After a strong performance in pool play in the CIF-SS Open Division Playoffs, the Trinity League Champions are set to take on Corona Centennial, the defending Open Champions, on Saturday at 8:00pm at the Honda Center.
Photo by Alex Diaz
The Bosco Braves just knocked off the number eight high school basketball team in the country, according to Maxpreps. The Harvard Westlake Wolverines came into the matchup with only one loss before meeting the Braves last Tuesday night. This crucial win came in a must win game, as Bosco fell to West Ranch in the first round of pool play.
The win came off of a strong performance by five star sophomore Elzie Harrington who led the Braves with 22 points. Other players also played big roles in the win, like senior Xinyi Li who tied the game at 46 in the 4th quarter with just over four minutes to play after the Braves were down for most of the game.
“We know what we got to do and we just got to execute it, and we’ll be champs,” Elzie Harrington said. “We just want to go out there and prove everybody wrong.”
After going down later in the game to the Wolverines, the Braves went on an 8-1 run to seal the win with buckets coming from junior Jack Turner and sixth man, freshman Brandon McCoy. The 62-55 win broke Harvard Westlake’s 13-game win streak.
The Braves improved to 26-5 on the year after their win last Friday night at home over St Bernard.
Several Braves stood out in that game, most notably Brandon McCoy, Jack Turner and Elzie Harrington. Brandon McCoy had a great sequence at the end of the game to propel the Braves to victory. The freshman sixth man got a block late in the fourth quarter then topped it off with a dunk to give the Braves a twelve point lead.
“I just have fun out there competing and showing everybody who I am and what I can do,” said Brandon McCoy.
Elzie Harrington and Jack Turner were both consistent throughout the whole game making play after play time and time again. Jack scored 20 points, while Elzie added twelve.
“We’ve been working towards this the whole year, and now that it’s here, we’re going to give it our all,” said Jack. “We’ve been doubted all year; can’t wait to prove them wrong,”
The Braves now have their sights set on Corona Centennial, the top ranked team in the state and a top five team in the nation. This should be a great game, and this year’s Braves are making history, as the only Bosco Basketball team to ever reach the Open Division Finals and the first to win a Trinity League Championship.
This matchup will tip-off at 8:00 pm at the Honda Center and looks to be one of the top games in school history.
St. John Bosco High School, nestled in the heart of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, is known for its academic excellence and thriving student community. This year, the school hosted its first annual cookout for hosted by the school’s Black Student Union (BSU), providing a space for students to connect with one another and celebrate their community.
Photo by senior Austin Hughes
As students poured into the sprawling campus, they were met with the mouthwatering aroma of all sorts of delicious treats. The event featured a wide range of activities, including games, music and dancing.
One of the most popular activities was the basketball tournament, which pitted students against each other in fierce competition on the school’s outdoor courts. There were also a variety of board games and card games for those who preferred to keep things a little more low-key.
Throughout the day, the air was filled with the sounds of laughter and music, as students of all ages came together to celebrate back heritage. The event provided a space for students to connect with each other and build new friendships, strengthening the bonds that make the Bosco community so special.
For many students, the cookout was a chance to connect with other Black students in a way that they had never been able to before. It provided a sense of belonging and community that is sometimes difficult to find in a school with so much diversity.
“This was a great opportunity for us to come together and celebrate our culture,” said senior Ahrian McNeil. “It’s important to have spaces like this where we can just be ourselves and feel comfortable.”
Even students from other schools felt the impact of the event.
“I go to St. Mary’s, but I came here with a friend, and I’m so glad I did,” says St. Mary’s senior Dallas Oliver. “It’s great to see so many people from different schools coming together like this.”
In a world that is often divided by race, ethnicity and culture, events like the BSU Cookout are more essential than ever. They provide a space for Black students to come together and celebrate their culture, building a sense of community that is essential for success. Senior Austin Hughes, the secretary of the BSU, was beaming with pride.
“It was cool seeing people from my community come together in one place to appreciate our culture through music and conversation,” Austin said.
