Against all odds, the UCLA Bruins made a shocking March Madness run, led by Head Coach Mick Cronin and stars Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Despite taking the NCAA by storm, the Bruins missed out on a chance to play for the National Championship after their loss to Gonzaga in heartbreaking fashion.
The Bruins, led by Jaime Jaquez Jr and Johnny Juzang, had their run stopped by #1 seeded Gonzaga in the last seconds of overtime. Gonzaga Guard Jalen Suggs dribbled down most of the court and then made a one footed 3 pointer that banked in as the clock hit zero, crushing UCLA’s dream run.
After hitting the shocking buzzer beater, Suggs, a potential lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, jumped onto the scorer’s table and celebrated as UCLA players stood crushed. In a show of sportsmanship, after celebrating, Suggs hugged Jaquez Jr. and Juzang while they dealt with the shock of their loss.
In a game where everyone ruled them out, the Bruins went and gave one of the best college teams a serious run for their money, being just a miracle shot away from forcing double overtime. It was arguably one of the greatest NCAA March Madness games of all time.
Right before the end of the game, with only two seconds remaining, there was a controversial call by the official. The call was a charging foul, which is what gave Suggs a chance at his game winner. If it had been called a blocking foul, then Juzang would have gone to the free throw line with a chance at a two point lead. At the time it seemed like a good call, but the replay left some serious doubts amongst fans.
UCLA was never supposed to be in the game if the scoring was plentiful, but their big three came up with extraordinary numbers that night. Juzang, Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell came out and competed. Campbell, UCLA’s point guard, went out and scored consistently, while Juzang went out and put up 29 points. Jaquez Jr’s clutch shooting nearly made all of the difference.
UCLA came into college basketball’s biggest tournament as the number 11 seed from the west, but even before that they had to play Michigan State for their spot to even compete. The Bruins got hot after their overtime win against Michigan State. They defeated BYU and Abilene Christian with a case for an underdog team. They overcame number 2 seed Alabama in overtime and scraped by against Michigan.
UCLA was never supposed to go so far in the tournament. If someone had bet they would have gotten 50-1 odds for them to make the Final Four, behind even St. Bonaventure and Georgetown. They were the obvious outliers in the final four with two 1 seeds and a 2 seed compared to their 11 seed, and despite seeming like a hell of an underdog, they almost won the bloody battle against 1 seed Gonzaga and a spot in the National Championship game
After the teams successes, UCLA Head Coach Mick Cronin received a multi-year extension to remain with the school for the foreseeable future. If past is prologue, the Bruins – who went from the first four to the final four against all odds – may very well have the opportunity to win the elusive National Championship under Cronin.
The Braves look to head into Santa Ana next weekend with momentum as they look to stay undefeated in 2021.
Last Saturday afternoon, the home crowd was treated to a show as the Braves took yet another big step toward the season with a clinical 66-14 rout of the visiting JSerra.
Bosco (4-0, 3-0 Trinity) scored touchdowns on its first, third, seventh, 11th, 19th, 21st and 25th offensive plays, rolling up a 35-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter, pushing that to 49-0 after seven possessions and to 59-7 by halftime.
The Braves rolled up 419 total yards in the first half, 491 for the game and missed the end zone just twice all afternoon, settling for a Andre Meono field goal near the end of the first half and, with mostly reserves on the field, forced to punt in the third quarter.
They scored in special teams thanks to Rayshon Luke’s 85-yard punt return at the end of the first half and on defense after Zion Austin’s had a school-record 96-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter.
“We played really well, cleaned up a lot of the mistakes,” “We had just two penalties, we had no miss-tackles, and we executed. All the balls we threw were on time, we made our blocks, and we got so far ahead of them that we just overwhelmed them” Negro said in an interview with the Long Beach Press Telegram
The Braves will now turn their attention towards Orange Lutheran, who have just scored 20 points in its two games. Both resulted in losses to Servite (69-13) and Mater Dei (49-7). Lancers junior quarterback Logan Gonzalez threw for 197 yards, a touchdown and an interception against Servite.
The Braves have been using two quarterbacks, sophomore Pierce Clarkson and junior Katin Houser and both have had success.
Clarkson has passed for 406 yards and six TDs while completing 71.9% and has also rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown. Houser has thrown for 432 yards and six TDs and has completed 65.9% of his passes. Neither has thrown an interception.
