The Paw Print May 2016

2Letter from the EditorsAnd like that, the end of the year is almost here. Another year has gone, and another class of Wildcats is ready to be shipped out to places all around the world and take on the real world. So with our last issue, we celebrate those very individuals: the senior class of 2016.

This is the End. Embrace it. Enjoy it.

11 14161822REFLECTIONS PROM SENIOR BESTS

CONFESSIONSFEATURES SPORTS

Now onto senior reflections...

2015 - 2016

MIN JAE

Life comes in chapters. The high school chapter is a pretty thick one. And it’s pretty special. And it’s only near the end you realize that you only get it once. With only twenty-something school days left to go, I only have a couple more pages to flip. First off, high school went so fast, I don’t think I remember even half the details. But in the big picture, I see high school as a huge trial-and-error fest. You try things, and if they work, roll with it. If not, move on. It’s a place where mistakes will, and should, be made. I remember trying out for the basketball team my freshman year; I thought I was some hot stuff. I barely made the team -- technically, not even the team -- as the team manager. Was it disappointing? Very. But I made the most out of it. A lot of my close friends today are the kids who made the team over me that year. For me, this whole scenario sums up high school in a way. Unexpected things will be thrown at you, and they may be good or bad. There will be a lot of curveballs. But you always have to swing and make the most out of it. If you get a hit, congrats. But even if you don’t, keep your head up and get ready for your next at-bat. Or quit altogether and go play something else. Now, I’m not saying that you should be a quitter. I’m just saying that high school is a place that gives you four whole years to find your wings. So I guess the biggest thing about high school is this: TRY. Do everything you want to. Try out for that sports team. Study for that test. Go to the football games. Ask that girl out. Heck, I made a clothing brand and started a career as a rapper in the last two months. Why? It’s all for fun, but I just really felt like it. Maybe it’s just my senioritis mixing with my abundance of time. But it’s all been worth it. Once this chapter is over, the only thing you can do is look back. Don’t be the guy who looks back and regrets because of not trying or not doing. Don’t be the guy who doesn’t do what he wants to because it’s not cool or you’ll be judged. Find your wings.AARON

SURVIVAL GUIDE TO: FRESHMEN

SENIORSDIRECTED BY:

It’s true what they say: high school isn’t a movie. It’s better. But it took me nearly three-and-a-half years to understand that. When I first entered West Ranch, I adopted an elitist attitude against high school and couldn’t wait to graduate. For God’s sake, I coined the term “Peak City” to describe the group of people who I felt were degenerates that were peaking in high school. I looked down on kids partying instead of doing something a little more pragmatic like memorizing the structure of a carboxylic acid. Let me tell you right now, I have never even come close to needing the structure of a carboxylic acid… It wasn’t even on the test. I found a niche early on in high school that I stayed comfortable in for a good two years or so until junior year. I built a sort of mythical reputation as the school jerk. I realize now that this may have been exacerbated by the coincidental premiere of Netflix’s “House of Cards” in my freshman year. I was better than you, smarter than you, more well-rounded than you, more cultured than you, more successful than you, better than you. In my mind, the glory of many people fearing me outweighed the fact of most people hating me. I stopped at nothing to be the best, and I often disregarded anyone who stood in my way. After two years of being the jerk, the experiences of my junior year hit me as a dark time that made me rethink my approach to high school. To put it briefly, my 11th grade involved loss, failure, withdrawals, and harsh insults directly from our district’s Congressman. As junior and senior years progressed, I learned that the trivial knowledge and false elitist pretense means nothing compared to the love and enjoyment of living in the moment. And until graduation, the moment is high school, and it doesn’t come twice. Peak a little.

KANGLEE

Candace Ro

Sydney Chang

Hi! What’s your name? What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you like pie? This is me trying to get to know you and formulate an image of you in my mind. I think most people, especially high schoolers, can agree that they struggle with identity. It’s all about fitting in and feeling secure in a social position. No matter how confident someone is, one can’t help but wonder how he or she is perceived among others. Let me just transition and say that high school is noth-ing like “High School Musi-cal.” Sure, there are various types of social groups on campus. But West Ranch students don’t distinctively

label one certain group as the jocks and the other as the math geeks. Oh, and they definitely don’t break out into song (which I think is unfortunate). With a mental image based on this movie, I was excited and could only think “What type of person am I and will be for the next four years? Will I stick to the status quo?” The an-swers to these questions are unknown to this day, and I haven’t quite figured out my role among my peers. But I am confident to say that I can visualize the type of person I am in my own head: a humanitarian. After years of exploring various studies in high school and getting involved

in diverse activities, such as competing in speech tournaments and fundraising for a cause, I realized that social networks and perseverance are key to achievements. I set my foot on a path of knowledge and picture myself as a representative of a global organization, such as the United Nations. With great hair, of course. These last four years of high school, a.k.a. the mo-ments that have led up to my greatness today, will never be forgotten, and I hope I’ve made a positive impression on my peers. But if you’re still not sure who I am, just remember me as the girl who absolutely admires the Minions.

