The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Sports

  • HSU boosters call for athletic director’s replacement

    HSU boosters call for athletic director’s replacement

    After the final two potential head football coaches for the Lumberjacks stepped back from visiting the campus at the last minute, a head group of boosters responded immediately and started a petition asking President Lisa Rossbacher to remove Interim Athletic Director Duncan Robins from the position.

    “We believe Duncan is not qualified for the job,” said Jim Redde, “and he is basically trying to choke the football program.”

    Redd is a major booster for the Lumberjacks, as well as the co-chairman of Save HSU Athletics, that was founded last year to help raise funds and keep the football program alive.

    “[Duncan] does not interact with the community at all,” said Redd, “and he has not helped to do one thing in raising the $500,000 to save the program.”

    Robins has been the interim AD since June and plenty of students, athletes, community members, alumni, and boosters feel that he has not put forth his best effort in helping the program stay alive and the athletic department succeed.

    Robins explained that a full national search by a search committee took place before the five final potential coaches were chosen. Initially, there were 79 applicants for this position and after the search committee conducted verbal interviews with their top 15 choices, five were put forward for Duncan to consider.

    “It is now my job to entice them with everything that is Humboldt,” Duncan said, “and let them know that they can help us rebuild this program.”

    Former Head Coach Rob Smith stepped down from the position for reasons including the fact that he could just no longer work under Robins’ authority.

    According to the boosters, both head coach Charlie Roche of Siskiyous and head coach Jeff Sims of Garden Community in Kansas backed out of visiting the campus this week. Roche was supposed to visit May 1 and Sims was supposed to visit May 3.

    Roche was contacted, but prefers to speak about his decision after the search process has been completed.

    The boosters suggest that these coaches stepped down because they would be forced to keep the current group of coaching assistants, be limited to a certain number of players, and be entering a hiring clause providing them with no security for their position.

    Before the search began, several coaching assistants were hired to keep the program functioning through the spring. However, their contracts are only valid through the end of 2018.

    The boosters believe that scenarios like this one are all a part of Duncans plan to slowly deteriorate the progression of the program.

    “He has done some good things,” Redd said, “I’ve got to give him credit for helping the academic side of athletics.”

    Duncan’s true motives for the football program have been exhibited after this major setback in finding a head football coach has come about, said the boosters. They believe he has intentionally stalled the hiring of a full time coach as his process to eventually get rid of the program altogether.

    Redd states that his biggest issue is the fact that the community distrusts Duncan. The community is the Lumberjack’s biggest ally, and Redd argues that without trust from the athletic director, it is hard to stay supportive.

    “I either have to turn my back on this program or fight for it,” said Redd, “and this athletic department is worth fighting for.”

    The petition is expected to be online at https://savehsuathletics.com by the end of the week.

  • New coaches, same support system

    New coaches, same support system

    Failure is not an option for coach Mason Mitchell. He plans on pushing the football program in the right direction with the continuous support of the community and the Humboldt State University student body.

    “It is more than just being able to put something on your resume,” Mitchell said. “I am here to help push this program in the right direction, and help continue its success.”

    Mitchell was hired as the defensive line coach on March 22 by interim head coach Damaro Wheeler. He was previously at American River College in Sacramento, where he helped more than 45 defensive linemen move onto the four-year level within a five year time period.

    As of the 2018 spring semester, the Lumberjacks have hired three new coaches and six others have volunteered to help coach throughout spring ball, and possibly the fall season.

    These volunteer coaches have been out on the field at 6 a.m. several times a week to help conduct spring practices. They have also been in the football offices daily to help with logistics for the success of the program.

    The work that they have already put in has shadowed the commitment from the community in fall of 2017 in keeping the program alive and successful.

    Lucas Govan has volunteered with the Lumberjacks since fall 2017, and is an HSU alum.

    “The comradery that comes with [HSU Football] is special,” Govan said. “There is no place really like it.”

    As a former Jacks player, he mentions how neither the players nor coaches would be where they are, and as successful as they are, if it weren’t for the support from the community and student body.

    The Lumberjacks hold a very reliable stance with their community, alumni and student body, given that they have helped sell out the Redwood Bowl and raised $500,000 during a time of need.

    “I was a lead in trying to raise the money,” HSU alum and booster Jim Redd said, “but there were about 250 donors that came up with the $500,000.”

    It is the 250 donors who made it possible for these young men to get back in the Redwood Bowl this spring, as well as allowing the new coaches to step in and pick things right back up in preparation for a successful fall 2018 season.

    After a successful inter-squad spring game, The Lumberjacks will take a quick summer vacation before they begin to prepare for their first season game in Wichita Falls, Texas against Midwestern State University on Sep. 1.

    “We want everyone to continue to come out and support us,” Mitchell said, “But with that, we want them all to understand how important their support is for us.”

  • This week in sports

    This week in sports

    April 25, 1976 – Former San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan is born in Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands. Widely considered to be the greatest power forward of all time, he is a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP and an NBA All-Star Game MVP. He is also a 15-time NBA All-Star and the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams for 13 consecutive seasons. He is undoubtedly the highest decorated Spur of all time. Duncan started out as a swimmer, and only began playing basketball in ninth grade after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized pool in his hometown of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

    April 27, 1947 – Babe Ruth Day is declared a national holiday by then baseball commissioner Albert “Happy” Chandler Sr. The commissioner was aware of Ruth’s rapidly deteriorating health, and designated Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium. Ruth would address the Yankee faithful, 27 years after first slipping on the pinstripes. Baseball fans around the world still celebrate the day designated for the Great Bambino.

