Baseball

By: Farah Standley and Letizia Perrino


You know what time it is… with the JV baseball team’s season coming to a hard-fought close, the Varsity team pushes onto Regional Quarterfinals, the second round in the playoffs. Your Eagles went completely undefeated in District with a record of 12-0, including huge wins such as,  a 22-0 win against Carrizo Springs, and a 11-0 win against Uvalde. The team swept Orange Grove in Bi-District 5-2 and 13-9 to advance to Area, and won 2 games to 1 against Zapata to advance to Regional Quarterfinals against Sinton. We are excited to see what the future holds for this very talented group of athletes.

Diego Luna and Ryan Benevides, two of our Senior starters on the team, both feel Pleasanton baseball has so far been an amazing experience in their lives. Both of their favorite things about their high school baseball career is playing with friends they grew up with and just enjoying every moment as team bonding, especially on trips. They also both agree that their biggest accomplishment in high school baseball is being able to make plays and cool diving catches in the outfield for their team. Diego’s goal for the season is to have his best batting average so far, and Ryan’s is to continue to contribute to the team the best he can. 

The team plans to not let off the gas and beat everyone that stands in the way, and we all sure hope that is exactly what happens. Every single player on the team is extremely pumped and ready to take on the Pirates. Really big things could be ahead, so be ready…because the team is!

ROTC-May Edition

By: Brian Avery and Dev Patel

Welcome to the last ROTC article of the year! This month, the ROTC participated in many different activities, so let’s not waste any time and get right to it!
The first thing we will be covering is the ROTC Drill team! They went to nationals last month. Nationals were held in Daytona Beach, Florida! Cadet Major Courtney Cearly was recognized as the best overall driller at the event, so congratulations Courtney! The Eagle Battalion was a part of the Battle of the Flowers Parade for Fiesta in San Antonio on April 28th. They marched with other battalions from different ROTC programs, and Valdemar “Val” Herrera marched at the front, carrying the U.S. flag. The Battalion had a blast participating in the parade, and it was great to spend time with other ROTC members!

  We asked several ROTC members about their thoughts on the ROTC program as the year draws to a close. Val Herrera, a Command Sergeant Major who graduates this year, praised the development of the ROTC program, “My first year is nothing like what we have today. A lot of competitions we didn’t place at, but compared to now, we have trophies in the lunchroom, lobby. These last two years we have really excelled.” Cadet Staff Sergeant also praised the growth the ROTC program has experienced, “It makes a difference on our performance, and how well we do. For being a small town, we really are excelling.” Val agreed, stating that he believed they were being held to a higher standard, which contributed heavily to their success. Colonel Wynder believes that the ROTC program has only improved since he joined 4 years ago, the program better than it was the year before. “When Cadets want to be here, they get involved, and it becomes a family atmosphere.” When asked about the performance of the Cadets, he said “I know that no matter what a cadet comes with when they come here, I know they are going to reach their max potential because we challenge them and encourage them, and they meet their goals.” 

Val is heading out for active military duty whenever he graduates high school. Good luck to Val, and the rest of the ROTC program in all their future endeavors!!

Teacher Spotlight: Coach Salinas

By: Alexandra Garcia 

This May of 2023 the PHS journalism staff would like to recognize Coach Salinas as our Teacher Spotlight. We had the opportunity to interview him and get great feedback about his teaching and coaching life here at PHS.

Coach Salinas first graduated from just down the road at Jourdanton High School, and when it came time for college,… he says, “After bouncing around to a few different colleges and taking some time away to just work, I finally decided to return to UTSA and finish my degree in Kinesiology.”

 

Coach Salinas has now been teaching here at PHS for 10 years. When he first started he only taught geometry, but after 3 years he started teaching Algebra 1 along with geometry to the freshman class.

Coach Salinas was also known for coaching football and basketball for the first 7 years here at PHS but eventually decided to take a step away from coaching to be there for his wife and kids.

He was first inspired to teach because he wanted to impact students and our Atascosa County. 

He says “I grew up in this community and feel that I can relate to many students on this campus.”

 

Originally he wanted to become a coach before he wanted to become a teacher because of the impact his coaches had on his life. But not long after he says he believed he had fallen in love with teaching as the side job of coaching, and feels that he still can make a difference with every student he teaches along with students he coached. 

Coach Salinas says “When things are tough, I like to look at this Dr. Seuss quote which hangs in my room. It reads, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.” My goal here is to ensure that students feel like I care about who they are, besides being a student in my class.”

 

“I also really enjoy Algebra and working with Freshman students because I feel that I can make a stronger impact on their high school experience and understand expectations on our campus.”

He states that one of his favorite parts of teaching here is “seeing the growth of my students every year. Every student has something special about themselves, and I enjoy having a year to watch my students grow and find their way here at PHS.”

Even with teaching, Coach Salinas stays busy outside school as well. He says “Since I have kids, most of my weekends consist of kid activities, like the Zoo or Sea World. But when I have free time to myself, I enjoy playing golf with some friends/coworkers. I’m also in grad school to one day become an Assistant Principal/Principal, so that takes up most of my time outside of here.”

PHS is so fortunate to have Coach Salinas here and wish to thank him for all that he does!

Monthly Cause

Image

 

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness for people’s health mentally, rather than physically. Mental health is important because it impacts relationships, attitude, community wellness, work productivity, and most of all, the stressing of life. 

However, many people suffer from their mental health. This month is the month to encourage others to seek the health care they need. This month provides the opportunity to focus on self care and show the importance of mental health. Many people have been through traumatic events and it has had a negative impact on their minds. 