The St. John Bosco running game — led by junior Rayshon Luke — is averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Luke has gone for 267 yards and four TDs on just 18 carries, a 14.8 average.
St. John Bosco’s first five games in this spring football season are all about preparing for the sixth and final outing, against Mater Dei to determine the Trinity League champion.
Negro knows his players are looking ahead to that game, even with Orange Lutheran headed to Bellflower on Saturday, and that’s totally okay. The eight meetings the past four seasons have decided the Trinity League or CIF Southern Section titles, and although there will be no playoffs this season, they see the April 17 faceoff at Santa Ana Stadium as a CIF final. Bosco was No. 1 in the nation in 2019, while Mater Dei had the title in 2017 and 2018.
“We mention it all the time,” Negro said. “You can’t hide from it. I mean, our kids know. We’re certainly not looking past our opponents, but it’s the elephant in the room, and we’re going to recognize it, because I think that’s the one thing we’ve done in our program the whole time, is we know what’s on the horizon, we know what we need to be successful in that game, and we’re going to use these opportunities before it to get there.”
Apart from Saturday’s game against Orange Lutheran, there will be a special Homecoming presentation taking place at half time where the first ever Homecoming King will be named! The nominees are Seniors Anthony Mejia, Andrew Cruz, and James Pearce.
Not only will there be a special presentation on halftime, but after the game there will be an afterparty taking place in the Quad. Students from Bosco and St. Jospehs are welcomed to attend as long as they show their wristband which will be available for pick up in front of the MPR from 6-7 PM.
The afterparty will be a nice little taste of what Homecoming could have been if the pandemic never struck and will conclude at 11:00 PM.
On Tuesday, March 16th, St John Bosco High School senior Pedro Ochoa received the Christian Service Award, which was presented by Archbishop Jose Gomez of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. This award was just one indication of the impact that Pedro has had during his time at Bosco.
The Christian Service Award is awarded annually to high school seniors from all around the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Along with the precondition of attending a Catholic school in the LA Archdiocese, nominees must also show constant and exemplary service within and beyond their school communities.
St. John Bosco’s Christian Service Coordinator, John Weinandy, elaborated on the award.
“[The award] is the diocese recognizing the importance of service and really trying to find a leader in the school who is both passionate about it, excited about it and wants to get his classmates involved as well,” said Mr. Weinandy.
When discussing the nomination process, he added, “It was pretty obviously Pedro because he cares deeply about other people and wants to share that caring with others.”
Pedro recalled the moment he found out he was going to be a recipient of the award.
“When I heard the news, I was amazed. It was a surreal moment, something hard to process. And it was a great feeling being able to have mass in the Cathedral,” said Pedro.
From the very beginning of his high school career, Pedro quickly became engaged with many different groups around Bosco. Since then, he has taken leadership roles in Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry, Christian Service and Associated Student Body. In addition to this, he has also been involved with Student Ambassadors and has competed in Shot Put and Discus on the Track and Field team.
Pedro never intended to become so involved at Bosco. Looking back at his start at Bosco, he said, “I came into Bosco saying I was not going to be involved in anything, but that didn’t last because I think I am called by God to serve others.”
Teachers and administrators alike remember Pedro’s engagement as an underclassmen. Mr Weinandy can remember Pedro’s start with Christian service his sophomore year.
“It was just great seeing a sophomore stepping up into a leadership role and getting involved with something he was so passionate about while working with the seniors to plan events around campus and get the student body involved,” said Mr. Weinandy.
During the past year in dealing with the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, Pedro especially has stepped up to help his community.
“We had to think of new innovative ways to make sure St. John Bosco High School still had the faith aspect,” Pedro said, and his focus remained on finding ways to create a stronger Bosco community.
In doing so, Pedro has helped coordinate multiple virtual events, including masses and prayer services, as well as a video series that teaches the Bosco students about Salesian landmarks around Bosco.
“Ministry Mondays is a series of small episodes where we go around and talk about Salesian landmarks around campus. Our main goal is to spread awareness of our Salesian campus to the students,” said Pedro.
Pedro’s service is not only on the Bosco campus, but also reaches out into the larger community. Pedro organized a toy drive for his own city through Bosco.
“I have been attending the South Gate Toy drive for 8 years, and every year it’s special,” Pedro remarks, “We get to put smiles on children’s faces and I also got the honor to be able to score a partnership with the South Gate Water Department to give toys to more families in need last year.”