High school is a messy place. It’s where we learn about our passions, about ourselves, about love, about friends, or sometimes, about nothing at all. We are a group of people comprised of the peak-city kids, the academics, the advocates, the outcasts, and so much more. The diversity is immense and unending, which makes high school complex, unique, and possibly fantastic. We don’t learn how to do taxes or any of the “real” adult stuff yet, but it is certainly a

place in which we have the opportunity to learn how to be responsible and balance our academic and social life. For any underclassmen out there: make an effort to build relationships. Be involved with school and find what you truly enjoy. Get a job. Go out and volunteer. Try that class that could possibly take over your life. It’s so boring to live passively. By being involved with my surroundings, I challenged myself, discovered what I love, and found friends I am willing to run a mile for

(shoutout to the anabaptists). It is so strange how in hindsight these past four years are gone, and another four-year chapter will begin in my life. I hope to take advantage of opportunities and challenges in college that I was too afraid to take or didn’t have the opportunity to take in high school. In the end high school is what you make it to be, so make it good.

#syndace

Gisela Factora

By now you, along with the millions of other teenagers who face this sad realization every year, have likely figured out that high school is nothing like the old teen movies you love to watch. No one is going to stand outside your bedroom blaring a love song through a boombox. You will not dance in the library with utter strangers in detention. You’re not going to fall for your ex-stepbrother in a vaguely uncomfortable pseudo-incestuous subplot in an otherwise enjoyable ‘90s teen movie. I’m not going to tell you that, despite its stubborn roots in reality, high school is an amazing experience. Unfortunately, you’re never going to grow out of that feeling of dread you experienced upon waking up the morning of your first day of freshman year-- though eventually, the dread will grow and sprout into bitterness, and finally blossom into full-on apathy. When your senior friends tell you you haven’t reached the peak of your cynicism yet, they are indeed correct. But you never wanted to win the “most spirited” award anyway. No, I’m here to tell you something much better: you survived. Yes, despite all your griping and groaning over the years, you survived. And despite my introduction, some aspects of your high school experience will turn out vaguely John Hughesian. You’re going to go on adventures into the city with your friends. You’re going to feel like an out-cast. You’re going to kiss in the rain. You’re going to cry yourself to sleep over drama that seems more suited to a bad coming-of-age movie than real life. Your favorite band is going to break up, and you’re going to be dev-astated. But you’re also going to see your next-favorite band in concert--and then write your college personal statement about it, a week before it’s due. You’re go-ing to meet the people who will become your eventual heroes. You’re going to wander around big cities, in awe of the bright lights, in the dead of night. You’re going to

feel numb moments of depression, and you’re going to feel moments of pure ecstasy. More on that feeling like an outcast thing: that’s never really going to go away. You’re always going to feel somewhat stuck in the middle, not quite a picture-perfect honors student, yet not quite ready to party your grades away. But you’re going to stop letting that limit you. You’re going to realize that other people’s expectations don’t define you, and that your GPA is just a number. Because when it really comes down to it, it’s not what grade you got in science freshman year that you’ll remember. It’s those rare, perfect movie moments-- and even the not-so-perfect ones. The best advice I can offer you, and anyone else reading this who feels similarly, is to keep holding on. Things always work themselves out in the end. We like to treat high school like it is the universally the best four years of one’s life, but in reality, it is what one makes of it. Regardless, someday you are going to move on--and whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing also depends on you. I promise you, freshman self, that no matter how terrible it gets (and it will get terrible), you are going to make it out alive, and relatively well. Though college seems like a distant dream, the next four years are going to pass in the blink of an eye, and you’re going to get into almost every school you applied to. You are going to get out someday, and finally live your dream of going to New York. What’s more, as you approach graduation, you’re going to find that you’re scared to leave 3,000 miles across the country, and almost feel like you don’t want to go. Almost. But not quite.

Love,

Dear freshman self...

