titan shield - San Marino High School

SAN MARINO HIGH SCHOOL
TITAN SHIELD
Tennis Trumped
By Dana Dolphins
By Ryan Lee
Sports Editor
rlee.titanshield@gmail.com
After a stellar start to their
winning season, the Lady Titan
Tennis team finally met some
competition when they faced the
Dana Hills Lady Dolphins.
On September 21, the Lady
Titans took on the Lady Dolphins
at home. Dana Hills is arguably
the second-best Division I team
in the state, and the Lady Titans
had to be prepared for a tough
game. After three long rounds of
grueling play, the Lady Dolphins
finally took away the victory 14-4,
giving San Marino its first loss of
the season.
“I knew we were going to
have a really tough game. I was
excited to be able to play a team
that had gone to the CIF Division
I Championships for the past
two years. I knew it would be a
new experience for us,” reflected
Junior Number Two Singles
Player Dorothy Tang.
Dana Hills presented a
challenge to the girls, but the
match also provided the Lady
Titans with a learning experience.
“Dana Hills is a really good
team and has a lot of skilled (Continued on page 10)
Volume LX, Issue 2, Circulation 1200 San Marino, California, 91108 September 30, 2011
After taking control of the
season with dominating victories
over La Salle and Eagle Rock, the
Titans had their win streak snapped
by the Panthers, as they could not
halt Rosemead’s offensive plays,
Titans Sink Under Bulldogs
Junior Field Player Trenton Kohno pushes back the Bulldog defender in
preparation for a clear shot at the goal.
Liana Wong//Titan Shield
By Ellie Shohfi
Staff Writer
eshohfi .titanshield@gmail.com
On September 21, the San
Marino Titans Varsity Boys Water
Polo team went out strong but
lost a challenging home game to
the Burbank High Bulldogs 10-
17. Despite keeping the score
relatively even through the first
half, the Titans tired out quickly,
while the Bulldogs only became
stronger. Senior Set Alex Kang
contributed four goals with the
help of Freshman Driver Robert
Inside This Issue:
News
• Band Raises Money
With Carwash (pg. 2)
• DJs Compete For Icebreakers
Spot (pg. 2)
• Robotics Battles In
Fall Classic (pg. 3)
tournament players. They
consistently advance into the CIF
Division I Finals. It was good
practice for us to play a team
that was that good,” commented
Senior Number Two Singles
Player Captain Sarah Gealer.
The Lady Titans currently stand
at 7-1 with league play starting
next week.
To begin the day, Dorothy
played a tough match in the first
round against the Lady Dolphin’s
Number One Player. Dorothy
played well but could only win
three games in her 3-6 loss. Like
Dorothy, Sarah also lost 3-6 to her
opponent. Sophomore Number
Three Singles Player Vivian Le,
however, fared better than her
fellow singles players and was
able to defeat her adversary 6-3.
The Lady Titan Doubles
Teams also faced trouble in the
first round. The Number One
Doubles Team of Junior Larissa
Phillips and Senior Captain
Crystal Yang fought hard but lost
6-7 to Dana Hills’ Number One
Doubles Team due to a tiebreaker.
The Number Two Doubles
Team of sisters Senior Michelle
Gandawidjaja and Sophomore
A Panther defender rushes at Senior Captain Runningback Kwame Do during the Titans’ first loss of the season against
Rosemead last week.
Liana Wong//TITAN SHIELD
Augustynski’s goal and other
multiple assists. The Varsity Boys
Water Polo team now holds a 4-8
overall record.
“I’m confident that if we get our
team to play more aggressively
and to stay strong through the
entire game that we will beat
Burbank when we play them
again in League,” said Coach
Mark Barr.
The Titans and Bulldogs both
began the game aggressively,
and within the first two minutes
Sophomore Field Player Thomas
Rogers passed the ball down the
line to Junior Field Player Trenton
Khono, who shot and scored.
The Bulldogs quickly retaliated
with two shots on goal, but they
were both blocked by Sophomore
Goalie Brian Rogers. Robert
received the ball and passed it
(Continued on page 11)
falling 14-23.
The Titans had been successful
in shutting down their opponents
offensively in the past two
games by not allowing a single
touchdown in San Marino
territory. However, the tides
seemed to turn against SMHS at
Rosemead, as the Panthers held
the offensive hand throughout the
Features Opinion Spectrum Sports
• Passion for Fencing
(pg. 4)
• Actor David Schall
(pg. 5)
• New Coaches Lead in
Fall Sports (pg. 5)
Football’s Solid Start Halted
in Loss Against Panthers
By Kevin Tran
Editor-in-Chief
ktran.titanshield@gmail.com
• High School
Relationships:
Harmful or Helpful?
(pg. 6)
• Is College Really
Worth It? (pg. 7)
• Spotify: A New Way
to Listen (pg. 8)
• Ask Spectrum! (pg. 8)
• A Perspective From
This Year’s Rose
Court Tryouts (pg. 9)
game. Although the momentum
of the game fluctuated between
quarters, the blunders the Titans
allowed overruled their big plays,
leaving the Panthers open to take
the game.
“Rosemead was not the better
team, but they executed their plays
(Continued on page 10)
SM Speech Qualifiers
Cross Nation to Excel
By Emily Lau
News Writer
elau.titanshield@gmail.com
Select members of the San
Marino High School (SMHS)
Speech and Debate team competed
in the The Yale Invitational from
September 21 to 25.
Only certain schools were
invited to participate in the
competition, which took place at
Yale University in New Haven,
Connecticut.
“[The competition was
definitely] extraordinarily
difficult and challenging,” Speech
Instructor Mr. Matthew Slimp
commented.
Because this competition is so
early in the year, students faced
time constraints and numerous
challenges.
“Student were entered as soon
as they were released, which
was in August. The challenges
are always getting your events
prepared or script prepared,
depending which category, at the
beginning of the year,“ Mr. Slimp
said.
The speech members arrived
in New Haven on Thursday
night. Then, on Saturday, the
debate competition participants
participated in two rounds of
debate throughout the day.
Finally, on Sunday, the students
returned back to San Marino.
Despite the difficulties, the
speech members placed in multiple
categories. Junior Jonathan
(Continued on page 2)
• Tennis Confronts
Tough Opponent (pg.
10)
• Star Athlete of the
Month: Kwame Do
(pg. 12)

2
Band Fundraises
for Future Events
Marching band members gather to rinse cars at the annual car wash fundraiser
to raise money for upcoming events.
Charlotte Manning //TITAN SHIELD
By Alana Cheung
Assistant News Editor
acheung.titanshield@gmail.com
The San Marino High School
(SMHS) Marching Band hosted
its annual fundraising car wash on
September 17 from 12:30 p.m. to
4:30 p.m. in the driveway located
in front of the SMHS English
Building.
Members from the marching
band sponged, hosed, and dried
cars in exchange for voluntary
donations.
Additionally, the band sold
foods such as chips, cookies, boba
milk tea, water, and Taiwanese
tea eggs to customers and drivers
to raise additional funds for the
Music Department.
“We [would like to] thank all
the parents who donated boba,
ice, water, Cha Ye Dan [tea
eggs], and other foods. We all
appreciate their support and they
made this event as successful as
it was. Without their time, we
wouldn’t [be as] big of a success,”
commented Music Department
Director Dr. Ben Ubovich.
Furthermore, the marching
band held one-hour shifts for
each section of the band. During
Speech Learns Valuable
Lessons at Yale Invitational
(Continued from page 1)
Sheu placed in the Semifinals
in extemporaneous speaking,
where the speaker is assigned a
topic then given thirty minutes to
prepare a seven minute speech.
“The competition was very
challenging. [In my category]
I was given a new topic about
world affairs each round, and the
environment was definitely pretty
top-notch. I felt all my judges were
very attentive and took careful
notes in analyzing my speeches.
The speakers all appeared
polished and experienced. It was
an honor to compete among them,
especially on the east coast where
I had not yet made a debut.”
Jonathan added.
Also, Sophomore Elyssia
Widjaja placed in the quarterfinals
in Original Oratory, where
September 30, 2011
each shift, members from each
section were required to help
out with the car wash, sell food,
and hold up signs on Huntington
Drive to advertise the event.
This year, the band
washed 100 cars and raised
approximately $1,600 with the
help of the donors and sponsors.
Funds from this event
went towards the upcoming
instrumental events, field show
competitions, and transportation
fees.
“We raised more money
than we expected, $600 more
than last year. This will be
really beneficial in helping the
whole music department pay
for the district’s required fees
to continue the program. It
was just an overall great day,
because this event helped the
students with their extension
of team building and life skills,
which is actually a part of their
grade in the class. The [band
members] had fun and everyone
was happy,” concluded Dr.
Ubovich.
The band will be also playing
tonight at 7:00 p.m. during the
football game at Bell Gardens
High School.
students write a persuasive
speech, which is then memorized
and presented.
“This is a major national
competition, so during all my
rounds, I didn’t expect anything.
