Yosemite
High School
Blue
Print
October 22, 2004
Volume 28 Number 1
Freshmen
football players visit hospital
Sports
Talk
Cross
country team at Mt. SAC meet
Water
polo program officially underway
Golf
coach hopes team makes league champion
Volleyball
team made up of experienced players
Badger
football meets WU tonight
Badger
girls’ tennis team makes it to the playoffs
New
staff members welcomed into YHS family
Freshmen football players
visit hospital
KRYSTAL KANE
Dana
Minard, coach of the Yosemite High School freshman football team, has
many goals for this season, and several have already been achieved.
One of these goals was to beat Sierra, which was accomplished October
7 with a stunning victory of 55-0.
Coach Minard’s primary goal, however, is to deliver the entire
freshman team to Coach Bonner Cunnings for junior varsity, and to not
have anyone quit. So far, Minard says the whole team is “outstanding,”
including the time that they spent together over the summer. Minard
feels it is a learning process for the team trying to behave, be disciplined
and arrive at the bus on time.
The freshman team is a “mixture this year of taking care of business
and immaturity,” but he is very proud and feels everything is
going well.
Coach Minard says the key players for this season include Ben Hand,
the quarterback, who has never played this position before but has “stepped
up,” and is doing well. Also, Byron Creamer, the running back,
Zack Stone and Andy Woolsey, part of the offensive line, and Jeff Avery,
Michael Sayre and Matt Muzychenka who are on the defensive line.
So far this season, the wins versus losses are about tied. They began
with a scrimmage against Fresno on August 3, and since have played Bullard
with a loss of 0-12; Edison on August 16, also a loss of 0-31; Tulare
Western on the 23 with a victory of 22-19 and finally Sierra with a
win 55-0. They were scheduled to have played Fresno on October 14 and
Reedley October 21. They will meet McLane October 28; Roosevelt, November
4 and their last game will be on November 10.
The Sierra game, as well as a scrimmage, was dedicated to the children
at Children’s Hospital of Central California. The team visited
these young patients on September 30 and had a scrimmage on the back
lawn of the facility. This was the first game to be played at the hospital
and was a very touching event, Coach Minard said. It was decided to
go down to the hospital when the team they had planned to play canceled
and they had the day open.
The coaches felt this would give the team a new perspective on life
and help them realize just how much they truly have for which to be
thankful. They arrived at 2:30 and split everyone into groups, including
the junior varsity cheer team. They visited the children in their hospital
rooms and handed out pompoms and YHS items to them.
From 3:30 to about 4:30 they scrimmaged with some of the children watching
from the end of the field. The members of the team made promises to
certain patients and each one rang true. If they promised to sack the
quarterback or score a touchdown for the kids, they did. It was very
emotional for the whole team, especially the parents of the children,
Minard said. Just to see the kids smile was a great reward for everyone,
according to the coach.
Sports
Talk
Derek Ketner
The
Yosemite High football team has gotten off to a slow start this year
with a 3-2 record as of October 8. The focal point of the Badgers’
offense last year was the running game. At times this season, it has
been inconsistent in losses, and at other times it has been unstoppable
like last year.
They’re going to have to get consistent good performances by Alec
Campbell and T.J. Grijalva if the Badgers are going to have a good year.
The defense, as usual, has been great all year. The only missteps were
against Edison, a Division 1 team, when they gave up 63 points in a
blowout, and 35 points against Kerman, but they won that game.
The Badgers’ offense will also need to improve if they’re
going to have a good year. They’ve been held to 17 points and
seven points this year, both were losses. If they keep that up, they
will be in for a long season. The defense will suffer, if that happens,
from being on the field too long, which in turn will lead to more losses.
In all the Badger wins though, they put up 33 points against Roosevelt,
31 against McLane, and an incredible 66 points against Kerman. The Badgers
will need to be consistent on offense and the wins will be rolling in.
