The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Thomas Lal

  • HSU Shuts Out Stanislaus State

    HSU Shuts Out Stanislaus State

    Humboldt State capitalizes on strong offense and outstanding defense to defeat Warriors

    Coming into Sunday’s match, the men’s soccer team had dropped an agonizing match to Chico State, setting the stage for a dominant game against the visiting Stanislaus State Warriors.

    Humboldt showed up strong for the home crowd, exhibiting their goal-scoring prowess by netting three. Meanwhile, Stanislaus was unable to make a mark on the scoresheet. With 24 goals on the season, the Jacks now average three goals a game and play with the defense to back up the scoring.

    The first half of the match saw fairly even play between the two teams, with both sides rushing forward to test the defenses. The Jacks’ defense allowed six shots in the first half but goalkeeper Robert Quintero stood tall in net, making three saves early on to hold the Warriors scoreless. On the offensive end of things, the Jacks failed to capitalize on a few free and seemed unable to sustain pressure in Stanislaus’ defensive zone putting just 5 shots on the board with all sailing wide of the mark.

    • Freshman midfielder Nicolas Falco leaps into his waiting teammates as he celebrates his first goal in CCAA competetion for Humboldt State against Stanislaus to make the score 2-0 during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State midfielder/forward Angel Rodriguez (14) and mid fielder Israel Gonzalez (10) go to work on a set play from the corner kick during their match against Stanislaus on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • HSU midfielder Dylan Tovani throws the ball in during the team’s match against Stanislaus on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field as the home crowd watches on. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    The second half of the contest saw a much more aggressive start from Humboldt State, who were immediately making deep runs into the Stanislaus side of the pitch. It wasn’t just the offense who came out looking assertive however, with Quintero coming out of the net to make a perfectly-timed tackle in the middle of the Warrior’s attack. With confidence in the defense’s ability, Jacks’ forward, Isaiah Dairo, found the back of the goal just 10 minutes into the half to score his team-leading sixth goal of the season and put Humboldt up 1-0.

    The scoring would not stop there. Freshman midfielder, Nicolas Falco, buried the first goal of his college career into the top of the Warrior’s net only 15 minutes later. Following his goal, Falco made a beeline to the Jacks’ sideline jumping into a sea of his teammates all clearly ecstatic to him get on the board.

    With a 2-0 score in their favor, Humboldt State eased back just a bit on the offensive front, focusing on making safe plays in the interest of protecting the lead. Even with a more defensive approach for the final stages of the game, Jacks’ midfielder/forward Devin Hauenstein chipped the ball over Stanislaus goalkeeper Justin Motzkus to score the home team’s third and final goal of the match.

    • Humboldt State forward/midfielder Devin Hauenstein gestures to the hear the crowd cheer louder after scoring the Jacks’ third and final goal of their 3-0 shutout against Stanislaus on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State forward/midfielder Devin Hauenstein watches as his shot that cleared Stanislaus goalkeeper Justin Motzkus’ head goes into the goal during the second half to score the final goal of the day for the Jacks in a 3-0 shutout on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field.
    • Humboldt State sophomore Devin Hauenstein is fouled by Stanislaus defenseman Carlos Amaya during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Forward Isaiah Dairo challenges Stanislaus goalkeeper Justin Motzkus during the second half as Motzkus tries to clear the ball during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt State forward Isaiah Dairo squares up to the net before scoring the Jacks’ first goal of the game on the way to a 3-0 shutout against Stanislaus during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Following his shutout performance for the Jacks, Quintero was very positive, noting that it was a strong overall performance from the team which led to their success.

    “The last few games we really stepped up defensively,” Quintero said. “Today we just put it all together. Everyone stepped up, we had each other’s back on the defensive end. No goals, so that’s always good to get a shutout.”

    Head Coach Fred Jungemann was also impressed with Quintero’s performance in goal and the confidence that it brought to the whole defensive line.

    “Rob’s a senior leader for us and he’s a big part of what we’re doing,” Jungemann said. “When he plays like he did today, he gives the defense so much confidence and self-belief. He’s a big part of everything we’re doing back there, and I’m really happy for them to get the shutout the way they played and, obviously, Rob was a big part of that.”

