West Valley High School - Aurora Yearbook (Fairbanks, AK)

Page 184 text:

, NW ' Q -as 'fi X ,QQ N Y Y. , in ,xx s i ., .-,- ,f,f f .,.,A sk Q 5 5 i ,jg I i f., ,, 5 West's birdpersons include BACK ROW: Coach Bill Ernst, Amro Elshamma, Mike Cooney, Charlie Koo, Mohammed Sivjee, Bob Burcell, Ted Stamps, Mark Perry, Scott Stamps, Chuck

Page 183 text:

Appearing as lf his day is shot, dedicated coach Lee Solis prepares to take his punishment like a man. Employing the mind over matter approach, Varsity member Diane Caldwell lines up a shot from the kneeling position. Prone to success, Varsity shooter Kurt Cooney concentrates on breath and pulse control. QUGDQEBES SHOOTING TO WIN REQUIRED CONCENTRATION AND UNLIKE SOME SPORTS, FAST ACTION WAS REPLACED WITH BOLT ACTION ........,.. . W., --.ww

Page 185 text:

EW- x-Xf We A -. Regaining contact with the hardwood, Ted Stamps, lalias Towel Mani comes down after executing a deadly aerial smash. With his men's doubles partner Mohammed Sivjee, in the backcourt, Mike Cooney smashes for flesh. By this time, West Valley's spectacular success sports-wise may appear to be making the '78-'79 Aurora seem redundant. Nevertheless, due to the supreme efforts of West's smashing Badminton Team we may triumphantly chalk up another Region Vl title to the credit of the Wolfpack empire! Head Birdman, Coach Bill Ernst assembled the Badminton Team and began practices in early March. After only slightly more than two weeks of practice, the team entered its first match against Lathrop, West's single yet dangerous opponent. West's birdie smashers went into the match a trifle over-confident and received a thorough feather singeing from the Malemutes. This first loss of the season represented West's third loss in as many years. The following week, with their pride hurt and tails tucked, the Wolfpack racqueteers played their home court advantage to the hilt and rallied to crush the Malemutes with a score of 9 to 6. vb. HL U With the return of their confidence the team ventured to Lathrop and played its third match of the season. The match was extremely close right up to the wire with both teams playing well and with dogged determination, but a key men's doubles win allowed the Pack to sneak past Lathrop with a very close score: 8-7. With two wins under its belt, West needed but one final victory to capture the Regional crown. Lathrop came to West courting disaster and perhaps realized that West held the trump card. The final match of the season was West's best as the Varsity birdpersons played their hand beautifully, dropping the Malemutes in their tracks to win their third R T s . -'muh 1 y Q. y , .. VE-if :J . t..: 1 ,, at ' 13 gs With a satisfying pop of the birdie, alr- borne Micky Schruf sends her Malamute opponents the by-product of a powerful smash. itsr. Q ' ' if l ..,, 5 ' 5,,1fr T , Q sf 'R llis T l 4 1 f.s,,,,,!,. Qtr, , L 'Qi Q, ,,, is ' RJ J J I cg,-'xl .:A.1 s West's tough women's doubles team of Gillian King and Jaylen Fenton alertly defend their court. Consecutive Region title. The season had slipped by almost before anyone had noticed, but not before the individual team members took the opportunity to play in the Invitational Tourney hosted by the Lathrop team. The thrill of the Regional victory was shadowed only slightly by the players' disappointment that the season had ended all too soon and had been restricted to competition with Lathrop Ca very worthy opponentb. Perhaps it is the very briefness of the badminton season that makes the sport so attractive in the first place: one must savor every shot. 183