By Robert Jordan, Record Searchlight
July 13, 2004

SACRAMENTO -- Nicole Teter has been running a nomadic path for the past 12 years. It is a journey that has taken Teter from her native Cottonwood and allowed her to visit places like Chicago and Stockholm, Sweden, but up to this point it has been an unfulfilled trip.

All that changed with Monday's final of the women's 800 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials held at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. Teter, 30, finished second in the 800 with a time of 2 minutes, .25 seconds to earn one of three berths to the Olympic games in Athens, Greece. "I am in a daze," said Teter, who is making her first trip to the Olympics following two previous attempts. "I didn't know it would hurt this much, but I am excited." A 1991 West Valley graduate and former Shasta College standout, Teter will be joined on the team by Jearl Miles-Clark, who won the race with a time of 1:59.06 and her sister-in-law, Hazel Clark, who finished third at 2:00.37. Running from lane four, Teter found herself in third after the first turn behind Miles-Clark and Clark and even fell as far back as fourth after one lap. But with 300 meters left, Teter began to make her move on Miles-Clark, who led from the start, and Clark. After battling to get away from the pack, Teter caught Clark, but was unable to pass Miles-Clark, who ran awaywith the race after the final turn. "It was bumpy out there," said Teter. "Probably the bumpiest race I have ever been in. "You know what, I pulled it off and got second place and I am thrilled." Miles-Clark made her fifth Olympic team, but this marked the first time she won the 800 at the trials. She finished second at the 2000 trials behind Clark. "I'm looking forward to going to Athens and representing the United States," said Miles-Clark. "I want to better my performance of 2000." For Teter, her path has not been as easy. As an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Arkansas, Teter qualified for the 1992 U.S. trials but did not compete because of fatigue. Four years later, she qualified again, but failed to make it out of the quarterfinals, finishing seventh in her heat with a time of 2:05.44. Then at the 2000 trials, which were also at Sacramento State, Teter made it out of the quarters only to find disappointment in the semifinals, finishing seventh with a time of 2:04.3. "I was still young with this race back then," said Teter about the 2000 trials. "I was not physically prepared. This time I knew what mistakes not to make. "And I did what I could to be patient." Teter, who was scheduled to run in the 1,500 but decided not to after qualifying for Athens in the 800, advanced to the finals by winning both of her heats Friday and Saturday. Coming into the trials, Teter had the second-best qualifying time of 1:58.83, trailing Miles-Clark time of 1:58.61. Reporter Robert Jordan can be reached at 225-8263 or at rjordan@redding.com
Micah the Mat King!
STATE CHAMPION
(12/31-03-Redding Record Searchlight) For Micah Zachary, he began 2003 as a senior on the Anderson High School wrestling team. He ended 2003 as a junior college state champion. Along the way, he had a list of other notable accomplishments. Zachary finished his senior year at Anderson with a 49-6 record, culminating in a runner-up showing at 147 pounds at the 31st annual state wrestling championships in Stockton in March. Zachary won the Northern Section title at 147 and advanced all the way to the state finals before losing 11-4 to Dan Murphree of Vintage High School of Napa. Then he went 2-2 at the High School Senior Nationals in Cleveland in late March. But he wasn't done after a decorated senior campaign. As a freshman at Shasta College, Zachary blew through the season with a 25-1 record and was named the Bay Valley Conference Wrestler of the Year. He also placed first at 157 pounds at the Northern California Regional tournament in December. A week later, he won the state 157-pound title by beating Jeff Baker of Bakersfield College in the finals.
A Ray Grey Cup