I just wanted to enjoy myself,
try my best, and learn from the
serious competition. Of course,
due to the time of the competition,
I could have polished my memory
and performance, but considering
the circumstances I was under,
I’m happy with what happened.”
Elyssia explained.
In addition, Junior Keita
Suzuki and Senior Jenny Huang
made it to the octofinal rounds
in public forum, a two on two
partner debate.
“Yale was one of the main
events I was looking forward [to]
at the end of my sophomore year.
I really wanted to do well this
NEWS
SMHS DJs Battle to
Perform at Icebreakers
By Rebecca Quan
Staff Writer
rquan.titanshield@gmail.com
The Associated Student
Body (ASB) held a DJ battle
from September 12 to 16 in the
Architectural Rally Point (ARP).
The winner of the battle earned the
opportunity DJ at the Icebreakers
dance on, September 16.
The ASB started planning a
week before the competition.
Three DJ groups, each consisting
of a pair of students, participated
in this event.
The battle was designed for
students to show-off their talents.
Also, the student body had the
opportunity to pick their own DJ.
“We have many student DJs
that want the opportunity to play
at a school dance. [the ASB]
decided it would only be fair if the
student body voted for who they
wanted to play. That was when we
decided to let all potential DJs to
play their music,” remarked ASB
Senior Crystal Yang.
year, [and] I [even] went to debate
camp to improve. I just wanted to
get the most out of my years in
speech and debate.” Keita stated.
Lastly, Sophomore Nikos
Covey won a speaker award
and ranked 5th place in Lincoln
Douglas Debate, a one on one
debate.
“I’m grateful for the help most
of the seniors have given me to
the point that I can win [such
a prestigious] award” Nikos
commented.
Through the entire competition,
not only did students place, but
they also learned a valuable
lesson.
“Students learned that its never
too early to work hard and we also
consistently learned the lesson
that we are indeed strong if we
stick to our work ethic” Slimp
concluded.
Each day, a different DJ
performed in the ARP at lunch.
On September 12, Freshman
Joseph Groechelli and Senior
Brandon Battaglia performed.
Sophomore Andre Zahn and
Senior Mathew Lim played on
September 13th. On the final day,
September 14, Freshman Matthew
Ferraco and Alex Stashevesky
took the stage.
At the end of the week, a voting
booth was set up and students
voted for their favorite DJ.
Then, the winners were
annnounced: Matthew and Alex.
As the winners, they will perform
at the Icebreakers Dance.
“When I first found out I won
the DJ battle, I was surprised
because there were a lot of good
DJs competing against us. [But,]
I was glad because [we] really
wanted to DJ the dance. We
thought it would be an awesome
opportunity to have a lot of fun
[while supplying the music to] a
great dance,” remarked Alex.
Before Icebreakers, Alex had
never DJed at a dance or party,
but he has been practicing for
several months now. Matthew, on
the other hand, has had previous
DJing experience.
“My cousin told me about his
DJ experiences, as he is a DJ at
his college. He showed me the
basics and let me use his stuff,
and I eventually decided to buy
my own gear,” said Alex.
The partners also happen to have
similar tastes in music, although
Alec listens to a wider range of
music, including Progressive
House, Trance, Techno, Dubstep,
Rock, and some hiphop.
At the dance, the DJs played a
variety of techno-themed music.
Matt declared, “I’m a huge
techno fan; it’s all I listen to.”
The battle gave DJ’s a chance to
perform while getting the student
body involved in the process.
“We would definitely do this
battle again in the future and try
to let everybody have a chance
to show the school their talents,”
Crystal concluded.
TITAN SHIELD
Staff Box
Board of Directors
Editors-In-Chiefs
David Chan
Kevin Tran
Camille Wang
Assistant Editors
News
Alana Cheung
Photographers
Jade Larriva-Latt
Kevin Suimanjaya
Staff Writers
Alan Chan
Caitlin Kang
Elizabeth Ogawa
Jaanvi Sant
Photography
Kerry Chen
Liana Wong
Ryan Lo
Natalie Tso
Thomas Dang
Kyle Ko
Molly Patruno
Elizabeth Shofi
Advisor
Frank Dooley
Section Editors
News
Helen Hejran
Emily Lau
Opinion
Stephen Au
Thomas Tai
Ads
Jaclyn Chu
Jamie Gao
Photography
Vanessa Mok
Victoria Lau
Rebecca Quan
Hayley Thompson
Features
Melody Ho
Jacqueline Troung
Spectrum
Kristin Choi
Elizabeth Oh
Sports
Ryan Lee
Annette He
Jonathan Liu
Charlotte Manning
Matthew Tso
titan shield

NEWS 3
San Marino High School’s
Junior Taiwanese American
Student Association (JTASA)
went to Arcadia Park to volunteer
for booths at the LA-18 Harvest
Moon Festival on September 18
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The volunteer work was
very fun. Jobs included parking
enforcement, backstage work,
information booth, autograph
booth, and other tasks that needed
to be completed. There were
many helpful people helping the
new volunteers. The experience
was great and it helped me meet a
lot of different people from other
schools. Although the day was
tiring, it definitely gave me more
social...and job [like] experience,”
commented Freshman Derek Lao.
Students volunteering at 8 a.m.
did park control. Moreover, those
participating from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. helped out at the information,
game, or special events booths.
Volunteers were also given a
free t-shirt with the LA-18 logo
on the back and free food coupon
for Indonesian satay barbeque.
“The volunteers who went
had a great time at the festival.
I had lots of fun helping out the
kids at the inflatables,” concluded
Sophomore Justine Tang.
Club Briefs
JTASA CookiEs Green
Meeting to make pizza for the
homeless at the Union Station in
Pasadena, the San Marino
High School CookiEs Club
held an outside baking event at
Senior Chrystal Yen’s house on
September 25 from 12 p.m. to 4
p.m.
The group learned to make
sausage and barbeque chicken
pizza. While half of the volunteers
made pizza, the other half were
making cards to give to all the
people currently residing at the
station.
Furthermore, members wrote
“Happy Halloween” messages
on the cards. The club made
approximately 50 cards for the
station residents.
The group ultimately baked
seven pizzas. After the event
ended, several members from the
club drove down to deliver the
pizzas to the families staying at
the station.
“Basically, the purpose of the
outside baking-crafts event is to
give back to those who don’t have
as many privileges as we do and
just try to make their lives a little
easier,” Chrystal explained.
CookiEs Club will be having
its second lunchtime activity on
October 4 in Mr. Carmona’s room.
Advocating eco-friendliness,
the San Marino High School
Green Club hosted a “green”
school supply sale on the first
week of school, and on October
3 a beach clean up at the Santa
Monica Beach’s Tower 18.
At the sale, the Green Club
sold biodegradable binders made
of recycled materials, post-it
notes created from part-recycled
materials, notebooks made from
recycled materials, and pens out
of recycled plastic. They also sold
tote bags to reduce the amount of
disposable plastic bags used at
grocery stores.
Furthermore, during Heal the
Bay, the Green Club adopted
the beach under the obligation
to clean it at least three times.
The trash was sorted and tallied
into different categories, which
included plastic bags, medical
supplies, and smoking-related
items.
“It makes me feel good
knowing that I did something to
help the environment, because it’s
something I feel pretty strongly
about. [My efforts my not seem
like much,] I know I’m making at
least a little of a positive impact
though,” Junior Emily Thai
concluded.
Robotics Clash at
FIRST Fall Classic
By Helen Hejran
News Editor
hhejran.titanshield@gmail.com
The San Marino High School
Robotics Team attended the annual
For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science and Technology (FIRST)
Fall Classic on September 24 at
John Burroughs High School in
Burbank from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As Mechanical President Senior
Kyle Hoffman described, “[The
Robotics Team] competed in last
year’s game titled: Logomotion.
Basically, there are two teams
with three robots on each side
and they have to pick up inner
tubes and line them up on racks
to score. At the end of the game,
miniature robots (a.k.a. mini-bots)
can be deployed from each robot
to try and climb a pole as fast as
they can for extra points.”
Seven members of the team
went as well as Mr. Barton,
the team’s advisor. The team
competed their robot against 21
other robotic teams from Southern
California. SMHS’s team fought
valiantly, losing in the semifinals
to the eventual winners.
“[The] Fall Classic was great.
We managed to get to the semifinals
despite numerous setbacks.
We eventually lost, but all in all it
was a great run,” Kyle stated.
This competition was an
opportunity for the new members
of the team to witness the ideas
and goals of FIRST.
The Robotics Team is still
accepting applications from
prospective members.
Our Opportunity
to Clarify:
In the last issue, the
Opinion poll was
mislabeled: the colors
dark gray and light gray
for the key were switched.
--Jonathan Liu// Staff Writer
jliu.titanshield@gmail.com
--Helen Hejran// News Editor
hhejran.titanshield@gmail.com
--Emily Lau// News Editor
elau.titanshield@gmail.com
TITAN SHIELD September 30, 2011

4 FEATURES
Moments to Remember for a Lifetime
Helen Hejran
News Editor
hhejran.titanshield@gmail.com
“Band Attend Hut!” shouts Drum Major
Senior Jason Lui at 6:50 a.m. sharp. “One!”