Mental Health Awareness was established since 1949 and was created mostly to educate people on conditions like depression, bi-polar disorders, anxiety, and copying with toxic family environments . Over time, substance abuse has increasingly grown and harmed others in the long run causing some to go dumb, cause migraines, and severe breathing problems .

  You can help raise awareness by asking how people are doing, or doing a good deed to enlighten someone’s day. You can greatly impact a person’s life just by one little doing.

The Quill- May Edition

Welcome to the last Poll of the 2022-2023 school year! This month, we asked you a slew of different questions, so lets get into it!

We asked you about what you would miss when the school year would draw to a close, and the popular answer was “My Friends!” It’s great to have such strong bonds, and we hope you are all able to stay in contact and spend time together over the summer! After that, we gave everyone a chance to shout-out someone or multiple people who made an impact on you! Here are our answers!

– I would like to thank Mrs. Williams, she has been one of my favorite teachers and her teaching style is what I feel like a lot of our teachers should do. She is amazing and always makes me feel welcome and I was so happy I was able to have her for a teacher.
– Mrs infante
– Ms.Minnear and Coach Everett had a big impact on my life and I am very thankful and grateful for everything they’ve done for me .
– Definitely Mr. Stub, he’s funny especially with his dad jokes and really enjoyed his class.
– Brianna Lopez had such an amazing impact on me and I love her more than anything! She makes me life better everyday, just by being in it!
– Mr.Salinas without him I wouldn’t be doing good and understanding math like I am now.
– To my favorite person, Liam Powell. He’s been an amazing person in my life this year and has really help me changed for the better.
– Ms Roberson has been one of the best teachers I have ever had and her class was one of my favorites I was always happy to go to her class.
– I want to shout out to Juan Casis for staying in art without Juan I probably would’ve had a way different year.
– Michaela Anguiano, she taught me many things inside and outside of school. She is a senior so she would always teach or tell me tricks that I can apply to school as well as she helped me tremendously with anything musical involved. As well as outside of school she taught me how to be courageous and calm even in hard situations. It’s hard to see her go and I will miss her lots but I can never thank her enough for how great of a friend she has been to me.
– Thank you Mrs.Hardy
– Austin Ludlam & Karen Harris
– Shout-out to all my teachers not just the ones from senior year but from all grades up to today for pushing me and believing in me when i did not believe in my self.
– I will like to thank my junior teachers most of them gave me one of the best year to remember and I learn so much that year so I was able to do great things this year
– Alexis Padilla because she is the only reason I even came to school everyday, even when she wasn’t here.
– Rylee Maspero, she is my best friend and dearest sister, and I love her and appreciate her every single day of my life.
– My shout out would go to Mrs. Vargas because she is very understanding and patient.
– The entire senior yearbook/journalism staff.
– Mrs. Lasater is so down to earth and has the most interesting perspectives/ life you can learn a lot just by having a conversation
– Mrs. Breiten is just the dopiest teacher this is been know she just a cool person and a great teachers
– My Mom
– Raylin, senior she’s made me grow as a person and I’ll miss her
– Someone who has made a huge impact in my life would be Cierra she has help me thought a lot this pass school year and I’m sad she has to leave this year and I am going to miss are coventsing that we have on the bus or just at school she has been there for me my whole life she is my best friend/my favorite person/my favorite senior/ Like my big sister.
– We asked you to give us some advice to feature at the start of next year, We thank you for all of your contributions!
As we draw this year to a close, we thank you dear readers for sticking with us and supporting this year. We wish you a wonderful summer!

Poem of the Month

A Warm Summer Breeze-

The trees whisper in the breeze

The forest peaceful, quiet, and serene.

The warm breeze like a soft caress,

Momentarily eliminating all stress.

 

Without delay it carries on

Leaving the place in silence when it’s gone.

A summer day, a summer breeze.

Softly whispered through the trees.

 

The summer breeze, softly it comes,

Quickly it leaves,

Causing soft whispers in the trees.

It came and soon left, a summer breeze.

 

By: Christina Rossetti

 

Summer is almost here and the times we share in school are coming to an end. The seniors are getting ready to start the next chapter of their lives. Most will be going to college, the work force, or the military. Friends will have to say goodbye, yet still can hang out in the summer and make some more memories before school starts again.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Passionate Poet

 

Sweet Treat

By: Savannah Valdez

Are you looking for a sweet treat that will sweep everyone off of their feet? Then you came to the right place! For this month’s issue the sweet treat is Strawberry cake cookies! These are a great summer treat for you and your friends.

Here are some ingredients you’ll need:

  • 1 box of strawberry cake mix
  • 2 whole eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup of powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup of flour (for rolling dough)
  • Cookie sheet

Let’s start baking:

  1. To start you will begin preheating the oven to 375 F and line a cookie sheet with parchment or silicone liners.
  2. In a medium sized bowl insert the 2 eggs and vegetable oil and whisk till combined well.
  3. Add into the medium sized bowl your box of cake mix and ½ cup of powdered sugar. Once added, mix all ingredients together well.
  4. Pour the ⅓ cup of flour mixture into a bowl. Using a cookie or ice cream scooper, you will make balls of dough about the size of a golf ball. Once you roll the balls of dough, you then place them in the flour mixture then once coated, you can place them on the cookie sheet.
  5. Once you have all the dough balls on the sheet, you can then insert them into the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes till they slightly rise.
  6. Once risen, you will take them out of the oven, let them cool, and enjoy!

There you have it guys, all it takes is 6 simple steps to make these delicious cookies. You will be the one they won’t forget this summer! Enjoy!

Advice Column

By: Aaliyah Herrera 

Summer is just around the corner and this month’s issue we have mainly summer questions for this month’s advice column. All questions will be anonymously by students here at PHS. Let’s get right into it!

