The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Sports

  • Green and Gold Open Kicks Off Track Season

    Green and Gold Open Kicks Off Track Season

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Grace Hall, HSU sprinter, running her hardest on her second lap during the women’s 800 meter race on Saturday Feb. 18, 2017. | Juan Herrera

    Humboldt State’s track and field began the 2017 season with the annual Green and Gold Open Saturday at the Redwood Bowl.

    The intrasquad scrimmage, which hosts visitors from College of the Redwoods and local participants, gave the Lumberjacks an opportunity to tune up before the Kim Duyst Invitational in Turlock, Calif., on March 4.

    HSU’s Gold Teams won the event  versus the Green Teams. The Gold Women outscored the Green Women 45-35 and the Gold Men narrowly beat the Green Men 33-29. The top three finishers in each event were awarded points with first place earning 4 points, second place 2 points and third place 1 point.

    Highlights of the event included the return of decathlete Teigan Eilers. Eilers finished first in the long jump and javelin, second in the 400m dash and fourth in the discus. His 7.18m distance in the long jump was his personal best, while his 56.69m toss in the javelin is one of the top eight performances in program history. Eilers returned from an injury that cost him the 2016 season.

    After representing the Green and Gold at NCAA Outdoor Nationals last season, Alyssabeth DeJerez showed she was ready to return  this season with Saturday’s times. DeJerez earned first place finishes in the 200m dash (24.96) and the 800m (2:17.49),

    Tatiana Gillick and Dustyn Salomon were top finishers in the women’s and men’s 3200m races, respectively. Marissa McCay held the top spot in the javelin, 100m hurdles and high jump and second in the 200m dash and shot put.

  • Winning in Intramurals takes friends

    Winning in Intramurals takes friends

    By Curran Daly

    True teammates, Diego Padilla gets his shoe tied by his teammate during a recent intramural game. | Curran Daly

    If you grew up playing sports then you might find it difficult to give them up once you start college. Intramural sports offer a way to keep playing sports and meet new people. Logan Ashdale, a junior recreation administration major, and his intramural volleyball team won last semester’s A league championship. Last season’s championship was Ashdale’s team’s second win in successive semesters. This season they’ll be looking for their third championship in a row.

    “We’ve won the last two semesters,” Ashdale said. “I just love it, obviously I want to keep winning, but if I can just be on the court for one extra night I might as well.”

    Ashdale grew up up playing volleyball. He joined the club team when he got to Humboldt. He started to play intramurals as a way to be on the court one more night a week.

    “I was originally playing on someone else’s team and then I had a bunch of new friends from the club team and I wanted to have my own team and run it the way I wanted,” Ashdale said. “I recruited all my friends and a lot of them happen to be really good and that’s how it got started.”

    The best teams are often the teams that play together well and that comes from the relationships within the team.

    “You gotta find people that you’ll play well with on the court, and I think it’s important to build those friendships on the court,” Ashdale said.

    Friendships can be developed on and off the court. Diego Padilla is a senior geography major who has been playing soccer with the same group of friends since the first semester of his freshman year.

    “My first day here at HOP [Humboldt orientation program] I met some friends and we played soccer every day since that first day of HOP,” Padilla said. “We heard of intramurals and we made a team and we’ve been playing together since first semester freshman year. We’ve grown closer and closer and we’re still playing today.”

    Playing with the same group of people multiple times a week can create strong bonds and friendship. While, they struggled through their first few seasons, they continued playing and eventually started winning.

    “Every year we picked up someone new and got better and better and it just clicked and we started winning,” Padilla said. Padilla’s teams last semester did very well.

    “All my teams won last semester.” Padilla’s experiences playing intramural soccer with his friends has left him with advice for people just starting out.

    “Don’t get discouraged when you lose, you’ll find these super good teams,” Padilla said. “Over time just keep at it and keep going you’ll find the people that work well together and win.”

    Freshman environmental studies major Leo Meza played intramural soccer in his first semester at Humboldt. He isn’t playing this semester, but he still talks to all of the friends he made playing last semester.

    “We did pretty good, a lot better than we expected,” Meza said. “And it was a lot of people who didn’t know each other and we got to meet new people that I’m still friends with now.”

    In the future Meza hopes to be on a successful team and keep his friends together.

    If you can get a group of friends together you can win and even if you lose, you’re still playing the games you love.

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Jacks Pass

    Men’s Basketball

    Humboldt State men’s basketball team saw its three-game winning streak snapped this past weekend as they lost 88-67 to UC San Diego Saturday Night.

    Sophomore Nikhil Lizotte led the Jacks in scoring. He scored 19 points. Hitting four 3-pointers. Currently sitting in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, the Jacks would earn a spot in the conference playoffs if the season ended today. Home games against two of the CCAA’s top three programs await the Green and Gold. Sonoma State visits Lumberjack Arena Thursday, and HSU hosts San Francisco State for Senior Day Saturday. Fans are encouraged to wear black for Thursday’s Black Out Night promotion. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m.

    Women’s Basketball

    Humboldt State women’s basketball fell to UC San Diego, 64-55 on Saturday in La Jolla. The Lumberjacks traded baskets with the Tritons early, and the teams were tied 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. San Diego closed the first half on a 10-2 run, and had a 31-24 lead at the break. The Tritons took advantage of their free-throw opportunities, and they converted 13-of-15 first half attempts

    Tyra Turner scored 12 of her team-high 15 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough for the Green and Gold. The Tritons led by 10 points through three quarters and by as many as 15 points with 5:11 left in regulation.

    The Tritons shot 39.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from outside the arc. Dalayna Sampton was San Diego’s top performer with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. She was 7-of-9 shooting and went 5-of-5 at the free-throw line.

    Three Jacks scored in double figures, and Catharine Rees and Kindall Murie chipped in 10 points apiece.  Turner dished out a team-best six assists.

    HSU closes out the regular season in Lumberjack Arena with the first of two home games coming against Sonoma State Thursday. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the Black Out Night promotion.

