The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Sports

  • Jacks softball splits doubleheader against Stanislaus State

    Jacks softball splits doubleheader against Stanislaus State

    Fridays have been a problem for Humboldt State softball this season. In their first two series this year, they are 4-0 on Saturdays, but 0-4 on Fridays.

    Saturday’s games were cancelled this week due to incliment weather, making their third attempt at a Friday win even more crucial.

    The third time was the charm.

    The Lady Jacks won their first game 2-1. They followed that up with a tough 4-1 loss in the second game.

    “We tried to treat our Fridays like our Saturdays,” head coach Shelli Sarchett said. “We started off that way, but then we rested on that first win and didn’t take that intensity and focus into the second game.”

    HSU pitcher Lexee Sheiring threw an absolute gem in the first game, as her only hiccup across seven one-run innings was a solo home run in the fifth inning.

    That home run tied the game at one, but the home team would respond.

    Hannah Holland started the eventual game-winning rally in the bottom half of the inning. She reached first base on an error by the Stanislaus State shortstop. Holland would later be brought home on a single by Winona Vigil.

    Back-to-back two-run innings to start the second game put the Jacks in too big of a hole to overcome. The Jacks had a tough time getting runners on base, as they were held to just six hits.

    Their biggest scoring threat came in the third inning as they loaded the bases with only one out in the inning. Holland singled in Humboldt’s only run of the game with one out, and it looked like they had the momentum they needed to make a comeback.

    Unfortunately for the Jacks, opposing pitcher Megan Stacy got out of the jam with only one run allowed and never looked back from there.

    Stacy had Humboldt hitters looking puzzled throughout the game as she struck out seven batters during her complete game.

    “She was very much in control that game,” Holland said. “We had a tough time figuring her out. She had a really good rise-ball.”

    The series split moves the Lady Jack’s record to 7-8 overall, with a 5-5 record within the California Collegiate Athletic Association. They will play their next series this weekend at Cal State San Marcos.

     

     

  • Jacks soccer showcases talented group of recruits for 2018

    Jacks soccer showcases talented group of recruits for 2018

    National Signing Day is the day aspiring college athletes impatiently wait for, which is usually the first Wednesday of every February.

    The Lady Jacks will be losing three seniors for the 2018 fall season, but gain nine after welcoming talented recruits to the Lumberjack’s women’s soccer team on Feb. 7.

    These student athletes are from all over the West Coast, but will join in Arcata for summer practice weeks before the fall semester begins.

    Head coach Paul Karver and assistant coach Katerina Heppe spent more time than usual when recruiting this incoming class. He discovered defenders in Oregon and small towns in California, as well as offensive players from Washington and Central California.

    Kaleigh Alves from Hidden Valley Lake, California played two years at Santa Rosa Junior College before committing to Humboldt State.

    Poppy Cartledge from Las Vegas attends Arbor View High School and is known for her midfield accomplishments.

    Tana Eri from Boring, Oregon attends Sandy High and plans to play defense with the Jacks.

    Jacquelyne Kittredge from Roseville, California attended Folsom Lake College for two years before committing to HSU.

    Isabela Meza from Valley Springs, California attended San Joaquin Delta College for two years before coming to HSU.

    Mia Ontiveros from Bakersfield, California attends Independence High School. She is slated to play the forward position.

    Kendall Rooney from Happy Valley, Oregon attends Clackamas High School and will be playing goalkeeper in the fall.

    Jackie Seidel from Huntington Beach, California attends Calvary Chapel High and will be joining the Jacks as a defender.

    Kendal Spencer from Vancouver, Washington attends Prairie High. Though receiving a defensive player of the year award, she will be joining the Jacks as an offensive player.

    Every year, thousands of student athletes commit to their school of choice after receiving offers to play the sport they most excel at.

    These incoming Lady Jacks get the chance to compete in soccer at an intercollegiate level. It is safe to say there are some proud parents and young ladies in the Jackmosphere!

     

  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    Feb. 22, 1980 – Team USA hockey beats the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics 4-3. The game is referred to as the Miracle on Ice, because of the huge upset by the American underdogs. They went on to beat Finland in the gold medal round 4-2.

    Feb. 24, 1977 – Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. is born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mayweather has a record of 50-0 with 27 knockouts, and is arguably the best of all time.

    Feb. 25, 1964 – Cassius Clay TKOs Sonny Liston in round seven for his first world heavyweight championship title. Clay later converted to Islam and changed his name from Clay, which he called his slave name, to Muhammad Ali. Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War.

    Feb. 27, 1992 – Eldrick “Tiger” Woods becomes the youngest golfer in over 35 years to join the Professional Golfers’ Association tour. Woods would go on to win 14 major championships, second only to the legendary Jack Nicklaus.

  • Weekly Olympics recap

    Weekly Olympics recap

    The United States is showing the world it no longer dominates at every sport. Sitting at sixth in total medals, the U.S. has missed the podium on account of little mistakes and terrible luck.

    U.S. alpine skier Lindsey Vonn fell once and that took away a chance at a medal. Downhill specialist Steven Nyman missed the Olympics with a knee injury and freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy suffered thumb and hip injuries.

    The U.S. women’s hockey team has at least clinched a silver medal with a 5-0 semifinal win over Finland. They will go for gold on Feb. 22, and by that time it may feel like the weight of the American performance will ride on their shoulders.

    Norway continues to lead on the medal table, but Canada is closing in after 11 days of competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

    Norway took gold in the men’s team large hill ski jumping on Feb. 19. This marked their second ski jumping gold medal of these Winter Games. Germany finished second for silver.