    April 28, 1967 – Boxing world champion Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the U.S. Army and is immediately stripped of his heavyweight title. Ali, a Muslim, cited religious reasons for his decision to forgo military service.

    “I have the world heavyweight title, not because it was ‘given’ to me, not because of my race or religion, but because I won it in the ring through my boxing ability,” Ali said in a press statement. “Those who want to ‘take’ it and hold a series of auction-type bouts not only do me a disservice, but actually disgrace themselves. I am certain that the sports fans and fair-minded people throughout America would never accept such a ‘title-holder’.”

  • Chico brings their brooms to HSU

    Chico brings their brooms to HSU

    The Lumberjacks softball team concluded their four-game series with No. 3 ranked Chico State University on April 21 by taking a pair of losses to complete Chico’s sweep.

    Video by Bailey Tennery.

    The Jacks were shut out in the first game (9-0) in only five innings because of the mercy rule. The game must end if a team is losing by eight or more runs after the fifth inning.

    The second game was more of a slugfest, however, as that ended 16-13.

    Jacks head coach Shelli Sarchett remained optimistic, despite the team’s troubles.

    “This whole weekend I saw a difference in this team and how they reacted to things. They played with a lot of energy,” Sarchett said. “If we’re gonna lose, that’s how I want it to happen.”

    The visiting Wildcats recorded nine runs on 13 hits in the first game. The damage was spread throughout the game, as they tallied three runs in the second, third and fourth innings.

    The win moved Chico State’s winning streak to 18, while the Jack’s losing streak was extended to four games.

    Chico State starting pitcher Haley Gilham (21-2, 1.25 ERA) was locked in all game, as she limited HSU to just three hits over five innings of shutout ball. Jacks starter Jasmine Hill took the loss as she allowed six runs on seven hits to go with five walks.

    When Chico’s Gilham was not on the mound, the Lumberjacks thrived at the plate. The Lumberjacks jumped on Chico State starting pitcher Naomi Monahan (15-1, 2.41 ERA) for three runs in the first.

    The damage came from an RBI double from Hanna Holland, a run-scoring single courtesy of Micaela Harris and a wild pitch.

    Chico State responded with a vengeance in the top half of the second, as they scored seven runs on six hits to take an 8-3 advantage. The Jacks kept fighting though, as they plated a run in the second before a six-run third inning put them in the driver’s seat.

    The Jacks’ lead was short lived as a run-scoring error, and a Wendy Cardinali three-run homer in the next inning, put the Wildcats back on top.

    Jacks first basemen Rylie Carlier continued her power surge with a team-leading eighth home run in the fifth inning.

    Humboldt State softball team played Chico State Wildcats on April 21. Game played at the Lumberjacks home field. HSU’s Winona Vigil (15) running to first base. Final score 9-1. Chico won. Photo by Bailey Tennery.

    HSU’s 1-2-3 hitters in the lineup each finished the game with three hits, and Winona Vigil and Harris each drove in three runs each.

    When talking about her approach at the plate, Harris had a simple answer.

    “I just tried to attack the first pitch, and be aggressive,” Harris said.

    The series sweep moves the Lumberjacks’ CCAA record to 14-16 and 19-25 overall, which puts them in seventh place in the CCAA standings.

    HSU will host Sonoma State University next weekend at HSU Softball Field. The series begins April 27 at 1 p.m.

  • Defense dominates the spring

    Defense dominates the spring

    The Lumberjacks and their fans took over the Redwood Bowl April 21 for their annual intersquad Green & Gold Scrimmage. Defense suited up in their green home jerseys while offense suited up in their away white jerseys.

    “I thought [defense] was successful,” coach Wheeler said. “They were fundamentally sound, which caused all of the turnovers.”

    Defense finished the scrimmage with a total of four interceptions and one fumble recovery. They only let offense score two touchdowns and won the scrimmage 35-14.

    “I knew the ball was in my hands,” defensive back Alonzo Davis said. “Once I got tackled, I got up hyped and knew this was my game.”

    Davis had the first interception of the scrimmage and as a Lumberjack. Davis is a freshman and will be joining the Jacks for his first official collegiate season in fall 2018.

    Defensive back Herman Ochoa picked up another interception, along with linebacker Demetrick Watts who walked away with two interceptions and the most stops on defense.

    “The whole game I just knew that wherever the ball was was where I had to be,” Watts said.

    Watts is a redshirt sophomore who is looking forward to the fall season and watching all of their hard work in the weight room and during practice pay off.

    Although offense struggled to finish in the end zone, running backs Jonathan Branch and Tyree Marzetta helped put some points on the board.

    “Offense is coming along,” coach Wheeler said. “They had a few big plays and I thought it was a competitive game on both sides.”

    The stands of the Redwood Bowl held enough fans on Saturday to create an encouraging and supportive atmosphere for the Jacks. They get a little vacation before things kick off for their first season game at Midwestern State on Sept. 1.

    “Our energy was good,” coach Wheeler said, “and these [young men] had fun, but most importantly, we came out healthy.”

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    Photos by Garrett Goodnight.
  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    April 18, 1966 – Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in NBA history for the Boston Celtics. The hall-of-famer played 13 seasons for the Celtics, and won 11 championships in that time. Russell is one of seven basketball players in history to win an NCAA Championship, an NBA Championship and an Olympic gold medal.

    April 20, 1986 – Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan set an NBA playoff record with an incredible 63 points. Jordan broke the mark that was previously held by Elgin Baylor who scored 61 points in the 1962 NBA Finals.