    Softball

    Humboldt State softball took the No. 1 spot in this week’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 released last week.

    The Lumberjacks are off to a 5-0 start after traveling to Las Vegas for the Desert Stinger Tournament. HSU holds the top spot for the first time since the 2014 Week 1 poll.

  • Humboldt State Football Recruiting

    Humboldt State Football Recruiting

    By Danny Dunn

    HSU Head Football Coach Rob Smith. | Danny Dunn

    Humboldt State’s head football Coach Rob Smith understands that there is a stigma that comes with recruiting at Humboldt.

    “We address the marijuana reputation head on and say yes that element exists here, but we think it exists anywhere…and that is not who we are,” Smith said.

    Despite the stigma HSU’s football staff feels there are many reason’s for football recruits to choose to play for Humboldt.  

    “This is a football program with a proud tradition, and a solid success rate recently, seven consecutive years nationally ranked…that is what we focus on here,” Smith said.

    The recruiting process is arguably the most important part of the offseason for college football programs. With all the turnover from season to season because of graduating seniors or students transferring elsewhere for eligibility purposes, coaches need to fill the voids that are left by these departures.

    That is why Humboldt State Football is very fortunate to be returning a majority of their offensive core, including quarterback Robert Webber, running back Ja’Quan Gardner, and All-American lineman Alex Cappa.

    “There is always a good group of seniors that leave, but I feel we have a good base to build around, and we have high expectations for next season,” Cappa said.

    With the retention of the offensive core, it allows Humboldt State Football to focus primarily on the defensive side of the game when it came to recruiting.

    Linebacker Curtis Williams remembers what it was like when he went through the recruiting process.

    “It was stressful, but also exciting with the coaches showing an interest,” Williams said. “Overall I would say I enjoyed it.”

    Williams went on to say that he felt that Humboldt State was the right fit for him.

    “Out of the schools I visited with, Humboldt was the most family oriented,” Williams said. “The coaching staff really makes you feel wanted.”

    Head Football Coach Rob Smith says that recruiting is really time consuming. He relies heavily on his coaching staff to help with the process, including setting up official visitation days where the recruits and parents can come see what Humboldt has to offer.

    “I am upfront and honest with the recruits, and sell them on the athletic benefits at Humboldt State,” Smith said.

    Smith went on to say that relationships are the key to landing a recruit.

    “There’s no magic formula to it, just be yourself and develop a relationship with not only the recruit, but the recruits parents…and continually show that recruit that he is wanted at Humboldt State,” Smith said.

  • NBA Trade Deadline

    NBA Trade Deadline

    By Danny Dunn

    With All-Star weekend in the rearview mirror, NBA teams can now focus on the trade deadline. Unlike other sports, a decent amount of trades actually get made in the NBA.

    There have already been several trades throughout the NBA. Starting at the beginning of the season with the Oklahoma City Thunder trading forward Ersan Ilyasova to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Jerami Grant. This trade has benefited both teams providing the Thunder with a wing defender, and the 76ers with a solid stretch 4.

    It was pretty dead on the trade front until the start of February when things began to heat up around the league. Milwaukee Bucks center, Miles Plumlee, was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets for center Roy Hibbert and forward Spencer Hawes.

    Miles was not the only Plumlee to get traded, his brother Mason Plumlee, center for the Portland Trailblazers along with a 2nd round pick, were sent to the Denver Nuggets for center Jusuf Nurkic and a first round pick.

    Plumlee will be a solid backup big for the Nuggets, while Nurkic showed promise as a starting center before being overshadowed by Nuggets teammate and rising star Nikola “The Joker” Jokic.  

    The first big splash of the season was the trade by the Toronto Raptors to land power forward Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic for small forward Terrence Ross and a first round pick. The Raptors who are currently sitting with fourth best record in the Eastern Conference made this deal to hopefully close the gap between them and the Eastern Conference favorite Cleveland Cavaliers.

    Speaking of the Cavaliers they traded center Chris “Birdman” Anderson to the Charlotte Hornets for a second round pick. The Cavs most likely made this move to open up a roster spot and possibly sign another playmaker.

    The biggest trade of the season, at least biggest name, happened right after the all-star game. Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Omri Casspi were dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans for guard Buddy Hield, guard Tyreke Evans, and a first and second round draft pick. This deal will pair two of the league’s best big men together, Cousins and Anthony Davis.

    There have been discussions between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, possibly trading Pistons guard Reggie Jackson for Magic forward Jeff Green and guard D.J. Augustin.

    So who are the trade targets going into the deadline?

    Realistic Targets: Phoenix Suns small forward P.J. Tucker can help teams as a wing defender. Next up, guard Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Lakers, he can definitely help bolster a playoff contenders bench. Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut is a solid rim protector and can set screens like nobody else in the league, but do not ask him to score. Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad is similar to Williams as a bench scorer, but can also defend a little and he is a bit younger. Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafur is a talented scorer in the post, and has had suitors already, the Bulls and the Celtics.

    Out of Reach: New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has been linked to the Cavaliers, Clippers, and even the Celtics. But he is out of reach mainly due to his massive salary. Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, solid big man with skills in the post, but will likely have a huge price tag that no one will pay. Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler is a name that has been linked to the Boston Celtics, but unless the Bulls are thinking about a complete rebuild, it is unlikely Butler is moved.

    Other names to look for at the trade deadline: PG Brandon Knight, SF Luol Deng, SF Danilo Gallinari, PF Kenneth Faried, SF Wilson Chandler, SF Bojan Bogdanovic, PF/C Nerlens Noel, PG Rajon Rondo, PF Nikola Mirotic, PG Derrick Rose, PG Ricky Rubio, PG Deron Williams.

  • HSU Logging Sports Came, Sawed, and Conquered

    KBLogging01: George Menges (left), Jayme Yee (middle), Robert Muma (right) during a double buck saw round. Photo by Sean Ihle.

    by Kelly Bessem

    All 10 members of the Humboldt State logging sports team scored first place in at least one event during this year’s Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference in Redding, Calif. Humboldt State, Cal Poly, Shasta College, and UC Berkeley all participated.

