The loss of a legend leaves impact on fans and HSU students
NBA legend Kobe Bryant died last Sunday in a helicopter crash at the age of 41, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others.
Humboldt State University’s Alexia Thrower, a star player on HSU’s women’s basketball team who leads her team and conference in scoring and rebounding, admired Bryant not only for his mentality and approach to the game, but also the advocacy he had toward women’s basketball.
“I loved the way Kobe played,” Thrower said. “He was always in attack mode, regardless of if he missed shots or made mistakes his foot was always on the pedal and that’s how I play. He had four daughters and Gigi was a baller so he had a real passion for women’s basketball and really respected us as basketball players too, and that means everything coming from one of the greatest basketball players ever.”
There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of loosing my neice Gigi & my brother @kobebryant I love u and u will be missed. My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. IM SICK RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/pigHywq3c1
There’s a saying in the world of sports: “Heroes come and go, but legends never die.” This saying was challenged in the early morning hours of Jan. 26 when Bryant died. His death sent shockwaves around the world, and athletes and celebrities mourned him on social media.
Longtime teammate, fellow NBA legend and self-proclaimed big brother Shaquille O’Neal was one of many left heartbroken. O’Neal took to Twitter to speak about Bryant’s death.
“There’s no words to express the pain I’m going through with the tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother Kobe, you will be loved and missed,” O’Neal said. “My condolences goes out to the Bryant family and the families of the other passengers on board. I’M SICK RIGHT NOW.”
Bryant was a 20-year NBA veteran who played entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers. Over the course of his career he became a five-time NBA champion, 18-time All-Star, league MVP, two-time Finals MVP and finished his career ranking third all-time on the NBA’s scoring list. By the end of his career, he was widely considered one of the greatest players to ever set foot in the NBA.
Bryant influenced generations of future basketball players, including boys, girls and student athletes like HSU freshman Isaiah Sampson, who plays on the men’s basketball team. Sampson viewed Bryant as a role model.
“The way he worked inspired me and helped me change my whole mindset to achieve my goals. He was a role model for me,” Sampson said. “Everyone has their time, but you hate to see someone with his impact go so soon and tragically.”
Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa Bryant and three daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
The United States men’s national team has not made much progress since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup
The lowest moment in recent history for the United States men’s national soccer team was on the night of Oct. 10, 2018, on a rain-soaked pitch in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.
The U.S. was on the cusp of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and only needed a draw against the Trinidad and Tobago national team, who were dead last in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football qualifying standings and had not won in their last nine matches.
Even if the U.S. were to lose this game, a failsafe existed in the form of either Mexico or Costa Rica winning their respective game, which would send the U.S. to their eighth straight World Cup. It seemed like a sure thing.
On that fateful night, everything that could have possibly gone wrong for the U.S. men’s national team went haywire.
I believe it was one of the worst moments in American sports history.
An own goal that was deflected off the leg of U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez somehow found its way past goalkeeper Tim Howard in minute 17. Trinidad would add another goal in minute 37, and while the Americans would add a goal late, it would not be enough.
The United States lost 2-1 to the worst team in the final round of qualifying. To make matters worse, Mexico and Costa Rica, who were two of the best teams in the region, managed to lose both of their matches. For the first time since 1986, the United States would not be in the World Cup. To say this was an embarrassment would be an understatement.
I believe it was one of the worst moments in American sports history. For the United States to fail to get a tie against a team that was 1-8 previously in qualifying was a national embarrassment. Missing out on the World Cup would deal a massive blow to the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Fans across the U.S. would miss out on seeing their national team play on the world’s biggest stage, and subsequently, the up-and-coming players on the national team would miss out on a valuable experience that would strengthen their development. To make things even worse, qualifying for the next World Cup does not begin until 2021, leaving us a long time to think about what happened.
Since then, the U.S. Soccer Federation has fired their head coach, Bruce Arena, and after many months of interim coaches at the helm, Gregg Berhalter was selected to lead the long journey back to the next World Cup in 2022 in Qatar. Many of the players that were a part of the 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads are now gone, leaving a lot of young and talented but unproven players to develop at the international level.
A lot of the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was years in the making. The U.S. had an aging roster of players that were on the back end of their international careers. Players like Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, who were a huge part of past World Cups, were just not producing at the same level as in the past.
Now that the U.S. has an almost entirely different roster, it looks like the team has no sense of direction. An embarrassing loss to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League in October highlighted the fact that the U.S. still has a long way to go to reach the next World Cup. The U.S. roster is currently highlighted by budding superstar Christian Pulisic, who is the best scorer for the team and plays club soccer for Chelsea in one of the top soccer leagues in the world. Other than Pulisic, the U.S. roster is a rotating door of names.
If the U.S. has issues competing with teams on our own continent, then being able to someday compete with the top European or South American nations is going to be a daunting task.
It all comes down to a complete lack of talent within the U.S. Soccer Federation. One problem is finding talent and developing it, but the main problem is dual-national players committing to other nations. If you’re a young player and you have the choice of playing for the United States or Mexico, right now I would bet that player is going to choose Mexico.
While the men’s team is trying to find their identity on the field, I would like to shout out the U.S. Women’s National Team for winning two straight World Cups and continuing to make this country proud. They are setting an example for how American soccer should be played and I look forward to their continued success.
Why HSU should bring back baseball in the post-football era
It has been over a year since the Humboldt State University football team played their final game ever, leaving local sports fans wondering how we are going to fill the void the HSU football team left in its wake.
Now that I’ve had some time to get used to a fall semester without the green and gold jerseys at the Redwood Bowl, it’s begun to feel more normal for HSU to be a school without a football team.
I know that bringing back the football team, at least in the near future, is an idea that seems like a pipe dream. Once you cut a program that was as much of a financial strain as the football team was, it is really hard to justify bringing such a program back. I think we need to explore alternatives of bringing back other, less expensive sports to HSU, and I know exactly what sport it should be.
Humboldt State needs to revive its baseball program, and I know that HSU baseball would be very well supported by the community.
For one, sports fans in Arcata and the rest of Humboldt County love baseball. There is no bigger example of this than the support that Arcata’s summer collegiate baseball team, the Humboldt Crabs, receives every summer from June until early August.
“From a baseball perspective, an HSU baseball team would be a huge benefit to both the athletes that would play here and the Humboldt Crabs organization.”
Liam Warner
Experiencing a Crabs game is one of the purest forms of Arcata that you will ever experience. From the world-famous Crab Grass Band to the unique heckling coming from the fans, thousands of people pack the Arcata Ballpark every summer to watch the Crabs play. Unfortunately, this is when most of the student population is home for the summer.
Another reason why an HSU baseball team would be easy to start is because finding a facility to play at won’t be a problem. The Arcata Ballpark, which is located right next to Arcata City Hall, is considered to be one of the best ballparks on the summer baseball circuit. For a Division II baseball school, I’m sure we would have one of the best baseball facilities on the West Coast.
Having an HSU baseball team that plays at the Arcata Ballpark would also give fans a lot more opportunities to watch baseball in downtown Arcata. Typically, college baseball season runs from February into late April. The Humboldt Crabs season starts in late May or early June, meaning that we would have six months of baseball with a gap in May between the seasons.
I’m sure extending the season of high-level baseball in Arcata would provide a boost to the economy downtown, as it would allow the opportunity for more people to watch quality baseball at the ballpark.
From a baseball perspective, an HSU baseball team would be a huge benefit to both the athletes that would play here and the Humboldt Crabs organization. The Crabs draw quite a few of their homegrown players from the College of the Redwoods baseball team, so an HSU baseball team would naturally become a feeder of players to play on the Crabs during the summer.
HSU Jacks players would have the opportunity to continue their season on a well-established summer baseball club, and the Crabs would have a local pool of baseball players they could pick from.
Ultimately, it’s up to HSU athletics to make the decision to bring back a sport. But I think all of the factors are there to make an HSU baseball team a successful part of the community.
Logging sports club invites competition for an axe amount of fun
On Nov. 16, the Humboldt State Logging sports club held its annual Logtoberfest. This year they got to compete against schools including University of California, Berkeley, University of Nevada, Reno and Shasta College.
In previous years, Logtoberfest was more of a practice session for HSU logging sports. This year HSU decided to make their event an open invitational and welcomed other university logging sports teams.
Sounds of axes chopping and chainsaws revving echoed as those involved gathered around to show off their woodcutting skills. But the event was about more than just cutting wood. Logging athletes and their familiarity with each event provided entertainment while still ensuring safety.
Vice President of the club and HSU forestry major Sophia Ackerman was in her third year competing in Logtoberfest. She was happy to see the arrival of the traveling schools and the growth of her logging team.
