Page 11 - Reedley Exponent 9-6-18 E-edition

B3 | Thursday, September 6, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com
Velarde selected PacWest Preseason POY
Photo Contributed / Fresno Pacific University Athletics
Anthony Velarde, former Reedley High standout, was selected the preseason PacWest Palyer of the Year. Velarde is entering his senior as a member of the Fresno Pacific men's soccer team. Velarde graduated from Reedley High in 2014.
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
Anthony Velarde, Fresno Pacific soccer standout and former Reedley High star, had a breakout season in 2017.
After scoring 10 goals and having a team-leading 13 assists, Velarde has been selected as the 2018 PacWest Preseason Player of the Year.
“Last year, Anthony showed that he is capable of carrying this team to a cham- pionship, and this will be his last attempt to do that,” said Jaime Ramirez, Fresno Pacific head coach. “He has the abil- ity to create for others while also putting himself in scoring opportunities. His balance of goals and assists speaks of a young man on the verge of becoming the best offensive player in the West Region.”
Velarde said that he hopes to build off of last season and hopes to lead the Sunbirds to
a championship.
“You always have the vi-
sion of having a great season like I had last season, it is a
different when you come into a new season and start fresh, Velarde said. “Yes, there is pressure on me, but you can't let that be your mentality. I will literally play and love that I am here and playing one more season and playing with the team and I am excited about this team.”
Ramirez sees all the po- tential in Velarde and said that if he can continue to im- prove and get his teammates involved, it will justify the preseason honor.
“It is up to his ability in using others that will garner him the possible confirmation in the fact that he has been picked as preseason Player of the Year, ” Ramirez said. With the players that we have now and the addition of newcomers that Anthony will have a role of distributor, of orchestrator and organizing the attack and being a leader.”
Ramirez also said that he believes that Velarde can be the best player in the confer- ence.
“He is a good kid and is
well rounded. When we are hard on him he doesn't trink and when we let off a little bit he finds it within himself to continue to push,” Ramirez said. “He has the ability to be the most well balanced player in every match that we play. I don't think there will be any- one who can generate the type of offensive situations that he can for himself and others.”
Velarde started 17 of the 18 games that Fresno Pacific played in 2017.
The exemplarily play by Velarde is a far cry from 2016 season when he chose to redshirt and the one goal he scored combined in his first two seasons are FPU in 2014 and 2015.
Velarde has higher goals for his final season with the Sunbirds.
“Its been a big journey over the last four years. I nev- er once thought as a freshman that I would be the player that I am now and a player that is hopefully going to lead this
See VELARDE on page B4
High School Football
Pirates lose to Emperors, IHS falls to Chowchilla High
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
Daniel Cortez, Reedley High Pirates running back, carries the ball against the Dinuba High Emperors on Aug. 31 at Sal Gonzalez Field. The Pirates lost the game 52-7.
Photo Contributed / Kirk Kawagoe
Winston Williams, Immanuel High Eagles player, gets tackled by members of the Chowchilla High football during a game on Aug. 31 in Chowchilla.
Staff Report
The Reedley High Pirates football team fell to 1-2 on the season following a 52-7 loss to Dinuba High School on Aug. 31 at Sal Gonzalez Field.
The Pirates trailed 35-0 at halftime and were unable to come from behind.
Reedley High will play Mendota High School on Fri- day, Sept. 7, in Mendota.
Jairo Aguilar led the Pi-
rates with eight rushes for 88 yards and scored the Pirates only touchdown of the game on a 58-yard run in the third quarter.
Staff Report
After scoring 66 points in a win over Farmersville on Aug. 24, the Immanuel High Eagles offense was bogged down in a 38-14 loss to Chow- chilla High School on Aug. 31
in Chowchilla.
The Eagles fell behind 14-
0 after the first quarter and were unable to overcome the Tribe.
Immanuel is now 1-2 on the season and will play Quincy High on Friday, Sept.
8, in Quincy.
Derek Wood led the Ea-
gles with five carries for 72 yards and one touchdown, while Matt Tiger ended the game with eight carries for 58 yards and one touchdown.
Pirates girls golf on quest to compete for Section title
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
The Reedley High Pirates girls golf team enters the 2018 with high hopes.
With every player return- ing from last years team, the Pirates are hoping to compete for a Section Championship and win another league cham- pionship.
The Pirates have reigned supreme on top of the North Yosemite League for the past six seasons, and will be seek- ing a seventh straight title in 2018.
Reedley High returns Al- lison Botello, Camryn Tav- lan, Meghan Hansen, Audrey Loredo Kyndall Murray and Hayley Preheim.
Reedley High is off to a solid start to their season win- ning three matches over Di- nuba High, Tulare Union and Sanger High Schools.
“The key to the quick start of the season has been the fact that the players started practic- ing in late June and were just able to pick up where they left off last season,” Marquez said. “The whole team has improved.
They have been doing well.” The Pirates then took third place in the Sanger Tourna- ment on Aug. 22 at Sherwood
Golf Course.
Only Division I teams Clo-
vis West and Bullard finished ahead of the Pirates.
They then placed fifth in the Lemoore Tournament on Aug. 27, once again finishing behind Division I programs.
Botello, Reedley High Pi- rates senior believes the ca- maraderie the team has is key to the season.
“We always try to push hard together and encour- age each other,” Botello said. “We are a family and we keep track of how each other are doing. We want each other to strive and do better.”
The Pirates hosted Kings- burg High School on Sept. 4.
No score were available at presstime.
They then will compete against Selma High School on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Ridge Creek Golf Course in Dinu- ba, before playing a match against Kerman High on
See GOLF on page B4
The Reedley High girls golf team has opened the 2018 season with a 5-0 record.
The Pirates, who return every player from 2017, are looking to compete for a Section Championship.
Reedley High played Kingsburg High School on Sept. 4. No score was available at presstime.
They then will play against Selma High on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Ridgecreek Golf Course in Dinuba.
File Photo / The Exponent