My prediction is that the Badgers will get beat by Washington Union
tonight and Chowchilla November 5 and win all the other games.
I think the playoffs will be a different story. Unlike the last two
years, I think the Badgers won’t go to the championship game.
They will be beat in the second round.
Cross
country team at Mt. SAC meet
BRIAN CHRISTENSON
The
Yosemite High cross country teams are at the Mt. SAC Invitational today,
October 22, and tomorrow. Coach Ellen Peterson says “we will do
best with our sophomore boys and sophomore girls because there are some
injuries among the older team members.
Sophomore boys on the team are Art Hernandez, Aaron Salisbury, David
Guadagnini, Mike Dorsey, Brendan Dew, Marcus Hudson, Eric Stewart, Cord
Moon and Steven D’Alessio.
Sophomore girls are Summer Addington and Jessica Langley.
Peterson says the team “will definitely go to the championships
and we hope to go to state but the chances are pretty slim.
Championships include the NSL Championship November 3 and the CIF Valley
Championships November 10.
Beyond those meets are the Grand Masters November 18 and the State Championships
November 27.
Seniors on the varsity boys’ team are Colt Hardcastle and Jonathon
Chase. Seniors on the girls’ varsity are Caitlyn Blum, Brittany
Demery, Shawna Rubottom and Paige Turpen.
Rounding out the varsity boys’ team are juniors Spencer Frasher,
Dustin Malanca, Jacob Ortiz, Tyler Randrup, Brandon Brown and Michael
Brown.
Juniors on the girls’ varsity team are Darcy Morgan, Kezia Padilla,
Mia Valentine and Tawni Jackson.
Freshmen
boys on the team are Robbie Ellis and Roy Broomfield. Freshmen girls
are Aspen Setaro, Brianna Wolters, Melinda La Rochelle, Eloisa Reyes
and Bailey Skeahan.
The team will participate in the John Seaman Invitational at the Kingsburg
Gun Club October 28.
Dave Dooman is this year’s assistant cross country coach.
Water
polo program officially underway
TIFFANY HALL
The
new water polo program is now officially under way. The program consists
of 38 students, 18 of whom are boys, and 20 of whom are girls. The new
water polo team is not the only new addition to YHS but also the 500,000
gallons of water that they are swimming in.
The program may be new here at Yosemite High School but the water polo
program is coming along great, Coach Chad Houck said. The sport of water
polo is so challenging that the numbers that the team first started
out with have greatly decreased. “Water polo is the hardest sport
played at high schools,” stated Justin Moons, a water polo player.
The sport is not only challenging but it takes physical endurance and
players must be in top shape.
“Water polo is an endurance sport and it takes a lot of physical
endurance,” said Sammie Masai, before their trip to Dinuba. To
achieve this, the team practices every day Monday through Friday for
two and a half hours. Water Polo is currently being coached by Brandon
Brokaw and Houck. Both coaches feel that the team is doing great, much
better than they expected. This is Brokaw’s first time as an official
coach. Houck has coached for several years before coming to Yosemite
High School and played for three years in high school at San Marino
High School.
The new heated swimming complex cost $2.4 million and is well worth
it for the fun that is seen in the water polo players’ eyes. The
pool is not only for the sports players and high school students to
use, but the public can also swim at the complex although a small fee
will be charged for everyone to use the pool.
Golf
coach hopes team makes league champion
CRYSTAL LACHAWICZ
The
girls’ golf team is in second place and Coach Rusty Oetinger is
hoping to end this golf season as league champions.
He says there are five key players on this year’s team: Ricsie
Hernandez, a junior and the team captain; Ashley Stearns, a junior;
Kelsey McPhetridge, a sophomore; Allison Livermore, a junior and Caitlin
Johnson, also a junior.
They were scheduled to travel to Chowchilla October 14, and on October
19, they were scheduled to meet Sierra High School on the Badger girls’
home golf course at Sierra Meadows Ranch.
