On April 7, 2012 Ronan Nelson’s day started out relatively normal. He got up and got ready for a rugby game he was playing in later that day with his club rugby team.

A little ways through the game, Ronan’s life changed forever. In one play gone wrong, Ronan was tackled and his C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae were crushed, causing a spinal cord injury.

During a surgery to try and repair the trauma done to his vertebrae, Ronan had a stroke causing temporary blindness. Although he regained his sight, he is still paralyzed from the middle of his chest and down.

When asked what the long term affects of this injury are Ronan said, “I will not be able to play any contact sports in the future. Although I am paralyzed from the chest down, with time, and lots of physical therapy, I plan to walk again.”

“I want to say thank you to the Cathedral Community for their continued support in my recovery,” said Ronan, “I am grateful for all the prayers and support my family and I have received from everyone during this tough time.”

After California Regionals comes State Championships. In 2005 and 2006, the boy’s golf team finished in second and third place.

The golf team’s average week usually consist of about 3-4 matches. Nine of the fifteen golfers on Cathedral’s golf team qualified for the City Conference Tournament.

The standout golfer this season, according to Head Coach Mr. Douglas McLean, is sophomore Taylor Bibbs. Bibbs has been under par most of the year, and Coach McLean said he is, “clearly ahead of everyone else.”

Becoming a “Medalist” marks the achievement of being the lowest scorer in separate matches. Nearly everyone on the golf team has been a medalist at least once, but sophomore Taylor Bibbs has been the medalist more times than anyone else on the team.

Coach McLean has been coaching Cathedral’s golf team for twenty years and is currently assisted by both Coach Dave Silva and Coach Eileen Clifton-Benjamin. Not only do the coaches lead a golf team with a great record, but the coaches have also been complimented on the team’s great sportsmanship and attitude on numerous occasions.

Coach McLean characterized Cathedral Catholic’s boy’s golf team, saying, “They’re just a great group of guys – serious about improving their game but also a lot of fun to be around.”

Giggles were overheard during the trek to the dance area as students tried to snag pictures with a peacock or jump on the lion statue for another photo-op.

“The first thing my date did once we walked into the Zoo was run over to the lion statue and hop on it,  waiting for someone to take his picture. I wasn’t too far behind him, but he was really excited to jump on the thing,” said senior Karlyn Murphy of her prom date senior Chris Clifford.

As the students continued into the designated party area, they were greeted with the sweet smell of a chocolate fountain and what seemed like endless trays of sweets to dip in the chocolate. In one corner, couples waited in line to get a picture taken to remember the magical night, and in another corner, caricatures, were being drawn for those ready for a good laugh. The DJ played songs that pleased the students and kept the dance floor filled all night.

When the sun set, the environment transformed as the canopy of trees became illuminated by the strands of lights woven through the branches. Juniors and seniors continued to snap pictures all night, finding friends and teachers to pose with.

“Everyone spends a lot of time getting ready for an event like this, you have to take as many pictures as you can to remember it!” said senior Katie Whittington. She later revealed she took over 1,000 pictures that night. She said most of them were “silly shots with the girls.”

As the night started to come to an end, the DJ announced it was time to crown the senior prom king and queen. Everyone in attendance jumped out of their seats and huddled around the dance floor in anticipation.

Seniors Russell Reeder, Daniel Hower, and Jack Cruzon lined up.  Seniors Kelsea Lickert, Brittany Eremita, and Kaylee Moehling stood, each with huge smiles on their faces.

Gioia Kabel announced the king and queen, Russell and Kelsea, and they shared a dance to Bruno Mars’ “It Will Rain.” Soon after, many couples joined in and shared the slow dance opportunity with their dates to end the night off right.

As 10pm rolled around, the gates were opened and students stampeded out into the awaiting busses and limos.

Senior Lauren Bendixen said, “Overall I had a pretty awesome prom experience.  The music and food were awesome, and it doesn’t get much better than the Zoo.”

Led by Student Activities Director Ms. Elizabeth Tysor, ASB is in charge of planning school wide events such as prom and, currently, the carnival. They organize all of the clubs who will participate and instruct them so that they may keep the entire event completely under control. Almost all of the clubs will be selling food while some offer unique attractions to earn tickets.

Gioia Kabel, senior president of ASB, said,“Every year we do this and try to get all of the clubs to participate. It is a great way to bring the school together towards the end of the year!”

The tickets each club earns goes directly to their club accounts, where the money can fund club-related activities. Each ticket is worth 50 cents, but the most expensive club item will only cost four tickets.

Madison McGrew, senior and commissioner of clubs, discussed the feedback they get each year regarding ASB events. She said, “It gets a little hectic to plan, but you get used to it. We like to get feedback about all of the events that we plan so that they can be changed for the better.”

ASB has a page available at the CCHS website that informs students of all events they are planning. This page includes forms about prom, club missions, and carnival sign up sheets.

The girls also talked about the newest attractions available this year, including sumo wrestling.

Madison McGrew said, “Typically, students and clubs participate fairly well when carnival time comes around.”"