Pedro does not only do such a wide array of service, but he does it graciously and joyfully. To put it simply, Pedro says, “I do what I do because I love doing it,” and this outlook of Pedro’s is apparent to everyone who knows him.
Mr. Torre, a former teacher of Pedro’s and current Kairos coordinator, looked fondly on Pedro’s attitude inside and outside of the classroom.
“He’s a glass-half-full kind of guy,” Mr. Torre remarks, and in regards to why Pedro is so optimistic and positive, he said, “I think Pedro loves to come to Bosco, and I think Pedro really does what he does out of joy.”
When describing Pedro’s involvement with Kairos, Mr. Torre adds how Pedro “demonstrates his leadership with a laser beam kind of focus,” and continued, “If I had to use three words to describe him, it would be joyful, engaging, and as I’ve gotten to know him better, faithful.”
In the past four years, Pedro has worked closely with Mr. Jaramillo as a part of ASB and Youth Ministry. Mr. Jaramillo reflected on Pedro’s early involvement at Bosco.
“I’ve known Pedro since he started his freshman year. There was always something that Pedro wanted to be a part of, but not for him. I think he embodied what servant leadership is, by putting others before himself,” said Mr. Jaramillo.
This year Pedro is not only a member of ASB Executive Board, but also is the current Youth Ministry delegate. This position is unique to Salesian schools and Mr. Jaramillo elaborated on the importance of that role.
“It is one of the highest leadership opportunities in the Salesian world,” and when speaking on Pedro’s impact in that position, Mr Jaramillo said, “I always admire the fact that he always wanted to do more when he became delegate this year, from day one.”
Kyle Perera, from Bosco’s class of 2020, was last year’s Youth Ministry Delegate and Christian Service Award recipient. He reflected on last year’s youth ministry team’s ability to adapt to the unpredictable circumstances.
“The entire team did an amazing job. Pedro did an excellent job leading the Christian Service team. His leadership fit the role he played in the Youth Ministry Team,” said Kyle.
Kyle was happy to hear of Pedro’s accomplishment.
“I’m happy for Pedro,” Kyle remarks, “From what I saw while working with him last year, he was well qualified to earn such a prestigious award. He had that passion to serve others out of the goodness of his heart…that’s why he had such great work ethic.”
If there are any shared sentiments by those who know Pedro, it is that he is selfless and passionate about helping others. In the words of Mr. Jaramillo, Pedro “always had the mentality of ‘this is what my peers would want’, or ‘what are my classmates asking?’ and that’s where Pedro fulfills the mission of the school, because he puts all of us before himself.”
Pedro Ochoa is one of the most active members of the Bosco community, whose countless hours of community involvement have helped to make Bosco even better. His tireless work in the last year alone was crucial to helping Bosco adapt to the new online environment. As the Youth Ministry Delegate, he has set a very high bar by going above and beyond for the school, and his absence from Bosco after he graduates will definitely be especially missed.
As of now, Pedro is hoping to attend one of his dream colleges and plans on continuing his service after he graduates from St. John Bosco.
“I really want to continue to help people in need, I want to help the less fortunate, and I want to try to inspire others to know that they can do the same,” said Pedro.
Spring break is more than just a few days of vacation. During Easter break, Christian’s celebrate Holy Week, as they remember the life of Jesus. This year, Holy Week starts on Sunday March 28 and ends Sunday April 4.
In Christian tradition, Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and carries on through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. It is a time for Christians to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the Cross, concluding with an empty tomb in Calvary.
What makes this week holy? During this week, Christians are asked to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ death. It starts with Palm Sunday when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. The week then leads us through the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and ends on Easter Sunday with His resurrection.
Palm Sunday:
The first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This day is celebrated around the world with palms and twigs from the day of. The palms are important because when Jesus was entering Jerusalem, they greeted him with waving palms and palms on the floor, creating a rug because of his long journey.
Maundy Thursday:
Maundy Thursday is also known as Holy Thursday and Sheer Thursday, among other names. It is a Christian holy day that commemorates events known as the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper. Churches celebrate this day with a reenactment of the Last Supper and the Washing of the Feet.
Good Friday:
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter is the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. From the early days of Christianity, Good Friday was observed as a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting. Churches celebrate this day with a reenactment of the stages of Jesus’ death. These stages are called The Stations of the Cross.