The event ended with an announcement from the BSU president, inviting everyone to a movie night coming up in March at the St. Joseph’s Flynn Center. The BSU had selected a classic film that celebrated the black experience, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, and the event promises to be a great way to continue the celebration of black excellence and culture.
As students made their way home, tired but happy after a long day of fun, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in their community. The first annual BSU Cookout had been a resounding success, and everyone was looking forward to the next one.
When the sun set, there was a palpable sense of possibility for the prosperity of the African-American student body in the air. The future was looking bright, and everyone was excited to see where this new tradition would lead.
Coach Jeff Anderson has been involved with coaching St. John Bosco Wrestling since 2005, using his experience as a former Brave’s wrestler to produce CIF Champions and many upcoming prospects.
Photo by SJB Wrestling
Coach Anderson is best known as the head coach of St. John Bosco’s wrestling program, while also leading the Tribe Wrestling Club whose home is in the Brave’s wrestling room, adjacent to the weight room. But even before entering the realm of coaching, Coach Anderson was a Brave himself. He was a member of the class of ‘98 and wrestled all four years of his high school career.
Jeff Anderson was born on March 28th, 1980 in Long Beach, California and he began his wrestling career in his freshman year of high school. Over his time at Bosco, he not only wrestled but also pole-vaulted and competed in football. For the longest time, Coach Anderson also played soccer, but decided to give wrestling a shot after being encouraged by his older brother, Andrew. His brother’s encouragement would soon change his life forever.
While he was a student at Bosco, Coach Anderson achieved many significant accomplishments during his wrestling career. He became a CIF and CIF Masters Champion as well as qualified for State, which is an accomplishment most high school wrestlers can only dream of. Coach Anderson is notable because he was the first Brave to qualify for state since the twenty-three year drought of no Braves being able to qualify for the competition since former Bosco wrestler Jim Mendoza, who was a part of the class of 1974.
“I joke around and say my mom dropped me off in 1994 and I never really left Bosco. I joined Bosco Wrestling in the fall of November 1994 and I loved the challenge of Bosco and its brotherhood,” said Coach Anderson. “It always felt like home. There were a lot of great people who wanted the best for me and to see me do well. They pushed me and guided me to try and reach my potential,”
Coach Anderson continued his wrestling career after graduating from Bosco attending Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in economics and eventually went on to work in bond trading and then investment banking. Coach Jeff described college as a unique experience, especially considering he was moving to a different state for school, but it allowed him to learn how to balance responsibilities and freedom at the same time, skills he would apply to his return to Bosco.
Some of Coach Anderson’s most important and memorable moments went down at Columbia University, but he notes his most important accolade in college was being able to receive his diploma in front of his loved ones after years of hard work and dedication, traits he acquired from his time as a Brave. However, there were some events that weren’t so positive, but are nonetheless events that shaped the wonderful and inspiring person that he is today.
“I definitely have some memories that really formed me as a person. I remember watching [World Trade Center] Tower One and Tower Two on fire from the top of our dorm on 9/11″ said Anderson. “I even remember hearing the news of one of our friends being murdered and how devastating that was. It is important you have friends and family that love you to help you go through it, the good and the bad.”
Throughout his coaching career for the Braves, he has been able to form lasting bonds while accomplishing great things. Coach Anderson attributes much of his success as a coach to former wrestling head coach and current counselor Mr. Omar Delgado. He says Mr. Delgado always helped him see the bigger picture and go after what he wants most in life.
Two of his assistants, Coach Jenaro Santillan and Coach Ruben Valencia are two people he sees as very influential on the Wrestling Program. They have been working and coaching with Coach Anderson for ten plus years to the present, with both of them leaving an impact on every wrestler and on the program as a whole, notably helping to lead the program to a CIF State Runner-Up finish in 2020 and to CIF Section and Masters Championships during this 2022-2023 season.
Not only does Coach Anderson form good relationships with his staff, he forms great connections and working relationships with the wrestlers as well. Former Brave wrestlers Mike Martinez and Julian Gendreau are some great examples of that, with them being his first state and national placers when he was an assistant coach on Mr. Delgado’s staff.