    Team member Dana Grevenkamp scored first place, enough to get “Belle of the Woods”, a title given to the female competitor with the most points overall. Grevenkamp beat out both male and female competitors in some of the events.

    Sean Ihle, a wildlife major and president of the HSU logging sports team, is impressed with how competitive the team has become.

    “It’s rare that every single person on the team scores that highly,”  Ihle said.

    “We’ve started working out and practicing form with professionals this year.”

    The HSU team gets access to the field, where they hold practice once a week. They compete against teams from schools that provide access five days a week, such as Cal Poly. Motivated team members sought out ways to improve while not on the field, such as 7 a.m. gym meetings.

    HSU’s team has now held the Sierra-Cascade Conference trophy more years than any other logging sports team.

    Logging sports vice president Jayme Yee, a fisheries major, acknowledges the current team’s talent.

    “After a lot of our people graduated last year we lost a lot of good competition and we’ve luckily formed another team of great athletes,” Yee said.

    George Menges is a geography major and the longest standing team member.

    “We definitely put together the best team we’ve had in years,” Menges said.

    The Sierra-Cascade competition consisted of one practice day and two days of timed rounds. At the end of Friday, the first timed day, HSU was tied with Cal Poly.

    “Everyone went for it,” Yee said. “Many of the sudden death matches ended up being Humboldt versus Humboldt.”

    HSU’s logging sports team broke the tie and won with 14 points. The second-place team had eight.

    In addition to winning competitions, team members learn a lot of applicable skills.

    “Not everyone is a forestry major but we all learn how to use forestry tools and techniques,” Menges said. “A large portion of our team has or is hoping to work for fire or timber crews.”

    Menges said that many team members are interested in conservation.

    Evelyn Murphy, an outdoor recreation major, described how being part of the logging sports team also comes with a lot of fun and traveling.

    “It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve learned so much,” Murphy said. “I really liked this particular competition because there were a bunch of pros that came to help coach us through things afterwards. We got a lot of good tips.”

    Team members also have fun naming all chainsaws and axes that they use. The team named the chainsaw they won at the conference Jefferson. This “State of Jefferson” reference is a running joke among the teammates. The State of Jefferson is a proposed new U.S. state consisting of southern Oregon and Northern California. It remains a frequent reference in the involved counties.

    “It was a good day for everyone,” said Ihle about conference.

  • HSU Track Ready for the Road Ahead

    HSU Track Ready for the Road Ahead

    By Andre Hascall

    Ryanne Bailey, HSU pole vaulter, is doing her pre-jumps attempting to jump and get over the pole as she warms up for the real deal.

    As we enter February, track and field athletes are getting ready for the season. Humboldt State University Track and Field will start it’s season with their annual Green and Gold meet.

    The Green and Gold meet will be held at Redwood Bowl on Feb. 18th.

    Caitlyn McCoy, a junior kinesiology major, competes in 100 meter and 400 meter hurdles. “Everyone is looking forward to the green and gold meet so we can size up where we are,” McCoy said.

    HSU track and field has been preparing for the road ahead this season. They’ll have to travel around Northern California facing rivals Chico and San Francisco State. They will  even making a trip to Austin, Texas in April. The end goal being the Division II national championship on May 25.

    Jocelyn Barber, a junior environmental resources engineer major, runs the 1500 meter as well as the 5 kilometer races.

    “I think HSU has a lot of good athletes this year and I sense success,” Barber said.

    Staying healthy is a major component of success for a team with a schedule heavily impacted with travel. Attendance in the gym is a must for these athletes.

    Daniel Toll, sophomore history major, runs the 1500 meter and hopes to run the 5000 meter this year.

    “There’s been some minor setbacks and injuries but nothing too serious,” Toll said. ”Those things happen and you learn to work through them.”

    The Lumberjacks track team has yet to compete, but confidence is building within the team. The ultimate goal is to win at the Division II championships.

    “The seniors and returners set up a really motivating atmosphere which got us through excruciating workouts,” McCoy said. ”Overall it gave us a solid foundation to start season on.”

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Men’s Basketball

    lMalik Morgan scored a season-high 22 points  as Humboldt State men’s basketball beat to Cal Poly Pomona, 71-60 Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.

    Morgan accounted for 11 of the his 22  points in the second half. Sophomore Nikhil Lizotte helped the Jacks following intermission. He scored 14 points in the final 20 minutes, including seven from the free throw line in the last minute. Redshirt Sophomore  Calvin Young II led the Jacks with eight rebounds. HSU travels to face Cal State San Bernardino on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

    Women’s Basketball

    Humboldt State women’s basketball fell to Cal Poly Pomona, 68-44, Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.

    HSU struggled to find an answer for Pomona and trailed 21-3 after 10 minutes of action. Junior  Catherine Rees scored the Jacks only field goal of the 1st quarter. HSU fought back  in the second quarter, cutting the lead to  31-22, at the break. Freshman  Madeline Hatch led the Jacks with nine points at the half. Pomona went on an 11-0 run to start the second half. They took a commanding 32-point lead into the final period. Tyra Turner and Hatch led the Jacks with nine points apiece. Turner finished with six rebounds, three assists and five steals.The Jacks travel to face Cal State San Bernardino Friday at 5:30 p.m.

    Softball

    Humboldt State senior Tiffany Hollingsworth was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Week Wednesday. In the Desert Stinger Tournament. She batted .438, slugged 1.063 and drove in nine runs earning Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. The senior helped HSU open the season with a 5-0 record with four consecutive multi-hit games and three straight games with a home run. She went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run in the Jacks 12-1 win over Western New Mexico. Hollingsworth hit a two-run homer in game two. She went 3-for-4 at the dish, drew a walk and drove in two RBI to go with her third home run of the season. During the preseason, Hollingsworth was named a member of the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year Watch List.