    The U.S. did pick up a pair of bronze medals with American siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani in ice dancing and then with Brita Sigourney in the women’s halfpipe ski final.

  • Men’s and women’s basketball Senior Night spoiled by UC San Diego

    Men’s and women’s basketball Senior Night spoiled by UC San Diego

    The men’s basketball team could not keep up with the first place University of California, San Diego Tritons, as they lost 77-57.

    Saturday’s game was no ordinary one for the Jacks, though, as it marked the last home game for each of the team’s seniors, who were honored at Senior Night in the Lumberjack Arena.

    The game marks a big milestone for all of the seniors, but specifically for locals Will Taylor and Ashton Pomrehn who started their Lumberjack careers as ball boys at an early age.

    “We were playing for the seniors,” head coach Steve Kinder said. “I thought that carried us through, and made the fans and their teammates proud.”

    Humboldt State was led by senior Davasyia Hagger, who had 14 points along with nine rebounds, while shooting 7-14 from the field. Those 14 points included a pair of dunks in the second half of the game that caused an eruption from the fans in the arena.

    “The effort was there,” Hagger said. “We’re gonna learn from this and battle back these next two games.”

    Another notable performance came from senior Justin Everett, who tallied 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

    “I was just out there getting my shots,” Everett said. “My teammates did a good job getting me open.”

    The Tritons were firing on all cylinders throughout the game, as they made 11 three-pointers on 30 shots (36.7 percent) opposed to only five made from the Jacks. Christian Bayne was a problem for the Jacks all game, as he led UCSD with 24 points, while shooting 8-11 from the field. Bayne also made his presence felt on defense, as he also had two steals and a block.

    “We think of [Bayne] as one of the better players in the conference,” Kinder said. “He’s a heck of a basketball player and has a great future ahead of him.”

    Aside from Bayne, other notable performers where Scott Everman (16 points) and Christian Oshita (14 points).

    San Diego played stingy defense all game as well, accumulating nine steals while forcing 13 turnovers.

    The loss is Humboldt’s second in a row, and moves their overall record to 9-17 (6-14 conference), while San Diego improves to 17-9 (14-6 conference). The Jacks will look to bounce back before the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament begins on Feb. 27, and will have two games to do so.

    Their next game will be on the road against Sonoma State University on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. They will then close out the regular season on Feb. 24 at San Francisco State University.

    The Humboldt State University women’s basketball team fell short of a comeback after a slow start in the first half, as they fell to University of California, San Diego by the score of 77-62.

    This was the last home game of the regular season for the Lumberjacks, making it Senior Night at the Lumberjack Arena.

    “This is a really special group to me,” head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “To see the seniors honor their careers here is special.”

    The Jacks shot only 26.9% (7-26) from the field and were outscored 42-20 during the first half.

    On the other hand, the Tritons were hot from the field in the first half, as they made five of their first seven three-point attempts and put up 42 points before halftime.

    San Diego was led by Mikayla Williams (19 points, eight rebounds), Kayla Sato (17 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Dalayna Sampton (16 points, 10 rebounds).

    However, the Jacks did battle back in the second half. At one point, they had the lead down to as little as 10 points during the third and fourth quarters.

    “We dug a huge hole for ourselves (in the first half) that we just couldn’t quite get all the way out of,” Bento-Jackson said.

    Tyla Turner led the team’s late run by scoring 24 of her team’s 42 points in the second half. The sophomore standout followed up her career high 32-point performance from her last game with 29 points in addition to eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in this one.

    “My team had my back, and that’s really what got me going,” Turner said. “I had to do it for them, and that’s why I had to turn it up.”

    Once Turner turned it up, her teammates responded. The team shot 15-29 (51.7 percent), while shooting 8-12 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Jovanah Arrington was the most notable contributor, as she had 13 points while shooting 3-5 from three (3-4 in the second half).

    “I knew we had to catch up, and making threes is the quickest way to do that,” Arrington said.

    With regards to their upcoming schedule, coach Bento-Jackson had a clear message for her team.

    “We absolutely have to put this behind us. The bottom line is–going into that conference tournament–we want to be playing our best basketball,” Bento-Jackson said.

    The loss moves the Jacks’ record to 14-11 overall, with a 13-7 conference record. For San Diego, the win moves the team’s record to 23-3, with a dominant 19-1 record within the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

    They will have two games remaining before the conference tournament begins, HSU will play Sonoma State University on Feb. 23 and San Francisco State University on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m..

  • HSU softball splits series against UC San Diego

    HSU softball splits series against UC San Diego

    Softball stays undefeated on Saturdays.

    Danica Grier sent a pitch into shallow center field that allowed Illa Haley to round third base and slide home for the game-winning run in extra innings for the first of two wins against University of California, San Diego on Feb. 17.

    “It was good competition, but we came back and performed the way we should every game. We’re strong and we work together,” Haley said.

    The Humboldt State University softball team went 2-2 in a four-game series against UCSD that started on Feb. 16 in the softball field. HSU lost the first two games on Friday, then turned around and came away with two wins on Saturday.

    HSU is now 0-4 on Fridays and 4-0 on Saturdays since starting play against California Collegiate Athletic Association opponents on Feb. 9.

    Shelli Sarchett, head coach of the HSU softball team, said that good things come when the players trust in themselves and their teammates.

    “Our Fridays are rough, but it shows the fortitude that these ladies have. Just because we’re beat and facing adversity–they’re going out there and not quitting,” Sarchett said. “They’re showing they can play the game of softball.”