Jagmeet Arora

Nikhil Bhumralkar

It’s hard to believe that my four years at West Ranch have already come to an end. A couple weeks ago, eighth graders came to our Open House to explore campus for the first time. I can remember when I visited the school as an eighth grader, intimidated yet excited by the new challenges I would be facing. Since then, so much has changed, and I really haven’t reflected on it until this final semester of high school. They told me it would be the fastest four years of my life, and I can now agree. The one thing you should never do is lock yourself in your room for the next four years and study. It will be a waste of time and effort. Friends, relationships, and memories are the most important parts of high school. The grades are also a big part, but don’t let them get in the way of you having a good time. For me, there have been countless instances in which I chose to study while my friends

went out, and I would realize how pointless my work had been. Also, do not procrastinate. I never pulled an all nighter and the latest time I slept during high school was 3:30 a.m. And that was only once. Another thing that is important to know is that some things just aren’t in your hands. The friends that you enter high school with may not be the ones you leave with. Make sure you stay true to yourself and find friends who you know will always be there for you--NO SNAKES ALLOWED. It is extremely difficult to go through high school alone, and without my friends--yes, I do have friends--I definitely would not be the same person. Also, your parents will always be by your side. There were so many times when they gave me advice and I ignored it because I was a stupid teenager and I thought I knew what I was doing. Of course, they were always right. Always. So, I’ll leave you with this. Bars.

I long for just one more class with Mr. Burns or the start of freshman year when high school was such a new thing to me. I remember entering this vast galaxy, not knowing where I fit in or my place in the Wildcat crowd. School and homework were my jobs. I could sit comfortably at home, watch Netflix to my heart’s content, and hang out with friends in my spare time. I honestly thought that high school was a joke. I desperately wanted to finish my four years as a Wildcat and move on to college, taking everything with me and leaving no memory of me behind. I just wanted to become a doctor already. Now that I have committed to UCLA (Go Bruins!), I realize how much I don’t want to leave high school. The shock of the real world has hit me. I actually have to cook my own food, do my own laundry, and study on my own time. My problems are actually my problems. My

mom, despite the fact that she is only an hour away, will no longer be hovering over me asking if I did my work, or if I wanted lunch an hour after I had a snack. So much is riding on my success in university. If I don’t do well, then I won’t get into a medical school, then my life will be pretty much over. Ever since I was young, a doctor was the only career I could see for myself. The pressure and responsibility are immense and I just don’t want it. It is not that I don’t want to become a doctor, it’s just that I don’t see myself having much of a life. The responsibility in high school was not even comparable to what I am facing now. I just wish I would have cherished my time here more and not have taken it for granted. So when I go on to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, I might visit West Ranch just to see the life I once had. Nostalgic, I know, but we will see after 15 years of nonstop studying and half a million dollars in debt.

Hairspray commands my stubborn sea of hair to stay,dutifully twirled, twirled into a bun without a stray.

Flamboyant fake eyelashes,strikingly red lipstick,make for a clown.But here I am--stage ready.

A corsette imprisons my breath,a white romantic tutu flows out of my waist,following my every twist and turn and stealing my poor shadow’s job.

I secure my pointe shoes on my stubborn feetwho refuse to arch into architectural perfection;

nonetheless I am on the wings,rolling my head in endless circles,

The curtains run off the stage,leaving only the lights--and the audience’s judging glares.

Music dances on the stage, but now it’s my turn.

I am thrust into the swan corps,waiting for one mistake

Sweat and trembling muscles pray for my fallbut my throbbing feet defiantly point harder.

Every arm movement and stepthreatens failureBut instead, the music cloaks my fearsInto a fiery passion.

The audience disappears And I am no longer on stage

Plastic faces melt into puddles of my doubt--I am no longer the cold shell I used to call home.

I have conquered my breath,My arms,My legs,My feet,My fears.

Applause.

LEERACHEL

A Poem By

We all have these fantasies about high school, or if you’re me your fantasy involves girls who wear heels to school, designer clothes, and a secret gossip blogger who--maybe I’m just describing Gossip Girl. Regardless, high school did not turn out the way I had imagined. I was never serenaded by Troy Bolton, and I didn’t move class to class in a JetX like in Zoey 101. Then again I don’t really think it turns out how anyone imagines it. High school is different for everyone. It’s defined by the relationships we create: some that slowly fell apart, and others that managed to withstand all the drama. These relationships are a big part of how we remember our high school experience. Each memory, each moment, is different. But like anyone else, my high school experience had its up and downs. It was filled with nights of coffee-driven studying that I’d rather forget, but also nights with friends that I hope I remember forever. High school wasn’t always easy. You go through heartbreak (one too many times), you fail a few tests here and there, you get a B and still survive. I’ve had my fair share of all these things, but those experiences, which in the moment felt so heavy, become irrelevant in comparison to the other memories you will make over the course of four years.