Easter Sunday:
This Sunday marks the end of Holy Week and Lent. Easter Sunday is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Churches have a celebration during this day. It is said by many, that the most important day in the Christian calendar that Christians should attend church is on Easter Sunday.
Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday. He opened the gates of heaven making a way for our sin to be forgiven and usher us into the presence of God. Holy Week is a sacred opportunity to study the foundation of Christianity.
In the end, Holy Week works as a way for Christians to reflect on their actions, to live in a way the pain that Jesus felt in his last days and how Christians can put his teachings into action and prophesize his gospel.
Knott’s Berry Farm “Taste of Boysenberry” is currently the best food tasting event in Southern California, a perfect event you won’t want your taste buds to miss out on!
Guests are given their food tasting card and a virtual Easter egg hunt card upon entry
The Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Boysenberry Festival began on March 5, however, the experience will continue until May 2, on select days. Hours will be noon to 9 p.m., except on Sundays when the park will close at 8 p.m. in Buena Park.
The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival annually celebrates the berry that made the theme park famous. With California’s COVID-19 theme park restrictions, the Boysenberry Festival was cancelled in 2020. This year, the first Taste of Boysenberry Festival will attempt to recreate some of the same experiences offered by Boysenberry Festival while practicing recommended safety guidelines.
While Knott’s Berry Farm theme park’s normal operations remain closed due to COVID-19, attendees of the Taste of Boysenberry Festival will be able to attend the limited-time food event, as a substitute for the annual Boysenberry Festival that the theme park normally hosts during the spring.
New and familiar menu items will include boysenberry Dippin’ Dots, boysenberry brisket tater tots, boysenberry BBQ glazed wings, and popcorn with boysenberry butter. Alcoholic beverages like boysenberry wine and berry cider will also be on the menu. The full menu and tasting booth map are available for preview online.
Other menu items guests can choose from a lineup of tantalizing delicacies such as beer cheese soup with a boysenberry drizzle and brown butter croutons, beef tips served with creamy boysenberry mashed potatoes, and boysenberry BBQ carne asada pizza garnished with cilantro and onions, plus options for all dietary preferences. Thirst-quenching drinks include boysenberry lemonade with basil, boysenberry ICEE float with vanilla soft serve, boysenberry mint and pineapple aqua fresca and so much more.
Upon arrival through the Marketplace from the parking lot to the entry gates, a lengthy stream of guests crowd the walkways to satisfy taste buds. Patience and social distancing are also among key ingredients to the fun that awaits.
Just some of the many food items Knott’s is currently offering for the Taste of Boysenberry event
Ghost Town is the first location people in which most people enter the first lines since it is at the front of the park so a tip would be to make a right turn which would lead you to Camp Snoopy. Camp Snoopy has two locations in which you can redeem your food voucher which consists of five tastings which can be spent however you please.
Following Camp Snoopy, there is Fiesta Village and the Boardwalk. Both locations carnival games available for guests to enjoy. Whether it’s the 3pt basketball challenge at the Boardwalk or the loteria baseball challenge at Fiesta Village, carnival games are a fun way to pass the time and surely a good opportunity to get your money’s worth.
The entertainment during the “Taste of Boysenberry” event deserves a round of applause as the characters, performers, and musicians really helped bring a little jolt of energy and theme park magic to an already electric festival. Just walking around you might encounter the following: The Mayor of Calico, a disaster in the bakery – Lotta Leftovers, Fiesta Village DJ, a dude waxing his surfboards, a magician, and K-NOT radio playing some nice retro music.
The star of the show and the entertainers who got the most guests paying attention to them was the return of Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies. After a full year of hiatus, Kirk and the gang are now playing several sets on select nights of the Taste of Boysenberry Festival. Seating is strictly monitored by Knott’s Staff at one party per table
There are also distanced photo opportunities with favorite characters such as Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the Easter Bunny in case you want a picture to remember during such a weird time period. Since Easter is approaching soon, Knott’s created a colorful hidden egg hunt around the park. You use your smartphone to scan a QR code each time you spot a hidden egg in the park and it tracks your progress.
To attend the “Taste of Boysenberry” event, guests will need to purchase an advance tasting card online. With the tasting card, attendees can enter the park to select three-to-five food or drink choices from over 80 boysenberry-infused drinks and food items as they walk through the inside of the theme park. The event will currently be ongoing for the next straight fourteen days and will have its final day of the year on May 2nd.