    Cross-Country

    The Humboldt State cross country program collected U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors. Megan Alfi, Kori Gilley and Annie Roberts represented the Green and Gold as individual all-academic selections. The individual All-Academic honor was awarded to student-athletes who compiled a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and finished among the top 30 percent of eligible runners at his or her regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championships. The men’s and women’s teams captured All-Academic honors with 3.02 and 3.40 GPAs, respectively. Teams must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and must have scored at an NCAA Division II regional meet to qualify for All-Academic awards.

  • Oklahoma fans “boo” their ex

    Oklahoma fans “boo” their ex

    By Danny Dunn

    Chants of “Cupcake!” were heard throughout the arena in Oklahoma city when Kevin Durant returned to his former arena. Durant had a bitter-sweet night in his first game back in Oklahoma, since signing with the Golden State Warriors this summer after leaving the Thunder. Durant scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Warriors past the Thunder 130-114.

    The game began as you would expect, Thunder fans booed when the Warriors players were announced, a little extra when Durant’s name was announced.

    The crowd was ready for this one, but not only with their noise level. A wide variety of fans showed up with homemade signs mocking Durant. There were many cupcake signs. Whether it was the actual word cupcake or just an image of one. The cupcake signs are supposed to indicate that Durant is ‘soft’ for leaving Oklahoma City.

    The crowd kept this up throughout the 1st quarter whenever Durant would touch the ball. The crowd even took it a step further and gave Thunder guard Russell Westbrook roaring applause when had the ball.

    Westbrook wound up with a solid stat line as usual this season, with 47 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Going into tonight Westbrook averaged a triple-double, with over 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game, and a league leading 30.9 points per game.

    Tensions did mount in the game, by the third quarter Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant exchanged some words going into a time out. It did not stop there, Thunder forward Andre Roberson and Durant got face to face, after Roberson fouled Durant and appeared to say something to him after the foul which lead to the face to face.

    ESPN broadcaster Mike Breen commented on why people in Oklahoma City might be upset with Durant.

    “Durant was not just the face of the franchise, he was the face of the of the city, and maybe even the state,” Breen said.

    Breen’s broadcasting partner, and former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson had some words on returning home, at the end of the 1st half when the Warriors held a 20 point lead.

    “Whoever said you can’t go home again, didn’t have Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on their team,” Jackson said.

  • Freshman athletes adjust to college sports

    Freshman athletes adjust to college sports

    Ali Deeb, freshman forward for the soccer team just finished his redshirt season.
    Kellen Gerig, freshman guard just started his first game for the Lumberjacks against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
    AJ Mintz, freshman quarterback for the football team just finished his redshirt season.

    By Curran Daly

    Freshman basketball player Kellen Gerig had yet to start a college game. In his first start of the season he played for 17 minutes. In high school, Gerig scored 26.1 points per game and lead his team to a 24-3 record. So far for the Lumberjacks, Gerig has scored 1.1 points per game and averaged 6.9 minutes per game.

    “The hardest part is the change of competition and not playing as much,” Gerig said. “All of us were the stars of our high school and then we all get together and only five can be on the court. So it’s kinda tough to sit on the bench sometimes.”

    Gerig did not play much for the Lumberjack in the early parts of the season, but he felt a strong bond with his teammates and the fans.

    “Everyone’s really close together and we’re like a family,” Gerig said. “All of our fans get pretty into it, we know everyone on campus and in the gym.”

    Teams spend a lot of time together while playing, practicing, and studying. Ali Deeb is a freshman redshirt, who plays for the men’s  soccer team. Deeb can often be found with his friends and fellow teammates, but that doesn’t stop him from missing home.

    “The hardest part was missing my family and missing my city,” Deeb said. “I think that’s just the hardest adjustment, but eventually you get used to it.”

    Deeb is from Garden Grove, Calif. Growing up he loved nature, that was one of the factors that lead to him deciding to come to Humboldt.

    “I always really liked nature and soccer,” Deeb said. “I really wanted to play on the soccer team here because the coach showed a lot of faith in me.”

    The opportunity to play also led freshman AJ Mintz to Humboldt State. Mintz just finished his redshirt season for Lumberjack football team. He came to Humboldt State for the opportunity to learn about football but has learned more off the field.

    “I’ve probably learned more just in life,” Mintz said. “like a lot of life lessons in general, in the first six months of being here.”

    Mintz says these life lessons stem from living alone for the first time. He had an easy time adjusting to his dorm and got along with his roommate, but had to get used to 6 a.m. practices.

    “All through the season when our team was playing, the redshirts were lifting at 6 a.m. before practice. I would say that was the hardest, and not playing on Saturday,” Mintz said.

    In the future all three hope to feature predominantly for their teams. Right now they are more focused on practicing and growing as individuals. Even if that means practicing without playing.

  • Brady, Patriots Top Falcons in Super Bowl LI Overtime Thriller

    Brady, Patriots Top Falcons in Super Bowl LI Overtime Thriller

    By Danny Dunn

    Quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan, may have won the MVP of the regular season, but quarterback of the New England Patriots, Tom Brady, was the MVP of Super Bowl LI.

    This is Brady’s fourth time winning the Super Bowl MVP and his seventh time making it to the Super Bowl. .

    The Patriots were able to come back from a 28-3 deficit at halftime, scoring 31 unanswered points for a final score of 34-28, giving the Patriots their fifth NFL championship.

    The game started out sluggish with both team’s first couple of possessions resulting in punts. The first quarter coming to an end with no scores either way.

    The Patriots began the second quarter with what looked liked a promising drive, fumbled away by running back Legarrette Blount. The Falcons recovered the ball on their own 29 yard line. Matt Ryan then lead Atlanta down the field, assisted by wide receiver Julio Jones catching two passes for 42 yards, getting the Falcons to the New England 29 yard line. Running back Devonta Freeman took it from there, carrying the ball three times for 29 yards and on the 3rd carry, punched it into the endzone for the first score of the game.