    April 22, 1954 – The NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock to speed up the game. The number was devised when Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone divided the seconds in a 48-minute game by the the average amount of shots by both teams (120) from games played from the previous three seasons. The game was dull and played at a snail’s pace, with one team opening up a lead and freezing the ball until time ran out. The only thing the trailing team could do was foul. Thus the games became rough, ragged and free-throw shooting contests.

    “The adoption of the clock was the most important event in the NBA,” NBA President Maurice Podoloff said.

    Legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach called it the single most important rule change in the last 50 years.

    April 23, 2000 – American snowboarder Chloe Kim is born in Torrance, California. Kim won gold in dominating fashion for the United States in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea at the age of 17.

  • Auction raises over 200K

    Auction raises over 200K

    The who’s who of Humboldt County were in attendance for the 33rd Annual Celebrity Dinner and Sports Auction in Eureka, and they raised over $200,000 for the night.

    The auction is put together every year as a benefit for the Humboldt State University athletics program and athletic scholarships. Tim Flannery is a former three-time MLB World Series championship coach for the San Francisco Giants and player for the San Diego Padres. He was the special celebrity guest this year, and had an unlikely connection to the local area.

    “In 1976 I was in Boulder, Colorado for the NBC College World Series,” Flannery said. “And the Humboldt Crabs – the Humboldt Eureka Crabs – beat us, and I’m still looking for those guys.”

    As the event was getting started and catering was being set out, the Lumberjack athletes were in the parking lot in the back, wearing tuxedos and dresses while eating cold pizza.

    Junior Kameron Curl is a guard on the men’s basketball team who was a table runner along with his fellow athletes. The runner’s responsibility is to promote themselves and the team to the community at their tables.

    “It’s nice to interact with people,” Curl said. “They get a better idea as to who we are as people, and not just on the court.”

    Coaches, administrators, boosters and members of the Humboldt community wined and dined on fine catering while student-athletes rushed around tables to look for some help for the university’s depleted funds.

    Jovannah Arrington is a junior guard on the women’s basketball team who hit the game-winning shot for the Jacks in the conference final earlier this year against University of California, San Diego.

    “We know the boosters are going to be there,” Arrington said. “To be able to serve them is a great opportunity for us, and getting to meet them is really nice.”

    Flannery kept the crowd engaged with two singing performances, and stories from his more than 25 years in the MLB.

    “This was an amazing evening made possible by our exceptional community,” Interim Athletic Director Duncan Robins said. “The community demonstrated its overwhelming support last fall, and continues to show its green and gold spirit in support of student-athlete scholarships.”

    From shooting machines to new sports bags, this money will come in handy for the athletics program now and in the future.

  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    April 14, 1941 – Baseball legend and pariah Pete Rose is born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rose has the most hits of all time in Major League Baseball history, but is more well known for his involvement with gambling on baseball games. Rose was given a lifetime ban from baseball after a scandal focused on his habit of betting on games broke out in the late 1980s. He agreed to be declared permanently ineligible from the sport in 1989.

    April 15, 1947 – Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play in a MLB game in the modern-era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him at first base on April 15, 1947. When the Dodgers signed Robinson, they paved the way to the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had consigned black players to the “Negro leagues” since the 1880s.

    April 17, 1820 – Alexander “Alick” Cartwright, who is recognized as the inventor of modern baseball, is born in New York, New York. Although he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame and referred to as the “father of baseball,” his role as developer of the game has been disputed by many skeptics. After the myth of Abner Doubleday having invented baseball in Cooperstown in 1839 was debunked, Cartwright was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a pioneering contributor 46 years after his death.

  • Women’s basketball reflects on CCAA title, NCAA tourney appearance

    Women’s basketball reflects on CCAA title, NCAA tourney appearance

    Fresh off a conference tournament victory and a NCAA tournament birth, it’s safe to say the Humboldt State women’s basketball team had a successful season.

    Before the season kicked off in early November, a lot of people could not have predicted such a successful year for the Jacks, much less a conference title.

    The players understood the expectations, but looked to make a statement and defy them. The team had formed a polarizing bond ever since they started practicing together, and they never looked back from there.

    “We all felt that we were a special group from the first time we met,” sophomore Tyra Turner said.

    Throughout the season, the Lady Jacks displayed a perfect match of comradery throughout the squad, and a burning desire to win. The team also had a great knowledge of their own limitations.

    “We’re a small team, so we spread the floor and try to get people to guard us outside,” junior Jovanah Arrington said.

    “I’m 5’10 trying to guard girls that are 6’3,” junior forward Isamar Conde said.

    This was on full display after they lost their first conference game to Chico State, but they responded by winning their next seven conference games.

    “Our offense struggled in the first couple of games, so we had to win games with our defense,” Conde said.

    Over that seven-game win streak, the team held opponents to just 57 points per game.

    This seven-game win streak was snapped by UC San Diego, who beat the Lady Jacks twice before facing off in the conference title game.

    After the loss to the UCSD Tritons, the Lady Jacks went 7-6 to end the regular season. This left the team’s fate for the tournament in question after such a strong start.

    However, the Lady Jacks still found themselves asking the same question over and over: why not us?

    “[Head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson] said to us before the tournament started, ‘Why not us?’” Arrington said. “We couldn’t find a reason why we couldn’t beat every team in [the tournament].”

    After beating Cal State East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona in the first two rounds of the tournament, HSU faced their toughest foe of the season in UCSD.