    Humboldt State forward/midfielder Devin Hauenstein battles for the ball with Stanislaus defenseman Adolfo Maldonado during their match on Oct. 6 at College Creek Field. | | Photo by Thomas Lal

    With the win on Sunday, the Jacks moved to 5-3 this season and were able to put Friday’s loss behind them in resounding fashion. Jungemann was happy to have picked up the second game but still saw room for improvement from the weekend as a whole.

    “I don’t think we can ever get past losing some points,” Jungemann said. “But certainly winning points today will give us a good taste in our mouths and hopefully give us something to build towards for next weekend.”

  • Down and Derby

    Down and Derby

    Humboldt Roller Derby brings the heat at Redwood Acres

    Humboldt Roller Derby took on the ShEvil Dead from Bay Area Derby and Shasta Roller Derby this weekend. HRD lost the bout against the ShEvil Dead 121-171 while the second team, Root Force, picked up the win against Shasta 159-123.

    • Stomping Hound of the ShEvil Dead breaks through the Humboldt Roller Derby Blocker to score a pass in the first bout on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Announcer Jason Whitcomb practices addressing the crowd for a volunteer recruitment pitch during a brief break in the action during the first bout of a double header on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • The melee of a jam plays out during the first bout of a doubleheader as Humboldt Roller Derby takes on the ShEvil Dead from San Francisco on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Skaters take a brief moment to assess the situation during a bout between Humboldt Roller Derby and the visiting ShEvil Dead on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Humboldt Roller Derby’s jammer looks for a way thorough the ShEvil Dead’s blockers in the first bout of a double header on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Barry’em 6 ft under from Humboldt Roller Derby knocks Stomping Ground from the ShEvil Dead out of the track limits during the first bout of the day on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    For those unfamiliar with roller derby, each team has five players on the track each with a jammer designated by a star on their helmet. In order to score, a team’s jammer must make it past the opponent’s blockers. The bout on Saturday was HRD’s second to last event for the season with their final event scheduled for October 19 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds.

    • Skaters work their way around the track during a jam in the second bout of a doubleheader between Root Force and Shasta Roller Derby on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • California Senator Mike McGuire helps present a donation check from Humboldt Roller Derby to Humboldt Animal Rescue Team during intermission on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. McGuire was in the area making the rounds that weekend and was a suprise presence. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Root Force Jammer Atreyu accelerates away from Shasta Roller Derby’s blockers as she scores a pass in the second match of a doubleheader on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
    • Root Force jammer Ossifrage (88) makes her way though the Shasta Roller Derby’s blockers on the way to a scoring pass in the first second bout of a doubleheader on Sept. 28 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. | Photo by Thomas Lal
  • LJ Sports Podcast 9/26

    LJ Sports Podcast 9/26

    Listen to the KRFH Sports Show live on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on 105.1 KRFH or KRFH.net

    Featuring: Thomas Lal, Elliott Portillo and Alberto Muro

    https://soundcloud.com/user-815505871/lj-sports-podcast

    Part 1: It’s a solo sports show this week to start things off! Set loose by scheduling mishaps, Thomas takes a look at Jacks sports performances from the week and looks at what is on the horizon for the upcoming days in local athletics.

    Part 2: The San Jose Sharks preseason is discussed briefly along with possible lines for opening night and Elliott drops in to save everybody from repetitive rambling! We also talk a little about the upcoming MLB playoffs and discuss the Oakland A’s/Seattle Mariners series to round off the regular season.

    Part 3: We talk about the passing of local running coach legend Jim Hunt and dig deeper into the playoff picture for baseball. On the topic of Seattle we discuss possible names for the city’s future NHL team and Muro joins us straight from class to wrap things up with a little more local talk.

  • LJ Sports Podcast 9/19

    LJ Sports Podcast 9/19

    Listen to the KRFH Sports Show live on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on 105.1 KRFH or KRFH.net

    https://soundcloud.com/user-815505871/lj-sports-podcast

    Featuring: Thomas Lal, Deion Alston, Albert Muro, Skye Kimya and Elliott Portillo

    Part 1: We talk about Humboldt State sports from the week including the volleyball team’s first conference win at home. We also discuss the men’s and women’s soccer team away games. At the end of the segment, conversation turns to international sports and we talk about the U.S. women’s national team.