    A bad punt by Patriots punter Ryan Allen set Atlanta up with great field position at their own 38 yard line. Ryan had a couple of deep completions one to receiver Taylor Gabriel and the other to Julio Jones that brought Atlanta to the Patriots 20 yard line. A couple plays later Ryan hooked up with tight end Austin Hooper for a 19 yard touchdown pass, as the Falcons took a 14-0 lead.

    The ensuing Patriots drive looked promising with the Patriots marching the ball all the way to the Atlanta 23 yard line only to again have the drive killed by a turnover. Brady tried hitting receiver Danny Amendola, but cornerback Robert Alford intercepted the pass and took it all the way to the end zone for an 82 yard pick 6.

    So now the Patriots found themselves in a huge hole down three touchdowns with 2 minutes left in the half. With time running out, the Patriots had to settle for a 41 yard field goal from kicker Stephen Gostkowski putting the Patriots on the board going into the half.

    After a punt from each team to start the second half, Atlanta had an 8 play 85 yard drive capped off by a Tevin Coleman 6 yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 28-3 Falcons. But the Patriots did not go away.

    The Patriots came back with their own 75 yard touchdown drive (missed extra point). The 3rd quarter came to an end with the Falcons on top 28-9.

    The fourth quarter began with a Falcons punt, after they failed to take advantage of great field position from the Patriots muffed onside kick attempt. The Patriots got the ball on their own 13 yard line. Brady hit rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell several times on the drive to help move the Patriots down the field. The drive stalled in the Atlanta red zone, and the Patriots had to settle for a field goal making the score 28-12 Falcons.

    On the next Falcons drive Matt Ryan was strip sacked by Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and recovered by Patriots defensive end Alan Branch giving the Patriots the ball at the Atlanta 36 yard line.

    The Patriots went on to score a touchdown and a much needed two-point conversion, both courtesy of receiver Danny Amendola, making it just a one score game.

    The Falcons managed to kill a bit more time on their next possession, and even appeared to have the game in hand when receiver Julio Jones caught a 27 yard pass from Ryan at the New England 22 yard line. But then a Matt Ryan sack, and a holding penalty on the Falcons pushed them all the way back to the New England 45, and out of field goal range, forcing them to punt.

    The Patriots began the drive at their own 9 yard line with 3 minutes and 38 seconds left in the game. Brady managed to hit 5 different receivers on the drive including Chris Hogan, Mitchell, Edleman, Amendola, and finally James White. White then ran the ball in from the 1 yard line on second and goal. Needing a 2 point conversion to tie the game, Brady found Amendola once again to successfully complete the 2 point conversion, tying the game at 28 a piece with 57 seconds left on the clock.

    Atlanta was unable to get anything going on their drive, forcing the teams to take the game to overtime, for the first time in Super Bowl history.

    The Patriots won the coin toss and elected to receive the football, knowing that a touchdown ends the game in overtime. The Patriots started at their own 25 yard line, and again Brady hooked up with multiple receivers, to help drive the Patriots down the field with a chance to win the game. A defensive pass interference against Falcons linebacker De’Vondre Campbell on Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett all but sealed the game, with the result of the penalty giving the Patriots the ball at the Falcons 2 yard line. James White then ran the ball in, just past the goal line and enough to give the Patriots a touchdown and a victory.

    This Super Bowl win gives the Patriots their fifth Super Bowl win. This also gives Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady their fifth Super Bowl wins. Brady finished with 466 passing yards, the most in Super Bowl history, along with a pair of touchdown passes, and was awarded MVP of Super Bowl LI.

  • Jacks Pass

    Jacks Pass

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Jacks Pass

    Men’s Basketball

    Malik Morgan his 1,000th point as a Lumberjack  as Humboldt State men’s basketball lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 66-64 Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.

    Morgan accounted for nine of the Jacks’ last 11 points, including a bucket that tied the game at 64-64. He had a team-high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting to go with three assists.

    Toros Senior Justin Sadler shot over the outstretched arms of Calvin Young II with two seconds left in regulation to seal the Toros victory. Sadler led all scorers with 24 points.

    HSU hosts Holy Names in a non-conference showdown Monday at 7 p.m.

    Women’s Basketball

    Double figures from from Ashlynn Cox and Tyra Turner  helped Humboldt State women’s basketball snap its three-game losing-streak  and top Cal State Dominguez Hills, 70-57, Saturday night in Lumberjack Arena.

    Back-to-back 3-pointers from Cox and Tyra Turner in the final two minutes  of the third quater helped HSU cling to a 46-45 advantage heading into the fourth quater.

    Turner was the game’s top scorer and finished with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She went 7-for-7 at the free-throw line and dished out a team-high five assists. Cox added 18 points, including four 3-pointers and a game-high four steals, and Lynnzy  Troxell finished with 11 off the bench.

    The Green and Gold host Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. Fans are invited to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness, and the game will also be Family Fun Night.

    Softball

    The Humboldt State softball team closed out the Desert Stinger Tournament with a 6-1 victory over Minot State en route to a Tournament title.

    The Jacks  scored a combined 55 runs in the tournament and ace Madison Williams was dominant with  a complete game, allowed just one run and had nine strikeouts. Williams finished the tournament 3-0 with 21 strikeouts.

    Williams and Illa Haley were both named to the All-Tournament Team, and Tiffany Hollingsworth was tabbed the Desert Stinger Tournament MVP. Hollingsworth finished with 9 runs batted in and 3 Homeruns. Haley had 10 RBIS.

    Senior Kalyn Paque went 2-0 with 11 strikeouts. Junior Winona Vigil had 2 home runs and 9 RBIS. Senior  Breonna Bejaran recorded 2 home runs and 7 RBIS in the desert.

    HSU returns to the North Coast and is scheduled to host Chico State in a four-game series beginning Friday. The first pitch for the home opener is scheduled for noon.