    The Jacks lost their first two games of the season to the Tritons, and the second game was decided by 15 points. As always, the team’s confidence did not waiver.

    “We almost beat them the first time,” Arrington said. “So why can’t we beat them again?”

    HSU went on to win the title game 76-75 in a game that came down to an Arrington buzzer beater.

    “I didn’t think too much before the shot,” Arrington said. “If I had, then I probably wouldn’t have made the shot.”

    The win helped HSU qualify for the eight seed in the NCAA tournament, which matched them up with the number one seed, Azusa Pacific Cougars. The Lady Jacks upset the Cougars 66-60 before losing to Alaska Anchorage, 81-73.

    For everyone on the team, besides Turner (who played last season for Long Beach State), this was their first appearance in the NCAA tournament. While they did not get the result they ultimately wanted, HSU gained some very valuable experience.

    “I think we surprised a lot of people,” Conde said. “It’s a great feeling.”

    With many key players returning next season, the Lady Jacks will look to build on what they accomplished this season.

    “We came so far together as a team,” Turner said. “I just think that some of us are taking this as a learning experience for those of us who are going to be back for next year.”

  • 2018 MLB season preview

    2018 MLB season preview

    The wait is finally over as the 2018 Major League Baseball regular season kicked off on March 29 after one of the most busy off-seasons in recent memory.

    Key Additions:

    1. Shohei Ohtani – Starting Pitcher/Designated Hitter (Angels)

    2. Giancarlo Stanton – Outfielder (Yankees)

    3. Marcell Ozuna – Outfielder (Cardinals)

    4. Christian Yelich – Outfielder (Brewers)

    5. Jake Arrieta – Starting Pitcher (Phillies)

    6. J.D. Martinez – Outfielder/Designated Hitter (Red Sox)

    7. Andrew McCutchen – Outfielder (Giants)

    8. Evan Longoria – Third Baseman (Giants)

    9. Yu Darvish – Starting Pitcher (Cubs)

    10. Eric Hosmer – First Baseman (Padres)

    Most Improved Teams:

    1. Minnesota Twins – The Twins were considered about a year or two ahead of schedule when they snuck into the second wilcard spot in the American League last year and finished with an 85-77 record. Minnesota is flooded with young talent, which is led by centerfielder Byron Buxton (.253 16 hr 29 sb) and third baseman Miguel Sano (.264 28 hr 77 RBI). They also have some good veteran presence in Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer to help even the lineup out.In addition, they added pitchers Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi to a rotation that already included Ervin Santana and budding star Jose Berrios. A division title seems unrealistic this season due to the talent of the Cleveland Indians, but look for the Twins to fight for a wildcard spot once again.
    2. New York Yankees – The Yankees added National League Most Valuable Player Giancarlo Stanton (59 hr), third baseman Brandon Drury and second baseman Neil Walker to a team that took the World Series champion Houston Astros to seven games in the ALCS.Their lineup was already dangerous, and adding Stanton to the middle of the lineup with the reigning American League rookie of the year Aaron Judge (52 hr 114 RBI) and catcher Gary Sanchez (33 hr 90 RBI) could be deadly. They will certainly be in the hunt for an American League East title and will likely battle it out with the Boston Red Sox for the entire season.
    3. Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies made a last second headline in March by signing Jake Arrieta to be the ace of an already talented rotation. Arrieta is one of the top right-handed pitchers in the league and will be accompanied by Aaron Nola (3.54 ERA, 184 strikeouts), Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez.Nola is obviously the headliner there, but don’t sleep on the other two. They are both in their mid-20’s, and have the stuff to be great complimentary pieces in a major league rotation. Their lineup is full of prospects that are either ready to burst onto the scene or already have: Rhys Hoskins (18 hr in 170 at-bats last year), J.P. Crawford, Scott Kingery. Newly-signed first baseman Carlos Santana, Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco will fill out the lineup, making Philly a dark-horse playoff contender this season.

    Sleepers:

    1. Jose Berrios – Starting Pitcher (Twins): The right-hander has a devastating combination of a running fastball that touches 100 mph and a slider that hitters cannot seem to touch when they are on. Berrios has the potential to be one of the top pitchers in the game and it is only a matter of time before he puts it all together for a full season.

    2. Ronald Acuña – Outfielder (Braves): The only reason Acuña isn’t on the big league roster to begin the season is that the Braves are waiting 13 days in order to push his impending free agency back one season, just as the Cubs did with Kris Bryant during his rookie season. Acuña is considered a five-tool player and is expected to have the same impact that Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Bryant have had on their respective teams in recent years.

    3. Gleyber Torres – Infielder (Yankees): The Yankees added a couple of infielders in the offseason in order to bridge the gap for the impending call up of Torres, but if he can continue to produce at a high level in the minor leagues, then he will definitely force the Yankees hand. Torres is another five-tool player that can do it all, and his bat is tremendous. Don’t be surprised if he is a key part of the Yankee’s playoff run by the end of this season.

    The teams to beat this season are surely the Dodgers and the Astros in their respective leagues, as neither lost any key players this offseason (and the Astros actually added a potential all-star in Gerrit Cole).

    In the NL, the Cubs and Nationals seem like the only other championship contenders as of now. They are both in win now mode and have the same cores in place as last season.

    The AL playoff race should be more interesting, however, as the Yankees, Red Sox and Indians all have the talent to take down the Astros.

    However, it is a 162-game season and a lot can happen. Don’t be surprised to see some of those sleeper teams sneak into the playoff race.