Here to start us off, “what are some fun things to do during the summer if you have no money and you have no transportation? – anonymous” some ideas are taking a walk in your neighborhood, having a picnic or camping out in your backyard, or even inviting friends over for a sleepover at your house. 

Next, “what are some ways to keep track of your memories for this school year? – anonymous” what could help is vlogging or even writing down about your memories or fun experiences from this year! Having them fresh in your mind would help out even more to get exactly every detail right in that particular memory. 

Furthermore, “what is a good way to plan out a summer trip – anonymous” a good way that could help you plan is communicating with the people you are traveling with to figure out a good date to schedule the trip doing so will help a lot and make things easier when it comes to the day of the trip. Assign who will bring what on the trip so everybody could pitch in for the trip. And find a place to stay as soon as possible for the trip. 

Following, “what can keep me occupied during this summer? – anonymous” some options are taking a week long vacation whether it be a beach trip or going camping doing this will keep you occupied and exposed to outdoor activities. Also taking a trip to another state or city is a great way to get out and explore new places!

Last but not least, “what are some indoor activities to do during this summer? – anonymous” If you’re wanting to keep cool this summer some indoor activities could consist of going to a museum or indoor attraction such as, arcade, skate rink, or even an aquarium! These are just some ideas there are so much more you could find online or near you!

These were such great questions for this month’s issue. If you enjoyed this and want your questions answered in the next advice column next year go to your class in google classroom and go to the POLL where you can ask your questions there!

Movie Review: Evil Dead Rise

By: Myame Lara

Evil Dead Rise 2023 U.S. One Sheet Poster - Posteritati Movie Poster Gallery

A new addition to the Evil Dead franchise has recently hit screens worldwide and made $40 million alongside its debut. Gaining a rating of 4 stars out of 5 on Rotten Tomatoes, and  6.9 stars out of 10 on IMDb, the movie also gained mixed reviews from the public. Evil Dead Rise follows sisters Beth and Ellie, played by Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland, reunion as it gets cut short by “the rise of flesh-possessing demons.”

This movie is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as it is packed with gore and uncomfortable scenes. Evil Dead Rise wastes no time to get the show started, and as much as I loved it, it quickly became obvious why this movie received mixed reviews from critics all around. Along with the movie’s quick start, I expected a clear storyline to play a part in it, but to my disappointment there was none. Though a failing storyline, this movie was a great addition to the Evil Dead franchise and has introduced us to new characters that are quickly becoming fan favorites!

If I had to put a rating on this movie, I would rate it a solid 6/10. The movie had great potential and I would recommend it to any gore-loving horror fans. Just keep the snacks in the cabinet for this one!

May 2023 – Horoscopes

 

By: May Smith

 

  Aries – This is a great time to focus on your finances. You may be feeling particularly ambitious and driven when it comes to your career, and your hard work is likely to pay off. You may also find yourself attracted to new money-making opportunities, so be sure to keep your eyes open for any potential investments or side hustles that could boost your income. Avoid being stubborn in the matters of the heart and look to resolve issues at the earliest.

 

   Taurus – This month is an excellent time to focus on your career goals. You may have new opportunities coming your way that will allow you to showcase your talents and skills. Take advantage of these opportunities and show off what you’re capable of. You may also see an increase in your finances. If you’re in a relationship, you and your partner may feel more connected and in tune with each other. However, be mindful of communication issues.

 

  Gemini – Focus on building your reputation and expanding your network this month. You may find that your hard work pays off as you receive recognition and opportunities for advancement. Additionally, this is a great time to consider investing in your education or skill set to further your professional growth. Avoid taking loans of any kind. If in a relationship, be mindful of any possessive or controlling tendencies that may arise.

 

  Cancer – Your social and networking skills are likely to bring new opportunities your way. You may get a chance to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share your goals, and this could lead to success in your career. Financially, this is a good time for investments and new projects. With proper planning and guidance, you can achieve financial growth. This is a great time to strengthen existing relationships, both romantic and platonic.

 

  Leo – You are likely to receive recognition for your hard work and your efforts will be appreciated by superiors. You may also receive a promotion or a raise in your current job. However, it is important to be cautious and not let success get to your head. You will be able to manage your finances well. You may receive some unexpected financial gains. For those who are single, this month may bring opportunities to start a new relationship.

 

  Virgo – You may feel more confident and optimistic about your future prospects, and this may encourage you to take on new projects or start a new business venture. You may also find yourself drawn to learning new skills or pursuing higher education. In matters of the heart, you may find yourself feeling more adventurous and open-minded. Try to incorporate some relaxation techniques into your daily routine to manage stress.

 

  Libra – You may feel a desire to take control of your finances and investments. This is a good time to review your financial situation and make any necessary adjustments. You may also find yourself drawn to spiritual and mystical pursuits, seeking deeper insights into the mysteries of life. You may find yourself confronting issues around trust. It’s important to be honest with yourself and your partner about your feelings.

 

  Scorpio – This month, your focus will be on partnerships and collaborations in your career. It’s important to lean on your colleagues and work together to achieve your goals. You may find that you are more successful when working in a team than when working alone. Consider consulting with a financial advisor to help you make smart investments. Singles may be drawn to people who have a strong sense of teamwork.

 

  Sagittarius – You are likely to be busy with projects and responsibilities, but you have the energy and enthusiasm to tackle them all. Consider saving more and cutting back on unnecessary expenses. You may also find that a new opportunity for additional income arises. In your personal relationships, you may find that conflicts arise, but with an open and honest dialogue, you can find a resolution. Keep your energy levels high by eating healthy food.

