Laker Lunatics

The Lakers playing the Hawks

Supporting the team with a sign

Hey everyone! As I have mentioned before, the winter season is the prime time for basketball. However, high schoolers aren't the only ones hitting the courts, professional basketball is also happening this winter and spring season. Basketball is a crazy and exciting sport to watch because something is always occurring like a turnover, personal foul, or slam dunk. (click the words if you don't know their meanings!) It's one thing to watch this action on your TV at home, but its even more thrilling to watch it live in an arena!

Celebrating with streamers

Last weekend, my friends and I traveled to Los Angeles to support the basketball team from that city, the Lakers! It was an intense game, and the Lakers ended up winning by only two points. Talk about a close call! After the Lakers won, streamers were dropped on all the fans to celebrate. It was so cool! That does not happen when you watch at home. Overall, it was such a fun experience to watch the professional game live. I definitely recommend it! Watching any sport live, whether its indoor or outdoor, professional or high school, makes it a fun and exciting event.

What sports do you like to watch? Have you ever been to a live sporting game? Let me know in the comments!

My friends and I at the game

xoxo

Sporty Seniors

A senior with her family getting honored

We <3 our Seniors signs

Hey everyone! With the season of winter coming to an end, so are the winter sports. And with the ending of a sports season comes senior night! This night is on the last home game played as a special tribute to the athletes who have played that sport throughout high school. Now that they are seniors, this is probably the last time they will play that sport, especially at our high school. We make posters for them to line the gym and they get to have a speech read about them while they walk through a balloon arch with flowers. It is a pretty cool event! Senior nights are very sad because it celebrates a huge part of an athlete's life coming to an end, but it is heartwarming because it shows moving on to a exciting future. Don't worry, all the spring sports still have their entire season before their senior night! So there will be lots more opportunities to support those sporty seniors.

Fans cheering them on

How do you celebrate students who are graduating? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Super Signers

Way to go hawk athletes!

Hey everyone! At high schools all across the United States, top sports athletes were committing to their colleges through National Signing Day. This happens on the first Wednesday of February each year and it is the first day a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for their college. In other words, this is the day where all athletes who have been recruited by a college to play a sport there commit to the college.
At my school, we had 7 athletes sign with colleges. They are going to be attending colleges all over the country ranging from Dartmouth and Boston University in the East Coast to Cal Baptist and UC Santa Barbara in California. It is exciting for me to see my fellow classmates committing to the colleges they will be at next year. Since I am not playing a sport for a college team, I will not hear back from my colleges until the end of March or the beginning of April. So while I am waiting, these athletes can relax because, as of today, they are officially accepted to their amazing colleges.

How do you feel about a signing day for American sports teams? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Olympic Antics

Hey everyone! These next few weeks, the world will be working together, putting problems aside and competing in 30 different sports. Why, its the Olympics of course! The Olympic Games is a major international sporting event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. Over 200 nations participate in the Olympic Games which are considered to be the biggest sporting competition. The Games are held biennially, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.

Currently, we are celebrating the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. The last summer Olympic Games occurred in Beijing, China, in 2008. The opening ceremonies were on July 28th and the Games go until August 12th. Since all countries are competing, it is always fun to cheer on your home country.
My friends and I are big fans of the Olympics and watch the games every two years. This year, there are big rivalries and big competitions. On the United States team, two swimmers, Phelps and Lochte, go head to head against each other for the gold title. They are both great swimmers, but Phelps is more well known will Lochte is a new-comer who must prove his way! Because of this, many people choose a side of which one to support. Also, there is huge competition between the United States team and other teams for different countries. Some of the sports with the biggest rivalries is in gymnastics and diving. Luckily, the United States Women Gymnastics's team won first in the team division! The biggest country competitor for the United States is China. Right now, China and the United States are tied with 23 total metals, but we are only on day four! Get updates on all the metals awarded to each country here! 

What country are you rooting for in the Olympics? What sport is your favorite in the Summer Olympics? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Summer Sports Camps are Here

Hey everyone! Although high school is out for the summer, sports are never done! Almost all fall sports and some winter and spring sports have summer camps during the summer. This is an extended practice to keep returning players in shape and introduce beginners to the sport. Although this is a good time to practice, it is also a key point in deciding which players will make the team, and which level they will be on if they make it. That is why it is important to come to camp everyday, and come prepared!

When freshman enter high school, it is important for them to try new sports without the fear of not standing up to the competition. This is why many sports have a freshman only team that does not cut anyone. This way all freshman who want to try out the sport have the opportunity to and can learn the sport at their own speed. Unfortunately, once you get to the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels, the competition heats up and you gotta bring it!

If you want to practice your passion or learn a new sport, summer camps are the perfect time to do so. Hey, you might even find a hidden talent!