  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    April 6, 1973 – The Pittsburgh Pirates retired outfielder Roberto Clemente’s number 21 jersey. Just months after collecting his milestone 3,000th hit, Clemente boarded a plane from his native Puerto Rico to deliver relief aid to earthquake-stricken victims in Nicaragua.

    Tragically, Clemente passed away when his plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean soon after takeoff. The Baseball Writer’s Association of America voted to waive the five-year waiting period to get into the Hall of Fame for Clemente and posthumously elected him for induction March 20, 1973.

    April 8, 1974 – Atlanta Braves outfielder “Hammerin” Hank Aaron hits his 715 home run off the Dodgers’ Al Downing to break Babe Ruth’s longstanding home run record. Aaron would hit 40 more home runs over the course of his baseball career, leaving him with 755.

    The record was broken by the San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds in 2007, but Aaron is still considered the home run king by many people, due to allegations of Bonds’ use of performance-enhancing drugs.

    April 10, 2005 – Tiger Woods wins the 69th annual Masters Tournament in Augusta by shooting a total of 276. Woods has not won a masters title since then, but looks to win another green jacket this weekend at Augusta as he attempts his comeback from multiple back surgeries.

  • Spring ball in full effect

    Spring ball in full effect

    Eleven coaches and 66 student athletes gather every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning in preparation for their spring game later this month.

    “Our energy is already feeding off of each other,” backup sophomore quarterback Cheyenne Keith said. “We are doing very well so far.”

    The Lumberjacks took to the Redwood Bowl again as they jumped into spring ball at their first 6 a.m. practice on March 27.

    Lumberjacks head coach Damaro Wheeler currently holds the interim position for the Jacks. He has been with the team since spring of 2017 and coached defensive backs and special teams during the 2017 season.

    “We have hired some coaches,” coach Wheeler said. “And a bunch of former players and alumni have come to help us out.”

    Along with practice during the week, the Jacks are required a certain amount of completed lifts done in the recreation center weight room. With some new and already familiar drills, the Jacks are taking everything on and going all in at practice.

    “We are ready,” Keith said. “We are ready to put the pads on and hit each other.”

    The Jacks will get a small break after the their spring game, and will return late summer for the start of the fall season.

    “We’re taking it day by day,” junior Sefa Tauanu’u said. “As a captain, I’m also focused on bettering the team.”

  • Women in sports history

    Women in sports history

    Gertrude Ederle, swimming

    Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926 after just five men had completed the feat. The 19 year old finished the 35-mile swim through frigid waters in 14 and a half hours, which topped the men’s record by almost two hours. She also won a gold medal and two bronze medals at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

    Janet Guthrie, race car driving

    You’ve probably heard of NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, but do you know who Janet Guthrie is? In 1977, Guthrie became the first woman to earn a starting spot in both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. Her ninth place finish in the 1978 Indy 500 was the best performance by a woman until 2005.

    Billie Jean King, tennis

    King won a record 20 Wimbledon titles over her 18-year career. She scored a major victory for women when she battled her male counterpart, Bobby Riggs, in 1973 in a match deemed “Battle of the Sexes.” Riggs claimed that the women’s game was inferior to the men’s. King fought for equal prize money for women and became the first woman to win more than $100,000 for a match.

    Surya Bonaly, figure skating

    In the 1998 Nagano Olympics, French figure skater Surya Bonaly performed her signature backflip where she landed on one foot. In 1976, the International Skating Union banned the backflip, but she became the only person to complete the move at the Games in 1998. Bonaly went ahead with the flip after a poor start, but will go down in history for landing the only backflip in Olympic competition.

    Nancy Lieberman, basketball

    Lieberman was a baller. She became the first woman to play in a men’s professional basketball game as a member of the United States Basketball League in 1986. After a hall-of-fame WNBA career, Lieberman made her stamp on the men’s game once again in 2010 by becoming the first woman to coach a men’s professional team with the Texas Legends of the D-League, now known as the G-League.

    Ibtihaj Muhammad, fencing

    Muhammad became the first U.S. Olympian to compete in a hijab at the 2016 Rio Games. Her father said fencing was a sport that was uniquely accommodating to her religion, which requires her body to be fully covered. She helped the U.S. win bronze in saber fencing with a 45-30 rout of Italy.

    Serena Wiliams, tennis

    Williams has become a household name in the tennis world. She has dominated the court since she stepped onto the professional scene. Her total of 23 Grand Slam titles sets the record for the most Grand Slam wins by a singles player in the open era of tennis history. Williams has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all with her sister Venus. The pair are unbeaten in Grand Slam doubles finals. Serena’s record of 39 total Grand Slam titles puts her third on the all-time list, and second in the open era. She is highly regarded as the most dominant athlete of this millennium.

  • Track and field dominates in Humboldt Invite

    Track and field dominates in Humboldt Invite

    The Humboldt State track and field team shined at the annual Humboldt Invite on March 24, despite harsh weather conditions and a day where the seniors were honored in their last home meet at HSU.

    Six different universities, including Sonoma State, Cal State East Bay, Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, De Anza and College of the Redwoods competed at the Redwood Bowl in the midst of a cold and wet day. The temperature was cold, accompanied by harsh winds and heavy rain.

    “It’s pretty miserable,” head coach Sarah Ingram said. “[Our team’s] marks might not be where they want them to be today, but there’s only so much you can do in weather like this.”

    The women were led by senior standouts Tatiana Gillick and Annie Roberts, who finished in the top three of the 800m and 1500m. Gillick took the top spot in both, however, with an impressive time of 2:17.36 in the 800 meter. In the 1500 meter, Gillick passed Roberts on the final lap. She gave her teammate a little credit, too.