To many of the wrestlers in the program, Coach Anderson is known for cracking his corny jokes during practice and tournaments to lighten the mood and to connect with the wrestlers on a personal level. Many of the wrestlers have been able to thank Coach Anderson for some of their success with him promoting their names through Bosco Wrestling’s social media pages, which have thousands of followers, helping them to compete in some of the biggest tournaments in the country.
“I feel like my relationship with Coach Anderson is really good because of how close we got with such a short amount of time,” said sophomore wrestler Nicholas Sahakian. “He has always provided us with the best gear for our team, the best tournaments to go to and, of course, he’s definitely contributed to my success by getting my name out there with all the tournaments he set up for us during our season.”
One of Coach Anderson’s biggest priorities is to see his wrestlers obtain the most experience and knowledge from him and his staff so that they can eventually carry it on to the next level. His goal is to encourage his wrestlers to experience what wrestling can do for a person and how it can change their life, just like how it did for him.
Heading into the future, Coach Anderson has many other goals to scratch off his list, an important one being to win CIF State and National Championships as a team. The Braves have managed to win individual State and National Championships, but the team title is the next landmark to reach in future competition.
Coach Anderson doesn’t just want to share the experience and success that comes with being a Brave wrestler with the boys, as in the upcoming seasons he plans to expand the program to include our sister school St. Joseph’s High School and their prospective wrestlers, too.
The position of wrestling head coach requires a tireless and constant effort, but for Coach Anderson it is worth every bit of it because it is a way of being able to give back to the school and sport that he loves. It provides, like it did when he was a student, the opportunity to not only make new friends, but to find and nurture a second family.
The Black College Expo held at the Los Angeles Convention Center has been hailed as a significant success with young African American juniors and seniors from Los Angeles and Orange County in attendance. This event offers a platform for young black students to make informed decisions about their future college careers.
Photo by CityWatchLA
With over 20 years of experience, the Black College Expo has become an essential resource for young black students who may not have the same opportunities as their peers. For many students, especially those from low-income families, the cost of attending college can be a significant barrier. However, by attending events like this expo, they can learn about scholarship opportunities and other forms of financial aid that can make college more accessible.
Held last month on January 28th, the event offered numerous scholarships to deserving students. Scholarship awards ranged from a few thousand dollars to full-tuition scholarships. Many students were overjoyed about the idea of being able to pursue their dreams of higher education without having to take on large sums of student debt.
The event featured on-site acceptances where students could receive immediate admissions decisions from participating schools. These on-site acceptances offered a unique opportunity for students to fast-track their admission process, bypassing the anxiety and skipping the waiting process often associated with the traditional application process.
For many of the students in attendance, the expo was a chance to immerse themselves in a community that understands their unique experiences and challenges.
“This expo has helped me realize that there is a whole community out there that wants to support me and help me succeed. It’s like a family,” said Jazmine, a senior from Orange County.
The event was particularly impactful for students looking to attend a historically black college and unviersity, HBCU. Notable schools, such as Howard University, Hampton University, and Xavier University of Louisiana, were all in attendance providing students with the opportunity to connect with representatives, learn about the schools’ programs, admissions requirements and campus culture. Many students were able to walk away with on-site acceptances to their dream schools.
“I got accepted into my top-choice school, Xavier University [of Louisiana],” said David, a senior from South Central LA. “I never thought it would happen so quickly, but now I know where I’m going, and I can focus on my studies.”
The event also featured a captivating step team performance that left the crowd on their feet. Comprised of students from local high schools, the step team showcased their talent while highlighting the vibrant cultural traditions often associated with HBCUs. The performance was a visual reminder of the spirit, unity and cultural pride that HBCUs embody.
For local vendors, the event provided an opportunity to connect with the community and gain exposure. Numerous vendors were on hand, offering items ranging from college gear to natural hair products. Small businesses, in particular, found the event to be a valuable platform for connecting with potential customers. Kim, the owner of a local college apparel company, expressed her gratitude for the event.
“The Black College Expo provides us with a unique opportunity to connect with the community and show our support for young black students who are pursuing higher education. It’s an excellent way to showcase our products and make a positive impact,” said Kim.