For those same four years we’ve been hearing the

same thing, the same line which we immediatelydisregard as fiction: “It goes by so fast, enjoy it.”I can certainly agree that high school flies by. It seems that just yesterday I was standing in front of the main gate, bangs and braces, nervous but excited for this new adventure. So it’s hard to believe that in just a few days I’ll be walking out of those gates, also nervous, but excited for the next adventure. People tell us that we need to stop rushing through life and live in the moment, so we can enjoy it. While it is important to enjoy life, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get through these final years, because the real fun hasn’t even begun. So I say sure, enjoy high school, but don’t enjoy it with the mindset that this is as good as it gets, because I promise high school is only the beginning. As great as high school was, there’s nothing holding me back. I’m ready to move on and say goodbye to my high school self. I know eventually I’ll be living in a world where girls wear heels to work, and designer clothes, and a secret gossip blogger who---wait, I’m just describing Gossip Girl again. Anyways, for the last time, this has been Josie Lionetti reporting.

JOSIE LIONETTI6 www.wrpawprint.com | The Pawprint

Tyler Owen and Eyan Bower have been friends since fifth grade. So what do the two like about each other? Well Owen loves Bower’s “majestic facial structure” and his “ability to grow a beard.”

Whereas Brower appreciates having the same interests as Owen.

Josie Lionetti & Olivia Morici are friendship goals. They’ve been best friends since seventh grade and have not stopped laughing since then. They are incredibly close and know each other so well that they can finish each other’s sentences. “You can’t force a friendship and it’s just so easy for us. We are the same person,” Lionetti says. The trick to making the friendship last, Morici says, is to “genuinely care about each other. I genuinely care if (Lionetti) is happy.”

For almost two years now, McCabe and Norona have maintained a long-lasting relationship. They met in Dody Garcia’s Modern Civilizations class when they were put together for a group project, and the rest is history. So what has made their relationship last so long? “Dedication, perseverance, and trust,” says Norona. This couple’s commitment to one another is undeniable.

Longest Relationships

Ethan Norona &

Courtney McCabe

Josie Lionetti &

Olivia Morici

Ian Brower &

Tyler Owen

WEST POINT

BOUND

WEST POINT

BOUNDInterviews by Sarah Castillo and Jaeun Park

an interview with Delaney Marbach

&Colleen McDermott

DelaneyMarbachQ

ColleenMcDermott

A&When did you first know that you wanted to go to West Point?“When I was seven years old, I lived at West Point. My dad taught there, the cadets babysat me, and I just thought they were the coolest people ever. I wanted to be just like them.”

Why did you choose the Army?“Because my dad’s in it. Also, the leadership is much more direct, it’s very person to person.”

How did you feel when you got accepted?“It was the proudest moment of my life. I’ve wanted this for ten years. And then, I was nervous, because I had to get ready to go to West Point.”

What would you recommend to other students hoping to apply?“Academics are really important, and so is physicality. You also have to know what you’re getting into– it’s not a civilian college, you’re training for the army.”

When did you first know that you wanted to go to West Point and why?“We had a family friend that my sister played soccer with and the dad went to West Point, and he was really successful. His work ethic and passion for what he does was really cool. He sparked my interest [in West Point] and I went out to lunch with him and he started talking to me about the relationships you make and the memories and just how going to West Point, people look at that, and they’re like, “Wow, this person can do a lot.” That was probably in 8th grade, and just from then on I’ve fell in love with it. I visited the campus and it was amazing. I felt the West Point education and the culture that they build there, and the values that they instill into you are really powerful. I could tell that [my family friend] had lived through those values.”

Why did you choose the army?“I really like the values that they hold: duty, honor, country. But they also instill values of no lying, no cheating, and that’s something I’ve always lived by and always bothered me at school because people get away with that so much. I like being a leader, and the Army is a good opportunity to be a leader and just help give back.”

How have you developed these values that West Point upholds?“I’m really involved in church, and that’s definitely been a big part in my life. The whole “no lying, no cheating” has really been instilled in me through church and that’s probably been the biggest factor. I’m involved in the peer-leading program at OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Health) through the Confirmation program. It’s amazing; I love it.”

”

Where will you be in 10 years?We intervied four seniors to see where they think they will end up 10 years from now.

“Ideally, I would be an investment banker out of grad school and I would like to be working for the Blackstone group, which is the best investment banking company in the nation.”

– Drake Walker

““”

“I either want to be in or be done with medical school and practicing to get a license in surgery. I also want to be doing a lot of medical research, especially in the field of cancer because I have a background in research already, so that’s where my passion lies.”

– Abanoub Mikhail

“In ten years I see myself teaching elementary kids and inspiring them to find their own passions like I did in school and to have them find the right attitude about school.”

– Claudia Lee

“I see myself either going to the medical field or creating medical devices in the bioengineering field.”