 

  Capricorn – Romance is in the air this month, and you are likely to be swept off your feet. If you’re single, you may meet someone new who shares your interests and values. This could be someone you meet through a creative pursuit or a social event. Your career and finances are also looking up this month. The stars will bring positive energy and recognition to your creative talents. Financially you may receive unexpected income or a bonus.

 

  Aquarius – Your career may take an exciting turn this month. This is a good time to network, make connections, and promote your skills and talents. Keep an eye out for any potential investments or business opportunities that may come your way. In personal life, you may have some difficult conversations with your partner, but the outcome will be positive and lead to a deeper understanding of each other.

 

  Pisces – You may find yourself feeling a little restless and uncertain about your career path. You may feel that you’re not making progress as quickly as you would like, and this can lead to some frustration. Gradually, there will be improvement in your work life. Financially, this is a good time to focus on long-term investments, as they are likely to pay off in the future. You may have a strong urge to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in a while.

The end of a decade, but the start of an age

By: Libby Sanchez and Jaelyn Morales

As the 2022-2023 school year is coming to an end, the senior class is preparing themselves to graduate and start the next chapter of their lives. Even though most of us don’t wanna grow up, these last 4 years have prepared us to go out into the world and strive for success. On May 26th, 2023, at 8pm, the senior class will gather for one more goodbye. It’s hard not to find it all a little bittersweet and while our class has had many ups and downs, Long story short, we survived! 

For the class of 23 favorites, the seniors voted in favor of silver and green as the class colors, the white rose as the class flower, and “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift as the class song. These past 4 years might’ve been happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time, but they were also years full of many joyous memories with friends and family. There are five seniors graduating from the journalism class and staff editors on the Quill graduating are as follows: Editor in Chief- Libby Sanchez, Copy Editor- Jaelyn Morales, Photo Editor- Noah Ramos, and Managing Editor- Brian Avery. We are all going to miss journalism very much, but not as much as we are going to miss Mrs. Minniear who has been an amazing role model. 

As a class, we all gave our “blood”, sweat, and tears for this moment and survived the Great War. I want to wish every single person in our class the best of luck in their future endeavors and with whatever path they choose to follow. Congratulations Class of 2023, “Long live the walls we crashed through. I had the time of my life, with you” and lastly I want to remind everyone that Taylor Swift was right, “You’re on your own kid.”

The Summer Memory

By: Alex Richter

Under the summer sun, one afternoon I was sitting on the beach. My brother had been entirely buried in sand, as I stood on top of him in victory. Even though he had let me do it, I liked the feeling of winning something, even though I wasn’t really. His brown hair was dropped toward the center of his face, and he looked up, smiling.

“This is actually way better than sitting in the sun, thanks Tom,” my brother, Will said.

“Wait what? That’s not fair, you weren’t supposed to enjoy it,” I spat.

“Eh, don’t worry about it. I’m going to unbury myself anyway,”

“The water looks rough, I kinda want to go out… Will you come with me?”

“Yeah, just give me a moment,” he strained. 

I watched as he pulled his torso slowly out of the sand, struggling to get out. Of course, I didn’t help, yeah sure I buried him, that doesn’t make me responsible for unburying him. Placing his hands on either side of him, he lifted one leg after the other out of the sand, panting slightly. I was beginning to question if it was really as hard as he was making it seem.

“Oh, please. It’s not that hard coming out of the sand ‘innit?”

“And you’re actually watching me struggle, not doing anything about it, don’t tell me anything like that. Tom, you’re a spoiled brat,” he breaths, lifting himself fully out. “You know, if you weren’t my brother I’d probably hate you, but unfortunately you are.”

“Uh-huh, yeah sure.” I spoke, thinking. I have an idea… “Race me, one lap around that big rock over there.”

“That’s too far, Tom. You know that.”

“You’re pretty scared even though you’re… What? How old are you? Thirty?”
“I am 21, Tom. Old is not a way to describe me just yet.”

“Please, just come on,” I had said, laughing. 

As we lined up at the same distance from the water, I yelled and swiftly took a deep breath, diving into the warm ocean. Swimming was not a hobby that I often did, but I was feeling confident. Clear waters were in every direction, I had already made it out pretty far. Veering upward, I spotted Will, swimming as fast as his legs could take him.

Morning would’ve been a more suitable time for swimming in the ocean, because it would’ve been cooler. Questioning my distance, I stared in wonder, in the distance.

Wait, where is Will? 

Ten seconds prior, I had not noticed Will hitting the rock on accident; he was then slipping further into the depths of the sea. I wish I would have noticed him sooner, I might’ve been able to save him. I watched him perish in the summer of 2018, not knowing what to do. Of course, I was only 14, naive and stupid.

Please come back, please.

As if I was a god with the ability of resurrection, I had wished with all my heart that we would see each other again. During that time, I was just watching, he was probably looking right at me. Just as I was starting to grow up, I had been hit with a wave of sadness and depression that no words would be capable of describing. Knowing Will, he would not wish grief upon me, he would say: “Listen to me, Tom; because of you I am dead, yet I felt so alive when it happened. Mourning me is unnecessary if you were the best brother anyone could ask for, and I’ll always thank you for that.” He’d say something poetic like that.

Nevertheless, I am successful in my life, and I wouldn’t let the death of a loved one change that. We all experience loss at some point, but it’s a part of life. Rolling with it can be necessary at some point when that happens. The point is, not to forever mourn them, but to move on and continue to be happy.

One Last Goal!

By: Brian Avery

Welcome to the last Soccer article of the 2022-2023 school year! For this article, we are combining the Women’s and Men’s soccer articles into one! Without further ado, let’s get right into it.