Tickets to the event start at $40 (plus tax) for adults and $20 (plus tax) for children ages three to eleven. Adult tickets include five tastings, while children’s tickets include three tastings. Guests will have the option of purchasing additional food and drink items while at the festival. Tickets may be purchased in advance online using the link https://www.knotts.com/events/taste-of-boysenberry-festival.
Despite only leading by one at halftime, Bosco rolled over Santa Margarita in the second half and is now ready to take on Servite tonight.
The high school football spring season in California enters its third week of action with one of the biggest games of the year on tap, as the 2019 MaxPreps National Champion St. John Bosco Braves host the Servite Friars at Panish Family Stadium.
The Friars are 2-0 and ranked No. 2 in the Orange County top 25, behind only Mater Dei. The last two Friar victories have been against Damien, which ended 42-6 and Orange Lutheran, which ended 69-13.
The Friars will take on the current CIF Southern Section Division 1 and CIF State Open Division champions from last year in the Bosco Braves, who are currently 2-0 with wins of 42-21 over Sierra Canyon and 65-28 over Santa Margarita and are ranked No. 1 in the CalHiSports.com state rankings.
St. John Bosco showed why they are the reigning national champions, as they erupted for 37 points in the second half to defeat Santa Margarita 65-28 on Saturday in their Trinity League opener.
Santa Margarita (1-1, 0-1) and quarterback Colt Fulton showed their improvement by taking a 20-14 lead in the second quarter before the Braves (2-0, 1-0) started to roll. They scored 24 consecutive points to open a 38-20 lead and closed the game with a 27-0 run.
Fulton passed for 161 yards and three TDs in the first half to help the Eagles push the Braves. He tossed two scores to Murphy, including an 11-yarder that gave Santa Margarita a 20-14 lead with 8:37 left in the half. The 2-point conversion attempt failed and that was the last time the Eagles led.
Friday will be a totally different story as the Braves defense will have to handle the task of locking down Quarterback Noah Fifita of Servite. Fifita can do a lot at the quarterback position. Fifita is coming off a game in which he threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns on 17 of 19 passing and ran for two touchdowns during a 69-13 league victory over Orange Lutheran.
On Friday, he’ll be St. John Bosco’s problem when the ball is kickoff at 7:00 PM PT and coach Jason Negro knows what is team is up against.
“He’s probably one of the best quarterbacks, obviously, in the league without question. He’s extremely dynamic, he’s a playmaker, he’s got a lot of skill-set, very accurate passer with a strong arm”, Negro said in an interview with the Long Beach Press Telegram.
The quarterback duo of sophomore Pierce Clarkson and junior Katin Houser — the replacements for DJ Uiagalelei, who is now at Clemson — each had their moments connecting with wide receiver Jode McDuffie, who helped pace the offense with eight catches for 172 yards and three TDs against Santa Margarita.
Uiagalelei’s younger brother, Matayo, helped highlight the closing stretch by leaping from his defensive end spot for an interception that he returned about 15 yards for the score.
The Braves also rushed the ball well with the dual-threat Clarkson (101 yards) and the running back trio of Rayshon Luke (110), Jabari Bates (98) and Michael Hayes (38). St. John Bosco rushed for 208 yards and three scores in the first half behind its large offensive line and multiple options. Luke broke a tackle en route to his 82-yard TD run while Bates rushed for two touchdowns.
St. John Bosco led 28-20 at halftime on a late strike by Clarkson to McDuffie and timely stops on defense. Clarkson closed the half by rolling to his right and tossing a 32-yard TD pass to McDuffie with 23 seconds remaining. The Braves drove for the score after forcing Santa Margarita to give up the ball on downs at the St. John Bosco 41 with 58 seconds left.
The Braves’ defense also held on fourth down from its 35 with 4:58 left thanks to a sack by Ryan Tuaolo.
Panish Family Stadium will be seating limited fans tonight, as St. John Bosco and St. Joseph students now have the opportunity to win tickets for the upcoming remaining home games. Braves and Jesters both had the opportunity to win tickets for the upcoming game against Servite via raffle.
The instructions for the next home game are to check your student email and enter the raffle for an opportunity to secure a seat to see the action.