Since the carnival has gotten so big, students will also have an extended lunch. Usually, lunch is thirty-five minutes, but the carnival has allowed students to stay out for an entire hour. Club leaders are required to set up for 15 minutes before students arrive and 15 minutes after the carnival has ended.

As for food, ASB is fairly pleased. Club leaders have provided a variety of foods and desserts for students to purchase, the most popular being In and Out. Clubs have been known to make cupcakes, cookies, snow cones, and various Asian cuisine.

“We do not get food that is too weird. In and Out was definitely the most popular last year,” Madison said.

The most expensive items??  A Jersey Mike’s sandwich  at 10 tickets and a Board and Brew sandwich for 8 tickets.

The carnival will begin at lunch, with tickets being sold the entire day before. ASB is confident that it will turn out just as popular as last year.

NHS moderator Ms. Kristy Bormann opened the induction ceremony with a multimedia presentation.  A video was shown that featured images of NHS students participating in leadership roles throughout the school year, including tutoring in the library after school.

“Tonight we come together to induct our newest NHS members into this most prestigious organization,” said Ms. Bormann.  ”These incoming juniors and seniors follow in the footsteps of a long list of alumni who have earned impressive high school grade point averages and shared their many talents of leadership, service, and character within this community.”

Co-Presidents, seniors Hannah Yoder and Andrianna Yeatts, followed Mrs. Bormann with a historical recount of NHS.  They emphasized the importance of assuming leadership roles in the school environment and maintaining pride in one’s work.

Hannah said, “To qualify for NHS, juniors and seniors must meet and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher.  Students who meet these scholastic requirements are then evaluated on the basis of leadership, service, and character.  Selected members pledge to maintain these standards and continue the pursuit of excellence.”

Finally, Vice President, junior Nick Prunty, Treasurer junior Michael Rosenburg, and Historian senior Roarke Catubig led the “Lighting of the Candles.”  At this time, the NHS leaders lit candles representing the different pillars of NHS – scholarship, service, leadership, character, and wisdom, from which the others stem.

The inductees were led in reciting the NHS pledge.  Students were then called up by name, and President Emeritus Mr. Jim Tschann congratulated them and handed them NHS certificates.

Shannon Robinson, Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse coach, said, “My expectations for this season are to continue to improve as a team and improve on the success that we achieved last season.  The team has done a great job so far.”

The season didn’t start out on a positive note.  Many players were injured, on top of the athletes having to adjust to numerous new additions to the team.

At practice, which occurs every weekday for two hours, the team focuses on the area that the girls need to improve on as a whole based on their last game.  They also focus on different drills depending on who their next opponent is.  Each opponent is different, so the coach works on the strategy that works best against each team.  Practice is mainly used as game preparation.

This season, the team has had the opportunity to participate in a variety of events.  Over spring break, the girls traveled to Florida.

Coach Robinson said, “The girls really played the best I have seen all season and came together and played as a team to overcome adversity.”

One of their shining moments was playing in the Warrior Cup on Cathedral’s campus.  Coach Robinson said this was one of their greatest moments because the girls were able to take part in something that gives back to people who have done so much for the United States.

Coach Robinson said, “One of the greatest moments would just be having the opportunity to get to see each of the girls grow as players and come together as a team.”

In the fall of 1980, El Cid was 19 years into its, now,  51-year publication. Mr. Dan Wilson had resigned as Moderator in the spring of 1978, leaving no real successor to the position. The paper was in a transitional phase and in desperate need of a new moderator. In the two-year span since Mr. Wilson’s departure, the paper went through two moderators, and most of the staff’s veteran writers had graduated, leaving a relatively new staff. Having hit a low point in publication, the staff of El Cid felt it was necessary to give readers a brief history to explain the paper’s  recent decline. The newest moderator, Miss Donovan, was hoping to stir up support and recruit new staff members. In the following years, thanks to determined staff members, El Cid resumed its tradition of informing, enlightening and entertaining the Dons community.

Link ==>  ElCid-10/31/80

The Honor Roll Luncheon identifies students who achieve first honors for their academic excellence. Students are recognized by the administration, counselors, and their peers for their hard work and success, because, as Ms. Egan said, “They set standards of high academic achievement and are role models for others.  It’s important to recognize outstanding contributions and achievements of our school community members.”

In Cathedral’s Catholic faith community, the Honor Roll Luncheon gives students a chance to serve as examples of the school-wide learning expectations in academics as people of character, responsibility, and lifelong learning.

In 2010, 357 students earned first honors, followed by 363 students in 2011.

Mrs. Egan spoke at the luncheon, followed by Director of Counseling Mrs. Sharon Rubalcava, who introduced counselors that presented book awards from various universities.  The awards were granted as follows.

- The Harvard Book Award: Abigail Balmert

- The Yale Book Award: Juliane Preimesberger

- The St. Michae’s Book Award: Miles Anthony and Reeny Thomas

- The Holy Cross Book Award: Michael Rosenberg

- The Renselaer Medal Winner: Mina Askar