Sports

Lassen High School freshman Kenny Jones approaches the head table prior to his first match in the CIF State Boys Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield, Calif. March 1.  Photo submitted

March 11 — As the wrestling season comes to a close, Lassen High School’s Kenny Jones has a lot to be proud of. Jones, along with Lassen High School wrestling coach Errin Montgomery, traveled to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Boys Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield, Calif. Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Jones finished his freshman season in the top 24 in the state in the 113-pound weight division.

In order to qualify for the CIF State tournament, wrestlers had to place within the top three in their weight class at the Master’s tournament in their section. Jones won third place in the 113-pound weight class during the North Section Masters Tournament, making him the only LHS wrestler and only freshman in the North Section to qualify for the state tournament.

Forty wrestlers from each of the 10 sections in California participated in each weight division at the CIF tournament, meaning 560 wrestlers in California, spread between the 14 CIF weight classes, qualified.

The CIF State Wrestling tournament began in 1973 at Cal State University, Hayward and was approved on a one-year trial basis. It is now considered one of the best high school state tournaments in the nation.

Looking back on the wrestling season and the state championship tournament, Jones was happy, yet humble. “I was happy to make it there … I was two matches away from placing, so I did good, but I think I could’ve done better,” he said. Jones reflected on his coaches and teammates, saying that they did well, better than previous years. He is looking forward to the next wrestling season and hopes to get another shot at the state championship tournament.

March 5 — As the Lassen Community College (LCC) baseball team prepared for its first home game Friday, March 1, it was pleased to see a new scoreboard going up at Memorial Park.

According to head coach Frank Avila, the old scoreboard had not worked well the entire time he has been coaching at LCC. The LCC baseball team helped raise the money for the new scoreboard by holding a golf tournament last summer. The Kiwanis Club, The American Legion, the Lassen High School baseball team and several local businesses also fundraised and donated money for the new scoreboard.

The baseball field at Memorial Park is the home of all things baseball in Susanville. The field is used for Susanville Little League, men’s league, senior league, Lassen High School, The American Legion team and LCC. It’s no surprise fundraising for the new scoreboard was a community effort and that the baseball community is looking forward to seeing it at home games in the future. At an LCC baseball practice Thursday, Feb. 21, Avila said, “We want to thank all the local businesses in town that helped us come together to get the new scoreboard at Memorial Park. I know it will be an advantage to pretty much the whole city of Susanville baseball-wise, so that’s good. I want to thank the Kiwanis Club and Steve Robertson. He’s the guy behind the scoreboard and he did a great job.”

In addition to their excitement over the new scoreboard, Avila and the LCC baseball team are looking forward to the remainder of the baseball season. At practice on Feb. 21, LCC had already played 11 games, all of them away, and held a record of 1-10.

Despite the losses, Avila was positive about the Cougar’s upcoming games. “The season’s going good. We’re off to a slow start, but once we get outside a little more and practice and start working on the little things its going to take to be successful, we’ll be fine,” Avila said.

While the Cougars played competitively in their previous games, unfortunately they didn’t come out on top.

However, the Cougars aren’t focusing on the losses, their future competitors or any other challenges they may face throughout the remainder of the season. Instead they are focusing on themselves, the quality of their game and the things they can control. “When we worry about other people is when we start getting in trouble. We need to play against the game, not necessarily against the opponent. We need to play a clean game and play our style of baseball and make people beat us,” Avila said.

According to Avila, the sophomores on the team are the leaders. They help the Cougars come together as a team competing for one common goal, rather than playing as individuals. The Cougars 11 pitchers are led by left-handed pitcher Colby Duncan, from Reno, Nev. and right-handed pitcher Cory Louber, from Chico, Calif. Lassen High School alumni Austin Chedwick and Jared Bertotti also play for the Cougars.

The LCC baseball team had its first home game with the new scoreboard Friday, March 1 against Delta College. The Cougar’s next home game is a doubleheader against Butte College at 12 p.m. Saturday, March 9.

The Diamond View champion team is made up of Coach Dave Wood, top left, Bryce Giacomelli, Korbin Marcum, Tyler Powels, Korbin Drake, Hudson Northrop, Dalton Loflin, Coach Joel Chavez, Travis Wood, bottom left, Hunter St. Andre, Carson Chavez, Kevin Barnetche, Kaden Goforth and Colby Harris.  Photo submitted

March 4 — The Diamond View Middle School eighth grade boys’ basketball team recently ended its season as four-time tournament champions. During the season, the team won the Diamond View Tip Off Classic tournament, the Loyalton Sierra Valley Invitational and the Mt. Shasta and Janesville tournaments. They ended the season with an overall record of 28-3.

The Lassen High School varsity basketball team poses with its awards in the student center Tuesday, Feb. 26.  Photo by Maddie Musante

Feb. 27 — Lassen High School held an awards ceremony for its boys’ basketball teams in the student center Tuesday, Feb. 26. The event was attended by parents, coaches, players and supports and featured an award ceremony for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity players.

The players of each team voted on the awards for best defensive player and most improved. While the coaches decided on the winner of the coach’s award and MVP. The All-League awards were based on performance in league games only.

On the freshman team, Ryan Carver was voted best defensive player and Taylor Bronough was voted most improved. The freshman coach’s award went to Jacob Atkinson. Oliver Cruz won MVP.

The JV team voted Bryant Wood best defensive player and Justin Dupree most improved. The coach’s award went to Weston Ormachea, who coach Giacomelli described as the “hub of the team.” The MVP award was a tie and went to both Quinn Thompson and Kyle Barnetche.

The varsity team gave Dakoda Hahn the award for most improved and Colby Chavez the award for best defensive player. The coach’s award was given to Colton Faure. Nate Freeman was awarded MVP. Daniel Perry and Chavez were awarded All-League Honorable Mention.