    Jasmine Hill pitched seven scoreless innings in relief work for HSU throughout the games on Saturday, picking up the wins in both contests.

    “I saw a lot of team effort. I saw us come together as a family, finally gel and find that connection,” Hill said after the first win. “It was great. It was a great moment, a great experience.”

    UC San Diego head coach Patti Gerckens said that due to a couple missed spots by their pitchers, Humboldt had some hard hits on Saturday.

    “It was very disappointing,” Gerckens said. “I thought we would come away with one game today, if not two.”

    The HSU and UCSD softball teams now have a 4-4 record in the CCAA after the weekend. The same as two other teams, California State University, East Bay and San Francisco State University.

    On Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 the softball team will host a four-game series against California State University, Stanislaus.

  • Jacks men’s rugby dominates the turf

    Jacks men’s rugby dominates the turf

    Adonnis Johnson is a junior majoring in art, and he has been playing for Humboldt State’s rugby team since his freshman year of college.

    Johnson is kicking the doors down this rugby season, as he has already scored eight times in just four games. He is a versatile athlete that plays the mid-center, wing and fly-half positions.

    “I try to get that open space and make room for my teammates so I can either take it and run, or I can dump it off to the next open man,” Johnson said.

    HSU was able to out-hustle the University of San Francisco Dons on Feb. 17 as the Lumberjacks beat the Dons 31-17 at College Creek Field.

    Humboldt State scrums with the University of San Francisco on Feb. 17 at College Creek Field. Photo by Garrett Goodnight.

    The Dons started out strong as they lead 12-7 at the end of the first period.

    As a nearby power outage was restored, the scoreboard was turned on at the beginning of the second period. It felt as if that new source of energy somehow sparked the Lumberjacks into hyperdrive.

    “The guys have learned to trust the system of rugby they are practicing,” HSU head coach Greg Pargee said. “They are trusting the system and good things are happening.”

    The Lumberjacks kept their momentum alive, as they took the lead by scoring four times.

    One of the key pieces in every scoring drive was HSU’s kicker, Chris Armstrong. Armstrong was able to knock in four out of the six extra points with his foot. On top of Armstrong’s ability to kick, he also plays the wing position.

    Chris Armstrong (right) runs for the try zone as he helps the Jacks win the game 31-17 on Feb. 17 against the University of San Francisco. Photo by Garrett Goodnight.

    Early on when the game was all tied up at 12 a piece, Armstrong was lateraled the ball. He took off for the outside lane with relentless energy and momentum.

    “I just saw an open field and I went straight for the end zone,” Armstrong said. “Nobody followed me as I got into the end zone so I tried to get a straight shot to make it easier for the kicker.”

    Wherever the ball touches the ground in the end zone, the kicker is forced to laterally line up with that location to attempt their kick. Armstrong wanted to get as close as possible to the pylons to make it easier on himself.

    The Dons were able to score one late attempt to make the game 31-17. That was not enough as the Lumberjacks walked away with the victory.

    The next home game is on Feb. 24 at College Creek Field against University of the Pacific at 1 p.m.

  • Jacks rugby team still on the hunt for first win

    Jacks rugby team still on the hunt for first win

    On a wet and windy Feb. 11, the Lumberjacks women’s rugby team fell to the Stanford Cardinals 36-27 in a hard-fought battle to the end at College Creek Field.

    The team has yet to find a win, but there are five games left and they are finally starting to play well together. Head coach Meredith Conrad-Forrest was proud of her team’s effort.

    “The score board was a little underwhelming,” Conrad-Forrest said, “but they put it together. The forwards and the backs, as a team, really played together. They showed true [Humboldt Pride] heart.”

    The game was back and forth as each team kept taking the lead with hard-hitting scrums and outside runs. The kicking game was a problem for Humboldt State as they missed three goal conversions.

    The size and strength of the Jacks seemed to play into their scheme, because of the downpour. But they were not able to take advantage of the smaller, faster Cardinal team.

    The Jacks were up with five minutes remaining, but Stanford was able to put back-to-back tries in the end zone to put the Cardinals up for good.

    Jacks forward Libby Treu remains optimistic about where her team stands currently.

    “This is one of the best games we’ve played all season,” Treu said. “We played as a team and everyone was there to support each other.”

    The Jacks next home game is on March 3 against Cal Berkeley at College Creek Field at 11 a.m.

  • Lumberjacks of today meet Jacks of the past

    Lumberjacks of today meet Jacks of the past

    Humboldt State University’s track and field team will kick off their season Feb. 17 with the Green & Gold Open, otherwise known as Alumni Weekend.

    Both cross country and track & field will participate in this intrasquad scrimmage that is intended to prepare athletes for what is to come this season.

    A special effort has been made to make this weekend more than just an open. Alumni are being welcomed back to participate in events such as a 60-meter dash, 4×400 meter relay and a pace-predicted mile.

    “We have had a strong alumni base in the past,” head coach Sarah Ingram said. “So, we are trying to reconnect with those athletes now, and hopefully have them talk with our current athletes.”

    The open will begin with a recognition announcement for the attending alumni and the five All-American award winners that graduated last year. The throwing events begin at 9 a.m. and the running events begin at 12:30 p.m. accordingly.

    As part of the 2018 Alumni Weekend, activities off the track will be held around town as well. There will be a mingle mixer Friday night, an alumni-only bonfire Saturday evening after the meet and a breakfast at the Samoa Cookhouse Sunday morning.