San Marino High School’s Marching Band
shouts back. Every school morning, the
marching band meets during zero
period. However, marching band is not
only about playing an instrument and
marching, it is also full of traditions
that give lifelong memories to its
members.
“In marching band
you work together to do
something for a common
goal. You are
working towards
something greater
than yourself, not
for college, but for
each other and for
band. That’s what’s
different,” put Drum
Major Senior Jason
Lui.
This year, the
marching band is
different in that
members have a greater r
drive than the previous
years to perform well.
As Assistant Drum Major
Senior William Su stated, “ T h i s
year is denitely different from previous
years in terms of our potential. We are
far more prepared, more equipped, and
more dedicated. With our excited group
of incoming Freshmen and experienced
Seniors leading the way, I can’t wait for
the rst competition to nally show what
we have to offer this year.”
Right when summer began, every
section held sectionals to begin learning
the music and marches.
A f t e r
summer
school
ended, band
camp began.
For two weeks, the
band met from the afternoon until night to
perfect their music and marching skills, as
well as bond with fellow performers.
New members were introduced to the
traditions, screaming whilst running to the
top of the show and ending practice with a
pelvic thrust and shouting, “Uh!”
Commenting on the accomplishments
of band, Marching Band
President
Ryan Liu stated, “It
i s
m o r e
pronounced in
band because our
school’s marching band is student-run
for the most part, which I like because at
the end of this, we can say that it was our
accomplishment, rst place or last place.”
Since the school year began, members
have been dedicating 13 weeks of their
lives to band. Every Thursday, members
attend night practice to prepare for the
half-time show at the football game. Even
during practice, all of the band members
wear black for unity.
Prior to the halftime show, sections
gather together for pep talks that end
with each section shouting their cheer or
chant.
After halftime, the leaders salute
the band. At the end of the game,
the “Band, how do you feel?” chant
ensues. When the chant ends, the Drum
Major gives a debrieng, commenting on
what he noticed on and off the eld, as to
correct members’ errors before the band
competition with other schools.
Moreover, after band competitions
the band walks in a spiral around the
Drum Major until there is one tight
circle. They end the competition with
the leadership saluting the band. Each
time, the band salutes in return with a
unique gesture.
Perhaps the greatest proof of the
strength of the marching band is
simply the way the various members
summed up their experiences over the
years: “dedication, love, life, family,
esoteric, work, enthralling, mindblowing,
badass, united we stand, sexy,
and exotic.”
Parrying Their Way to Victory
The referee yells out, “En garde, ready, fence!” The fencing match has commenced. Two men dressed in white with swords begin to move towards one another. Fencing is a sport
in which two people attack one another and defend themselves with a sword. Four remarkable students at San Marino High School fence: Seniors Austin Chien and Hani Zewail,
Junior Thomas Jakway, and Freshman Nathan Leung. These four students, who fence for hobby, sport, and passion, all have peculiar stories to be told on how they began their career
in fencing.
Hani Zewail Austin Chien Nathan Leung Thomas Jakaway
“I don’t think people know that I really
like space, and I have a secret dream of
being an astronaut,” commented Senior
Hani Zewail. Space may be his future, but
fencing is present.
In the sixth grade, a good friend
introduced Hani to fencing. At Hani’s rst
experience, he states he “got the hang of it
right when [he] started.”
Since then, he has grown to have a
passion for fencing; a passion fueled by the
“thrill of beating someone who is ranked
higher than you, the rush of adrenaline,
excitement, and the respect you get after
you get that last hit.”
Through fencing, Hani has also learned
to “keep pushing and repeating until
[he gets] down what [he] needs, as
well as how to be patient and let the
opponent make a mistake instead of
anticipating and making a mistake
[himself].”
As an experienced fencer,
he would say “to anyone
who is interested in doing
the sport to denitely
pursue
it; fencing is an
awesome
sport where you
get to play
w i t h swords.”
Elizabeth Ogawa//Staff Writer
eogawa.titanshield@gmail.com
September 30, 2011
“I believe fencing denes much
of my personality” commented
Senior Austin Chien.
“ I h a d
always
b e e n
a
big fan o f
Star Wars,”
A u s t i n
stated, “so
my mom
suggested
I try the sport.”
Listening to
her advice, he
began to fence.
To reach
her current
level, he
practices for about
six hours a week.
Austin aspires to
continue fencing in college,
hoping to join a team.
As a role model
to those new to t h e
sport, Austin encouraged such amateurs to
“just go for it.” He commented that though
fencing is certainly not for everyone, and it
is both a mental and physical battle, but is
also a lot of fun.
Caitlin Kang//Staff Writer
ckang.titanshield@gmail.com
Anyone can play basketball
or football, but how many
people can
say
t h e y
fence? Freshman
Nathan Leung
is one of those
people.
Two and a
half year a g o ,
N a t h a n ’ s parents
e n r o l l e d h i m
i n fencing.
O n l y playing for
a
short time, Nathan h a s
already competed in foil
fencing, fencing with a type of
sword called foil.
Nathan stated that he needs to be
“aggressive but also passive and [has] to
trust [his] gut feelings” during the heat of a
competition. To Nathan, fencing is not only
a sport but also something that has helped
him in school.
He expressed, “While fencing I have to
follow my instincts which helps me during
tests.”
Caitlin Kang//Staff Writer
ckang.titanshield@gmail.com
Many nd it difcult to incorporate
passion with sports, but for Junior Thomas
Jakway, this is no problem.
“Fencing is denitely my main sport and
activity. I’ve spent incredible amounts of
time training for competitions and haven’t
looked back,” expresses Thomas.
Four years ago, Thomas started his
serious training for fencing competitions,
and “realized that fencing was [his]
calling.”
To him, the best part about fencing is
“the experience.”
“ I’ve had the opportunity to meet so
many different people who judge you based
on your fencing abilities, not your age,
height or any of the other useless statistics
we’re measured by,” he stated.
Fencing may seem like a dignied
and leisurely sport, but fencing actually
requires absolute precision, as fencers
compete against opponents who has been
practicing extemely hard with the common
goal of winning.
“I’m now more disciplined in character,
concentrated on my priorities, and
physically t. Finally, I’ve discovered that
‘Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games’
is both a terrible video game and a poor
portrayal of fencing in general,” Thomas
concluded.
Elizabeth Ogawa//Staff Writer
eogawa.titanshield@gmail.com
titan shield

FEATURES
5
Shining Both On and Off the Screen
By Molly Patruno
Staff Writer
mpatruno.titanshield@gmail.com
What truly defines Junior David Schall
is his thriving
passion for
acting. Even as
a child, he often
wondered how
it would feel to
be on television
and be seen as
a role model.
Throughout
middle school,
he performed in
various plays,
which helped
him decide
that acting
was the right
path for him.
Two years
ago, David made
his debut in the
acting industry
by scheduling
his own
audition. This
was David’s proudest moment as an
actor because it was the first time
he felt independent in the industry.
“That audition was the first time I went
to the audition and callback by myself; at
first I didn’t think I was going to book it
because I didn’t have my mom to cheer
me on but I did it with confidence.”
David’s most recent project involves
the Zyrtec commercial-game, a medicine
company. David describes the project as
“a bunch of mini commercials put into
one.” The mini commercials will be either
released on television or as a promotional
online game,
with a prize of a
Samsung Galaxy.
David’s role in
the commercialgame
came
towards the
end, when the
player would
act as David
and play tug-ofwar
with a dog.
David’s favorite
part about the
commercial was
Queen Latifah.
“[Queen
Latifah] is also in
[commercial] and
I’m ecstatic about
being alongside
her when the
commercial
is released,”
David said.
With the entertainment industry’s
extremely demanding reputation,
David claims that the most difficult
part of the field is rejection.
“It’s a continuous cycle of
being put down,” he commented.
However, it is his confidence and looks
that keep him motivated in the industry.
“What may come across as different is
my red hair; it almost
has a mind of its
own. Sometimes, it’s
red, sometimes, it’s
brown, and there are
times where it is even
blonde!” he said.
With numerous
opportunities
ahead, David
greatly appreciates
his family and
thanks them for
their support.
Without them,
he would not
have gotten
to where
he is today.
“ M o s t
families
would not be
supportive
of someone
having to
drive over
to the
West-side
when an
audition
w a s
happening in the middle of the week,
but my family has
always encouraged
me to follow my
dreams,” David
commented.
Aside from
David’s appearance,
he is also different
from others in the
field because of his
mentality--many
kids his age in the
acting industry have
not obtained the same
level of discipline that
he has achieved. He
is the type of person
who uplifts people to
see the best in them.
“The advice I would
give to someone who
is just starting in this
activity is that if you want
to make it, you have to
have a strong backbone and
you have to be confident
in yourself because the
industry is tough,” he stated.
