The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: HSU Sports

  • Humboldt State’s Athletic Trainers

    Humboldt State’s Athletic Trainers

    Shannon Childs has been Humboldt State’s Head Athletic Trainer since 2002. He attended HSU and graduated in 2000 with a degree in kinesiology, emphasis in athletic training, before returning to finish his Masters.

    Childs’ responsibility as head athletic trainer is the health and safety of the student athletes.

    “As athletic trainers we are responsible for the care and prevention of athletic related injuries,” Childs said. “When an injury occurs it is our responsibility to assess the injury and determine the course of action that needs to happen for that student athlete to return to their sport.”

    Gabrys Sadaunykas, a senior at HSU and member of the basketball team, was injured during practice and pulled his hamstring. He then went back to practice, aggravating it. Sadaunykas mentions how the athletic trainers have been great. Twice a week the athletic trainers hold a recovery day, or as they call it, “Love Day” where he gets treatments, massages and feels relaxed.

    “Three times a week we are doing strength exercise and also conditioning,” Sadaunykas said. “So I would not be out of shape once I am good to practice.”

    To determine if a student athlete is able to go back and play the sport, the trainers need to write a referral to a physician to do further diagnostic testing on the athletes injury. Sometimes the trainers need to do a detailed rehabilitation plan for the student athlete. Trainers would have to implement and carry out the plan until the student athlete is able to return.

    Jenna Sobrero, a junior at HSU who plays for the softball team, has had a previous chronic shoulder dislocation with her last being during a practice. She discovered she had tore her labrum and her bicep in her shoulder the next day. The athletic trainers advised Sobrero to be visiting the training room everyday to help improve her shoulder with minor workouts after her surgery over the summer.

    “As soon as the training room opened I went to visit Shannon and our new trainer Scott,” Sobrero said. “They were very supportive towards my goals of getting back to play. Being in season and being completely limited due to an injury is very frustrating. They not only helped me physically but they helped me mentally.”

    Scott Daffern is the assistant athletic trainer. Daffern recently came back to HSU as the assistant athletic trainer in August of 2020. Daffern graduated from Humboldt State in 2010 with a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in 2013. During his time as a grad student at HSU, Daffern worked as an assistant athletic trainer for three years.

    During this pandemic all the sports and student athletes have been affected. Daffern is saddened by how as athletic trainers they can no longer bounce from one student to another.

    “In the past we could jump around and work with multiple student athletes at a time,” Daffern said. “We have had to limit the amount of people coming into the athletic training room as well which is very different.”

    The athletic training room used to be a safe haven for the student athletes to relax.

    “Now the only people in the ATR are those getting treatment and rehab for injuries,” Childs said. “Everything is single use and must be cleaned after each use. We have been working hard to keep our student athletes healthy and participating in their sport while doing our best to keep covid from spreading through our student athletes”.

    Childs misses the competitions and has struggled to keep the student athletes in a positive attitude.

    “Playing games and competing against other teams is the reward for all the hard work that the student athletes, coaches and support staff put in on a daily basis.” Childs said. “It is hard to motivate the student athletes when they are not training for competition.”

    Daffern feels very lucky being able to work with the student athletes this semester and the general attitude from the student athletes has been keeping him positive.

    “It is a pleasure to come to work to help these student athletes be better at what they love to do, even during the pandemic,” Daffern said. “I think all this has been able to provide our student athletes with an opportunity to release any negativity that they might have picked up during the day and week. It is the one place that is sort of normal for them right now.”

    HSU was the only school in the CCAA that was able to engage in contact practices for the 2020 fall semester.

    “I think these practices helped out student athletes feel a bit of normalcy during these tough times,” said Childs. “It is also the perfect time to get in shape and ready for the upcoming seasons.”

  • Rugby is the closest sport to football HSU has left

    Rugby is the closest sport to football HSU has left

    With Humboldt’s Lumberjack football gone rugby can take the spotlight.

    Rugby will never be able to replace the gap left by Humboldt State University’s football departure. If youth athletes within the Humboldt community want youth to play a contact sport and watch anything that resembles football, it’s rugby. Not only are they going to be able to watch a contact sport, but they are also going to watch a top level team.