    Freshman Malachi Arthur is ready to get back on the track after his missed season from a knee injury during his senior year of high school.

    “I’m pretty nervous,” Arthur said. “I haven’t ran a full competitive 400 (meter) in a long time, but I am also excited because I think I will do really well.”

    Initially, this intrasquad scrimmage is meant to warm up and prepare the athletes as much as possible before their multi-event meet in Chico on Feb. 22 and 23. The following weekend, the whole team will travel to Turlock to compete in the Kim Duyst Invite hosted by California State University, Stanislaus.

    Junior Brianna Simon is ready to achieve her goals this season after a redshirt year full of training and conditioning. Simon’s main event is the hammer throw, therefore she has been focusing on getting stronger with plenty of power lifting.

    “Last year was a building season,” Simon said. “It’s like I came out of retirement, and I am definitely ready to get back out there and beat my personal record.”

    Brianna Simon goes through technique during the Humboldt State track and field team practice on Feb. 12. Photo by Diego Linares.

    Ingram and her athletes are excited to kick off this 2018 season and hope to achieve record breaking goals as well as receive more All-American awards this year.

    “I am really excited that track season is almost here,” Ingram said. “When you actually get to compete on the track, it becomes a lot of fun. I think our athletes are really looking forward to that.”

  • Softball team looking to strike in CCAA

    Softball team looking to strike in CCAA

    Fresh off of a devastating defeat in last year’s Division II National Championship tournament, the young Humboldt State softball team is looking to make a statement as the 2018 season begins.

    The Jacks were 44-15 overall last season and boasted a 22-11 record within the CCAA conference, which was good for third place. However, the women’s season came to a close with a 5-1 loss to Armstrong State University.

    Despite losing their entire infield to graduation, there is certainly reason for optimism in the 2018 season for the Jacks as they have an impressive new group of starters.

    The team was ranked third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Coach’s Poll.

    This Jacks team has not necessarily gotten off to the start that they wanted as they are 4-5 after going 2-2 in a four-game series against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

    The Jacks lost their first two games of the series in a doubleheader on Friday by the scores of 5-0 and 9-6. However, on Saturday they responded by winning 4-2 and 13-9 in that order.

    The Jacks may have found their stroke during the latter game of their doubleheader, as they exploded for 19 hits and 13 runs against Dominguez Hills despite being down 9-5 going into the top of the seventh inning.

    The Jacks put up eight runs in the last inning and were led by third basemen Rachel Barker, who went 4 for 4 with a home run and four RBI.

    “Every game we’ve played we’ve gotten better.” Barker said. “Now that we’ve played with each other we know how to motivate each other, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get (our record) under control.”

    However, the inning started with designated hitter Micaela Harris doubling in the left-center field gap.

    “I think I started the hype of the inning,” Harris said.

    The Jacks will look to use the hype from that magical seventh inning to propel them up the standings in the coming weeks.

    They will start a four-game series with UC San Diego on Friday, as they play their first game of the series at noon, followed by game two at 2 p.m. The series will conclude on Saturday, with game three being played at 11 a.m. and game four at 1 p.m.

    In their series last year, the Jacks split the four-game set with the Tritons down in San Diego. The Jacks will hope that the cold, cloudy weather of Arcata will give them the advantage they need to take the series this time around.

    Despite the sluggish start, the Humboldt State softball team is hungry and has the momentum that is crucial in having a successful season.

  • Weekly Olympics recap

    Weekly Olympics recap

    The 2018 Olympics are underway in PyeongChang, South Korea Feb. 7-24. The United States has shown the world they rule the slopes when it comes to snowboarding and the future for the U.S is bright.

    American Red Gerard won his first gold medal of his career in men’s slopestyle and he is only 17 years old.

    U.S. snowboarder Jamie Anderson defended her gold medal from the 2014 Sochi Olympics by nailing her first run in the women’s slopestyle final with a score of 83.00.

    To top it off, 17-year-old American snowboarding prodigy Chloe Kim became the youngest female athlete to win a gold medal in snowboarding as she dominated the competition in women’s halfpipe with an incredible score of 98.25 and Arielle Gold, 21, won the bronze.

  • HSU scrambles for new head coach

    HSU scrambles for new head coach

    Humboldt State University football is in shambles once again as interim head coach Cory White stepped down. White has accepted a tight end coaching position at the University of San Diego, leaving HSU players confused and hurt.

    “It’s always a shocking feeling, but I won’t guilt trip him,” player Isaiah Hall said. “The man has to do what he has to do.”

    White, a Humboldt alumnus, served as the HSU offensive line coach during the 2016 and 2017 seasons before being promoted as the interim head coach.

    Prior to joining HSU’s coaching staff, White was the director of football operations at New Mexico State University from Aug. 2015 to July 2016.

    Division I in National Collegiate Athletic Association football in University of San Diego has gotten a hold of White yet again. He served as the Toreros offensive line coach during the 2013 season, and the tight ends coach during the previous 2012 season.

    “I think people first became aware of this when Football Scoop announced White was offered and accepted the tight ends job at (University) of San Diego,” strength and conditioning coach Drew Petersen said.

    Petersen started the strength and conditioning program at Humboldt State in 1991 and has always been a notable leader to the football players. He continues to push them to be the best they can be, both on and off the field.

    “I always tell [the players] they have to enjoy the process and keep working,” Petersen said. “We have to block out the external noise.”

