.”

Robotics Team: Innovative Thinkers

Poem by Javier Santelices

The Journey of a lost soul in the hunt for realityWith a Dream and a hope to live life happy

A fighting passion to live with every step a brand new mistakeWith lasting dreams to waking up and hope of his troubles to be fake

Wishes of his dreams to live on foreverLive life to the last and die never

Live life to the fullest and never surrenderFight death till the end with heavens gates forbidden to enter

Mr. Cloud I wonder as you pass me byDo you look down on me as I look so high

Do you care for a chat or is passing your wishA minute I ask to just say this

How do you float so blissfully in the airTeach me to fly without a worry or care

Teach me to be but a boxI want to be extraordinary but as cold as a martini on rocks

I wait and I waitWithout an answer and just a shape

Come Mr. Reaper take me when it becomes my time to goI will not put up a fight but just take me down slow

Take me to the place that I belongPut me away with the pipers song

Take me away to my final destinationTake me to the place that only exists in my imagination

Make all my dreams finally become realityEnd my life and let me go happily

The sky turns to black and everything rots and decaysAnd what do you know the reaper comes my way

Close your eyes and disappearFollow me and have no fear

Come with me to a place that does not existLet’s create it and make it bliss

I’ll take you somewhere the world can’t seeBecause they are not ready to even be

They are not ready to be what they shouldInstead they say I wish I could

They could but they won’tAnyone has the power to be but they don’tRealize the truth step out of the ordinary

Grab onto my hand and follow me

Now I need you to pay attention to everything I sayJust listen to me I’m going to explain my wayI am myself and I hope I’m not one of a kindBecause what a shame to not share my mind

Be happy that’s for all I really careMake all beautiful for only my face I wear

Do not be afraid I know it is strange and weirdOpen your mind and let me in, then the Devil becomes no longer feared

There is nothing wrong with being afraid just face your fears is all I askBut what do you have yet to fear once you take off that people mask

The light can no longer hold and it is all collapsed by the overwhelming evil and I’m left out in this horrible place but please

Do not leave me in the darkness for it will swallow me wholeThat is where the Devil waits to devour my soul

To drain every last but of emotion left in meLeaving me to suffer with a hopeless feeling

Leaving me all alone with none at my sideStrip me of my life and expect me to dieIn the blink of an eye it will all be done

Life will be over and death has won

It’ll all be finished life taken awayWords will be spoken with nothing to say

To the light you will be blind with nothing to seeIt will all be black for eternity

Deafness will swallow you with an inability to hear any soundChained forever to the Devil to whom you are forcibly bound

By now you are no longer sane you can only feel a burning sensationTo find you cannot wake up because you are far past the point of your own

imagination

What do you see when you gaze upon meIs it a happy thought or is it a sigh

If I was a stranger at your sideWould you continue to walk or say hi

How would it be if we had not met would I be kind of a friend?Would our destinies keep us tied or would our encounter just end?

March 18, 2009 The Talon10

Senior Javier Santelices, shocked his fellow classmates and British Literature teacher Nicole Saylor recently with his unexpectedly deep and inspiring poetry for a short story project assigned after the class read Frankenstein. Saylor gave Santelices the first standing ovation she has given in 11 years. “He has really deep thoughts about the world,” Saylor said in a recent interview. Santelices says that he was inspired by the style of writing in Alice and Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, and that’s why he chose to interweave poetry into his short story. The poems were already written, and each of them was completely separate. It wasn’t until this assignment that Santelices shared his poetry with anyone, although he has been writing them for a while. Santelices informed me that he is unsure about where his writing is taking him, but it is undoubtedly a passion he will continue to pursue. All of his poems are about self discovery. “It’s about realizing if you’re truly happy with who

you are. The only person who can find who you are is yourself,” he explained. In a few lines of the poem, the “Devil” is mentioned; however Santelices explained that this only symbolizes bad energy, leading into the bigger picture he

is trying to express which is that many people allow themselves to be consumed with negative things such as fear. “The things we truly fear are actually nothing to be afraid of,” he said. The poems are woven into a story which Santelices made clear isn’t about him. Once one

reads over the poems a few times for a more clear understanding, they are eye opening, and can be related to the lives of any student here at Murrieta Valley High School. “So many people aren’t nice, and I don’t think they’d like to accept themselves for that,” he said and continued, “I don’t believe the majority of people would want to be friends with themselves.” Ultimately, the poems were written to express Santelices’ view of how people in today’s society generally look in the wrong direction for meaning and purpose. “People are more focused on becoming a ‘somebody,’ rather than actually finding themselves,” Santelices said, and continued, “The only way to truly get to somebody is to show them pain, and that’s what these poems are about.” While it may take a few rounds of rereading this poetry to grasp its meaning, once it’s understood, it’s undeniable that the issues Santelices mentions are crucially important, and relevant to the lives of everyone, especially high school teens, who are making decisions that will shape the rest of their lives.

Javier Santelices

By Barrett Adamsstaff writer

Poet reflects through Lewis Carrol’s looking glassSenior stuns his classmates and teacher with his unexpectedly deep and inspiring poetry

Follow The Talon staff on an art walk through our beautiful campusThough many Nighthawks may not notice, MVHS is a treasure trove of interesting and thought-provoking student art and

murals. In the wake of MVHS’ fi rst Arts Festival, take a tour with the Talon staff to discover some of our “hidden treasures.”