  • LeDesma twins strive for greatness

    LeDesma twins strive for greatness

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    By Keaundrey Clark

    We all know about sibling rivalries. We’ve all felt like we had to compete with our brothers or sisters. It’s apart of life.

    Juniors Catie and Andie LeDesma are twin long distance runners for the Humboldt State’s Track and Field team. The sisters exemplify what it means to have a sibling rivalry. The amazing thing about these sisters is that they are actually apart of a set of triplets. Their other sister is attending college at Sacramento State.

    “It’s great we’ve been running together all our lives,” Catie LeDesma said.

    The sisters started running at the age of five. Their father, who ran track in college at San Diego State, has been a big help along the way.

    Catie didn’t start out at HSU, she transferred from Minot State University in 2015 after deciding she wanted to add a second major on top of Applied Math and a grueling athletic schedule.

    “The school didn’t offer physics as a major,” Catie Ledesma said. “I knew HSU did, also I knew my sister was here, so after to talking to coach (Pesch) I ended up running at HSU.”

    Catie isn’t just double majoring; she’s also minoring in Chemistry. Catie recently competed in the International Mathematical Contest in Modeling. Catie does off the track, she’s just as amazing on it. Catie has one of the top ten best times in the 5,000 meter run at HSU.

    Andie LeDesma, not to be outdone by her sister, is excellent in her own right. She has the third fastest 3,000 meter steeplechase time in HSU history.

    As long as she’s been running, she has had her sisters running with her stride for stride.

    “It was nice running with them, having someone to run with,” said Andie LeDesma.

    The LeDesma sisters share a bond that is deep. Running is apart of that bond. So is the competitive nature they share on the field.

    “When we were little we were running a road race, and I passed Catie up. She tried to tackle me when I went by her,” said Andie LeDesma. “She said never again, and I’ve only beaten her a few times ever since.

    They have helped the Lumberjack Track and Field program since they’ve been on campus with top 10 finishes at CCAA Championships since they’ve been here.

    Head Coach Scott Pesch knows he has two great athletes on his hands.

    “Overall the success of being a student athlete is being great on and off the field,” Pesch said.

  • Freshman student, senior player: Tyra Turner

    Freshman student, senior player: Tyra Turner

    By | Curran Daly

    Twenty minutes before practice, freshman guard Tyra Turner dribbles alone. This is a common sight for her teammates who have seen her come in as a freshman and immediately become a major asset for the team.
    She was recruited by head women’s basketball coach Michelle Bento-Jackson.

    “This year she’s got a lot of weight on her shoulders, she’s a freshman, she’s playing 40 minutes a game, she never comes out, she runs her offense,” Bento-Jackson said. “I’ve told her from day one that I wouldn’t treat her like a freshman, and that I’d have expectations of her as if she was a senior.”
    Turner responded well to these expectations and leads the Lumberjacks with an average 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. She’s come a long way since late July when she got a call from first year coach Bento-Jackson.
    “My mom helped me send little films and highlights to the coach and that’s when she called me up the last week of July and was like ‘we really want you to come here,’” Turner said. “She talked to me over the phone about how nice the school was and everything and I just took the chance to come here.”
    Turner is a psychology major who hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a probation officer, talking and working with kids while they’re young to turn around their lives. Turner had originally planned to attend a junior college until the call from Coach Bento-Jackson came.
    “It was very late from a recruiting standpoint, and at that point in time, all I had was some game film of her,” Bento-Jackson said. “She’s definitely exceeded my expectations and she brings so much more to the floor than I had ever even thought.”
    Her late decision to come to Humboldt left her in completely new surroundings not entirely sure what to expect. Turner said that she didn’t expect to lead the team in stats

    “I don’t really look at it as leading in this and this and that, I’m just looking forward to helping my team win and be successful out there,” Turner said.
    Turner has started every game except the first two of the season, and has taken control of the team’s offense. In the home game against Chico State, it was Turner’s passing and ball handling skills that kept the Lumberjacks in the game.
    “I know that coming from a high school program is definitely gonna be tough.”  Allison Zalin, a junior forward said. “On the court she brings toughness. She plays 40 minutes she doesn’t give up she’s pushing the ball she directs people on the court.”

  • Q & A with HSU Softball Coach Shelli Sarchett: Great Expectations

    Q & A with HSU Softball Coach Shelli Sarchett: Great Expectations

    By | Danny Dunn

    In her second season as the Humboldt State Softball head coach, Shelli Sarchett led her team to 54-8 record and came one win shy of winning a national championship. Sarchett herself was a key player in the 1999 Humboldt State national championship. She knows a thing or two about winning and instills that culture as head coach.

    Q: What can you attribute most to the success of the past couple seasons?

    A: It’s really just bringing in athletes who know how to work hard and that they want to win. These guys put in a lot of hours and know what their ultimate goal is.

    Q: When you say ultimate goal, is that winning a national title?

    A: Our ultimate goal, well obviously we want them all to get a degree, but our ultimate goal softball wise, is to win a national championship. That’s why we bring these girls here, and that is what they are expecting, so we work hard to reach that goal.

    Q: What are your expectations going into this season?

    A: It’s really the same thing that we’ve expected in the past. Last year, we finished number two in the nation and this year, we expect to get back to the national tournament and win that last game that results in a national championship. Our goals really don’t change from year to year.

    Q: The goals do not change, but the players do, can you speak on if there are any major losses from last year to this?

    A: We lost our number two pitcher, but we’ve brought in some pitchers, and have some returning pitchers that didn’t see a lot of time last year, so they’re stepping up in the circle. We lost our starting shortstop but we’ve made adjustments in our starting lineup to move some players around and help with that loss. Same thing at third base, we lost a fifth-year senior… we might be a little less experienced on the left side of the field, but we bring in athletes who are ready to play.

    Q: What is the biggest strength of this team?

    A: The comradery these guys have. They are a family, they want to work hard for themselves and their teammates. Their biggest strength is leadership… the seniors have been to the national tournament and know what it takes to get there again… they’re helping newcomers and lower classmen play Humboldt style softball.

