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SPORTS & ARTS Conference realignment boosts chances for league titles
do you have what it takes?
PARESH DAVE WEB EDITOR
MC teams have moved from the predominantly Division I Palomar League to the mainly D-II Valley League in a conference realignment based off of enrollment rather than location, which should increase competitive balance. Here’s what the league change means for each sport: Boys water polo finished 3-5 in league play last year, but contending with RB will improve the team’s chances in getting a better seed in the playoff tournament. Boys cross country enters as the favorite to win the league over Valley Center and is in a position to win a section title after falling short by a point last year. Girls cross country, who did win a CIF title last year, should be able to top Ramona for a league title. A more experienced field hockey team should show improvement this year, but could have a tough time getting past defending league champion Valley Center. The football team will face, as head coach Darren Spence said, “The green monster in football known as Oceanside,” the defending D-II state champion. Valley Center is the D-IV section champion, and the team will still face RB in what is a very competitive schedule. Girls golf, led by three returning CIF qualifiers, moves to an easier league which San Pasqual dominated in 2007. The first-time CIF champion girls tennis team should be glad that Torrey Pines is no longer in their league, but easily capturing a league title might make them less tested for post season play. Girls volleyball lost to WV in CIF semifinals a year ago. Ramona, Oceanside and Orange Glen also made the playoffs meaning anything could happen this year. Boys basketball could not make it out of the first round of the playoffs last season. Oceanside could prove a formidable foe in what will be a very balanced league. Girls basketball shot past Ramona and WV on route to a CIF three-peat. Four-peat seems possible. Boys soccer will have to sprint past not only WV and Oceanside if they want a league title, but Orange Glen too, who is coming off a 10-1-1 league season. Girls soccer will be chasing WV, who entered the playoff tournament as the top seed, and went on to live up to that ranking by winning a CIF banner. It appears as though the girls water polo team, which went undefeated a year ago, will have to battle it out with Valley Center for a league title. The D-II CIF champion wrestling squad should secure a league championship with wrestling powerhouse Poway not in the league. After finishing in the Palomar League cellar in 2008, the baseball team may have just as much trouble gaining on their new opponents. Boys golf will see a big improvement with an older group moving out of a very strong league. The lacrosse teams should fare well in an easier league, but since only one section title is awarded CIF banners appear out of reach. Boys tennis, which lost a strong corps of seniors, will match up against teams of more equal caliber. Boys volleyball edged out WV and then Scripps Ranch to win a section title last year. After graduating several players, it will be interesting to see their quest for a repeat. Gymnastics will aim to upset Torrey Pines to bring back the lone section CIF title in 2009. Despite the loss of ace Jessica McDermott, softball should bring home league and CIF titles. > SEE “LEAGUE CHANGE,” PAGE B2
Friday
September 12, 2008
B Mt. Carmel SuN
New athletic director warmly welcomed onto MC campus LAUREN HALL STAFF WRITER
Matt Coffelt | Photo Editor
Ruben Ramos (12) poses for a photo illustration of varsity football tryouts. The team had to endure “hell week” in order to make the team. They also attended two-a-day practices. During their tryout week, they were required to lift, run, and condition in the heat.
Athletes emerge from “hell week,” endure rigorous tryouts KEVIN LAGE Entertainment editor
Girls Volleyball
Do you have what it takes? Are you willing to push yourself beyond your limits in a grueling tryout week? Tryout week or “Hell Week” as it is not-so-affectionately called is a necessary evil for all athletes that wish to compete at the varsity level. It is generally the hardest training period of the season and the time when the coach considers the players for cuts. The following are the experiences that some varsity level teams went through during their tryout weeks.
Boys Water Polo
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“Our typical tryouts were filled with lots of basic drills so that we could evaluate the players,” Coach Bri Beal said. “We had them come to two different sessions. The morning sessions were drills and the afternoon sessions were more full out playing. Workouts were usually at the end of the second practice and would consist of running, plyometrics, and overall fitness training. We also had all athletes stretch both morning and afternoon sessions. The toughest thing that we have our athletes do is hold themselves accountable. They have to turn in grades every week and must maintain a 2.5 or higher to play. The fitness and practice are tough both physically and mentally but having something to be accountable for outside the gym makes it tough.”
“Starting the week before school started until the end of the first week of school, we had two-a-days,” junior Trevor Webb said. “The The hardest part of tryouts morning practice was usually a dry land workout was being out in the hot sun Girls Tennis consisting of a two mile run, stadiums, and then After their historic CIF victory last year the about 30 minutes of ab workouts and pushups. running and conditioning.” team came into this season working hard and try Then we got in the pool for speed training by ing to get ready for another great season. The girls swimming laps on fast intervals. In the after- tennis team’s tryout week consisted of mostly - Stefan Derry (12) noon workouts, we started with more ab workdrills, with some conditioning. Each day they ran outs and dry land strength training. When we got one mile, and ran stadiums and other conditionin the pool we would do an endurance workout ing workouts. They mostly ran tennis drills to imby doing long sets. We would also do leg training prove their skills. While there were no cuts and the by working with weighted balls. We would always finish up with about 20 ranking were mostly known beforehand, athletes could challenge higher minutes of sprints.” ranked players for their rank on the team.
Cross Country
“Obviously a typical day for cross country varies by experience and age of the athlete,” Coach Nathan Boyer said. “The incoming freshmen face adjusted workouts compared with the varsity level returnees. The first week included a hill circuit, a tempo workout, a long run of up to 70 minutes and various road runs with length and intensity appropriate to age and experience. The hill circuit was the single ‘toughest’ workout, although the idea is not to destroy them. I want them to run well every day.”
Football
As one of the largest and hardest working teams on campus, the boys football team had a grueling tryout week with two-a-day practices. “The hardest part of tryouts was being out in the hot sun running and conditioning,” senior Stefan Derry said. “During tryouts we lifted, practiced our plays and did conditioning.” So what do you think? Do you have what it takes to make the team? Are you willing to push yourself beyond your limits? Well you’re going to have to try if you want to make the team.
Tips & Tricks:
how to make the team
What the coaches are looking for:
How to prepare for tryouts:
- enthusiasm - being “coachable” - willingness to do whatever the coaches ask - positive attitude - desire - the want to be on the team - commitment to excellence - using 100% effort - encouraging teammates - motivation to improve - knowing they can always do better - timeliness - respect towards the coach - self-confidence - believe in yourself - overall skills - existing capabilities * According to various MC coaches
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- start practicing - train with friends at least a month before tryouts - talk to the coach if you can - they’ll more likely remember who you are when tryouts roll around - begin a training schedule - to build stamina and get in shape [run/jog/swim] - lift weights - it will help build muscle strength - get a sense of what to expect - talk to athletes who were previously on the team - don’t think negatively - be mentally ready by believing in yourself - get a good amount of sleep the night before - wake up early for a healthy breakfast - be on time to tryouts - better yet, be early compiled by nicole bustamante | staff writer
Friendly students, a helpful staff, and a great school environment were all of the qualities that Athletic Director Randy Wright looked forward to on his first day working at MC. Wright came with lots of prior experience as the coach of a 13 time CIF finalist and nine time CIF section champion basketball team. “Walking into the arena, whether it’s for first time or the tenth time, every time is special,” Wright said. Not only was there the reward of winning, but to Wright it was worth so much more. “To be a part of the process is great, and for many kids it was their first time that they had made it that far,” he said. “In coaching, you want to get to the highest level, and seeing the kids get their desires is great.” For him, it’s all about the kids and what they learn from it. Wright was athletic and involved in sports and his school even in his years in high school. “I’m a basketball guy. But I was in football, basketball, and baseball my freshman year,” Wright said. “But before my sophomore year I got my appendix taken out, so I stuck to basketball.” His most recent years before coming to MC were spent at a college preparatory school, Capistrano Valley Christian High School. There he was the athletic director and a varsity coach. He has been in California for 20 years. Some of his previous years, however, were spent at Santa Fe Christian School, a newly opened high school. For Wright, being in this position was a unique experience because there was a smaller population at the new school, and Wright wanted to spend more time with people. Later on, Wright was named division five coach of the year in 2006 for his achievements as the basketball coach at Santa Fe Christian. “It was a little bit different there because it was a start up school so there weren’t as many kids,” Wright said. “I wanted to be with the kids.” Some of Wright’s best relationships with students came from him teaching P.E. “It was a great experience,” Wright said. “I enjoyed the people I worked with.” Coaching was also a good way to create close relationships with the students. “I loved coaching because I love spending time with kids,” Wright said. Wright coached basketball, some cross country, and a little bit of golf, but he loves and enjoys all sports. As their coach and role model, seeing his athletes compete and improve is very rewarding to him. Now Wright is at the top of his game. As athletic director, he brings an enthusiasm and a passion for what he does. “To be back in a school environment is great, and I’ve heard good things about Mt. Carmel,” Wright said. It is yet to be determined if he will be able to take a coaching position. He is hoping to be able to take part in coaching again at MC and would like to be more involved with the students. “Being the athletic director, you focus on the total program rather then just your own individual sport like you would as a coach,” Wright said. “I like being able to spend the one on one time with kids.” Wright has now stepped up on the ladder, and things have been looking up for him as he starts off the new year. “It’s been very rewarding for me so far,” Wright said. He looks forward to meeting new people and sharing more moments in the months to come.
JV football
JV cross country
Coach Carter is determined to improve on and off the field, teaching the team how to be good athletes and good people.
The team is working hard individually and as a team, challenging themselves to reach their full potential.
Also visit the web for .. - JV water polo - JV volleyball - JV tennis