The Hollywood mural was painted two years ago by senior Madi Orgill, assisted by graduate Bea Chavez. It is located in Carlos Santiago’s class, room 825. It was painted to recognize the students who went above and beyond helping the video production program.

The painting of the hands can be found on the wall in the 800s hall. The painting was fi nished by seniors Alex Meyer and Sara Aslam. The mural, started by graduate Joey Cook and sponsored by Rachel’s Challenge, signifi es the impact

Nighthawks will have in the future.

This underwater mural was painted in 2004 by Nighthawk graduates Krista Weekly and Loriley Thomas. It is located in science teacher Matt Stratton’s room, 703.

This mural is located in English teacher Bruce Linsley’s room, 624, and was painted over the recent winter break by junior Chantale Stamp, with help from a Temecula Valley student. They painted it to bring literature into a visual form and help students to imagine.

The Welcome to the Hawk House painting (below), located on the outside of the gym, was the senior gift from class of ’96 to the athletics department.

This ceramic Nighthawk (above) is located across from the softball fi eld near the bleachers. It was given to the school as a gift from the class of ’98.

This unfi nished painting of a “groovy” scientist is located in science teacher Carly Watson’s room 726.

Follow The Talon staff on an art walk through our beautiful campusThough many Nighthawks may not notice, MVHS is a treasure trove of interesting and thought-provoking student art and

murals. In the wake of MVHS’ fi rst Arts Festival, take a tour with the Talon staff to discover some of our “hidden treasures.”

The painting of the hands can be found on the wall in the 800s hall. The painting was fi nished by seniors Alex Meyer and Sara Aslam. The mural, started by graduate Joey Cook and sponsored by Rachel’s Challenge, signifi es the impact

Nighthawks will have in the future.

This painting (above) in the main offi ce was painted by graduate Joey Cook in memory of teachers Paul “Gonzo” Gonzalez, Jennifer Kamine, and Robert Wright. It was the class of ’08 senior gift.

This tropical scene, painted by kitchen employee Vicky Arentz, brightens up the student cafeteria. It was painted several summers ago.

This unfi nished painting of a “groovy” scientist is located in science teacher Carly Watson’s room 726.

This Nighthawk (below) found on the wall outside the 600 buildings was the class of 2007’s senior gift to the school.

Nighthawk art can be found throughout the PE complex, intended to create school identifi cation and pride.

a&eCritiques of what’s on the radio, in theatres, on television and in your own backyard

Critic’s CornerMarch 18, 2009 The Talon14

Recently, we’ve seen many movie companies decide to turn comic books into films. Some have been more successful than others when it comes to critic’s opinions, but each film seems to have its own cult following. This time, the director of 300, Zack Snyder, decided to tackle Watchmen. Originally a series of limited comic books (later compiled into a single graphic novel) by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Watchmen takes place in a fictional 1985 where tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States are high and Nixon is still President. In the opening scene, we see an older gentleman brutally beaten and thrown from a skyscraper to his death. This seemingly insignificant character turns out to be former masked vigilante, The Comedian. This

murder brings the other outlawed heroes together to wonder about who might be the next murder victim. Leading this informal investigation is Rorshach, a masked hero that disobeyed President Nixon’s orders outlawing all superheroes. Rorshach is a complicated character that seems to stay true throughout the film. His presence is strong and haunting. It’s hard to explain this film in a nutshell because it is based almost directly on the graphic novel and runs just under three hours long. Many negative critics state that the movie is too closely based on the comic, therefore making it too detailed and not appealing to those who have not read it. I went to see the film at midnight on its opening day, Friday March 6. This was a bad choice because I didn’t get home until 3:30 in the morning with

school starting in four hours; but this was also a good choice

because I hadn’t seen such a provocative and brilliant film in a long time. I hadn’t read the graphic novel before I went to see the film, and I still thought it was one of the greatest “comic book turned films” I have seen (granted I haven’t seen The Dark

Knight so I don’t know if it is better than that.)

What made the film appealing to me was the fact that it dealt with so many controversial ideas. Many things that people don’t want to think about are brought up, like the sacrificing of millions of people for the greater good of the world and keeping quiet about an extremely immoral situation to preserve the peace of the world. Leaving the theatre, I was a huge mix of emotions: I was dead tired, excited, nervous about not having my homework done, and I was also conflicted with my own held opinions about

sacrifice for peace and vigilante justice for the evil in the world. This movie will make you challenge your opinions on different aspects of life. It will also make you wish that we had our own superheroes that could save and scare us at the same time.

It was great to see this film with many of the people that loved the graphic novel and (you can tell) have been waiting for this film for a long time, which was almost ten years in the making. The film was originally to be done in 2001, but it was decided that it wasn’t fit for release (based on the complexity of the graphic novel). And the film went from there, back and forth, until Snyder completed it. Watchmen may be hard for some to watch, which is why I will now give a little disclaimer about the film. Warning: This film contains blood, gore, and violence as well as nudity and sex. It is also very long, and will make you ponder the state of the world and what could happen in our future if we continue down the path of nuclear war and lack of steady economy. I give this film an A+. It has everything that I want to see in a movie. I also eagerly look forward to the reading the graphic novel during spring break.