David is known for
his outstanding ability to
portray characters. His most
recent accomplishments
reflect upon his emotions,
“A burst of energy runs
through me when I get a job
and I can’t wait to start once
it’s booked,” David concluded
on his success at auditions.
New Coaches Bring Fresh Start to Fall Sports
By Jaanvi Saant
Staff Writer
jsaant.titanshield@gmail.com
Mr. Mike Hobbie currently serves as
San Marino High School’s P.E. teacher
and Varsity Football coach. He has
enjoyed not only instructing
but also acquiring new
skills since his arrival
in May 2011.
After Coach
H o b b i e
completed high
school and left
his first job as
a restaurant
busboy, he
majored in
sociology at
Murray State te
University
in Murray,
Kentucky. After
four years at the
university, he decided to
branch out and explore a
variety of careers, instead
of immediately becoming
a teacher. He coached football at Florida
State University, taught social studies,
worked as a stock broker, and became
the vice president of sales and marketing
in a telecommunications company.
Eventually, Coach Hobbie chose to work
within the San Marino Unified School
District in order to be close to his family.
Having gained knowledge from playing
football, baseball, basketball, golf, tennis,
volleyball, and soccer as a teen, he stated
titan shield
that the most important qualities of a team
sport member are being team-oriented
and willing to put self-needs aside. Coach
Hobbie, who coached physical education
for two years, stated, “P.E. is good for your
health and social skills.” In his eyes, the
most rewarding aspect of his job
is working with children.
One thing that never
fails to motivate
Coach Hobbie
is his love for
football.
“Because of
my varsity
football
team, I learn
more about
people;
why they
do what they
do, why they
don’t do what
they don’t do,”
he commented.
He
feels most
successful as a coach
when he has taught his
players well and when they
“feel good about their success.”
Although Coach Hobbie modestly
asserted that there was nothing special
to know about him, he loves music
and can be found attending concerts on
weekends. He also commented that his
most important quality is persistence,
which he also wants his students to learn.
Finally, Coach Hobbie expressed, “I love
being with kids...I think football and
sports has a lot to offer for young people.”
Vanessa Mok//TITAN SHIELD
By Camille Wang
Editor-in-Chief
cwang.titanshield@gmail.com
Previously a part-time teaching
professional and part-time accountant,
Varsity Girls’ Tennis Coach Johnny
Christopher has transferred
from teaching at Billie
Jean King Tennis
Center to coaching
the SMHS
Girls’ Tennis
team. With
five years
of teaching
tennis under
his belt,
Christopher
plans to
continue the
tradition of
excellence that
the girls have
exhibited with their
two consecutive CIF
Championship victories.
He originally came from
Pasadena, attending La Salle High School.
Though he is currently a tennis coach,
his main sports used to be baseball and
basketball. Only in the past seven years
has he been seriously practicing tennis.
Because he used to teach
individual players, he sees coaching
a team as an entirely new experience.
“The whole team aspect is a lot of
fun; I’ve only worked with tournament
players and that’s a different feel,” he
remarked. “[We are] able to generate
more enthusiasm because everyone’s
there with a common goal. That’s a
great and fun thing that happens.”
Christopher earned his Bachelor’s
Degree in History at CalState Long Beach.
He is currently working on his teacher’s
credentials so that he can teach history.
He is also occupied with
parenting his one and
five-year old sons,
the older of which
is currently
involved in
baseball.
I n
addition,
one of the
reasons why
he took on
the coaching
position
was to better
acquaint himself
with high school
students. He has
other reasons for
coaching, as well.
Vanessa Mok//TITAN SHIELD
“I wanted to do
something more active and get out of
the office [for accounting]. It is much
nicer to be outdoors,” he commented.
This year, Christopher’s goals include
being the league champions once again
as well as earning a three-peat CIF
Championship. His first goal is very close
to being realized: the Lady Titans are the
“heavy favorite” for league champions
with their impressive record of 6-1.
And as for himself, his goal is “to give
[the team] the best chance possible to win.”
September 30, 2011

6
OPINION
Are relationships in high school beneficial?
No, relationships are more harmful than helpful and are not worth it.
Yes, relationships are important in the development of young adults.
By Rebecca Quan
Staff Writer
rquan.titanshield@gmail.com
One of the most significant aspects of
teen life today is relationships. However,
among all of these partnerships, one type
seems to stand out from all the others--the
romantic relationship. Even though having a
romance in high school might seem like fun
and games, it can distract one from school
and may leave emotional as
well as physical scars.
R o m a n t i c
relationships can
take attention away
from more important
things such as school.
Scholastic, one of the
largest book publishing
companies in the United
States, urges parents to talk
to their children about dating,
as it takes time and attention
away from schoolwork. When
distracted, one bad grade leads to
another, and soon it is too late to change
it around. Such cases damage the chances
of better class placement in the future
years of high school, which affects college
acceptances, and in the long run, the chance
at a successful future. In short, allowing a
romance to take priority over academics can
jeopardize one’s future. No romance should
ever take precedence over one’s future.
Though all relationships have their
moments of initial bliss, this period of
happiness does not last forever. A messy
break-up can leave one or both parties
emotionally scarred. It thus becomes more
difficult for people to trust when proceeding
into another relationship. Since trust is one of
the most important things in life, preserving
it is parmount for one’s self-confidence and
emotional well-being. Breaking up can also
lead to a lack of self-confidence, depression,
and perhaps suicide. Seemingly harmless
flirtations also cause emotional destruction
and pain. With hormones running amok,
teenagers’ emotions are fragile and easily
manipulated.
However, relationships do not merely
cause emotional problems. In addition
to emotional scars, abusive relationships
can also leave physical scarring that last
a lifetime. Numerous relationships begin
well, but later morph into physically
abusive partnerships. In fact, one in three
h i g h schoolers knows a
friend
or peer that has
been physically
injured in some
way or another
by their partner,
according to the
Liz Claiborne
Incorporated
Study about dating
violence. High
schoolers can contract
sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) and face
unwanted pregnancies if they
engage in sexual activitives.
Some STDs, like HIV, last a
lifetime and can eventually turn into
AIDS, which kills about 3,100,000 people
worldwide a year, according to the Yale Aids
Watch. About 850,000 teenage girls become
pregnant every year, as seen on MTV’s 16
and Pregnant, Youth Noise states. Indeed,
pregnancy is a very real problem that many
teenage girls confront today.
High school is an important part of a
person’s life. It is a time for laying the
groundwork of the future, gaining maturity,
and striving for academic excellence. A
romantic relationship can greatly distract
someone from his or her goals, as well
as cause mental and physical pain and
academic stagnation. In short, high school
students should not pursue a relationship
until they have the mental maturity to handle
the possible pain.
By Stephen Au
Opinion Editor
sau.titanshield@gmail.com
When someone talks about high school,
one of the first things that come to mind is
teenagers running rampant on hormones.
In high school, people see relationships
everywhere they turn. Despite what parents
may desire of their children, the fact is that
relationships are not the distraction that
many assume them to be. In fact, being in a
relationship provides a shoulder to lean
on, improves academic growth, and
strengthens social skills.
Many believe that having
a boyfriend or girlfriend
requires intimacy. While that
may sometimes be the case,
what one may not realize is
that being in a relationship is
mainly about providing
support to one another. For
example, in tough times, one
can emphathize with their boyfriend
or girlfriend. According to the Planned
Parenthood, a non-profit international
sex education federation, a healthy
relationship includes “respect, honesty
and trust, fairness and equality, and good
communication.” Whether helping out
with personal problems or pouring out the
details of their day, people in a relationship
will have a significant other that is willing
to listen and be there in times of need.
Relationships can also boost academic
progress. It is very likely that a high
school student will meet a suitable match
during class. After these two people enter a
relationship, they can help each other with
classroom homework because they share
the same classes.
While having emotional support and
improved academic progress may not last
towards the end of a relationship, the social
skills that one gains through a relationship
are undoubtedly the most important part
of a relationship. According to Dr. Betty
Osman of the National Center of Learning
Disabilities, “Learning to successfully
interact with others is one of the most
important aspects of a child’s development,
with far-reaching implications.”
Relationships also help teenagers
develop important social skills and selfconfidence.
For example, trust is an
important skill that must be learned in
the future as well. Also, if one is truly in
a passionate relationship with another,
then intimacy is another skill that these
individuals require. Intimacy
is a skill that will always
be used in society. In
addition to this, the
NASP, or National
Association of School
Psychologists states
that, “Students with poor
social skills have been
shown to experience difficulties
in interpersonal relationships with
parents, teachers, and peers.” Even
if a relationship does not work out, the
consequences of a relationship cannot
be regarded as a stigma, but rather, a
lesson. People will learn from their
mistakes, and they must learn to move
on with their lives. After getting over an
ex, people can realize that they are strong
enough to overcome such emotional pain.