    Q: Do you have any preseason motivation for the team?

    A: It’s the same thing we’ve said since our first meeting, you have to buy into this; because if you are not ready to buy into this, then we won’t be able to work toward a national championship… you can’t take a day off and expect to win a national championship. It’s really great to see these guys respond to the challenges we give them every day, knowing that if we meet these challenges, a national championship is within our reach.

    The players want to win as much as the coaches do. It is one of the reasons they choose the Humboldt State softball program. Transfer student Lona Dengler hopes to earn a starting outfield position this season.

    “I wanted to play for the best team in division II,” Dengler said.

    Senior pitcher Kalyn Paque spoke on coach Shelli’s message of playing unselfish ball.

    “Absolutely, do it for the person next to you,” Paque said. “Always pick up your teammates…no selfish behavior on this team.”

    With this mentality, the HSU women’s softball team will look to get back to the national tournament, and possibly bring a championship trophy back with them.

  • Road Race in Trinidad

    Road Race in Trinidad

    The 52nd Annual Clam Beach Run

    By | Erin Chessin

    The fog cleared just in time for hundreds of runners to take their marks at the 52nd annual Clam Beach Run in Trinidad, Calif. An event hosted by the Greater Trinidad Chamber of Commerce. Friends, families, and locals united on a sunny Saturday afternoon and ran one of California’s most scenic road races.

    HSU alumni, Paul Matli, was amongst this crowd of runners on the start line.

    “I wasn’t nervous for this race because I knew it was going to be fun,” said Matli. “Clam Beach is one of the more exciting races I do every year. It’s a combination of rolling hills and flat ground, and the fact the last 2 miles are on the beach makes it more fun.”

    Runners could either register for the half marathon, 8 and three quarter mile, 5 and three quarter mile, or the 3 mile race. Each race started at the same time and place but runners had to turn off at a specific point in the town of Trinidad and take their designated path depending on the distance they signed up for. The half marathon began at 11:30 a.m. while the 8 and three quarter mile, 5 and three quarter mile, and the 3 mile races took off in the afternoon. The weather conditions were exceptionally good, with temperatures hitting just above 50 degrees.

    This was no ordinary road race. From the trails to the sand, runners made their way through thick forest and ascended down a rocky path to the beach. The scenery is impeccable and many runners found themselves distracted by the North Coast’s beauty. Kenneth Pocasangre, HSU alumni and a teacher at Fieldbrook Elementary, couldn’t help but enjoy the sights and sounds of the beach.

    “The scenery is what distracted me from the pain,” said Pocasangre, “I could see the ocean hitting the rocks, the fog drifting through the trees, the beautiful colors reflected by the sunlight, it was exhilarating.”

    Once the runners made their way through the forest, the road race ascended down to the beach. In the 8 and three quarter mile race, the last two miles ended on a long stretch of Clam Beach. Matli said this was the toughest part of the race as he struggled to get past the famous Little River that all runners must cross in order to reach the finish.

    “I fell in,” said Matli. “I tried to swim through the river but I ended up being carried down the stream and had to pull myself back onto the course.”

    The Little River isn’t forgiving, many runners found themselves struggling to get past the river since the tide was abnormally high as observed by Jocelyn Barber, a student at HSU studying environmental resources and engineering.

    “I noticed everyone was using the rope to get across the Little River since the current was so high,” Barber said. “ I decided to walk upstream and avoid the rope, running through the cold stream. There were people I could see being carried away by the water.”

    Pocasangre said his shins were problematic throughout the race.

    “I knew I had to keep pushing through in order to get to the finish line, as painful as it was,” said Pocasangre, who finished first place overall in the half marathon race with a time of one hour and 29 minutes.

    The Marching Lumberjacks, who perform at HSU’s football games and numerous other events, showed up at the finish line with enthusiasm and high spirits.

    “I picked up the pace, as much as I could,” said Pocasangre. “I could hear the music about a half mile away from the finish line. It was gratifying hearing the band playing from afar, helping you get through the final excruciating stretch of the race.”

  • The future of Women’s Crew

    The future of Women’s Crew

    Video & Story by Andre Hascall

    Five years ago HSU’s women’s crew won their very first national championship.

    This year, these women are on a route to get title number two led by team captain MacKenzie Danies, an engineering major from West Linn, Ore.

    “This year this team is different than any other team we’ve had… the energy and the excitement for everything we do is crazy,” Danies said. “We know that getting up at 5 a.m. is for a purpose and for us to potentially win nationals.”

    Danies has high aspirations for her team this year.

    “This year we have a good chance to be the best team on the west coast,”Danies said. “I think that aside from our rowing accomplishments this year we are just a great group of girls, because we’re a family.”

    Rowing is very demanding with early morning practice times, so having veteran leadership and a positive attitude is essential.

    Ripley McChesney, a wildlife major and geospatial studies minor from Davis, Calif., is entering her fourth year here at HSU.

    “I’ve been rowing for eight years now; my goal is to make this year my best one since it’s my last,” McChesney said. “I think that this team is perfect for that. They are motivated, and they make me more motivated, especially when everyone is having a great time so early in the morning.”

    The end goal for this team is clear, as the mindset seems to be wanting a championship all around. Fourth year rower and kinesiology major, Alexia Robledo believes that this team has a shot at glory.

    “This is my fourth and final year rowing at HSU. My goals are to do the best that I can for this team and hopefully get a shot at winning nationals,” Robledo said. Robledo gave gratitude to her team for having great camaraderie.

    After winning in 2012, the journey back to championship fame has been eventful. Coach Robin Meiggs is confident in her team’s ability for success this year, with a mix of veteran leadership and energized first year rowers.

    “I see a lot of kids that think they need to go D1 as a conduit for rowing. Getting kids to come to HSU to row is challenging,” Meiggs said. “We generally create our team as walk-ons, every year from the bottom up. So, we have to get these girls in the position to compete with other teams stacked with rowers.”