What do you do during the summer? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Springtime Sports: Swimming

Hey everyone! Another spring sport that is big in the United States, especially California, is swimming! The swim team is another large sport at the high school, so everyone can have a chance to be a part of the team. In the fall, water polo is the main water sport. Water polo is a team sport with six players and one goalkeeper for each side. Players must swim and tread water and try to score the most goals possible. Since it is a swimming sport, many players move to the swim team in the spring.
The swim team is less of a team game and more individual. Swimmers compete in different length races with different stokes like breaststroke or backstroke, even relays with different teammates. The swimmer who completes the race fastest wins. This is a good sport for people of any level because it is mainly individual. This gives every person a chance to get comfortable in an event and practice without the pressure from the rest of the team. If your looking for a fun active sport for people of all ages, swimming is the sport for you!

What sports do you like? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Springtime Sports: Baseball

Hey everyone! As we move rapidly into the month of May the winter dreariness fades away and springtime weather and activities appear all over. Spring is the season for a sport which is very popular in the United States--baseball! Baseball became popular in the late 1800s, and started to be called "America's Pastime because it was played by so many people of all ages. Baseball is now also popular in North America, parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean, and Parts of East Asia.
In North America, professional Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are divided into the National League (NL and American League (AL), each with three divisions: East, West, and Central. The major league champion is determined by playoffs and the final World Series between the two best teams in the fall. Many kids in the US begin playing baseball at the age of 5 or 6 and many cities have "Little Leagues" with teams for kids ages 5-13. The best players often go on to play baseball in high school. My high school has three baseball teams: freshman, junior varsity (JV), and varsity, and they compete against other high schools in our area.
The very best high school players can go on to play baseball in college, or some even get recruited straight to the Major League professional teams across the US.

Is baseball popular where you live? Have you ever played "America's Favorite Pastime"? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Sports Authority

Hey everyone! As a follow up to my last post, I am pleased to report that the New York Giants are the winners of the Super Bowl! Although it was a close game, the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots with a final score of 21-17. Talk about a nail biter! The Giants have played in the Super Bowl five times, and have won four times including this year. Although there can only be one winner, both teams should be extremely proud for making it to the final round.

Speaking of sports, since the seasons are changing here, so are the high school sports! The sports year is divided up into three seasons: fall, winter, and spring. There are different sports that only occur during these seasons. For example, American football and tennis are fall sports, basketball and soccer (football) are winter sports, and baseball and track and field are spring sports. Since I am not involved in a winter sport, I am in pre-season for my spring sport, Track and field! Track and field is a sport comprised of different athletic activities based on running, jumping, and throwing. 

In the running category, there are long distance, sprinters, and relays. In the jumping category, there is long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault. In the throwing competition, there is shot put and discus. There truly is an activity good for each unique person. Since I am so tall, jumps are a good fit for me. I am on the varsity long jump and triple jump team, and can't wait to start another competitive season.

What event would you do if you were in track? Running, jumping, or throwing? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Winter Sporty-Land

Hey everyone! Now thats it is getting into the winter season, all the sports are changing! All the fall sports like American football are over, and another sport has stolen the center spotlight... basketball! Basketball is another popular sport here in the United States. Since it takes place inside the gym, not outside on a field like american football, it is perfect for the chilly and windy winter weather.  Although basketball is not as popular as american football, it is still a fun occasion to get together and support your school. People paint their faces, wear team gear, and participate in chants that engage both team's fans. The best part is when a player slam dunks the ball!
Another fun winter sport is football, or soccer in America. This is played on the field when American football is over, and is another fun sport to watch as well! All of the games end up being close, normally with 1 point difference!

Although all sports at school are fun, winter sports are some of the best! It makes these long cold months truly enjoyable!

What is your favorite season for sports? Let me know in the comment below!

xoxo

Sports: All Day Every Day

Hey Everyone! This school year has been extremely busy for me, from school work to extracurriculars. One of the activities that keeps me, and a lot of other American high schoolers, busy is sports! Joining a sports team is a great way to stay physically fit, while feeling a sense of community within the school. You become great friends with the other students on the team because you spend so much time together! My tennis team has games around three times a week, and practice every day. It's a lot of work, but it is worth it when you team wins! Each sports team plays a certain amount of games, then the overall winners goes on to a larger tournament called CIF, or California Interscholastic Federation. This is a big accomplishment that every team works towards. There are also different levels of each team. There can be teams ranging from Freshman, Sophomore, Frosh-Soph, Junior Varsity, and Varsity which is the top level. I am on the Varsity tennis team at my school, so I have to work extra hard! The atmosphere of high school sports are incredible, and is worth all the hard work. Another fun aspect of sports is the team mascot! Ours is the Hawks.


All sports are important at my school. Here is a video my school's video production team made about all our great sports teams. Check it out! And as always, Go Hawks!

What sport would you like to play for on a high school team? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Take me out to the ball game

Hey everyone! Last weekend I went to "America's Favorite Pastime"... a baseball game! Every state has one or two teams and my area's team is the Angels. Its a great chance to hang out with your friends, eat some hot dogs, and cheer for your favorite team. Although the games can get boring at times, the last innings are always the best because the scores can become very close and your team has to work very hard to win! At the game, the Angels lost by one run in the very last inning! What a bummer! It was a very fun game though, and a great thing to do while in the United States.