“Our team has gotten bigger,” Ackerman said. “Logtoberfest in the past has been more like practice scrimmages against ourselves to get ready for competitions really early in the season.”
Ackerman spoke highly about one event in particular: the obstacle pole. This event required an individual to carry an active chainsaw up a tilted log and cut off a portion of it.
Another event called the horizontal chop involved a person positioning their feet on a log as they land multiple strikes until it breaks. Feet are exposed, but an important safety feature includes metallic footwear and chain-mail shin guards, so that in the event a contestant misses their intended target, no one is seriously injured.
“Because it is extremely dangerous, if you glance out you can chop your leg. You gotta be comfortable with chopping and really good with the axe.”
Jace Hunt
Ackerman participated in the horizontal chop event and wasted no time chopping the log against her Shasta College opponent. Upon completion, Ackerman sat and took a break as she watched and cheered on her opponent to finish strong. Sportsmanship among the logging athletes has allowed them to forma bond of endless support for each other.
Wildlife conservation major Jace Hunt competed in an event called the vertical chop, and after multiple swings from his axe, Hunt delivered a final blow to the log sending wood chips flying in every direction.
Despite constant sawdust and wood chips flying everywhere, maintaining an uninterrupted line of sight was a goal the athletes thrived for. However, there were some participants that saw the flying chips as a motivational obstacle.
Not only does swinging an axe demand physique but it demands discipline to assure that team members avoid inflicting bodily harm. Although this is Hunt’s second Logtoberfest, he did not compete in last year’s axe-wielding events.
“You have to be on the team for a full year before you can do the vertical chop,” Hunt said. “Because it is extremely dangerous, if you glance out you can chop your leg. You gotta be comfortable with chopping and really good with the axe.”
HSU cross country runner Daniel Tull places 56th out of 267 competitors at the Division II National Championships in Sacramento
Humboldt State’s Daniel Tull’s long hair, iconic mustache and yellow headband made him easily identifiable in the field of over 250 runners who descended on the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento, CA for the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.
Tull was the only Lumberjack to feature in the 10K race, having been granted an at-large berth the week before due to his individual results over the season. He ran a strong finish to his season, placing 56th out of 267 competitors.
In the early stages of the race, Tull ran in the midfield at a quick pace, rolling through the first mile in 4:45. For the next two miles, he worked his way up the field, picking up positions regularly as he made his way into the top 100 runners by the halfway point.
Humboldt State’s Daniel Tull starts the national Division II cross country meet towards the back of the pack while wearing his signature yellow headband. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Daniel Tull talks with Head Coach Jamey Harris at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU senior Daniel Tull runs with his competitors during the opening stages of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship at Arcade Creek Cross Country Course in Sacramento on Nov. 23. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Teammates and family members who made the trip to Sacramento to cheer him on dashed around the course encouraging him throughout the race. As the pack eased into a rhythm, Tull averaged 4:56 per mile to cross the 5K mark at 15:21.
“The first mile was pretty fast,” Tull said. “I was just placed too far back. I went too relaxed in the beginning, and then in the middle I kind of settled down.”
After his difficult start, Tull began to make more moves, storming his way through the field with a little more than two kilometers left to go. From there, Tull said that he felt comfortable to push as he noticed the guys around him slowing down. In that last stretch, he passed 40 runners to surge into his finishing position of 56th, only 16 places outside of All-American honors.
“With a mile and a quarter to go, I was like ‘Oh, it’s only 2K, I’ll send it,’” Tull said. “‘I’ll just start passing people one at a time.’ Everybody else was slowing down or staying at the same pace, so I started picking it up.”
Head Coach Jamey Harris was pleased with how Tull ran through his hard start and made progress through the latter stages of the race.
“Obviously the race went out fast,” Harris said. “He went through a rough patch in the middle. But he really turned it on and passed about 50 guys in the last couple of miles, so I thought it was a really solid performance. I think on his best day he was capable of getting that All-American certificate, but I was really pleased with the way he raced and the way he kind of fought through the bad patch and finished strong.”
Humboldt State senior Daniel Tull works his way through a turn at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship in Sacramento on Nov. 23. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Daniel Tull reflects for a moment after placing 56th in his final collegiate cross country race at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship. | Photo by Thomas Lal
In addition to his teammates, Tull’s father, Mel, came to the race to cheer his son on. Mel Tull said that the first time he realized how serious his son was about running came during his second year of high school.
“I never really knew how into it he was,” Mel Tull said. “Then I went to a cross country meet and he came over the mountain and he was running third. And I realized well, he apparently knows what he’s doing.”
After the race, Daniel Tull reflected on how special it was to end his collegiate cross country career at the national meet.
“I’m glad I finally made it here,” Daniel Tull said. “It was a goal of mine for a long time. The race was pretty massive. It feels cool to be part of something like this. Most races are fun and I like them and it’s good energy, but this is different energy for sure.”
Humboldt State’s persistent offense pushes its preseason to a 4-1 record
After gaining a home win in a 91-85 game over the Antelope Valley Pioneers on Nov. 13, the Jacks turned their attention to a different Pioneers team in their final non-conference, tune-up game.
Humboldt State played against the Pacific Union College’s Pioneers on Saturday night in front of a packed Lumberjack Arena crowd.
Offense has not been a problem for the HSU men’s basketball team in the few games they have played this season. In the four games prior to Saturday’s match, the Jacks’ lowest scored points in a game was 89, which came in two separate games against Southern Oregon and Fresno Pacific.
The game against Pacific Union was no different as the Jacks’ offense fired on all cylinders. Five different scorers reached double-digit point totals for the Jacks. Despite Pacific Union tying the game twice in the second half, the Jacks never relinquished the lead and beat the Pacific Union Pioneers 86-80.
Less than a minute later, Lewis hit a deep three right at the halftime buzzer giving the Jacks the 44-34 lead.
Two successful shots from seniors Rob Lewis and Zachariah Christian had the Jacks out to an early 4-0 lead. The defense started strong by preventing the Pioneers from scoring in the first four minutes of the half.
The Jacks eventually found an 11-2 run, but a few turnovers and missed shots allowed the Pioneers to close the deficit to 13-8 just before the first media timeout. The Jacks widened the lead to 11 points a bit later on in the half.
Freshman Isaiah Pope splashed three-pointers on back-to-back possessions and brought the Lumberjack Arena crowd to a roar.
Less than a minute later, Lewis hit a deep three right at the halftime buzzer giving the Jacks the 44-34 lead.
The second half was more of a test for Humboldt State. The Jacks’ shots weren’t falling like they were in the first half as their shot from the field dropped from 50 percent to 40 percent.
Humboldt State senior Leland Green jumps past Pacific Union’s defense during the Jacks’ game at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 16. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Despite the drop in production from the offense, the Jacks used the free-throw line to their advantage to close out the game, going 15-20 from the charity stripe. With three minutes left, Pioneers’ senior Marc Williams hit a three to tie it up at 73-73. The ensuing Jacks’ possession resulted in senior Leland Green drawing the foul and sinking two free throws. The Jacks pulled away with the victory.
The Jacks gained contributions on offense from several different players. Senior Leland Green led the team with 17 points, Lewis had 14 and sophomore Amari Green had 12. Christian lead the team with nine rebounds.
Despite the win and the offensive production, Head Coach Steve Kinder stressed the need to work on defense heading into conference play.
“Pacific Union did a great job on sharing the ball, penetrating and kicking to open shooters,” Kinder said. “We had a difficult time keeping guys ahead of us.”
After the game, Jacks’ center Arash Poorsina also stressed the need to work on defense, but he touted the chemistry that the team has built up with each other early in the season.
“The good thing about this team is that no one really loses faith in one another,” Poorsina said. “We all know our skill set, we all know the things that we can do.”
Jacks defeat Dominguez Hills by two goals, but fall to Cal State LA
The Humboldt State University men’s soccer season concluded over the weekend and honored senior players at College Creek Field.
It was an emotional ending to another season of Jacks’ soccer as the final two games yielded different results. On Thursday, the men’s team beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-1 with two goals from the Jacks leading scorer Isaiah Dairo. He scored the game-winner in the final minute.
Saturday’s matchup against Cal State Los Angeles was held on Senior Day, and for athletes Robert Quintero, Rudi McClellan, Isaiah Dairo, Israel Gonzalez and Gus Baxter it was their last game as a Lumberjack.
A ceremony commenced before the game, with senior players taking photos with their families and Head Coach Fred Jungemann. For some players like Isaiah Dairo, their last game had an impact on them.
Senior Isaiah Dairo moves the ball up the left wing for the Jacks during their match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Senior midfielder Rudi McClellan moves the ball up the field for Humboldt State during their match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s Marco Silveira attempts to play the ball during the first half of the Jacks’ match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
“Having my family here motivated me,” Dairo said. “They don’t get to see a lot of games that I play and for them to see these last two games of my college career was special.”