    HSU’s rugby team has been a part of the campus since 1973. The team was Division 1 and battled with the likes of Cal Berkeley and Chico State until 1998, when they became a Division 2 team.

    As a Division 2 team they had their most success in 2005, when they made it to the National Championship but came up short to Colorado State.

    Since then, HSU Rugby has been a part of the National Collegiate Rugby league. The team had great success over the last four years, ranking seventh in the nation without the chance to play the national championship due to COVID-19.

    Much of the team’s success is thanks to ex-football players at HSU and the recruiting of local and Division1 club rugby. Latufeao Kolopeaua, a junior at HSU and former football player, was recruited to join the rugby team after the football team was disbanded in July of 2018.

    “If it weren’t for rugby here at Humboldt I would have transferred over to Montana Tech to play football,” Kolopeaua said. “Even though I sometimes dislike the decisions by this university, I’m very happy I was able to stay here and play rugby because the university is cheap, close to my home of LA, compared to Montana, and I really like it here.”

    HSU Rugby is a great opportunity for local high school athletes, like myself who went to McKinleyville High and played rugby for Chico Rugby club, to still play a contact sport while also staying local. Tali Fonoti, an incoming freshman for the rugby team, was a running back for St. Bernard’s Academy’s team, who won the Division 3 state championship.

    “I wouldn’t be staying here if it weren’t for rugby,” Fonoti said. “If Humboldt offered football then I would be playing for them. I’m happy to be able to stay here and play a sport and to be honest, the rugby team is the only reason I’m staying up here. It is my first time playing rugby, but it is something I’ve watched a little bit growing up. There is just no youth rugby in Humboldt which is the only reason I didn’t play.”

    Picking up rugby came easy to Fonoti. He believes rugby could be the sport to fill the gap of HSU football for local high school athletes.

    “I don’t think it is that hard to transition from football to rugby,” Fonoti said. “I was always in a sport so I am confident in my ability to pick one up easily. The fundamentals of tackling and running the ball are almost the same. If any high school kids wanted to stay up here and play a contact sport I would be for sure talking them up to play rugby because it’s not that hard to learn.”

    Logan McDaniel, a freshman from Belmont, never would have heard of HSU if it weren’t for rugby.

    “I would be playing rugby or football at another school,” McDaniel said. “Humboldt wouldn’t have even been on my radar. I’m happy I was recruited and they have some sort of contact sport at Humboldt because I love it up here.”

    Although HSU football is disbanded and can never be fully replaced by any sport, rugby could be the one that comes closest to filling the gap for the community. Local athletes will be able to stay home, save money and play for a nationally ranked collegiate team.

  • Lumberjack basketball welcomes a new head coach

    Lumberjack basketball welcomes a new head coach

    Exclusive interview between reporter Jazmin Pacheco and Tae Norwood

    Tae Norwood, brings nearly two decades of collegiate basketball coaching experience to the Lumberjack family as the new head coach of the Humboldt State University men’s basketball team. 

    “They are going to get a coach that is honest, that’s transparent, that’s available,” Norwood said. “Who is going to push them to their limits and try to get every ounce of talent I could out of them on the court, but also challenge them mentally to be greater students in the classroom.” 

    Norwood grew up in Brooklyn, New York and was the first in his family to go to college. Norwood said he’s an inspiring example for his nieces, nephews, cousins and younger family members to know that if he could be a first generation graduate, so could they.

    “I was a measuring stick, as they would say, if I can do it, they [family members] can accomplish the same things,” Norwood said.

    Norwood was a natural athlete. He played baseball and football but fell in love with the game of basketball. He started playing at the age of five after his Uncle introduced him to the game and encouraged him to play sports. He played basketball all throughout college and got into coaching after that. 

    Norwood completed his undergraduate work at Green Mountain College, a private institution in Vermont, where he received his bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure services. 

    Norwood was a four-year letter-winner at GMC, earning two all-conference selections and helped the Eagles win three conference championships throughout his four years there. He was the program’s all-time leader in steals and assists, and was inducted into the Green Mountain Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

    He received his master’s degree in health and kinesiology with a focus on coaching from Georgia Southern University.