    Part 2: We discuss the start of the NHL preseason with a focus on the San Jose Sharks and LA Kings while brining any non-hockey fans up to date on the rivalry between the Sharks and the Las Vegas Golden Knights. We also address the IIHF’s banning of Evgeny Kuznetsov for four years compared to the NHL’s three game ban for illegal substance use.

    Part 3: After waiting on the topic last week, we finally delve into the Antonio Brown saga and attempt to understand exactly what went wrong in Oakland and how on earth the Patriots keep getting better and better. We also talk about week two performances around the NFL and our favorite teams.

    Part 4: In the debrief section of the show we talk a little baseball with playoffs just around the corner. We also discuss Bruce Bochy’s 2000th career win as a manager and the Humboldt Crabs Alumni who made it to the MLB.

  • Jacks Fall to Conference Leaders CSUSB

    Jacks Fall to Conference Leaders CSUSB

    HSU Volleyball hopes to rest up after losing to CSUSB 40-19

    The Humboldt State volleyball team saw their current homestand end Saturday night with a loss to the number-one-ranked team in the nation, Cal State San Bernardino.

    Outside hitter Summer Hansen knocks the ball across the net towards the opposition during Humboldt State’s match against CSUSB on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    The Jacks lost all three sets and were out-killed 40-19 by the Coyotes on a night where they struggled to find a way to crack CSUSB’s tall front line. Humboldt’s scoring leader for the night was sophomore Lenox Loving, who managed to put up eight kills. Loving was followed by Lexi Riggs and Summer Hansen who had four kills apiece.

    The Coyotes established the tempo of the match early on in the first set, scoring quickly and often. The Jacks were outworked on several occasions and were only able to score 10 points to CSUSB’s 25. Another contributing factor was a handful of unforced errors when it came to passing the ball, which resulted in giving up several scoring opportunities for the Jacks.

    Outside hitter Lenox Loving delivers a ball across the net during Humboldt State’s match against Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Coach Kelly Wood made some rotation adjustments throughout the second set. She hoped to help the team find a way past the Coyote’s tough defense. The changes had some success as the Jacks improved to 13 points but CSUSB still took the set with 25 points.

    In the final set of the evening, Humboldt State slightly improved as they moved up to 15 points, but CSUSB still took it with 25 points. The Jacks seemed determined to put up a fight, capitalizing on more scoring opportunities and maintaining a roughly five-point gap through the middle stages of the set before falling back.

    The Humboldt State volleyball team encourage each other after being scored on in their match against Cal State Bernardino at Lumberjack Arena on Sept. 21. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Redshirt sophomore Carla Crespo recorded five digs for the Jacks. Crespo was disappointed that the Jacks didn’t perform better but made it clear that the team was strong enough to rebound from the loss.

    “I think our team is a really resilient team,” Crespo said. “We do whatever we can to try to support each other, we’re pretty close-knit. It can be hard when there’s a really good team, but I think we do a good job at playing together. We win together and we lose together.”

    Volleyball head coach Kelly wood talks with her players during a short time-out during Humboldt State’s match against Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    After the match Head Coach Kelly Wood felt that her team had been somewhat worn down by the Coyotes defense and she was slightly disappointed at the lack of change to effectively adapt to the pace of the game.

    “We were getting blocked a lot,” Wood said. “They were big, and they were a presence at the net. Our girls were kind of scratching their heads a little bit trying to figure out how to put balls away against them. It tends to wear on you a little bit when you’re getting blocked over and over, but I just want to see them stay aggressive, keep swinging high and mixing up shots here and there.”

    Outside hitter Lenox Love serves the ball during the third and final set during Humboldt State’s match against CSUSB on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    After a lengthy stint of games that saw the Jacks compete in four matches over seven days, Coach Wood hopes to use the week in between their next game to allow athletes to recover.

    “We haven’t had an opportunity to heal or just get through
    soreness because we’ve been on such a marathon of matches,” Wood said. “I’m
    excited for the girls to get some rest and come back strong next week.”

  • A Win for Ferrari is a Win for Formula 1

    A Win for Ferrari is a Win for Formula 1

    A look at what Charles Leclerc’s win did for the 2019 season

    Ferrari may only have an outside chance of winning the Formula 1 championship this year, but fans of the longest-tenured team in the sport cheered plenty as Charles Leclerc crossed the line first at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. In his first season with the team, Leclerc took his second career and consecutive win, giving Ferrari their first home win in almost 10 years.

