www.erusdk12.ca.us/elrancho El Rancho High School Thursday, March 2, 2006 Volume 54, Issue 7 Look inside to find... Got a Pint to Kissing the Students Search Spare? Pig... for a Future... El Rancho Students Vice Principal, Chuck Give Some of Their Collings Gets the El Rancho Hosts its Blood to Help Ease Privilege of Kissing Annual Career Fair. Shortages the Pig! Cochran Hopes to Make Statement at State Meet season. The wrestler did not stand BY THOMAS MEDINA a chance as Cochran won by a EL RODEO STAFF WRITER technical fall with a score of 16-1. For the first time since 2002 The last wrestler to go to an El Rancho wrestler has made State was George Couts in 2002. it to the State level of competi- “The team has progressed CAHSEE: tion. Senior Bryan Cochran will by leaps and bounds over last wrestle at the California state year’s performance,” said head Special Ed. Stu- competition this Friday and Sat- wrestling coach Joe Alvarado. urday in Bakersfield. This past “This year we had nine wrestlers dents Gain Ex- Saturday he placed 3rd in the progress to CIF and the team emption from Masters competition which is ranked in the top 8 in the CIF after the CIF and the precursor team competition. We’ve come Exit Exam to the state level of competi- a long way, but we still have tion. Two weeks ago, at the CIF much further to go. We want BY THOMAS MEDINA competition, Cochran placed to make a statement at State.” EL RODEO STAFF WRITER 1st in the CIF southern section Aside from Wrestling, Once again the California for the weight class of 215 lbs. Bryan played football his fresh- High School Exit Exam, or CAH- He has been wrestling for man year. However, he decided to SEE, has been thrust into the fore- the past four years at El Rancho focus all his energy into wrestling front of California’s education and he wrestled for two years because he “could do much better, concerns. Recently passed legisla- prior to that. “I got into wrestling I wanted to beat my brother and I tion has created a special exemp- because my older brother was knew I would have to put a lot of tion loophole for students who in it. I saw how great he was time and energy into the sport.” are currently in Special Education doing and I wanted to do even Senior Bryan Cochran has prepared all year for his chance at State. “Wrestling is the best sport. programs in California schools. better than him,” said Cochran. apparently found the weight he hard for his senior year. He has When you are out there on the If the student is on track for This last state competition can do the best at. Last year, at the taken all the necessary steps to mat there’s only you and the other graduation in every other respect will cap a very accomplished 170lbs class, he went to Masters go as far as he has,” said fellow guy, the isn’t anywhere that you and is enrolled in special reme- wrestling career at El Rancho. A but was unable to progress to the wrestler Senior Carlos Chavez. can hide and there’s no one else dial education classes they will four year letter man, Bryan Co- state competition. This season Co- At the Masters competition to blame if you lose. Wrestling still be allowed to graduate from chran wrestled at several different chran has only lost a total of three Cochran wrestled the 215 wres- is the only sport where every high school. California schools weight classes. Ranging from time; all of them minor decisions. tler from Canyon Springs who thing depends on you alone, have one year to modify their 160lbs up to 215lbs, Cochran has “He has worked very Cochran had lost to in the pre- its all about your own ability.” curriculum and teaching meth- ods in order to prepare the spe- cial education students with the Decathlon Team Finishes First in Region skills necessary to pass the exam. BY THOMAS MEDINA the school board that listed the Currently, all seniors not EL RODEO STAFF WRITER accomplishments of each com- exempted by this new law must petitor, in addition to the team’s have passed both the math and This past Thursday El standings and individual ranking. language portions of the exam Rancho’s Academic Decathlon Medals for the competition in order to graduate from high team was recognized by the El were given to the top three scor- school. All seniors who failed Rancho Unified School District. ers in each region in each of the to pass on portion of the exam The Academic Decathlon team 10 subjects: mathematics, Super are currently enrolled, not only performed admirably