First, let’s check in on the Men’s Soccer Team. Both teams traveled to Uvalde where the JV tied 1-1, and the Varsity lost 1-3. After that, both teams went to Floresville, with the JV losing 0-1, and the Varsity tied 1-1. Both teams played Somerset, and the JV won 3-2, with the Varsity the varsity winning 2-1. Now, the varsity boys were in the play-offs, and the boys played La Vernia in the first round. It was a long tough fight, and with the regular time of the game ending 0-0. They went into overtime, an extra 20 minutes, and they were still tied after that, so they went to penalty kick shootouts. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost 3-5 in shootouts, and the boy’s season was over.

Picking up where we left off , the varsity team played Uvalde at home, unfortunately losing 1-2. Dusting themselves off, they traveled to Floresville, tying the home team 0-0. They came home to play Somerset, and lost again 0-2. After all these losses, the girls picked themselves up and beat Poteet 5-0 at home. The girls were now in the playoffs, going against Gonzales in the first round. After a long game, the girls were barely beaten 0-1, ending their season. 

To conclude both seasons, I reached both head coaches, and a varsity player from each team. For the Women’s team, I spoke with Coach Joseph, but unfortunately was unable to get in contact with one of the players. When asked about the lady’s season, Coach Joseph said “Overall, I am happy with the season. Coaching a young team with over 50% first-year varsity players as a first-year head coach proved to be a challenge, but I felt as though we handled the challenge well and began building something special this season.” He also praised the leadership of Grace Keylich and Paige David, “Those seniors truly upheld both the program’s core values and their coach’s standard on and off the field.” Coach Joseph did express his disappointment that the ladies didn’t get as far as he hoped, but held his head high, stating that he feels good about the future. “That loss will continue to serve as a reminder that we have work to do this off-season and next pre-season. Humility fuels hunger!” Looking forward, he spoke of his excitement for next season, as the majority of the team will be at PHS still next year, and he expects another level of understanding and drive next year, “I am retaining nearly my entire squad who now has an excellent understanding of what I expect from them in their play and conduct.” 

As for the Men’s Team, they had similar things to say. Coach Breiten expressed satisfaction with the season’s results, praising the team’s chemistry on and off the field, but had a hunger for more. Stefan had similar sentiments, stating “I didn’t have any regrets, it was a process going through the season with all the younger guys, and I think that we didn’t finish too bad.” Coach Breiten was impressed with Keeton Diaz, a Freshman, and his rapid improvement throughout the season, “I didn’t know he had that type of ability as a Freshman.” Coach Breiten and Stefan were very happy with the last game of the season and stated that even though they lost, it was an amazing game. Stefan mentioned that he wished that more pressure was placed on the players to focus up and take things seriously, such as drills during practice, which Coach Brieten agreed with, “Some of the little things added up and caught us in the long run.” Stefan believes that if the upcoming team gets into the right mindset and follows the new process and training that Coach Brieten has set out for them, they will do well. Coach Brieten felt optimistic about the team for next year but admitted that the remaining players have a lot of work to do, “It’s going to be interesting, we’re going to see who steps up.” He wishes the Class of 2023 success in their future endeavors!

Powerlifting

By: Jaelyn Morales

Kayla Salazar at the State Meet with her coaches.

On Feb 15th, the Pleasanton Girls Powerlifting team took 4th place at the Texas Strength Systems. Kayla Salazar finished 1st place in her respective weight class and qualified for regionals! Laura Deleon and Yasmeen Diop finished 3rd and Abigail Hotchkins, Alyssa Castellar, Anna Castillo, Kylie Breier, Karina Perez, and Makenna Pelle also had excellent lifts.

On March 2nd, the team took 2nd place at their regional meet in Edinburg, Texas. Kayla Salazar finished 2nd place in her respective weight class. Abigail Hotchkins and Makenna Pelle finished 8th in their respective weight classes. 

The Pleasanton Boys Powerlifting team took 2nd place at the Texas Strength Systems on Feb 16th and Diego Valdez and Sebastian Aguilar placed 1st in their respective weight class. Roman Hernandez and Zeke Gonzlaes finished 2nd, Kaydin Olle finished 3rd, Andrew Murillo finished 4th, Paul Bernal and Keagan Holes finished 5th, and Damon Morales finished 6th. Valdemar Herrera also had excellent lifts. The boys then placed 2nd at the Regional Meet in Kingsville, Texas. Diego Valdez placed 2nd in his respective weight class and qualified for the State Meet in Abilene, Texas on March 24th. Sebastian Aguilar placed 3rd in his respective weight class, Roman Hernandez, Andrew Murillo, and Zeke Gonzlaes also represented Pleasanton at the Regional Meet and had excellent lifts.

Kayla Salazar proudly qualified for the State Meet on March 17th held in Frisco, Texas and capped off her season with a 7th place finish at state! Diego Valdez also qualified for the State Meet on March 24th held in Abilene, Texas and finished his season placing 5th in his respective weight class. Both Kayla and Diego ended their historic season on a great note and made everyone at PHS very proud. Congratulations to the powerlifting team on their incredible season. They all competed very well and had many accomplishments throughout the season! Pride! Pride!

Hitting the Course

By: Ariana Johnson 

Mark Thornton making his swing at the Devine Tournament

On February 13th, the Pleasanton Varsity Boys Green and White teams played at the Devine Tournament. Pleasanton Green scores are: Brandy Steven 80, Mark Thornton 85, Grant Moos 86, and Levi Turner 93. The Pleasanton White scores are: Aiden Contreras 103, Holden Hagen 105, Pablo Lara 105, Max Rangel 109, and Nathen Din 118. 

