The Leadership Team put on a great JSB

Cedar Park’s Junior-Senior Banquet was a land of candy and color. With the theme “Candyland,” students dressed in bright spring colors and arrived at the Echo Fall’s Country Club to a  beautifully decorative room with tables colorfully displayed with Candyland boards, lollipop trees and cotton candy. Students had a cake decorating contest and several brought greatly detailed and festive cakes all following the Candyland theme. Students enjoyed the photo booth where they mugged for the camera all night. Students not bringing dates found friends and went together with matching colored tuxes and dresses, in bright pastels. There was a wonderful pasta dinner followed by enough candy to make anyone on the “Goodship Lollipop” sick. Videos introducing Seniors willing a variety of hilarious things to underclassman, and touching advice from teachers, entertained students while they ate. At the end of the night, a  sentimental slide show featuring the seniors’ last 12 years at Cedar Park made the seniors sentimental about  the last banquet of their high school years. Amy Bettinger and her leadership team did a fabulous job on a very successful and sweet night.

   On Tuesday, April 17th, Cedar Park battled Seattle Academy in a race for second place. The Eagles’ first meeting with the Cardinals was a disappointment, but CP  had high hopes to come back and beat them. The Eagles fell short on many occasions and ended with a draw of 1-1. In the final seconds of the game, junior Tristen Jurgensen was awarded a foul inside the penalty box and Junior Connor Mac was given a chance to seal the deal in this game. Unfortunately, he missed far right and just above the cross bar.

     The Eagles’ next game is against the Overlake Owls this Friday at 4:45, and will be held at Overlake. “We are continuely pushing forward to get to Tri-Districts, we just need to play our best and finish,” adds Senior captain Mikey Holmquist.

  The Eagles Burn the Blazers  

     On Friday the 13th, the Eagles hosted the Bush Blazers for this league game. After bouncing back from a tie in Orting, the boys were seeking a win. They came out with fire in the first half, and freshman Alex Ballard scores his first goal of the season. Ballard ended the game with a hat trick, a total of 3 goals. Senior Steven Dressler also had a phenomenal performance, tallying 4 goals, which helps him inch closer to tying with the league’s current scoring leader from Overlake. The final outcome of the game was CP-7 Bush-1. “Although we were missing players and were trying to enjoy our break, we came to win this game in order to achieve our goal of making it to state again,” Said Steven Dressler. The Eagles current league record is 4-3-1, and are 7-3-1 overall.

By Daniel Calhoon

    On April 21, the Cedar Park Christian Track and Field sent a few select athletes to different meets so they could experience a higher level of competition throughout the state of Washington.

     Captain Sally Larson competed successfully in the 3200m and in the 1 mile at the Pasco Invitational, one of the biggest invitationals in Washington.  In the 3200m Sally finished with a time of 11:33.04, placing her in seventh place overall.

    Coach Smith also sent captain Kyle Cole, and Danny Calhoon, to the Larry Eason Invitational at Snohomish High School. Kyle ran the 3200m and Danny participated in pole vault. Kyle Cole ran a personal best race that ended with a time of 9:53.36, placing him 7^th out of 56 other runners. Danny also had great performance and jumped his way to a new personal record as well as a new school record mark of 14’0”. This placed him 2^nd out of 37 other vaulters.

Cedar Park track and field team made the long trek to Joyce, Washington on April 14 to compete in the Crescent Invitational. The boys placed second with a score of 173 points and the girls took first with a score of 179 points.

    Joe Siegwald placed first in the 400m and second in the 100 meter race. Andrew Rickman and Dylan Keene took third in their events. In the 800m, senior Niles McClure placed second with a time of 2:13.4 and in the 3200m Matt Christiansen took first with 11:06.08. Sophomore Akio Namioka took second with a run of 11:23.25. In the 300m hurdles freshman Jacob Gutheil placed third, and in the 4×400m relay the team placed first with a final time of 3:50.90. In the field events, senior Andy Thomas placed first in the shot put with a heave of 45’00.5’ and took second in the discus with a throw of 110’11”.

     The girls swept the playing field at the invite, scoring in almost every event. In the 100m, Erin Beezhold took first with a time of 13.35. Korinne Zoellick took second with 13.92, and first in both the javelin and the 200m.  In the 3200m race Allie Beezhold took first with a time of 14:07.03, placed second in the long jump with a mark of 14’7”, and also took first in the triple jump with a mark of 31’10. Stephanie Lam finished second with 14:09.5 and Lauren Nelson finished third with 14:20.83.  In the 300m hurdles, freshman Victoria Kvasyuk placed third with a time of 57.72, the girls 4×400m relay successfully took second place with a time of 4:34.77. In the girl’s field events, Senior JJ Abbot took third in the shot with a toss of 27’07” and second in the discus with a throw of 93’07”. It was a very successful day for Cedar Park track and field and they show great promise for the rest of the season.