The Jacks fell to Cal State LA 2-1. The lonesome goal came from Dairo, but it was not enough to help the Jacks come back from a point deficit.
“I had tears in my eyes when the final whistle blew because I looked over to my family, and they were clapping and filled with joy,” Dairo said.
In the first half, the Jacks and the Golden Eagles were off to a competitive start. After a 20-minute scuffle for possession, Cal State LA slipped one through HSU’s defense giving them an early 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Jacks’ midfielder Israel Gonzalez connected a pass to Dairo, which he finished in the Golden Eagles’ net.
Senior Israel Gonzalez battles for the ball during the Jacks’ match against Cal State Los Angeles at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU goalkeeper Robert Quintero kept his composure throughout the first half and made drastic saves.
“In the first half I remember the pile of players fighting to score and me stretching out my hand to prevent the ball from crossing the line,” Quintero said.
With ten minutes left in the first half, the Golden Eagles were able to score another goal on the Jacks. With the Jacks now trailing, Jungemann felt it was a response for his players showing a pulse in the fight.
“Our goal reminded them we had a fight in us,” Jungemann said. “So they started to take us more serious, and they certainly did what they wanted to do, but our players held their ground.”
Going into the second half, the Jacks and Golden Eagles fought hard to overcome the opponents’ strategies, but both teams were unable to add any points to the board.
Humboldt State senior Gus Baxter soaks in the moment after his final game as a Lumberjack against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
“This day is part of our lives every year and it doesn’t get easier,” Jungemann said. “It’s always a difficult and emotional day. The graduating players gave five years of their life to an organization that they had fun being apart of and now await the challenges ahead.”
Dairo is saddened that his time with Jacks’ soccer is over, but his sights are set for furthering his career.
”It’s memorable knowing that this is another start in a journey for my life,” Dairo said. “It’s not the end of the road for anybody, you can always get better and in time I hope to play professionally.”
Jacks finish season 4-11-2 after game against Cal State Los Angeles
Despite packed stands at the College Creek Field, Humboldt State was unable to find the back of the net in its last game of the season against tournament-bound Cal State Los Angeles.
Before kick-off, senior players were recognized for their time spent competing as a Lumberjack. Before the game, seniors were presented with Humboldt State scarves and framed jerseys with messages from their teammates.
Heading into the match, senior midfielder Pikake Hix felt that there was a change in her own approach as it was her last game with the team.
“I just knew that I had 90 minutes left and I knew I had to leave everything on the field,” Hix said. “Absolutely everything and every piece of energy came out of me, I left it all on the field. It was one of my best games, I think.”
The game was a defensive battle as both teams failed to score in the first half. The Jacks struggled to find a way through the Golden Eagles’ strong midfield presence. As a result, the Jacks spent much of their time in the first half in their own defensive zone, moving the ball laterally to try to find a gap in LA’s defense.
Humboldt’s Head Coach Paul Karver walks across the field between halves during the team’s match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU senior Pikake Hix handles the ball for the Jacks during their match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State senior midfielder Valerie Pérez battles for the ball during their match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Sabine Postma takes a corner kick for the Jacks during their match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Jacks’ senior goalkeeper Katelin Talbert makes a leaping save during the first half of the team’s match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s Pikake Hix jumps up to battle for a header during the Jacks’ match against Cal State LA at College Creek Field on Nov. 9. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The visiting team made quick dashes into the offensive zone, but never managed to hold possession for long periods of time. The shots that did make it to the net were handled by senior goalkeeper, Katelin Talbert, who made three saves to keep the Jacks in the game.
Even without scoring, Hix believed that the Jacks did well playing their game against a strong Southern California team.
“I think LA was getting a little frustrated with the way we played,” Hix said. “I honestly think we were the better team today. We just couldn’t get the win.”
The Jacks fought hard through the remainder of the game, firing six shots and maintaining a strong possession style of play which has been a focus for the team throughout the season.
“I thought we kept good possession and play with the ball throughout the whole game,” Talbert said. “I think we didn’t finish our chances that we did have. But I think we really had a competing chance against them.”
While the players walked toward the spectators after the game, a young girl ran out to meet Talbert with a small soccer ball and pen. Smiling, she knelt down and signed the ball for her before embracing her family on the sidelines.
“She just ran up and asked for my signature so I signed it,” Talbert said. “It was really cute. It’s really nice that we have that interaction with the community.”
With the season in the books, Hix expressed her appreciatoin for her team and hope for the program as it continues on next year.
“I’m really going to miss my team,” Hix said. “I just hope, for the younger ones, that they do well next year, I really do.”
Humboldt State women’s basketball beats Seattle Pacific 70-54 in the West Region Crossover Classic
Alexia Thrower dominated the court in the Friday night win over the Seattle Pacific Falcons. Thrower, an HSU forward, put up 18 points, nailing half of her three-point attempts.
A force in the paint, Thrower tallied up nine rebounds, just one away from having a double-double to start the tournament. On the other side of the court, she had a pair of steals and a pair of blocks.
“With the bread and butter of the team gone, somebody had to take initiative,” Thrower said. “We knew if we are going to win this game it’s with our defense.”
HSU’s Alexia Thrower jumps up to shoot a lay up during the Jacks match against Seattle Pacific at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 8. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The Jacks’ defense was disruptive early on but due to offensive struggles the Falcons took the lead in the first quarter, 18-10.
“We had no offensive flow in the first quarter,” Michelle Bento-Jackson, the HSU women’s basketball coach, said. “Molly single handedly carried our offense for a bit.”
Forward Molly Dixon had a plus-minus of 19 when on the court, and made her presence known with 12 points and a pair of steals. The offense started to pick up in the second quarter after Sandin Kidder dropped a three on the Falcons off the bench.
Senior guard for Humboldt State Molly Dixon makes a break down the court during the first half of the Jacks’ game against Seattle Pacific on Nov. 8 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The Jacks went on a 17-2 run in the second quarter, ending the half with the lead at 32-29.
Tyra Turner, Humboldt State’s star point guard, went down with an apparent ankle injury halfway into the 3rd quarter after playing in all of the game prior. Gabrielle Carbajal took over for an injured Turner and landed four of her five three-point shots, finishing with 12 points.
The Jacks came out hot in the second half, establishing their lead further. Six HSU players drained a three-pointer in their day one victory. With five of the threes coming in the third quarter. Two of which came from Thrower, after a three-point play in the paint moments before.
Humboldt State guard Gabrielle Carbajal drives the play forward during the second half of the Jacks game against Seattle Pacific for the West Region Crossover Classic on Nov. 8 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
One of Thrower’s three-pointers came as the shot clock winded down; successfully throwing the ball up for a bank shot.
“I just tossed it up,” Thrower said. “It wasn’t the prettiest shot but I’m glad it went in.”
The Jacks pulled away ending the third quarter 58-36.
Keeping the lead was HSU’s primary focus in the fourth quarter. The Falcons boosted their shooting percentage since the first half, but the Jacks finished off the Falcons 70-54, playing aggressive in the final minutes of the game.
The Jacks have quite a few fresh faces on the roster, but Bento-Jackson believes the new players will keep up.
“We had positive contributions from a lot of different folks tonight,” Bento-Jackson said. “The bright lights don’t faze them. I think they love it, actually.”
The Golden State Warriors were once unbeatable, but on Oct. 22 the NBA landscape changed
Balance has returned to the force, or rather, the NBA. The past three seasons, the Golden State Warriors were an almost unstoppable force while employing one of history’s best scorers: Kevin Durant.
The Toronto Raptors won its first NBA title against the Warriors last season thanks to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard has since joined the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent while Kevin Durant also made a splash in free agency by joining superstar point guard Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets.
Over in the Eastern Conference —sometimes known as the weaker conference— not much has changed for the top teams from last season. Philadelphia hopes to make a run at glory after trusting the process for the past few years. If Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can take the next step in their skills, then they can be the best 76ers team since Allen Iverson graced the court.
The Boston Celtics is the most storied franchise and it’s making its way back to playoff stardom. But with Irving now in Brooklyn, the Celtics is running its offense through Kemba Walker, who is good, but not quite the caliber of Irving. Second-year man Jayson Tatum will need to evolve his game if the Celtics want any shot at a championship this year.
The Raptors are basically the same team they were last year, minus star player Leonard. It will make the playoffs, but anything beyond that will take a miracle. Last season’s MVP, Giannis Antetokoumpo, is leading the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are off to a slow start, but when you have a fantastic athlete like Antetokoumpo, aka “The Greek Freak,” it’s hard to be counted out.
If Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can take the next step in their skills, then they can be the best 76ers team since Allen Iverson graced the court.