What's your favorite sports team? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Friday- Fun Day

100 points for 11th grade.. thats me!

performers at the pep rally

Hey Everyone! Friday was our school's first pep rally, American football game, and dance! Each friday before a big game or event we have a pep rally, where the cheerleaders preform, the band plays a song, and students participate in funny games. And I was chosen to be in it! I had to stick my face in a pie and find the piece of gum at the bottom! Eww! Then I had to be the first to blow a bubble. And guess what, I won! I won 100 points for my grade. We have an ongoing competition between grades to see who can get the most points, and I'm glad I got some for my grade.

American Football in action

Cheerleaders in a stunt

That night was the first football game! Our school mascot is a hawk; it's the animal that represents our school. It's something for us to cheer for at games. The school we were playing were the timberwolves. So of course, we have to beat those timberwolves! The game got off to a rocky start, with us loosing in the beginning. Then in the final seconds, we kicked a field goal to win! Go Hawks! In the middle of the game we have a fifteen minute break, or half time, where the cheerleaders, band, and color guard preform. Color guard is dancing while twirling and throwing flags.

Beat those timberwolves!

Cheer performing at half time

Band and color guard performing

Lastly was the dance! The theme was Ahoy! A Dance At Sea, so everyone came to the football game in their underwater outfits. The game ended at 9:30 p.m., and the dance started right after that and went until 11p.m. Dances are a really fun was for the whole school to hang out in a social environment! Unfortunately, we only have about five every year. I guess the shortage makes it even more special!

Mermaids at the football game

football running through the sign

If you could have any animal as your mascot, what would it be? And what would you wear to an underwater themed dance? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Around the Campus

School is back in session, and everyone is getting adjusted! We have a packed schedule, which keeps everyone busy. We have about 6-7 classes in total going throughout the day. Classes normally start at 8 a.m., go for a little less than an hour, and then we have 5 minuets to get to our next class. This makes it hard to socialize and stop by your locker between classes, but there is a fifteen minute break and a forty minute lunch in the middle of the day. As you can see everyone is hustling to their classes! 

We have something that we call "zero period" which is a class that starts an hour earlier than all the rest. I have a zero period so I can fit all my classes in my schedule, but boy is it hard to wake up at 6 a.m. every morning! 

Some students have a zero period to get their classes done with early and then can leave at lunch. For me and many other athletes, our schedule is packed and we have to stay at school until 4 on practice days and even as late as 6 on game days! We are all dedicated to our sports, so it makes the long day bearable. 

We are all looking forward to the first football game on friday followed by the first dance directly after! The theme of the dance is Ahoy, a dance at sea! It will be a fun event that the whole school will attend.

What time do you start and finish school? Do you have big sporting or social events at your school? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo 

First Day of School

Hey Everyone! So today was my first day of school! It was very hectic, but also exciting! My schedule of classes consists of English, Spanish, Physics, Calculus, United States History, Model United Nations, and Tennis. I am in the Advance Placement program at my school, so all my classes go a little faster and are a little harder than the normal class. I also moved everything into my locker today, and its  a bottom locker! Having to scrunch down every day to reach it is no easy task. At the end of the day, we change for our sports and go straight to practice or games. This makes for a long day, especially in hot weather! It was over 100 degrees at school today. This weather makes me want to go to the beach or go swimming, but instead I'm back in school.

First day of school!

Holding all my stuff before
school! Luckily we have lockers
to put everything into.

It was great to see all my friends at school, but I am not looking forward to leaving summer behind!
What was your favorite summer memory? And what's a good outfit to wear in any weather, hot or cold? And if you wear a uniform, how do you spice up your uniform to let your individual style show? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Nothing's Sweeter than Summertime

Me and my friends before the concert

Although summer is coming to a close, that doesn’t mean these last couple of days can’t be special! Americans love music, and a great way to listen to your favorite artist is by attending their concert! I went to one of my favorite singers concert last week, Taylor Swift, and it was so fun! The concert was in Los Angeles, which is a big city where the best concerts take place. Since its about two hours away from my house, my friends and I took a limo to the concert! It was a great beginning to a great night. Taylor Swift is a great performer whose songs are truly inspirational. Below are some pictures of my favorite moments of the concert. Who would be your favorite person to see live in concert? Let me know in the comments! 

Since sports are starting up again, my tennis team had a pool party to ring in the new season! Pool parties are another great way to celebrate summer. With warm weather, there is nothing better than cooling off in a pool or sliding down a water slide. My whole team fit on the slide and stayed long enough to pose for a picture! It wasn’t easy though! For lunch, we made panini sandwiches and drank cool lemonade. When the weather is hot, we love to drink homemade lemonade! What’s your favorite thing to do on a hot summer day? Comment and let me know! 

Some of the team members

On the slide!

Hope you guys all had a great summer and are having a great school year

xoxo