    Formula 1 is the top category of open-wheel motorsport supported by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and races internationally in 21 different countries. The current grid features 10 teams, most of which are based in Britain. Each team runs two cars for each race with championship points being scored in the top 10 positions and fastest race lap. Front-running teams like Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing Honda are currently spending anywhere between $315 million and $410 million per season to stay competitive.

    Since a shift to turbo-hybrid V6 engines in 2014, the Mercedes F1 team has been dominant, winning eight combined drivers and constructor’s championships. This has left fans of Ferrari in a painful situation, watching their team lose time and time again. Italian fans of Ferrari are also known as the Tifosi, and the recent pecking order had deprived them and Formula 1 of Ferrari success at the legendary Monza circuit only two hours away from their Italian factory in Maranello.

    The win for Ferrari at the 2019 Italian Grand Prix is more important than just another win for the Italian automaker. There has been a sense of dissatisfaction with F1 over the past few years due to Mercedes being mostly untouchable. This was not the case when Leclerc won in Italy this season though. Social media accounts relating to F1 blew up as Ferrari fans and the motorsports community celebrated the 21-year-old winning in front of the Tifosi.

    The race itself was exciting, with wheel-to-wheel battles happening all over the track. Leclerc proved himself in an outright fight against four-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in a series of moves that toed the line between legal and penalty-inducing. This was perfect in a gutsy on-track performance that had the fans present cheering all day. The strategic aspect of the race kept fans on the edge of their seats wondering who would come out on top after all the pit stops had been completed.

    While the race was a spectacle, the podium celebrations were where it became clear that this Grand Prix will likely go down in F1 history. The loyal Tifosi flooded the track below the podium in a sea of scarlet smoke and flags. The cheers only grew louder as the champion of the Italian fans stepped onto the top step punching the air in victory. Leclerc’s win may be heralded as the start of a legacy in F1, but even if Hamilton goes on to claim the championship Ferrari fans will remember the 2019 season because of this win.

  • HSU Athletics Press Conference Breakdown 9/17

    HSU Athletics Press Conference Breakdown 9/17

    Volleyball bounced back, women’s soccer took a loss and cross country preps for an upcoming meet in Oregon

    As Humboldt State sports fans wait for Jacks games to return to College Creek Field and Lumberjack Arena, the volleyball and soccer teams competed along the West Coast and beyond. Volleyball suffered an initial setback at the West Region Showcase in San Francisco, but bounced back with two wins. Women’s soccer managed a loss and a draw in Portland and men’s soccer traveled to Billings, Montana and won both of their games. Cross Country did not compete last week, but they are training for their upcoming meet in Monmouth, OR.

    The weekly HSU Athletics press conference at Lumberjack Arena featured comments from the coaches and chosen players from each sport.

    Volleyball

    The Jacks traveled home from San Francisco with a 2-2 record. Thursday brought a doubleheader loss to both San Francisco State and Cal State Dominguez Hills, both by a score of 3 sets to 1. Friday and Saturday proved to be much better, as the Jacks swept Fresno Pacific and Dominican 3 sets to 0.

    Outside Hitter Lenox Loving scored 60 kills in the four matches, earning her HSU student-athlete of the week honors. She talked about how the team chemistry and energy have improved over last season, with the benefit of the team returning ten players from last year’s squad.

    “Even when we lost everyone was working hard,” Loving said. “I think it’s just that the team chemistry is so much better this year, and everyone has the same attitude of working hard and getting the job done.”

    Cross Country

    The Jacks weren’t in competition this week; however, they were still hard at work as they prepare for their upcoming competition at the Sundowner Invitational in Monmouth this weekend. Head Coach Jamey Harris talked about the team’s preparation and what to expect with the course in Monmouth.

    “We’ve been training hard out in the marsh and in the forest trying to make ourselves better,” Harris said.

    He also talked about the course that the Jacks are going to race this Friday, saying it is milder than the home course in Arcata and he expects times to be faster.

    “It’s almost all grass, so it’s similar to our home meet,” Harris said. “It’s not nearly as hilly, but most of it is not entirely flat.”

    Men’s Soccer

    The long days of air travel paid off for the Jacks in Montana, as they swept their road trip and won both games convincingly. On Friday they beat MSU-Billings 2-0, and things only progressed as they put the University of Mary away with ease in a 5-1 win on Sunday. The Jacks made history in the second game as Isaiah Dairo scored just 10 seconds into the match, which broke a team record for the fastest goal in a game. Dairo took us through the process of the goal that started at the opening whistle and how he noticed the defenders playing farther away from their own goal.

    “From the start, we had seen that they were playing a high line,” Dairo said. “My teammate Dalton Rice plays a fantastic ball, and it took maybe two touches at most.”

    Women’s Soccer

    The Jacks are still searching for their first win. Their trip Portland included a 3-1 loss to Concordia and a 0-0 tie in double overtime to Saint Martin’s. Head Coach Paul Karver talked about the need to finish their chances, as the team only had two goals on 63 shot attempts over the two games. He also discussed the pressure on the team as they search for their first win.

    “It’s a big old gorilla on the back and the girls feel the weight,” Karver said. “It’s just that in that final moment we’re not making the right decision.”

  • Women’s Rugby Preps for Upcoming Season

    Women’s Rugby Preps for Upcoming Season

    HSU Women’s Rugby trains for a new division placement and tougher opponents

    An evening of practice with the Humboldt State Women’s Rugby team consisted of preparation for their first home game of the season on November 23 against Sacramento State. The team has recently moved to Division II which means this season they will be competing against 10 schools as opposed to five.

    HSU athletics is no stranger when it comes to long distances of travel. Rugby athlete Libby True spoke on the recent division transition.

    “I began playing during my freshman year,” True said. “We started off playing against 10 games then to six games and now back to 10.”

    Having additional opponents gives the team an opportunity to capitalize on more wins and get an early lead in their division. They are making modifications to their practice routines to prepare for the extensive weeks of play against opponents they have never faced.

    “We’ve never played against them, so we aren’t sure what we’re up against,” player Hanna Hartman said. “But with the way we’ve been practicing it shouldn’t be a problem.”

    Despite the unknown challenge that awaits, there is no denying that the team will utilize techniques that keep their players operational. Whether it’s taking hits or falling, Hannah explained that playing efficiently is key to avoiding unwanted injuries.

    Junior Zelaya Ceja throws the ball to a teammate during a touch game in practice for the women’s rughby team on September 5. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    “We learned how to hit and fall properly,” Hartman said. “There’s a right way to do it safely.”

    Rugby is physically demanding with frequent body collision and the occasional injuries, therefore players are encouraged to work on their endurance to take hits routinely.

    Claire Branson has played rugby for three years at HSU and provided her input on avoiding injuries.

    “Keep your core muscles strong, when you get tackled it’s a lot of core strength,” Branson said. “Make sure it’s tight, so you’re not pulling muscles.”

    During practice, players utilize precautions to ensure safety. When playing an impact sport like rugby, building endurance is essential.

    Safety Officer and player Janay Aoga has high expectations with endurance training, since it lands on days that players invest their time working out.

    “On our conditioning days we focus on staying strong and fast because fit rugby is fun rugby,” Aoga said.

    A sport can’t be fun if there’s no one around to play, but it’s a different tone when it comes to the HSU women’s rugby team. Their love for the sport shines through their resilience and determination.

  • Is Hockey Really for Everyone?

    Is Hockey Really for Everyone?

    Sharks Forward Evander Kane speaks out about racism in the NHL

    On August 28, the San Jose Sharks’ forward Evander Kane shared a comment, left by a fan, on his recent Instagram post. The fan was telling the 10-year National Hockey League veteran to stick to basketball. Kane stands out on the ice not only due to his physical play and scoring prowess, but also because of his ethnicity.

    Kane is the only player who openly identifies as black on the Sharks roster and is one of only a handful of active black players in the NHL.

    Kane responded to the post by reaffirming his belief that racism surrounding the NHL needs to be more thoroughly addressed.

    “This exact thing was shouted at me in the penalty box in Denver during game 4,” Kane wrote on Instagram. “It’s racially motivated. It’s a problem in society and in sports. There is a focus on racism in football, basketball and baseball but in the hockey world it’s easier to ignore, dismiss and forget because let’s face the facts; hockey is a white sport.”

