Page 11 - Mid Valley Times 8-5-21 E-edition

Bray new
coach for
DHS girls
basketball
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Mark Bray is re- turning to a head coaching position on the basketball court.
Bray, a Kingsburg native who had a suc- cessful five-season run coach-
Immanuel hires Bernardi as athletic director
ing the
Vikings
boys
from
2005-2010
and has
been an
assistant
with the
Dinuba
High boys program the past two seasons, is taking the reins of the Emperors' girls program for 2021-22. He succeeds Benjamin Prado, who retired af- ter six seasons includ- ing a 1-1 abbreviated campaign in spring 2021.
"I'm looking for- ward to getting back out there, and we have a good nucleus of play- ers," said Bray, who has been at DHS since 2016 and coaches the football team's defen- sive line.
During Bray's time as a varsity basketball assistant at the school, the Emperors were the Central Section Divi- sion 3 runners-up and NorCal runner-up in 2019 before capturing the Central Sequoia League title in 2020. Dinuba's boys went 3-3 during an abbreviated 2021 spring season.
At Kingsburg High, Bray posted a 96-51 record in during his varsity boys coach- ing stint; reaching the Division IV section championship round three of his five sea- sons.
Bray was the CSL's Most Valuable Player at Kingsburg in 1982, and after his collegiate career he entered law enforcement. He had a 28-year career, retir- ing from the Fresno County Sheriff's Office as a sergeant in 2015.
Bray teaches Crim- inal Justice and Crime Scene Investigation at Dinuba High.
Fall football practice
Assistant Thiessen named Eagles' new head baseball coach MVT Staff Report
During his playing days, Bernardi participated in four bowl games for Fresno State before beginning his coaching career as offensive line quality
tant in 2013-15, served a year as tight ends coach at Fresno State and held an assistant coaching job at San Jose State.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Reedley High football coach Tony Gates, foreground, gives out directions to the Pirates' kickoff team during an evening practice at Sal Gonzalez Field on Aug. 3. Reedley High — which went 5-1 and captured the outright North Yosemite League championship during an abbreviated Spring 2021 season — have begun fall practices for the traditional 2021 season. The Pirates continue regular practices up until their preseason scrimmage at Kingsburg High on Friday, Aug. 13. The regular season opens with a home contest on Friday, Aug, 20 against Hanford West High. Reedley High has a solid core of players to build around as they attempt to successfully defend its NYL championship.
“He loves the Lord and we believe he is a great fit to continue to lead our baseball pro- gram into the future," Wood said.
A 2007 graduate of
Apache Football golf tourney on July 30 draws 116 participants
During his coaching stints, Bernardi has had 12 players go
Thursday, August 5, 2021
MVT Staff Report
A week after the hiring of state-renowned Josh Hender- son as its new football coach, Immanuel High School has hired a former Fresno State football standout as its new ath- letic director.
Joe Bernardi, who played on the Bulldogs' offensive line from 2006-2010 before a num- ber of assistant coaching stops collegiately, was announced as the school's AD on July 30. He replaces Josh Franco, who has resigned as AD and the Eagles'
head varsity baseball coach and accepted a Special Education position with the Fowler Uni- fied School District.
“We are excited to add Joe to
our Athletic Department team.
He is a man of God who brings
character, integrity, and a pas-
sion for leading our student ath- Joe letes,” Ryan Wood, Immanuel Bernardi Schools superintendent, said in
a news release on June 30.
control coach for the Uni- versity of Ten- nessee in 2011- 2012. He then coached the of- fensive line and tight ends for the University of Oregon as a graduate assis-
on to play in the National Foot- ball League.
In its news release, the Im- manuel Schools said Bernardi will draw on his collegiate expe- riences in leading the school's athletics program.
On July 23, Immanuel an- nounced it had hired Henderson as its new head football coach. Henderson had compiled a 94- 32 record in 10 seasons while building Grace Brethren in Simi Valley into a state power, culmi- nating with a Division 2AA state title in 2018.
Mark Bray
Immanuel High has named Kip Thiessen as the program's new var- sity baseball coach.
Thiessen, who has served as an assistant with the Eagles under Josh Franco for seven seasons, was promoted by the school on Aug. 3. Franco is leaving his IHS post as coach and athletic director to take a position with the Fowler Unified School District. He posted a 181-114-2 record in 11 seasons.
“Immanuel is such an amazing place. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to serve as the head varsity base- ball coach," Thiessen said in a news release. "Doing what I love, in- stilling the Word of God daily, and being sur- rounded by the Body of Christ is a blessing all the way around.”
Clovis
West
High
School,
Thies-
sen ap-
peared
in two
section
cham-
pionship games with the Eagles. His exten- sive coaching resume includes three seasons under coach Sam Flores at Fresno's Hoover High, along with an as- sistant position with the Xenia (Ohio) Scouts of the Great Lakes Sum- mer Collegiate League in 2013.
Ryan Wood, Imman- uel Schools superinten- dent, said the school is excited to have Thies- sen in the new role.
Kip Thiessen
MVT Staff Report
The Sanger Apache Football golf tournament attracted 116 golfers for the group's 20th annual event at Sherwood For- est Golf Club on July 30.
Men and women of all ages and skill levels came out to golf on a hot afternoon and raise money for the Apaches' football program.
On the Apaches Foot- ball Boosters' Facebook page, coach Jorge Pena
thanked golfers, do- nors and hole sponsors, volunteers and SFGC for their efforts in put- ting on the tournament. There were 25 principal
sponsors honored for their contributions at four levels: touchdown level, 50-yard-line level, 25-yard-line level and first down club.
The 2021 Apaches — reigning County Metro Athletic Conference champions from this past spring — are in the midst of fall practices in
preparation for the 2021 traditional fall season. Sanger's opener is Fri- day, Aug. 20 against Clo- vis High at Tom Flores Stadium.
Profile
BJ Vela
Reedley College baseball
BJ Vela, Reedley College infielder who was drafted last month in the 16th round by the Boston
Red Sox, has signed with the organization and will begin rookie league play at the Red Sox’s Ft. Myers Complex in Florida. Vela, who led California community college players in hitting with a .487 average this spring, was a first team all-state selection in his lone season for the Tigers after starring at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico.
REEDLEY 555 I STREET
559-638-2300
www.xceleratefitness.com
DINUBA ATHLETIC PROFILE
MarkBray
Dinuba High Coach
Mark Bray begins his first year as head coach for the Dinuba High varsity girls basketball basketball team. Kingsburg native Bray also serves as defensive line coach for the Emperors varsity football program, and was an assistant coach for DHS boys basketball teams that finished second in the section in 2019 and captured the Central Sequoia League crown in 2020.
NOW OPEN!
11am-9pm
Pizza • SubS • beer • WingS
1550 E. Manning Ave. Reedley • (559) 643-0797 (FORMERLY PIRATE PIZZA)
Opening month Special: Large 1 topping $925
Athlete
007291
007394
007395