By Jay Levyassistant editor

The Graphic Novel, Watchmen, Finally Hits Theatres, But Be Warned

Photo courtesy of INTERNET

Temecula Hosts a Battle of the BandsBy Alyssa Paisley

guest writer

Friday Feb. 28, in Old Town Temecula, 50 teens and a parents came together to support some of their favorite high school bands and singers at The Merc’s annual Battle of the Bands. Over the next few weeks, dozens of bands will come together to perform and get scored by not only a panel

of judges, but by the audience as well. They will not solely be judged on their musical abilities but their timeliness, creativity, range of music, energy on stage and their interaction and reactions from the crowd. On Feb. 28, there

were three bands set to compete: Midnight Rose, Kevin Salvador, and Kill The Narrator (MVHS sophomores Anthony Tyre, Michael McDermott, Sean Wisdom and Collin Lorenz). However, a day before the competition, Midnight Rose had to back out due to their drummer breaking his wrist; this accident left one spot open and was filled 30 minutes before the show started by Paper Violet

(sophomores Kadie DiCarlo and Emi Allen). First to perform was Kill The Narrator, a band who eventually hopes to be playing on the Vans Warped Tour. They have been together for a little over a year, but have been making

music individually for some time. McDermott and Wisdom are their two guitarists, and each has been playing guitar for seven years. Lorenz is KTN’s drummer, and has been drumming for five years. And finally, Tyre is the lead singer; although he has the least experience, it certainly doesn’t show. He has a way of getting the whole audience involved, whether by talking to them in between songs, his stage performance (head banging and clapping) or the way he interacts with the rest of the band. The band has an alternative/hard core rock feel to them, and say that they get a lot of their inspiration from the life experiences they have been through. For having only been together a year, this is their fourth performance, and have played at the MVHS Tailgate Party, Mulligans, and what they call Garage Tour ’08. “The biggest challenge we have made it through would be money, finding the time to practice, and unity,” said McDermott and Tyre. As a band, they say that their biggest accomplishment “has to be our first performance; we did great and didn’t mess up,” said Lorenz and Wisdom. One person that they all agree has helped them the most through their journey would have to be McDermotts’ dad. He has filmed their performances, come to their shows, and has been a big

support and help. In their free time, they all love to hang out with friends, and listen to music (Brand New, Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, and August Burns Red). In the end, even with their huge reactions from the crowd, and a more than well done musical performance, they ended up in 3rd place. To listen to KTN you can visit www.myspace.com/thecarpetfleas. Second to perform was Kevin Salvador, a 16-year-old from Vista Murrieta. Salvador has been playing guitar for 11 years, writes his own songs, and says that he gets his ideas from every teenage boy’s struggle (girls). Even though this was his first performance, he came out on top (winning the first round) and on April 3 he will be competing in the semi-finals. His music is unique and different; he is a one man band with his acoustic guitar, and writes just for the fun of it. “It’s how I express myself,” he said. To sample Kevin’s music you can go to: w w w . m y s p a c e . c o m /kevinsalvadormusic. Last to perform was Paper Violet, consisting of Allen and DiCarlo, who have been

playing together since August 08. This was also their first performance, and for having 30 minutes to get ready, they amazed the crowd with the show they gave. “Down the road we see ourselves seeking fame while having fun,” said DiCarlo. Although they said they have only performed in their living rooms, they gave the other bands a run for their money, coming in second place. The girls write their songs together, often about the random adventures they have at school. Both girls have a wide variety of musical experience, and have both been playing piano for 11 years. Allen has been singing since preschool, and DiCarlo has been playing guitar for two years. Despite the fact they haven’t been playing together long, the reaction from the crowd was enthusiastic. To sample their folk/alternative music, log onto www.myspace.com/kadieemi.

Sophomores Kadie DiCarlo and Emi Allen performed a folk/alternative song for an audience last minute.

Sophomores Anthony Tyre, Michael McDermott, Collin Lorenz and Sean Wisdom are members of the band Kill the Narrator, who recently competed in this battle of the bands.

Photos by ALYSSA PAISLEY

a&e16 March 18, 2009 The Talon

Restaurant Review

By Daniel Baloghopinions editor

The Talon staff has ventured forth to another restaurant, although this one is something quite different. Board’Z Grill isn’t an average restaurant, and it definitely lacks the ambiance and food that one might expect at a grill restaurant. This quality is anything but negative, however, because Board’Z has a completely original style and a certain way about it that no other restaurant I have been to is able to capture. Senior Ian Massey best describes the feeling when first walking in as “an extremely different ambiance. It’s pretty cool, I mean you’ve got surfboards to one side of you, and a huge fish tank on the other side.” Board’Z is decorated in a surfer style and you immediately feel submersed into a beach environment. Even the cashiers wear multicolored Hawaiian shirts and get into the feel of the place. The restaurant includes a drive through and has the sort of style that you would expect at a

restaurant like Rubio’s. One just simply walks up to the counter, orders food, sits and waits for the food to be brought. That being said, the food could have been better. I personally had the Board’Z pita, and while it was an adequate portion size packed with vegetables and sauces, it was truly nothing special. In fact, the Board’Z pita seemed to be