Danny Calhoon clears his mark

    By Abigail Dunn  

The CPC band and choir enjoy a day off at Disneyland

   The Cedar Park Christian School’s Revelation Choir and Jazz Band went to Anaheim, California to compete in the World Strides Heritage Festival. Both the choir and the band won the first place gold plaques in their categories. The awards ceremony was held in the California Adventure theme park, giving all the contestants a chance to have enjoy their time before discovering the outcome of the festival.   

            Mrs. Moore, the choir director of Cedar Park,  received many compliments from other directors about the group’s manners. One chaperone from another group commented that they were “impressed by your performance and enthusiasm.” And another man at the airport made note that “this is the most respectful group of people that I have ever countered.”

            While on their trip The Revelation Choir and Jazz Band also had the privilege to visit and tour Vanguard University. They had a chance to work with the directors of the universities choir and jazz band which sharpened the student’s skills. The group was able to go to Disneyland for a day, as a reward for their hard work and achievements.

For the past three years, Mr. Owens has taken a group of male CPC students on a ministry trip to Portland. He chooses the group of students that come from his mentor group combined with students he picks based on their leadership and musical abilities. They go for two days down to Portland, Oregon to minister to the Camas Church of the Nazarene.

They boys leave on Saturday at 8:00 am to Oregon. They arrive at 12:00 pm and after lunch they begin working at the church by cleaning up and helping out. They also lead worship on Sunday and give testimonies. After helping, they take some time to have fun by playing basketball, going out to dinner and to a Blazer game.

The boys greet church members as they come in the door

Looking for an eventful and fun-filled weekend this summer? Check out Cannon Beach in Oregon Coast. There are many enjoyable things to do in Cannon Beach such as, horse riding on the beach, flying a kite, and visiting the candy store.

On your drive to cannon beach a fun family event is riding the Cathlamet Ferry. There are many great places to stay in Cannon Beach including The Waves, a hotel right on the beach. Here you have easy access to the beach and also the town to shop. For breakfast, try Pig’n’Pancake a wonderful meal to get the day started right. For lunch, go to the Mariner Market and pick up some food to make sandwiches and have a delightful picnic at the beach. Right next to The Waves is a great pizza restaurant called Fultano’s Pizza you can go to for dinner.

Throughout your day in Cannon Beach there are many fun activities to do. On a nice day you can go to the beach and build a sand castle or walk to Haystack Rock and observe the beautiful tide pools and creatures in them. Shopping is also a pleasurable thing to do and you can visit cool shops like Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, Gepeto’s Toy Store, Ice Fire Glass Blowing Shop, and The Shell shop for souvenirs. Cannon Beach is a great experience and a fun trip for the whole family.

Cedar Park 8- University Prep 3

Bothell- On Wednesday March 23 Cedar Park Boys Baseball took the field for their second consecutive game against the University Prep Pumas. Cedar Park finally found their sweet spot on the bats starting the game of with singles and double and bringing in runs. Ace Pitcher Trey Dreschel threw the first 5 innings while relief pitcher Joseph Heath came in for the last two innings to close the game out. Cedar Park ran over University Prep after losing their previous game to them 6-5. The Pumas struggled all game even though putting up 3 runs, it clearly was not enough to take the high powered eagles. The Talon got a chance to catch up with Varsity player Josh Thompson, “We were a little more aggressive at the plate, more hitting, solid defense behind it and everything really came together for us.” Cedar Park goes to 1-3 on the year and play Overlake on Monday March 26th for their third league game.

By Heidi Collins, Editor

Are you getting tired of the nonstop rain and chilly weather in Seattle? Never fear, a perfect escape is only a short flight away! Take the quick, three hour flight south, and rainy Seattle will be transformed into hot, sunny paradise. Also known as Palm Desert, this beautiful location is your picture perfect California getaway. Whether you want to fill your week with adventures and activities, or simply relax by the pool-side under the sunshine and Palm Trees, you will enjoy every minute you spend.

Palm Desert is filled with fabulous hotels and resorts for any price range. The most renowned resort is the Palm Desert JW Marriot. Situatiated on 450 acres of lush landscapes complete with waterways, lawns, gardens, and lakes, this hotel is the essence of elegance, luxery, and style. The resort has a spa, 2 golf courses, 5 swimming pools, tennis courts, and three upscale restaurants, which can be eaten at even if you aren’t staying the night. Enjoy a free gondola ride through the beautiful waterways and enjoy the view of exotic birds such as flamingos and black swans on your way to a restaurant, such as Mikado Japanese Steakhouse for delicious Tapenyaki. Rates may seem pricey, starting at $250 for a room, but the accomodations make it worth every penny.

