Los Angeles Valley College - Crown Yearbook (Valley Glen, CA)

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Doubl Dose of Courage By Margot A. Meyer Illustrated by Ken Hively Practice, athletic agility, plus a double dose of courage are the elements that make a good gymnast, according to Valley gymnastics Coach Ted Calderone. Serving as gymnastics trainer for five years, Coach Calderone, assistant professor of physical education, tries to focus on all three of these areas, plus a few more, when work- ing with Valley's gymnastics team. This year the team has only four return- ing members-Cary Callahan, who placed sixth in the state last year in the side horse competition, Sheldon Leon on parallel bars, Richard Spink, a top prospect on the side horse, and Cary Wallace, a to all-around performer. The remainder of the team consists of freshmen like Craig Corwin, who special- izes on parallel bars and side horse, and Richard limenez, a good all-around per- former. Today's gymnast has to be more than a well-coordinated athlete. It's not like in the past when gymnasts had to special- ize, said Coach Calderone. Valley's competition format consists of six Olympic events: floor or free exercise, pommel or side horse, rings, vaulting, parallel bars, and horizontal bars. A team member must be proficient in all six of these areas if he hopes to place in college competitions. Richard Spink completes a high Because of the varied talents demanded of gymnasts in the six different areas, a gymnast should start training at an early age. If a prospective gymnast benefits through training in high school, it is an added plus when he reaches Valley since the caliber of competition on the com- munity college level is very high, said Coach Calderone. I Valley gymnasts train all year around. We work out in the off-season five days a week, for several hours a day, said Coach Calderone. Many team members train on their own time, sometimes spending more than 20 hours a week in a gym. scissor on the horse during a team practice. Gymnastics team member Bruce Low concentrates on his parallel bar performance.

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l Lee Garig Uefty and Donna Forman show form and grace while fencing. One Abvcrnce Ken Barker Ueltl parries a lunge made by Mark Soderstrom. . 'i ,ts + f ,g,'1....---e'-'f- ff-M' -1 108 qslffy, V, milf 4. 4... irrev- . iiew 'T l'3mf45'i-.-gel 7 T' Hif By Vanessa Finan Illustrated by Wes Preston Advance, advance-advance-lunge. Perhaps this tactic is somewhat reminis- cent of approaches made by the opposite sex, but it's also a familiar tactic for Valley's fencing team. Protective padding, a wire mask, a leather or suede glove, thick broadcloth jacket and breeches, over-the-knee socks, and tennis shoes. This is the difference between the point of a foil and the fencer's body. You're not impressed? The point of the foil is always covered either by a metal tip or is taped beyond recognition. The sport itself may be diffi- cult to accept because of the psychologi- cal inferences to score a hit with the end of the blade by touching the opponent within the body's scoring area. However, casualties suffered from parti- cipation in the sport are minimal, and usually occur as a result of anything except direct contact with the foil's pro- tected point. Fencing is a very safe sport, stressed Donna Forman, Valley College Fencing Captain. As long as you wear the proper clothing and equipment, you can't get hurt. However, l'm not saying that acci- dents don't happen. l know at first, when I started, l used to cringe a little when l was hit. In my mind, I expected it to hurt. But after a while, you get used to it, and you realize that you're not going to get hurt. Miss Forman was indirectly introduced to fencing as a result of her love for medieval history. With one year's fencing experience behind her, Miss Forman will be transfering to UCLA in the fall, and will compete with their fencing squad. Foil, which is the only category in which women are allowed to fence, is Miss Forman's forte. Foil, and the two blades reserved solely for the men's competitions, sabre and epee, constitute the categories for compe- tition on the collegiate level. To any fencer, musical words from an anonymous referee ring jubilantly in the fencers' ears when they hear, Five-zero, bout.

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1. .I-.V it-lr. A , i . -P f,ree'5-rar-ivffgfvffgig-f i -5 1 . , 'Ds ' -.. 'Q gal-r FEW: ' '1'TFL- i 4 alll lll , er ii' sgwmd . 'W'---is:---,5,. .v,,.4:, M -fra.-3s7:f. 1. j - ,L M? , . ' Ll eb' -. .. -' - ' ' , was ,. fr ' is , - M, 'B ' gg, Displaying his butterfly technique, John Renaud swims toward the finish. Monarch Boug t Nelson Sweeny swims the backstroke against Pasadena City College. - Z. iii.,-L., YT r I FQ.. r '1's-zfiflk -rf, - .. Lfgfvf' , .4 .5 . ,I W K -I g, ff' ' -.T'.f-rf.,-, f' r at s- f.,i '+ ' H. . qv ' .. xggS1i.:..-at .. gt':f', --iifxf lily , im. .- tfwf' 1i.'l.'3 .' v . ,i. J... .,- W: ' ,si -1-. .A-., .i f gf ,. f. - i :.- ,wr 1 . W- ug-,W , -V. -:.4,,,., ,f . 1 -a-sg5-F, V ' 'av-us.-31 .E'i1.'9i',-F ..x.,. ,- l' ffef'ilK+I'af '--if--'ir - F. r -, ,U .e -, .1 Y ,.,,. ag lik . .- i. -4,7- 45..- -nw ,, , , s. -. .0 . ..,,. ,fl .h. ,- 1.U--- : I '-nk P ' . JY' 6 . W-ff,-F3 . . float 4 n , ' ig, ygis --. Y V , V fd. it 0213. Q il . 1-9 Paula Thomas ends up in a rather unusual position as she dives in competition with El Camino College. By Vanessa Finan Illustrated by Robert Lachman Marco Polo, mermaid, lifeguard and dunk'em are all effortless water games, but when it comes to serious competitions, Bill Krauss feels that swimmers have to be in perfect physical condition. As Valley College's swim coach, Krauss said even though swimming is considered as a low-talent sport, his team members must depend on their arms, as well as leg strengths, when competing. Swimming is the most exhausting sport, said Krauss, asso- ciate professor of biology, wondering at the same time what motivational force is the instigator for competitive swimmers. He said of all the sports, swimming offers few avenues for professional occupations, aside from Olympic glories which provide acclaim, but no immediate income. He said swimmers can't afford to be in anything but top physical condition during competition seasons. Existing on strict diets and vitamins, swimmers have to overcome specialized liabilities that are reserved solely for their sport.