WARRIOR FOOTBALL SWEATING IN A NEW SEASON
Posted 08-20-03

Above:  Warriors go through their summer workouts as Head Coach Steve Denman looks on.

TEHACHAPI NEWS - As the summer months draw closer towards the first day of school for Tehachapi High students, Warrior football players have already taken the first step towards the new school year, participating in summer workouts for the upcoming football season.

Preliminary implications are positive for the 2003 Warriors, with high expectations from the coaching staff and the players on South Sequoia League and Central Interscholastic Federation title hopes.

“It’s too early to tell too much, but overall the players are listening and executing well,” said Warrior Head Coach Steve Denman. “We still have some wrinkles that we want to incorporate for the next couple of weeks, but in the initial stages I think we’re all pretty excited.”

The excitement is generated from the talent and depth that Tehachapi will have in its arsenal this fall, led by Tanner Hutchinson, who had 1,136 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2002.  Tehachapi also returns talented runners Josh Lange and Jeremy Clark, along with Sean Finley, who was the junior varsity’s steam-horse a year ago.

“We are a run-emphasized team, and we’ve been that way for years. To have some talent in the backfield and on defense will help tremendously to helping us achieve our goals,” added Denman.

Defensively Mike Faulkner, Anthony Scott, Daniel Haycock, and Josh Lange will help anchor a defense that will have a new-look secondary with Sam Tyner, Matt Patience, Mike Wright, and 2001 junior varsity standout Kris Haycock.

Haycock did not play football in 2002 to focus on helping Tehachapi to a CIF baseball title last spring, but the talented senior’s performance so far has generated glowing reviews from the coaching staff.

“Kris will play as a safety for us on defense, wide receiver on offense, and a little quarterback,” said Coach Denman last spring. “He will also be a big part of our special teams as well, so it’s likely that he may never leave the field.”

Taking a majority of the snaps this year for the Warriors will be AJ Barcelona, who should have some good protection from returning players Tyler McCann and Sean Rogers, along with a good receiving target at the tight end position in Tyson Schmidt.

Newcomers to the Warriors will be Paraclete transfer Zach Harris, who looks to see some playing time at defensive back and wide receiver this year, along with Vincent Flores, who played high school football in Georgia as a down lineman a year ago.  

Editor's Note:  Tyson Schmidt is no longer with the Warrior program, moving to Arizona for his final High School year.  Replacing Schmidt at Tight End in 2003 will be sophomore standout Mike Papac and junior Travis Ureno.

Above:  Warrior Practice Pictures (click on each pic for larger version)

	Don’t forget!  Inner-squad scrimmage is set for around 8:30am this Saturday (August 23rd) at Coy Burnett Field.  New season starts Friday (August 29th) at West-Bakersfield High School in a scrimmage against the Vikings!  Freshman are set to scrimmage at 3pm, Junior Varsity game is set to start at 5pm, while the Varsity is set to go at 7:30pm.  Make sure you arrive early for the best seating.
	A special thank you goes out to Assistant Coach Pat Snyder and Coach Steve Denman.  I misplaced my camera bag at the Golden State Wing-T camp, and Coach Snyder was nice enough to hold on to it until I could claim it.  Coach Denman brought it by my house a couple weeks later, so thanks to them the Warrior pictures will continue!
	Former Warrior and Fresno State Alumni Rodney Michael seems to have a bitter-sweet end to his football career, being subject to some mini-camp cuts by the Indianapolis Colts earlier this summer.  It’s unknown whether or not Rodney plans on pursuing other football aspirations on another level, but if you happen to see him when he’s visiting his folks in Tehachapi make sure you let him know how proud you are, as well as the rest of the community, of his fine play over the years.
	Speaking of Tehachapi and Fresno State players, Head Coach Steve Denman’s son Chris Denman is poised to come off a red-shirt year with the Bulldogs for action as a guard for Fresno State.  Chris had 10 receptions and three touchdowns as a tight-end his senior year for the Warriors in 2001, while also grappling down opposing quarterbacks for an impressive 13 total sacks.  Look for #79 on the sidelines or on the field if you have tickets to Bulldog Stadium this year!  Early implications have the Bulldogs fairing well, getting pre-season rankings of #29 by Sports Illustrated and #21 by the Sporting News. Above:  Tehachapi Alumni Chris Denman

Warrior Boosters!  If you are interested in confirming (or updating) your seats to the green section for the upcoming season, information to do that can be found by contacting Warrior Booster President Gary Warner at 822-5686.  You will have to buy a booster member subscription (if you don't already have one) and a small fee in order to get the green seat, but it’s well worth it!  Green seats are a one-time fee, and are good for every home game that year (including playoffs).  The Booster club usually holds an annual get together to auction off the seats, with the preliminary date set for September 2nd at the North Snack Bar at Coy Burnett Field at 6pm.  The club will also have it's annual "Meet the Warrior" night, set for Thursday, August 28th, at the Jacobsen Middle School Cafeteria (old high school cafeteria) at 6pm.  Booster club subscriptions can be bought at the "Meet the Warrior" night as well, hope to see you there!