    In 2018, Norwood was a National Assistant Coach of the Year while coaching at Lynn University. He coached there for a total of six seasons. 

    As head coach, Norwood has high expectations for the men’s basketball team and plans to gain national recognition.

    “This basketball program has a great tradition and a great legacy from the early Coach Wood days to Coach Kinder,” Norwood said. “So I expect our program to be competitive nationally. I expect our team to compete on the top of the CCAA conference on a yearly basis and ultimately have the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament to compete for national championships.”

    Norwood recruited 12 new players to the men’s team. He expects the new team to bond and become supportive, family-like.

    “We’re not going to cripple them in life by giving them everything. They got to work for everything they’re going to get. We’re going to give them every opportunity they can have in order to grow and be successful,” said Norwood

    Norwood says Matt Dempsey, his college basketball coach, made a huge impact on his life and helped him become the man he is today. He hopes to provide that same support, mentorship, and commitment to his own team. 

    “So many life lessons are being taught by playing sports and being in a group dynamic that are transparent when it comes to everyday life,” Norwood said. 

    Norwood’s philosophy at HSU is all about family, having great cohesiveness and great inclusion. He believes successful athletes require building relationships off the court to understand who they are as people, not athletes.

    “My expectations for these young men is that they care about their academics, about their education and about graduating,” Norwood said. “That they play hard with great effort and great energy and when I mean play hard, I mean play hard in the classroom as well as playing hard on the court because winning is a big product of doing those things.”

  • Trackside Tales with Elliott Portillo

    Trackside Tales with Elliott Portillo

    First-hand account from Humboldt State distance runner Elliott Portillo

    For track and field athletes like myself, March usually means a return to early season competition after a long, cold winter of preparation and training. On March 6 and 7, Humboldt State University’s Track and Field team traveled to Turlock, California to participate at the 2020 Kim Duyst Invitational at Stanislaus State University.

    Traditionally, this meet brings together programs from across Northern and Central California to post early season times and marks. For myself and other track-based Lumberjacks, it means a long and winding drive down Highway 101 on a large and cumbersome charter bus with very little leg room and one bathroom for around 40 runners, jumpers and throwers.

    As the trip progressed, the foggy redwood canopy gave way to neat rows and columns of orchards and, eventually, the urban jungle on both sides of the I-5 through Stockton, Modesto and Turlock.

    As a whole, my race, a morning event, was uneventful. I found myself heading to the front of a large pack of runners after a few laps, and wound up leading the race for a good two miles in a very strong headwind. The racers must have enjoyed my wind-breaking, as nobody made a move to pass me until a few laps to go. Three runners passed me in the last few laps, leaving my decrepit body in their wake after all of my heavy lifting.

    One advantage of racing early in the morning is the opportunity to watch teammates compete, and boy was I in for a show. I got to see senior Jaye Washington finish second in the long jump, while Brailee VandenBoom tied for first place in the high jump. These were just a handful of the performances I was able to view during my downtime after my race. Even if an athlete didn’t make it to the podium, there was plenty to celebrate—a new personal best, or out-leaning someone at the line to gain one more spot.

    Things only heated up as the day progressed. The weather alternated between sunny and overcast, with swaths of clouds blanketing the vast expanse of the Central Valley. In the evening, eight Humboldt State women toed the line for the fastest race of the 5,000 meter run, made up of 12 and a half laps and just over three circular miles of Stanislaus’s faded red oval.

    Of those eight Humboldt runners, six women ran fast enough to qualify for the California Collegiate Athletic Association championships in May. Junior Cessair McKinney ran with the top group for most of the race, at one point running to the front and pushing the pace, showing no regard for how bad she might feel later. Her teammate, freshman Lucy Atkinson, hung back in the next pack of runners.

    Eventually, the two groups strung out and splintered, as the dense pack turned into a single file parade around the track. McKinney finished six, while Atkinson finished fourth.

    It was just our luck that just as we began packing up to leave, the skies, which had been threatening rain all day, finally opened up and unleashed a downpour.

    I guess we brought a bit of Humboldt with us after all.

  • Chico State Steals the Jacks’ Spotlight

    Chico State Steals the Jacks’ Spotlight

    Wildcats win, but the Jacks put on a good game

    The Humboldt State University men’s basketball lost Feb. 27 against the Chico State University Wildcats, 86-57.

