Queens of the court

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief

October 30, 2012

Girls varsity tennis played in their league tournament, on Oct. 24-25 at Warren High school; resulting in four team members placing high ranks and even moving on to CIF. Doubles partners Elizabeth Aceves, 10, and Jessica Angell, 10, placed at third, while Tara Kazimi, 9, and Erin Freeman, 11, earned fourth and first place, respectively. Along with these successes, the team as a whole won League Championship against Paramount and Lynwood on Oct. 12 and 18, making it the first time in over thirty years that Downey High School has won league title.

The varsity players each felt proud about their achievements; however, when it comes down to it, they recognize their mistakes.

For the senior doubles partners, Alejandra Roque and Nicole Sibal, their tournament loss was only a small disappointment.

“The other team was just more prepared,” Sibal said. “They were more consistent and we weren’t.”

Despite their inconsistencies, the team is still optimistic about each other and their wins, taking time to appreciate their shortcoings. Each athlete owns up to their errors without regret.

“I think we were lucky at league,” senior Tony Salgado said. “We weren’t really expecting it but we’re glad either way!”

Although some of the athletes feel that luck is on their side, for the four league finalists, their wins are proof of their dedication to their sport. Each player takes time to prepare for the game; success is an important aspect of the activity. The girls have their unique ways to prepare for an important match.

“I always mentally prepare myself before games to calm down and not sike myself out,” Kazimi said. “I look forward to putting myself to the test.”

“Before a game, I write motivational sayings on my arms,” Freeman said; “so during my games if I feel myself loosing focus, I look at those sayings.”

These strategies continue to aid the Lady Vikings to success. Freeman and her team mates will continue on to individual and group CIF.

About the Contributors

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief of The Downey Legend, stepped into the world of journalism as a junior, as she carried on the challenge of the Arts and Entertainment Editor as her first position. The young writer was hesitant when first applying to join the staff, and doubts of acceptance crossed her mind. “I was kind of scared to join,” Suarez said “I didn’t think I would be much good.” Nonetheless, the hopeful student took the risk and was happy when she received the news of being selected as A&E Editor. She quickly adapted to the hectic environment and filled the newspaper room with her humor, as well as adding a sense of warmth and kindness. After successfully filling her section editor position, Suarez did not fret when the opportunity of E.I.C. was presented to her. She quickly grabbed the new title, and felt confident taking on the new role that was attached to more responsibilities. “I felt capable of handling the job well,” Suarez said. The leader was comfortable being promoted to a more prestigious position, and held her ground. While college years are ahead of her, the student is savoring the moments she has left in high school, taking in her senior year and trying to make the most of it. The Downey Legend editor is an active member in the school marching band, playing the clarinet and euphonium. The senior also enjoys spending time reading while having 3^rd Street Coffee in hand, and listening to indie bands and artists such as The xx and Lana del Ray. Once she graduates, the ambitious writer hopes to build a successful career as E.I.C. of her own magazine, making newspaper a foundation for her future endeavors. She anticipates stepping foot into the real world, attending the USC Annenberg School of Communications or FIDM. The young and talented individual has prospered as a writer and leader; providing the staff with a model of success, she leaves big shoes to fill.

Lauren Montano, Co-Copy Editor

Senior Lauren Montano is an aspiring photographer for The Downey Legend. As a cheerful photojournalist, she is inspired by her settings when taking images of the everyday life of Downey High’s students. For Montano, anything that captures the vibe of a certain place should be photograph-worthy. Her main source of inspiration comes from National Geographic, since the magazine depicts both professional and amateur photographs. This exuberant student hopes to one day be employed by this magazine. Montano regularly checks Vanity Fair and The New York Times for their visually enticing photographs and in-depth articles. Personally, the vivacious photographer prefers to take black and white photography, since it is more timeless and isn’t set in one period. Montano finds pleasure in listening to music, discovering new artists, and reading. “Books give a unique perspective of the world,” Montano said. Author Zora Neale Hurston has had a huge impact of Montano’s life, allowing her to appreciate the writing style of an American author. In her free time, traveling and discovering the world also satisfies Montano, reaching destinations as far as Spain. As an interested Liberal Arts major, Montano hopes to attend Arizona State University or The University of Denver. Whatever Montano chooses to do in life, all she needs is a little inspiration from her colleagues to make her dreams come true.