Page 9 - Sanger Herald 11-29-18 E-edition

SangerSports
SANGER HERALD * PAGE 1B * THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018
Kohen Pennington, 8, scores victory in tournament
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Kohen Pennington sparred with a teenager about twice his size at the small karate studio on Seventh Street in downtown Sanger.
His father, Kyle, and a couple of others watched as the 8-year-old demonstrated skills that propelled him to placing first in katas and second in sparring amongst a field of about 20 competitors at the League MMA’s World Finals XIV tournament early this month in Reno, Nev. at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa. Kohen moved quickly, firing off a series of combinations at every opening.
He didn’t let up.
“He’s good. He’s dedicated. The longer he’s here, the more dedicated and disciplined he gets,” said Jesalyn Mae Harper, co-owner of Double Dragon Kenpo Karate.
And Kohen’s been coming to the Double Dragon, learning and absorbing
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Kohen Pennington spars at the Double Dragon recently in downtown Sanger.
event, sparring every Monday and sometimes up to three times a week. In addition to the Double Dragon, he studies muay thai kickboxing in Fresno. For an example of the style, see Tony Jaa in Prachya Pinkaew’s “Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior” from 2003.
After about 10 minutes, Kohen took a break and agreed to answer some questions. He said he enjoyed the experience of the Reno tournament.
“I like to win,” he said. And referring to the sparring, he added, “It’s helped me a lot. I fight against people that are bigger than me.”
He said while he’s getting stronger, much of his success has to do with his training. “Mostly technique,” he said. And in the tournament matches he said he changed his punches and kicks according to what his opponent threw at him. “My punches were more faster and accurate and I worked on other moves,” he said.
Kohen’s dedication
showed. He didn’t take too much time before heading back onto the floor to participate with the others sparring. He wore protective headgear and pads on his fists and feet. And this time he engaged in a sparring match with an adult.
A third opponent proved more Kohen’s age and size. The pair got into a rhythm, both using their feet. A couple of times they clocked one another. Neither gave quarter. Both appeared to be enjoying squaring off against each other as they had done regularly. There are no weight divisions at the dojo, and Kohen often spars against opponents twice his age (or more) and twice his size.
“Our philosophy here is you need to learn how to take a punch and a kick as well as give a punch and a kick,” Harper said.
Kyle said his son participated in a local tournament two years
See Kohen, Page 2B
everything he can for the past four years. “I don’t think he’s missed a week in three and a half, four
years,” Kyle said. program at Centerville Kyle said his son, a Elementary, followed a second-grader who attends rigorous training regimen a language immersion to prepare for the Reno
Boys soccer launches season this week
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Time had nearly run out, and Sanger’s varsity soccer team found itself down by two goals.
Insurmountable?
Not at all. Something clicked in this Apache team during its regular season debut Nov. 26 at Tom Flores Stadium with a strong contingent of fans. A game the previous week against Tulare Union had been cancelled due to poor air quality from surrounding fires and will be rescheduled sometime in December.
Senior Saul Sanchez unleashed a shot on McLane’s Ryan Acosta in the goal, something he had done multiple times that night, and missed. Acosta proved the star of the game for the visiting Highlanders, collecting at least a half dozen blocks.
But Sanchez proved unrelenting. And after a shot into the goal by Junior Fredi Membreno, which had been fed expertly by sophomore Cristian Torres, didn’t count, Sanchez found himself again behind the ball. This time for a penalty shot on Acosta.
Sanchez didn’t miss. The crowd erupted. And although the Apaches remained down by a goal with the score 3-2, nobody appeared to care.
Still, this new team of Apaches didn’t stop. They performed much as they had the entire night, dominating play by keeping the Highlanders on constant defense. When time finally was called and the score unchanged, the frustration of the loss was evident on the faces of the team, especially as McLane celebrated the win.
Second-year coach Alex Gutierrez put the experience in perspective. “The goal is to win the last game,” he told his team. The athletes gathered around him on the moist grass in the cool evening air. “We’re starting at a
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Apache Saul Sanchez, No. 8, goes after the ball through a couple of McLane defenders Monday night at Tom Flores Stadium. The Sanger High soccer team officially started the season after an air-quality delay last week. Bottom left, Sebastian Padilla goes a little airborne while attempting to score on the Highlanders' goal.
much better point this year.”
Gutierrez said the Highlanders earned the win and that success will come with effort. “We have to earn every ounce of respect,” he said.
Assistant coach Steven Grajeda, a Sanger graduate from the class of 2013, liked what he saw despite the mistakes early on that led to a couple McLean goals. “You got this,” he said. “It’s only the start of the season.”
And later he discussed his projections for the Apaches this season. “I still think we’re the team to beat,” he
said. “From now on, we’re going to dominate.”
Yet, he said for that prediction to work each athlete must believe in himself and his teammates.
Last year’s team captain Hector Sanchez watched the game from the stands and offered his opinion, mostly agreeing with Grajeda’s assessment. Sanchez, who is attending
Clovis Community College, said he promised the team he’d attend every home game this season.
“They’re dominating,” he said during the halftime break. “They just need to get more movement off the ball. A little more communication. I hear it but a little louder. They’re connecting with the ball.”
Sanchez singled out
Torres and Saul Sanchez for praise. He said Torres can “flip the switch,” going seamlessly from offense to defense without missing a beat “quick, quick, quick.”
Saul started the second half 2 minutes in with a powerful shot on the goal. He aimed high, just over Acosta’s reach, but the ball hit the crossbar at the top of the goal and bounced
away, eliciting a collective “Oh!” from the crowd.
“I kept running the entire game,” Saul said. “It was good.” Then he said the Highlanders’ goals, two by Gabriel Diaz and another by Ivan Garcia, got into his teammates’ heads. As for Acosta, he said, “That guy was big, strong.”
“They earned them (the goals) because we gave it to them. I’m pretty sure we can grow from this.”
Acosta, who has been playing varsity at McLane since his sophomore year, said this particular game was special for his team. “We just knew it was the first game, and we knew we had to make a statement,” he said. “Their coach (Gutierrez) was our old coach. So there’s a little rivalry there.”
Senior Andrew Andrade scored the Apaches’ other goal midway through the first half after missing a shot minutes earlier on the Highlanders’ goal.
Senior Juan Garcia said he agreed with others assessment that this year’s team shows promise. “I believe we came back stronger this year,” he said. “And I believe we can take Valley.”
The Apaches are Division II.
Senior Levin Thompson, who came very close a couple times to scoring with close-in assists from teammates, said this version of the Apaches just have to find the right mindset.
“Our team’s good,” he said. “We have a mentality that once we get into it, nothing can stop us. We have so much potential.”
Next game is 5 p.m. Thursday in Clovis against the Cougars. And Friday the boys participate in the Harold S. Young Tournament at Buchanan.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerheraldsports@gmail. com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.