By Robby Bracker
Dunn student journalist
Dunn’s Girls’ Soccer team began the season with new names on the roster, but their strong play so far reminds observers of successful teams of the past. So far the girls have a record of 3-3. The beginning of the season started with a lot of conditioning drills. Coaches Barbara Haig and Willy Haig are having the girls run drill after drill. The coaches are as physically active as the girls and can often be seen running while calling out “run for your life” or “if you want to do it in a game you have to do it on this field”!
The girls’ soccer team won their first two games of the year against Orcutt. The team won their second game against Orcutt on January 10th winning by a score of 4-1. Janaya Reid, a key player, scored a goal and commented that the team felt confident throughout the game, and especially in the first quarter where they were winning by a score of 2-0. Areli Diosdado, a Junior, compared this year’s team to last year’s when she commented, “we don’t have as many players, but we’re more experienced.” The coaches are not one bit intimated by the number of fewer players; Coach Willy Haig said most of the girls are “keen and experienced when the key to soccer is experience”.
Coach Barbara Haig said “We have a smaller pool of players this season. This, of course, makes games tough since we have fewer substitutes that can be used in high-pressure Condor League competitions or when injuries happen. The more experienced players on the team are showing great leadership and are working tremendously hard in training as well as in games to try to compensate for the team's short-comings. At this point in the season, our record is about the same as this time last year: 3 and 3 with no ties”.
Last season the team was also extremely successful where they ended up qualifying for California Interscholastic Federation. The team decided not to go since they only had about 13 players. The most memorable game last year was against Thatcher, with Dunn defeating them for the first time in 10 years. Other achievements included the winning of the Munger Cup against Midland.
This year however they were defeated by Thatcher, but remain an enthusiastic group of people who seem to constantly be cheering and pushing themselves for a successful season. Junior Maddie Sexton, a sweeper on the team said she is “looking forward to the rest of the season”. Georgia Arnautou, a Freshman, said “I am confident that my skills will improve over the year”. While still early in the season, Coach Willy Haig says “it looks good like a team with experienced players, who show promise in the future!” Their next game is away this Saturday against San Luis Obispo.
The latest news from the Dunn School in Los Olivos, California
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Coach Fox Discusses Girls’ Basketball at Season’s Halfway Point
By Hayley Harrison, Dunn Student Journalist
Girls’ Basketball had two games on January 13th and 15th against Laguna Blanca and Thatcher respectively. At the halfway point of the the season, we caught up with Coach Laura Fox and asked where she sees the team.
“I won't lie, it's been a rough road,” said Coach Fox. “We keep coming up against these teams that just have so much more height and experience than we do, and it's been really frustrating.” However, “regardless of the score,” Coach Fox told us, “we never give up and we always hustle. I’m not just saying that either.”
The girls lost 23 to 35 against Laguna Blanca, which so far is their best game of the season. The score was very close for the majority of the game and all of the girls showed a lot more intensity than any other game this year, particularly Senior Katey Gillispie. “She out-rebounded everyone on the court and made 90% of her free throws, the best percentage of anyone this season,” said Coach Fox.
Katey said that the other team intimidated her at first, but with some encouragement from Coach Fox, she and the rest of the team fought back with force. Katey relived the moment when she took a bad hit to the face and had to step out. “Mr. Martin, our Athletic Director, was really nice to me; he said ‘I know it’s tough kid, but you gotta buck up and get back in there,’ and it turned out to be one of my best games ever.”
The girls struggled more against Thatcher, ending with a 15 to 42 loss. But Nikole Layton commented again on the increased aggression of the team, as things got pretty heated on the court. Katey Gillispie pointed to Nikole as a key presence on the court. “She was really reminding us of what we had been practicing; she’s great as a point guard.”
“Our last two games against Laguna and Thatcher have shown huge improvement,” Coach Fox continues. “We have started to move beyond basic fundamentals and actually implement an offence that is showing off our instincts as a team.” Coach Fox singles out Nikole Layton, Tiffany V., and Alex Jones as her continuous top players. “Although she’s just a freshmen, Alex is showing a great deal of promise.” But the player that is surprising Coach Fox the most is Janet Yu, showing a “tremendous amount of aggression on defense. She has good instincts for where the ball is going and has an impressive amount of steals.”¬¬ Coach Fox stated that she wants to refine the team’s offense by becoming more physical and work on perfecting the box out technique. “We never want the opponent to get off more than one shot. If we can shut them down on the boards, I think we will be surprised at what a difference it makes.”
The team seems poised to continue improving and, as Coach Fox said, “the girls never give up.”
Girls’ Basketball had two games on January 13th and 15th against Laguna Blanca and Thatcher respectively. At the halfway point of the the season, we caught up with Coach Laura Fox and asked where she sees the team.
“I won't lie, it's been a rough road,” said Coach Fox. “We keep coming up against these teams that just have so much more height and experience than we do, and it's been really frustrating.” However, “regardless of the score,” Coach Fox told us, “we never give up and we always hustle. I’m not just saying that either.”
The girls lost 23 to 35 against Laguna Blanca, which so far is their best game of the season. The score was very close for the majority of the game and all of the girls showed a lot more intensity than any other game this year, particularly Senior Katey Gillispie. “She out-rebounded everyone on the court and made 90% of her free throws, the best percentage of anyone this season,” said Coach Fox.
Katey said that the other team intimidated her at first, but with some encouragement from Coach Fox, she and the rest of the team fought back with force. Katey relived the moment when she took a bad hit to the face and had to step out. “Mr. Martin, our Athletic Director, was really nice to me; he said ‘I know it’s tough kid, but you gotta buck up and get back in there,’ and it turned out to be one of my best games ever.”
The girls struggled more against Thatcher, ending with a 15 to 42 loss. But Nikole Layton commented again on the increased aggression of the team, as things got pretty heated on the court. Katey Gillispie pointed to Nikole as a key presence on the court. “She was really reminding us of what we had been practicing; she’s great as a point guard.”
“Our last two games against Laguna and Thatcher have shown huge improvement,” Coach Fox continues. “We have started to move beyond basic fundamentals and actually implement an offence that is showing off our instincts as a team.” Coach Fox singles out Nikole Layton, Tiffany V., and Alex Jones as her continuous top players. “Although she’s just a freshmen, Alex is showing a great deal of promise.” But the player that is surprising Coach Fox the most is Janet Yu, showing a “tremendous amount of aggression on defense. She has good instincts for where the ball is going and has an impressive amount of steals.”¬¬ Coach Fox stated that she wants to refine the team’s offense by becoming more physical and work on perfecting the box out technique. “We never want the opponent to get off more than one shot. If we can shut them down on the boards, I think we will be surprised at what a difference it makes.”
The team seems poised to continue improving and, as Coach Fox said, “the girls never give up.”
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Dunn Middle School Boys' Volleyball in Championship Round
Yesterday's upset against Jonata put DMS Boys' Volleyball in the championship round. We will playing for the championship tonight against Solvang at 7:00 (location: Jonata gym).
It was an amazing set of 3 games. Jonata won the first game, we won the second game, and the third game went to us with a score of 26-24. The boys played amazingly well. We had lots of loud and spirited fans to add to the excitement.
Carpe Diem,
Eric Gaylord
Head of DMS
It was an amazing set of 3 games. Jonata won the first game, we won the second game, and the third game went to us with a score of 26-24. The boys played amazingly well. We had lots of loud and spirited fans to add to the excitement.
Carpe Diem,
Eric Gaylord
Head of DMS
Friday, January 7, 2011
Dunn Graduate Signs Pro Soccer Contract
The following article is from Presidiosports.com
By Barry Punzal on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 View Comments
UCSB’s Michael Tetteh has signed a Generations adidas contract and will be attending the Major League Soccer Player Combine Friday through Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale Fla.
Tetteh told Presidiosports.com on Tuesday that he signed the contract a couple of days ago and is excited about pursing his dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
Besides Generation adidas signees, the combine includes invited Division 1 collegiate seniors and five non-collegiate players. UCSB defender Michael Boxall is among the college seniors who will be looking to impress MLS coaches and general managers before the league’s SuperDraft on Jan. 13.
The players will play a series of matches while being evaluated by the coaches and GMs.
“We expected it might happen,” UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg said of Tetteh going pro. “He was on the list last year. It’s great for him and good for our program.”
Tetteh, who is forgoing his senior year at UCSB, is the third player in the program’s history to sign a Generation adidas contract. Eric Avila and Ciaran O’Brien (both in 2007) are the other players who turned pro before their senior seasons. O’Brien, who was a sophomore, was taken by the Colorado Rapids as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 MLS Super Draft, while Avila, a junior at the time, went in the second round to FC Dallas.
The Generation adidas contract includes money for players to continue their college education.
A native of Ghana, Tetteh, 22, played as an outside midfielder and a defender for the Gauchos. Although he was bothered by injuries most of this past season, he scored a brilliant left-footed goal in the NCAA Tournament loss at Cal. And he scored it while wearing a bandage around his head to cover a gash he suffered earlier in the game.
He came to the U.S. in 2005 as part of a program with the Tom Vernon’s Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Dunn School in Los Olivos. He played three years at Dunn before going to UCSB.
“He’s just got to go have a good combine,” Vom Steeg said. “If he has a good combine, he has a chance to be first- for second-round pick.”
By Barry Punzal on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 View Comments
UCSB’s Michael Tetteh has signed a Generations adidas contract and will be attending the Major League Soccer Player Combine Friday through Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale Fla.
Tetteh told Presidiosports.com on Tuesday that he signed the contract a couple of days ago and is excited about pursing his dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
Besides Generation adidas signees, the combine includes invited Division 1 collegiate seniors and five non-collegiate players. UCSB defender Michael Boxall is among the college seniors who will be looking to impress MLS coaches and general managers before the league’s SuperDraft on Jan. 13.
The players will play a series of matches while being evaluated by the coaches and GMs.
“We expected it might happen,” UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg said of Tetteh going pro. “He was on the list last year. It’s great for him and good for our program.”
Tetteh, who is forgoing his senior year at UCSB, is the third player in the program’s history to sign a Generation adidas contract. Eric Avila and Ciaran O’Brien (both in 2007) are the other players who turned pro before their senior seasons. O’Brien, who was a sophomore, was taken by the Colorado Rapids as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 MLS Super Draft, while Avila, a junior at the time, went in the second round to FC Dallas.
The Generation adidas contract includes money for players to continue their college education.
A native of Ghana, Tetteh, 22, played as an outside midfielder and a defender for the Gauchos. Although he was bothered by injuries most of this past season, he scored a brilliant left-footed goal in the NCAA Tournament loss at Cal. And he scored it while wearing a bandage around his head to cover a gash he suffered earlier in the game.
He came to the U.S. in 2005 as part of a program with the Tom Vernon’s Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Dunn School in Los Olivos. He played three years at Dunn before going to UCSB.
“He’s just got to go have a good combine,” Vom Steeg said. “If he has a good combine, he has a chance to be first- for second-round pick.”
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