    “I feel pretty confident,” Gillick said. “I really focused on the third lap, and Annie really helped with that.”

    Sophomore Brailee VandenBoom continued her excellent season with another stellar performance. VandenBoom, who is just two weeks from winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association Field Athlete of the Week honors, tied for first in the 100 meter (12.61) and took sole possession of first place in the high jump with a mark of 1.64 meters.

    Lily Bankas continued to lead the women’s throwing team as she set the highest mark of the meet at shot put (11.00 meters). Bankas also finished first in discus, as well as a mark of 38.19 meters.

    For the men, senior Dylan Roberts paced the triple jump with a mark of 13.64 meters. Roberts also placed second in the long jump at 6.80 meters.

    Fellow senior Dustyn Salomon had success in the 400 meter and 800 meter races, as Humboldt State held the top four spots in the 400 meter. Salomon also won the 1500 meter with a time of 3:59.00, outrunning his teammate Adam Grimmitt by less than a second (3:59.66).

    “For the season opener, I’m faster than last year,” Salomon said. “But I think the adverse conditions today really affected my speed.”

    The Jacks travel to Chico State to compete at the Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational on April 6 and 7.

     

     

  • Rowers find success at regatta

    Rowers find success at regatta

    The Lumberjacks rowing teams had a successful day at the Blue Heron Redwood Sprints Regatta in Eureka on March 24, despite rainy conditions.

    The regatta was hosted at Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center. It was one of the biggest in decades, featuring teams from Pacific University, Mills College, Sacramento State University, Lewis and Clark University, Southern Oregon University, Chico State University and Cal Maritime Academy.

    “We had newcomers this year. Pacific University, outside of Portland, came, and Lewis and Clark came to race Mills College for a NCAA qualifier,” head coach Robin Meiggs said. “Overall, it was really good to see crews come out. It definitely would have been nicer if the weather was a little better.”

    Rough waters and strong winds created some choppy conditions, but the Jacks women’s and men’s teams performed well.

    “The wind was pushing hard enough that it was moving crews literally from lanes one through five to five through 10, so definitely the courses were not straight this morning,” Meiggs said.

    The Jacks women’s varsity swept its races after a strong start in the first race of the day with the WV8 ending in 9:14.61. Lewis and Clark came in second (9:45.45), followed by Southern Oregon in third (10:49.51).

    Humboldt State raced two boats in the WN8 that ranked first (9:50.70) and third (10:34.92). The Jacks pulled first and second rank in WN4 with times of 7:22.60 and 7:28.34.

    The men’s V8 pulled out a first place finish against Cal Maritime and Chico State in 8:40.01. The N4 from HSU placed fifth following a tough race between all competitors. Shortly after the start, Sacramento State MN4 crew “caught a crab” and flipped.

    Jacks head coach Robin Meiggs has been coaching HSU rowing for 24 years now and her experience showed through her team’s performance on the water.

    “I think overall we performed very well, but I think that has to do a lot with home school advantage,” Meiggs said.

  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    March 22, 1988 – Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J Watt is born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Watt became famous across the nation in 2017 during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey when he began his Houston Flood Relief Fund and raised over $37 million for the victims of the storm.

    March 23, 1994 – NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky passes hockey legend Gordie Howe’s all-time goals record of 801. Gretzky’s record now sits at 894 and is highly regarded as a record that will never be broken.

    March 26, 1992 – Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is sentenced to six years in prison for raping Desiree Washington, an 18-year-old college student who told the police and later testified in court that Tyson raped her in his hotel room and laughed about it as she wept.

    March 27, 1939 – The first ever NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game is played. The University of Oregon beat Ohio State University 46-33.

    March 28, 1982 – The first ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game is played. Louisiana Tech University beat Cheney University 76-62.

  • Jacks spring break round-up

    Jacks spring break round-up

    Jacks Softball

    The Jacks softball team had its seven-game win streak come to an end on March 18 after dropping a doubleheader versus Cal State East Bay. East Bay dominated the third game of the series 15-1 in five innings and took game four of the series 4-3 in extra innings.

    Jacks senior pitcher Jasmine Hill took the loss in the second game of the afternoon. She logged 8.2 innings and allowed 12 hits and four runs, three of which were earned runs.

    The day prior, the Jacks won both games of the doubleheader and head coach Shelli Sarchett notched her 200th career win. Sarchett has guided the Jacks to the NCAA National Championships in each of the last two seasons and finished one win shy of the program’s third title in 2016. She is one of the NCAA West Region’s most decorated coaches and has led the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association Regional Staff of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

    Jacks softball head coach Shelli Sarchett collected her 200th career victory on March 17 against Cal State East Bay. Photo by Stephen Ellis.

    HSU moved to 14-11 overall and 10-8 in conference play with the losses. Their next home game is scheduled for April 20 against Chico State.

    Jacks Track and Field

    Jacks long distance runners had a successful day at the Hornet Invite in Sacramento on March 17. Three different runners from HSU achieved provisional qualifying marks in their events.

    Jacks senior Annie Roberts finished first in the women’s 5k with a time of 17:13.75. Her time marks the third best all-time for HSU. Roberts finished a full 11 seconds ahead of the next runner to cross the finish line.

    “[Roberts] took the bull by the horns and went for it,” head distance coach Jamey Harris said. “It was a tough effort and a very mentally strong performance.”

    Jacks senior distance runner Annie Roberts (3) finished first in the Women’s 5k with a time of 17:13.75 at the Hornet Invite in Sacramento on March 17. Her time is the third best in HSU history. Photo by Josh McKinney.

