2003 WARRIORS SPRING INTO ACTION WITH WORKOUTS
Posted 05-29-03
Spring Ball. It’s where heroes are made.
Well, I guess we shouldn’t go that far, but, it definitely gives the THS coaching staff a solid look of what cards they are going to get dealt for the upcoming fall.
So many factors come into play when the students come out to try out for the upcoming football season when trying to build a championship. Usually, a good season the year before (and a junior varsity team that had success) doesn’t necessarily translate into a sure-fire winning season for the upcoming fall, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Questions on who will be coming out to play again, injuries, transfers, and motivation are all important aspects along with past success.
Fortunately for Tehachapi, a commendable 2002 varsity season 7-4 (3-2 SSL), along with a good returning group of players, and a junior varsity team that won the south sequoia league championship 6-3 (4-1 SSL), equate to lofty expectations for 2003 for the Mountain Men.
It’s hard to tell too much without the pads on, but in early assessments, the Warriors should have a lot of their firepower generate around their wingbacks and fullbacks in 2003, led by All-SSL returning back Tanner Hutchinson, who had 166 carries for 1,136 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2002. With Shafter, Wasco, and Taft expected to provide solid leadership and depth on defense in the upcoming year, the Warriors will need every offensive weapon in their arsenal to have success, and early speculations have Tanner being the trump card.
“I had a good year last year, and hopefully it should help me to have an even better season this year,” said Hutchinson. “I’m looking forward to the season, I know that we’re going to have a great team if we can gel early and put it all together.”
Even though Hutch might be the difference maker in the SSL title run, there are a few other aces in the deck complement the talented star that should give defenses fits in the upcoming year, led by returning backs Josh Lange and Jeremy Clark, along with 2002 JV standout Sean Finley. Kris Haycock, who did not play varsity football in 2002 to focus on baseball, could also provide a fourth threat after making an impressive showing during spring camp. Haycock had standout year in 2001 with Hutchinson, providing a formidable one-two punch in the SSL championship year for the Braves, and is just coming off a stellar baseball season at shortstop for the CIF champion Warriors. Haycock was receiving significant time at quarterback during spring camp, leaving the possibility that he could see time under center in the upcoming year.
“The kids are coming together well, but this time of year it’s about conditioning and just growing together,” said Denman.
“A lot of guys have put in some good work in the weight room, and that’s really just as important as what they do on the practice field. Guys like (Tyler) McCann and (Josh) Lange are buying into the system just like others are, and that’s what is going to help us have some success.”
On the offensive line, McCann along with Marcos Saavedra, Sean Rogers, Mike Tercy, and newcomer Kyle Fife look to help pave the way on the ground, while Greg Harrod, Trenton Pera, Allen O’Brien, and Ralph Curiel providing solid depth after starting for the Braves last season. At quarterback, AJ Barcelona has been taking a majority of practice snaps, and should have some good targets to look at in ’03 with sophomore Mike Papac looking to solidify the tight end position and Mike Wright, up-and-comer speedster David Gonzalez, Matt Patience, and Sam Tyner at wideout. Junior Troy Royer, along with Kris Haycock, also should get some action along with Barcelona at the QB slot.
On defense, Sean Finley, Mike Faulkner, and Josh Lange look to be front runners at linebacker, while sophomore Mike Papac could come up to help stop the run with Anthony Scott, Tyson Schmidt, Daniel Haycock, and Sean Finley. With the loss of Philip Altieri, Willie Grennan, and Mark Heisser in the secondary, Mike Wright, Marcus Coates, Kris Haycock, Matt Patience, and Sam Tyner look to answer the call for the mountain men in 2003 in the safety and corner positions.
“This is a solid group of young men that have done everything that we’ve asked of them so far,” said Denman. “There still is a lot to learn, but the guys are really stepping up and working hard so it should make it easy on the coaching staff.”
“With the quality of teams we have going into season, every player will need to be focused, especially at these early stages.”
