Sports

Formula 1

by Adrianna Montes

What is Formula 1?

     In just the past few years, Formula 1 racing has quickly built its audience in the United States to match its popularity around the world, especially thanks to increased exposure on television. In our country, most racing fans have gravitated towards NASCAR, but now Formula 1 is really giving NASCAR a run for its money!

     Formula 1 is the fastest motorsport racing in the world. In fact, Formula 1 cars are faster than NASCAR cars, reaching speeds of 250 mph compared to 200 mph. In addition, NASCAR uses stock cars, which allows the drivers to bump into each other, whereas Formula 1 uses open-wheeled cars, which increases their speed but also makes them more vulnerable to crashes. NASCAR uses oval-shaped race tracks while Formula 1 has more complex racetrack circuits that require strong handling skills.  Here are examples of both types of tracks to compare.  

     Formula 1 races can last up to two hours, while NASCAR races last 2-6 hours.

Teams, Drivers, and Grand Prix

     This sport has ten teams with two drivers on each team, for 20 racers in total.  These drivers participate in Grand Prix races around the world, usually about 22 times a year.  These Grand Prix take place in different countries and cities around the world on complex circuits/race tracks with turns and straights.  Usually, there is a traditional set of countries and cities that hold the Grand Prix, but some can also be replaced and added.  For example, in 2023, a new circuit at Caeser’s Palace in Las Vegas will be included in the F1 Track Guide.

Championships

     In this sport, there are two championships: the Constructors Championship and the Drivers Championship.  The Constructors Championship is amongst the teams and is based on the combined points of all the drivers on the team.  The Drivers Championship is amongst all the drivers.  This is the amount of points that each individual driver gains throughout the season.  In a race, only ten drivers will gain points. The winner receives 25 points, the second-place finisher 18 points, with 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points for positions three through ten.  Here are the current standings:

Constructor’s Championship

Driver’s Championship

     

     With all the races that are left, no matter how many points anyone obtains, Max Vestappen, winner of the 2021 Drivers Championship, has enough points to win the 2022 Drivers Championship.

     For a complete list of the F1 standings, go to https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/drivers.html.

What is the schedule?

     The season generally starts in spring and ends in winter of the same year. Usually, there are races each week, but there are some weeks where no races take place. This schedule, also known as the Formula 1 calendar,  is announced a few months before that year’s season.  First, there are practices, which take place on Fridays.  Then there are qualifying races on Saturdays; qualifying races determine what place the driver will take on the grid on Sunday.  To determine this, racers will drive several laps and achieve their fastest time.  Out of all the racers’ times, the fastest will be first, the second fastest will be second, and so on. Those who started on the grid in a place below 10 will start with zero points. Sunday is the actual race, where points are gained, lost, or kept the same.  The 2022 season is drawing to a close, so be sure to check out the final exciting races!

 

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Homecoming Game

by Elodia Honigstein

Pre-Game

The homecoming game is a chance for a school to unify, rally, and boost school spirit while rooting for a common goal in a fun game. Before East Valley and Science Academy’s homecoming game on September 23rd against Esteban Torres High School, many preparations were made to make this game an event to remember. Cars were decorated and cheers were practiced to ensure that the energy was heightened for the game.

During an interview with the cheerleading coach, Jennifer Secaida, she relayed that the cheerleaders had been nervous in the time before the game; however, they were plenty excited by starting time. They had extra practices due to many of the previous girls graduating last year, so that they would be well prepared for exhibiting maximum school spirit. The cheerleaders were a constant boost of Falcon spirit, shouting and interacting with the audience throughout the game and encouraging all to let loose and enjoy themselves.      

The East Valley football coach, Luis Zuniga, reported before the game that two of the team’s best players had been injured, requiring many adjustments to be made to their starting line-up. Players were put in unfamiliar positions, and so it was a time of experimentation. He said that the team was very excited about the game and were hopeful of a win. 

During the Game

East Valley kicked off to start the game, giving it to Torres for the first snap. Within two minutes, the Torres managed to get a touchdown, gaining 8 points for their team. A couple of plays later, East Valley player #22 was injured and had to be taken out of the game via a wheelchair. The Falcons proceeded to advance quickly and efficiently, winning a touchdown of 6 points; however, soon another player #11 got injured.

After another touchdown by Torres in the second quarter for 6 points, the Falcons manage to rebound with a score of their own, bringing the score to 14-20, with the Torres ahead at the half. 

                     

During the halftime parade, various cars drove around the field filled with students who were all inspired by their school and the associated sports. One car was dedicated to the East Valley homecoming candidates, while another featured the Science Academy candidates. There was a car dedicated to the women’s soccer team, along with other clubs and teams here at our school.

