Page 9 - Dinuba Sentinel 8-2-18 E-edition

Sports
“Everybody has been very supportive and it feels like family to me,”
- John C. Freitas, DHS Athletic Director
B1
Sports at Dinuba High School has seen quite a run over the past several years with Valley titles in cross country, football, soccer and softball as well as outstanding individual performances in wrestling and track and field.
This year the athletic department will have a new leader, as former athletic director Jeff Schofield hands over the reins of DHS athletics over to John C.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Emperors welcome new AD
By George M. Villagrana
Freitas. valuable job,” Freitas said. available, Freitas pounced on the
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Freitas comes to Dinuba High School having spent a year at Lindsay High where he taught various grade levels. Freitas then moved on to Tulare Union where he was the school’s librarian for six years.
Frietas said he thoroughly enjoyed his time working as a librarian.
“You got to learn how to work with a lot of different personalities. You learned how to anticipate needs with teachers and students. It was a very
Freitas also served as an assistant baseball coach before taking over the program.
After three years, Freitas stepped down from coaching and it was then he decided to make it a goal to become an athletic director.
“Itwasagreatrunandajoyto see the relationships you build with student athletes that last a lifetime,” said Freitas. “
Once the DHS position became
High School Volleyball
opportunity and was named the AD early in the summer. Since then Freitas has been attending as many AD meetings as he could.
Thus far, Freitas has been very impressed with the school and faculty at DHS.
“There’s a lot of quality sports programs here with a lot of veteran coaches and that make it easy on
See Freitas, Page B8
The Dinuba Sentinel
John C. Freitas is the new athletic director at Dinuba High.
Volleyball team gets back to work
mindset from their day in the mountains to preparing for a scrimmage next week at Lemoore. Tuesday’s morning practice was the first time the team has seen live ball action, says Burner.
“As an entire crew, yes it’s our first practice,” Burner said.
Burner says the team has 11 players on the roster that includes returners and a few players from junior varsity.
“It’s all juniors and seniors this year and we don’t have any sophomores at this point,” Burner said.
With the season moved up two weeks, the coaches and players will have to be ready for the short turnaround. However, the teams first match of the season won’t be until a week and a half after the scrimmage.
“It’s a little bit nerve-racking with being out of the gym and everything, I feel like the girls worked really hard in June. We had a great tryout, we’ve got a good solid group and they should be strong. They got a lot of mental toughness,” Burner said.
The Dinuba High varsity volleyball team spent Monday at Millerton Lake as part of a daylong retreat before returning to full practice Tuesday morning.
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
The first day of practice for the Dinuba High girls volleyball team was Monday and absent from the gymnasium was the Emperors varsity squad.
While the junior varsity and freshman teams were working on serves and defensive drills, the varsity players and coaching staff were at a day-long retreat at Millerton Lake.
Coach Michele Burner said it was good for the team to do different activities away from the gym.
“They went on kayaks, tubes and we got one coach to paddleboard,” Burner said.
Members of the team have done various exercises that included yoga and water aerobics to strengthen their bodies, according to Burner.
“It’s a different work out,” Burner said.
The Emperors will have to shift their
Youth Football
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Water Polo
Excitement builds in Orosi
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Eric Guzman, who was a member of the Dinuba Emporers water polo team that made it to Valley in 2010, joins the program as a coach.
Water polo team has a familiar face at the helm
at DHS, Guzman joined the Army and was stationed in Alaska. Guzman now is employed by Kingsburg Elementary and hopes to use his previous experience to help guide the team to a successful campaign.
“The mindset is to work as a team and try to win as many games possible,” Guzman said. “They have the mentality to work together and push themselves to the limit which is great.”
What isn’t so great for Guzman are the low numbers that may have
See Water Polo, Page B8
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Dinuba High’s boys water polo program has a familiar face to lead this years team.
Former Emperor Eric Guzman, who played on the school’s team that were Division III runners-up in 2010, joins the staff overseeing the boy’s squad.
“I’m extremely excited,” Guzman said. “I love the sport and it brings back good memories. I’m enjoying the camaraderie these kids have.”
George M. Villagrana | The Sentinel
After finishing his aquatics career
Orosi youth football program has seen a spike in interest at all levels as teams received new football gear and equipment. Teams also participated in passing league tournaments, a first for many on the teams.
Youth football teams have plenty of players and new equipment for the season
what a passing league was.”
The pee wee, junior and senior teams
all participated in passing league, according to Huerta. In all, Orosi played in three of the four tournaments. Even taking notice were officials.
“Some of the refs were glad to have us back,” Huerta said. “We’re looking good and scored a few touchdowns.”
Huerta noted opposing teams included Redwood and Tulare.
Currently there are over 85 athletes participating and those numbers could increase when school begins.
In addition, Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District has funded the program that allowed for new equipment, according to Huerta.
“We got all our kids brand new certified helmets, pads, almost everything,” Huerta said.
In years past, players struggled with equipment and costs of playing the sport.
“You had players with different pads, shirts and our helmets which were
white were turning yellow. Now we have integrated pants with the pads in them and everyone has got the same thing. Those kids that couldn’t play before because of costs can now play. It’s totally different from before.”
Huerta noted that the long range goal is to have a system in place that will be advantageous for players when they reach high school.
“In terms of systems and schemes, we want our players to become familiar with the system when they go to high school. In years past, players had to learn offenses and defense their freshman year.”
There is no doubt that players and coaches are looking forward to playing in the newly renovated stadium but that won’t happen until next year, says Huerta.
In the meantime, the team will play in adjacent field next to Orosi High’s baseball field. Goalposts have been ordered for the field, according to Huerta.
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
When talking to Orosi Youth Football Director Walter Huerta you can hear the enthusiasm in his voice when he speaks of the teams and the direction they are headed.
“There’s a lot of excitement,” Huerta said.
Orosi is back participating in various youth passing league tournaments throughout the area. That wasn’t the case before this season.
“I think it’s been 10-15 years since we’ve been in a passing league in the pop warner level,” Huerta said. “It was new to the kids. They didn’t even know