- Allison Furmidge

WEST RANCH

PROM

2016

Fl y Awa y w i t h Me

Provided by Abigail NorrisProvided by Mackenna Basore

Provided by Lauren Hart

Provided by Joel Szakmeister

Provided by Emily Ticknor

Provided by Taiya Lemke

Provided by Sabrina AnProvided by Daniella Steele

Provided by Cristina Sanchez

Provided by Ashlyn Hahn

The Prep

Contrary to popular belief, prom starts long before dates arrive at school. Girls and guys alike are busy during the day getting ready -- girls rush to their hair and makeup appointments and guys suit up. In these busy hours preceding the main event, students turn into stunning models. This year, many couples took photos at Grace Baptist and the Woodlands.

The red carpet was rolled out, parents became paparazzi, and West Ranch became Hollywood. The couples felt like movie stars walking across the Amphitheatre, and countless photos were taken. Girls and guys were able to show off their beautiful dresses and schnazzy tuxedos to friends and family.

The Promenade

Photos by Jacqueline Hofmann

Photos by Sarah Castillo ASB did a wonderful job with this year’s venue. Though it was at a “library,” it was never quiet. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library featured a magical night under the wings of President Reagan’s Air Force One. Couples could tour through the plane, goof around in the photo booths, or get busy with casino games. And of course, the dancing. The dance floor was hectic all night as couples danced.

After Cade Spurlin and Amanda Boyle were crowned King and Queen, couples enjoyed a slow dance to Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.” “Fly Away With Me 2016” was a special night for all in attendance.

The Prom

LIKELY”

LIKELY”

T R A N S

EDDYPARK

SAMREIN

CAMRYNUTVICH

MATTHEWNORONA

F O R MIf I could tell my freshman self one thing, it would be to not care what others say or think about me, and to always be nice to everyone no matter what.

“

”

I have changed a lot of my looks and my views with political status nd social issues. My advice to my freshman self is don’t care and find out what you want to do.

“

”

One thing I would say to my freshman self would be to pay more attention to school. And one thing that’s different from freshman year from senior year is my muscle definition.

“

”

I became more social and outgoing. I am much more confident in the things I do now.

“”

ACTRESS

MUSICIAN

ARTIST

FILMMAKER

igh school senior, filmmaker, producer, journalist, student. He is a leader with an unwavering passion

for the cinematic arts -- a passion which has become an identity. He is Alex Burdsall. His work is refined: the product of hours in his room fueled by copious amounts of Red Bull and beef jerky. There is no “good enough” for Alex Burdsall, and that certainly shows through in his work. “Your videos can always be better,” says Burdsall. “I’m never fully satisfied with my videos -- I’m always trying to learn something new and get better at my craft, and that’s the attitude I hope WRTV will carry on.”

The quick cuts, the upbeat music

you can’t seem to get out of your head is all thanks to Burdsall who devotes his time to making West Ranch Television an award winning show. And it isn’t just West Ranch TV that consumes so much of his day. Throughout high school Alex maintains exceptional grades, runs for the track team, and has a part-time job, all while working toward improving the daily show. Burdsall’s ability to juggle West Ranch TV with school work, and a social life, is a mystery to him as well. Regardless of how sleep deprived Burdsall may be, he never allows West Ranch TV to suffer as a result. Every morning at 8 a.m. sharp, he is in the studio preparing. “Alex is the one you turn to for anything. He’s a leader but he’s also a friend to everyone,” explains sophomore and WRTV newcomer Spencer Rodrigues. Even after the clock strikes 10:15 a.m. and the studio lights burn out, Burdsall stays behind. Part of

Burdsall’s devotion to West Ranch TV is powered by a need to show his gratitude for a program he says has been there for him throughout high school. In West Ranch TV he says, “I’ve met so many types of people and have made the best of friends these four years.” It isn’t only the relationships he has fostered as a result of being in West Ranch TV that have impacted him so dearly, but the lessons he has learned both through the program and through his mistakes. “I learned by screwing up and by making a bad video. I understood it was bad, researched how to improve it, and then I made another less bad video. I kept doing this until I got here,” said Burdsall. It seems Burdsall has not only mastered the art of filmmaking, but the art of being a Wildcat.