mediocre, which was also the general consensus the staff had on all the food at Board’Z. A&e editor, Senior Heather White ordered the garlic mashed potatoes, which had a disappointingly soupy texture. The mashed potatoes weren’t full of cheese and brilliantly packed with deliciousness; instead, White said “it’s pretty good I guess, but it really reminds me of baby food.” And it really did

seem to taste and look exactly like that. Lastly, Massey received his chicken quesadilla and junior Colleen Klinefelter her chicken tenders. Again, the food was nothing special. According to Massey, the quesadilla was “bang for your buck” because of the large serving size, but it seemed that the size could not make up for the lack of appeal from the

taste of what Massey could only describe dully as “hot, crispy, and full of chicken.” Board’Z isn’t your ordinary restaurant, it has quite a bit of character and a very clear goal in what it wants its environment to be. If I had to base my opinion of the restaurant solely on the atmosphere, it

would receive much acclaim. Unfortunately for Board’Z, the food at a restaurant is the most important part, and they certainly don’t have the best food in town. Board’Z is mediocre for the most part, although the mashed potatoes were probably more like sub-par. The Talon staff gives Board’Z a C+ for the effort put into it, but the food just couldn’t hold itself up.

Just Plain Boring at Board’Z On Feb. 3 The Fray, a four-piece piano rock band, released its new self-titled

album. The Fray was formed by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, who are now the lead vocalists and backup vocalists respectively. The Denver-based group released their first album How To Save a Life in 2005, and their success was quickly noticed as their best known song, “How to Save a Life,” was charted in the top three of the Billboard Hot 100. Also, their song “Over My Head (Cable Car)” found worldwide success with its top ten ranking in the United States and Canada. The group is now made up of four members. Along with Slade as lead vocalist and at piano, David Welsh has been the lead guitarist since 2003. King, also an original member of the band does a variety of things for the band. He is the rhythm guitarist, does backup vocals, and occasionally does lead vocals in some songs like “Heaven Forbid” which is on the new album. Ben Wysocki has been in the band

since 2003 and plays the drums and percussion. Their most successful song on the new album, “You Found Me,” has already reached the 7 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The opening line of the song says, “I found God, on the corner of first and Amistad. All alone, smoking his last cigarette.” The interesting beginning has lead to many questions on the meaning of the song. In a recent interview Slade stated, “ ‘You Found Me’ is a tough song for me. It’s about the disappointment, the heartache, the letdown that comes with life. Sometimes you’re let down, sometimes you’re the one who lets someone else down.” Another song off of the new album is called “Syndicate,” and has not received nearly as much attention as “You Found Me,” but it is one of the best songs on the album. The opening lyrics state, “Halfway around the world lies the one thing that you want. Buried in the ground, hundreds of miles down.” This song is truly breathtaking. The album The Fray is definitely an outstanding album. Don’t worry, the tracks on the album are much more creative than the album title itself. For the band’s sophomore effort, it has already made great strides on the charts after its release over a month ago. After considering this album’s instant success, I give it an B+. The quality of the tracks is splendid, yet the quantity in its 10 songs leaves listeners begging for more. Thus, being downgraded from an A to a B+.

By Ricardo Morenostaff writer

T h e F r a y: More Creative Than the Title

Photo by IAN MASSEY

Board’z Restaurant is new on the Murrieta dining scene.

Creative CornerArtist Spotlight

Who? And so I ask the sky...Would it be those that I leeched from?

the providers I have always taken for granted?would it be the stranger, who could only hypothosize my

life based on a momentary glance of interest?would it be my pupils, who cannot understand my angst?

would it be...who would it be?who on this earth with thoughts left to thinkwho on this earth with concepts left to drink

who would miss me?

Selfi shI do not cry at death for I am not a selfi sh man,

I only grieve upon the things that may change by my own hand,at birth I do rejoice and sing,

and make a merry specter,at death I do the same again,

though I look like a defectorm,I see no cause for tears to mourn

nor howls to pierce the nightor somber thoughts to fi ll my head,

and keep me up till light,all I see is an empty shell,

buried as a treasure,and worth much more than youror i

could ever hope to measure

Do you even know you are beautiful

you stood there waiting and wondering,in your white and black sweatpants,

and your matching jacket,you’ve listened to the conversations around you as you waited,

I got up to go and noticed you on the way outone moment of contact

ironic that one moment unleased a thousand dreams your skin, so pale and pure

your hair, painted by the hands of god,your eyes, so interested and discerning,

your cheeks, so high and proud,your lips, so pink and delicate,

one moment I looked, and another you looked back,I do not know why, but I hid my face,

I walked across the room, attempting to escape unnoticed,I allowed myself one last look as the door shut

and you stared after me.

If (the argument in my eyes)

if you let me in your heart, then keep me there with glee,if you bore of my affections, then do not speak to me,if I am less than offered, I hold no grudge at all,if I am the man you love, then why will not you call?if we crumble from the pressures of those we do not see,is we don’t share our secrets then we don’t deserve to be,but if you truly meant the words you spoke not long ago,then worry not will I about these haunting trials so,but you must give me hope with words not lies to kill the pain,and I will give you all I have for less would be to shame.