Events like the Black College Expo provide an opportunity for young black students to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams of higher education. It is a reminder that opportunities should not be defined by race or socioeconomic status and that everyone deserves a chance to succeed.
As the world becomes increasingly diverse, events like the Black College Expo play a crucial role in promoting inclusivity and equity. The expo provides a safe space for young black students to share their stories and connect with others who have faced similar challenges.
Many of the students who attended the event left feeling inspired and empowered as they became armed with the knowledge and resources they need to pursue their dreams. For students like David, the event was life-changing, and he will forever be grateful for the opportunity.
“Without the Black College Expo, I don’t know where I would be,” he said. “I have a full scholarship to my dream school, and I know that anything is possible if I work hard and believe in myself.”
In addition to the positive impact the event had on students, it also served as a reminder to the broader community of the importance of investing in education. By supporting events like the Black College Expo, we can create a more equitable and just society that provides equal opportunities for all.
From the celebration on Bourbon Street in New Orleans to the Quad of St. John Bosco High School, the sold out first annual Mardi Gras Celebration comes to benefit all academics, athletics, the arts and extracurriculars.
The Parent Association in collaboration with St. John Bosco High School are inaugurating the Mardi Gras celebration this Saturday from 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. in the quad. There will be many types of entertainment including the school’s very own band to start off the first hour.
After the first hour, the main jazz band, The Chico Band, will take over because after the school band leaves, the cocktail hour will start and the party will be closed off to anyone under the age of 21.
There will also be a raffle and silent auction that features some great prizes. This includes the opportunity for a student to be “Principal of the Day,” “Four First Row Seats to Graduation,” “A Ride in the Goodyear Blimp,” “VIP Parking for Graduation,” “VIP Student Parking for the 2023-2024 School Year” and a “Catered Presidential Suite at Panish Family Stadium for 10”, just to name a few.
The main organizer for this event is parent Mrs. Sherri McCovey who has done work with other events at Bosco. To Mrs. McCovey, the Mardi Gras Celebration is definitely one of her favorites, as it aims to fundraise for different areas of the school including academics, athletics, the arts and extracurriculars.
“I am proud to state that 100% of the proceeds will go directly back to the Bosco program that the guests designated when they bought tickets, so that will really help boost their program’s funds. If a program donated an experience or an item to the silent auction, whatever money that item makes, they get to keep it. For some programs the money helps offset the cost of student fees to participate in the sport. It’s really a win-win for the program and the students in the programs that are participating,” said Mrs McCovey.
Even though the Mardi Gras event is currently sold out with over 350 families attending, Mrs. McCovey mentioned that she will start planning earlier for next year’s annual event to allow even more families to attend. Mrs. McCovey wants everyone to enjoy the love of the school within the Bosco community through celebration, music, dance and great food, helping to support the many wonderful programs St. John Bosco offers.
The celebration of Mardi Gras has been a part of cultures for centuries. It is French for “Fat Tuesday,” which falls the day before Lent begins.
Fat Tuesday is known as the last day of eating rich and fatty foods. The origins of the holiday can be traced all the way back to medieval Europe. Although the festival season is celebrated in many cities, New Orleans, LA is the most well-known city in the United States for the Mardi Gras celebration.
The most popular colors associated with Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. These colors all have meaning as purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. Many people participate by wearing elaborate costumes and masks.
The College Board has confirmed that AP African American Studies will become an official course in the Advanced Placement Program entering the 2024-2025 school year, with many state governments and politicians opposing this educational opportunity.
Photo by Natalie Cheng, The California Aggie
Previously, this class was only available in a select number of high schools, but it will now be available nationwide to any high school that is interested. This announcement was met with a varied response. Some praised the new class as inclusive and inspiring, but others condemned the new Advanced Placement course as “non-educational” and “anti-American.”
Furthermore, the discourse surrounding this new AP class is politically charged and has caught the attention of United States lawmakers due to its content. The Florida Department of Education decided to block the class from its state’s schools. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended his state’s rejection of the course in a press conference, referring to it as part of a “political agenda.”
“We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them,” said Governor DeSantis.