    Thursday’s home game wasn’t just another game for the Jacks. It was the last game of the season and senior night. The game was a special night for the team’s seniors, Leland Green, Rob Lewis, Victor Mijas, Jackson Strong, Deion Alston and Zachariah Christian.

    “It’s a huge event really, with senior night being number one, our last game of the season, two, and a rivalry game,” Head Coach Steve Kinder said. “It brings a whole different level and a lot of dynamics. There’s a lot of storylines from every player on the team to every coach on the team. As a coach, to see all that in front of you and put that together and experience a night whether we win or lose—it’s special.”

    The Wildcats took the lead 8-0 in the first two minutes, but the Jacks were quick to score some points. A three by Jackson Strong and two free throws by Noah Viera left the score at 12-11 with 13 minutes left in the first half. The Wildcats were quick to outscore the Jacks, ending the first half at 49-27.

    With only 18 minutes left in the second half, the Jacks showed some senior teamwork. Christian passed the ball to Strong, who then passed the ball back to Christian. Christian passed to Alston, who made two points in the green.

    “The relationships I’ve built with last year’s team and this year’s team—it’s been great. The family and the team, the coaches—that’s what it is. It’s just a family and I’ve had such a good time.”

    Jackson Strong

    Throughout the game, Alston stepped up and led the scoring. Kinder was proud of him and said he told the assistant coaches they should’ve played him more throughout the season.

    “He played with a lot of fire and he played aggressive,” Kinder said. “He did a really nice job.”

    Alston had a season high of 13 points, while Strong put up 11. Viera scored a season high of 10 points off the bench and Lewis scored 8.

    With three makes from beyond the arc, Strong finished his career with the Jacks after playing for the team for two years. With 173, Strong placed fourth on HSU’s all-time career list in three-point field goals made. His 84 three-pointers is third on the Jack’s single-season list. He made 89 last season, which is second all-time.

    Kinder said he wished Strong had played for the Jacks all four years.

    “The relationships I’ve built with last year’s team and this year’s team—it’s been great,” Strong said. “The family and the team, the coaches—that’s what it is. It’s just a family and I’ve had such a good time.”

    Strong said after he graduates he plans to continue playing basketball—hopefully overseas—to try to play the game he loves for as long as he can.

  • HSU Jacks Swept by SSU Seawolves

    HSU Jacks Swept by SSU Seawolves

    Humboldt State softball team takes loss in two double-headers against Sonoma State University

    Humboldt State University’s softball team went 0-2 back-to-back in double-headers to the Seawolves of Sonoma State University, bringing their record to 4-15 overall and 3-13 in CCAA competition.

    Pitching and defense were the downfall of the Jacks as they gave up 39 runs and committed eight errors over the weekend series by scores of 12-3, 10-2, 12-3 and 15-12 against the Seawolves. The Jacks continued to fight the whole weekend, but weren’t able to match the Seawolves.

    Head Coach Shelli Sarchett emphasized these woes that plagued the Jacks over the weekend. She also saw the fight her team continued to show as well as players who played well despite the outcome.

    “They don’t let their heads down and lay over. Things just aren’t working our way right now,” Sarchett said. “We know our pitching struggles, but today it was our defense making too many mental mistakes. You’re going to have physical mistakes from time to time, but when you have too many mental mistakes that really gets you.”

    Sarchett emphasized the need of her team to score first and get some momentum going.

    “Whether we’re having a down or up season, attacking and getting on the board first creates momentum, and this is a big game when it comes to momentum and getting it on our side,” Sarchett said. “We’re coming out and putting runners on base, but weren’t capitalizing. We have to start setting the tone and things will start going our way.”

    The Jacks struggled to find runs in the first three games of the series, but the bats came alive for them in the fourth and final game of the series as they scored 12 runs.

    Juniors Haley Suter and Danica Grier combined for nine RBIs and three home runs. Suter brought in four by way of a grand slam and Grier added five more with two home runs respectively.

    Grier said she saw fight in the team. Even in a loss, she said they have some momentum leading into their next set of games.