    Jacks freshman Brayden Leach crossed the finish line in the men’s 800m at 1:51.13, which is just under the provisional qualifying mark of 1:52.16.

    The Jacks third runner to qualify with a provisional time was senior Dustyn Salomon. Salomon ran the steeplechase in 9:05.23 and finished fourth place overall.

    “He ran a solid race and he can definitely run faster,” coach Harris said. “This is his first steeplechase of the season and the result is very encouraging.”

    The Jacks look to build on their success in the next meet. They play at home for the Humboldt Invite on March 24 at the Redwood Bowl.

     

  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    March 7, 1857 – Baseball decides that their game will last nine innings. Before this, a full game was decided when the first team scored nine runs. Games have remained nine innings for the last 160 years.

    March 8, 1971 – In their first boxing match against each other, Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali in 15 rounds for the heavyweight title. The two would fight twice more that became known as “The Rumble in the Jungle” and “The Thrilla in Manila.” Ali won both matches.

    March 14, 1988 – Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was born. Curry has become a household name in the NBA and his style of play has changed the way the game is played and coached.

    March 14, 2010 – Jacks softball pitcher Gracie Perez throws a no-hitter versus Chico State. Perez was one walk away from throwing a perfect game and had six strikeouts for the game.

    March 14, 2017 – The world’s oldest golf club, Muirfield in Scotland, votes to admit women to their club for the first time in the 273-year history of the rule that banned women.

  • Seniors stunt in final home game

    Seniors stunt in final home game

    Kayla Maulson is a senior child development major at Humboldt State who has been affiliated with the rugby team for more than five years. Maulson took a year off, because she gave birth about a year ago. She felt incredible scoring in her last game as a Lumberjack.

    “If you’re not first, you’re last,” Maulson said.

    The Jacks women’s rugby team crushed the University of California, Berkeley in their matchup on March 3 at College Creek Field. Maulson was the first of seven Jacks to score in this matchup.

    It was a bittersweet moment for the Jacks, as it was their last home game of the season. Each senior who played for the Jacks was a key component in the game.

    The Jacks started off strong thanks to the help of head coach Meredith Conrad-Forrest. Before the game even started, Conrad-Forrest recognized that the defensive line needed to be shifted around.

    “The energy we had going into this weekend seemed really positive, because we beat Berkeley before,” Conrad-Forrest said. “It was beautiful for them to have their last game end that way.”

    At halftime, the score was 26-17. Even though the rain picked up, nothing was able to stop the Jacks from keeping their momentum alive.

    Out of the four seniors on the rugby team, each would cross the goal line, contributing to the 51 total points that were scored.

    Lila Bell, a senior child development major at HSU, was an important piece in this new formation. Typically, she plays the 13 position, which focuses on maintaining the outside lanes. She lined up at the 10 position, which is similar to a quarterback in the sense that you call out the shots and dictate where people will line up.

    The Jacks were in between the halfway point and goal when Libby Treu executed a play that Bell called out.

    “We picked a play that would allow me to run right through their defense,” Bell said. “We took them by surprise!”

    All together, the Jacks have won two and lost five games. Even though they have lost a total of five games, they still have a chance at making the playoffs, because of their total points scored throughout the season.

    The Jacks walked away in their final game with a 51-22 point victory over the Cal Golden Bears.

    The Women’s College Division 1 Elite Playoffs of rugby begins on April 20. The championship round of 16 takes place over a three-day period and will conclude with a championship bout on May 5.

  • Third time’s a charm

    Third time’s a charm

    Lady Jacks win conference title.

    The Lady Jacks basketball team played the UC San Diego Tritons for the third time this season on Saturday. Humboldt State lost the first two games. This time was for the conference title and it was the charm.

    “This was the moment that was most important to us,” tournament MVP Tyra Turner said. “This was the championship game and we knew they got us twice at our home and their home.”

    Jacks sophomore guard Tyla Turner (12) rises above Tritons forward Shandiin Armao (40) for the bucket. The Jacks beat UCSD 76-75 in the conference championship on March 3 and advance to the NCAA D-2 tourney beginning March 9. Photo courtesy of CPP.

    The Tritons got off to a scorching start from behind the arc with four early three-pointers and led 18-13 with four minutes left in the quarter. The Jacks responded in a big way by going on a 14-0 run to close out the quarter, making it 27-18. They moved effortlessly on offense and continually found open opportunities from beyond the arc.

    The Tritons finished the first half on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to just four after being down by as much as 12. It was much of the same in the second half as San Diego went on a 19-7 run to start the half and took an eight-point advantage.

    The ball movement stopped for the Jacks and the stagnancy killed their offensive flow. To make matters worse, the Jacks could not grab any rebounds due to the Tritons overwhelming size advantage, and were out-rebounded by 17 for the game. The Tritons had 21 offensive boards to the Jacks’ 23 defensive rebounds.

    “Our team stayed resilient the entire time,” head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “We knew San Diego would keep punching and fighting. Our girls kept their heads up and continued to fight until the very last second.”

    Just when it looked like the Jacks were going to be sent home quietly, down by six with a minute left, sophomore Tyla Turner had a vintage Reggie-Miller-versus-the-New-York-Knicks moment. After nailing a clutch three from the baseline to cut the lead to three, she then stole the ball on the inbounds play and, while falling out of bounds, found her sister Tyra for the easy layup to bring the Jacks within one.