    White was named the interim head coach of the football program on Jan. 29 and planned to implement a 30-60-90 day plan for the program from that day forward. White’s colleagues worked right beside him ready to build and produce a stable program for the Jacks.

    “He was establishing his way of being head coach and building a new foundation here,” player Ereon Nash said. “Now that he is leaving, I don’t really know what to expect next.”

    Jim Redd is a 1969 alum and booster in the community who helped save HSU football in the winter. Redd would like to see this program and its players prosper as best as possible.

    “[Former football head] coach Smith put Humboldt State football on the map,” Redd said. “This is a desirable place to be. The search committee should move forward and hire a head coach as soon as possible. They need to give that head coach as much support as they can.”

    With spring football on the way, HSU players have a lot of speculation about what is to come. They continue to wake up at 6 a.m. three to six days a week and perform to the best of their ability on the field and in the weight room.

    “The biggest thing is about the boys, not us,” coach Wheeler said. “We need to continue to build in the weight room and as a team.”

    Community members, players and alumni alike are looking forward to hearing about the next step with Humboldt State’s football program.

    “There is going to be adversity no matter what program you are at,” coach Wheeler said. “They’ve got to learn to just put their head down and grind.”

    White informed the boosters and interim athletic director Duncan Robbins of his plans to leave last week, but was not available for comments.

  • This week in sports

    This week in sports

    Feb. 6, 1994 – Ice skater Nancy Kerrigan is injured by an attack by rival skater Tonya Harding’s bodyguard. The injury forces Kerrigan to drop out of the U.S. National Championships, which Harding would win two days later.

    Feb. 6, 1970 – The NBA expands to 18 teams for the 1970-71 season. The new teams added were Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston and Portland.

    Feb 8, 1936 – First ever NFL Draft is held. Jay Berwanger from University of Chicago was the first pick by Philadelphia Eagles.

    Feb. 9, 1895 – Volleyball was invented by W.G. Morgan in Massachusetts. Morgan, a graduate of the Springfield College of the YMCA, designed the game to be a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball.

    Feb. 10, 1992 – Mike Tyson convicted of raping Miss Black America pageant contestant Desiree Washington in Indiana. At a time when the issue of date rape was entering the country’s consciousness, Tyson’s attack became a national sensation.

    Feb. 12, 1934 – Legendary basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell was born in West Monroe, Louisiana. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics from 1956 – 1969 and had a career average of 15 points and 22.5 rebounds. In his 13 year career, Russell won 11 NBA championships which is still the most all-time.

     

     

     

  • Turner Twins outshine the competition

    Turner Twins outshine the competition

    Twins Tyla and Tyra Turner aim to be the most prolific duo in Humboldt State basketball history on and off the court.

    To great athletes, the big moment is never too big.

    For twin point guards Tyla and Tyra Turner, dealing with pressure comes naturally. The twins grew up in a sports family with an astonishing seven pairs of twins.

    “Everybody in our family was involved in some type of sport,” Tyla said.

    From the time they were 6 years old, the Turner twins were turning heads with their athletic abilities. Tyla started with basketball, while Tyra started dribbling with her feet on the soccer field.

    It wouldn’t be long until the sisters were dominating together on the court at Cajon High School, where coach Mark Lehman recognized their on-court chemistry right away.

    “They know each other like the back of their hand,” Lehman said.

    The twins’ high basketball IQ also creates ways for them to work around problems on the floor, like their 5-foot-5 height.

    “They are so smart,” Lehman said. “They make up for their size disadvantage with intelligent play.”

    Years of playing together and next-level skills were the reasons Tyla and Tyra helped Cajon High win its first state basketball championship in 2016.

    Moving on to play college basketball was automatic for the pair, but the dynamic duo split up at first. Tyla went to California State University, Long Beach and Tyra came to Humboldt State University.

    After a season apart, Tyla saw new dimensions in her sister’s style and skill that made her take notice of Tyra’s training at HSU.

    “There was a big change in my sister’s game,” Tyla said.

    “When she came back, she had this different type of game that nobody really sees in her. I need that push, because I didn’t feel like I was pushed as much in Long Beach.”

    Tyla decided to join Tyra and transfer from CSU Long Beach to Humboldt. The reunion had their mother, Marqueta Turner dreaming of the possibilities.

    “I knew when they came together at HSU, it would be something special,” Marqueta said.

    Parents Tyrone and Marqueta Turner have always supported their daughters athletic lives. Their mother would drive them to practice and travel ball, and their father would push them to train and constantly improve.

    Now, training style is something that both Tyla and Tyra appreciate about Jacks head coach, Michelle Bento-Jackson.

    “I like that she talks about this is not about basketball, anything that we learn can be helpful as a tool in life,” Tyra said. “It’s definitely a big thing for us.”

    There is no doubt that the Turner twins’ athletic standards are high, but their aspirations outside the spotlight are admirable as well. The Turners have instilled humility, and a team-first attitude in their daughters that carries over into their studies.

    Tyla is a criminology and justice major and talks with passion about her goal to educate others about the law.

    “A lot of people are very limited of what they know about what is going on in the government and about their rights. I feel like I need to know about that, because it’s really important,” Tyla said. “We need to know what’s really going on in our world. not knowing is the worst, but knowing is our power.”

    Tyra is a psychology major that wants to employ her degree as a correctional psychologist. Her inspiration for working inside the legal system comes from her mother, who has worked in corrections, parole and probation.

    “We need to start looking at this future generation, and I think me trying to help kids now will really make a difference,” Tyra said.

    Empowering others on and off the court has become a way of life for the twins.