Yesterday, October 21, the Badger girls were to be at the Northern Sequoia
League for the NSL tournament.
Volleyball
team made up of experienced players
KARI BURTON
The
girls’ volleyball team made up of very experienced players, is
having a good season so far.
This year’s varsity team is made up of seven seniors, one junior,
and two sophomores. The team captains this year are Serene Hanft and
Taylor Hutchison and key players are Sharon Barr, Karra Burrough, Serene
Hanft and Melinda Young.
The team has many hopes for this season, but Coach Tammy Thacker says
that their main goal is to get another championship up on the wall.
Other goals are to take league or co-league championships and to make
it past the semi-finals and the playoffs.
Coach Thacker is really proud of her girls this year and she has a lot
of confidence in them. She said so far the season is “beyond my
expectations.”
The team also has many special events that they are doing, including
laser tag in Fresno during pre-season and sleep-overs and dinners at
the coach’s house. The team’s annual poster is also part
of the year’s events.
The team is playing in the Buchanan Varsity Tournament today, October
22, and tomorrow at Buchanan. They are scheduled to play Washington
Union at home October 26 and to play in Kingsburg October 28. The final
games are against Chowchilla at home November 2 and at Sierra November
4.
Badger
football meets WU tonight
DEREK KETNER
The
Yosemite High Badgers’ varsity football team is 3-2 to begin the
season and 1-1 in league play (after the October 8 game). The Badgers
have victories over McLane (31-12), Roosevelt (33-6), and Kerman (66-35).
The defeats have come from Edison (63-7) and Dos Palos (27-17).
The Badgers have averaged about 31 points per game and have averaged
452 yards of total offense this year. Shawn Long has thrown for 926
yards passing, with nine touchdowns and six interceptions, with a completion
rate of 60 percent and a quarterback rating of 93.
Alec Campbell and TJ Grijalva have combined for 675 yards rushing and
eight touchdowns. Jon Blea leads the receiving core with 403 yards receiving
and one touchdown catch. Chris Warder has 273 yards receiving and six
touchdown catches.
The Badgers’ defense has been good this year. They had giving
up an average of only 28 points per game after the October 8 game. Chris
Warder leads the team in sacks with eight and Owen Martin has four sacks
and Kevin Rose has three sacks on the year. Blea has the only interception
for the defense. Aaron Wilkins has recovered four fumbles and Martin
and James Domenici have one apiece.
The Badgers were scheduled to have played Selma on October 15 and they
are to meet Washington Union tonight, October 22.
The remaining schedule for the Badgers is: Kingsburg at YHS October
29; Chowchilla at Chowchilla November 5 and at home against Sierra November
12.
Badger
girls’ tennis team makes it to the playoffs
DOTTI JACKSON
Girls’
tennis has had a productive year so far at Yosemite High School. After
beating Chowchilla 5-3 October 12, the girls are eligible for the playoffs.
Head Coach Stan Lawrence said before that game, “Our goal is to
make the playoffs.”
Lawrence says that he would like to see each girl improve and be at
their highest athletic ability. “Younger players have shown a
lot of effort and enthusiasm and I hope they will be back next year.”
The younger players are freshmen Megan McDermott, Stephanie Bryan and
Sarah Hudson and sophomores Kayla Geest, Rachel Ching and Natasha Corless.
The rest of the players are juniors Amber Jacks, Jessica Boswell, Tiffany
Fitz-patrick and Jennifer Norman and seniors Whitney Benson, Mal-issa
Trenholm, Mellisa Markley, Jessica Little and Kaitlyn LeRoy. Trenholm
and Little are the co-captains.
“I’m looking forward to the individual playoffs as well,”
Lawrence said. LeRoy won the girl’s single match last year and
Lawrence would like to see her win it again.
Regular play ended October 14 against Sierra with YHS losing 7-2. The
North Sequoia League Tournament was scheduled for October 20. Section
team playoffs start October 27 followed by section individual playoffs
October 30.