Somber GirlThat is somber, maybe stoic,

smiles to me,pines to be near me,cries on my shoulder,

lets me hold her till it’s over,enjoys going out,

and also staying in,likes books, movies,worries about sin,

thinks about her own,but shares her secret,

she’s not sure if she trusts me,but she knows I will keep it,

holds my hand,in front of the world,looks beautiful to me,

to match her heart of gold,whether she loves me or use me,

please, tease or just abuse me,I pine for the girl who will amuse me,capture my heart and test my mind,is that too much to ask this time?

THE TALON IS LOOKING FOR YOUR CREATIVITY!

PLEASE SEND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY, POETRY AND ART TO MRS. WINN IN ROOM 627 AND YOU MAY SEE YOUR

WORK PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT PAPER!!!

ALL POEMS COURTESY OF ALEX THOMPSON, 12

sportsThe Talon March 18, 2009 21

Despite CIF Loss, Boys’ Soccer Kept

Boys’ water polo is one of the sports that Murrieta Valley really prides itself on and one of the consistently successful sports on campus, making an appearance in CIF finals annually. Their record was 29-6 with a loss in CIF finals. Seniors Dylan Baliani and Matthew Puig were two of the most influential players on the team, and are looking to further their careers in college. Both boys have recently committed to play for the University of California at Santa Barbara in the Fall. Baliani has only been playing water polo since his freshman year. “I used to swim so I thought I would try it out,” explained Baliani. He played on jv as a freshman and was brought up to varsity his sophomore year. “Sophomore year we won CIF,” says Baliani, “it was such a great feeling.” He was named All League, All Valley, All CIF, All California, and All American this past school year. Baliani was also recruited by UCLA, Cal State Long Beach and Loyola Marymount University which are all in the top 10 in the country for water polo. Puig has been playing water polo since he was 10 years

old. Along with UCSB, Puig was recruited by Pepperdine University, UC Davis, UCSD and many others throughout high school. Puig was named All CIF, All League, All Valley,

and All CIF two years in a row. This past year he was named All California and All American as well as league MVP. When asked why he chose UCSB he replied, “It was an easy choice, the coach is one of the best coaches in the world and the campus is really nice.” Puig’s point is validated by the coach’s impressive track record. Coach Wolf Wigo was

a four-year All-American at Stanford University and he led the team to two NCAA championships. He also competed in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympic games.

Wigo was the lead scorer in the 2000 games and a team captain from 2001-2004. Both of the boys agreed that out of the schools pursuing them, UCSB was an easy choice. Baliani explained, “I had the best time on the recruiting trip there, the guys are all really cool.” Puig agreed with Baliani’s statement and says, “the guys were all way cool at UCSB and so is the coach.” UCSB has one

of the best water polo programs in the nation. They are currently ranked sixth in the country, trailing teams like UCLA and LMU. Baliani and Puig are going to play together next season and won’t be red shirting like the typical freshman athletes. Both boys are looking for another championship ring, and Puig states “at UCSB we will have the opportunity to win one.”

By Aaron Levin

staff writer

Waterpolo Boys Commit to UCSB

The Nighthawk boys’ Varsity tennis team jumped out to a quick start this season with a 4-0 record. They won their first match in dominating fashion over Lake Elsinore High School 14-4. The team won the match playing a solid overall game, with two singles players and two doubles teams sweeping all three of their matches. They have also had wins over Paloma

Valley High School and Corona Santiago High School. Beating Corona was a huge win for the team, as they had lost to them the past two seasons. The team has a much different look this season after losing nine seniors to graduation. Only four players who saw significant playing time on varsity last season have returned to the team, and they received a boost

with the addition of freshmen Henry Craig and Marcus Nalley, who hold the team’s top two single spots. The singles group is rounded out by senior Clay Blankenship who started singles last year, and brings experience to the team. The doubles are much more inexperienced this season in comparison to last season, as four players, juniors Chris Zavala, Blake Taylor, Dallas Gollogly and senior Aaron Levin have been brought up from the junior varsity, but they are expected to hold down spots that were held by seniors last season. Last season the Nighthawks finished the season with a second round loss to the number one seed in their bracket of the CIF playoffs in a close match. This season, their aspirations are even higher. “We are hoping to make it even further in CIF this season,” says senior Clay Blankenship, “and hopefully win a CIF championship.” “We lost a lot of good players last season, but we have brought in a lot of good new players, and I think we have a shot to be really good this season,” said Coach Trent Warren. If the new freshmen and the new players brought up from jv can step up and provide key wins, the high aspirations of the team are well within reach.

By Niall McCarthy

staff writer

Tennis Season Looking Good

“We lost a lot of good players last season, but we have brought in a lot of good new players...we have a

shot to be really good this season.”

Photo by FELISHA MILES

Seniors Matt Puig and Dylan Baliani have

dedicated hours of hard work in practices and

games, and their dedication has paid off. Many

top colleges have expressed interest in their

talents, and both seniors have committed to

UCSB and will play together in college.

sports22 March 18, 2009 The Talon

Feb. 20 marked the end to the Nighthawk varsity basketball team’s CIF run. After a 24-1 overall regular season record, a clutch game winning shot to win the Southwestern League championship and a first round route of Esperanza High School, the Nighthawks fell at Capistrano Valley High School by a score of 78-61. Capistrano snapped Murrieta Valley’s 10 game win streak and abruptly halted their momentous run. Senior forward Dylan Bohanan explains, “The loss was definitely hard. After the game, we were all sitting in the locker room and we came to the realization that the seniors wouldn’t be playing together anymore. We cried together and made sure to console each other.” Despite the loss, the Hawks were thrilled to sweep their cross-town rival, Vista Murrieta High School. In the closing seconds of the Feb.