Undeniably, opposite sexes will
be attracted to each other throughout
life, whether in high school or during
adulthood. Even if parents do have more
experience than their kids by far, it should
be up to teenagers to have a relationship.
However, the benefits of a relationship far
outweigh the potential problems that may
occur. Being in a relationship provides for
an understanding ear, greater academic
achievement, and better social skills.
Teenagers should be encouraged to engage
in relationships in order to benefit their
own well-being and happiness.
Should High School Students Be in a Relationship?
Ryan Chiu, Sophomore:
“Relationships mess people up because
they’re extremely distracting.”
Tiffany Shan, Junior:
“I think they’re interesting because
even if it can be a distraction, it can
also be extremely fun.”
Harrison Chiao, Junior:
“They’re [relationships] good if you can
maintain other things like academics.”
Hepsy Zhang, Freshman:
“No, they’re [relationships] bad,
because it really distracts people from
studies and such.”
Xavier Kenevan, Sophomore:
“No, because I think it’s pity love
because most of the time it doesn’t
last very long through life-changing
events like college.”
Are High School Relationships Beneficial?
No, relationships are more
harmful than helpful and
are not worth it.
36%
Yes, relationships are an
important asset in the
development of a young adult.
TITAN SHIELD SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
64%

OPINION
7
College Education Provides Better Future
By Thomas Tai
Opinion Editor
ttai.titanshield@gmail.com
Many people have recently begun to
question the usefulness of college. They
point to the increasing tuition costs and
varying degrees success of among college
dropouts. In fact, one writer asked, “Is the
much sought after four year education at
the nation’s elite colleges and universities
even worth it anymore?” Despite the pain
of student debt, college is not as useless
as critics say. The truth is, college is an
excellent investment into one’s future.
Having a college degree increases one’s
chances of finding a job, results in higher
overall income, and allows a person to
have a better life. In fact, having a degree
is almost a requirement for success in an
increasingly competitive world.
In these hard times, having a college
education can mean the difference between
financial stability and penury. According
to the National Center for Education
Statistics, or NCES, the average annual
income for a college graduate in 2009
was $40,100, while the average salary
for a high school graduate was a paltry
$25,000. Many critics of higher education
complain about the debt that many students
accumulate. However, this education will
ultimately help graduates repay their loans.
A study by the US Census Bureau found
that a college graduate with a bachelor’s
degree can expect to make up to $2.1
million in his or her lifetime, while a high
school graduate can expect to make only
$1.2 million in comparison. Considering
the fact that students who graduated in
2010 owed on average of $24,000 in debt,
going to college is not an impossible task.
Understandably, any debt is a painful burden
to bear in this economy, but going to college
is still worth it. In the 21st century, the ability
to have a better future increasingly depends
on one’s level of education. While some
high school graduates may be able to earn
reasonable wages by working as repairmen
or construction workers, not everyone can
be a middle-class blue collar worker. The
majority of high school graduates who
don’t go to college may end up working
in low-paying and unstable jobs that offer
no chance for advancement. College may
entail spending money, but it is a worthy
investment in the future that pays off in the
end.
College not only boosts one’s income,
but also drastically increases a person’s
job prospects. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics found that a relatively paltry
5.1% of graduates with a bachelor’s degree
were unemployed. On the other hand, a
shocking 15.7% of high school dropouts
were unemployed, and 10% of high school
graduates were unemployed. While going
to college may have been optional for
middle-class life 30 years ago, now it is
for all intents and purposes a prerequisite.
Over the last decade, over one-third of
manufacturing jobs in the United States
have been lost due to outsourcing, layoffs,
or automation. These same manufacturing
jobs, which once provided a path to the
middle-class for millions are, for the most
part, gone forever. In fact, the ten top paying
jobs over the decade will all require some
form of college education, especially in
fields like engineering and technology.
Without a college education, students can
expect a much diminished future.
But having a college education should not
just be about earning more money. College
enriches the lives of pupils and creates
a better life for them. A richer education
gives people the opportunity to expand
their horizons and meet new people. Also,
college can also give students’ families
a lot more opportunities in the future.
In fact, a study by College Board found
that parents with advanced degrees were
more likely to introduce their children to
educational experiences such as museums
and reading than those who did not receive
higher education. Moreover, a study by
the Institute for Higher Education Policy
found that 90 percent of preschoolers with
college-educated mothers are exposed to
literature at least three times a week. Also,
graduates were statistically less likely to
commit felonies. Colleges also provide
W
A
G
E
S
I
N
D
O
L
L
A
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S
opportunities for people to become more
cultured and active in society. Numerous
studies have shown that college graduates
were more likely to vote and volunteer
than people without a four year degree.
Attending college may be expensive
and difficult at times, but its advantages are
priceless. By giving people the opportunity
to increase their income and create a better
future, college gives people the ability
to improve themselves. It is now, for all
intents and purposes, a requirement for job
security and a path to the middle class. A
college education is a valuable investment
in this recession. In fact, higher education
is the best way to survive this recession
and its hardships. Higher education is
something that is worth having.
Comparison of Annual Wages
Level of Education
Courtesy of planyourpath.fl ockless.com
TITAN SHIELD SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

8
tunify your music
If you’re a music-lover like me, then this
routine might sound a bit too familiar to
you: come home, switch on the computer,
open up your iTunes library, and then rockout
to your favorite songs full blast. While
iTunes is a great music-listening program,
it does have its drawbacks. Every song
in your library has to be located on your
computer’s hard drive, which means if
you switch computers you can’t bring your
library with you.
Starting last July, a new internet music
program has taken the U.S. music industry
by storm and has introduced American
music-listeners to a revolutionary new
way of finding and listening to music
online: Spotify. Like iTunes, Spotify is a
downloadable program that allows you to
easily maintain your own music library
with multiple playlists, has online reviews
of albums, and allows you to browse for
new music online. On the other hand, to
use Spotify one must first create an online
account, which, in my opinion, is extremely
simple and straightforward due to Spotify’s
user-
friendliness.
In fact, Spotify
even automatically
ties your iTunes
library to your
Spotify library,
so every
song you own on iTunes can be listened to
on your Spotify account. There’s a catch,
however: not every song in your iTunes
library may be in Spotify’s database.
While this is not a problem if you’re
using Spotify on the same computer as
your iTunes library, it means that if you
try accessing your Spotify account from
another computer without your main
iTunes library you might discover a
number of songs missing.
There are also a number of
other features of Spotify
that I found particularly
useful and promising.
For
example, one can
connect to his o r
her Facebook a n d
Twitter accounts
through
Spotify in order to easily share
their favorite music with their friends. In
addition, I found that Spotify’s interface is
extremely streamlined and simple to use.
There is just a single search bar on the top
of the screen
with
which one can use to either find music in
his library or search for new music
online, and one could figure out the
basic functions of the program in a
couple minutes.
While Spotify does have its
great benefits, there are a few
restrictions that could bother
some users. One major
limitation is that in order to
access your Spotify library
anywhere, you must have
access to the internet. Without the
internet, you will only be able to listen to the
songs already saved on your hard drive.
So if you were hoping to access your
desktop’s library while on a boat in the
middle of the ocean, you’re out of luck.
Fortunately, most people can find some
way to access the internet through their
computer as long as they’re close to a Wi-
Fi source.
Overall, Spotify is an excellent online
music service that, through its features such
as a library accessible from anywhere and
a selection of free music to add to your
collection, outshines its competitors
like iTunes and Last.fm in multiple
areas. Anyone looking for an
effortless way to listen to their
music library or to simply find
new songs and artists should try
out Spotify.
If you do, one thing’s for sure:
you’ll never look at your iTunes in the
same way ever again.
David Chan//Editor-in-Chief
dchan.titanshield@gmail.com
Hey, seoul sister
SPECTRUM
Welcome!
This year Titan
Shield’s Spectrum
section is opening an
ask box!
We encourage you
guys to e-mail us
something you
are curious about.
Got a realtionship
question? Need
advice for a class?
We are here and
ready to answer your
questions!
Seoul, capital of South Korea is the
largest metropolis of its country, housing
a population of over 10 million people.
Seoul is the New York City of Korea and
is filled with amazing diversity. You can do
anything from singing in a karaoke bar to
relaxing near the pool.
This is a city of indulgence and
merriment, and these traits are captured
perfectly by the Lotte World Amusement
Park and Shopping complex. Lotte World
has the largest indoor amusement park in all
of South Korea. The theme park is deemed
the mystical title of “Magic Island” and is
located on the upper floor of Lotte
World. Magic Island has various
rides, roller-coasters, and game
booths in which both children
and adults may immerse in pure
and innocent fun. Lotte World is
a family-friendly environment
perfect for people of all ages.
The entire amusement
park is located directly
above Lotte World’s ice
skating rink, a radiant
field of ice that serves
to compliment the
wondrous image of
Magic Island. Lotte
World has various
other attractions
such as arcades,
restaurants and an
indoor shooting
range. That’s
right. An actual
shooting
range located
inside of a
mall. For all
of you kids at home that are stuck playing
“Call of Duty,” this might be your chance
to finally feel the recoil of a real loaded
firearm. Lotte World is definitely the
entertainment center of Seoul, as it
caters to the entertainment needs
of the entire family.