Story by Josie Lionetti

JONASKATONA

You may have heard him speak at a Key Club meeting or asked him for help on math and physics homework. Or if you’re lucky enough, you may have seen him playing in the Jazz band. As he sits at his piano, focused on each black and white key, the lights dim a touch and the trumpets sound -- both figuratively and literally. His fingers move with such ease that they become hard to distinguish, as he rapidly creates a beautiful melody on the piano. Jonas is one of our jazz band’s most accomplished players. His musical talents seem to be never-ending. He plays both the obo and the piano while also being a nationally-recognized young composer. However, his talent is not a recent discovery. At the young age of two he began playing on his parent’s keyboard, simply out of curiosity. Yet he didn’t receive real piano lessons until he was about eight years old. Since then his passion for music has only grown. “For the longest time, jazz was just one of those things that allowed me to play piano at school but eventually I started to realize that my understanding of harmony was being influenced by jazz a lot more as I was in jazz band and playing jazz pieces. I started researching more about jazz and listening to more jazz music.” Pursuing music wasn’t an easy decision for Jonas considering his dad is a radiological physicist, who wanted his son to follow in his footsteps.

Furthermore, jazz band is a huge commitment with practices the majority of the week for hours a day. Miraculously, he has been able to balance both the rigor of being involved in AP science classes while remaining one of the band director Brian Leff’s star performers. “Now I am just doing both. It has worked out for me pretty well. But obviously when I go to college I will focus more on one of them, which is probably going to be science at this point.”

Even though he does not plan on pursuing music in college as rigorously as he is now, it is obvious that Leff, has nothing but respect for the talented young musician. “Jonas Katona is a senior in the music program and is

an exceptional student. He is very talented and creative. He is an excellent oboist, pianist, saxophone player, and composer as well.” As Jonas mentors the Rancho Pico Jazz Band members, you can tell his passion for music is infectious as the kids hang onto his every word and eagerly follow his direction. Jonas defies the norms of giving freshmen and sophomores a hard time and, furthermore, exceeds the standards as a student and jazz player. As Katona goes onto college, it will be a bittersweet goodbye, yet it is obvious his future will be full of only the best notes.

Story by Jacqueline Hofmann

t is hard to capture senior Sierra Turcotte’s presence

with words. SiSi is a juxtaposition of confidence, vulnerability,

excitement, and nervousness. As she walks into the theatre lounge, she

greets every one of her colleagues with an intimate, inside joke that only

she and the one she addresses would understand. Sisi is the embodiment of glamour. She has the looks, talent and coolness that make her so admirable both on and off stage. The crowd laughs adoringly at Sisi’s

portrayal of an old, obscure hollywood actress, who is desperately trying to integrate her fading image back into Hollywood cinema in the play “The Great All-American Musical Disaster.” Her dramatic performance earned her the proper amount of laughs and applause during the show, which were then followed by compliments and hugs after the show. “I am the kind of person where if I am not going all into something, then I am not going to really try but with acting I literally just jump in all in. It is exhausting, yes, but I feel like if it’s not exhausting you when you are doing it then you probably aren’t doing it right. I love every minute, every hour of it. I love it.” Turcotte loves acting so much, in fact, that anywhere from five to seven hours a day she is working on improving her acting skills. When she comes home from school, in which she has a full day loaded with AP, honors, and of course, theatre classes, she retreats to

reading books dedicated to helping actors improve their skills. Before Turcotte’s last performance under Cook’s directing, Turcotte runs up to him and gives him a hug. The moment seems bittersweet for both Turcotte and Cook, who can’t say anything but good things about the rising starlet. “Not only is she a tremendously talented and hard working actor, but over the years she’s worked for West Ranch Theatre Arts as an assistant director, a dance choreographer, a costume coordinator, and a set painter. As a senior, she has worked as a Peer Tutor for a beginning theatre course. She’s a spirited and energetic leader who graciously gives her time, energy and talent.” Turcotte is a multifaceted actress whose skill in all areas of theatre have evolved in such a short span of time. Her talents have not only been recognized by Cook, but also a very impressive institution: New York University’s Tisch Program. Yet, her main goal is to continue to do what she believes to be the most important and intriguing part about being an actor. “The concept of being a vessel. A lot of young actors or young people or just people in general don’t understand the art of acting is to become a vessel for a character to live its life and tell its story.” Turcotte’s journey is truly just beginning as she prepares to take on NYC one character at a time. As she moves onto bigger and better things, we can’t help but look forward to seeing where Turcotte will go.

SIERRA TURCOTTE

Story by Jacqueline Hofmann

SARAH YOON

As president, Sarah started up the club to cultivate a love and appreciation for all the art forms. Despite being in its first year, the club is already able to recognize its senior members with cords at graduation, and held a successful art exhibit earlier this year at It’s A Grind Coffee House. In addition to all this, Sarah takes multiple AP classes, including the rigorous AP Calculus BC and AP Physics, because she wishes to pursue nursing in the future. “Sarah’s in my lab group in AP Physics,” senior Beth Park said, “She’s really ambitious and always tries really hard. She’s always doing multiple things at once – and she’s always fun to be around.” Both of Sarah’s parents are extremely proud of Sarah and her accomplishments, especially her mother. “When Sarah has a goal whether in art or school, she tries extremely hard to see the end of it,” Sarah’s mother said, “I am most proud of her when I see her push herself to her limit, knowing that seeing results will take long patiences and endurance; and when she does not always reach her goal, I am still proud of her because she showed us how hard she worked for it. Also, I am proud of her for being thoughtful to her parents and to the circumstances she face.” Sarah Yoon truly embodies the West Ranch values of “Relationships, rigor, and relevance,” through her hard work and dedication to her both art and her academic studies.