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The Warriors held their annual lift-a-thon competition on May 29th, with many of the players vying for bragging rights among their teammates and the record books in the weight room. The event was a rousing success, with many Warriors putting up impressive stats to help them bulk up for the season ahead... |
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Just a reminder that the Golden State Wing-T camp is set to be hosted in Warrior country this year, just off Highway 58 at the youth football fields. The date is set for June 20-22 (Friday – Sunday). On Friday, the festivities begin at 11am and end at 6pm, Saturday 8am – 6pm, and Sunday there are scrimmages set, going from 8am – 1pm. Some of the high schools set to come to the camp include the Narbonne Gauchos (Harbor City, Los Angeles), the Granite Hills Eagles (El Cajon, San Diego), the Roosevelt Roughriders (Los Angeles), and the East-Bakersfield Blades. There should be scrimmages set against all the school during the course of three camp days (along with instruction), come on down and support the Warriors! |
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Have you heard the news? Tehachapi will have a full ten game schedule this coming fall, but it won’t be an easy one. Athletic Director Grant Snyder worked hard to come to terms with Clovis East High School for a week two match-up, where Tehachapi had an opening. The game is set to be played at Lamonica Stadium in Clovis, and it should be one of the biggest tests for the Warriors since taking on the Bakersfield Drillers in 2001. Other pre-season opponents for the Warriors include Burroughs, Foothill, Tulare Union, and Delano. |
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After further review, it looks as if Bear Pascoe and Zack Brown are going to stay put in Granite Hills (Porterville) after all…electing to not make the trip up to Bakersfield to play with Garces. For the Rams, it looks as if they may be in a rebuilding year, with long time head coach John Fanucchi hanging up the headset after guiding Garces Memorial to nine SSL titles and six Valley Titles in 19 years. John’s brother, David Fanucchi, has been given the reins after serving as Vince’s defensive coordinator the past few decades. As the south sequoia league knows all-to-well, the Ram defense has been just as good as the offensive juggernaut, and, if there is one lesson that Garces teaches all opponents, it is to definitely never count them out…no matter who the coach is. All indications show that rivalry should not miss a beat when next season comes around again! |
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Head Coach Dallas Grider of the Bakersfield College Renegades recently looked at a small batch of recent Warrior Alumnis this spring, inviting a few Warrior players to an annual spring barbeque for consideration to play junior college football at BC. Grider feels strongly that deep snapper Jon O’Brien might be a player that could help on the offensive line, while Dae Lantz, Ryan Smith, Philip Altieri, and Padriac Campbell received invites to play ball at Bakersfield College. Campbell was a 2002 Tehachapi High graduate, and is suiting up again on the gridiron after taking a year off. |
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For the record…I’ve been spelling Jedd Ingraham’s name wrong in past weekly warriors…should have know that there was an extra ‘D’ after his outstanding play at linebacker last year. Also, I might have made references to Nick Booker coming back again, well, he’s a senior…not a junior. Thanks Jedd and Nick for some great memories on the field, my apologies for the errors…I’m sure there were many more that I haven’t caught yet… |
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Many of you hopefully had a chance to keep up on the recent events of former-Warriors Rodney Michael and Michael Hall, who both recently finished up collegiate careers at prominent Division-I Universities. Both players are hoping to lock helmets again on the next level, with Rodney signing a free agent contract with the Colts and Hall looking to possibly go into the arena league or entertain the possibility of an NFL free-agent opportunity this season or next. Hats off to two great players that represented Tehachapi High School well on the college scene! Hopefully there will be more players that have similar success… |
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You know…as good as Ed Patterson’s Warrior baseball team did this year, Tehachapi might have to change their visitor bleachers on Coy Burnett Field to read “Mountain Baseball” instead of “Mountain Football”. With a third-consecutive trip to the Sequoia Large School CIF Championship game, the Warriors proved to be the victors for the second time in three years with a 4-0 win over the Dinuba Emperors. Brian Avila pitched a gem in the contest, starting the first five innings and giving up only two hits. Reliever Cody Warren finished off the visitors in the final two innings to give Tehachapi their second title in three years. Other highlights included AJ Barcelona belting a two-run shot over the centerfield fence with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tehachapi also won the CIF championship in 2001 when they defeated the Liberty Patriots. Congratulations Warriors! |
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