Monthly Archives: December 2023

Sports: Cross Country Finds Success This Season With Many Rookie Runners

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by Macade Maxwell

After a long season of grit and determination, the youthful St. John Bosco Cross Country team not only faced adversity but ran each race with pride, showing everybody that they have what it takes to compete with anyone. While having only three returning runners, Coach Tim McIntosh and the Braves welcomed nine new runners to the squad, who showcased the future of the program. 

Photo by @sjbathletics via X

Although this may be a young squad, the Braves had their eyes set on winning league. Now this isn’t just an ordinary league; this is the Trinity League, one of the most competitive high school leagues in the country. Filled with fierce competition in each sport, the Braves had high ambitions coming into the season. Even though the Braves didn’t accomplish their season goal of winning league, they still ended the league season with an impressive third place finish.

“Our goal is always to win league, but we ended up finishing third,” said Head Coach Tim McIntosh, who holds a record for winning 17 consecutive league titles in cross country. “Running a lot of freshmen in the Trinity is very tough, but we held our own and made state finals for a third year in a row.” 

The Braves qualified for the CIF-SS Finals to have the opportunity to race against the best of the best in southern California. Entering with odds stacked against them, the Braves exceeded all expectations and managed to finish in an impressive fourth place finish, earning them a spot in the CIF State Finals. Located in Fresno, the Braves managed to have another excellent performance, finishing in ninth place, and wrapping up the season on a positive note. 

Senior Aiden Aldana, a recent Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo commit, played a huge role in the success of this team. He recently received All-CIF honors and placed 4th overall. 

“We may have not finished the way we wanted to, but the future for this team is promising,” Aiden said. 

Coach McIntosh was a key factor in the success of the Braves this season. Playing a vital role in giving the team guidance and support, he also recognized the struggles and challenges of mentoring a primarily young team. Coach McIntosh mentioned the importance of having accountability, determination and dedication regardless of experience. 

“Part of being successful is having accountability,” he said. “Whether that is tracking your workouts or being on time to practice, it’s the little things that matter.”

Taking a brief look into the future, Coach McIntosh sees great promise in his team. Having a young team doesn’t bother him and is very optimistic about this season’s rookie runners. Coach McIntosh also highlighted the love that his team has for running and believes that this will only set them up for success in the future.

Around Bosco: Strategies To Minimize Stress During Finals Week

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by Luis Hernandez

With finals approaching, students may be feeling bogged down due to stress and anxiety. To succeed on your finals, it is important to manage your stressors and focus your full attention on studying. These are some methods you can use to limit stress with finals around the corner.

Do not procrastinate.

The best way to manage your anxiety is by ensuring that you are using your time wisely and avoiding waiting until the last minute. It is important to start studying as soon as possible, as it allows you to budget your time to give you sufficient time to study for each course. This will greatly benefit your chances of succeeding on your exams.

Take short breaks.

Remember that it is important to not burn yourself out. It is essential to customize breaks depending on your personal needs and preferences. Some people relax by watching TV or videos, while some benefit from taking a nap or even working out. Do not try to study all at once and “cram” for exams, as you are likely not going to remember any of it, and you will be more concentrated and refreshed after a break.

Create a Study Schedule.

Creating a study schedule can lead to less stress because it can help you prioritize time for each course. This will prevent you from forgetting to study for a specific class. An organized schedule will greatly reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and reduce the chances of not studying for specific topics.

Speak with peers and teachers.

If you are having difficulty with certain topics, it is best to speak with a fellow student or your teacher to receive help. Studying with friends helps with memory retention and offers a different perspective on a question that you may need. A teacher can obviously help greatly, as well, so check the hours they are available to help you and do not wait until the last minute to seek out help.

Use resources.

Bosco offers many resources that can aid you in your upcoming exams. Teachers should be available in their classrooms next week starting at 8:00am before finals begin each day. It is important to utilize this time if you need it, as they can clear up any confusions you may have or provide you the opportunity to make up work you’ve missed.

Get good sleep.

Sleep is essential. A lack of sleep can lead to irritability and reduced memory retention, which will only add to your stress. Aiming for at least eight hours of sleep will cause a significant change in your attitude and ability to study well. Studying while tired is also not very effective, so it is important to be energized and attentive.

Remember you are more than a grade.

Caring about your grade is important, but always remember it is just a grade. It does not define who you are and your value. Do not judge yourself based on your performance on the exams. Your mental and physical health should always be your top priority, especially during a very stressful time like finals week.