Everyday, at 7:00 am, Sarah Yoon treks across campus in the frigid morning air to go to AP Studio Art. She sits down, settles her stuff, and then pulls out her supplies for the day, ready to work. Many people believe art classes are an easy A. Contrary to that, AP Studio Art demands the best from all the young artists in the class. The AP Exam requires students to submit a portfolio of at least 24 pieces -- 12 showing the “breadth” of a student’s artistic ability, and another 12 where the artist concentrates on one specific subject. Sarah’s own concentration portion of her portfolio focuses in on places in South Korea – which is where her parents were born. This year, Yoon went above and beyond the art classroom to also start up West Ranch’s own branch of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) club on campus.

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(From top to bottom)Sarah Yoon, working with watercolors on one of her “concentration” pieces.

A painting of daisies in watercolor.

A more abstract piece for her “breadth” portfolio – a portrait done in charcoal.

Sarah’s watercolor painting of two beach chairs.

A watercolor painting of Namsongol Hanook Village, Seoul, South Korea. Many of Sarah’s art pieces, including this one, can be found on her Instagram, @saarahyoon

(Top) Sarah with her mother, provided by Sarah Yoon.

(Bottom) Sarah with her father, provided by Sarah Yoon.

Story and Photos by Jaeun Park

From freshman scrubs to senior studs, there is no doubt that Adam Varga and Evan Young have transformed during their four years at West Ranch. Outside of being bicep gods, Adam was also an accomplished wide receiver for the football team and a Pack leader, while Evan was a baller for The Ranch. No matter how successful and huge they are, they didn’t start their high school career that way. Instead, they began their journey just like

you and me: helpless, scrawny freshmen. “It makes me cringe looking at those photos,” Young said. “Those were the dark days of my past.” For the last few years, however, both of them have been hitting the gym over five days a week, focusing on the upper body. “I like to go straight to the free weights and push myself to the max,” said Varga. “It’s one reason why freshman year I was a little baby and now I’m a jack daddy.” Yes you are Adam. Yes you are.

THE EVOLUTION OF ADAM & EVAN’S BICEPS

MAY 2016

RUGBY

Story by Jagmeet Arora

You might know Eva Klein from West Ranch TV: the girl who’s always making hilarious skits, excelling in her classes, and often feeling the side effects of senioritis. However, there’s a part of her you don’t know. Eva Klein is a rugby player, and an exceptional one for that matter. Originally playing on an all boys teams after finishing her tackle football season, Eva, with the support and help from her dad, a former rugby player, formed an all girls’ league, where she spent two years playing for the Santa Clarita Tigers. Ready to advance her game, she then transferred to the Fullerton Lady Lion girls’ team in her freshman year, and more recently the South Bay Spartans. “My father has coached me in rugby for most of my life and my mom is always on the sidelines taking pictures. I truly appreciate all the time they have sacrificed to let me play the sport I love-I could never repay them for that.” The passion and leadership that Eva displays transcends to activities outside of school and rugby. She has been playing the guitar for six years and creating videos for a Youtube channel since elementary school. Her short films for WRTV have won several awards at national competitions, including the All American High School Film Festival. Rugby has helped to mold Eva into the person she is today. However, in spite of her own hard work and perseverance, she attributes her success to her teammates and her parents. “My teammates have gone through difficult hardships, but never complain about their lives or their situations. I really respect them and look up to them for that and how they choose to persevere and be positive.” Eva will be attending Dartmouth College to play rugby and pursue a film degree.

EVA KLEIN: EMBRACING INDIVIDUALITY

6Years

4 Team

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WILDCATS

Photo Provided by Dan Klein

Atte

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Multiple Awards at STN and AAHSFF

... is forWildcats

Seniors Kobe Damaso, Kevin McQuillen, Matt Tate, and Alex Morales have put in work to commemorate their last season as Wildcats. These four athletes have given the team their all in the past four years, creating memories not only for themselves, but also for our entire Wildcat family.