The happiest place on Earth is finally seeing happier days ahead, as Disneyland will finally reopen after a full year of being shut down. The entire park will finally be open to the public and ready for families to make memories that they will cherish for a lifetime. With the reopening, there are a few new add-ons in place with many excited visitors ready for the return.
As the world moves closer and closer to normalcy each passing day, Californians and people around the world are anticipating the reopening of Disneyland Resort. Like many others, there are Bosco Braves who are anticipating Disneyland’s reopening and cannot wait to be able to go for some fun. While Disneyland is definitely a family friendly place, it also provided teenagers everywhere a chance to go out with friends, let loose and share memories. Bosco junior Julian Orozco has long anticipated Disneyland’s return.
“I am very excited for Disneyland to reopen. I honestly just missed going out with my friends, and Disney was just our go-to spot to hang out,” said Julian.
Disney’s new efforts to open the theme park will take place on April 30, 2021 and will include Disneyland Park, as well as Disney California Adventure Park. Prior to your arrival, there are some things all park visitors will need to know.
There will be required face masks or face shields while at the theme parks. All visitors must stay, at minimum, six feet apart. Furthermore, only residents of California will be eligible to attend the park, and finally, you must download the Disney app because you need a reservation to attend the theme park due to its limited capacity as a result of COVID-19 protocols. With these given restrictions, many question how the actual rides will affect these rules.
“Honestly, I think the masks and social distancing won’t affect the theme park too much. Obviously, it’s going to stink that you have to wear a mask the whole day, but it might be a good thing because usually on rides you’re all squished together and now that there’s social distancing you can enjoy the ride without worrying about being in anyone’s business,” said senior Aaron Reyes.
When you do arrive at Disneyland, you will be greeted with various stations that will consist of verifying your reservation, temperature screenings and ultimately making your way towards fun, staying socially distanced to wherever you want to go. Despite the hassle, however, many believe the procedure is worth it.
“I miss the memories me and my friends made, and when it closed, there was really nothing to do on the weekends anymore. When the full park reopens, I will for sure be in the front of the line,” said Julian.
Additionally, there will be no “Fast Passes” distributed nor Disney MaxPass services, due to the COVID-19 restrictions. This will be subject to change as California seeks to lower COVID-19 positivity rates with the distribution of vaccines. Furthermore, various attractions that cause big crowds to form, such as firework shows and parades, will be delayed to a later date, while some stores and restaurants will be limited in capacity to keep the theme park open.
Despite the changes and protocols being much different than usual, Disneyland’s reopening provides a beacon of hope as California slowly returns to normalcy.
Below are dates to be aware of for those hoping to return to the happiest place on earth as soon as possible:
Now Open – Downtown Disney District
April 29, 2021 – Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
April 30, 2021 – Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park
The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen at a later date.
It has been six weeks since the departure of one St. John Bosco’s Bravest. On Friday, March 19 and March 20, 2021, the Bosco community celebrated the life of their fallen superhero, Ismael “Ish” Fernandez. Ish was a respected individual because he not only embodied what it meant to be a Bosco Brave, but also a Salesian man.
God needed one more security guard to protect the Gates of Heaven.
Last Friday, Ish was brought onto campus for one final time. Family, friends, faculty and students gathered to receive him, as the Victory Bell was being rung for one of Bosco’s everyday protectors. Eight Bosco Braves rolled in the casket to be presented to his Bosco family. Spectators described this moment as unreal, as many people are still in shock of the unexpected passing.
“Nobody wanted this to happen to anyone, and especially not to Ish. Ish meant a lot to not only the Bosco Braves, but for the whole community. You were able to feel the emotions when Ish entered the Quad,” said senior Hector Andrade.
Emotions were poured out by many on Friday, from veteran coworkers, to alumni, to current Bosco Braves. He treated everyone with the same integrity and with the same love. Everyone had a different story with Ish that they will remember forever.
“Ish was the first person that greeted me when I arrived at Bosco everyday, and he was always the last person that I saw before going home. It was always a blessing to see him everyday, and when I didn’t, I was always on the lookout for him,” said senior Ryan Sheehan.
Ish was the first and last person that people would see everyday in his golf cart when going to Bosco. He would brighten people’s days by just being there and asking how their day was. It was a tradition seeing Ish everyday in front of the campus since he worked at Bosco for over twenty years.