  • Softball Ranked #2 in the Nation

    Softball Ranked #2 in the Nation

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Humboldt State Softball finishing one win shy of its third national championship last season, This week the Lumberjacks were voted No. 2 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll. 

    The Lumberjacks made their sixth NCAA Championship Tournament appearance in 2016, they return much of the roster that propelled them to a national runner up. NFCA All-American pitcher Maddie Williams and outfielder Hanna Holland, and NFCA All-Region second baseman Tiffany Hollingsworth are HSU’s top returners from a roster that went 54-8-1 last season.

    Defending champion North Alabama earned the No. 1 spot and all 16 first-place votes. The Jacks were the only California Collegiate Athletic Association program ranked in the preseason poll.

    HSU opens the season at the Desert Sting Tournament in Las Vegas, Feb. 3. The Jacks will play five games in the tournament before returning for its home opener against Chico State on Feb. 10.

  • Loss to Chico ends Women’s basketball’s winning streak

    Loss to Chico ends Women’s basketball’s winning streak

    By: Curran Daly

    Humboldt State Women’s basketball lost to Chico State on Thursday night 45 to 57. The loss ended a three game winning streak for Humboldt’s women’s team and left them falling two games under .500 in conference with a 4-6 record.

    The game started slow as both teams looked to establish themselves. Chico got out in front early, but Humboldt battled back through good play from Junior guard Riann Thayer.

    The game was close throughout the first half with Humboldt and Chico exchanging leads. The half ended even with a score of 23 all after a jump shot at the buzzer by Junior guard Kindall Murie.

    When Humboldt’s women were at their best defensively with strong team defense to stifle Chico’s offense. Offensively Humboldt’s game ran through freshman guard Tyra Turner, who’s ball distribution and movement baffled Chico’s defense.

    Humboldt began to fall behind in the second half, trailing by six points heading into the fourth quarter. Looking to force its way back in the game a series of fouls and a lack of defensive stops resulted in a 12 point deficit that the lumberjacks could not erase.

    The season series now evens up at one a piece. With this loss the lumberjacks moves to 5-12 overall.

  • HSU’s Basketball standings

    By: Keaundrey Clark

    CCAA – Men’s Basketball Standings

    CONF. OVERALL STREAK
    UC San Diego 9-1 14-3 L1
    Chico State 8-1 15-2 W9
    San Francisco State 7-2 14-2 W1
    Sonoma State 7-2 11-4 W5
    Cal State San Marcos 7-3 12-5 W5
    Cal State Dominguez Hills 4-4 8-6 L2
    Cal State East Bay 4-5 11-6 W2
    Cal State LA 4-6 8-10 W1
    Humboldt State 3-6 8-8 L4
    Cal State San Bernardino 2-6 6-7 L3
    Stanislaus State 2-7 5-11 L1
    Cal Poly Pomona 1-8 3-10 L4
    Cal State Monterey Bay 1-8 3-12 L3

    CCAA – Women’s Basketball Standings

    CONF. OVERALL STREAK
    UC San Diego 9-1 13-3 W9
    Stanislaus State 7-2 9-9 W3
    Cal State East Bay 6-3 9-7 W1
    Cal Poly Pomona 6-3 8-7 W1
    Cal State San Bernardino 5-3 8-4 W3
    Cal State LA 6-4 9-9 L2
    Chico State 5-4 10-5 W2
    Cal State San Marcos 5-5 8-7 L2
    Sonoma State 4-5 8-7 L2
    Humboldt State 4-5 5-11 W3
    Cal State Dominguez Hills 1-7 4-11 L4
    Cal State Monterey Bay 1-8 4-12 L3
    San Francisco State 0-9 2-14 L10
  • NFL Playoffs

    NFL Playoffs

    By: Keaundrey Clark

    The National Football League divisional round has passed and gone. We learned a few things this past weekend. You need an elite quarterback to get this far in the season. The four remaining quarterbacks, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger have thrown for 135 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. You have Super Bowl winners (Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Brady), past MVPs (Brady and Rodgers) and the potential 2016 NFL MVP (Ryan).

    With four of the game’s best playing on the highest stages, we will see some classic games come this conference championship weekend. The Dallas Cowboys look set for the next 10 years with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott as their stars. The two rookies shine in their first NFL playoff game and in defeat they showed they’ll be a force for years to come. The Seattle Seahawks are doing Russell Wilson a disservice by putting him behind an awful offensive line. That needs to be addressed if they want to even sniff the Super Bowl next season. This might be the Chiefs last run with Alex Smith as quarterback. He’s limited; average at best. If they don’t cut bait now, they’ll never get better. The Houston Texans, just like the Chiefs, have a roster to win now but are hamstrung by a shitty quarterback.

    Atlanta Falcons vs Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers vs Matt Ryan in a dome. Man, that’s a lot of points. Rodgers threw one of the greatest passes you’ll ever see, a 36-yard dart to Jared Cook to get his team into field goal range for the win, rolling to his left and threw it against his body, only where his player can catch it with his feet in bounds and left time on the clock. Each team’s defense is in the bottom half of the league in passing yards given up. These quarterbacks will pass for 350 yards each, probably push for 400 yards. Both teams will likely score 30 plus points. This game could literally come down to which team makes a play defensively or which quarterback has the ball last.

    My Pick: Packers 38 – Falcons 31

    New England Patriots vs Pittsburg Steelers: At this point, the Patriots are just a nameless, faceless machine. It feels  that every team they’ve had in the last 15 years has been identical with a few exceptions in the past. Two things remain the same: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. With those two, they always have a fighting chance.  The Steelers have arguably the best running back and receiver to grace an NFL field, a top five quarterback, yet they are 11th in scoring in the league. Not bad but not good especially for the talent they have. If they can put touchdowns on the board they have a chance to knock off Tom Brady and company.

    My Pick: Patriots 30 – Steelers 27