This led the College Board to engage with the Florida Department of Education in an attempt to understand their grievances with the newly proposed curriculum. Although many discussions were held, the College Board states that no specific critiques or solutions were presented by the FDOE. They were instead met with “vague, uninformed questions.”
“We had no negotiations about the content of this course with Florida or any other state, nor did we receive any requests, suggestions, or feedback,” the College Board wrote in a statement.
Despite this, the College Board still implemented changes to the new AP course that appeared to align with FDOE complaints. This was seen as a political victory for Governor DeSantis, a 2024 presidential hopeful, and caused further backlash for the College Board, this time from their own supporters. Many believed the changes to be unnecessary and simply an attempt to avoid political controversy. The College Board, now backed into a corner, decided to respond with a more hostile demeanor towards the FDOE.
“We deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida Department of Education’s slander, magnified by the DeSantis administration’s subsequent comments, that African American Studies ‘lacks educational value.’ Our failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field,” wrote the College Board.
They also claimed that the imposed modifications were not due to political pressure and had been planned for months.
Governor DeSantis would respond to this by generally blaming the College Board for the controversy, claiming topics featured in AP African American studies violate Florida’s “anti-woke” laws. These laws were put in place to prohibit K-12 teachings that suggest any individual “bears responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress” for historical acts of racism.
As it stands, it is unclear what part of AP African American Studies curriculum violates these laws specifically. Despite this lack of clarity, Governor DeSantis is now threatening to completely sever Florida’s ties with the College Board.
“This College Board, like, nobody elected them to anything. They’re just kind of there, and they’re providing services. So you can either utilize those services or not. And they’ve provided these AP courses for a long time, but, you know, there are probably some other vendors who may be able to do that job as good or maybe even a lot better,” Governor DeSantis said during a press conference.
The College Board has not yet responded to these statements, and it is unknown whether Florida will continue to support Advanced Placement courses administered by the College Board.
Last Saturday, the Braves and Jesters community took a trip to the Wild West, as they celebrated Sadie Hawkins Dance. The longtime American tradition made its return to the St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s community.
Photo by St. Joseph’s High School ASB
In order to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit, St. Joseph’s High School hosted a Sadie Hawkins Dance in the Flynn Center on Saturday, February 11th. Sadie Hawkins was inspired by a comic strip in 1937 written by cartoonist Al Capp and became popularized in America by the early 1940s. Traditionally, Sadie Hawkins tasks the girl with asking the boy to the dance, something not typically done in Homecoming, Winter Formal or Prom.
St. John Bosco High School was very receptive to this dance idea, as the school saw this as an opportunity to further the already strong relationship with sister school, St. Joseph’s.
“We were excited to bring back another old tradition. After collaborating with St. Joseph’s to bring back the Senior Swap Day last semester, this was another great idea to bring back within the community,” said senior Ryan Gutierrez. “The preparation was very smooth, as both boards wanted this event to be such a success.
The preparation of this dance took weeks because this was an event St. Joseph’s brought back from the ground up. With no recent Sadies Hawkins Dances to reference, the planning committee was open to following old traditions along with ushering in new ideas.
“[The Executive Board] was able to encompass these traditional aspects in the overall theme of the dance but still kept a modern twist by allowing students to dress up in any type of group costume,” said St. Joseph’s Executive Board Member and senior Xochitl Moreno.
Leading up to the dance, many St. Joseph’s girls asked St. John Bosco boys to the Sadies Hawkins Dance. As mentioned, they followed the typical Sadie Hawkins tradition by empowering the girls to ask the boys, reversing gender stereotypes with the Jesters providing posters and flowers to their Brave brothers.
Hosted by the St. Joseph’s Executive Board, the event began at 8pm. Upon entering, students were greeted by a live DJ and colorful lights. Following the Sadie Hawkins traditions, many couples and groups showed up in matching outfits. Most notably, many students stuck to the western theme of the dance and dressed up in flannels, jeans and cowboy hats.
“My date and I dressed up as rappers and I had a dance battle with freshman Nels Nelson. Overall, being the first Sadie Hawkins, I was surprised that so many people came dressed up and matched with their dates,” said senior and Bosco ASB Co-President Tyler Baligad.