Ish will be remembered by his famous Golf Cart. He was known for speeding around campus in the cart to ensure the safety of the Bosco Braves. He never failed to protect those he loved. Even though he had a tough stature and look, Ish was always caring. He was one of very few that cared for everyone that he came in contact with.
“Even though I didn’t know Ish on a personal level, he always seemed to care about me,” said freshman Rafael Sanchez.
Very few Class of 2024 students made contact with Ish, but there are so many stories from many people that the freshman felt like they knew Ish on a personal level.
On Saturday March 20, 2021, Ish was taken out of the Bosco campus for the last time. Family and friends attended the services for their beloved superhero. This mass was far from the ordinary. It took place in the Panish Family Football Stadium with family and friends wearing Raiders gear to support their fallen loved one.
“Out of all the funerals that I have been to, this one was very different. This was not a mourning of Ish’s life, it was a celebration of everything he did, for everyone,” said senior and Campus Ministry Chair Jesus Jimenez.
Even though no one wants to have a funeral, especially as early as Ish’s, this is the type of funeral that Ish would have liked. He had Bosco students, Bosco alumni and his family as the Pallbearers for his casket, and it was a funeral like no other. It was informal while having the people that meant the most to him at his service.
It was hard for everyone to say goodbye to their beloved friend, but Ish would want everyone to keep moving forward. There were some unique goodbyes from his family that Ish would have loved, from football stories to Raider’s chants. A very special way to say goodbye. A celebration of life it was, as there were more smiles than tears. Ish would have definitely loved the way his family put together his service.
“When I die, I want Ish to be the security at the gate, because then I will have a better chance to make it into Heaven,” said Father Ted at Ish’s funeral service.
As a Bosco community, Ish will be remembered as far more than just a security guard. He built relationships with everyone in the Bosco community that can not be replaced. Ish will be remembered for getting to know students by being willing to engage in conversations at various times throughout the school day. He also built certain bonds with staff that are unbreakable, as he was a groomsman in interim principal Mr. Jaramillo’s wedding.
Ish will be remembered by putting others in front of himself. This is what it means to be a Salesian. He had an unmatched Salesian character. Ish was tough, resilient and selfless as he protected and defended Bosco to the best of his ability. Ish made an impact on the Bosco community that will never be forgotten.
Ish’s missing presence is already being seen around campus. It is seen in front of the Bosco campus with his famous cart and him not in the driver’s seat. It has especially been seen at the football games, where he is not there supporting the team like he would.
Ish will always be remembered, especially by the little things. His toughness, his wisdom and the determination to serve God and his community. This is what it means to be a true Salesian. Ish is now protecting and being protected by the Lord. He will forever be watching over and protecting his family and his Bosco Braves. Even though he is gone, his spirit will live forever with the Bosco community.
Ish would want the Bosco community to learn that there are sudden changes that happen, and through that, they need to learn how to move on, even if it might be hard. He would want the Bosco Braves to do what he did, which is caring for one another and finding the positive in everything they do.
The Bosco community will forever miss you. Rest in peace, Ish.
Universal’s current “Taste of Universal” offers admission to shops and restaurants in the theme park’s upper lot, which most notably includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Simpsons-themed Springfield, USA.
While rides, shows and attractions will not be operational during this experience, guests will be able to take in the incredible environments that surround them as they enjoy the scrumptious food, including vegan and vegetarian options, served within these areas.
On the shopping side, you’ll be able to return to all of your Wizarding World favorites, hit up the Animation Store and preview the Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash shop, which sits next to the upcoming attractions. Look out for some physically distanced photo ops along the way, too. Physically distanced photo opportunities with select favorite characters will offer guests the chance to reconnect with Universal Studios Hollywood and share their experiences with friends and family via social media.
Guests could make their way into Springfield and find Homer Simpson at his traditional spot at the Kwik-E-Mart. Donkey from Shrek could also be found next to the Kung Fu Panda theater talking to Guests and taking numerous photos. Minions can also be found by the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem ride either wandering around Super Silly Fun Land or standing right in front of Minion Mayhem ride itself.
In addition to this exciting “Taste of Universal” event, guests can extend their day with more shopping and dining at the adjacent Universal CityWalk. The 4 main locations available in the Upper Lot for guests during “Taste of Universal” were The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Springfield, USA, Minion Cafe, and Hollywood & Dine.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Hogsmeade village is finally open and guests are able to enjoy shops such as Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods! The dining locations available to feast on food favorites are Three Broomsticks™ in which you can get a taste of Fish & Chips, Sticky Toffee Pudding and the famous Butterbeer.