Leonard joins another all-star forward, Paul George, to create one of the best teams the Los Angeles Clippers has seen. Lebron James is now in year two with the Los Angeles Lakers and they recently brought in one of the top big men in the league, Anthony Davis. James is keeping his standard stat line that puts him near the best in the NBA, but Davis is a top 5 player in points (28.8), blocks (3), and rebounds (12.5) so far this season.
Both LA teams look to lead the Western Conference, but the up and coming Utah Jazz is an exciting team to watch, with Donovan Mitchell as the star averaging almost 25 points a game in 2019. However, as long as Gregg Popovich is coaching the San Antonio Spurs, they will be an obstacle for other teams. Demar Derozan is the star, but the roster has plenty of talent and young point guard Dejountae Murray has what it takes to make the Spurs dangerous again.
The Golden State Warriors is no longer the team to beat in the west. Durant is gone and multiple key bench players are playing elsewhere. A team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will not be a pushover. However, with Thompson still recovering from an ACL tear from the end of last season’s playoffs and Curry suffering from a broken hand, Green will have to take over as the team’s best asset for now.
Also in the west, there is the rookie sensation, Zion Williamson, who is healing from a knee injury. Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans are young and dynamic and they just might surprise the rest of the NBA.
The most dangerous team in the west, outside of the LA Clippers, is the Houston Rockets. The Chris Paul and James Harden combo was good, but it didn’t work out as planned. Paul is gone and now the 2016 MVP Russell Westbrook joins the 2017 MVP Harden to create a two-headed monster down in Texas.
A back and forth battle sends the Raiders home in sorrow
With the start of the season just around the corner, Jacks point guard Amari Green is confident that the Jacks will provide excellent results in their season opener against a good Point Loma team in San Diego on Friday.
“We’re ready, we go to San Diego on Thursday and we’ll be playing against two very good teams,” Green said. “We have the right pieces and are tight-knit as a group and as long as we stay together we are going to take it all the way.”
After dealing with a power outage during their first exhibition game and switching arenas to coincide with the HSU volleyball team, HSU men’s basketball returned to Lumberjack Arena for an exhibition game against the Southern Oregon University Raiders on Tuesday night.
As the tip-off signaled the start of the first half, the Jacks wasted no time gaining possession of the ball and building an early 12 point lead over the Raiders. Missed shots from the Raiders hindered any early progress and helped the Jacks employ effective passing strategies.
Humboldt State forward Raysean Scott Jr goes up for a layup through a crowd of Southern Oregon players in Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 5.
Jacks players were quick and efficient, but as time progressed in the first half it didn’t take long for the Raiders to overcome its faltered plays and establish a tie. Jacks forward Raysean Scott Jr made his presence known as he maneuvered around the Raiders and found the basket.
Raysean was a recipient of fouls from the Raiders, and at the free-throw line his teammates and opponents were aligned and ready to pounce on the ball at any given moment. He made five of his seven free-throws, which was enough to put points on the board.
Both teams became physically involved and the battle for possession of the ball became intense. Fouls were arising and it was crucial that the Jacks avoided any potential mishaps.
“They were calling ticky-tack fouls, so we tried to keep our hands up so [the refs] could see we weren’t fouled,” Jacks guard Leland Green said.
Despite the game becoming physical, both teams managed to keep their composure by limiting their mistakes and avoiding technical fouls. After the first half Green said their offense improved when the Raiders attempted to outscore the Jacks.
“I think we all played good,” Green said. “We let up the pressure, and as the game went on we realized we needed to apply more pressure.”
Humboldt State forward Raysean Scott Jr jumps for the shot in Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 5.
Players made their way back to the court for the second half which saw an influx of team chemistry with the Jacks. Activity from Jacks guard Isaiah Pope was at an all-time high as he delivered additional points on the board, giving his team an advantage over the Raiders.
Raysean was substituted earlier in the second half, and his return to the court towards the end became a powder keg to an already highly active crowd which almost blew the roof off Lumberjack Arena.
A staggered Raiders team dwindled in the final seconds of the game, and Raysean still delivered a blow to their morale with his slam dunk, making the final score 89-74. After the game, head coach Steve Kinder shared some inspiring words that he hopes to carry into the next games.
“Through those wars and battles you try to stay composed and poised throughout the game,” Kinder said. “Whether things are going well, you can’t get too high and when things are going poorly you can’t get too low.”
Three-game losing streak snapped by Jacks’ offense
The Humboldt State men’s soccer team defeated San Francisco State 3-1 on Saturday. It was another strong offensive outing for a Humboldt State team that has found the back of the net often this season.
The Lumberjacks impressed in the second half with goals from Isaiah Dairo, Marco Silveira and Dalton Rice. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak, bringing their overall record to 7-8, and two more games to play in the regular season.
The first half of the game was tightly contested, with both teams taking most of the time to feel out the opposing defense. The Gators’ midfield play provided a challenge for the Jacks’ offensive players as they were unable to break through the center of the field.
However, Humboldt State was able to find their rhythm as they quickly moved the ball upfield to create more space between SF State’s defenders and cut to the net. As a result, the Jacks outshot the Gators 6-4.
Humboldt State midfielder Nicolas Falco keeps the ball away from an attempted tackle by SF State’s Ramiro Palencia at the College Creek Field on Nov. 3.
Despite the Jacks’ progressive play, the Gators were able to get a shot over the head of HSU goalkeeper Tab Heinz. With just over three minutes left in the half, the Gators grabbed a 1-0 lead just before halftime.
Coming out of halftime, the already physical match ramped up as the Jacks looked to make a comeback. Just a couple of minutes into the half, Humboldt State thought they tied up the game as Dairo chipped the ball in from short-range. But, a whistle from the line ref called the play offsides.
This setback didn’t appear to have a lasting effect on the Jacks, as Dairo once again found the back of the net, putting the ball over the Gators’ goalkeeper from the penalty box. Th Jacks tied the game 1-1. The goal was Dairo’s 10th of the season as he leads the Jacks in scoring.
“They give me a lot of support and they give me a lot of energy to keep going,” Dairo said. “That’s something that made me want to stand back up and keep pushing this game. It’s up to you if you want to mentally and physically stand up and my team definitely helped me through that challenge.”
The Jacks went on to score shortly after Dairo returned to play. Silveira netted his third goal of the season by firing the ball from the right-wing and banking it in off of a Gators defender.
Humboldt State forward Marco Silvera and San Francisco State defender Damiano Sbicca battle for possession at College Creek Field on Nov. 3.
The sudden change in direction took both the defenders and the goalkeeper by surprise and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Just seven minutes later, Humboldt State followed with another goal off of a second chance rebound as Rice rocketed the ball past the off-balance goalkeeper.
At the end of the game, Head Coach Fred Jungemann talked about how pleased he was with his team’s performance. He was particularly pleased with how the Jacks limited their defensive errors and were able to stay strong in their own zone.
“Today we really focused on minimizing our mistakes and managing the game a little bit better,” Jungemann said. “I think it showed in the result as well in only giving up only one goal.”
Humboldt State women’s soccer beat San Francisco State in overtime
After experiencing a rough patch in last weekend’s Southern California matches, the Jacks focused on rejuvenating their strategies against San Francisco State.
In the first half, SF State fought hard for ball possession, creating shot opportunities that were met with resistance from Jacks’ goalkeeper Katelin Talbert.
Midfielder Lindsey Stoner broke through and took a shot on goal, but a slide save by San Francisco player Illiana Gallegos deflected the effort. Shortly after, the Jacks were presented with a second shot attempt by midfielder Sabine Postma, but the crossbar above the net deflected the ball.
The pressure put on SF’s offense forced them to shoot the ball during untimely situations. Although HSU had fewer shots during the first half, the up-close-and-personal tactics from the Jacks created an uneasy atmosphere that made it difficult for SF to focus.
Lindsay Stoner battles the SF State defender at the edge of the penalty area. | Photo by Liam Warner
The first period concluded with an impressive show of speed as both teams made a final push to add a point on the board. The second period saw a shift in strategy for SF as they began the period with an immediate shot on goal, which was quickly met with a save by Talbert.
The Jacks found themselves in another overtime scenario, and the team gathered around Head Coach Paul Karver to discuss their strategy. After the time-out, Stoner was back on possession and broke through for a scoring chance. She was thwarted, but moments later would return with the help of Pikake Hix to score the game-winning goal.
After the excitement settled down and players cleared the field, Talbert spoke on the team’s ability to remain calm and play steady.
“When they play the ball back to me the other team doesn’t press as hard,” Talbert said. “It helps since our players are already on edge and need some time to focus.”
Lindsay Stoner reflected on her teams’ effective offense strategies, which helped the Jacks secure a much-needed overtime win over SF.
