Torrey Pines High School - Freeflight Yearbook (Del Mar, CA)

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VARSITY ACADEMIC TEAM Front Row: Coach Blaze Newman, Francis Kelly, David Likins, Andy Charman, and Sharon Lai, Back Row: Ame Jokela, Todd Small, David Buote, Alfred Pesiri, Deanna Spooner, Rei Masui, and Robert Rich. JUNIOR VARSITY ACADEMIC TEAM Front Row: Greg Weisman. Samantha Seaward, Marissa Maley, Sascha Dublin, and Hugh Seid. Back Row: Scott Wells, David Nordquest, John Bryant, Coach Will Harvie, Matt Burkhard, and Jason Harris. Not Pictured: Andy Taton 'ML -, F 2 tw 2 ,J -. I , zggyq, '1 sv V Q f e l ' A , ei xl lv- 1-aug ,-, sl! ' Q S 1 3 4,42 'vw i FRESHMAN ACADEMIC TEAM Front Row: Alan Kosakoff, Rolf Ebeling, Sridhar Venkatesh, and David Bryant. Back Row: Jon Small, Natrina Meeker, Coach Barbara Swovelin, Kevin Dente, and Brian Sullivan ACADEMIC TEAMS 111 fn v - I rss Q- 5925:

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..- pd, SPEED AND ACCURACY UNDER PRESSURE ACADEMIC TEAMS peed, accuracy under pressure, and a remarkable reservoir of knowledge characterize the members of the Torrey Pines Academic teams. Team members, chosen for their expertise in a variety of academic fields, compete against students from other San Diego County high schools in several different types of competition. The enthusiasm, dedication, and sheer ability of the team members have produced an impressive record of success. Starting in 1983, there was the North County Academic League competition. During the Spring semester, a series of competitions is held among the 14 schools comprising the NCAL. Each competition consists of a freshman, JV, and varsity match in which each player on a 5-member squad attempts to hit the buzzer before the oppos- ing team, winnng the right to answer a toss-up question. Although a wrong answer results in a one- point penalty, a correct response yields both 3 points and the opportunity to answer a bonus ques- tion worth up to 5 points, on which all team members confer. Questions require knowledge in math, science, social studies, 'E'hglish, art, and music. A sample toss-up question is: - Which Supreme Court Justice said of pomog- raphy, l can't define lt, but l know when I see it ? During its 4 years of competition in this activity, Torrey Pines has consistently been among the top schools in the League. The 1986 Varsity team - consisting of David Buote, Andy Charman, Ame Jokela, Francis Kelly fcaptaini, Sharon Lai, David Likins, Rei Masui, Alfred Pesiri, Robert Rich, Todd Small, and Deanns Spooner - continued this record of achievement. In the Spring of 1985, Torrey Pines was rewarded for its excellence in NCAL competition by being among the first schools invited to appear on KGTV's Scholastic Superstars program. ln that season, Torrey Pines won the championship and the right to defend the title in the Fall of 1985. Re- tuming from the first team, Ame Jokela icaptainj and Francis Kelly were ably joined by Sharon Lai and junior Andy Charman. Nearly duplicating the achievement of the Spring team, the Fall team defeated 3 opposing schools to win a slot in the 1 10 Acnuzmic mums . s, si Q ' .Q A is, g . g 1 -1- . .V ff xgg - 49 .13 . it A I Ep, I -,, w I I 's T J f A -E. .Q-fx, 1, gg 1 ..,, g .ig X, V is- .f T Q iw Q championship round, where one unfortunate decision resulted in a second-place finish. Later in the Fall semester, the Academic Decathlon provided another arena in which Torrey Pines could demonstrate its prowess. Consisting of ten written and oral tests in a variety of areas, the Decathlon required both wide-ranging knowledge and psychological stamina, since all ten events took place in one day. The team consisted of Clare Bergin, Sam Dries-Daffner, Arne Jokela, Francis Kelly, Mike Kessler, Rik Linkowski, Robert Rich, Luis Santaella, and Raub Shapiro. Once again, Torrey Pines excelled, winning 11 individual awards, the team essay BRONZE MEDAL WINING ACADEMIC DECATH LON TEAM: Front Row: Luis Santaella, Coati Blaze Newman, Mike Kessler, Clare Bergin, and Ame Jokela. Back Row: Rik Linkowski, Sam Dries-Daffner, Raub Shapiro, Francis Kelly, and Robert Rich. award, and the bronze medal for third place out of 50 schools. The Torrey Pines Academic Teams' impressive record of achievement during the past four years has gained them countrywide recognition as the team to beat. ' Answer: Potter Stewart K

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'C ff,-ri 1.Qi'.4- 'H M156 V Michelle Egington cademic excellence comes first, Raul Escamillo ex- pressed the views of the administration on requiring a 2.0 for extracurricular participation. The eligibility requirement covers not only all sports, but also Band, Theater, Cheerleading, Drill and Flag Teams. The requirement has not only developed a need for Academic Standing, but developed a controversy. The argument is centered around certain details. ln order to participate in the athletic program ua student must have passed A classes with at least a grade point average of 2.0 in the previous semester and be currently enrolled in A classes, said Athletic Director Chet Francisco. The San Dieguito Union School District had adopted this policy which is in fact more lenient than comparable rules throughout the nation. ln Texas, for example, a 'One F-No Play rule has been adopted. This states that if a student fails one or more classes in any subject he or she will not be allowed to participate. here the problem lies is that some students feel that they are athletically and not academically gifted. One student hurt by the rule was Mike Pandolfe. Having played Varsity Football since his Freshman year, Pandolf was considered by some to be quite good. Un- fortunately, during the final quarter of hisjunioryear, he failed to meet the 2.0 C5.P.A. Subsequently he was not permitted to play during his senior year. Pandolfe felt he could have made a difference had he been on the team. According to Coach Rik l-laines, Pandolfe is one of the few students truly affected by the policy. lf it were up to l-laines students would need a 2.0 just to graduate. Like Haines, Karin Alexander, Cheerleading Adviser, feels that the rules should be stricter. She requires a 2.5 to participate in the cheer program. She feels A serious student always makes a better quality cheerleader. Acting instructor Jeff Brosbe feels the same way about his actors. When auditioning for a role, an actor must fill out a self- reported academic record. Right before the play, the student must circulate a progress report form among his or her teachers. At this point Brosbe enforces the 'Texas F-Rule. Four- year Thespian Rob Coppo stated, 'When it comes down to it, the grades come first before the show. urrent and potential band members face the same requirementsf'The line isn't as hard in band as in football, because Most of the band students are very high academic achievers said Director Fred Lee. He also feels that the problem is not as pressing because he does a great deal of individual conferencing witn his students. While the administration will not lower their standards, they are doing something to help. The academic support team for athletics, headed by Jerry Tanvaterand Fralncisico tries to help students achieve the necessary grades. Overall the administra- tion is happy with Francisco's enforcement of the current policies. - Jennifer Howland Matt Kunitz 112 ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY