University City High School - Excelsus Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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Get A Grip! The whistle blows and you shoot out at your opponent without even thinking, your concen- tration centered on getting a hold on your foe and receiving the first takedown, the first key step in dominating and winning a wrestling match. You force him to his back and get those first two points, working up the body to the head for a head and arm, the most lethal of the pinning moves in its easy access and effi- ciency. Your opponent struggles to roll you, sensing your superiority, and you shove his arm across his face to cut off his breathing. He wriggles frantically to keep his shoulder blades off the mat for a few seconds and then slows, your iron grip draining his last spurts of energy along with his breath. Then, Wham! The ref- eree ' s hand slaps the mat as the whistle blows and you ' ve won your team six more points, adding another pin to your record. This was the dream that kept every wrestler going this winter when he stepped back onto the mat for another three hours of grueling practice. Every day the Centurion wrestler was met with the wrestler ' s mile, consisting of five laps including stairs (because wrestlers can ' t count) before practice to get them in condi- tion. We were a much better team physically this year . Coach Yandall commented. The extra conditioning kept us from tiring in the last period and won us a few bouts as well . Led by team captains, Mike Houghton and Jeff Benzon, the second year grapplers added victory after victory to their individual records and the team competed fiercely in the Western League as strong contenders for the title. Few wrestlers returned from last year but those who did helped to teach the newcomers and added drive, unity, spirit and experience to the team, the key ingredients to a successful wres- tling squad, Coach Yandall said. Gary McDowell and George Brooker also helped coach the team this year, getting into the ring with the wrestlers and showing them precisely how it ' s done. Going to all day tourna- ments and pushing the wrestlers to victory, where at the Orange Glen tournament. Coach Yandall got news that he was now the proud father of a baby boy, Eki. the team ' s mascot. Standing: Coach Ed Yandall. Gretchen Smith, Mike Anderson, Mike Houghton, Steve Harris. John Kapitze. Tony Moscato, Steve Hawley. Alvin Pangilinan, Coach Gary McDowell, and Coach George Brooker. Kneeling: Craig Morrison, Kevin Aylesworth, Todd Brehe, Jeff Venzon, Kent Ninomiya, John Shafer, and Paul Livesay. Jeff Venzon puts the crunch on his opponent. Standing: Coach George Brooker, Coach Gary McDowell, Bruce Stone, Steve Manber, Brian Vowinkel, Craig Jerpseth. Larry Geller, Coach Ed Yandell, Kneeling: Daniel Glazerman, John Helsing, Brian Engleman, Francisco Vom Borstel. and Kyle Yasuhara. 118 Wrestling

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Hustling Hoopers Joanne LaMotte drives hard to score. What we lack i n numbers we make up for in spirit, comments Coach Greg Hill of the Girl ' s Junior Varsity Basketball team. We ' re a physical team and fundamentally sound, we should give any team in the league a run for their money except for our inexperience on the court. The novice hoopers carried team play to its fullest as no one player stood out from the bunch. There is no one all-star on this team, said coach Hill. They ' re all outstanding and they should develop into a first class team by the end of the season. Joanna Cottle shoots from the line during practice Top Row: Stephanie Cucero, Shirl Washington. Joanne LaMotte, Theresa Moore. Gloria Palacius, Coach Hill Bottom Row: Mary Grant, Joanna Cottle. Bonnie Lopez It I Stephanie Cucero practices free throws Tonya McClellan shoots before the sec- onds of the game run out. JV Girls Basketball 117

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-»- (y ' -» Kyle Yasuhara and John Shaffer concentrate during Coach Ed Yandall keeps track of Centurion points on the scoreboard a take-down drill V Tony Moscatos opponent tries to crash his arms of steel. ' Steve Hawley and Tony Moscato work for a take- down. Wrestling 119