In the third quarter, the Torres scored a touchdown, bringing the score to 14-28, with the Falcons losing yet another player, #15. The air was thick with hope and anticipation, and everyone was waiting to see if the Falcons could come back from this deficit. The Torres get another touchdown, but the Falcons turned right around and scored one of their own, making the score 20-34, Torres. 

Finally, in the 4th quarter, there was one more injury, to player #1. The game came to an end with a pivotal fumble made by the Falcons, leading to the Torres picking it up and running off with it, gaining another touchdown for the scoreboard. The final score ended up being 20-42, with Torres winning. If the Falcons had not had that fatal fumble, there would have only been a touchdown between the two teams, and the Falcons would have had a chance to come back, just like they did in the first half. However, the Falcons will have other chances to beat the Torres.

Post Game

During a post-game interview with the East Valley head football coach, Luis Zuniga, he stressed that the Falcons’ main concern moving forward is tackling and keeping healthy. It’s hard when guys get injured, he told his team, and they come up short, but they played with heart and that’s what matters. In the first half, the coach reports that the team felt good, as they were only a touchdown away; however, it was hard for the team when they lost their best players in the second half. He knows they will play the Torres again, and he’s confident that the Falcons will win next time.

           

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Homecoming Week

Our Homecoming Experience

by Daniel Svediani and Rachel Nave

Believed to have originated sometime in the 19th century, Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back students to the new school year. Usually, it celebrates the first home football game of the season and traditionally, a dance is held afterwards. On Saturday, October 23rd, we celebrated our own joint Homecoming with East Valley High School.

On the day of the Homecoming football game, we had a pep rally, held during the high school students’ extended lunch. Students were able to enjoy a routine performed by the school’s cheerleaders, an introduction of the football team, and a presentation of the candidates for Homecoming Court. That same evening, our Falcons participated in a football match against Animo Robinson’s Monarchs. Although our team fought valiantly against the enemy, misfortune befell them and they were crushed by overwhelming odds. However, spirits were lifted during the halftime show. An ensemble of decorated trucks and cars paraded through the field, displaying various other sports teams, advertising our school’s diverse clubs and student body, and culminating in the winners of the homecoming court election. After the festively decorated vehicles circled the football field, the football game continued. (see photos below)

Homecoming Court Winners:

Freshman

Lady: Ava Soh

Knight: Daniel Svediani

Sophomores

Duchess: Gillian Nail

Duke: Zahra Reaves

Juniors

Princess: Michelle DuPont

Prince: Mia Dalbotten

Seniors

Queen: Leah Rosenthal

King: Harry Ilanyan

The next day, the Homecoming Dance provided the students with another opportunity to bolster their school pride, as well as the chance to enjoy some time with friends. The dance was held in the quad between the cafeteria and the gym in a beautifully decorated area. All the trees were decorated with bright yellow lights, all the tables were covered with a black cloth and adorned with decorations such as flower arrangements, and there were multiple balloon spirals spread throughout the area. On the stairs leading up to the gym, a DJ setup and various light fixtures, including multi-colored lasers, were installed. The students were provided with water, a towering supply of various pizzas, and delicacies such as ice cream and cookies, which could be purchased at the Student Store. As the event was coming to a close, the Homecoming Court winners were announced once more to raucous applause and were called up for a slow dance. As everyone joined in, the DJ played a few more slow songs and everyone dispersed, contented, into the night. 

While many students really enjoyed the Homecoming Dance, especially the photo booth–which is, as Desmond Devine stated, “always a cool spot to capture memories”–others had some critiques about the music volume and song selections, as well as the menu offerings. Desmond used their input to craft a handy guide for scoring school events. What do you think?

School Event Grading Rubric

Music	Food	Entertainment	Decor
3: Good volume, open to suggestions	3: Variety, not costly, plentifulness	3: Many unique events, games, and activities	3: Great
2: A little too loud or quiet, slightly limited	2: Some choice, costs a bit too much	2: Some timed events and activities, or ones that require cash	2: Good
1: Inappropriate volume, not flexible	1: Few options, expensive, limited quantity	1: Very few or no activities, or those that are costly	1: They didn’t even try

 

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World Series Championship

By Barrie Komsky

December 15, 2020

On October 27, the Los Angeles Dodgers erased decades of frustration and disappointment by winning the World Series for the first time since 1988. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in the sixth game of the World Series to bring Los Angeles their second championship of the month. As the great Dodgers announcer Vin Scully once said, “In a year so improbable, the impossible has happened.” 

The 2020 baseball season was unlike any other. For the first time in baseball history, the World Series was played at a neutral site, the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, which the Dodgers made their home. It was played in a bubble with only 11,500 fans in attendance each game. Teams played only 60 games, rather than the typical 162. But the Dodgers rose above these challenges and did what nobody thought was possible: going the distance after years of falling short.