Springfield, USA
The home of The Simpsons features Krusty Burger, Suds McDuff’s Hot Dog House, the Lard Lad Donut Cart as dining options! Guests are able to shop for the best Simpson merch at Kwik-E-Mart where Homer Simpson is available for a photo opportunity throughout the day.
Minion Cafe
Minion Cafe made its debut during opening day of “taste of universal” and it brought a whole new delicious dining experience to the park. Minion Cafe is located next to the popular “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” ride, and it offers items like Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Meatballs, Chicken & Bacon Mac and Cheese, and Nutella Banana pudding.
Hollywood & Dine
The Hollywood and Dine section of the park consisted of 3 restaurants. The first was the actual Hollywood and Dine restaurant which featured selection of comfort foods including, Hot Chicken Sandwich, Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bowl, Personal Pizza with choice of pepperoni or cheese, Brisket Sliders with Caramelized Onions, Korean Hot Dog, and mini funnel cake.
The second restaurant was City Snack Shop which offered grab and go treats such as the quintessential NYC Giant Pretzel, Spicy Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Leg, and the debut of the Crepewich, which features sweet (Banana and Nutella, or Strawberry Chocolate) and savory (club or Spinach and Berry vegetarian) temptations.
The third was Cocina Mexicana which had delicious plates such as Queso Street Tacos, Loaded Nachos all topped with choice of Tinga or Carnita & Birria, Tortilla Cut Chips with Guacamole, Chili Relleno and Elote Corn on the cobb with Lime Crema.
Admission tickets to “Taste of Universal” include access to select themed areas of the park along with a wide selection of nearly 70 choice culinary options, of which 30 are new to the event. Adults can choose five options and kids can choose three with additional food offerings available for purchase. Tickets start at $44 plus tax for adults and $25 plus tax for kids ages 3-9 years. Discounted admission tickets will be available for Universal Annual and Season Pass members. Each ticket includes five menu items for adults and three for kids. Additional food can be purchased. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com to purchase tickets and for more information.
Despite minor setbacks the Brave’s soccer team has set big goals for this year and are training their hardest to make them a reality.
In 2020, the Braves soccer team found much success becoming state and CIF finalists. The team hopes to repeat the success they had last year and go beyond what is expected from the team with the help of Head Coach David Sabet.
“High expectations for this year, they really developed a lot in soccer and this year our goals are to finish top three in the trinity league,” said Coach Sabet.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions minor setbacks have plagued the team and the late notice of their upcoming season has hindered the team’s abilities.
“Our expectations are always going to be high; it’s just the reality of where we are at. The thirteen years that I’ve been here we’ve always had a good four or five months to prepare. It’s been difficult, so in reality we can’t really prepare too much, we just have to maintain health,” said Coach Sabet.
However, despite the setbacks and the fact that training has not been the easiest the soccer team has high expectations for the upcoming season. Every player is preparing themselves for the season both as a team and individually. Senior Andrew Olmos, feels the team has really developed and are ready for the new season.
“Goal for the season was to work together as a team, we had trouble getting the team together, we were always just scared, this year we really matured and we just got to work together and push through those hard days and play for each other,” said Olmos.
The team still feels very confident about what they’re capable of. The team believes they have really tied everything together and are prepared for what lies ahead. Senior Mikel Villarreal, for instance, has noticed the team’s maturity and feels the team is ready to go.
“We’ve really matured last year and it was a big stepping stone for us and we are really putting the pieces together and I feel like we’re ready to roll,” said Villareal.
The setbacks have only reinforced the team’s bond between each player not only as teammates but as friends. The team’s brotherhood is what will really take this team to the next level, every player pushing each other to be the best they can. Senior Joel Trejo that the sense of brotherhood among the team is their greatest strength.
“Our greatest strength is our brotherhood, whether it’s the last guy on the team we’re always just playing together and pushing ourselves to the best of our ability,” said Trejo.
With expectations high and goals set to be the best, it is all up to the team to train as hard as they can and stay both physically and mentally strong for the upcoming season. Although the team is off to a rocky start Coach Sabet belvies the team still has what it takes to go above and beyond their expectations and repeat the success from last year.
The Brave News 