New
staff members welcomed into YHS family
KRYSTAL KANE
With
each new year comes the opportunity to meet new challenges, create new
relationships and make a difference in the lives of other people. This
is especially true for the 16 staff members that have been welcomed
into the “family” here at Yosemite High School.
Returning to a remodeled and ever expanding campus this year, the addition
of the new staff members seems to be part of an even greater plan. With
an atmosphere charged with energy and new ideas, how do these new members
feel about their jobs?
Karen Falat, the Mountain View teacher, states, “It’s not
just a job for me, it is something I am passionate about.” She
also loves working with students that Mountain View serves and says,
“My students are absolutely the smartest kids I’ve ever
met.” So far her experience at YHS has been good, and she looks
forward to seeing her own children begin school here as well.
New staff members say they hope to get acquainted with the surrounding
community and they love the natural environment that the campus has
to offer. Besides the daily workout walking the hills, which is not
a favorite of many, they hope to make YHS their home and some already
feel as though they have been here for quite a while. “It feels
like home to me,” says Tammy Carter, the yearbook and English
teacher, and Chad Houck exclaims, “It’s a great school with
lots of spirit!”
Carter feels that the high school chose her and that she just hopes
to establish good relationships with the staff and students. She also
enjoys addressing her colleagues by their first names, and being part
of the yearbook to help capture the great events that go on this year.
Carter is a YHS graduate.
Houck, a new science teacher, is also a fan of his students, and is
glad that Oakhurst is so affordable compared to southern California
where he lived before coming to YHS. He is an active part of the aquatics
facility, and feels it is a wonderful opportunity. The pool is his primary
focus, besides physics, and he wants aquatics to grow and excel while
also helping turn the Baker Swim Complex into a positive asset for the
school and community.
Another active teacher in the aquatics facility is Brandon Brokaw, who
is a part of Mountain View. He feels everything has been great and really
enjoys coaching the water polo team. He hopes to build a strong aquatics
program at YHS and also wants to develop curriculum to help his students
“be more successful at Mountain View.”
Besides trying to adjust to the changes they have made in the last few
months and getting acquainted with the campus and staff, they also just
want to learn as much as the students. Carol Hendickson, the new art
teacher, says she just wants “to learn as much as I can from colleagues
and students and make YHS my home.” She enjoys the kids, the positive
environment, and the fun staff meetings as well as doing what she loves.
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is teach.”
Diane Edwards, the computer technician, finds the staff wonderful to
work with, and feels everyone is very dedicated and hardworking here
at YHS. Along with trying to acquaint herself with the people from our
community, she also is trying to retain the many facts of computer software
that are a daily part of her job. She hopes “to understand what
everyone expects me to understand when I really don’t understand
most of what everyone thinks I understand.” What? Well at least
she is being honest.
The fulfillment of hopes and dreams is also a major part of many of
the staffs’ lives, such as Greg Hill, the counseling tech, who
says he just wants to “help kids challenge themselves, identify
their dreams and pursuits, and help them set a course for realizing
these dreams.” His experience at YHS as been “marvelous,”
so far and he enjoys the faculty and students. He chose his position
because he wanted to help kids succeed and that is just what he is doing.
He is also a YHS graduate.
Debbie Sickler also wants to help students, staff, and teachers feel
“welcome and supported,” and values the time in which she
sees her students each day. “They make my day!” Having been
a receptionist, and loving kids, she chose to work the front desk. It
was a perfect fit for her. The vacations are a bonus, and she appreciates
the help that she receives from her teaching assistants and Bob Yohn.
Other new staff members on YHS campus include Gerard Klimbal, Julie
Stewart, Valarie Edwards, Arlene Aoki, Nancy Zdenek, Amanda Vawter and
Gloria O’Reilly.
“It’s wonderful to be a part of creating memories for Yosemite
High School, especially since I have so many of my own,” says
Carter, yearbook advisor.
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