#7 Rose Harman shields the SF State defender from the ball. | Photo by Liam Warner
Pikake Hix chases after the ball during the game against SF State. | Photo by Liam Warner
Kelsey Bess tries to draw the foul from #5 Kelsie Bozart. | Photo by Liam Warner
“We made them nervous,” Stoner said. “We kept attacking them and kept them on their toes because we knew we needed this goal and we were inspired to win it.”
Stoner produced six shots against SF and stayed consistent with keeping the rhythm going.
The focus for now is the upcoming weekend as HSU squares off against Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles. Karver expects the opponents to be resilient towards the Jacks as their quest to secure points continues.
“These are teams with two very polarizing styles of play, not the prettiest of football since there will be a lot of fouls and awkward emotion afterwards,” Karver said. “We got the points we needed today, and now we gotta get six more next weekend, but it’s one game at a time, and we’re really excited to have the opportunity.”
Two games remain and the Jacks look forward to getting more points before the end of the season. This weekend the Jacks will host Dominguez Hills and Cal-State LA for afternoon games at College Creek Field.
Lindsay Stoner brings the ball up the field with an SF State player trailing. | Photo by Liam Warner
Jacks’ midfielder Kelsey Bess is fouled from behind by an SF State player. | Photo by Liam Warner
Kelsey Bess goes stride-for-stride with #19 Katelyn Patterson of SF State. | Photo by Liam Warner
Kelsey Bess corrals the ball at her feet during the game against SF State. | Photo by Liam Warner
#4 Kendal Spencer holds off SF State defender #7 Kylie Schneider. | Photo by Liam Warner
#22 Pikake Hix celebrates with her teammates after the overtime victory. | Photo by Liam Warner
Jacks play constant back and forth match against Chico, but drop final set
The Humboldt State volleyball team rallied late in their Friday match against Chico State, but came up short in the final set.
After dropping the first two sets to Chico, Humboldt battled to take the next pair of sets. The final set resulted in their second 2-3 loss in 10 days.
Summer Hansen led the Jacks with 15 kills, followed by Lenox Loving with 11 and teammates Lexi Riggs and Emma Flewell, who both recorded six kills.
Emma Flewell serves the ball during the Jacks’ match against Chico State at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Summer Hansen shows her appreciation for the home crowd’s support after the Jacks’ match against Chico State at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt’s outside hitter Lenox Loving fights to keep the play alive during the Jacks’ match against Chico State at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The first set started off well for the Jacks as Juliana Bertolucci opened up scoring with a service ace, meaning that Chico didn’t have a chance to touch the ball.
The middle stages of the set were a constant back-and-forth with neither side able to find the definitive edge. During the closing minutes of the set, the Jacks found a five-point run to tie the set but conceded the next six to lose by 19-25.
The second set was similar to the first as the Jacks scored before trading scoring runs with the Wildcats. Chico grabbed an advantage and took the set by a score of 21-25.
Humboldt seemed to find another gear in their offensive strategy. From scoring the first point of the set to closing out the frame with a score of 25-16.
Humboldt State’s Mailai Coyle jups up to hit the ball as her teammates on the sideline watch on during the Jacks’ match against Chico State at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Head Coach Kelly Wood attributed the turn around to well-executed play and a few changes made between sets.
“We mixed it up a little bit with Lenox,” Wood said. “They were keying on her early and we just changed up the set location for her. It was working, so that allowed her to get going a little bit. And then Summer started going.”
It wasn’t just the offensive side of the game that saw improvement for the Jacks. Wood was quick to point out how the strong defensive effort helped the shift in momentum from the team through the third and fourth sets.
“Our defense was good,” Wood said. “Everything just tightened up a little bit, and it just shifted. The momentum shifted our way.”
Kelly Wood talks to her team in a timeout during the Jacks’ match against Chico State at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU freshman Riley Tishlarich battles against Chico State’s players during the Jacks’ match on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Odelia Ryan makes a diving effort to keep the play alive during the Jacks’ match against Chico State on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU’s Summer Hansen jumps up to hit the ball during the Jacks’ match against Chico State on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s other athletes showed up loud and proud to support the volleyball team as they rallied back to take Chico State to the fifth set during their match at Lumberjack Arena on Nov. 1. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The Jacks rounded out the set putting together a seven-point run to finish off the set 25-17.
The match culminated in the fifth and final set with Humboldt scoring first. Yet, Chico came back, pushing through a 13 point rally in a set that is only contested to 15. The Jacks came up short in another set loss of 4-15.
Wood acknowledged that it was difficult to go through another loss but that there were still positives to be taken away from the team’s play. Wood said that is where the focus is for the remainder of the season.
“It’s hard to have a lot of confidence in yourself when you’re having a losing season,” Wood said. “But we know that we can play well at times. We just have to believe in ourselves a little bit more and have that confidence when it gets down to crunch time.”
A strong performance from transfer players creates a positive outlook for upcoming season
Despite Humboldt County awaiting a blackout on Saturday, Jacks’ basketball made sure to keep the energy high on Friday night.
The blackout forced Humboldt State Athletics to move its volleyball game to the same time as the scheduled basketball game, which meant the Jacks had to play in the East Gym.
During the last few months, HSU men’s basketball added three Division I transfers to its arsenal. Compton, CA natives Raysean Scott Jr. (Florida Gulf Coast University), Leland Green (University of Hawaii) and Rob Lewis’ (Texas Southern University) combined efforts impact the game in a way the Jacks have missed for a while.
Strategies issued by Head Coach Steve Kinder and Assistant Coach Rich Mendoza helped the Jacks focus on teamwork while capitalizing on opportunities to push points past Simpson.
It’s not surprising for me, I knew from the recruitment trail last spring that we were onto some very talented players.
Steve Kinder
“It’s not surprising for me, I knew from the recruitment trail last spring that we were onto some very talented players,” Kinder said. “The players were remarkable and created a memorable environment for those in attendance.”
The Jacks started off strong as guard Isaiah Pope found the net seconds after the first whistle. It wasn’t long before Simpson gave up their first foul and Jacks’ forward Raysean Scott Jr. capitalized on a free throw opportunity.
Simpson began executing defensive plays against the Jacks as they attempted to find their place on the scoreboard, but it was met with resistance as the Jacks responded with chemistry between Scott Jr. and point guard Amari Green.
Humboldt State point guard Amari Green strings for a play at the top of the key during the men’s basketball exhibition game against Simpson on October 25.
The second half for the Jacks resulted in an increase of player activity and passing chemistry. HSU took another lead over Simpson as the battle for possession continued. The Jacks finished strong and concluded the exhibition game with a final score of 88-70.
Kinder reflected on the importance of the East Gym and the impact it had on his coaching career with HSU basketball.
“That East Gym experience today goes back to the good old days,” Kinder said. “It was the first time we have [played] there since the 2007 season, and to be back in there was quite a moment.”
Despite the sudden change of venues, Kinder and his team were not impacted as the East Gym is a consistent training place.
“We’ve held practices in there all year, so we felt like it was a road game for us,” Kinder said.
Men’s basketball will hold one more exhibition game at Lumberjack Arena on November 5 against Southern Oregon University before hitting the road for an away game against Point Loma on November 8.
Athletes from across California traveled to Arcata to compete in the Division II cross country conference championships
On Saturday morning hundreds of runners prepared to toe the line for a California Collegiate Athletic Association cross country conference meet. Despite the impending power outage, the best of California’s Division II runners descended on the Baywood Golf & Country Club as Humboldt State hosted their first conference championship.
The women’s race was six-kilometers long, contested by 12 teams and the men’s race was eight kilometers long as ten teams aimed for the top spot.
Humboldt State’s Rosa Granados leads a small pack of runners during the CCAA conference meet at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State junior Maddie McGarry works her way up the biggest hill on the course at the Baywood Golf & Country Club for the CCAA conference race on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s Cessair McKinney leads the way for the Jacks in the early stages of the women’s race while competing for position with runners from around the CCAA. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU’s Cessair McKinney runs past spectators on a downhill portion of the course at Baywood Golf & Country Club for the CCAA conference race on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The Humboldt State women’s cross country team begins their CCAA conference race at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State freshman Lucy Atkinson embraces teammate Liz Cano after they both completed the CCAA conference race at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State freshman Lucy Atkinson embraces teammate Liz Cano after they both completed the CCAA conference race at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The women’s race set off at 9 a.m. Humboldt State’s Cessair McKinney took an early lead for the Jacks but slowly slipped behind teammate Rosa Granados who ended as Humboldt’s top finishing runner in 16th, with a time of 22:49. McKinney finished the race in 30th with a time of 23:16.
