6 EDCAL June 25, 2018
High school seniors inspire younger
students with senior walk
Lynwood High School seniors greet Roosevelt Elementary School students during the district’s annual Senior
Walk. The soon-to-be graduates toured the district’s 12 elementary schools and three middle schools.
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CHAO
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aren’t good,” Joe said.
The mechanics can prove challenging at
times as Joe predominantly uses his right
hand to dribble and shoot. But Los Alam-
itos High basketball head coach Eddie
Courtemarche still wanted Joe on his team.
“When I say he’s a once in a lifetime
player, he really is,” Courtemarche said.
“He’s every coach’s dream to coach.”
The moment Joe found out he made the
squad is one he says he’ll never forget.
“It was probably one of the best mo-
ments of my life because not many kids get
to play on the high school team in the first
place,” Joe said. “And even with my circum-
stances, I still was given the chance to play.”
After failing to make the team his fresh-
man year, a mistake Courtemarche says he
still regrets, Joe spent his junior and senior
seasons on the varsity squad.
“When you have someone like Joe and
it’s pretty obvious when he gets into the
game, even the other team, the other fans
get excited for him,” Courtemarche said.
“And you would think those opportunities
wouldn’t come that often. But he’s probably
played in 10, 15 games this year.”
The culmination of Joe Chao’s career at
Los Alamitos High came on senior night.
Courtemarche told Joe he would be in
Nearly 750 Lynwood and Firebaugh
seniors bounced through the hallways
of the district’s elementary and middle
schools, exchanging high fives and smiles
with young student observers during their
annual Senior Walk on June 12 and 13.
The soon-to-be graduates, clad in caps
and gowns, toured Lynwood USD’s 12 ele-
mentary schools and three middle schools,
teaching younger students about what they
can achieve.
“It was very emotional for me, and I
cried watching the strong reaction to our
visit from the young kids,” Lynwood senior
Lupita Soria said. “I can remember how
much I looked up to high school students
when I was in elementary and I’m glad that
I get to pass along motivation to them.”
Younger students lined up outside of
classrooms to greet the seniors with posters
cheering “Congratulations!” and “You did
it!” Some seniors were accompanied by a
band that serenaded the crowd.
“This is an event that really connects the success of our community from transition-
al kindergarten through senior year,” said
Superintendent Gudiel Crosthwaite. “It
reminds our seniors that we’re all behind
them, cheering them on every step of the
way, and gives our youngsters a glimpse of
their potential.”
Roosevelt Elementary third-grader Mel-
anie Gomez smiled widely as she watched
her sister, Lynwood High senior Edith Go-
mez, bask in the glow of her Senior Walk.
Melanie said that Edith’s success is proof
that she can achieve her own dreams.
“I know that I will graduate like her one
day, and I can’t wait,” Melanie said.
This is the third year Lynwood USD has
held the Senior Walk.
“Our Senior Walk brings our students
together for a final time and really shows
everyone in our entire district and the
community how much our students have
accomplished,” Lynwood Unified Board
President Alfonso Morales said. “Congrat-
ulations, Class of 2018.”
the starting lineup for the first time in his
career.
“I finally did it,” Joe said. “I made the
starting lineup.”
But the night was only beginning. With
less than a minute to go, and the Griffins
lead firmly in hand, Joe checked back into
the ballgame.
“He gets in the game and he has an op-
portunity toward the end,” Courtemarche
said. “Shoots it. Misses it. We get the
rebound. Shoots it again. Misses it. There’s
two seconds left. They kind of throw it out
there. He steps in. Heaves it. As soon as the
buzzer goes off, ball goes in the net.”
Pandemonium immediately ensued.
“I don’t know if I can put it into words because everyone started going crazy,” Joe
said. “Everyone rushed the floor. My team-
mates were pounding me on the back.”
The three-pointer capped off a 67-53
win over Huntington Beach. And yet,
somehow, the bucket counted for more
points than you could ever put on a score-
board.
“Sports has a great way of bringing
about those moments,” Courtemarche said.
“And the more opportunities you can have
those moments, the more you realize how
wonderful sports really are.”
Joe Chao, who never craved the spot-
light, still found a way to shine. What an
ending for the young man whose life nearly
ended much too soon.
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