    After a miss by the Tritons with 10 seconds left on the clock and down by two, Tyra drove to the bucket, drawing Triton’s defenders, then dished it to an open Jovanah Arrington for a game-winning three from NBA range with half a second left – all net. Jacks win 76-75.

    The Lumberjacks celebrate their 76-75 last second win over UCSD in the CCAA title game on March 3 in Pomona, Ca. The Jacks move on to play No. 1 seed Azusa Pacific in the NCAA D-2 tournament beginning March 9. Photo courtesy of CPP.

    “Tyra did a good job of getting in the paint and drawing defenders,” Arrington said. “I just made sure to slide over to be in her vision. I knew time was running out and I had to get a shot up. I didn’t know how to react, because I thought the time was going out, but we still had a second.”

    The Jacks are now conference champions and move on to the NCAA tournament on March 9.

  • Lady Jacks advances to first CCAA title game since 2010

    Lady Jacks advances to first CCAA title game since 2010

    Isa Conde poured it on for a season-high 26 points for Humboldt State en route to their 69-53 win against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. The win sent the team to the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship game, which was on Saturday in Pomona.

    Junior forward Isa Conde (32) looks for the open pass. Conde had a season high 26 points for the Jacks in their 69-53 win over Cal Poly Pomona. Photo by Trent Preston (CPP).

    “This is a great win for our program, and I am really proud of the girls,” HSU head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “We had great balance on offense. We made it a priority tonight to take away the inside options from Pomona and force them to shoot from [the outside].”

    Conde started off the game scorching, as she scored 17 points in the first half. However, she was just one of four Lady Jacks who finished with double-digit points. She was joined by teammates Tyla and Tyra Turner, along with Mikaela Shannon, who had 13 points off the bench.

    “We really did a good job of sharing the ball and getting the best shot we can,” Tyra said. “We played smart and we were aware of our fouls. We made smart decisions on offense and defense.”

    Sophomore guard Tyra Turner (3) drives past Broncos defender Jackie Ricketson (13). The Jacks beat the Broncos 69-53. Photo by Trent Preston (CPP).

    The game was quite even heading into halftime, with the Jacks leading 34-29. However, they took over in the third, as they went on a 20-4 run at one point.

    “I thought we did a terrific job of sharing the ball,” Bento-Jackson said. “We really wanted to stretch out their defense, and when you see balance in the scoring, it’s because we were making the extra pass. We were being aggressive off the dribble and we got things going on the offensive end.”

    The Lady Jacks held the Broncos to 22.2% shooting in the second half as well as forcing 15 turnovers and taking six charges.

    The Lady Jacks advanced to their first conference tournament title game since the 2009-10 season.

  • Defense wins first round game for Lady Jacks

    Defense wins first round game for Lady Jacks

    It was a defensive game for the women’s basketball team in the Lumberjack Arena on Feb. 27, as they beat California State University, East Bay 54-53 in the first round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.

    “We had to want it more,” senior forward Riann Thayer said. “It came down to a defensive stop, and that’s how we love to play.”

    There was a struggle to get points up on the board with several offensive errors for both teams in the first half. The Pioneers held a 15-12 lead in the first quarter, and maintained a four-point lead until the Jacks were able to put a stop to things.

    It was time for “Duke Moments” as coach Michelle Bento-Jackson would say, which refers to everybody focusing on defense.

    “Right [then] I [had] to play defense for my team,” sophomore Tyla Turner said. “Coach [said] Duke Moment, and we had to lock down.”

    Humboldt State University held the Pioneers to just 40 percent shooting overall, and 22.2 percent from three-point range.

    “We held them to one three-pointer the entire second half,” head coach Bento-Jackson said.

    Halfway through the third quarter, the Jacks held their largest lead of 11 after junior guard Jovanah Arrington’s crowd roaring 3-pointer. Aside from the game-changing shot, Arrington achieved a total of six rebounds.

    The Pioneers missed the game-winning layup with 2.7 seconds left on the clock after Tyla Turner’s intentional foul. By holding the Pioneers scoreless for the last 2:30 of the game, coach Bento-Jackson had only good things to say about Lady Jacks.

    “The intensity on the defensive end ultimately won the game for us,” coach Bento-Jackson said. “I thought that showed great growth from our team as a whole.”

    Tyla Turner led the Jacks with 12 points, Thayer had 11 points and senior forward Mikaela Shannon put 11 points on the board in 12 minutes of play.

    The Jacks now have a 16-12 overall record and 15-8 conference record. They will travel south for Friday’s game against California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in the Kellogg Arena with an 8:05 p.m. tip-off time.

    “It’s time for Pomona,” Thayer said. “Let’s go!”

  • Team USA able to salvage respectable Olympics

    Team USA able to salvage respectable Olympics

    The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea have finally come to an end after 19 days of competition. Norway came out on top of the medal count in dominating fashion.

    With 39 medals total, 14 of them being gold, Norway’s dominance was on display from the start. Germany came in second with 31 total medals, 14 of those being gold medals, and Canada finished in third with 29 medals, 11 of which were gold. After historic wins for the United States late in the games, Team USA finished fourth with 23 medals total, including nine golds. Netherlands rounded out the top five with 20 total medals, eight being gold.

    U.S. snowboarders Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson, Shaun White and Red Gerard dominated the podium with gold-medal wins all around.

    Surprises late in the Olympics helped boost Team USA’s medal count after a forgettable start. The U.S. women’s ice hockey team beat Canada for gold for the first time in 20 years at the Olympics, and the men’s curling team won gold after making it to the country’s first-ever gold medal match in the event.