well at the Quiz, Language and Literature, in normal intervention classes, recent competition taking 1st in Music, Science, Art, Economics, but also an after school class. the East region and 5th overall in Speech, Interview and Essay. Ev- These students will have their the Los Angeles County competi- ery member of the team received last attempt to pass the exam and tion. The L.A. County consisted at least 3 medals from the com- graduate on March 21 and 22. of approximately fifty schools. petition. There was not a single This will be the senior’s 6th The team consisted of member who did not receive a attempt to pass the exam. Sopho- three categories based on grade medal in at least one of the ar- mores will also take the exam for point averages and contained eas of competition and every ER’s Decathlon team triumphant after the award banquet the first time at the same time nine members, eight seniors and member received a blue medal as the seniors. Students take the one junior. The varsity category, for the team placing first in the would be over 10,000 points. undergone considerable change exam once as a sophomore and if which consists of members with region and a green medal for the Additionally, the two head over the years, beginning first they don’t pass the first time they a 3.0 G.P.A or less, was team cap- team placing fifth in the county. coaches received recognition as socio-economic regions and continue to take the exam until tain Senior Alex Delgado, Senior The total team score was at the board meeting. Coaches progressing to the current divi- they do pass. Students are pro- Jesus Rosales, and Senior Noelle 40,682, which was not high Doug Anderson and Jim Dyson sions based on geography, these vided with two chances as juniors Andrade. The scholastic cat- enough to qualify El Rancho have been training decathletes coaches have consistently turned and three as seniors for a total of egory, whose members needed a to participate in the State level for the past twenty-four years out winning teams who never re- six attempts to pass the exam. 3.75 G.P.A. or lower, consisted of of competition. However, El and decided that this team would ceived below third in the region. “The easiest way to not Senior Veronica Chavez, Senior Rancho’s score is very high; they be their last. Leaving behind a Other coaches who were have to deal with all the special Christine Hernandez and Senior are just faced with an incredibly very impressive legacy, having present at the meeting received classes and extra intervention op- Kristina Biado. The honors cate- tough division. For example, a been coaching since the first de- recognition, including David portunities is to just pass the exam gory, whose members could have team that scores a mere 10,000 cathlon competition in 1982, Mr. Retana who is the econ. coach, the first time. Many sophomore any G.P.A consisted of Senior Ed- total in other states is more than Anderson and Mr. Dyson had 18 Tim McMullen who is the Lang. don’t take the exam seriously; gar Gonzales, Senior Jerry Sifuen- eligible to participate at the state first place teams, 5 second place and Lit. coach and Mark Mat- it has not dawned on them that tes and Junior Thomas Medina. competition. If any two members teams and only one third place thews, who has consistently they must pass this exam in order Each student who com- of El Rancho’s decathlon team team. Although the divisions volunteered to help the competi- to graduate,” said Mrs. Linares. peted received a plaque from combined their scores, the total that divide up the teams have tion for over the past ten years. El Rancho High school Page 2 Features Jan. 27, 2005 Deputy Zaldivar on Duty Rolling in a 3000 BY LILIAN ARCE BY CINDY MENDOZA, EL RODEO STAFF WRITER EL RODEO STAFF WRITER Senior, Isaac Zaldivar, Jesse Ortiz, a senior at El Rancho High School, drives a 1991 like many, can’t wait to gradu- Mitsubishi 3000 GT. He had been working at Guaranty Chevrolet ate. He is eager to finally say he’s for the past five months in order to earn the cash for his dream car. done with high school and to get a Ortiz had to save up $1400 to buy his GT. Before owning the 1991 chance to say, “Can I see your li- Mitsubishi, Ortiz owned a Honda Accord which was handed to him cense and registration?” Zaldivar from his parents-however, for this guy, that just wasn’t good enough. wants to become a deputy for the After owning his Honda for four years, Ortiz sold it for $2100.