    Kane’s remarks point to the fact that although the NHL was never officially segregated when it was founded, it wasn’t until 1957 when Willie O’Ree took to the ice for the Boston Bruins that a black player played. Even after O’Ree broke through the unspoken color barrier, there was never an influx of black players in the league.

    “There is a focus on racism in football, basketball and baseball but in the hockey world it’s easier to ignore, dismiss and forget because let’s face the facts; hockey is a white sport.”

    Evander Kane

    According to a 2016 survey by TD Ameritrade, parents generally spend $100 to $499 per month on youth sports. The San Jose Junior Sharks list on their website costs of $1,800 to $6,900 for a full season of hockey depending on age that typically lasts around six months. The median income for a family household in the U.S. is approximately $77,000 per the Census Bureau while for black families, the median is only around $40,000. This adds yet another opportunity barrier for young black players to participate in youth hockey.

    In addition to the upfront cost, there are constant purchases needed to maintain sporting equipment and replace broken gear. This massive price presents an additional difficulty for families in minority groups who historically may not have the disposable income to support the financial burden of hockey for their children.

    If the financial support and skill are present to allow a player of color to make their way through the youth hockey system into the NHL, players tend to have experiences similar to that of Kane.

    After scoring a game-winning playoff goal in 2012, Joel Ward was the subject of racial bigotry on social media. Also in 2012, two-time All-Star Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him during a pre-season game in London, Ontario.

    In 2018, Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly was the victim of several fans chanting ‘basketball’ at him while he was in the penalty box, suggesting the black winger was in the wrong sport.

    These overt displays of racism within the NHL fanbase prove that there is still a long way to go to educate and diversify fans of the sport. While some fans may complain that players are speaking about their experiences, the only way to improve matters will be through players like Kane speaking out and bringing attention to the problem.

  • 20 Flights to Remember

    20 Flights to Remember

    Honoring those who lost their lives on 9/11

    Humboldt County firefighters, community members and HSU students walk HSU’s Founders Hall stairs in honor of those who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

    • Arcata Fire Disctrict Battalion Chief Sean Campbell’s gear and water bottle sit by the base of the Founders Hall stairs on Spetember 11 as Arcata Fire Department prepares to walk 20 flights of stairs in memory of those who lost their lives at the World Trade center.
    • Arcata Fire Captain Luke Walker walks with his wife Sinei and their daughter Lina on Spetember 11 in remembrace of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center.
    • Humboldt County firefighters, Arcata Police officers and community members walk 20 flights of stairs at Founders Hall in remembrance of those who lost their their lives at the World Trade Center on September 11.
    • Arcata firefighter Russell Kadle makes his way up the Founders Hall stairs with a New York hook on September 11 in honor of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center.
    • Arcata Fire Disctrict Battalion Chief Sean Campbell (Center) walks up the Founders Hall stairs while others head down in remembrance of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center on September 11.
    • Public Information Officer Amy Conlin and James Hamilton walk up the Founders Hall stairs on September 11 for Humboldt Bay Fire and Cal Fire Del Norte Unit repectively in remembrance of the firefighters and civillians who lost their lives at the World Trade Center.
    • Volunteer with Kneedland Fire Ruger West walks up the Founders Hall stairs on Spetember 11 in remembrance of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center.
    • HSU president Tom Jackson cariers an oxygen tank while walking with firefighters and community members on September 11 in recognition of those who dies at the World Trade Center.
    • Kneeland Fire Captain Everett Buell makes his way up the Founders Hall stairs on September 11 in honor of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center.
    • Arcata firefighter Luke Walker gives a brief speech about walking in remembrance on those who lost their lives at the World Trade center as firefighters from around Humboldt County and community members prepare to walk 20 flights of stairs on September 11.
    • Students from Arcata Christian School wave American flags as firefighters and community members walk up and down the Founders Hall stairs on September 11 in honor of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center.
  • Jacks Dominate at Cross Country Home Opener

    Jacks Dominate at Cross Country Home Opener

    Humboldt State runners get off on the right foot with a resounding win

    The Lumberjacks kicked off their cross country season Friday, running a commanding full team effort at home for the Humboldt Invite. The race took place at the Baywood Golf Course and Country Club which offers very little flat ground for the runners. This seemed to suit the Jacks just fine as they recorded individual and team wins in the women’s and men’s races, respectively.