NEXT STOP THE NFL?
(12/31/03-Redding Record Searchlight) In his second season in the Canadian Football League, Ricky Ray accomplished what he couldn't quite do in his first season — win the Grey Cup. Ray led the Edmonton Eskimos to a 34-22 victory over Montreal Alouettes to avenge the previous season's loss to the same Alouettes in the CFL title game. Ray threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run in the game. For the season, he had some astronomical numbers: a 67.6 percent completion rate, 4,640 passing yards and 35 touchdowns for the Eskimos. That got a lot of National Football League scouts' attention. Ray enters the option year of his CFL contract and can sign with an NFL team if he chooses to. In mid-December, Ray auditioned for at least eight NFL teams at the Denver Broncos' training facility. Among the teams in attendance were the Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons. I've got something good going up here in Edmonton, Ray said shortly after the Grey Cup win. The league is a great fit for me. In the NFL, I want a good shot to compete for a No. 2 job at least. You want a team to put an investment. It would be nice to have a team show the patience to work with me and develop me more. Either way, Ray had a big 2003 and it has paved the way for an even more promising 2004.
A Wing: Ricky Ray
NEXT STOP DALLAS??
Standout QB could follow in some notable footsteps
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Steve Mariucci had every right to feel the way he did about Ricky Ray. After all, Ray was a 49ers training-camp quarterback.
So when the former 49ers coach was asked about the quarterback from Sacramento State in the summer of 2001, his reply shocked no one. "I hope he gets a little taste of pro football," Mariucci said. "And chances are he'll get back to the real world after this." The real world is still waiting.Three years after the end of his Hornets career, with a stop at Arena Football2 in Fresno and 49ers camp behind him, Ray is the best quarterback in the Canadian Football League. Or so they say. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Ray has put together two stellar seasons up north with the Edmonton Eskimos. Ray's numbers are attracting the NFL, and he could follow Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia and Warren Moon as the next great CFL quarterback to make the transition to the NFL. Recently, Ray's name has popped up in NFL reports across the country. Teams such as New Orleans, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Dallas have shown interest. According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells has been working to sign Ray. Ray, who structured a short-term deal with Edmonton to leave his NFL options open, is entering his contract's option year. He's available to sign come Nov. 25. "We've certainly had a lot of (NFL) scouts," said Dave Jamieson, the Eskimos' director of communications and marketing. "In my (six years), it's certainly the most I've seen. It doesn't happen all the time." A precise passer with the football mind of a seasoned coach, Ray turned heads his rookie season, becoming the starter four games into the season and leading the Eskimos to the Grey Cup, which they lost.This season, Ray has sharpened his act. He has completed a league-high 67.6 percent of his throws for 4,640 yards and 35 touchdowns with 13 interceptions, and his 108.1 passer rating is second in the league. The Eskimos host the Western Division championship game against Sasketchewan on Sunday, with a return to the Grey Cup on Nov. 23 on the line. In a twist that's so very Ricky, the native of Happy Camp in Siskiyou County is almost oblivious to the fuss that surrounds him. He's been through too much, in too many places, to latch on to the NFL rumor mill. At one time, Ray thought football was in his past.As the story that Canadians have heard a thousand times goes, Ray accepted a job as a management trainee at Frito-Lay Inc. after graduating from Sac State. His corn-chip plans were interrupted by a call from the 49ers, yet he's become known as "Frito-Lay Ricky Ray" ever since. Ray even struck a marketing deal in Canada -- posters, hats, the works -- and his nickname has since been shortened to "Frito Ray." But now that football is here to stay, he wants to right what went wrong a year ago and win the Grey Cup. As the CFL season began, Ray found himself in an unexpected situation. His refusal of a long-term contract didn't sit well with the Eskimos, who wanted to secure their quarterback for the future. So Ray was told that he'd share time with backup Bart Hendricks. The team started 3-3, the coaching staff relented, and Ray took over. Edmonton won 10 of its next 11. "That's been the story of my life," Ray said. Without eye-popping skills, a strong arm or speedy feet, Ray always has surprised coaches and scouts. Sac State and Saint Mary's recruited Ray out of Shasta High School, but neither offered a scholarship. So he went to Shasta Community College. There, he tied a national record by throwing for six touchdowns and running for three more in a triple-overtime game. In 1998, he was named the Community College State Player of the Year. Sac State was the only school to have a change of heart, so Ray became a Hornet. His style is more Joe Montana than Michael Vick, as Ray is known for his football IQ and calm demeanor. Terence Wagner, a center who played with Ray at Sac State and is now a New Orleans practice-team player, saw that side of Ray in the Hornets' football offices, where they would pore over game film together. "I really got to learn a different side of him through that," Wagner said. "I realized he had a poised, professional attitude you don't usually see in college. What shocks people is how much he knows about football." When it came to play-calling, Sac State assistant coach Angus McClure said Ray was a rarity. "A normal quarterback will audible maybe 10 percent of the time," McClure said. "Ricky would audible maybe 35, 50 percent of the time. He was that good at reading defenses." His upside was on display in 49ers camp, where Ray received rave reviews from Mariucci on down. Garcia took a liking to Ray and now gives CFL "Frito Ray" updates to his coaches. "I just saw a guy who was extremely confident with his throwing and mentally able to handle everything," said Garcia, who was with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders from 1994 to 1998 and won one Grey Cup. "He wasn't the biggest guy or didn't have the best arm. ... But he had the right mind-set to make the most of his ability." The question in some minds is whether Ray, 24, should remain in the CFL. Flutie, now a San Diego Chargers backup in his 10th NFL season, spent eight years in the CFL, winning three Grey Cup championships and the league's Most Outstanding Player award an unprecedented six times. Moon, a 17-year NFL veteran, played for six years as the Eskimos' quarterback, winning five Grey Cups. "I think you give yourself at least three years up there, and then (NFL) people are going to recognize who he is," Moon told the Edmonton Journal. "This year, he's putting up big numbers, and people will start to notice. Next year, he'll get all the scouts coming up there. He could help create the buzz by telling everybody it's his last year." There's quite the buzz going now, though, and Ray wouldn't mind a raise for all his efforts. He's engaged to be married in January, living with his fiancée and high school girlfriend, Allyson Tsuda, in Edmonton during the season and near Redding in the offseason. His base salary of $40,000 Canadian is the equivalent of nearly $30,000 U.S., a number that could skyrocket in the near future. Back in Happy Camp, Ray's parents, Steve and Julie, are crossing their fingers. "We're waiting to see what happens," Julie said. "When (the NFL scouts) came, we weren't really surprised. He's always been a good athlete."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Writer
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The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.|
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Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 210 pounds
Colleges: Shasta College (1997-1998), Sac State (1999-2000).
Honor roll: First-team All-American and State Community College Player of the Year in 1998; CFL Offensive Player of the Month for September 2003; Rogers AT&T Player of Game award winner (fans' MVP vote); CFL Most Outstanding Player nominee in 2003.
Pro ball: Attended 49ers training camp and one preseason game in 2001; played seven games for the Fresno Frenzy of Arena Football2; signed by CFL's Edmonton Eskimos on May 27, 2002.
Latest line: With a playoff game looming Sunday, Ray has completed 348 of 515 passes for a league-high 67.6 percentage. He has thrown for 4,640 yards and 35 touchdowns, placing him third in both categories. NFL future? His efficiency and smarts have brought loads of NFL scouts north. Reports claim that Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells is very interested. Ray could be packing his bags by later this month.
North Star
Ray shining bright as Eskimos' starting quarterback in the CFL
Bill Wagner
Record Searchlight