12 rivalry matchup in Vista’s gymnasium, senior Jake Tarabilda put the dagger in the Broncos when he knocked down a shot from beyond the arc, which virtually locked up a league championship. Bohanan stated that the “buzzer-beater to win league” was the defining moment of the season. For the seniors, there are no more team rituals, no more team meals and no more game time chants. Next year, Tarabilda and Bohanan will move on to play at the University of California in San Diego together. Seeing as how the team meshed and established great relationships, the boys are likely to keep in contact in upcoming years. S o p h o m o r e guard Austin Quick has played with many of the seniors “since fifth grade. They respected me as a sophomore starter

and we are great friends,” he appreciatively stated. Next season will be a rebuilding year which will call

By Ian Masseyeditor-in-chief

Nighthawks Tearfully Exit CIF with Second Round Loss

“After the game, we were all sitting in the locker room and we came to the realization that the seniors wouldn’t

be playing together anymore...”

upon young talent to lead the team, as Quick will be the only returning varsity starter. Quick explains that he is ready for

the challenge. He made improvements and the coaching staff helped him develop his “defense” and taught him how “to guard quicker guys.” The junior varsity basketball team finished with a 21-3 overall record, a 9-1 record in league and a league championship. Sophomore captain Justin Gudger explains that the team had a successful run this season. They played well as a team and received “outstanding production from [freshman] Darius Butler, who really stepped up this season by playing jv,” Gudger explains. The freshman team started on a sour note, but they were able to resurrect their season and end with a winning

record at 14-12. Freshman captain Kyle Orwig explained that the

team “got closer throughout the season.” “We got hot at the wrong time, but we played well this season,” added freshman Carter Rawlings. Another season has come and gone on the hardwood courts in the Hawk House. If the Nighthawks return with a group of hard working fresh faces next season, look for them to compete for a third straight league championship.

While the season’s end for the Murrieta Valley High School girls’ water polo team was not quite as spectacular as the team and varsity coach Bryan Lynton had hoped, there is much to be said about the obstacles the girls overcame this season. The team ended their season in the CIF Division 3 quarterfinals with a 9-7 loss against St. Lucy’s Catholic School. According to Lynton, “Yes, we’re all a little disappointed, but we’ve made great strides this year.” This could have to do with the fact that the team lost five starters who greatly helped win the CIF Division 5 Championships for the past two years. “We lost some of our greatest players, and those girls really brought the team to such great heights last year,” said

junior starter Brie Tryon. “Other girls quit, and some of the new players haven’t had as much experience as the older girls.” It could also have to do with the fact that this season, the team moved from Division 5 to Division 3, a division with much higher-ranking teams. “These

By Colleen Klinefelternest editor

Girls’ Water Polo CIF Loss in Quarterfinalsgirls really put their best foot forward, e s p e c i a l l y in regards to how much more difficult Division 3 is,” Lynton added. B u t despite the fact that three girls who played on jv last year (Tryon, junior Hope Rollison and sophomore Melissa Hale) were bumped up to play starting positions for varsity this year, the girls were able to pull their weight. Rollison scored three goals in CIF quarterfinals, and Hale, who Lynton regards as a “strong

defensive player,” scored a backhanded goal, which is “one of the hardest shots to make” according to Lynton. Lynton regarded junior Mallory Montano and seniors Maria Quiroz and Chelsea Harrod as other strong players,

Montano being “one of the strongest offensive players,” Lynton noted.

As this year was a “rebuilding year,” according to Tryon, the team is setting the bar even higher for next season. “We’ve got a good group coming back next year,” said Lynton, “and I think winning league and CIF finals will be reachable for them.”

“We’ve got a good group coming back next year, and I think winning league and CIF finals will be reachable for them.”

Photo by CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Senior forward Dylan Bohanan takes the ball upcourt while he looks for an open teammate in a recent home game.

By Jillian Raystaff writer

The girls’ swim teams have started the new season hoping to win back their crown after the varsity team was defeated in League finals last year where the varsity team got 2nd place. Both jv and varsity are opening the new season with a swim meet at home on March 19th. There they will be facing off against Chaparral, who they feel is some of their toughest competition, along with Great Oak, according to sophomore Ingrid Vindell. Led by varsity Coach Mike Gonzalez and jv Coach Bryan Lynton, the teams are working hard to reach their goal of winning League and doing well in CIF. Captain junior Brie Tryon feels that they are “approaching this season with a different attitude.” Their workouts are more serious and tougher than before. The coaches are pushing the girls so they can be the best they can. They feel that this year, with all their hard work and additional practices, they will exceed their previous records. The good attitude for the upcoming season shows through, Captain junior Mallory Montano looks forward to “swim meets, because they are really fun for us. There is a lot of team bonding.” The teams work together to achieve what they set out to do and are hoping this upcoming season will be great.