April 19th, the boy’s golf team competed in a two-day tournament on our home course at Pleasanton Country Club. The Green Team shot a team total of 699 and finished 1st. They also had Brady Stevens finish 2nd and Mark Thornton finish 3rd individually. Brandy Steven scored 80-87 total 167, Mark Thornton 85-84 total 169, Levi Turner  93–91 total 184, and Grant Moos 86–86  total 179. There were also two medalists, Pablo Lara 105–103 total 208, and Holden Hagen 108–111 total 219.

February 22nd, the Pleasanton Golf Team went to Devine and they finished 3rd with a team total of 359. The boy’s scores for the Devine meet are as follows: Brady Stevens 85, Mark Thornton 87, Levi Turner 85, Grant Moos 102, and Pablo Lara 104. They also had one medalist, Aiden Contreras 103. 

March 2nd, the golf team went to Jourdanton golf tournament and finished second with a score of 348. The team’s individual scores are: Brandy Stevens 86, Mark Thornton 83, Levi Turner 91, Grant Moos 88, and Nathen Din 114. Mark Thornton finished 4th overall and Holden Hagen was a medalist with a score of 118. 

The boy’s Gold team competed in a golf tournament on March 10 & 11th in Uvalde which was their District meet and came away as the tournament Champions. They shot a two day total of Day 1: 336,  Day 2: 326, with a score total of 662: 1st place. The boys individual scores are as follows: Jake Casias 75, Mark Thornton 75, Luke Thornton 81, Levi Turner 84, and Brandy Stevens 88. Jake Casias got first place and Mark Thornton got second place with medalist Grant Moos with a score of 91. They are going to Regionals in Colony Creek in Victoria April 19th and 20th. Make sure to wish our Eagle Golfers good luck! 

Keep up to date on PHS Golf scores by following the “PHS Tee it Up” Facebook page, and read our next issue!

Women’s Golf

By: Jaelyn Morales

The Pleasanton Girls Golf Team has had an amazing season, but unfortunately it has come to an end. Looking back on the season, the lady eagles have had many accomplishments such as placing 3rd at the Jourdanton Tournament and individual Sadie Mcada, placing 3rd at the Uvalde Pre-District tournament and 5th at the Uvalde Tournament. Sadie also received 1st Team All-District Awards. 

“My favorite part about this season was the overnight trip to Uvalde when the whole golf team played Uno and walked across the street to Stripes,” Mcada quoted. “I also really loved figuring out my game and being somewhat confident with it.” When asked what she’ll miss the most, Sadie Mcada quoted, “I’m going to miss the whole golf tournament day when I just get to have a day walking around the outdoors while competing for something bigger and getting the opportunity to advance such as regionals and state.” Congratulations Lady Eagles on a wonderful season and good luck Sadie on your future endeavors.  Pride! Pride!

Meet, Defeat, Repeat

By: Kassidy Vickers

On March 2nd, the Eagle Track Team had their third meet of the year on their own turf. Both the Varsity girls and boys dominated the meet with many gold medals and overall team wins. The girls ended with a total of 264.5 team points and the guys had 199. The female first place gold medalists were Alex Balderas- 200m dash, Ciarah Garcia- 400m dash, Kassidy Vickers- 3200m run, Megan Mayse- 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay (Mary Martinez, Kennedy Miller, Angel Tucker, Alex Balderas), 4x200m relay (Alex Balderas, Kiley Wiechring, Angel Tucker, Megan Mayse), Kennedy Miller- Long Jump, Victoria Veale- Spot Put and Discus, Ciarah Garcia- triple jump, Kiley Wieching- high jump, and Layla Rodriguez- pole vault. The male first place gold medalist were Brian Jones- 100m dash, Sean Ramos- 400m dash, long jump, and triple jump, Mason Little- 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay (Timothy Klein, Bryan Jones, Daniel Coronado, Sean Ramos), Evan Guardiola- discus, and Alvaro Sanchez- pole vault. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans for this home meet and it ended early.

Following this great win, the eagles track team traveled to Somerset to compete in the Detmer relays on March 9th. The varsity girls team came in second while the boys came in 4th. The gold medalist for the girls included Ciarah Garcia in triple jump and Kiley Wiechring in high jump. For the male team, the gold medalists included Sean Ramos- 400m dash and the 4x400m relay team (Sean Ramos, Daniel Coronado, Timothy Klein, Jayden Palacios). While this meet did not see as many gold medals, everyone still did amazing and worked really hard.
On March 23, coming off of spring break, the Pleasanton Eagles track team traveled to La Vernia. All of the Eagles tried their best and did so many amazing things.

A week later on March 30, the Eagles traveled to Randolph to compete in the Randolph Invitational meet. Unfortunately, the track team faced more problems with the weather and field events were canceled. However, the running event still continued on and there were many great athletes who gave it their all even through the unpredictable weather.

Our Pleasanton Eagles track team had an amazing experience as the varsity women’s 4x400m relay team (Megan Mayse, Mary Martines, Angel Tucker, Ciarah Garcia), and the males 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay (Sean Ramos, Daniel Coronado, Timothy Klein, Jayden Palacios) teams made it to the Texas Relays through their hard work and exceptional times. The guys 4×400 really showed off their talents with being placed 3rd overall at this huge event. The women’s 4×400 also did astounding and received a personal best time.

Senior Angel Tucker is one of the incredible women that is on the 4x400m relay team. She also competes in the 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, high jump, and discus. For Angel, what has been the most rewarding is all of the hard work that she has put into track. She says, “Especially not giving up no matter how hard the workout is. Now it finally paid off and I’m headed to Our Lady of the Lake for track.” That is absolutely remarkable for Angel and we want to congratulate and hope for the best as she continues her track career into college. Her goals for this season is to make it to regionals in the 4x400m relay and to constantly be improving. We wish her the best of luck as she continues this season and we know that she will be able to achieve great things.