SHAPING UP: Ricky Ray works on his throwing form in a Sept. 24 practice.
Ray, a Shasta High and Shasta College standout, starts for the
Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

(EDMONTON, ALBERTA) Ricky Ray, oft times known as "Frito Ray," has been in the chips since he graduated from college. Now he's putting himself in a position to cash in, and we're not talking small potatoes anymore. The former Shasta High, Shasta College and Sacramento State standout is quickly turning into a Canadian Football League star as he directs his Edmonton Eskimos toward the playoffs and a chance to play for the Grey Cup for the second straight year. Ray is not only spearheading the Eskimos playoff drive but is also staking a claim as a possible CFL MVP. With those credentials, there's a chance an NFL team might take notice this offseason. But, that's after the season. Right now, the second-year quarterback is focused on the Eskimos final regular-season games. "We've come a long way. I've come a long way," said Ray before a recent practice session. "The beginning of the season was a little bit of a tough ride for us. We started out 3-3, but we've been playing well since then. I feel like I've been getting better every game." At 23, Ray is the league's youngest starting QB, but he's near the top of the stats charts. The team is in first place in the Western Division, having won seven straight, including last weekend's 27-7 drubbing of the B.C. Lions. Ray tossed two TD passes and had 303 yards through the air in the win. Just two weeks ago, he was the CFL's offensive player of the week after completing 21-of-24 passes for 339 yards and three TDs. "Things are going great. We're right where we want to be — in first place going into the last three games," he said. With a year of experience under his belt, he's a lot more relaxed this season. "Last year, every game I went into was a learning experience and I didn't know what to expect," Ray said. "I can go into the games this year feeling comfortable because I've done it before. Overall, the comfort level and experience has helped me out." The stats back him up. He leads the league, completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 3,955 yards and 32 touchdowns against only nine interceptions. After leading the CFL in passing efficiency last season, he is again tops in that category this season with a 114.4 quarterback rating. He's also run the ball 54 times for an additional 298 yards and two more TDs.