The women’s race was six-kilometers long, contested by 12 teams and the men’s race was eight kilometers long as ten teams aimed for the top spot.
Another standout in the women’s race was the Jacks’ Yuliana Garibay who was able to work her way up the highly competitive field to cross the line in 40th, just behind teammates Rosie Melville and Saedy Williamson.
HSU Coach Jamey Harris was impressed with Granados’ run Saturday, mentioning that as one of the highlights of the meet for him.
“Rosa was a little bit of a pleasant surprise,” Harris said. “I thought top 15 was possible for her but I thought that was going to take a really, really good day and she had a really good day. Almost got top 15.”
Chico State claimed top honors in the women’s race by placing eight of their runners in the top 15 to finish with 23 points compared to second-place Cal State East Bay who finished with 81 points. The HSU women’s team placed seventh overall with 152 points beating Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Bernardino.
A thirty-minute gap between events allowed the men to warm-up before starting their race. While the athletes were ready to get things underway, complications with the starting gun resulted in several false starts.
Humboldt State’s Evan LeDesma races alongside Cal State East Bay’s Bryan Llopis as they head down one of the slight downhills on the course during the men’s CCAA conference race at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
When things finally got moving, the race was packed up for much of the first two kilometers. Humboldt’s Daniel Tull has been the team’s leader since the start of the season and continued to stick with the front pack through the early and middle stages of the competition, even taking the lead for a brief time. As the race continued, Chico once again held control in the championship race.
Tull led the Jacks in tenth followed by the Jacks’ Elliot Portillo in 43rd, and the rest of his teammates took sixth as a team. Tull was the only Jack to finish in the top 15 Saturday, but that did not stop him from pointing out that he could have finished stronger had he not led early on in the race.
“I was feeling really strong and I was with the front group for the first 6K or 7K,” Tull said. “I kind of moved up from fourth or fifth to first. The guys that I passed made a really strong move that I couldn’t really cover, so I kind of faded. Once I lost my momentum I kind of paid for that. I’m still happy with it, that’s my best race yet. But I know I could have done better.”
Portillo felt that the team’s performance was where things were expected to be, but he thinks there could be better performances up ahead for himself and his teammates.
Members of the Jacks’ Event Team which largely consisted of Humboldt State track athletes sway as they chant ‘Humboldt’ before the start of the Oct. 26 men’s CCAA conference race. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s Daniel Tull laces up his spikes before the start of his last CCAA conference meet at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU’s Elliott Portillo comes down the chute to the finish line at the end of the CCAA men’s conference race at Baywood Golf & County Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
HSU’s Daniel Tull battles with the leading pack of runners during the Oct. 26 men’s CCAA conference race. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s Joe Shanahan runs with the tight pack at the start of the men’s CCAA conference race on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Runners complete their warm up before the start of the men’s CCAA conference race at Baywood Golf & Country Club on Oct. 26. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State’s Michael Gengo outkicks CSUMB’s Jullian Dorantes-Lara by two tenths of a second at the end of the men’s Oct. 26 CCAA conference race. | Photo by Thomas Lal
“I got out pretty quick, kind of found myself slipping into a back pack,” Portillo said. “As the race strung out, some moves were made. And then definitely within the last 400 yards, my body kind of shut down on me and it was just a struggle to finish. I think as a team we had a few guys that had bad days, that didn’t quite do what they wanted. We still finished about where we were expected to so that’s a healthy sign.”
Cross country prepares for CCAA championships at home, losing streak continues for volleyball and soccer has a mixed weekend
Tuesday’s press conference at Lumberjack Arena featured comments from the cross country, volleyball and soccer teams this week.
Cross Country
The HSU cross country teams are preparing for one of the most significant home meets in recent history. The Jacks host the CCAA conference championships Saturday morning at the Baywood Golf and Country Club in Arcata. The Jacks have an advantage in knowing the course after hosting the Humboldt Invitational in September. However, the stakes will be a bit higher as the Jack runners will be running for the chance to go to the NCAA regional meet on November 9. Senior runner Daniel Tull talked about the excitement of hosting such a big event for HSU.
“It’s really exciting for me,” Tull said. “I know a lot of runners personally that compete at different CCAA schools, so it’s cool to have them come up and show them what we’ve got here.”
Volleyball
The HSU volleyball team continues to produce frustrating results despite putting a good effort out there for each match. Last Friday, the Jacks traveled down to Los Angeles to take on Cal State LA and they were swept in straight sets, losing the match 3-0. The short journey over to Carson to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills didn’t result any better. Despite taking a set, the Jacks ended up losing the match 3-1, falling to 5-11 on the season. The good news for the Jacks is that they don’t have to deal with the rigors of travel for a while as they head into a five-game homestand. Head Coach Kelly Wood during the press conference talked about the relief of being able to play at home, noting that her athletes can focus on schoolwork and get back into their normal routine.
The next match for volleyball is Thursday at 7pm vs. Cal State San Marcos at Lumberjack Arena.
Women’s Soccer
The Jacks were at home last weekend taking on Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay. Friday’s match against East Bay was a frustrating one for the Jacks, as East Bay scored twice, but in the 82nd minute Pikake Hix was able to score a spectacular goal from distance to make it 2-1. Sunday’s match against Monterey Bay was a back and forth battle that would see the match go into overtime tied 0-0. Just one minute into overtime Kendal Spencer slipped the ball past the diving goalkeeper to win the game for the Jacks, 1-0. For Spencer, this goal held a special significance apart from winning the game, as she had just returned from being held out of playing with a concussion.
“I couldn’t go to practice or anything,” Spencer said. “So then coming back I was so fired up to make a contribution.”
Both men’s and women’s soccer will head to Southern California to take on Cal Poly Pamona and Cal State San Bernardino this weekend.
Men’s Soccer
The Jacks had a mixed weekend taking on East Bay and Monterey Bay at College Creek Field. Offense was on full display against East Bay on Friday, and the jacks won 4-2 behind a two-goal effort from Isiah Dairo. Sunday was a different story and the Jacks lost 2-1 to Monterey Bay despite Gus Baxter converting on a penalty kick. Head Choch Fred Jungemann was happy with the team played over the weekend, and said that the team played well on Sunday against Monterey Bay, but couldn’t put the ball in the net.
Jacks take second match win in doubleheader after falling to Cal State East Bay in the first game
Humboldt State women’s soccer hosted a doubleheader over the weekend against Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay. Game one resulted in a loss against East Bay, but the Jacks were able to secure a win against Monterey Bay in overtime.
An early set of goals by East Bay prevented the Jacks from getting on the scoreboard until the last few minutes when redshirt senior midfielder Pikake Hix scored. However, the Jacks did not find another opportunity to score throughout and lost 1-2.
During their match against Monterey Bay, the Jacks were off to a fast start and constantly found players down the field. With the absence of the ball in their zone, HSU goalkeeper Katelin Talbert, and the defense, found control and settled the flow of the game.
“They weren’t pressing our backline as much as other teams so we were able to play more in the back,” Talbert said. “It was a lot easier to relax and get everyone calm.”
Consistency from both teams didn’t let up as the first half winded down. Monterey Bay attempted a shot at goal with eleven minutes left, but Talbert slid and blocked the oncoming shot resulting in a recovery of the ball.
The horn sounded off to signal the end of the first half, and the Jacks did not show any signs of wear. Within ten minutes into the second half, the Jacks set up for another shot on goal but it went over the net. Traffic in the Jack’s zone accumulated and resulted in a goal, but it was ruled offsides and the game remained scoreless.
HSU played Cal State Monterey Bay at College Creek Field and beat the Otters in overtime 1-0. | Photo by Liam Warner
The pressure put on by the Jacks’ offensive tactics were beginning to create disarray in the final minutes of the second half which resulted in Monterey Bay receiving a yellow card.
Conclusion of the second half and a scoreless game resulted in the Jacks going into overtime. When both teams can’t score in two ten minute periods, then the game ends in a tie.
As overtime began, Jacks players began maneuvering the ball down to Monterey Bay’s zone. A quick play set up by midfielder Kelsey Bess resulted in Kendal Spencer scoring the game-winning goal, and ending the match with the 1-0 Jacks win.
After the match, Spencer mentioned that she has been out with an injury for the last three weeks and returned this weekend ready to play.
“We needed this win to set the tone,” Spencer said. “This is my first weekend back from being injured for 3 weeks. I was really fired up and wanted to come out.”
Jacks’ soccer will hit the road this weekend to face Cal Poly and Cal State San Bernardino. With the season winding down, Coach Paul Karver is focused on his players finishing the season strong.
“Right now we’re focused on going down there and getting points out of the games that are left on the table,” Karver said.
