The Colonial Gazette - Fairfax Senior High School

Sports
Page 8 November 26, 2008
Lions Shred the Wildcats to make Playoffs
Fairfax Varsity team ready to hike.
13 Uni. Even though the
players from both teams
seemed to be suffering
from butterfingers and
kept fumbling the ball,
the Lions managed to get
some extra points. “Every
homecoming there’s
always a silly miss” said
game announcer James
Jordan.
At half time the varsity
cheer squad performed on
the field getting the crowd
pumped for the second half
of the game with a surprise
visit from Ms. Corina
Allen, Fairfax’s former
cheer coach. “They were
awesome, unbelievable,
the utterly most best team
ever! If they wanna win,
they go for it and they did
it!” exclaimed Varsity
Volleyball Season Wrap-up
By KRISTEN BLANC
Staff writer
“Motivate yourself
to become a better player
and that will automatically
help your team become a
better team.” This is the
philosophy of the three
varsity volleyball captains,
outside hitter Alysanna
Dayrit, libero Ana Flores,
and head captain setter
Julianna Hicks.
H i c k s w a s v e r y
pleased with her team’s
efforts and achievements
thus far of the girls’
volleyball season. She
feels the team’s success
this year is a result of
their great teamwork,
communication, and
their bond on and off the
court. The players have
stepped up their game
and they not only became
teammates, but also great
friends. Manager Justin
Continued from Page 1
Photo: Daniel Mendez
Cheerleader Treshelle
Edmond.
The wildcats kicked
off the third quarter but the
lions scored a touchdown,
first down and twenty five
Fairfax. There were some
incomplete passes in the
second half of the game but
that didn’t stop the Lions
from victory when once
again, Ronnell Pompey
had an 80 yard reception
for the touchdown leaving
the Wildcats nervous about
the 27-13 lead.
Everything was going
great for the Lions. Nothing
was in their way, nothing
except for a comeback
from University. All of
a sudden the Wildcats
scored a touchdown
catching up with 19 points
Photo: Daniel Mendez
The bleachers during half-time while people enjoy the
fireworks display.
Manager Robin Dayrit sets up the ball for hitter Fern
Torres.
Photo: Kristen Blanc
Nora mentioned, “They
did pretty well but had
ups and downs. They were
very strong on defense.”
Manager Arnel Abeleda
is also very proud of their
performance and stated,
“They really improved as
the season progressed.”
At the beginning of
but Matt Bowen took care
of that when he scored a
touchdown for Fairfax,
35-19.
By the end of the
fourth quarter, the Lions
scored another touchdown
and so did Uni but the
Wildcats didn’t have a
chance, this was Fairfax’s
game. They came and
the season, Hicks was
concerned due to the
six varsity players who
graduated making her the
only starter left from last
year’s varsity team. As
captain she was doubtful
of whether or not she
could help lead the team
to success. Even though
delivered.
“I feel like I played
a great game but overall I
feel that our team played
together and that’s why
we won” said quarterback
Loran Lewis Jr. Fairfax
played well and won
homecoming. So what’s
next for the Lions? They’re
on their way to playoffs.
Western League as a whole
was much stronger this
year, Fairfax ended the
season with a 6-4 record,
which placed them third
behind Palisades and
Venice.
Hicks is emotional
about leaving the Fairfax
volleyball team and will
greatly miss the team.
However, Hicks and Flores
plan to continue playing
volleyball in the future
and have in fact been
offered to play for several
schools such as Cal State
Monterey Bay and West
LA College. “I love you
guys, and thanks for giving
us seniors such a great
season!” said Hicks to the
team. Flores happily shared
her advice to the team and
future players, “If you
really want to win, work
hard and make volleyball
your first priority.”
He’s Got Spirit!
How about you?
By CAROLANN MOTA
Sports Editor
CHEER OR DIE! The
hunt for a coach is over!
After the disappointing
departure of Ms. Corina
Allen in February, the
Fairfax cheerleaders
n o w h a v e a
f a s c i n a t i n g
new coach. Ray
Myllyla began
working with
the girls over
t h e s u m m e r
transforming
t h e m i n t o a
b r a n d n e w
“extreme” cheer
squad.
R a y b e g a n
coaching four
a n d a h a l f
years ago, at
A n g e l C i t y
Cheerleading
for three years,
p o p w a r n e r
for a year, and
private lessons
at UCLA, LMU,
and USC.
H i s
l o v e f o r
c h e e r l e a d i n g
started while attending
Santa Monica High
School. “I love it. I love
the adrenaline, the rush,
impressing the crowd,”
said Coach Ray.
“I’m trying to make
a difference by lifting the
standards as cheerleaders
and show that it’s also
a man’s sport,” said the
passionate coach of his
goals in cheerleading.
His plans for the rest of
the year are to stay and
continue coaching the girls
and go to competitions,
and hopefully nationals.
The bond between the
team and their coach is
great. They love to cheer
and so does he. “I love
them, they work hard,
listen, and together we’re
gonna take it to the top”
said coach of his team.
Cheerleading isn’t
just dance routines and
stunts. It’s a sport that takes
physical as well as mental
toughness. Coach Ray has
brought cheerleading to
a whole new level. The
already ambitious squad,
who loves cheering on
Coach Ray and Varsity Captain Tonia
Guida discussing the homecoming
dance routine. Photo: Carolann Mota
our athletic teams, went to
cheer camp this summer at
UC Irvine and came back
to school ready to kick
off the football season.
Practicing long and hard
four times a week for four
hours starting sixth period
and ending at five o’clock,
“They are willing to do
more dangerous stunts”
said Coach. Ray. What
can we expect from the
cheer squad this year?“Just
extreme cheer” said the
determined coach who’ll
hopefully take the girls to
cheerleading nationals.
F a i r f a x ’s c h e e r
squad has always been an
enjoyable team to watch at
games and pep rallies and
now thanks to Coach Ray
they will go farther than
they’ve ever gone before in
cheer history and achieve
much more. Spirited and
full of enthusiasm, he truly
is a role model for the
team and for cheerleaders
everywhere.