FEELING CHUMMY: Ricky Ray, center, takes a breather during practice with teammates Singor Mobley, left, and Terry Vaughn.

Edmonton coaches are planning on giving Ray the day off for Sunday's game at Montreal, going with Jason Maas instead. It is done to allow Ray to rest up from various bumps and bruises and recover from some hits he took in the game against the Lions. Ray is expected to return for the Eskimos' next contest, a home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Oct. 17. To say Ray has come a long way in a short time is an understatement. He failed to sign with an NFL team after finishing his career at Sac State in 2000, so Ray went to work for Frito-Lay. Then the 49ers signed him as a free agent. Good-bye Doritos; hello training camp. Ray's time with the 49ers was short-lived, but he managed to catch on with the Eskimos. He started last season as the No. 3 QB on the team, but ended as No. 1 by the time the Grey Cup, Canadian football's version of the Super Bowl, rolled around. Despite playing at home, the Eskimos came up short, losing the title game. "We've got to win it this year. That's our goal," the 6-3, 210-pound signal-caller said. "That's the expectation we have and the expectation our fans have. Anything else is a step down." Even as the Eskimos head into their playoff drive, talk about an NFL future for Ray is not far from the surface. Several of his teammates have been quoted as saying he's got what it takes to make the move. As expected, Ray is slow to talk about the NFL, especially when he needs to focus on the task at hand. "It's tough to say. I don't really know what the future holds. I'm hoping we get to the Grey Cup up here and win that. Then I'll sit down this offseason and see what my options are." He's heading into his option year, and that means he has the chance to sign with an NFL team during the offseason. "I have a window of opportunity if I get a chance to go the NFL. I have to sign with a team by Feb. 28. If not, I'll be back for my third year here," Ray said. As the Eskimos go into their stretch drive, the weather is quickly changing. There's more than distance and an international border that separates Ray from his former playing days in Northern California. His days of playing in heat are long gone. "Playing in the cold isn't as bad as I thought. When you're out there playing, you can stay pretty warm. It's just the times that you spend on the sidelines that it gets pretty chilly. I actually kind of enjoy it." He said. Ray has come a long way since his days as a junior executive for Frito-Lay, but his nickname, "Frito Ray," has stuck. Edmonton papers have referred to him as "the former potato chip deliveryman" a time or two. "It's been my nickname. We have a lot of fun with that," said Ray, who still works with Fritos, making special appearances and signing autographs at stores. Whether he leaves Canada for the NFL is a question mark. One move that looks like a sure bet for this offseason is a return home to marry Redding's Allyson Tsuda.
CLASS OF 2003
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
New Hall of Fame Members for 2003
(L-R) Chris Thomas, Mark Andraske, Stephanie Kuhn-Smith, Kevin Gosney and Judy & Tom Schwerdt (for Josh Schwerdt)

Kevin Gosney - Swimming/ Water Polo 1975 & 1976Kevin competed for coach Don Prince as a swimmer in 1975 when he was a member of the record setting 800 Meter Men's Freestyle Relay; that record still stands today. He also competed in 1975 and 1976 for the Shasta College Water Polo Team where he earned all conference honors.
Kevin has worked for the Nike Corporation for 22 years. He is the Director of the Global Equipment Division where has spent 17 years living outside of the United States. He is married to his lovely wife Young and has two children, Hana who is a freshman in high school and Robert, a junior in high school. Kevin is here tonight with his father, Robert Gosney.Stephanie Kuhn-Smith - Volleyball 1995 & 1996Stephanie was an outstanding volleyball player for coach Kelly Brazil during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. She played a key role in the championship season of 1996. She was voted to the all-conference team in '95 and '96 as a setter.
Stephanie received her B.A. degree from U.C. Davis and her Masters Degree in physical therapy from University of California, San Francisco. She currently works in Anderson at Kevin Snider Physical Therapy. Stephanie is married to Dr. Rob Smith. Also here with her this evening are her parents, Jim and Kathy Kuhn and her brother Trevor.