Men’s soccer struggles against Cal State Monterey Bay
The Humboldt State men’s soccer team lost to Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday, dropping the match 1-2. Despite the loss, the Jacks outshot Monterey 16-6 and held a majority of the possession throughout the second half. Humboldt is now 2-5 in conference play, which puts them at No. 11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings.
The first half snuck away from the Jacks as CSUMB scored a goal on junior goalkeeper Tab Heinz just under seven minutes into the match.
Humboldt was unable to respond as Monterey consistently pressured with a high defensive line and controlled offensive possession. Despite being able to make offensive pushes in the first 25 minutes, the Jacks were unable to establish themselves in the attacking area for a significant amount of time. It wasn’t long before Monterey scored again, keeping their lead with a new score of 2-0.
Humboldt State forward Isaiah Dairo battles for the ball while pressing into the offensive zone during the Jacks’ match against Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 20 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
On the offensive side, Isaiah Dairo provided the spark needed to the Jacks on the board. Throughout the match Dairo constantly drove the play along the right wing as well as in Monterey’s goal box.
Senior defender Gus Baxter stepped up to take the kick for the Jacks and didn’t hesitate, striking it past CSUMB’s goalkeeper Daniel Lomeli to score his fifth goal of the season. With the score now 2-1, the Jacks’ offense seemed reinvigorated and pushed Monterey hard until the end of the half.
In the second half, Humboldt’s offense outshot CSUMB 13-2 and took four corner kicks but didn’t have any luck finding the back of the net. Monterey managed the clock very well, playing a possession focused game and continuing to challenge the Jacks.
Humboldt State midfielder Dylan Tovani looks to cross the ball during the first half of the Jacks’ game against Cal State Monterey Bay on Oct. 20 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The pacing of the half was slow as both teams committed nine fouls, but neither of them were able to capitalize on the reoccurring opportunity. This was a trend throughout the match as Monterey committed 22 fouls in total and Humboldt committed 12.
Humboldt State defender Martin Calderon was confident in the defensive side of the Jacks’ game even after the loss.
“The last few games have been pretty solid on the back,” Calderon said. “I think it’s just been the little mistakes that have cost us the games. Last game we gave up two headers, this game it was just a deflection that we kind of messed up and the other teams don’t let those goals go.”
Head Coach Fred Jungemann was disappointed to not come out of the match with a win but saw positives from the Jacks’ offensive opportunities that they were able to generate.
“I think even before the penalty kick our guys kind of regrouped and managed the game really well,” Jungemann said. “The last 75 minutes of the game we dominated, played the game we wanted to play. We created chances, just couldn’t hit the back of the net.”
Humboldt State goalkeeper Tab Heinz jumps into the air in an effort to stop what would end up being the game winning goal during the first half of the Jacks’ game against Cal State Monterey Bay at College Creek FIeld. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt Eagles shut down Humboldt State Lumberjacks in a double header on Oct. 13. The Eagles won with scores of 2-1 in the first game and 2-3 in the second.
During the first pitch of the game, Ryin Alexander opened the 1st inning with a double and found himself reaching 2nd base. Other batters approached the plate and managed to send teammates around all bases, but the Eagles managed to secure three outs against the Jacks. However, Alexander ran for home plate putting the Jacks on the scoreboard.
At the bottom of the 1st, Jack’s pitcher Chris Friedley stepped up to the mound, and despite walking a player and giving up a base hit, he kept his composure and pulled three outs from the Eagles. The Jacks were able to keep a 1-0 lead over the Eagles during a heated exchange of base hits and outs.
Stolen bases were a frequent occurrence between the Jacks and Eagles. Despite their efforts to get players around the diamond, the pitching stalemate remained in effect. The exchange of outs was broken around the bottom of the 6th inning.
Hitter Nick Mavrolas strikes out during the Jacks’ second game of the day against the Humboldt Eagles, at the Arcata Ballpark on Oct. 13. | Photo by Skye Kimya
Eagles put a run on the scoreboard tying the game with the Jacks. Both teams now had a common goal for the next inning, scoring first. At the top of the 7th, a base hit by outfielder Lorenzo Hernandez gave the Jacks an upper hand but were routed by outs. It was then the bottom of the 7th and the Eagles were up to bat, but they faced similar challenges with one base hit and two outs.
Up to bat was catcher Parker Johnson and under dire circumstances closed the inning with a walk-off which gave the Eagles a 2-1 win over the Jacks. With game 2 underway, the Jack’s and Eagles faced off in one more showdown.
Martin Gordillo and Alejandro Caravalho helped the Jacks find an early lead on the scoreboard with an RBI. The Jacks had a 2-0 lead heading into the 4th inning, but tides turned when it was time for the Eagles to bat. With two players on base, the Eagles left fielder Miles Standysh hit a solid ball and secured a tie game.
Another battle for a tie-breaker ensued but the Jack’s dropped their second game against the Eagles with a final score of 2-3.
HSU club baseball doesn’t start until Spring 2020. Even though the season is months away, this is an opportunity for players to figure out effective playmaking and overcome obstacles that the team could potentially face in the upcoming season.
Volleyball continues losing streak, soccer goes 1-4 in San Diego, and basketball officially starts practice
This past week was another tough one for the sports teams at Humboldt State. HSU volleyball had one of their games canceled on Thursday due to the power outage across Humboldt County and then lost a tough match at home to SF State. Men’s and women’s soccer were on the road in SoCal, taking on UC San Diego and Cal State San Marcos with mostly disappointing results. Basketball season is officially upon us here at HSU, as the Jacks’ men’s and women’s basketball teams held the Lumberjack Madness event on Monday and had their first official practice the following day.
Tuesday’s press conference at Lumberjack Arena featured comments from the head coaches and athletes, plus comments from head men’s basketball coach Steve Kinder and head women’s basketball coach Michelle Bento-Jackson.
Volleyball
It’s been a tough stretch for the Jacks volleyball teams lately as they try to find their footing in a very competitive CCAA conference. After getting some extra rest due to the power outage, the Jacks played at Lumberjack Arena on Saturday against SF State and lost in four sets, 3-1. This marked their sixth straight loss of the season.
Head Coach Kelly Wood noted that while the results are frustrating for her team, the focus is on making progress and getting better.
“We just try to keep the focus off of our record, the winning and the losing and focus more just on making progress day in and day out,” Wood said. “Pretty much everything we’re doing is a competition at this point so that they could just work on battling and getting a little bit tougher.”
Volleyball will head down to the Los Angeles area this weekend to take on Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Women’s Soccer
Both HSU soccer teams went a combined 1-4 during the San Diego road trip, and the good news for the women’s soccer team was that they got the only win. After losing 5-2 to a UC San Diego team that is preparing to make the jump to Division I next season, the Jacks were able to go down to a hostile environment at Cal State San Marcos and beat them 2-1, earning their first conference win. Lindsay Stoner continued her fantastic season by getting the first goal on a penalty kick, while Erin Siegel scored the eventual game-winner.
Head Coach Paul Karver was very happy with his team’s performance on the road trip, and he felt like after several weeks of good play and disappointing results, the team is finally turning a corner after the win in San Marcos.
“I heard that the earth shook up here when the monkey jumped off our back,” Karver said. “Every story has a turning point, and this has to be ours.”
Men’s Soccer
While the women’s soccer team felt like they were at a positive turning point in their season after the San Diego road trip, the men’s soccer team did not feel the same sort of success in San Diego. The red hot offense was stifled over the weekend as the Jacks lost 2-1 to UC San Diego with Isiah Dairo scoring the lone goal for the Jacks. San Marcos would not prove to be any better for the Jacks as they were shut out in a 3-0 loss
Junior midfielder Rudi Mcclellan talked about what the Jacks needed to do to move on from the tough road trip and focus on the upcoming homestand.
“We take the positives from those losses,” Mcclellan said. “We build this week, keep strengthening ourselves and get excited for these two home games.”
The Jacks return home to face East Bay and Monterey Bay over the weekend.
Women’s Basketball
After the crushing defeat in the CCAA playoffs to end last season, the Jacks are turning their attention to the upcoming year as they return a very talented core of players to the floor along with seven new transfer players.
For Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson, the first official practice and leading up to the season opener will be about figuring out everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and how they will fit into a potential gameday lineup.
“We have a lot of new players. And I’m just anxious to kind of figure out how the pieces are going to come together,” Bento-Jackson said. “And figuring out what’s the system we’re going to play this year and what things are we going to change from last year and still put a great product on the floor.”
The first game for the Jacks will be October 28th at Lumberjack Arena against Simpson University.
Men’s Basketball
Last season was a successful one for the Jacks. They went 17-14 overall on the season, and that was good enough to earn them a spot in the CCAA tournament, where they eventually lost to the #1 seed Cal Poly Pamona squad 85-67. With a very talented squad headed into this season, the Jacks look to build on the success from last season.