As the night went on, the DJ kept the night lively and the dance floor active. Students were offered free refreshments and snacks to keep the energy alive. Along with this, there was a western themed backdrop and photo booth providing photo opportunities for couples and groups.
“I really enjoyed the Sadies Hawkins Dance,” said junior Christian Salinas. “We have never had a dance like this in my three years at Bosco. It was a cool idea, and I enjoyed dressing up as a cowboy.”
The night concluded at 11:00 pm with a ton of positive reviews on the newest dance. With these types of new events being introduced into the Brave and Jester community, students should continue to get excited for the creativity of the Executive Boards.
With Valentine’s Day also in season, events like these serve to help the bond between the two schools. The Executive Boards of both Bosco and St. Joseph’s invite everyone to stay tuned for more school events in the near future. Seniors from both schools can look forward to Prom later in the Spring on Saturday, April 29th.
In June, St. John Bosco students have the opportunity to take a South American trip with fellow classmates. With eyes initially set on Peru, students are now signed up to experience the Land of the Inca.
Photo by Nathan Corkhill
Due to certain circumstances in the Peruvian government, trip moderator and computer science instructor Mr. Nathan Corkhill has moved the trip farther down south to the Dominican Republic. The trip will begin on June 5th and take place over the course of eight days.
Students will be given the opportunity to experience all sorts of fun activities, as they enjoy the rich history and culture the Dominican Republic has to offer. Activities include snorkeling, zip lining, white water rafting and sight seeing on hikes.
“Something I will be doing for the first time in my life is white water rafting. I am so excited to experience that thrill of going down rivers at high speeds with my classmates,” said senior Aidan Gallagher.
Dominican food will also be enjoyed by St. John Bosco students, as the group will spend a day in Jarabacoa trying all sorts of famous Dominican barbecue from local restaurants. The students will then head on a beautiful hike and get to end their day by seeing the Jarabacoa waterfalls.
Many days will also be spent exploring some of the most beautiful beaches South America has to offer. This includes the blue and calm waters of the Boca Chica, where students will have the opportunity to learn how to surf.
“I have got really into surfing as of recently, so I am super excited to experience the different beaches and hopefully get an opportunity to surf them,” said sophomore Connor Gallagher, younger brother of senior Aidan.
During day five of the eight-day trip in the Dominican Republic, students will also be given the opportunity to learn Jiu Jitzu and the self-defense aspects that comes along with this form of martial arts.
With the trip soon arriving, sign-ups are still available until February 22nd. Twenty-five St. John Bosco students have already signed up along with four teachers and chaperones. With the trip being at a discount price, Mr. Corkhill is hoping for some new sign-ups this coming week.
“This trip has the potential to be one of the best foreign trips I have been a part of during my time at Bosco. If you have any friends or family that are free during this time, I would strongly advise them to sign up,” said Trip Director Mr. Corkhill.
As a reminder, signups for the 2023 “Discover the Dominican Republic” trip close next Wednesday, February 22nd. If students or parents have any questions or concerns regarding the trip, they should contact Mr. Nathan Corkhill via email at ncorkhill@bosco.org.
Earlier this month, the St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s High School Sophomore Board presented the annual Sophomore Lock-In for the Class of 2025.
Photo by Elizabeth Hunt, Dean of Academics and Sophomore Board Moderator
St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s High Schools’ sophomores were in luck as the schools hosted a casino night for the annual Sophomore Lock-In which included blackjack tables, roulette tables and a craps table. There was also a DJ and a dance floor that the sophomores enjoyed the night. Students were able to play these games to earn chips, which then can be used to buy tickets and in turn were put into a raffle to win prizes.
In previous years, the annual Sophomore Lock-In did not have a theme, but as time went on, this event turned into an event where all sophomores from both schools, can have fun and meet one another. Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt, who has been the Sophomore Class Moderator for almost a decade in collaboration with the Sophomore Boards from both St. Joseph’s and St. John Bosco played a very huge role in planning the event and fundraising by selling pizza, donuts and much more to help finance the Casino Night Lock-In to make the night into a lucky jackpot.
