Posts by lpreston:
Grizzlies can’t repeat aginst River City
December 3rd, 2010At the conclusion of the 2009-10 girls’ basketball season the Granite Bay High School Lady Grizzlies faced off against the River City Raiders in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. That night the Grizzlies proved themselves victorious; however tonight was not the case.
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Lady Grizzlies can’t overcome Knights
December 2nd, 2010On Thursday, Dec. 2, the Granite Bay High School Lady Grizzlies faced off in their third basketball game of the season against the Rio Linda High School Lady Knights. The contest was hosted by Christian Brothers High school as a part of their three day Holiday Classic tournament.
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Wrestling anew
November 9th, 2010
After a successful 15-year career as the head coach of the Granite Bay High School wrestling team Mike Lynch retired at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season.
Lynch has been a member of the wrestling community for 46 years and has held many positions in the wrestling world including being an athlete, coach, referee and even teaching a seminar on coaching wrestling at the University of Idaho.
While Lynch still has a passion and love for the sport of wrestling, he found that being a coach for both football and wrestling was becoming too much.
“Now football players go into December… (and) as a head coach it becomes very stressful during that transition time, mid-October through November,” Lynch said. “All the different things you need to do (for wrestling) is just becoming more and more difficult… and at the same time you’re in the heart of your football season.”
Taking his place this year will be GBHS science teacher Shane Dixon who has been working at the school as an assistant wrestling coach since 2002.
Dixon has been involved in wrestling much of his life and although he did not wrestle in high school, it was an important part of his childhood.
“I started wrestling at a young age,” Dixon said. “I grew up in New York where you need to find inside activities for much of the year. Wrestling was a big part of the culture of my town.”
Inspired by the coaches he had when he was young, as well as his own passion for the sport, Dixon began to coach. His first coaching job was at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino and then at GBHS.
Once he began coaching at Granite Bay, Dixon was placed under the wing of Lynch, who coached the team since the school’s debut in 1996. It was this sort of mentoring that led to a natural changing of the guard when the time came for Lynch to step down.
“(Dixon) had a strong recommendation from me and great support from the wrestlers and the parents,” Lynch said. “He’s been here, he knows the kids, he knows what’s been done, and how the program is run so it makes for a nice, smooth transition.”
While the task of taking the helm from a successful wrestling coach may seem daunting, Dixon is eager and ready for the new position
“I am really excited because we have a great returning core of wrestlers and I hope to have many more athletes join the team,” said Dixon. “The wrestling team represents a great group of athletes, coaches, and parents so I know we will have a great season.”
Not only is Dixon filled with anticipation for the upcoming season, which starts at the beginning of November, but his athletes are excited for the potential that a strong returning squad and a new coach bring to the team.
According to Lynch the team was filled with many young wrestlers last season and this year they are coming back with more experience than they have had in past years.
Senior Will Anderson, who has been wrestling for six years, is one of the many members of the team who feels comfortable around Dixon because he has been in the wrestling environment with him before.
“He’s been under Lynch’s wing for (some time) so he knows everything that Lynch has done,” Anderson said. “He’s really good at getting us to do what we need to but it’ll be fun. It’ll be a good experience with him.”
Junior Gavin Andrews, who is coming off a very successful sophomore season, including a national title from a tournament in Virginia Beach, also feels that Dixon taking over is a positive change.
“He’s going to make me excel at everything I do and he’s going to push me to the limit and just make me a better athlete,” Andrews said.
But Dixon’s highest praise comes from his mentor and colleague former head coach Lynch.
“He doesn’t need many words of wisdom from me because he’s a bright guy and has some great idea,” Lynch said. “He’s here to work hard with his guys and encourage them to be their best both on the mat and off the mat and he’s (going to) be just great.”
Successful seniors go out in convincing fashion
October 24th, 2010Friday, October 22 was senior night for the Granite Bay High School boys’ soccer team, who played their last Sierra Foothill League home match against Rocklin High School. Read the rest of this entry “
United through adversity
October 11th, 2010
Three Ironmen wait for the next play to begin
DANVILLE, Penn. – Friday night football is almost synonymous with high school during the fall.
Boys around the country suit up to represent their school and try to pull out the win so on Monday when they show up to school they are the heroes, not zeros.
But in some towns, it is not just the players and coaches who are involved in the game, it’s the whole community. They ride on the shoulders of the team and go out to watch every Friday night because football is something bigger than just a game, it’s a symbol of pride and support. Read the rest of this entry “
Cheer coach teaches beyond the mats
September 15th, 2010On Friday nights football takes the stage. The boys rush and pass on the gridiron as the crowd is held captivated by their agility and power.
But when the shrill pitch of the whistle signals the end of the first half, the boys are knocked from their center stage pedestal and it is the girls that take over.
These girls are members of the Granite Bay High School cheer team and this year, under the direction of returning coach Bri Larson, they are back with a fiery intensity. Read the rest of this entry “
Recipe of the Month: Scooby Snacks
May 24th, 2010
Scooby Snacks are no longer just a dog treat. Now, they can be enjoyed by people, too.
Remember when you used to watch the TV show Scooby Doo? Scooby was always rewarded with a “Scooby snack.” Now, the fictional treat has become a reality. It’s sweet and salty, and it’s the ultimate combination of mouth-watering tastes. This sweet treat is sure to satisfy your fix for a guilty pleasure without making your waistline suffer. Read the rest of this entry “
Caught between a soccer ball and a hard place
May 24th, 2010Soccer is a staple sport in the state of California. Children of all ages gather on the pitch to join together in a common bond, to play a sport they love and for many the culmination of their hard work leads to four years of playing high school soccer.
However, a relatively new proposal by the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in California, would have a significant effect on the way high school soccer is played. Read the rest of this entry “
Competitive drive put into a greater perspective
April 19th, 2010I have played sports for as long as I can remember. I’ve been sore, I’ve been beaten and I’ve felt the pain of defeat and the bliss of victory. But above all of this, I am a competition junkie.
I’m not ashamed to admit it. The thrill of a good wholesome challenge is like a drug to me. The rush of exhilaration that I get when I step on the field or the court just before the start of a game gives me a high that I can’t find anywhere else.
But in the last month, my sense of competition has been put into perspective. Read the rest of this entry “
Seniors win again
April 19th, 2010 Once a year, Granite Bay High School turns blue and yellow and class rivalry is renewed. Decorations adorn the school and chants resound across campus.
The day was March 19, and the event was Powder Puff, the annual girl’s junior vs. senior football game, and the anticipation in the weeks leading up to the game was as high as it has ever been.
Over 300 junior and senior girls raced onto the field under the Friday night lights. After weeks of preparation and memorizing plays, the time had finally arrived. It was game night. Read the rest of this entry “
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