Scoring BigStory and Photo by Jaryn Santos

Every year, the Daily News recognizes the best athletes in the Los Angeles area. The first girl ever in West Ranch history to be awarded the All-Star Honorable Mention team is Sydney Caracciolo, who has committed to Cal State Fullerton to play Division1 soccer and continue her passion at the collegiate level. Caracciolo’s passion for soccer was prominent at a very young age. At age four, her mom decided to sign her up for the local soccer leagues and Caracciolo immediately fell in love with the sport. Ever since then, she has stuck with soccer spending hours and hours to develop her skills that have taken her to the level she has achieved today. As students, we all know homework is hard to keep up with. Caracciolo takes that to a whole new level. Five days a week, Caracciolo drives an hour to Camarillo to practice for two hours. Then once she comes back home, she immediately starts her homework. “I go to Camarillo because it’s in the best league in the nation playing the top teams in the nation,” said Caracciolo. She plays as an outside back and an outside forward. When she is not on the field playing soccer, she is constantly hanging out with her friends. During the season, she had many struggles to face including discouragement when she wasn’t playing at her best. “[My] biggest struggle was as a captain was leading a team when you’re frustrated in yourself,” said Caracciolo, “I would always think to myself there is no time to feel sorry for myself because the way I played would reciprocate how my teammates would play so I tried to stay positive.” As a captain Sydney sets her frustrations aside and puts the team before herself. She tries to help all her teammates whenever possible with motivation and helping them fix their technique. “Sydney not only impacts my teammates and my soccer skills, she has an effect on our personal lives too. She always tries to keep us motivated and driven when we play,” said teammate Julia Watler. During this high school season, Caracciolo was able to lead her team to 11 victories along with scoring a total of 17 goals in her final season at West Ranch. Caracciolo might be leaving West Ranch but her legacy will continue to live on long after.

D a n n y Di Maria

To some people, golf is sometimes viewed as a boring and slow sport. But for West Ranch senior and golf standout Danny Di Maria, golf is anything but boring. The nature and individualistic style of the sport captivated him as a child, and his investment in the game is an integral part of who he is today. Golf was introduced to Danny at an early age from his family. Over time,

the sport developed into Danny’s main passion, and he practiced and participated in numerous tournaments. His years of experience and training have allowed him to flourish since joining the West Ranch team, as they have reached the playoffs in all three of his years. Individually, he has made the playoffs as a sophomore and junior. Danny has the same high

hopes for this year’s team and he plans to lead the team further than the the first round of the CIF playoffs. Regardless of if the team wins or loses, Danny plans to stick with golf when he finishes high school. And while he hopes to make it onto a college team, he is certain that golf will always remain an integral part of who he is because of the positive impact it has had on his life.

Story and Layout by Andy Song

OREGON

23 .403 18 27 .403

BLAKE’S STATSNATIONAL AVG

20 .349 15 22 .474

JASON’S STATSNATIONAL AVG

SENIORS//BASEBALL Story & Photos by: Sarah Ziskind

Jason Drees

Blake Baumgartner

KEEPING IT

C L U T C H

UCSD

“I think baseball has made my high school experience great. I have had a great time competing with my teammates on the field.”-Baumgartner

GP HRBIAVG OBP

“I will miss the relationships that I have made with my teammates and coaches overthese pastfour years more thananything.”-Drees

GP AVG RBI H OBP

OREGON

wrpawprint.com | West Ranch Paw Print28

DEAR SENIORS ...The rest of the WR Paw Print staff have a lot to say. We’ll miss you, but we’ll also NOT miss you.

Bryce Fenenbock – Sophomore/Sports Writer“How come you guys are so mean?”

Zoey Greenwald – Freshman/Opinions Writer“There were seniors in our class?”

Morgan Smith – Junior/Web Editor“I’m the captain now.”

Jong Hak Won – Junior/Opinions Writer“I won’t miss you. Party at my house. Seniors are not invited.”

Erica Lee – Junior/A&E Editor“The only senior I like is Rachel.”

Jacqueline Hofmann – Junior/Features Editor“We have some small shoes to fill.”

Riley Villiers-Furze – Junior/Copy Editor“Eh, could have been worse.”

Jaeun Park – Junior/Centerspread Editor“No Princeton smh.”The WRHS Journalism 2015-2016 Seniors:

Min Jae KangNikhil BhumralkerJosie LionettiAaron LeeGisela FactoraJuliet BernalJagmeet AroraRachel LeeCandace RoSydney Chang

Sarah Castillo – Junior/Centerspread Editor“I’m trying to think of something nice but it’s really hard.”

Thanks for your hard work. We’ll miss you so much, and we wish you luck in everything that you do! Don’t forget to come and visit.Much love,The 2015-2016 Paw Print Staff