Palm Desert will keep you busy with numerous local attractions for extremely low prices. From recreation, to shopping, to family friendly fun, there is something here for everyone. Visit the Living Desert Zoo with your family and enjoy feeding the giraffes and riding the carousal. Attend the Farmer’s Market on Sunday morning and delight in the array of freshly grown fruits and vegetables, and homemade crafts. Make sure you don’t leave without picking up your authentic and delicious California dates and raisons! If you love hiking, exploring, or horseback riding, take the short drive to the Indian Canyon and enjoy the breathtaking views of the canyons and indigenous flora and fauna, such as the magnificent fan palms. If your prefer shopping, make sure visit El Paseo, the famous mile long shopping district with over 300 shops plus tasty bistros and bakeries.

Getting Hungry? In Palm Desert, you won’t need to worry about a place to eat, but rather which place to eat. There are numerous delicious restaurants, from local homemade diners, to upscale restaurants. If you love barbeque, make sure to eat at Babe’s and order their prize-winning BBQ pork sandwich, cornbread, sweet potato fries, and baked beans. Looking for fine dining? Visit Jillians, an elegent French resteraunt. Eat outside on their patio under the stars and palm trees for an enchanting ambience. The service is excellent and the cuisine is superb, especially the Cappleli d’Angelo Con Scampi and Lobster Salad. And don’t leave without trying their delicious apple dumpling drizzled with luscious caramel and cinnamon pecans; it will put your taste buds in heaven. You can also taste the Authentic Mexican culture by visiting the famous Mexican grocery store, Santanas, and eating at their homemade authentic restaurant. You will love their cheesy quesadilla and fresh out of the oven tortillas.

Palm Desert is an opportunity brimming with fun activities, delicious food, recreation, and relaxation. Even just driving through the desert and relishing the beautiful palm trees and landscapes is a treat in itself. Pack your sunglasses, sunscreen, and shorts, and and book your trip to Palm Desert today!

The Kragerud's share how much they love their son Jake in 60 seconds

The spring of each year marks the end of a season in the lives of the senior class at Cedar Park. Having “senioritis”, acceptance letters coming in, Senior Sneak, JSB, Mom and Me Tea, Senior Breakfast and graduation, the seniors’ spring is packed full of events that will be remembered for years to come as their last memories of being a Cedar Park senior. Last Tuesday, March 20, the seniors and their parents started out the eventful spring at the Red Lion Hotel for the annual Senior Dinner. Almost every senior came with their parent(s) to enjoy a semi-formal dinner and told how much they are appreciated and valued by their parents in a sixty second speech. The seniors’ parent(s) came with a speech prepared to brag all about how great their senior is and how much of an impact leaving them will have on their lives. Although most parents went over their sixty second time limit, were drowned out by growingly loud and obnoxious music, and the microphone turned off while some parents were crying, the night seemed to be an overall success and another bonding experience for the senior class. From heartfelt and genuine letters, poems, childhood stories, scripted plays, to a full on cheer chant with choreography and pompoms, the seniors felt appreciated and grateful for their parents and all that they have done for them.

By: Danny Calhoon

Kyle Cole is a junior at Cedar Park Christian. Not only is he a captain on the track team, but he is also a strong runner that makes a healthy impact on the team. He had a strong Cross Country season and broke the school record in the 5k with a time of 16:30. He has big hopes for this season and has records to break.

The Talon: Why have you focused in on track instead of other sports? What do you get out of track and field personally?

KC: I have found that track is my best sport and I have learned to enjoy it.I feel like it makes me grow as a person by making me go through the pain of the sport.

The Talon: How do you feel about being a part of the team? Is there a family aspect to the team?

KC: Yes, when you go through pain (practices) with your fellow teammates it builds a special bond.

The Talon: In what areas do you feel that you have improved in? In what ways have you grown spiritually by participation in track?

KC: I feel like I have mentally grown stronger this year. It helps you learn that you can do anything through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

The Talon: What made you want to run distance over sprints? What do you feel is your strongest race?

KC: I am faster in distance races then I am in sprints. Defiantly the 3200meter, I speed up as the race goes on.

The Talon: Who is your distance-running hero? What do you feel is your advantage over competition this season?

KC: Steve Prefontiane. I feel like if I run my own races, and I get the times that I want, I win regardless of how I place on the podium