    “Remain humble even when great things are coming your way,” Marqueta would say to the twins. Tyla and Tyra’s mother told them to keep their potential in perspective as lessons learned in the gym through blood, sweat and tears are brought out into the world.

  • Women’s basketball rolls over Cal State Monterey Bay

    Women’s basketball rolls over Cal State Monterey Bay

    HSU women’s basketball team rolled over the California State University, Monterey Bay Otters 64-42 at the Lumberjack Arena on Feb. 3

    The game started off as a low-scoring defensive battle, but the Jacks took control in the second quarter. By halftime, the Jacks led by the score of 40-23. Their first-half charge was led in large part by junior forward Isamar Conde, who had 15 points in the first half.

    “Sometimes I’m not really the hot hand,” Conde said. “But today, I made one early, and I just kept shooting.”

    Humboldt State University, led by coach Michelle Bento-Jackson, did not take their foot off the gas after that, as they shot an impressive 57.1 percent from the field in the second half, while shooting a perfect 2-2 beyond the arc.

    “I’m most pleased with our defensive effort. Especially in the first half,” Bento-Jackson said. “We wanted to come out and get the first punch and really send a message on the defensive end.”

    Conde definitely had the hot hand, as she was 3-4 on three-point attempts and finished with 19 points. Another notable performance for the Jacks was sophomore guard Tyla Turner, who ended up with a double-double (18 points and 12 rebounds) and four steals.

    The Jack’s defense was stingy all game, as they held the Otters to a 21.4 shooting percent from the field. Their intensity was visible throughout the game, and they did a great job of setting the tone early on.

    The victory moved the Jack’s current winning streak to three games, and their conference record to 12-5, while their overall record is now 13-9.

    The Jacks are now in second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings, and four games behind University of California, San Diego, which has a conference record of 15-1.

    Conde and her teammates understand the importance of home court advantage with the tournament rapidly approaching.

    “The top four teams get a game at home, and we want to be at home.” Conde said.

    With home court advantage on the line, the Jacks will look to keep their current momentum going and finish the regular season strong.

    There are five games remaining for Bento-Jackson’s team before the CCAA tournament, starting with a February 10 match up on the road against California State University, Stanislaus.

  • Men’s basketball sweeps Monterey Bay

    Men’s basketball sweeps Monterey Bay

    The men’s basketball team defeated the California State University, Monterey Bay Otters 87-79 on Feb. 3, following their epic 82-75 overtime victory against California State University, East Bay on Feb 1.

    The Jacks started the Saturday game off hot, as they began on a 10-2 run. However, they cooled down a bit and the game became a back-and-forth affair in the last three quarters.

    Senior forward Davasyia Hagger led the Jacks in points with 20, while also putting up a double-double with 10 rebounds as well.

    Other notable performances for the Jacks include junior guard Romario Wilson, who scored 17 points, and senior forward Justin Everett, who scored 13 points.

    Romario Wilson picks up the ball for a layup in the second half of Humboldt State University’s 87-79 win over California State University, Monterey Bay on Feb. 3 in the Lumberjack Arena. Photo by Diego Linares.

    “I liked how we executed the game plan,” Jacks head coach Steve Kinder said. “Especially defensively early, which led to some good stops, which led to some breakouts and high percentage shots in transition.”

    The Jacks started off slow behind the three-point line, as they only shot 3-10 from there in the first half. They attempted four threes in the second half, and only made one.

    “Three-point shooting was a high-alert issue at halftime,” Kinder said. “We certainly didn’t want to trade baskets or shoot threes up and down with this opponent.”

    Despite their three-point woes, the Jacks had the advantage on the boards, as they out-rebounded Monterey Bay 45-38.

    They also won the turnover battle, the Otters turning the ball over 15 times as opposed to the Jacks’ eight.

    “That’s good basketball,” Kinder said, “especially for these Lumberjacks this season, being able to limit ourselves to four turnovers at half time.”

    Monterey Bay certainly made it tough on the Lumberjacks, as they hit 14 of their 27 three-point attempts. The Otters average 27 threes per game, and they certainly showed that they could make it rain from deep.

    The Otters were led by forward Josh Kollman. He had 16 points, while shooting 4-5 from beyond the arc, including two late threes that kept his team in the game until the end.

    The win moves HSU to 8-15 overall, with a 5-12 record within the California Collegiate Athletic Association. In their first meeting earlier this year, the Jacks lost 67-62.

    The Jacks have five games remaining before the CCAA tournament begins, starting with a game on the road against California State University, Stanislaus on Feb. 10.

  • Jacks women’s rugby falls short against UC Davis

    Jacks women’s rugby falls short against UC Davis

    It was a nail-biter in the women’s rugby home opener against the University of California, Davis Mustangs on Feb. 3.

    Humboldt State University found their fuel a little too late, as the Mustangs took home the victory 49-31.

    The Mustangs scored the first three tries of the match. It was not until HSU switched their lineup that allowed them to answer back by scoring their first try.

    “We had really good subs come in, and they had the fire in them, just from watching and seeing what was happening,” head coach Meredith Conrad-Forrest said. “They were able to respond to that and bring the rest of the team up.”

    Thanks to the help of Libby Treu’s performance, the Jacks were able to bring the score within three tries just before the half, 27-12.

    To keep their hopes high, they were looking to build off of their newfound momentum and carry into the second half. The Jacks were hoping not to repeat what happened in last week’s season opener, which was a last-minute loss to Stanford University.

