Swinging into action: A look at boys’ baseball’s spring season
Samo varsity baseball has gotten off to a solid start this season, posting a 5-4 record in spring training with the regular season set to begin on Tuesday, March 11. Samo’s 2024 campaign ended in heartbreak following a 4-1 loss to Chino Hills in the Division 5 CIF championship game. The Vikings took the momentum from a third place Bay League finish into playoff season, leading to victories over Nogales, Ganesha, Adelanto and Pacifica en route to the final. Unfortunately, a trip to Chino on May 17 saw them fall just short of their CIF dream.
Boys’ soccer makes deep postseason run
Samo boys varsity soccer enjoyed a near flawless 2024/25 campaign, going a perfect 9-0 in league and becoming league tournament champions. Their undefeated season secured a spot in the CIF Southern Section Open Division, where they dramatically beat Crossroads 3-2 on aggregate. After a 1-0 home victory, D1 recruit Gabriel Sherman (’25) scored both goals for Samo in the second leg to propel the Vikings to a historic semifinal against JSerra Lions, the top ranked school in the United States.
Dončić to Lakers in blockbuster
On Feb. 2, 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers sent shockwaves through the sports world after landing Slovenian Superstar Luka Dončić in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks which sent all-star forward Anthony Davis the other way. Mavericks general manager (GM) Nico Harrison, amidst immense backlash from fans after trading their franchise cornerstone, believes that bringing in a top-tier rim protector in Davis is a win-now move. For the Lakers, GM Rob Pelinka took a gamble on a generational talent that will alter the outlook of the franchise for years to come.
SM Airport takes its final landing: Great Park takes off
Clover Park, interlaced with play structures, swing sets, bike paths and more, is the quintessential site for local gatherings. Located in the heart of Santa Monica, there isn't a natural space that’s more widely loved. This is why I was shocked to discover that Clover Park was once embedded in a park over 10 times its size and that there is a possibility of it returning.
Lost Landmarks
A devastating start to 2025 has seen more than 40,000 acres and 12,000 structures burned as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires that first erupted in the Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7. ABC News states that “the Los Angeles fires are already the costliest wildfires in history — not only in California, but in all of the U.S.” This is not only due to the wide range of the fires in a densely populated area, but also the damage done to iconic historical sites and cultural landmarks.
A Night of Motion: Samo Choir’s ‘Motus Perpetuus’
On Dec. 13, 2024, the Samo choir delivered a crowd of over 1,000 the cascading melodies of “Motus Perpetuus” for the 18th year running. Translated as “Perpetual Motion” in English, this annual winter concert tradition presents a beautifully unique listening journey.
From Snowfall to Sound: The Orchestra’s Winter Fantasy
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Samo Orchestra held their annual winter concert in front of a sold out Barnum crowd. Crowned by fake snow machines, Santa hats and festive lights projected across the walls, the near three hour show doubled down on the entertainment factor this time around.
The unseen struggles of the Samo surf team
Samo students have a plethora of opportunities and communities available to them through the school; many of which provide room for freedom and expression that aren’t necessarily centered on campus. The Samo surf team embodies all of these qualities and offers students a chance to represent their school up and down the California coast, still without being considered a CIF sport.
LA Galaxy to conference final, LAFC fall short
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club were battling it out for first place in the MLS Western Conference throughout the 2024 regular season, in what has been the most competitive year for the rivalry since LAFC’s establishment a decade ago. The Galaxy spent much of the year in the driver's seat, but it was LAFC who came out on top during the dying embers of the season.
Lakers’ father-son duo set the stage for a new era
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season by the Denver Nuggets. After a fourth straight season of disappointment, the Lakers were looking to make some serious changes.
Historic spending helps Dodgers reach World Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the 2024 regular season with the best record in Major League Baseball (MLB) at 98-64, and booked themselves a trip to the World Series after the most expensive spending spree in the team's history.