The Pleasanton Lady Eagles also have two new coaches this season, Coach Foster and Coach Leal. This year will make it Coach Fosters 6th year coaching. From Coach Foster’s perspective, the season has been going great and she said, “We have a great group of girls who really work hard and want to get better each day and it’s been a really fun and exciting journey so far and I think it’s still only the beginning for the girls track program.” That is such great news and we wish her luck as she guides our athletes to success.

The Pleasanton journalism staff would also like to wish our Pleasanton Eagles track team the best of luck as they head into district on April 12th and 13th. We hope to see lots of athletes continue on their season and advance to area. Pride, Pride!

Everything comes to an end

By: Letizia Perrino

The tennis season has come to an end, and the team has achieved great results during the last month. 

On March 2nd Pleasanton high school hosted their second home tournament and various members of the team had great results, placing in every category. Mixed doubles team, boys doubles team and Boys singles got first place, Girls singles got second place and Girls doubles team got third place.

On March the 9th the team played the Madison tournament, and had great results, the girls doubles team got first place in the B draw, the boys doubles team got second place in the B draw and the mixed doubles team got third place in the main draw.

On March 24th and 25th the team played the Pre-District tournament in Uvalde and the results were great, the team placed third overall thanks to the athletes’ great results. 

On March 29th and 30th the varsity team played the District tournament and the number 1 boys doubles placed second and qualified for the regional tournament.  The boys played the tournament on April 11th and 12th in San Antonio, and lost to LaVernia 6-0 6-1 

After speaking with the head coach Everett he said that he is really happy with the results that the team achieved this year and he was really proud of the athletes that qualified for regionals. The team will keep practicing even if the season is over because he is looking forward to great seasons next year.  

After speaking with one of the players, Farah Standley she said that she is happy about the results she made during this season and she loved playing with the team, she is going to miss all the seniors. Farah is a sophomore and she has been on the varsity team since her freshman year and she can’t wait for next season to start. She hopes to improve her results and play even better than this year. 





Prepare the Sendoff!

By: Farah Standley

The Pleasanton Baseball Team has been doing exceptionally well! With an overall record of 19 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties, as well as a 9-0 record in District, the boys are really showing what they can do on the field. This team has been working very hard to get better and further in the playoffs than they ever have before. They have 3 games left until Playoffs, and you can bet they are getting more and more pumped with every game that goes by. 

Tanner Hollis, a 4 year letter and 3 year starter for our Eagles, generously shared his feelings about himself and the season. “My favorite thing about Pleasanton Baseball is the fanbase we have”, he noted, “Our fans make the atmosphere amazing, and that’s something I love to play in.” Tanner has been an amazing addition to the great group of athletes we have, and always gets everyone pumped up and ready to play. As an athlete, he has many personal goals, and according to him, one would be, “To be a role model for incoming players and young kids so that way they know what to do when they get here”. Having a lot of seniors on the team can be confusing, leadership wise, but he says it actually helps a lot because they all have relatively the same ideals. He feels great about the season so far, as they have never been undefeated in District, and they are well on their way to accomplishing that. Many people around school know that Tanner is taking his career to the next level and playing college baseball for McMurry University. “I’m looking forward to the atmosphere and competition that college baseball offers,” he said, “There is nothing like it.” Good luck, baseball!

Band UIL

By: Ariana Johnson

The Symphonic Band picture after UIL

On March 10th, both bands performed at the Pleasanton Performing Arts Center for UIL. The Symphonic Band got a 2 in concert and a 2 in sight reading. The Wind Ensemble got a 1 in concert and a 1 in sight reading. Mr. Solis is extremely proud of the Wind Ensemble and is pleased with the progress the Symphonic band has made throughout this year. He also stated, “They are a young group and I am very confident that they will quickly be at a 1st Division level. The band as a whole is extremely talented and we are very pleased with their hard work this year.” Great job to both bands.

The band has Taste of Band this Saturday, April 22nd. It’s an event where sections get together and choose a style of food and the band members of that section bring in a food that goes with the style and they also have on theme decorations and costumes. It starts at 5 pm in the High School Cafeteria, the tickets are $10 and available from any band member.

Next, the Mighty Eagle Band will be performing in the Fiesta Flambeau Illuminated Night Parade in San Antonio on Saturday, April 29th. The band also has the High School Spring Band Concert on May 8th at 7 pm at the Performing Arts Center. The High School Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble Concert will be on May 9th at 7 pm. The Pleasanton Band also has 15 students that have advanced to the state solo and ensemble contest on May 19th in Austin.

BPA State

By: Myame Lara

On March 3rd, the Pleasanton High School Business Professionals of America, BPA, began their 4-day State Leadership Conference held in Dallas, Texas. Attending members included: Seniors, Michaela Anguiano, Bennack Conroy, Elynore Hernandez, Gage Pawelek, Alexis Ramos, and Stefon Torres, Juniors, Alexandria Balderas, and Delanie De La Fuente, Sophomores, Lauren Miles, and Jadyn Swan, and Freshman, Maribel Cerrillo, Tanner McDougal, Adyson Pawelek, Isabella Trapp, Genieve Turner, and Sophie Zeng, along with an advisor, Janie Olivarri.  

At the BPA State Leadership Conference, members are given the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills, and personal and professional development, and explore careers-related competencies. In the duration of their four-day trip to Dallas, The Pleasanton BPA club attended a series of events and activities. On day four of their trip, they attended the awards ceremony, which revealed those who will be attending the National Conference in Anaheim, California, April 26th- 30th.

