The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/453478
Page 6 January 23, 2015 Senior, Mario Zepeda, running after a loose ball during a game in Red Bluffs December tournament against Yreka High School. Sports Rebecca Frey Staff Writer Red Bluff High's varsity soccer team has had a decent season so far. This season's scores consist more of victories than losses. The only games that ended in defeat for the Spartans was when they played two matches against Pleasant Valley and one against Corning. Alejando Alvarez, a sophomore who's a forward on the team said, "We've won all of our games except for one against Corning and two against PV, but we're doing great and we still hope to be in the finals." The Spartans ended up losing 7-0 in the first game against Pleasant Valley and the loss upset the whole team. As Robert Godina, junior and the goalie mentioned, "We were all a little sad, you know? It was to get first place." But it really doesn't affect their chances of making it to finals if they lose a few times because each time they win, the team earns 3 points. If they tie against the opponent, they only receive one point. And if they lose, well, they don't gain any points. Robert said, "It doesn't matter if you lose some games, you just have to have more points than other teams to go to finals." When the boys were asked which game was most memorable, they referred to the first game of the tournament during Holiday Classic when they went against Eureka. Alejandro said, "It was very intense, some of our teammates were screaming at the ones from the other team. We had extra time and PK's too." Keep in mind that both sides were pretty nervous because the penalty kicks would determine who won the game. In the end, it was Robert who saved the team by "blocking the game winning shot." When Alejandro was asked what it feels like to shoot penalty kicks he said, "I get… nervous on PK's, but I never miss." Robert gave us a smile and said, "I stop them." Soccer isn't just about kicking a ball and hoping it'll make it somewhere. You have to have accuracy and you need to be aware of everything going on around you. Alejandro said it best, "Everything about my sport is challenging. You have to control the ball, think fast, move fast, be smart, pass, and shoot." At the beginning of a match everybody's a bit anxious. But you have to have faith in your teammates and trust them to score. Alejandro said, " No pienso en nada mas, nomas en el juego." Which means, "I don't think of anything else, just the game." Robert said, "I'm nervous until we score a goal." V boys soccer consistently scores Red Bluff High School's alpine team starts the new season off with their first race on January twelfth at Mt. Shasta After working hard practicing for the upcoming season of skiing, snowboarding, and racing. Mariah Damante, freshmen, said, "We practice skiing and snowboarding to achieve greatness in racing." Nobody from Red Bluff High School won the race on the twelfth. However, Damante said, "We did good for our first race." Catherine Cumpton, a senior, said, "It's a good team this year." Varsity girls basketball push to improve and practice strategy Shania Prieto Staff Writer Julissa Villalobos Sports Writer Both Damante and Cumpton agreed that the most difficult thing about alpine is, "Getting up at five o'clock in the morning," but Noah Fleharty, a junior, said, "Having to train for hours on end," is the most difficult. However, Fleharty's favorite thing about alpine is the speed of skiing down the slope. He also said that the best thing about alpine is race training. Cumpton said, "Making it down a slope without falling on my face," which is her favorite thing about the sport. Cumpton also said that one of her least favorite things about alpine is, "Falling down a steep slope." In reply to what the most fun she's had while in alpine, Damante said , "Practicing on the racecourse is pretty cool." The three team members all said that they enjoy being out in the snow skiing for a full week when practicing; like they did over Christmas break. Fleharty said that he would do alpine again next year, but Damante stated, "Depends on if there's enough snow." All three says that there hadn't been enough snow because it's been melting too fast. Cumpton will be graduating in June and won't be at RBHS next school year. All three agreed that the team this year has worked hard. "It's gonna be a great season." Fleharty stated. The alpine team's upcoming race takes place at Mount Shasta on Monday, January twenty-sixth. Alpine team practices for races Jv boys basketball work hard to end season on track Illeana Hilsee Staff Writer The JV boys basketball team have been working very hard this season. From being together since freshman year and maybe before, the boys have greatly created