    • Rosie Melville follows CSUMB runner Brook Roy onto the main straight during the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Melville would go on to finish third for the Jacks, passing Roy who finished fifth.
    • Left to Right: Lucy Atkinson and Hannah Hartwell lead the pack during the opening stages of the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Hartwell would go on to win the race for the Lumberjacks while Atkinson finished sixth.
    • Maddie McGarry works her way up the steepest hill on the course at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. McGarry would go on to finish 17th.
    • Finn Tyvoll holds off a charge from Menlo College’s Benjamin Ronoh as they pass HSU coach Jamey Harris at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Ronoh would eventually pass Tyvoll to finish second with the Jacks runner finishing in third.

    The women’s team finished the afternoon with 26 points, comfortably outscoring the next best team, Oregon Tech, who earned 46 points. The strong points production came to the Jacks courtesy of five top 10 placements. The consistency of this women’s team was accomplished in part by the runners working together in small groups to pull each other up the standings.

    An easy standout performer from the women’s race was freshman runner Hannah Hartwell, who won her first race for Humboldt State by a margin of 30-seconds from the Oregon Tech runner up Delani Dietrich.

    • Daniel Tull makes his way on to the main straight with a comfortable lead at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Tull would go on to win the race for the Jacks.
    • Left to Right: Lucy Atkinson and Hannah Hartwell lead the pack during the opening stages of the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Hartwell would go on to win the race for the Lumberjacks while Atkinson finished sixth.
    • The start of the men’s race at the Humboldt Invite on September 6.
    • Runners make their way up the steepest hill on the course as supports cheer them on at the Humboldt Invite on September 6.

    Hartwell jumped out into the lead of the race early on, working with fellow freshman Lucy Atkinson to extend a gap on the chasing athletes. As the race progressed, Hartwell was able to pull away from her teammate and ran by herself for much of the 6K distance.

    Despite not having the benefit of working with somebody for a majority of the race, Hartwell was able to close out the competition and get the first win of the season for the Jacks.

    “It was cool to win,” Hartwell said. “I’m stoked that I won. I think that it will be really fun to get back into competing again.”

    With a winning performance from the women, the men’s team hit the course and didn’t miss a beat, placing six runners in the top 10 to finish with 20 points on second-place Menlo College who earned 51 points. With strong performances all around for the men, it was race-winning senior Daniel Tull who stood out.

    • Daniel Tull makes his way on to the main straight with a comfortable lead at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Tull would go on to win the race for the Jacks.
    • Hannah Hartwell makes her way up the steepest hill on the course while leading the field at the Humboldt Invite on Spetember 6 on the way to victory.
    • Maddie McGarry narrowly leads a pack of runners through the back stretch of the course at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. McGarry would go on to finish 17th.
    • Elliott Portilllo leads the way early on for the Jacks at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. Portillo would go on to finish third in the race.

    Tull finished 39 seconds ahead of the next runner to cross the line, Benjamin Ronoh of Menlo College. Ronoh was followed to the line by four more successive Humboldt runners who solidified the overwhelming team win.

    Tull was happy to have crossed the line first for the Jacks and was also quick to point out positive overall performance from the team.

    “I know our whole team has had a really good summer of training,” Tull said. “We’re all fit, we’re all strong, and we’re all having fun out there doing it. If you look at these guys, they’re all smiling and laughing even though they just ran five miles fairly hard, so that’s what you want to see.”

    Head Coach Jamey Harris was also pleased with the team’s performance, saying that it proved the depth of the team from new recruits and returning athletes. Along with training for racing in groups, Harris pointed to the bond between teammates as a key to their win and the future.

    • HSU cross country coach Jamey Harris congratulates Hannah Hartwell after winning the Humboldt Invite on September 6.
    • Michael Gengo recovers from after crossing the line 24th at the Humboldt Invite on September 6.
    • Finn Tyvoll crosses the line in third just behind Menlo College’s Benjamin Ronoh at the Humboldt Invite on September 6.
    • Freshman Hannah Hartwell hugs her mom Lisa Roop after winning her first race for the Jacks at their season opening Humboldt Invite on September 6.
    • The HSU mens cross country runners raise their fists in celebration after taking both the individual and team wins at the Humboldt Invite on September 6. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    “We’ve done a lot of running together,” Harris said. “But also they just come together. It’s a really well-united team. The team chemistry is fantastic, and obviously, that impacts everything in a positive way.”

