Esperanza High School - Quetzal Yearbook (Anaheim, CA)

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oore's cagers slip to EL 5th place The varsity basketball team struggled to a 5th place finish in the tough Empire League. With only one returning player from the 1982 Empire League champion team, Head Coach Mike Moore had his work cut out for him. Nevertheless I was pleased with the way the team played in the league, said Moore. The biggest factor of the less than brilliant season was a lack of experience. The team had eight chances to win but fell apart in the last quarters. Another factor was height. The tallest player on the team was 6'2 , in a league where players average 6'2,'. However, the season did have its bright spots, when the Aztecs defeated long time rival El Dorado and Katella back to back, knocking a strong Katella team out of the race for league title. Receiving most valuable player were seniors Eric Culberson and Keith Chalman. Phil Thummel received most inspirational and Greg Yarber received most improved. 1. Varsity basketball team: Row I, P. Thummel, E. Culberson, Ludwig. Row 2, Coach M. Moore, T. Feldman, A. Anderson. Row 3, K. Chalman, P. Spitzzri, ,Q.,,,Xarl1er, M. Chocek. Row 4, T. Patterson. 2. Varsity Coach Mike Moore and 1.V. Coach Kurt Kertson discuss strategy for the varsity team. Moores's cagers fell to a 5-16 record after winning the Empire League championship last year. 3. Senior Eric Culberson drives for a lay up under pressure from a Cypress defender. Culberson was named Co-MVP along with Keith Chalman. 56 - basketball M -N..

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Women's Cross Country Varsity junior Varsity W Los Alamitos W W Kateila W W Loara W W Cypress W W El Dorado W W Pacifica W W Kennedy W Meds Cross Country Varsity junior Varsity W Lis Alamitos W L Katella W W Loara W W Cypress W L E1 Dorado L W Pacifica W W Kennedy W Runners go to CIF, make school history Making school history, both the men's and womenls Cross Country teams advanced to CIF Playoffs. Also making Aztec history was the selection of senior Tamsin Valdez as the first Cross Country League Champion. Both teams were eliminated in the first round of CIF playoffs despite top performances executed by senior Kent Lawrence, freshman Kristie Young and sophomores Brian Brodkorb and Trisha Aubuchon. Although the teams may compete separately determined by sex, the runners train and encourage each other as if on one team. Running deals with constant pain, it takes courage to come out here and to be consistent. When it starts to hurt you ususally have to run harder. Everyone has a good attitude and they want to work hard. A lot of them have no intention of wasting the hard work theylve put in. A number of students have shown leadership and have a lot of pride whether it's in the classroom or on the athletic field, said Coach Al Britt. This year has pro- duced the two best distance runners in the school's histo- ry, said Britt talking of senior Kent Lawrence and Young, who was named All Orange County and ranked fourth out of all freshman girls in Orange County. 1. Runner Jason Biddiclc grimaces as he completes an arduous race. His efforts and efforts from teammates saw both Cross Country teams advance to CIF. 2. Aztec runners Mike Arthur, John Harberth, John Sarvey, Gabriel Valdez and Ken Forsythe try to outdistance El Dorado opponents early in a meet. The men's team took third place in CIF. cross country - 55

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C ,054 44 ff is -ak, I. Greg Yarber, Phil Thummel and Paul Spitzzeri defend against a Los Altos player. The Aztecs lost this game with a score of 49-87. 2. Paul Spitzzeri attempts a shot under pressure from a Los Altos player. Spitzzeri has been a member of the Aztec,s basketball teams for the last three years. Senior Eric Culberson concentrates on a play being explained by Coach Mike Moore, Culberson named co- P Senior Eric Culberson was named Co- MVP, along with senior Keith Chal- man. He was also the only returning player from last year's team. With his experience and leadership, he helped the team during a rough season, the season was not a success but not a disas- ter either, said Culberson. He feels the basketball program is a growing one which will prosper in the future. Culberson averaged I4 points a game and says he had an average season. He made all league team in a tough Empire League. Making the All-League team was my best accomplishment, said Culberson. He has been playing basket- ball here for four years and two of those with the varsity. basketball - 57