My favorite aspect of Korea
is its high quality and diverse
cuisine. Korean BBQ seems to
be a sensation here in the states, so
one can only imagine how exquisite
it would taste in its homeland.
However, for those
of you who aren’t the
biggest fans of the
kimchi staple, Korea has
a variety of restaurants
that are guaranteed to
appease your multicultural
cravings. Korea is known for
their wide variety of cuisines.
My personal favorite is the La
Siene buffet located within
the Lotte Seoul Hotel.
The restaurant features
a breakfast and dinner
assortment containing
American, Japanese,
Chinese, Indian, and
French cuisine.
The restaurant is
elegantly designed
and decorated and
also features a sushi
bar, teppanyaki bar,
and omelet
station. The
food quality is
as good as any
other highend
restaurant and tastes delicious and
mouth-watering.
A major concern of traveling to a
foreign country is the differences
in customs or lifestyle that make
travelers feel ill
suited to the
outlandish
environment.
Contrary to
the stereotypes
of most Asian
countries
in which
everyone
sits around
eating rice and
playing
Starcraft, South
Korea is one of the most Americanized
Asian countries.
In fact, there are almost as many
American franchises in Seoul than in any
city abroad. Walk out of your hotel, you
see a Starbucks. Go around the corner, and
there’s a 7-11. If you look upwards, don’t
be surprised when you see a Mc Donalds
billboard. It is almost impossible to feel
homesick while touring this magnificent
city.
Seoul demonstrates its splendor
through its luxurious hotels, tourist
attractions and entertainment sites. Seoul
is the ideal tourist location and is sure to
provide an entertaining and memorable
experience for everyone who visits there.
Make sure to catch the next flight to Seoul
and be prepared to have a mind-blowing
vacation.
Kyle Ko//Staff Writer
kko.titanshield@gmail.com
So please, don’t
be shy! Ask us
anything! :)
E-mail us at:
tsaskspectrum@
gmail.com
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
titan shield

SPECTRUM 9
In The Presence of Royalty
Have you ever wanted to become a
princess or even a queen? Most of us
have fantasized ourselves in Disney
princess movies, but what if you had a
chance to actually become royalty? For
those who live around the Pasadena area,
young adults aged 17 to 21 are eligible
to try out for the Royal Court. Although
the tournament takes up much of the
participants’ time, former princesses and
queens concur that the this event is one
of the best experiences in their lives.
Every year the Pasadena Tournament
of Roses Association
holds
tryouts for the
Royal Court at
the Pasadena
Tournament
House. Over one
thousand girls
try out per year;
however, only six
princesses and one
queen are selected. The
selection process is
held during late
September
and
early
October.
E a c h
participant
received two
complimentary
tickets to the
Royal Ball, which will be held at
the Pasadena Convention Center.
Those who qualify for the Royal Court
will have the chance to ride on a float,
made specially for the Royal Court. Before
the New Year’s celebration commences,
the Royal Court must carry out numerous
duties to promote the Tournament. Their
duties include attending over one hundred
events in the Pasadena area. The Royal
Court will receive scholarship money and a
30 piece wardrobe. Now all of this sounds
like an amazing opportunity, but what’s
the catch? Well, those in the Court must
sacrifice much of their education. Selected
girls attend school, on average, only a few
times a week for a couple hours at a time.
The girls spend most of their time at the
Pasadena Tournament House, where
they
are
able to finish
homework
or even
prepare for
social events.
Approximately 250
women advance to the
quarterfinals. The next step is a more
in-depth interview with the panel of
judges. Participation is then narrowed
down to about 75 candidates. Then out
of a remaining 25 contestants, the seven
Royal Court members will be selected.
For the very first round, participants
were given 15 seconds to answer
why they wanted to be a part of
the Royal Court. Personally,
I thought this process was
extremely intimidating due to
the fact that almost 20 other
girls lined up behind me,
watching me as I approached
the line of ten judges.
Stumbling across the red carpet
in my four-inch heels, my greatest
fear at that moment was tripping, falling on
my face, and embarassing myself in front
of the judges. Walking towards the judging
table, I was greeted by several smiling
faces. Smiling back at the judges, I started
m y 15 second opportunity to tell
the judges why I wanted to be a
part of
the
Rose
Court. As I waited for my turn, I grew
increasingly nervous. Luckily, most of
the girls sitting near me gave me positive
advice and helped calm me down. I took
advantage of getting to know the girls
around me in a short period of time and
I ended up reciting my speech
with several of the girls.
It was my turn. Once
I started my speech, I
realized how quickly
I was talking since
I was so nervous.
The worst was
over and I felt
completely relieved
as I was escorted away
from the judging table.
Overall, I was honored to
be a part of this once-in-alifetime
opportunity. For those
of you who have not had your chance to
try out for the Royal Court, do not worry,
your time will come. However, to those
of you who have already tried out and
made it to quarterfinals, congratulations!
Quarterfinals were held on Saturday,
September 24, and only 25 hopeful girls
will receive an invitation to the semifinals.
Semi-finalists will be notified by
next Tuesday, September 27. The seven
lucky ladies will be announced by early
October, so make sure to stay tuned for
the results! As a fellow Titan, I am
optimistic that this year’s Royal
Court will include at least one lucky
girl from San Marino High School.
--Kristin Choi//Spectrum Editor
kchoi.titanshield@gmail.com
TITAN SHIELD SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

10
SPORTS
Girls’ Tennis Sink Below Dolphins
(Continued from page 1)
Monique Gandawidjaja won only
two games in their 2-6 loss against
the Lady Dolphin’s Number Two
Doubles Team. To conclude the
first round, Freshman Robin Fong
and Junior Laruen Chang lost 3-6
to their opponents.
In the second round, the Lady
Titans could fare no better, as
they still only won one of the six
matches.
Against the Dana Hills Number
Two Singles Player, Dorothy
suffered her second straight
loss 3-6. The story differed for
Sarah, who was able to snatch
a 6-2 win against her Lady
Dolphin adversary. The Dana
Hills Number One Singles Player,
however, bageled Vivian 6-0.
During the second round,
all three doubles teams shared
similar results.
Larissa and Crystal lost 2-6
to the Lady Dolphin’s Number
Three Doubles Teams. Similar
to the prior round, Michelle and
Monique lost 2-6 as well. Facing
Dana Hill’s Number One Doubles
team, Robin and Lauren had a
hard match, succumbing to a
score of 1-6.
Trailing 2-10, San Marino had
already lost the best-of-18 game
Number Two Singles Player Senior Captain Sarah Gealer blocks back the ball
with a backhand.
Kerry Chen//TITAN SHIELD
from the start of the third round.
Because of this, Coach Johnny
Christopher decided to sub-in
Junior Andrea Klein for Lauren
to play in Number Three Doubles
team.
In her lone win of the day,
Dorothy pulled off a bagel
against the Lady Dolphin’s
Number Three Singles Player.
Sarah, on the contrary, lost to her
opponent 3-6. Similar to Sarah’s
performance, Vivian also lost to
her Dana Hills rival 3-6.
Throughout the game, each
Lady Titan Singles Player was
able to contribute one match each
to end the day at 4-14.
The doubles fared slightly
better during the third round
than they did in the rounds prior.
In an exciting match, Larissa
and Crystal garnered their only
victory of the day with their 6-4
triumph over the Lady Dolphin’s
Number Two Doubles Team.
Both the Number One Doubles
team of Michelle and Monique
and the Number Two Doubles
team of Robin and Andrea lost
1-6.
Over three rounds, the Lady
Titan Doubles Teams only
contributed one victory.
“We didn’t play as well as we
were capable of, but we still did
pretty well. We stayed in it every
match and 10 of 14 matches
we lost were competitive. It’s
not like Dana Hills’ players are
professionals or anything. I wish
Football Suffers First Loss of the Season
(Continued from page 1)
better than we did. They blitzed
our offense and left us confused,”
admitted Junior Captain
Quarterback Matt Wofford.
Both teams remained dormant
in the opening minutes of the first
quarter. But halfway through, the
pace picked up and San Marino
found themselves in a good
position to make the first run.
Senior Captain Running-Back
Kwame Do managed to bring
the Titans into Panther territory.
However, shortly afterwards, a
yellow flag was thrown against
the Titans, and what seemed like a
potential touchdown for the Titans
soon turned into a punt.
On what turned out to be
Rosemead’s first touchdown
drive, Line Backers Senior Ryan
Hill and Jack Allen combined for
a forceful tackle to force a fourth
and one still in Rosemead territory,
but the Panthers dove for the two
yard gain, obtaining another set of
downs that eventually led to the
first touchdown of the game.
Rosemead’s dreadful kick
return proved to be a failure, as
the Titans began held possession
at the Panther’s 30 yard line. With
Matt rushing the ball through open
pockets in the Panther defense,
Kwame eventually obtained a first
and goal in an exciting run that
sparked the crowd.