    The Jacks will have some time to recover and keep improving before heading to the Sundowner Invitational in Monmouth, Oregon on September 20. The team and its competition will also return to Humboldt on October 26 for the CCAA Championships.

  • Downhill Dust

    Downhill Dust

    2nd Annual Mad River Enduro hosts 111 riders in Blue Lake

    On Saturday, the hills south of Blue Lake were filled with the sound of bicycles shooting down the trails. The 2nd annual Mad River Enduro hosted 111 riders who traveled through the five stages, twisting pathways created by Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association. Riders took to the course at 9 in the morning and rode for 7 hours before retiring to the Mad River Taproom for drinks and the podium ceremony.

    • Rusty Buholz of Team Roaring Mouse heads down a small incline while competing in the men’t expert 40-49 catagory of the Mad River Enduro in Blue Lake on Spetember 7.
    • Ashli Lewis exits a berm on during a fast section on stage four of the Mad River Enduro on the way to finishing thrid in the Open/Pro Women’s class on September 7.
    • The upper tube of local artist Joel Grave’s bike featuring graphics themed for each stage of the Mad River Enduro in Blue Lake on September 7. S1: Cobbler S2: Woodrat S3: Gnome of Love S4: Pits S5: Woodstock
    • Transition Bikes rider Bonnie Burke makes her way through stage two of the Mad River Enduro course on the way to winning the Open/Pro Women’s class on September 7 .
    • John Cahill drops down an almost vertical trail at a marshalling station on stage three of the Mad River Enduro in Blue Lake on the way to winning the Sport/Beginner Men’s 50+ class on Spetember 7.
    • Nigel Hill of team Revolution Bicycles takes a series of jumps while going down stage four of the Mad River Enduro in Blue Lake while competeing in the Open/Pro Men’s class on September 7.
    • John Cahill drops down a slope at the start of stage five of the Mad River Enduro in Blue Lake on the way to winning the Sport/Beginner Men’s 50+ class on Spetember 7.
    • Vincent Kimber takes a little extra air on a jump during stage 4 of the Mad River Enduro while cometing in the Open/Pro Men’s class on Spetember 7.
  • LJ Sports Podcast

    LJ Sports Podcast

    Listen to the KRFH sports show live on Thursdays from 5-7 PM on 105.1 KRFH or KRFH.net

    https://soundcloud.com/user-815505871/sets/lj-sports-podcast-411

    Part 1: We talk about two huge additions for the HSU men’s basketball team, the HSU softball team’s winning streak, track and field action, an F1 update from Thomas, and we talk about the (then ongoing) Masters golf tournament.

    Part 2: Liam goes on a rant about his Sacramento Kings firing Dave Joerger, we talk about the NBA playoff picture and the chaos surrounding the LA Lakers, and we talk about Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki’s final games.

    Part 3: We talk about the San Francisco Giants offensive struggles and their series against Gabe Rivera’s beloved San Diego Padres. We also talk about the other scores and stories from around Major League Baseball.

    Part 4: We preview the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and we discuss the San Jose Sharks defensive and goaltending struggles coming into their series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

  • LJ sports podcast

    LJ sports podcast

    Liam Warner, Gabe Rivera, Albert Muro, Thomas Lal, Weston Lazarus, and Allyn Setran talk local and national sports

    Listen to the KRFH sports show live on Thursdays from 5PM to 7PM on 105.1 KRFH or KRFH.net.

    Listen to the KRFH/LJ podcast with this link: https://soundcloud.com/user-815505871/sets/sports-show-328

    Part 1: We talk about the newest acquisition for HSU men’s basketball, HSU softball, the Green and Gold Invite for HSU track and field, and we discuss our March Madness brackets.

    Part 2: It’s finally baseball season! We talk about MLB opening day, Gabe boasts about his talented San Diego Padres squad, and the San Francisco Giants fans on the crew air their frustrations.

    Part 3: We talk about the race to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the San Jose Sharks recent struggles, and comments made by LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.

    Part 4: We talk about the soccer scores around the world during the FIFA international window. We discuss the UEFA European Qualifiers, U.S Men’s national team friendlies, and racism in soccer.