    Grier said she needed to keep things simple and explained what she saw during her two home runs.

    “I had been struggling for the most part of the weekend so I kept thinking, ‘Keep things simple,’ and I saw one coming my first at-bat, swung hard and hit it out,” Grier said. “I went up my next at-bat, saw the same pitch, swung hard again and it went out.”

    Grier said she saw fight in the team. Even in a loss, she said they have some momentum leading into their next set of games.

    “We’re always battling and we’re always coming back, so our mental state as a team is strong,” Grier said. “We know that we can be great. We saw today that we can score. We just have to continue to fight. We’ll have a tough week of practice and fix what we need to get ready for next week.”

    The Jacks will look to turn their fortunes around next weekend as they travel down to Hayward to take on California State University, East Bay in two double headers on March 6 and 7.

  • Tull Impresses at National Championships

    Tull Impresses at National Championships

    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.”

  • Men’s Soccer Finishes Season With an Emotional Senior Day

    Men’s Soccer Finishes Season With an Emotional Senior Day

    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.”

  • Men’s Soccer Wins In Stunner Against SF

    Men’s Soccer Wins In Stunner Against SF

    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.”

  • Jacks Win First Exhibition Game

    Jacks Win First Exhibition Game

    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.

  • HSU Women’s Soccer Wins in Overtime

    HSU Women’s Soccer Wins in Overtime

    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.

  • Volleyball Frustration Continues

    Volleyball Frustration Continues

    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.”

  • Lenox Loving Kills With Confidence

    Lenox Loving Kills With Confidence

    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.”

  • Rough Double Header for Women’s Soccer

    Rough Double Header for Women’s Soccer

    Humboldt State women’s soccer hit with a double loss during weekend doubleheader

    The Jacks squared off against Chico State Friday and midfielder Kelsey Bess scored in the first five minutes. At the 20 minute mark Lindsay Stoner scored the second goal, right before CSU Chico’s Chloe King scored bringing the score to 2-1.

    During the second half, Chico sank two more goals, leaving HSU trailing by a point, 3-2. The Jacks kept up with their offense, but their 2nd half performance couldn’t score an equalizer and Chico left victorious.

    The Jacks played their second game, this time against Stanislaus State, on Sunday, Oct. 6.

    Stanislaus kept possession of the ball throughout the first half, producing a total of 15 shots, seven of which were saved by Jacks’ goalkeeper Kaitlin Talbert. Coach Paul Karver even tried out a different strategy in the first quarter, hoping to recover from Friday’s loss, but the Jacks found themselves in a scoreless first half.

    “We came out in a different formation,” Karver said. “I thought we could exploit a couple of things but flat out I got it wrong in the first half.”

    HSU continued to experience set backs as Stanislaus scored in the second half taking a 1-0 lead over the Jacks. Following this were two yellow cards issued to HSU players Selena Osorio and Mary Swisher, and an additional yellow card issued to Karver for arguing with the referee.

    • Jacks’ midfielder #25 Lindsay Stoner chases after the ball. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Jacks’ Head Coach Paul Karver argues the referee’s call on the sideline. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Midfielder #25 Lindsay Stoner defends Warriors midfielder #14 Julia Cummings. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Jacks forward #2 Erin Siegel battles with Warriors forward #36 Autumn Halvorsen. Humboldt State played Stanislaus State at College Creek Field in Arcata and lost 1-0 to the Warriors.
    • HSU midfielder #8 Kelsey Bass is fouled from behind by the Warrior player. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Warrior goalkeeper #30 Alyssa Herrman reaches out for the ball as the shot misses wide of the net. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • HSU midfielder #22 Pikake Hix works on Warriors defender #19 Taylor Marti. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Referee Matt Bernette gives HSU Head Coach Paul Karver a yellow card after Karver argued a call on the sideline. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • Jacks’ forward Erin Siegel #2 battles with the Warriors’ defenders. | Photo by Liam Warner

    The Jacks continued to battle for possession of the ball into the game’s final minutes. The final score of the match saw a 1-0 Stanislaus victory over the Jacks.

    After the game, Talbert discussed the issues her team had in the first half and how, despite losing the the last few games, she wants to focus on her teammates’ ability to adapt and learn.