Girls’ Swim Aims For CIF

The boys’ swim team has been itching to jump back into the pool after a solid finish last season in CIF. They are anchored by seniors Jacob Lammott, Bart Kelly, Jack Jurasky, Mason Arnold and Dylan Baliani. Lamott, Kelly, Jurasky, Arnold and Baliani took home third last season in the 200M and the 4x4 Medley, the group’s best event at the team’s CIF meet. Their first tournament this season is the Army Navy meet, in which they will compete in at press time. Lammott, one of the team’s most dependable swimmers, is optimistic about this season and is focused on the team’s goal of “Winning team CIF and improving over last year’s success.” The Nighthawks finished 5th last season as a team in CIF and are looking to improve on that mark, as five top seniors will be graduating this coming June. Though one may think of swimming as an individual event, this group thrives in relay competitions and is moving forward to each of their personal goals with an eye on the success of the team.

By Aaron Weinerstaff writer

Senior boys to lead swim team

Photo by CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHYCoach Chris Romero consoles the girls’ water polo team as the girls leave the pool in despair following a close CIF quarterfinals loss to St. Lucy’s Catholic School.

The Talon sports March 18, 2009 23

The girls’ soccer

season officially came to an end

on Feb. 26 with a loss in the

quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs.

However, this is considered a

great feat and accomplishment.

Coach Hutcheson mentioned

that he “knew the team would

do well in the playoffs. Being

the only Riverside County team

of the 8 quarterfinals teams

was an incredible feat.” This

quarterfinals appearance makes it

the eighth time since Hutcheson

was the head coach.

The team finished with

a 5-3-2 league record that put

them in the second place spot in

the Southwestern League. Rival

Temecula Valley was the only

team in the league with a better

record finishing with only one

more win and two fewer losses.

The second place finish placed

them in the first round of the

playoffs where the team faced a

strong Alta Loma squad.

The Alta Loma Braves

came into the game with an

8-7-3 record. However, they

would leave Murrieta with an

eight in their loss column. The

game’s lone score came from

the booming foot of junior Taryn

Grivois, which gave sophomore

Kaylee Mason the assist.

After the Nighthawks’

first round victory they faced a

well-respected Mission Viejo

By Ricardo Morenostaff writer

After a Successful Season, Varsity Girls’ Soccer Falls in Quarterfinals

Photo by CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

squad in the second round of the

playoffs.

The Mission Viejo

Diablos finished tied for first place

in the competitive South Coast

League. The 7-2-1 record was

intimidating and they expected

to win against the Nighthawks.

However, intimidation was not a

“We went farther than expected. I am proud that the team came

together at the end of the season.”

factor, as the Nighthawks pulled

off a second round upset when

Mission Viejo scored on their

own goal.

This ended up being

the game’s only score in the

game and gave MV a spot in

quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs.

A quarterfinals game

at home against the El Toro

Chargers was the next step in

the journey for the Nighthawks.

Coming into the game, the

Chargers held a record of 11-3.

The game ended with

a 6-1 victory for El Toro which

sent the Nighthawks home and

eliminated them from playoff

contention.

Assisted by senior

Kendall Dye, senior Bailey

Heim scored the only goal for

the Nighthawks in the game. El

Toro went on to the next round

and lost to San Clemente in the

semifinals.

In response to the end

of the season, Heim stated, “We

went further than expected. I

am proud that the team came

together at the end of the season.”

Heim is one of seven seniors that

has played her last game as a

Nighthawk. However, the team

seems to have plenty of young

talent that will allow them to be

successful in the future.

The Talonsports

March 18, 200924Boys’ Track: High Expectations for League and CIF

This season, Boys’ track team has high expectations of winning the league championship and a select few athletes hope to make it to CIF finals. This season, the team is unusually young, consisting of mostly freshmen and sophomores. Coach David Munn hopes the freshmen will work hard this season. “ The freshmen are going to have to step it up if they are going to be successful,” Munn said. M o s t athletes are competing in two or more events and in order for the team to do well, each individual athlete needs to do their best. T h e first meet of the season was Thursday March 5, and selected athletes also attended Eagle Invitational on Saturday, March 7, and took first place in their four by 100 meter race. “It was our 2nd official meet, and we definitely did really well,” Senior Chris Bruins told me.

S o p h o m o r e Earvin Simmons who is first in school history for the 100 and 200 meter races, and also participates in the four by 100 meter and long jump told me he has been working out 18 hours a week for track. “We are a lot better this season, and we have potential to go to state,” Simmons said.

Junior Ben Ijah, who does long jump, triple jump, and hurdles, said their biggest competition has always been Vista Murrieta High School. “This season, we have to beat Vista, and I am very confident that I’ll make it to CIF finals,” Ijah told me.

By Barrett Adamsstaff writer

Coach Steven Chavez explained that he sees encouragement from the junior and senior leaders, which will help the team. “The junior and seniors have been passing on great work ethic to the sophomores and freshmen,” Chavez said. Senior Eric Hamilton told me the boys all work

together during practice. “During practice we compete against each other, but it helps us individually in the long run,” Hamilton said. For the boys in track, competing against each other during practice is actually what motivates them, and prepares them for competitions.