Pleasanton High School BPA brought home three National Qualifiers which included: Alexis Ramos-1st Presentation Individual, Jadyn Swan-2nd Economic Research, and Lauren Miles-4th Fundamental Word Processing. At the State Leadership Conference, three of Pleasanton High School BPA members received alternate awards of which including Stefon Torres- 5th Health Leadership Topics, Michaela Anguiano- 6th Administrative Support Research, and Delanie De La Fuente- 7th Prepared Speech. Members Jadyn Swan and Lauren Miles are both first-time BPA competitors. In order to prepare for the National Conference, the Pleasanton BPA has been fundraising for their trip, and is currently almost at their goal of $4,000! Along with that, they are gathering paperwork, reviewing material, and reserving equipment. During the duration of the PHS BPA will compete, attend workshops, listen to speakers, sight-see, and may even have the chance to visit Disneyland. 

Mrs. Olivarri quotes, “Sending students out into the world knowing they have the skills needed to be successful after high school makes me happy and fills my cup every year.”  Pleasanton High School is very proud of the outstanding results we’ve received this BPA season, and are very excited about the outcome of the National Conference! Pride, Pride!

JROTC

By: Libby Sanchez

This month has been crazy busy for the Pleasanton High School ROTC group. They ended March with one of their biggest events, the Military Ball. They hosted it at Strawberry Pines in Poteet on March 25th, and had a magnificent turnout. Cadets did a phenomenal job planning this event and following through with a very successful night, full of laughs and a good time. They went as far as reaching out to a guest speaker, Colonel Phil Palmore, and inviting him to this event. His speech is something for these young cadets to hold on to for years to come. Students dressed to impress for the Ball, and many went home as winners of the Royal Court. Daylan Aguero and Taliah Garcia won Lord and Lady. Rion Ochoa and Leah Torres won Dutch and Dutchess. Wally Ramirez and Alyssa Castelar won Prince and Princess. The role of King and Queen was given to Valdemar Herrera and Natalia Jones. A huge accomplishment given to these cadets who deserve it!

The first weekend of April was a competitive one for the Eagle Battalion.. They took their all to the Central Catholic High School Military Skills meet against 16 JROTC programs from across the region. Krista Gutierrez took charge of the unarmed drill team and led them to finishing 2nd overall. They also finished 2nd and 3rd places in two sub categories of the competition. As for the male and female physical fitness teams, they both finished 1st place! Of the male team: Captain Valdemar Herrera, Roman Martinez, Rion Ochoa, and Jayden Herrera. Of the female team: Captain Alyssa Castelar, Yasmeen Diop, Abigail Hotchkin, and Lillian Krause. Both teams competed their hearts out and it definitely showed in the end! Honorable mention to the Academic Bowl team that finished 4th out of 18 teams. Alana Moczygemba, Hailey Yoho, Mason Outland, and Lane Ciomperlik did a phenomenal job representing our school!

The Pleasanton High School JROTC is honored to announce that one of our very own cadets, Krista Gutierrez, was selected to receive the Military Officers Association Scholarship! She worked extremely hard to gain this award of $1,000 to help with future endeavors. They look forward to seeing what amazing things Krista will accomplish!

Pleasanton High School’s JROTC program continues to stay on the move, participating and helping everywhere they can. On April 11th, the Eagle Battalion Color Guard presented the colors at the Special Olympics in Poteet. They continue to show their neverending honor in all that they do. 

One last congratulations to the most recent Eagle Battalion Cadets and NCO of the month. Cadet CPL Justine Resendez and CPL Madison Nunley were selected for Cadets of the month based on their hard work. Cadet Staff Sergeant Jealousey Oliva was announced NCO of the month of April. A huge congratulations to all and, keep up the good work JROTC!

 

Teacher Spotlight

Teacher Spotlight

By: Alexandra Garcia

For April, we wanted to highlight the bright and kind-hearted teacher Mrs. Novosad. A teacher of 4 years here at PHS, Before becoming a wonderful teacher at Pleasanton she graduated from Cy-Fair High School and went to Texas A&M in College Station, where she received her teaching degree. 

Mrs. Novosad currently teaches seniors English IV and AP Literature and Composition, as well as having sophomore and junior English tutoring classes. Although those subjects can be difficult she continues to be a facilitator of learning, she tries to give opportunities to her students to discover literature and critical thinking skills on their own.  

She says she became inspired by “Working in Pleasanton ISD for 12 years as a substitute teacher back when there was an intermediate campus. I fell in love with the community, the students, and the support from parents.” Mrs. Novosad says her favorite part of teaching is seeing the creativity and different perspectives of her students. 

Being very dedicated to her teaching job these few years she continues working here and is motivated by the laughter and the feeling of being a part of a group here. She also states how much she loves how her coworkers keep her laughing and how they all push each other to be better teachers for the school and students. As we can all tell, she is a delightful teacher and co-worker.

Mrs. Novosad says “ I enjoy the inspiring conversations with my students. It is so cool to see the plans my students have for their future as they have their whole lives ahead of them. The best is yet to come!”

Some huge roles in teaching are maintaining your work-life and home-life balance, and understanding the students. Mrs. Novosad nails the job! She displays her support and encouragement with positivity to uplift her students motivation. Making her students feel as if they can accomplish anything and comfortable with trying. 

As for her home life, she says some hobbies of hers are spending time in the mountains hiking, and climbing. Also, she enjoys growing vegetables and gardening. 

Mrs. Novosad is a huge inspiration to many students and her wonderful co-workers. 

PHS is so thankful to have a wonderful teacher such as herself. 

We wish the absolute best for the extraordinary teacher Mrs. Novosad.