    “We wanted to see if we could have more in the midfield because we thought it would work great against their midfield,” Talbert said. “These last couple of games have pushed us to step up our game and get some goals.”

    The Jacks put up a fight for both matches but fell short of victory. Karver applauded the teams’ efforts to stay motivated and finish strong. The focus now is getting Jacks’ players rested for their next road game against UC San Diego.

    “We’ll travel this week down south,” Karver said. “So I’m giving the players some days off because training doesn’t fix fatigue.”

    Both men and women’s soccer face off against UC San Diego on Oct. 11. Karver mentioned that UCSD will be moving to Division I next year so he looks forward to playing beneath the lights in San Diego one last time.

  • HSU Athletics Press Conference Breakdown 9/24

    HSU Athletics Press Conference Breakdown 9/24

    Women’s and men’s soccer win big, cross country performs well in Oregon and volleyball faces some tough competition at home

    This past week was successful for Humboldt State Athletics. The women’s soccer team soundly defeated the visiting William Jessup Warriors 4-0 in the friendly confines of College Creek Field. Men’s soccer traveled to Redding and kept their goal scoring barrage going with a 5-1 win over Simpson University. Cross Country traveled to Monmouth, Oregon and reached excellent individual numbers with both the men’s and women’s teams finishing in fourth place. Volleyball started their CCAA conference schedule at home in Lumberjack Arena, winning the first match and then losing the next two to some very tough competition.

    Tuesday’s press conference at Lumberjack Arena featured comments from all of the head coaches and selected athletes from each sport.

    Women’s Soccer

    The Jacks played their home opener on Saturday and played effectively against the visiting William Jessup Warriors. The tone was set early in the match when senior midfielder Lindsay Stoner scored just three minutes in. From there, the Jacks never relinquished control of the game.

    Even though, to the untrained eye, there was not much fault in the game for the Jacks, Head Coach Paul Karver noticed that after scoring the first goal his players were losing a bit of focus.

    “We had a conversation at halftime about we need to play our style, and we need to have a real identity and we need to get back to that,” Karver said. “And that was a challenge because everyone is trying to do more and get on the scoreboard.”

    Men’s Soccer

    Right now, the Jacks seem like an offensive force that is going to be very hard to stop. In the last two games the Jacks have outscored their opponents 10-2 and overall this season they are already averaging almost four goals per game. Head Coach Fred Jungemann was happy with the results of his team thus far. He feels that his team is ready for the tough CCAA conference which begins on Friday as the Jacks take on Sonoma State in Rohnert Park.

    “Certainly the preseason has helped and brought us to a level of confidence,” Jungemann said. “We’re going to this game on Friday with a self-belief that we can step on the field and compete with anybody we play against whether we score five goals or not.”

    Cross Country

    In addition to both cross country teams finishing in fourth place, the Jacks had some standout performances. For the men, it was Daniel Tull who finished second in the race and earned himself an all CCAA award for the second time this season. For the women it was Cessair McKinney who had the standout performance for the Jacks, finishing seventh and earning herself student-athlete of the week.

    The men’s team also earned an 8th place NCAA regional ranking based on their recent performances and for freshman runner Finn Tyvoll the ranking is a validation of the team’s success.

    “It’s fantastic because it shows how much work we’re putting in,” Tyvoll said. “It’s worth it because of the grind and putting Humboldt on the map.”

    Volleyball

    The Jacks volleyball team went 1-2 on their opening homestand at Lumberjack Arena last week. They won their home opener 3-1 against Cal State Monterey Bay in front of a packed crowd. The next night, the Jacks lost 1-3 to the nationally ranked Cal Poly Pamona Bronco’s. A significant challenge was presented to the Jacks on Saturday as the No. 1 team in the nation, Cal State San Bernardino, played at Lumberjack Arena and swept the Jacks 3-0.

    Despite the daunting task, Head Coach Kelly Wood was not phased by the level of competition that CSU San Bernardino presented.

    “Overall we went into it very loose, understanding that the pressure is always on the team that’s expected to win,” Wood said. “I think we could have competed harder than we did and maybe we could have played a little better and taken a few more points off of them, but there’s always room for improvement.”