a bond that will last through their remaining high school years and beyond. What started out as possibly strangers the sport has brought them all together. "I vaguely knew the others, but after basketball I do feel like this helped me get to know them" stated sophomore Dillon Garcia. While on the court playing, the boys have stated to have a special connection with their teammates. Getting the kind of sense to know where to be next that will help benefit whoever needs it. "When I'm on the court, I kind of have a sense of what my team will do next from playing with them this long" said sophomore Riley Gleason. Both Gleason and Garcia have been playing since elementary school and plan to play throughout high school. During practices, the team tries to better their strategies by scrimmaging and playing a long with their coach. Before a game, the team each tries to focus on what they need to do to succeed. Sophomore Noah Caylor says "I focus on what I need to do as a player in addition to joking around in the player room." They always have try to have a good attitude no matter the outcome The boys always try to better themselves and learn from their former failures to try to succeed the next time. Varsity girls basketball is half-way through their season and are preparing for their next match January 27 against Chi- co High School happening in Chico at 7:30 p.m. "Well Chico teams are al- ways pretty good so it'll be in- teresting to see how we match up with them." States Daisy Brose,senior., "We know each other on a personal level so it'll help playing." The Varsity girls team is ex- cited, Morgan Griffis, junior. hopes to see her sister there cheering her on, "She's prob- ably my biggest supporter, she tries hard to make it to all my games." The team knows they need to practice their strategy of running fast and playing hard. The team won their last tournament which couldn't have been possible without every player on the team says Brose, but it wasn't just that that helped to boost their confidence. Brose states "This is one of the better teams I've played on in my ca- reer and I'm excited to see how much we can accomplish in the next few months." Wing Nicole Renfroe, junior., says "I think we'll win because of the passion for the game." Their coach Kathy Brandt is practicing hard with the girls and still keeps up a good image. It's Brose's third year play- ing for her and says "She's the best coach I've had, she really cares about the team." Griffis says "she's really good and that the whole team, including the coach, is like her second family." The team is going to prac- tice a lot whether it's practicing together or alone and hopes to improve on their shooting, espe- cially since the nerves are defi- nitely kicking in. The team is hoping to make it to playoffs, but know it won't happen if they don't try their hardest. Renfroe hopes to work not only on shooting but teamwork as well especially since their opponents are tall and she feels they need to work on passing, Griffis hopes to improve on timing because timing is ev- erything. The girls have had a good season so far and hope to keep it up by practicing their shoot- ing, rebounds, and everything else that's included in a sport that's considered unique and certainly difficult according to Griffis. The team hopes to keep up the good work by improving their personal relationships within the team, "I feel our team is definitely a closer net because of the dif- ferent ages," Renfroe states. "Our team's built off chem- istry, It's our motto," states Brose. Their main goal right now is more strength, teamwork, and focusing. Achieving these goals would also result in achieving more games. Some of the players feel that they are their own enemy. Caylor said, "We tend to be hard on ourselves when we make mistakes and sometimes don't perform our best. For us a big accomplishment would be to have a game where we played with 100% of our effort." Most players have 'said to practice on their own time. Either just messing around or just perfecting technique. Everyone's f a m i l y , f r i e n d s , and teammates are supportive of the team. "I'm optimistic about varsity," said Garcia, "Though I'm sure it will be fun and I will have my friends with me." Their games start at 6:00pm and are followed by the Varsity team at 7:30Pm. Their next game is on January 27. They will be playing against Chico in Red Bluff. When I'm on the court, I kind of have a sense of what my team will do next from playing with them this long." -Riley Gleason Photo courtesy of Yearbook Mel's Place Spray tan 332 Oak Street Red Bluff , CA 96080 melsplace@att.net Get that natural looking SunK- issed Glow to wear with your Winter Formal Dress Regulary: $25.00 Mention this ad to get $5 off Please Call for an Appointment 530-604-4182 "