Golden West High School - Sunset Yearbook (Visalia, CA)

Page 129 text:

Polo puts on surprising show Nowhere in sports was a bigger change made than in this year’s TrailbUizer varsity waterpolo team. Unable to garner many wins in previous seasons, the team contested for the West Yosemite League championship up until the final game, taking second place in the league for the first time in the school’s history. It was also the first team to represent Golden West in the Valley playoffs, though the team lost the first playoff game to Exeter. After the dual season was over, the Trail- blazers were tied for first place in the West Yosemite League. The dual match season brought plenty of excitement as the Trail- blazers defeated both Redwood and Hanford high schools for the first time in the school’s history. The 10-8 victory over cross-town rival Redwood came Oct. 7 in the Trailblazer pool. Going into the WYL tournament with just two league losses, the team lost to Mt. Whit- ney in the final game to finish in the second place spot. Rick Johnston, who scored 45 goals in 26 games, received the All- American award and Pat Quinn, who scored 80 goals, earned Most Valuable Player honors. Bryan Shirk was named the best defensive player and Mike Bockman received the Coach’s Award. LEFT: Goalie Bryan Shirk, defensive player of the year, goes up to block a goal in the Trailblazcrs’ ? victorious season. BELOW: Front: Rick Johnston, Brent Hobbs. Middle: 1 Richard Kennedy, Mike Bockman, Bryan Shirk, Mike Fcil. Back row: Luis Figallo, Greg Borrud, Pat Quinn, 1 Dan Maughan, Tom Homburg, Coach Ben Blank- et enship.

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— —• — TJ2L Becky paces girls’ team Freshman Becky Petty paced the girls’ cross country team to second place finishes in the West Yoscmite League and in the Area contest this year. Becky clocked a 19:47 in the three-mile WYL race at Hickey Park in Hanford to win the indi- vidual championship. She also clocked an 18:54 run to win the Area individual cham- pionship. Syliva Franco placed 10th in the Area race. GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY TEAM Front: Valeric Vicarra, Jennifer Tracy. Back: Coach Dian; Narahara, Becky Petty, Shelia Baldcrama, Melissa Thomas, Darlene Goss, Coach Jess Arriaga Cyndi 'Hartman YaCes along the leaf-lined roads o Cutler Park during the Golden West Invitational. Becky Petty races in the Golden West Invitational at Cutler Park.

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Players credit new coach Ask the water polo players what caused the season to turn into a victo- rious one and they’ll tell you the new coach. Sporting water polo shirs imprinted with a Big Ben clock and the phrase, “Our Time Has Come,” team members praised Coach Ben Blank- enship. “Our coach is the major factor in the victory,” said player David Bene after the first defeat of Redwood High School. That statement echoed the one made by many players ABOVE: New Coach Ben Blankenship cheers his team to victory. TOP RIGHT: Luis Figallo fires past his oppo- nent in the season’s opening home game. MIDDLE: Mike Foil and Richard Kennedy assil Bryan Shirk in defending the goal. RIGHT: Patrick Quinn goes over the top of his Porterville opponent. 126