But the same story lagged on for
the night, as each time it seemed
like the Titans were in position to
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
score, an error would erupt and it
would be Rosemead’s ball again.
However, the Titan defensive
line cleaned up this blunder by
forcing a fumble to give SMHS
another shot. Together, with ontarget
blocks from the offensive
line, Matt forced his way through
the line for the first touchdown of
the game, eventually tying them
at 7-7.
However, even though they
managing a touchdown to calm
the Panthers, the Titans’ were still
overridden by their mistakes. On
a third down and 11, San Marino
forfeited a blunder that eventually
resulted in another Rosemead
touchdown, as the Titans now
trailed 13-7.
For a period of time, the
Titans found themselves fighting
a losing battle in the third and
fourth quarter. Despite a lazy start
after the half, the Titans brought
energy back to the field on a solid
defensive play from the Titans’
defensive linebackers. Forceful
tackles from Senior Defensive
Back Garret Glacier, Ryan, and
Jack eventually led to a fourth
down on the Panther 34.
As Rosemead was forced to
kick, Junior Linebacker Nick
Gott snuck through and blocked
the punt, allowing the Titans to
recover the fumble. With offense
back on the field, the Titans
forced their way through on a
group effort, as the team gathered
together and helped Matt push
through. But to no avail, the day
continued with the same story
and the Titans were forced to punt
after losing yards on the downs.
Adding to the Titans dismay, the
Panthers punished SMHS with a
93 yard touchdown, leaving the
score at 20-7.
The Titans retaliated with
aggression to pull off another
touchdown following the
disappointing sneak by Rosemead
with Kwame rushing the ball
through an opening into the
end zone. However, Rosemead
responded with a field goal,
making a San Marino victory out
of grasp. Ultimately, the Titans
Number Three Singles Player Sophomore Vivian Le hits a solid forehand in her
match against a Dolphin.
Kerry Chen//TITAN SHIELD
we played a little better, and if we
did, we could have made it closer,”
Coach Johnny Christopher offered
at the end of the 4-14 game.
Despite their loss, the Lady
Titans remain confident about the
rest of the season.
Dana Hills, a highly
experienced team, caught the Lady
Titans off-guard, as the defending
D1 champions challenged SMHS
after its stellar undefeated season
last year.
“In truth, I actually did not
have any real expectations today
because I didn’t know what to
expect against a top California
team. I felt that our performance
was average. If we can improve
a little bit, then I think that we
could not pull a victory over the
Panthers despite the shifting in
momentum and exciting plays
between both teams.
“Effort wise, we were totally
there. [But] assignment wise, we
needed some more work. We just
didn’t stick to our assignment
plans,” reflected Nick
As the disappointing game
came to an end, the Titans left the
field with many adjustments and
knowing on what the players need
to work.
“We need to have better tempos
in our practices and execute
on both offense and defense.
can definitely be among the best
Division I tennis teams in the
state. Right now, we are looking
at a really good chance at having
a three-peat CIF Championship
win,” said Coach Johnny
Christopher in regards to the
team’s performance.
After their match against Dana
Hills, the Lady Titans took on San
Gabriel High and El Dorado High,
winning both games.
The Lady Titans also played
Blair yesterday, but results
were not available at press time.
Overall, the team’s record stands
at 7-1 four weeks into the season.
Their next match will be on
Tuesday at Monrovia against the
Lady Wildcats.
Hopefully, we get a better week
of practice this week in order to
adjust and improve our game,”
concluded Matt.
This first loss brings the Titans
down to a 2-1 overall record in the
Rio Hondo League. Fortunately,
the loss to Rosemead was not
a league game but rather a preseason
game that allowed the
Titans to see where they needed
to improve. The Titans will
travel to Bell Gardens to take
on the Lancers tonight in hopes
of compensating for their loss
against Rosemead last week and
keeping their dominance alive.
Junior Runningback Andrew Cordova evades his Rosemead opponents in the second half of the Titans’ football game
last Friday.
Liiana Wong//TITAN SHIELD
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SPORTS 11
Waterpolo Treads Unsuccessfully Against Bulldogs
(Continued from page 1)
Thvedt who slammed the ball
into the net, unexpectedly scoring
two straight. However, soon
afterwards, the Bulldog player
scored two straight points in
return.
Thomas attempted a backhand,
but the ball was caught by the
goalie and passed to a Bulldog
who scored another goal. His
goal signaled the end of the first,
leaving SMHS trailing 2-3.
“We really came out strong this
quarter and played Burbank well,
despite the small lapse when we
let them score three goals very
quickly,” stated Coach Mark Barr
in regards to the the first quarter.
The Titans began the second
quarter ready to win, and Junior
Field Player Derek Yeh scored
to bring the game to a tie. Two
minutes later, Eric passed the ball
to Alex, who threw the ball into
the top corner of the goal to bring
the score to 4-3.
The Bulldogs refused to back
down, eventually forcing another
point on the Titans’ defense. Soon
after, a Bulldog fouled a Titan
and was ejected from the game.
Thomas took advantage of this
Girls’ Golf Faces
Setbacks in Season
free opportunity to shoot, and he
successfully made the goal.
Thomas’ penalty goal brought
the Titans back ahead 5-4.
Shortly after, the Bulldogs scored
three straight goals against the
increasingly tired Titans.
However, a Bulldog pulled a
Titan underwater while the two
scrambled for a ball and was taken
out of the game for a foul. Alex
took the penalty shot and made it,
ending the first half with a score
of 6-7.
“I think we can win this,” Eric
remembered thinking at the end of
the second quarter. “Our team has
Sophomore Field Player Thomas Rogers swiftly brushes a Bulldog away as he readies to take a shot on goal during the
Titans’ game last Wednesday.
Liana Wong//TITAN SHIELD
Camille Wang
Editor-in-Chief
cwang.titanshield@gmail.com
Competing in the Pacific
League, the San Marino High
Varsity Girls’ Golf team has
found it increasingly difficult to
place above the other teams. They
ended up finishing several weeks
of matches with a current record
of 4-1-10 overall.
After three league matches,
they are currently fifth place out
of the six teams in their league.
With only one more league match
left in the season, the Lady Titans
must perform extremely well in
the rest of their matches in hopes
of improving their record and
qualifying for CIF Playoffs.
San Marino also had the
opportunity to play in the Vellano
Country Club, a premier golf
course, in a practice round with
Ayala High School on September
28.
On Monday, September 26,
the Lady Titans placed fifth out
of six with a total score of 226.
Seniors Captains Tiffany Gu,
Camille Wang, and Carol Young,
Senior Winnie Wang, and Juniors
Caroline and Elizabeth Van Hiel
each scored 39, 42, 46, 47, 51, and
50, respectively.
Tiffany also placed in the top
ten out of all the girls with her
score of 39.
“I felt disappointed because
we should’ve done a lot better,
but we didn’t deliver. [I hope]
that we will do better as a team
and that everyone will continue
to improve,” commented Senior
Captain Tiffany Gu upon the
receiving the results of the third
league game.
San Marino played against
Arcadia at the Santa Anita
Golf Course on September 20.
Unfortunately, they fell to the
current number one team of the
Pacific League.
The day before this loss, the
Lady Titans competed in their
second league match.
Once again, they placed 5th
place out of six, ending with a
total of 233.
“Of course I think that we
can do a lot better, but it should
also be noted that our opponents
this year have improved so much
more from last season and have
become better, more refined and
experienced players. We are
having much more of a challenging
time this year, but we still have to
do better…We can improve by
focusing more during the games,
and when we’re not playing in a
game, we can start practicing our
weak points,” concluded Winnie.
Titans Place Third in League Meet
By Jade Larriva-Latt
Staff Writer
jlarriva-latt@gmail.com
The San Marino High School
Cross Country team competed
in their first League meet of the
season at Lacy Park, hosted by
the South Pasadena Tigers, on
September 22.
The Tigers swept the meet and
scored first in both the Boys’ and
Girls’ Varsity races. La Cañada
was another strong competitor at
the meet, coming in behind South
Pasadena at second.
In both the Girls’ and Boys’
races, the Titans secured third
place.
“I think that the other teams like
Temple City and La Cañada have
gotten a lot less competitive,”
commented Senior Captain
Robbie Moreton.
In the Boys’ Varsity race,
Senior Co-Captain Peaky Yuter
led the team with a time of 16:37.
Coming in second for the team
was Sophomore Drew Jack,
crossing the finish line at 16:56.
Close on his heels was Robbie
who obtained a time of 17:09.
“In terms of execution and
strategy we did great,” said
Robbie after the race.
Robbie and Drew both led for
most of the race. The Titan boys
on Junior Varsity and Freshmen
teams also ran well.
The Girls’ Varsity team
competed in the meet as well with
strong results, finishing with high
been playing really well together,
and if we keep playing as a team
and not as individuals, then we
will definitely have a good chance
this season.”