By Felisha Milesphoto editor

High Expectations on the Softball Diamond

“They are a solid group

of girls. They have a love for softball, make practice fun,

and give it their all.”

The spring sports season is underway and Murrieta Valley’s softball is off to a positive start. The teams are working hard for the season by practicing every school day, and even occasionally on Saturdays. The varsity softball team is determined to win this season. They are led by coaches Ann Romero-Parks and Sean Parks, who are extremely confident that the varsity team can improve on last season’s fourth place finish in league. “The biggest difference in our team from last year is maturity and athleticism,” Parks stated. The girls are also confident that their team has improved in more ways than one. “We have stronger team chemistry and we have fun working together,” stated senior Taylor Monigold. Many of the girls are excited to show their improvements to the rest

of the league. “I’m looking forward to playing Vista,” senior Holly Vanden Bossche said. According the senior Anna Cue, the team is focused on making it all the way to CIF and attempting to become league champions. Junior varsity is also looking forward to playing in league this

season. Graduate Amber Randall and English teacher Dana Stoeckel are the head coaches for the jv team. The team captains

are sophomore Aly Clemente and junior Aroha Allen and should lead the promising jv team to a solid season. Last season, the girls came in second in league behind district-rival Vista Murrieta. “They are a solid group of girls,” Stoeckel mentioned of the team. “They have a love for softball and make practice fun and give it their all.” “There’s a lot more team bonding and we get along really well,” Clemente said of the difference between last year’s jv team and this year’s team. “We’re going to be really good.” Jv starts their season on March 18 against Chapparal. The jv team is also eager for a successful season. “I’m most excited for the Vista game because I think we can win,” Allen mentioned. All levels of softball are expecting to achieve a successful season and are fully confident they will be able to accomplish it.

Spring season 2009 holds many high hopes for all of Murrieta Valley’s sports teams; unfortunately one of those teams doesn’t always have the audience they deserve: girls’ track. The returning league champs consists of an outstanding varsity squad, and a promising junior varsity team. Unlike every other sport, track consists of a variety of events such a pole vault, high jump, hurdles, discus, and many more. Senior Katelyn Hall, a four-year varsity returner, competes in six events; in all of them she is ranked as one of the top track athletes in school history. “I’ve been working out16-17 hours a week and I still get the same thrill I got four years ago, it’s not just about how fast someone is it’s about the passion they have.” Says Hall, who recently just committed to the University of Wyoming on a track scholarship. Senior Danielle Carr, another well-established athlete, has high hopes of competing at a collegiate level and is more than likely to make it to CIF in one or more of her four events. The team’s passion and vigor is shown

not only by its individual athletes, but by Coach Matt Farmer, who says, “We’ve got some stuffs on the team, and I don’t plan to ease up training… with all the momentum going in training this season has so much promise.” “Track is mainly and individual sort, but the girls still work together and support each other both in training and during meets,” said head coach Steve Chavez. The first meet was on March 5, against Rancho Verde and the girls’ final score was 83-57, which shows that they are a force to be reckoned with. “It’ll be a tough year in girls’ distance,” says Chavez, “However, with the help of some key athletes: Bethany Bilton, Stephanie Guiton, Kylee Martin, and Jenna Griffin, we’ll be able to stay

strong.” Senior Audrey Mitchell competes as the top ranked high jumper in league and the 3rd ranked high jumper in school history. “I’ve seen the best of this team, and I’ve seen girls PR (personal record), it’s exciting to see how much we’re going to improve this year especially with all the hard work and potential we have on the team,” says Mitchell. With a personal record of 5’4”, it is unbelievable to think that she could theoretically jump over some of the shorter students at this school. For these athletes, track is not just an after school activity, but a way to test the limits of their potential. The team is unanimous in the message they are sending other schools, “We are the team to beat.”

By Chantale Stamplead photographer

Last Year’s Champs Hope to Repeat

Murrieta Valley High School’s boys’ golf team began their season with a 3rd place finish at the Riverside City Championships on March 2. Senior co-captain Dakota Duerr led the team with a 77, good for a top

10 individual performance. Vista Murrieta’s Kevin Dougherty took home top individual honors with a 70, while leading his squad to a team victory. Duerr, a four-year varsity player who has won at least a share of the Southwestern League title every season since becoming a Nighthawk, has vowed to “Never lose

By Aaron Weinerstaff writer

Golf team hopes to lower scores after mediocre startto Vista again, and win League outright [after sharing the title with Great Oak last season].” The team is also led by senior co-captain Keven Holliday, who is healthy again and is looking to improve on last season’s CIF team first round victory. His battle with leukemia is going well, and not only has he been an inspiration for the Nighthawk golf team, but for many in the community as well. Holliday stated that he has “come a long way and is getting better every day.” The boys’ golf team followed their 3rd place season opening tournament with two victories over Paloma Valley. The team looks to compete again in tournaments in Palm Desert and El Centro, and they hope to defend their title at the Titan Classic later this season. Their most important goal, however, is set on winning league and advancing further in CIF in both individual and team playoff events.

A few of the runners on the team sprint out of the blocks in a competitive team practice as part of the Murrieta Valley’s track team aiming to win a league championship.

Photo’s by CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY

Girls’ track looks toward successful season.

Senior Keven Holliday putts in an early season varsity match.