    “If that energy dies just a little bit, then everybody gets unmotivated and lazy,” said Celeste Valencia. “We really need that one person to keep everybody hyped up. That’s how you get the game going.”

    Just as the second half began, the Jacks were able to score two more unanswered tries, bringing the score within three points, 27-24.

    “It’s important to keep that energy up,” said Tiana Barron. “My priority now is getting it to my team, to make sure we score.”

    Barron is trying out a new role this season: the fly-half position.

    As the game progressed, the Mustangs were able to flip the momentum around and outrun the Lumberjacks, scoring four more tries.

    Unfortunately, it was too late for a last-minute comeback, although the Lumberjacks were able to score one more try before the time expired.

    The Lumberjacks are looking to earn their first victory in this weekend’s match-ups at College Creek Field on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11.

    They face California State University, Chico and Stanford. Kick-offs are at 11:00 a.m.

  • Women’s basketball walks away with another crazy win

    Women’s basketball walks away with another crazy win

    Down by 12 points at halftime at Lumberjack Arena, HSU’s Lady Jacks made a second half comeback in their home game against Cal State East Bay on Feb. 1.

    HSU junior Jovanah Arrington scored a three-pointer in overtime to win the game, putting the Jacks up 76-73.

    “I just shot my same shot that I shoot every time,” Arrington said. “I knew the clock was going down so I had to get it up.”

    East Bay dominated the first few minutes of the game with a 12-3 lead before the Jacks came back determined to put more points on the board. With enough drive, the Jacks regained their confidence to take more shots, until they fell back down at halftime with a score of 24-12.

    “We have certain things that we try to do defensively as far as taking our opponents out of their strengths, so to speak,” HSU head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “I thought we did a very poor job of that in the first half.”

    With another gain of confidence after their halftime talk, the Jacks outscored the East Bay Pioneers in both the third and fourth quarters. The team nailed 15 free throws in the second half, and ended the game in a 69-69 tie, resulting in the first period of overtime.

    HSU sophomore Tyla Turner led the Jacks with a total of 23 points, HSU junior Kindall Murie landed 13 points and Arrington helped with seven rebounds.

    “We got a lot of contribution tonight from different players,” Bento-Jackson said. “I thought we stayed aggressive in transition.”

    The Jacks walk away with an overall record of 12-9 and a conference record of 11-5.

  • Last day to sign up for your intramural team

    Last day to sign up for your intramural team

    It is all about having fun, getting exercise and making new friends.

    HSU’s Recreational Sports Center offers six different intramural sports this semester, each with several leagues. Both soccer and basketball have three to six leagues, while sports including volleyball and dodgeball have two leagues.

    Mark Manzon is a sophomore majoring in kinesiology. He has played basketball his whole life and wanted to join intramurals to get back on the court. He also wanted to escape the books every once in a while.

    “I play in three different basketball leagues,” Monzon said. “‘A’ league is more competitive than ‘B’ league, but they are all fun.”

    HSU junior Destiny Hill-Brekke enjoys the getaway from everyday life that playing in intramurals provides.

    “Playing helps me relieve stress,” Brekke said. “You also get to meet new people and even play against great athletes, ones you wouldn’t expect.”

    Brekke plays in a soccer, flag football and dodgeball league. She has been playing since the first semester of her sophomore year and enjoys them the more and more she participates.

    “My favorite is definitely dodgeball,” Brekke said. “It makes me feel like a kid again. But, soccer, I have played my whole life, so that is also a favorite.”

    Along with students, community members and HSU faculty are welcome to join intramural teams. Community members are asked to pay a $30 fee per semester, and faculty pay a $15 fee per semester.

    The last day to sign up for this spring 2018 semester is Feb. 4 online at www.imleagues.com/humboldt. The leagues officially starts Feb. 11. Anyone is welcome to join any established team or there is an option to build your own new team at no cost.

    “Unfortunately, I haven’t won any championships I’ve played in,” Manzon said, “but this semester, my team is taking it!”

     

  • Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T.

    Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T.

    NFL fans are one week away from the Super Bowl clash between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles in what will mark the eighth time in 16 years that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will be the starter in the big game.

    It is time to end the debate: Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history, and his case is only going to get stronger.

    In the NFL, there are players who play over a decade without ever reaching the Super Bowl, let alone players who spend their entire careers chasing that beloved trophy.

    Brady has been to eight now. At this point, his appearance in the game has become more of an expectation than a surprise.

    The University of Michigan alumnus has accomplished unimaginable things during his time in the NFL: five Super Bowls, four Super Bowl MVPs, two regular season MVPs, 13 Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro selections.

    Since taking over the starting quarterback job for the Patriots during week two of the 2001 season, Brady has never missed the playoffs (the Pats did not make the playoffs during the 2008 season when Brady suffered a torn ACL during week one).

    In addition, Brady has appeared in each of the past seven AFC championship games and has gone to the Super Bowl in four of those years.

    Up until last year, Brady seemed to be embedded under Joe Montana as the second best quarterback to ever play. But that was before his epic 25-point comeback over Matt Ryan and the Falcons, which was by far the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

    With his all-time leading fifth Super Bowl victory on the line, Brady’s Patriots were down 28-3 with two minutes and eight seconds left in the third quarter.

    Brady, the former sixth-round pick, responded by turning in possibly his best performance ever by throwing for 466 yards (a Super Bowl record) and two touchdowns to shock the Falcons in overtime.

    Last year’s game may have cemented Brady to be above the rest, but this year’s matchup with Philadelphia is shaping up to be a phenominal encore.