Head Coach Steve Kinder is excited about an excellent recruiting class coming into this season, including three transfers from Division I schools. Those include Leland Green from the University of Hawaii, Rob Lewis from Texas Southern University, and Raysean Scott Jr from Florida Gulf Coast University.
“That’s a good story, it’s a heck of a recruiting story really,” Kinder said. “Rob Lewis came up first on his recruiting trip and saw the UC San Diego win at home where Amari (Green) hit the buzzer-beater and he was impressed with that and signed with us. And that became a trickle-down or tidal wave effect to getting our other two players.”
Jacks lose sixth straight game, this time against San Francisco State University
The Jacks lost their sixth consecutive game Saturday night. With the 1-3 loss, Humboldt State moves to 1-6 in conference play which leaves them second to last in the CCAA standings as they approach the halfway point of conference competition.
Summer Hansen led the team with 12 kills for the night while Lenox Loving found herself in the double digits again with 10. Odelia Ryan pulled out 30 digs during the match, followed by Loving who had 22.
Riley Tishlarich sets the ball for her teammates during the Jacks’ match against San Francisco State on Oct. 12 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt State put themselves behind early on in the first set, giving up six straight points to the visitors allowing the score to stretch out to 12-7.
Throughout the remainder of the set, the Jacks never managed to string together consecutive points. San Francisco took the opening set with a score of 25-13 as Humboldt did not respond fast enough to their defense.
Not much changed for the Jacks as they started slow in the second set and conceded the first four points. Humboldt found their offensive groove result in an impressive eight-point run and the Jacks took the second set 25-21.
Outside hitter Lexi Riggs jumps into the air to put the ball back over the net during Humboldt State’s match against San Francisco State on Oct. 12 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Humboldt changed things up and came out swinging hard at the start of the third set. The Jacks were able to hold their lead for much of the set. It wasn’t long before the Gators tied it up at 20-20.
What followed was a blistering back and forth that saw the score at 24-23 in favor of the visitors with 25 points needed to take the set. In a moment that stunned the Humboldt State athletes and fans alike, outside hitter Lexi Riggs hit the ball over the net and was initially awarded a kill before the referee reversed the decision, calling the ball out of bounds and allowing San Francisco to take 2-1 lead over a now frustrated Jacks team.
The home crowd reacts to an overturned call that led to the Jacks losing the second set during their match against San Francisco State on Oct. 12 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
The fourth and final set of the night saw an agitated Humboldt team consistently outplayed as the Gators capitalized on the home squad’s frustration to a much higher degree. In a quick series of plays, San Francisco built themselves an 11 point buffer that almost entirely neutralized any momentum that Humboldt may have established in the previous set. The Jacks only managed a few scoring runs, and the Gators finished off the set 25-14 and took their first win on the road for the season.
After the game, Head Coach Kelly Wood was frustrated with her team’s performance, indicating that there wasn’t enough grit in their play during the match.
“Overall, our team does not have enough of a competitive spirit,” Wood said. “We don’t play with toughness. We’re too nice out there on the court. Great group of girls, but we get out there, and we are just allowing teams to manhandle us basically, and I’m very frustrated right now with our performance.”
Humboldt State’s Lenox Loving establishes herself as a top volleyball player
Watching the Humboldt State volleyball team this season, it’s impossible not to notice the Jacks’ breakout performer Lenox Loving.
Standing at 5’9″, the sophomore from Fair Oaks, California isn’t the tallest player on her team in a sport that is often dominated by height. Loving makes up for that with pure athleticism and an unrelenting work effort noted by her teammates and coaches. In her second season at the collegiate level, Loving has found a regular home in the Jacks’ rotation and seems poised to solidify her place as one of the team’s top scorers.
While fans of Humboldt State volleyball may find it difficult to imagine the women’s team without the offensive powerhouse of Loving, her decision to play the game in college wasn’t made easily. Her interest in the sport initially came from watching her sister play in tournaments, which made her want to try it out for herself.
With Loving in the center, the Humboldt State volleyball team encourages each other after being scored on in their match against Cal State Bernardino at Lumberjack Arena on Sept. 21. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Loving waits to recieve a serve from Cal State San Bernardino while on the back row during their Sept. 21 match at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Loving takes a moment to prepare for a serve during the second set of the Jacks’ match against Cal State San Bernardino at Lumberjack Arena on Sept. 21. | Photo by Thomas Lal
“I also did soccer and track growing up,” Loving said. “So I didn’t know what sport I wanted to play in college. It wasn’t really until my sophomore year in high school that I really decided that I wanted to play in college.”
Loving began establishing herself in a hitting role during her junior and senior year with Zara Budenbender, her coach at Bella Vista High School. Budenbender coached Loving from the time that she made varsity as a freshman and knew her from coaching Loving’s sister. Budenbender believes that Loving’s ability to adapt to the game situation and be effective from all areas of the court is what put her ahead in a highly competitive club volleyball environment.
“Her senior year we also worked more on her hitting out of the back row,” Budenbender said. “So she was an attack front row or back row. She was just someone who was consistently putting the ball in the court and putting it away. So not just hitting it in, but with force that other teams couldn’t return.”
“She’s a skilled player already. But she’s making big strides because of a combination of being very coachable and having a good skill set and great athletic ability.”
Kelly Wood, Head Coach for HSU’s Volleyball Team
Despite a freshman season for Loving which saw her with only 54 kills, she bounced back and worked hard over the summer and the weeks leading into the preseason. At the time of writing this article, Loving had 104 kills in just 29 sets played. Much of her work in the spring and summer revolved around playing doubles outdoors. Head Coach Kelly Wood feels that this is one area in particular that has proven to be a strength for Loving and allowed her to elevate her game.
“She’s a skilled player already,” Wood said. “But she’s making big strides because of a combination of being very coachable and having a good skill set and great athletic ability.”
Loving acknowledges that her opening season for Humboldt State was not the most successful. But she doesn’t seem overly concerned in hindsight now that she has more experience at the collegiate level.
“I think last season just being a freshman,” Loving said. “I played like a typical freshman. I was just really nervous and I didn’t get a lot of exposure, so I wasn’t really confident in my play.”
First-year struggles behind her, Loving has emerged this year as one of the key pieces for Jacks’ volleyball success in the early stages of the season. Even with the attention directed at her individual effort, Loving often refers to the team as a whole when it comes to finding ways to score. This has not gone unnoticed by teammates who share this sentiment and have nothing but good things to say about Loving.
Lenox Loving passes a ball to her teammates during a scrimmage at practice on Sept. 25 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Junior Lexi Riggs has played with Loving the last two seasons and sees having her on the team as a benefit both in performance and in personality.
“I think her athleticism is a huge advantage for our team,” Riggs said. “She just has a really good attitude and presence on the court. You never are down playing next to Lenox. She always is positive, good energy and she is just super athletic.”
This sentiment is echoed by Loving’s teammate and roommate Juliana Bertolucci, who points to the difficult nature of the outside hitter position and how well Loving can handle the ball in tough situations.
“She does well at bettering the ball,” Bertolucci said. “If there is someone that makes maybe not that great of a set or if there’s not that great of a pass she’s always ready to help out, and she’s always ready to make a better decision on the ball.”
For Riggs, Loving’s athletic success this season is just one more reason why she’s special to the team.
“I think she’s just such a great person,” Riggs said. “Everyone who knows Lenox knows she’s an awesome person and I think she’s a great athlete too. I mean, I can’t say enough. I love Lenox, she’s awesome. And we all do, It makes me super proud watching Lenox out there doing as great as she is.”
Lenox Loving waits for play to continue during a scrimmage at practice on Sept. 25 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Lenox Loving (center) stands with her teammates while listening to head coach Kelly Wood during practice on Sept. 25 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
Lenox Loving jumps up to spike a ball for a set play during a scrimmage at practice on September 25 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal
For her coach and teammates, Loving’s current performance is one more step in what is possible for the sophomore with two full years of competition still ahead of her. With opponents beginning to try and lock her down more frequently, Wood remains confident that she will be able to grow even further as a player.
“I’m so optimistic and hopeful to see what she’s able to do in these next couple of years,” Wood said. “Right now just all of a sudden, her confidence has appeared because she’s having the success she’s having, early on in our season.”
With the team as such a big part of her life on and off the court, Loving attributes much of her personal achievement to the whole group showing how confidence in her teammates has allowed her to achieve such high point production on an individual level.
“I wouldn’t have as many kills if weren’t for our defense and our setters,” Loving said. “Everyone on our team is so encouraging and I know that when I’m hitting, I feel confident that my back row can cover me. I’m confident that my setter is going to set me the sets that I need. It’s really nice having a team that I can just rely on so much and that has helped me succeed.”
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