“More than anything this is a great opportunity to spend time with their fellow classmates, our boys have an opportunity to interact with the Saint Joseph girls and have fun because there are going to have a lot of other future events as well as formal dances coming up where they might find a future date,” said Mrs. Hunt.
However, the Sophomore Lock-In is more than just a meet and greet. For many sophomores, it may have been their first time attending a Braves-Jesters class event, as there have been many events within the last school year for all grade levels. The last event exclusive to the Class of 2025 was the Freshman BBQ in August of 2021. For many sophomores, it was an event where they shared quality time with one another and created new class memories for the years to come.
“The lock-in was an experience I won’t forget. This is an event that I recommend that future sophomore classes attend because you get to meet people who you may possibly know for the rest of your life,” said sophomore Andrew Ricaldai.
As this year’s Sophomore Lock-In was a great success, many sophomores from both school’s cannot wait for the next class event, the Junior Picnic, and make new memories.
“This sophomore lock-in was a new experience for me and personally I thought that the theme for it was really cool. I got to make new friends from our sister school which was the best part,” said sophomore Johannes Austin.
The Bosco Braves Hockey team competed at Honda Center, home of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, on Thursday, January 26th, where they dominated Cathedral Catholic High School.
Photo by @boscoathletics
Cathedral Catholic was formerly the leading Division Two team prior to their matchup against Bosco. After their 4-0 victory, the Braves rank near the top the state for Division Three.
The Braves were able to complete this victory in front of their sister school’s very own Saint Joseph’s Cheerleaders.
“I think it’s really cool that both members of the JV and varsity cheer team were given the opportunity to come out to support the hockey team. We haven’t had this opportunity in such a long time. It’s exciting to see the game firsthand,” senior Varsity Cheer Captain Patricia Schroeder said.
The Braves executed their victory with impressive plays by juniors Patrick Cech and Sebastian Pribula as well as freshman Kaden Curry. Cech held down the right wing on offense, putting some impressive shots in on the Don’s goalie. Pribula, the Brave’s goalie, had a total shutout with no goals coming to the back of the net. Finally, Curry played physical on the defensive end of the ice.
The 2022-2023 season has been prosperous for the Braves, as they stand at the top of the state. The success in key games, such as a victory over the Damien Spartans, the Pacific Ridge Puffins and fellow Trinity League foe JSerra Catholic. Through this, the Braves have solidified their hopes for playoffs. They are now in the process of gearing up for the road ahead of them.
“Getting the opportunity to play for the Bosco Braves and the organization has been a great experience for me,” said senior Michael Gutierrez. “I will never forget and always remember my senior year with Bosco.”
The coaching staff has played a crucial role in the development of the team overall. Head Coach Tomáš Kapusta hails from Zlín, Czech Republic, where he fostered a love for hockey at a young age. Coach Kapusta has earned two silver medals from World Junior Championships in 1985 and 1987. After that, he would be drafted into the NHL by the Edmonton Oilers based in Alberta, Canada. Finally, he participated in the Olympic Games of 1994, helping the Czech Republic National Team earn Bronze.
Notably, former Bosco Hockey player and alumnus Emmett Croteau was drafted into the NHL this last year. Croteau was the 162nd draft pick for the Montreal Canadiens, where he plays the position of goaltender.
One of the ways the Bosco team is able to be so successful is the establishment of the team as a club, rather than the typical fashion of registering it as a high school sport. This means that the Braves are able to take on players from neighboring schools without breaking any official CIF rulings. The Braves utilize this to ultimately reinforce their squad, given the hockey culture is not relatively strong in the Los Angeles area.
Long Beach Polytechnic High School senior Jeremy Loosmore is a key left wing for the team. Loosmore values his privilege to play as a member of the Braves because his school lacks an official ice hockey team.
“It is an honor to be a part of such a strong program that develops the team to not only be high caliber players, but also successful men down the road,” Jeremy Loosmore said.
Through grit and determination, the hockey team has put themselves on the map as one of Bosco’s more successful sports. Join and support the Braves on this Friday against Capistrano United at Great Park Ice and Fivepoint Arena in Irvine at 4:30 pm.
The Brave News 