    This season’s Eagles is perhaps the best team that Brady has faced in the Super Bowl so far, as they are the only team to face him with a top-five offense and defense.

    While New England is a five-point favorite, many experts are predicting an Eagles upset due to their high-scoring offensive attack, led by quarterback Nick Foles, and the Eagles’ stout defense.

    If the past is any indication, Brady will overcome this upcoming obstacle and win his sixth Super Bowl ring, which will end all discussions about who the greatest of all time is.

    At this point, it’s not even a race, Brady is just running on his own.

  • Jacks ball appoints coach White as interim coach

    Jacks ball appoints coach White as interim coach

    A new leader has been chosen to usher the Lumberjacks football team into the 2018 season.

    Jacks offensive line coach Cory White has officially been given the title of Humboldt State’s interim head football coach, as announced at a press conference on Jan. 29.

    Coach White was a student athlete at HSU about 17 years ago and never did he think he would find his way back in the program on the other side of the table.

    “I am an alum,” White said. “I am a Jack. I was once too sitting in those meeting rooms, listening to the head coach, competing on the field and really never thought I would be in these shoes today.”

    Coach White has 14 years of experience coaching college football. He has coached at every level including Division II, Division III and junior college. Before coming to HSU in the fall of 2016, coach White was the director of football operations at Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in New Mexico State for a year.

    Along with coach White, interim athletic director Duncan Robins is greatly contributing to the work being done in keeping the normalcy of the football program for current student athletes.

    “Not only do we have a strong coaching staff,” Robins said, “but everyone is comfortable with Cory leading them, so this interim position was a natural one to offer to Cory and he has accepted.”

    Robins is specifically hired by collegiate athletic programs to improve their organization. He was hired at HSU during June of last year and his first task was to figure out what the budgets looked like.

    After several months of Robins and HSU President Lisa Rossbacher trying to figure out whether or not the football program could be saved, it was announced the program would be back for another year with the help of outstanding boosters.

    “We have a recruiting effort going on,” Robins said. “We have spring season being planned, we have a 10-game fall season waiting for us and our student athletes have some normalcy to their daily routines.”

    Both White and Robins expressed their thanks for previous head football coach Rob Smith for all of the hard work and recognition he has brought to the football program.

    Smith announced his resignation in a press conference a few weeks ago. Jan. 30 would have marked Smith’s 10th year as Jacks head football coach.

    “There is a reason why coach Smith was here for 10 years,” White said. “This is a place of longevity.”

    Senior linebacker Connor Cox has played for the Jacks since his first year in 2015. He is an Arcata native and attended Arcata High School just before coming to HSU.

    “Nothing has really changed for us,” Cox said. “We are up every morning, like all prior years, doing the same workouts and putting in the same effort.”

    With a strong football program still in route for the fall 2018 season, coach White plans on working to make this whole endeavor worth it.

    “Humboldt football is here to stay,” White said.

  • This week in sports history

    This week in sports history

    Jan. 30 will mark the 10-year anniversary of Jacks head football coach Rob Smith’s hiring. Smith has earned the conference’s Coach of the Year award four times and guided Humboldt State University to national recognition since being hired in 2008.

    Feb. 2, 1892 was the longest boxing match under modern rules ever recorded. The match lasted 77 rounds in Nameoki, Illinois between Harry Sharpe & Frank Crosby.

    On Feb. 3, 1876 Albert Spalding, with only $800, started his sporting goods company manufacturing the first official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball and football. The balls are still being used to this day in professional sports.

  • Cappa shines in Alabama

    Cappa shines in Alabama

    Jacks star left tackle gearing up for NFL draft in April.

    Humboldt State University football player Alex Cappa tore down the house at the 69th annual Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 27 in Mobile, Alabama.

    This year’s match-up featured top NFL prospects from around the country. The game was located at Ladd-Peebles Stadium aired on the NFL Network.

    “I had a lot of fun being out there,” Cappa said. “It was great representing HSU and smaller schools.”

    “There were a few (NCAA) Division II guys out there and I tried showing them that all guys, at all levels, are able to compete against anybody.”

    Cappa has earned a series of accomplishments while starting at left tackle over the past four years at HSU.

    Not only was Cappa a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, he also earned his fourth consecutive Great Northwest Atlantic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year Award in 2017.

    The biggest factor for the left tackle position in the NFL is the player’s ability to pass, block and stop the defensive end from getting to the quarterback.

    At 6 feet and 7 inches, scouts are questioning if Cappa’s ability to protect the quarterback from elusive pass rushers will translate on the big stage.

    “The critics aren’t paying attention because he throws them out the club, regardless of how fast or strong they are,” HSU senior right guard Robert Williams said. “His football IQ is insanely high. All he has to do is use his right or left hand and he’ll toss you.”

    Cappa started the game at left guard. Eventually, he played the left tackle and right guard positions for the South Team. They went on to win 45-16, thanks to the help of University of Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta, who threw three passing touchdowns.

    Potential draftees will most likely participate at the NFL Scouting Combine event, which is hosted from Feb. 27 to March 5. The NFL Draft will then take place on April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas.

    According to Sports Blog Nation: Stampede Blue, Cappa could be chosen before the end of the second draft day.

    “It’s gonna be exciting no matter what,” Emily Morehead, Cappa’s partner of nearly seven years, said. “His draft is during my finals period. So, all I hope is that he gets that phone call while I’m not in a final.”

    Regardless of the round that Cappa is drafted, he will always be a legend at HSU.