          The team could not have come so far without the help of Clayton Kershaw, who has been a staple of the Dodgers organization since 2008. He had every honor and achievement in baseball aside from a World Series ring. He took home the National League Cy Young Award in 2011, 2013, and 2014, when he also was named Most Valuable Player. On June 18 of that year, he pitched his first career no-hitter, arguably the greatest in baseball history. He has constantly dazzled in the regular season, but quickly became known as a “playoff choker,” showing barely average statistics in the month of October. This year, Clayton Kershaw changed his legacy forever. There are no more missing pieces for the future Hall of Famer. His 4-1 record combined with a 2.93 ERA and 37 strikeouts, all career highs for the 32-year-old ace, gave him all he’s truly wanted: a championship for his team. “We won the World Series. I don’t care about legacy. I don’t care about what happened last year. I don’t care about what people think…The 2020 Dodgers won the World Series. Who cares about all that other stuff?” the veteran ace told Bill Plunkett when asked how he felt about his success.

          Perhaps the only Dodger with a more impressive postseason than Kershaw was Corey Seager, whose eight postseason home runs and .328 batting average led to being named MVP of both the World Series and NLCS, a nail-biting seven game series against the Atlanta Braves. Seager was only the eighth player in the history of Major League Baseball to bring home both awards. “This team was incredible all throughout the year, all throughout the postseason,” Seager, known for his modesty, stated. “We never stopped. We were ready to go as soon as the bell was called. And once it did, we kept rolling.” He drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of the game, after Rays’ manager Kevin Cash controversially removed Blake Snell, who, through 5.1 innings, struck out 9 and allowed only two hits, one of which resulted in a run, from the game.

          Both Kershaw and Seager dazzled throughout the regular season as well, but no impact was greater than that of Mookie Betts, who was traded from the Red Sox in February. In 55 games, Betts accumulated 16 home runs, 39 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a .292 batting average. Betts won the National League’s Gold Glove Award for his position of right field for the fifth consecutive year. He became a finalist for MVP, along with the Braves’ Freddie Freeman, the eventual winner, and the Padres’ Manny Machado. Betts took home the award in 2018 with Boston, when his team beat the Dodgers in the World Series. In the postseason, Betts batted .296 with 8 doubles, 6 stolen bases, and an eighth-inning home run in game 6 to extend the lead. He also scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, taking advantage of the Rays’ decision to remove Blake Snell from the game. “I think at that point, I was like, ‘I got a chance,’” Betts said of the situation following the win. “Snell was rolling… I wasn’t asking any questions, though. I was just like, ‘Hey, your manager said you gotta go, next guy’s coming in.’ At that point, I tried to put an at-bat together and go from there.” In addition to his brilliance on offense, Mookie Betts made an impact larger than any other on the field, making seemingly impossible plays nightly.

          Many will compare Betts’ remarkable first season as a Dodger to that of Kirk Gibson in 1988. After a successful career with the Detroit Tigers and a World Series win in 1984, Gibson, a free agent, signed with Los Angeles. The team, against all odds, found themselves in the World Series, set to play the powerful Oakland A’s. Kirk Gibson, having injured both legs in the previous series, was set to sit this one out. In Game 1, the Dodgers found themselves down 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning. Dennis Eckersley had just walked Mike Davis when Kirk Gibson, barely able to walk, hobbled up to the plate, hoping for a miracle. When the count reached 2-2, Mike Davis stole second base, knowing that Gibson would be unable to run. On the very next pitch, Gibson launched his legendary home run to right field, giving the Dodgers the Game 1 win. The Dodgers would go on to win the series in five games. This year’s Dodgers, just like the 1988 team, didn’t have an easy path to success.

          The team won a seven-game battle to make a World Series appearance, beating the Atlanta Braves after losing the first two games and three of the first four, something that had not occurred since 2004. Games 5, 6, and 7 games included a Will Smith home run off of Will Smith that gave the Dodgers a lead and more defensive heroics from Mookie Betts and the rest of the Dodgers’ outfield. In a nail-biter game seven, Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and extended it with a Dansby Swanson home run in the second. In the third inning, a Will Smith single tied the score at 2, but Austin Riley’s RBI single in the fourth gave the Braves a 3-2 lead. Freedie Freeman would have hit a home run in the fifth inning if not for Mookie Betts. Then, Kike Hernandez hit a game-tying home run in the sixth inning, and Cody Bellinger put them in front in the seventh, a lead Los Angeles held on to thanks to three perfect innings from Julio Urias. “We’re resilient,” said Bellinger of the win. “I think when you see every day the lineup we have—we can do this. Why can’t we do this? We’ve won three games before, all the time.”