The third quarter began less
aggressively than the others. Less
than a minute into the quarter, a
Bulldog shot and scored.
Alex received the ball and
scored from far with a high lob,
bringing the score to a close 7-8.
After a numerous exchange of
shots on goal, Burbank finally
scored from a pass received down
the line.
Derek started with the ball and
passed it to Alex, who scored
his fourth goal. However, the
Bulldogs refused to falter and
scored three more goals before the
end of the quarter, resulting in a
score of 8-12.
“Burbank was playing very
aggressively throughout the
game, and we just couldn’t play
as hard as we did at the beginning.
We stopped playing together
as a team. We just couldn’t get
everything together,” reflected
Thomas.
The fourth quarter began with
an immediate goal by a Bulldog.
Thomas attempted to take the ball
and shoot, but it was stopped by
the Bulldog goalie.
The ball was then passed to a
Bulldog who scored yet another
goal for Burbank. Despite strong
efforts from the Titans, the
Bulldogs got away with another
two goals, bringing the score to
hopes for the season.
“I’m so proud of the girls;
we ran the first half of the race
exactly like we were supposed to.
Now we just have to work on the
second half of the race,” Senior
Captain Caitlin Hittner remarked
after the run.
Sophomore Alissa Barraza
brought the girls in with an
impressive time of 19:47.
Following Alissa were Caitlin,
Juniors Co-Captain Lindsay
Snaer and Marina Flores, and
Freshman Sarah Linton, who all
8-16.
The Titans picked their game
up, and Sophomore Field Player
Christopher Cao passed it to
Sophomore Wesley Kawaguchi
for a goal.
Soon after, Chris passed it to
Robert, who scored with two
minutes on the clock. Burbank
then started with the ball and
passed it to a Bulldog, who
subsequently skipped it into the
goal.
The Titans sprinted for the
ball with everything they had,
but the buzzer cut them short,
disappointing both the team and
the Titan fans.
The game ended with the
Titans losing 10-17 to Burbank,
bringing San Marino’s record to
4-8 overall.
The Titans fought hard
throughout the first half, but gave
up too many goals and could not
regain their lead.
“I think we played Burbank
much better than the first time
we faced them, and we could
have won if it weren’t in for the
turnovers in the second half,” said
Coach Barr.
SMHS’ next game is on
October 3 at home against Bell
Gardens.
“We have a generally young
and new team, but everyone is
working extremely hard and
improving quickly. I know if we
try hard enough, we can have a
successful season,” concluded
Alex.
stuck together in a pack for the
majority of the race.
The girls finished the race with
times of 21:53, 21:57, 22:09, and
21:42, respectively.
Freshmen Marissa Shen and
Jade Larriva-Latt also ran strongly
during the Varsity race.
”Everyone is doing
spectacularly! I think the other
teams should definitely watch
out,” gushed Caitlin.
The Titans will run their next
League race on October 12 at
Crescenta Valley.
Senior Captain Caitlin Hittner paces herself as she finishes her last lap on the
run last Thursday, September 22.
Jade Larriva-Latt//TITAN SHIELD
TITAN SHIELD SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

12
SPORTS
Girls Volleyball Spikes Down Eagles
By Victoria Lau
Staff Writer
vlau.titanshield@gmail.org
As the Lady Titans continue
their promising season, the San
Marino Girls Varsity Volleyball
team gained another victory on
September 21 after winning their
three-set match 28-26, 25-15,
and 25-18 against the Gabrielino
Eagles, leaving SMHS at an
overall record of 9-1. The Lady
Titans went into the match
confident of a win, but that win
became much more tentative after
a close first set score.
“We thought Gabrielino would
be easy, but after the first game we
were all disappointed in the way
Senior Middle Blocker Elizabeth Shelburne spikes a ball over the net and
passed her Eagle adversary.
Ryan Lo//TITAN SHIELD
that we had played, so we all got
our act together,” remarked Junior
Outside Hitter Cassidy Mace.
With the ball starting in Junior
Setter Amanda Yee’s hands, the
Lady Titans began the game
with a clean serve over the
net. However, the Lady Eagles
responded quickly and the Titans
were unable to counter, giving
Gabrielino an early head start.
The Lady Titans retaliated with a
successful block made by Senior
Outside Hitter Adrea Yen and
Senior Middle Hitter Anna Fong.
However, SMHS lost the ball
after an unsuccessful block, but
quickly regained it, evening the
score to 3-3. As Cassidy came
up to serve, the Lady Titans were
able to gain numerous points from
a succession of successful, strong
spikes. The Lady Eagles broke
back, but lost the ball after fluking
a serve. Anna earned the team
another point with a swift block,
bringing the score to 9-7.
The Lady Titans consistently
kept the score close, with
Gabrielino and San Marino taking
turns in the lead. Both teams
proved to be top competitors
time and time again with their
forceful blocks and kills. As
Amanda served the ball, the Lady
Titans easily earned themselves
another point as Junior Defense
Specialist Kelly Quon bumped the
ball to allow Amanda an assist,
enabling Sophomore Opposite
Hitter Mabel Cootauco the kill.
As the score stood at 19-16 with
San Marino leading, the Lady
Eagles called a timeout in hopes
of catching up to the Lady Titans.
San Marino gained another point
before Amanda served the ball
out of bounds. The Lady Titans
allowed Gabrielino to even the
score at 20-20 due to a handful
of weak spikes and unsuccessful
kills. As the Lady Eagles served,
Junior Defense Specialist Felita
Lin bumped the ball to Anna, who
set Felita a spike, but Gabrielino
was still able to return the ball.
Although Mabel attempted a
block, the ball did not fall through.
As the Lady Eagles served again,
the Lady Titans regained the ball,
as Amanda assisted to allow Anna
a spike over the net, evening
the score at 21-21. San Marino
eventually fell into a one-point
deficit, and called a timeout. The
Lady Eagles were the first to
reach 25 points, but San Marino
was only one point behind,
forcing play to continue until
one team had a two-point lead.
On Cassidy’s serve, the Lady
Titans scored another point after
Amanda spiked the ball. Although
Cassidy’s next serve went out of
bounds, Senior Middle Blocker
Elizabeth Shelbourne scored
another point for the Lady Titans
with a spike. With only one more
point needed to win, Elizabeth
served and Anna tipped the ball
over the net, leaving San Marino
victorious at 28-26.
The Lady Titans improved
greatly from their past matches,
as they displayed persistent
teamwork and energy. A
contributing factor to their tight
bond is that many members on the
team have known each other for a
long time.
“After a rocky start, we were
able to come together as a team
through communication and
discipline,” reflected Amanda.
But some factors also set back
the Lady Titans.
“I think we could have played
better by moving our feet more,”
commented Mabel.
Although the Lady Titans had
a tough first game, they fared well
afterwards and won the next two
games by larger margins, winning
the second game 25-15 and the
third one 25-18.
After the first game, “the
seniors stepped up their game.
They really started gaining points,
which boosted the whole team’s
confidence,” explained Coach
Allan Vince. Currently, the Lady
Titans have a near spotless record
of 8-1. Earlier this week, the Lady
Titans played at home against the
Alhambra Moors and the Blair
Vikings, but results were not
available as of press time. Next
Tuesday, the SMHS will protect
its record against the Wildcats at
Monrovia High School.
Athlete of the Month:
Kwame Do
San Marino High School’s Senior Runningback and Captain of the Titan Varsity
Football Team, Kwame Do is also this month’s star athlete. He excels as a Varsity
member in football, baseball, and basketball. Now, during the fall football season,
Kwame has come back from his torn ACL last season to prove himself to be essential
to the winning record of the team. Football has been a long yet gratifying process
that has gotten him from a curious elementary schooler to seasoned, experienced
varsity player. Though football may be a huge and exhausting commitment,
his love for the sport constantly prevails. This high-energy sport has taught
him not only how to cooperate with others, but also discipline and hard work,
resulting in eventual payoff. Most of all, Kwame enjoys his leadership role and
appreciates the contribution of every team member regardless of their position. He
remarked, “Sports are fun and exciting; I couldn’t picture my life without them.”
Jaanvi Sant// Staff Writer
jsant.titanshield@gmailc.om
Q: What motivates you to play football?
A: “I like playing football. My love for the sport is truly what motivates me to
continue playing.”
Q: How do you balance school and sports?
A: “It’s really hard to balance school and sports because after practice I’m
so physically drained that I don’t have the energy to immediately start on
homework.”
Q: What have sports taught you?
A: “Sports have taught me to be disciplined, and that hard work will eventually
pay off so never give up even when you feel like you should.”
Q: As the football captain, how do you lead your team?
A: “I try to motivate my teammates even though I am not a talkative person. I
lead more by example.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: “I would just like to give another thank you to my team for supporting me and
my mom, dad, older brother, and God. All of these individuals have contributed to
my success in some way and I just want to thank them for that.”
Hayley Thompson// Staff Writer
hthompson.titanshield@gmail.com
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
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