  • Forever dedicated to the game

    Forever dedicated to the game

    Lumberjacks football player named GNAC Player of the Week

    Editor’s Note: For transparency, Skye Kimya is the Lumberjack Sports Editor

    Humboldt State University’s sophomore safety Adam Herrera was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference special teams player of the week after an outstanding performance in Lumberjack football’s game against Central Washington on Oct. 27.

    The following week Herrera continued to hold down the defense as he intercepted the ball against Azusa Pacific in their second to last game of program history. Herrera talks about how he predicted his opponents play, and just like that he was able to outsmart them and regain possession of the ball for the Lumberjacks.

    “I saw the play happening right in front of me,” Herrera said. “And I just opened up right away towards the post. He threw the ball, so I ran up under it.”

    Herrera had a successful 2018 football season. He finished with 23 tackles and 19 assisted tackles for a total of 42, two interceptions for a total of 76 yards and a touchdown and 562 return yards with a game high of 193 total yards against Central Washington.

    IMG_0309.JPG Adam Herrera side peddles as he waits for the offense to make a move in a home game against Central Washington on October 27. Photo credit: Walter Hackett

    Football has been one of Herrera’s greatest passions for a majority of his life. Starting at a young age in elementary school, he knew football was something he would continue to pursue. Getting more serious about the sport, he knew he wanted to play for his local high school team in Los Banos, Calif.

    Playing both offense and defense for the Los Banos High School Tigers, Herrera hustled hard to earn his accolades, including MVP and offensive player of the year multiple times.

    As he took on unfamiliar positions such as quarterback, high school football challenged Herrera to become a well rounded athlete, as well as a versatile player on the football field.

    “He was a phenomenal player and a great teammate,” Head coach of Los Banos High School football Dustin Caropreso said. “He was a leader. Adam showed up to practice everyday and never complained.”

    Not only did Herrera join varsity as a sophomore but he was captain of the Los Banos Tigers both his junior and senior year.

    “When I found out he won GNAC player of the week it was pretty special,” Caropreso said. “He’s worked really hard to get to where he’s at, and it couldn’t have happened to a better person than Adam.”

    Though Herrera is known as a football player, he is also a son, big brother, and student. Family and friends have always been important to him and his daily life. His parents and grandparents had always been some of his biggest supporters as they watched him play growing up.

    “It had been a while since he received any recognition for all of his hard work,” Adam’s mother Cynthia Gonzalez said. “So it was nice to hear him receive the GNAC award in college.”

    His girlfriend Skye and closest friends Ereon, Watts, and Mark continuously inspire him to be the best he can be. Ereon Nash and Demetrick Watts play right beside Herrera on the defensive side of the Lumberjacks.

    IMG_7742.jpg Ereon Nash, Demetrick Watts, and Adam Herrera gather for photos after their 2018 homecoming game against Simon Fraser. Photo credit: Skye Kimya

    As a brother to four younger siblings, Herrera has been a huge role model and support system within his family. His only brother Moses is following in his footsteps as he too plays football and is already a recognized all-star on his Pop Warner League team.

    “Every time before a football game he calls me and pumps me up,” Moses Herrera said. “He tells me how to play the game, and he is always encouraging me.”

    As HSU’s football team completed their final season, Herrera accomplished a lot within his football career, but he’s not done yet. He has already been contacted by outside coaches and is looking to play at another university for the last two years of his collegiate career. Herrera hasn’t made any decisions yet in regards to football next fall but awaits opportunities.

    “I don’t want this to be my last year,” Herrera said. “I’ll continue to do what I need to do to keep playing football and if everything goes well for me I hope to continue on to the next level.”

  • This week in sports

    This week in sports

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

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

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

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

  • Chico brings their brooms to HSU

    Chico brings their brooms to HSU

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

    Video by Bailey Tennery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Defense dominates the spring

    Defense dominates the spring

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Photos by Garrett Goodnight.
  • Auction raises over 200K

    Auction raises over 200K

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Rowers find success at regatta

    Rowers find success at regatta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Jacks spring break round-up

    Jacks spring break round-up

    Jacks Softball

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

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

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

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

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

    Jacks Track and Field

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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