 

          The win did not come without controversy, as Justin Turner, who’s pregame COVID test came back inconclusive, was pulled from the game in the 8th inning when a positive result was received. When the game ended, Turner and his wife Kourtney made their way to the field, unmasked, and were seen hugging teammates. Turner even participated in taking a team photo and holding the trophy. Following the celebration, Turner tweeted the following: “Thanks to everyone reaching out! I feel great, no symptoms at all. Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of L.A.” After careful consideration, the league agreed that Turner should not be punished for his actions, as the bubble they created was unsafe. Turner released an apology which called his actions inexcusable, claiming to have been caught up in the moment.

          Despite the controversy and excuses by other fans, however, the Dodgers used their talents and nothing else to win their first World Series since 1988, and that’s all that will be remembered years from now. Congratulations to the 2020 World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers!

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Sport Section: Baseball Fever

By Ethan Kang and Harrison Reisner 

The Dodgers clinch their seventh consecutive NL West title by defeating the Orioles 7-3 with the help of two home runs by Corey Seager and Gavin Lux’s first career home run. Walker Buehler gets the win by striking out eleven Baltimore players and has gone through seven innings once again. Caleb Ferguson has gotten the save, and lately, ever since he was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, he is terrific. The bullpen has not been doing great in the first half of the season ever since they got more bullpen relievers like Joe Kelly, who was usually with the Boston Red Sox, but in the second half, they have all been amazing.  

Walker Buehler has been terrific during this second half of the season, though he had given up at least four earned runs in his last two of three starts at home against the Colorado Rockies and at the road against the Miami Marlins. In both of those rough starts, he only went five innings though he averagely goes six or more innings.

 Corey Seager has been getting hot lately. He has three home runs in his last two games. Two out of three of those home runs have been three-run home runs. In September, Seager has been dominant, he has been getting a lot more RBIs and home runs lately. He had gotten two injuries in the first half of the season, and one of the injuries was pretty hard for him since he was hot during that span. He had a hamstring injury in the Freeway Series against the Angels while going to 3rd base for a triple. After he came back a few months later, it took him a while to get back to where he was. 

Since the NL West title is out of the way, the Dodgers are hoping to end the season with the best record in baseball. But, there are teams that are getting closer and closer to the best record in baseball like the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and the Minnesota Twins. The postseason is real risky since there are lots of good players, relievers, and starting pitchers.

There are also a lot of other things that the Dodgers are hoping to get first place on which is the leader in home runs in MLB. Though the Dodgers are in the top five in MLB in home runs, the other that is right above the Dodgers are the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, and the Boston Red Sox. Cody Bellinger is hoping for being #1 in home runs, but other players are right above him like Pete Alonso of the New York Mets and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, a possible CY Young winner, was terrific in the first half of the season. He developed a lot of different pitches like the two-seam fastball, sinker, and changeup. His changeup as been his best pitch and the most chased pitch. The second half of the season is a whole different story. He at least gave up at least three runs in every start he made in the second half. He has only given up more than three earned runs once in the first half. This might be one of Hyun Jin Ryu’s best offensive seasons in his six-year career. He had his first career home run on September 22nd against the Rockies. The most embarrassing part of giving up a home run to a pitcher is the pitch count. Antonio Senzatela has given up a home run to Ryu on a 0-2 pitch. 

The Dodgers have had a great season and are projected to go to the World series. They have also already in the regular season have played the Yankees who won the 3 game players weekend series two out of three. The outcome of that series may have not gone the Dodgers way but they still have a great chance at beating the Yankees in the World series. They have seven straight division titles and this year they clinched early because of the magic number. But they still had to work hard after that because they were still fighting for home-field advantage in the World Series. 

The postseason is really soon, and everyone is going to watch this. For the two NLDS, it will be the St. Louis Cardinals against the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals against the Milwaukee Brewers. For the ALDS, it will be the Minnesota Twins against the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays against the Oakland A’s. The outcome is unknown hopefully the Dodgers will perform and make it to the NLCS. They have won Game 1 of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals with the help of the offense and great pitching for pitching a shutout giving up only two hits. The Nationals rely on their offense to perform because their pitching is not that great. Also, their bullpen does not have great stats so the Nationals rely on their starters to pitch as many innings as possible. This was clearly shown on the first game of the series when the Dodgers scored most of their runs off the bullpen. We want to wish the best of luck to the Dodgers that they will make it very far this postseason. Fingers crossed that they make it all the way to the World Series.

The Dodgers, for the first time since 2016, is not going to advance to the World Series. In Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nations, Buehler did give up a run, but Clayton Kershaw came in the games and strikes out Matt Adams in a first and second jam, but he gives up back to back home runs in the 8th inning against Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto that tied the game at 3. In the 9th inning, Joe Kelly came on to pitch in the 9th inning and retired the side. In the 10th inning, he has given up a grand slam to Howie Kendrick to get the Nationals to a 7-3 lead to win the NLDS. The Nationals sweep the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, they play the Houston Astros in the World Series.

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