The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/719742
Page 5 August 26, 2016 Sports Varsity football team enters the 2016 football season with confidence that they will bring home a winning record Spartan's Coach of the Issue Alethea McDonald: Frosh Volleyball T his month's coach of the issue is Alethea McDonald. This is her fourth year as a volleyball coach at Red Bluff High School. When she was asked why she decided to become a volleyball coach McDonald said, "I've just joined in on it because they asked me to coach at Junior High because they really needed it." "I love the sport, so I love sharing it with other young girls," is what McDonald responded with when she was asked why she liked coaching. At the end of the day, her motto is "Practice Hard, Win Big." Coach of the Issue/Gabriel Hale V. volleyball takes the Girls tennis has been improving their s k ill s e t , b ac k han d s , an d f o r e han d s Jv. footba ll wishes for a winning As the countdown to the first game comes to an end, the Red Bluff Spartan Varsity football team hopes to have a great season. "I feel like we'll finally give Spartan football a winning record," says Travis Fite, senior and wide receiver for the Spartans. These players have the utmost confidence that they will succeed and play to their best capabilities. "It should go pretty good. I'm pretty sure our season's going to turn out well," Kaden Pearce, senior reports. These boys shed light on how hard they've been practicing and how they plan to use their skills to win the first game of the season. "It's been hot. We go through warm ups and do offense or defense depending on the day. Then we go through drills," responds Cameron Ortega, senior and wide receiver. The first Varsity game is Friday August twenty-sixth at Red Bluff High School against the Paradise Bobcats at 7:30pm. "I feel like we'll show that we have a better team this year and it's one to look out for," Fite assures. These players have dedicated a great deal of time and hard work into making this season great for their high school. "I play football because of being on the field under the Friday night lights and being part of a team," Ortega expresses, "and winning is a good feeling too." Ortega and Hagen talk about the new players on the team that came up from Jv and all the new staff they have that are helping them play to their fullest potential. Brose believes that, "We should make playoffs and go pretty far in that." These players love the physical aspect of the game, getting to tackle and hit people. Pearce adds, "It's a really hard and mental sport." Most of the boys mentioned have been playing football most of their lives, Brose has been playing since he was in the sixth grade. Moore and Fite said the "Team MVP" was their coaches, Hein and Coulp. In their final thoughts about the sport and this season, Fite announced, "If we play together as a team we will pull through and have a successful season." The other players agreed, with Moore adding his plans for the season, "Play together as a team, win football games, and stay athlete committed." This group of players show an obvious passion for the sport, and above all, they strive to do their very best for the Red Bluff Spartans. Practice began for many team sports the first day of school, in the long list of early semester fall sports, volleyball is included. There's several girls coming back from previous years for junior varsity and varsity as well as new girls for frosh. The varsity team is seemingly coming together well. Carrisa Twitchell (grade 10) claims "We don't have many good hitters or passers, but the team is coming together nicely because we had a team bonding exercise." When Kaitlyn Thompson was asked if the team was coming together well, she answered by saying, "Yes, we are playing very well together and doing a ton of team bonding exercises." All the varsity volleyball girls that were interviewed believe that Foothill High School is their biggest competetor. The first volleyball game of this season was last Thursday, August 18; the last game was on Tuesday, August 23, and the next game of this season is will be a Tournament on Friday and Saturday, August 2 and 3. Kaitlyn Thompson was asked what the team's goal was for this year's season of varsity volleyball, and she believes, "The team goal is to play well together all season and to make play-offs." Madison Funk, a defensive specialist on the varsity volleyball team this year, was asked what her greatest strengths and weakness were in regards to volleyball, and she said, "Talking to my teammates is my greatest strength, but running is my biggest weakness." All in all, it appears that this year the varsity volleyball team is in great hands. The 2016 Girl's Tennis team has been performing pretty well during practice lately. Sophomore Lindsay Harrison who has been playing tennis for five years said she believed that her greatest skill in Tennis is her forehand. "What I believe I need to work on in Tennis is a little bit of everything and my serve," said Sophomore Lindsay Harrison. What Lindsay believes their team goal this year is to be supportive to each other, do their best, and win. Sophomore Taylor Bell who has been p l a y i n g tennis for two years said she believed that her greatest skill in Tennis is her backhand. " W h a t I believe I need to work on in Tennis is my serving," said Sophomore Taylor Bell. What Taylor believes their team goal this year is to win the championship. J u n i o r Cleo DuFrain who has been playing tennis for fourteen years said she believed that her greatest skill in Tennis is her backhand. "What I believe I need to work on in Tennis is my strokes and my serving," said Junior Cleo DuFrain. What Cleo believes their team goal this year is to be undefeated. Dufrain also thinks that the team will do exemplary this year. Senior Megan Boone who has been playing tennis for six years said she believed that her greatest skill in Tennis is her quickness. "What I believe I need to work on in Tennis is my serving and my follow through," said Senior Megan Boone. Boone also thinks that the team will do good this year if they put in hard work As the countdown to the first football game of the season comes to an end, the JV football team is committed to achieving a winning record. "I'm looking forward to watching the guys face-off against Paradise and we're all expecting positive results," said Coach Sanders. The coaching the scoreboard. The team has a positive outlook for the Tehama County Shootout, knowing that they have the school and their community's support. Since this is their last year as underclassmen, the JV boys are really focusing on bonding as a team and becoming as comfortable as possible while playing alongside each other. The team kicks off their season this Friday at 5:30 p.m. linebacker, Joey Estrada. "I'm excited to start playing again, because I love football and I want a good outcome for the team this year," stated running back, Eric Davis. Starting center, Brindin Hethcoat has set goals for himself and he wants to be the best he can be this season. Bri Minges, left guard and linebacker, has also set goals for the football team and himself in hopes that the team can put more points on staff continues to set goals for the team's improvement. This includes, getting better individually and enhancing their performance each week on the field. Starting quarterback, Logan Robertson, expects to defeat the Bobcats due to the fact that the outcome last year was not as expected. "I want to beat Paradise because they're our biggest competitor," added outside "W hat I believe I need to work on in Tennis is my ser v ing." -Taylor Bell F. volleyball starts This years Red Bluff High Schools Frosh volleyball team is going to end out on top! While being coached by Alethea McDonald and Brittany Boyes for their fourth year, she will continue to lead these girls to victory. When Emma Forsberg was asked how she likes volleyball at the high school, she said, "I really like how hyped everyone gets because everyone is always so loud!" Forsberg was from Berrendos Middle School and now she is a freshman at Red Bluff high. Emma McDonald was asked how she thought the team would do this year, and she replied with, "I think our team will do really well especially if we come together." When Emiana Gaumer what position she plays, she replied with, " I set for the Frosh team and I have been setting for two years now." When asking Forsberg what she was looking most forward to this year, she answered with, "I really want to expand on my hitting abilities because I play outside and that is the main hitting spot." McDonald is the other setter on the frosh volleyball team and she has been setting for about three years now, she said, "I really want to perfect my hands and keep the ball stable while having little to no spin so it is easier to hit." Though the freshman team is new, they will soon come together to win the whole entire league! Gabriel Hale Sports Editor Claire Miller Sports Editor Trinity Stehno Staff Writer Sophia Cumpton Topic Editor Bluffer/Sophia Cumpton The Varsity football team practicing their tackling drill for today's game against Paradise High School taking place at RBHS. s e a s on a nd h a s h i g h e x p e c t at ion s win on their first game with a win against WV Staff Writer Sarah Herara