Mark Endraske - Tennis 1996 & 1997Mark had an outstanding two years as a tennis player for coach Frank Gutierrez at Shasta College. He won the 1996 Bay Valley Conference Doubles Championship with partner Todd Benson, and was voted to the all conference team. Mark was a qualifier for the Northern California Championship Tournament in both 1996 and 1997.
Mark is currently employed by Simpson College as the Director of Student Ministries. He and his lovely wife Amy have two children, Haley age 3 and Aden age 7 months. Mark joins his twin brother Ryan as a Shasta College Hall of Fame Inductee.Josh Schwerdt - Basketball 1997/98 & 1998/99Josh was the point guard on two conference championship teams coached by Kele Fitzhugh. He was voted to the first team all-conference team during both seasons. He continued his outstanding basketball career at Sonoma State University where he graduated in 2001.
Josh is currently living in Dallas, Texas where he works at an exclusive Golf and Country Club. Here tonight to help celebrate his induction are his parents, Tom and Judy Schwerdt.Chris Thomas - Football 1998, 1999Chris had an outstanding career as a football player for Coach Craig Thompson. During his two year career he caught 103 106 passes for over 1800 2,000 yards, and 18 17 touchdowns. For his Shasta College career, Chris averaged over 17 yards every time he caught a pass. He broke Jason Sehorn's school record for most yards in a season at 1,087. He set a school record for most receptions in one game at 14. He holds the second school record for the longest pass reception for a touchdown at 96 yards in Shasta College history. In 1998 he set four Graffiti Bowl records: 12 receptions, 275 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 320 all-purpose yards. In 1999 he was voted MVP for the J.C. All-American Bowl played in Las Vegas, NV. He was voted team MVP and was a member of the last team to defeat Butte College.
Chris is currently still pursuing a football career with tryouts in the Arena League at San Diego and San Jose and in the Canadian Football League. He is joined by his parents, John and Regina and his brother Zac Manprin.


Nifty Knights Celebrate 50th
'53 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!
(9/12/03-Jeffery Jen-Record Searchlight) As if homecoming games aren't special enough. In addition to regular festivities when the Shasta College football team takes the field for the 7 p.m. Saturday game against the College of the Redwoods, there will be a reunion of the Knights predecessors from half a century ago. Members of the 1953 Shasta Knights will be on hand for the 50-year reunion of the first Knights squad to hoist a conference football championship. "It will be great to see some of the guys we haven't seen for years," said Charles Clark, an all-league fullback who doubled as a defensive end for the '53 and '54 Knights squads. "It should be a lot of fun." The 1953 squad was just the third football team at Shasta College; the Knights started playing football in 1951. The Knights compiled a 6-3 record in 1953, but that squad is best remembered for its big season-ending upset victory of a then-undefeated Yuba squad. Yuba College at the time was ranked #1 in the nation and playing the game at a muddy Thompson field helped the Knights. The win gave Shasta the Golden Valley Conference title with a 4-1 league mark. Yuba came into that final game with a 7-0 record, had posted four shutouts and hadn't allowed an opponent to score more than one touchdown all season. As guard-turned-fullback Lloyd Snelson recalled, "Yuba was considered heavy favorites." Yuba led Shasta 12-0 at half-time, but the Knights stormed back to pull off a 19-18 upset. Snelson ended up scoring a 78-yard touchdown run with four minutes left in the game to tie the game, then hit the extra-point conversion for the game-winning point. "It was just a great game," said Snelson who went on to play at Sacramento State. "I remember that the first four extra points of the game ended up getting blocked. All except the last one. The crowd was huge and they gave us an edge as well." Snelson said that of the 28 players on the team, 25 remain alive. Twenty are expected to attend the reunion and Saturday's game. Also, three of the five Shasta cheerleaders back in 1953 will be attending. The former players are expected to stay at the Red Lion Inn in Redding for a luncheon and will head to the Knights game in the evening. Many are interested in seeing where the current edition of the Knights practice and play. "It will be nice to see the college and what I would call the new campus is like," said Bill Kimball, the quarterback of the 1953 team and a Shasta High School graduate now living in Carmichael. "And it will be fun to watch this Shasta football team playing and how different things are for them. They probably have a lot more players than we had." Shasta College athletic director Gary Howser said that during half-time at Saturday's game, the players will be introduced to the crowd, their position on the 1953 team is to be mentioned and where are they now. "It's a real unique situation to have a team from 50 years ago come back," Howser said. "I'm sure they are just going to add even more to the atmosphere just by being there.

1953 Championship Football Reunion!
KNIGHT'S FIRST EVER CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM!!
(8/28/03-Shasta College) It will truly be a special homecoming this year for a group of Shasta Knight football players. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Shasta College's first ever championship team the Knights will honor that championship team with a special luncheon, half time ceremony and post game get together. The home base for the weekend reunion is the Red Lion Inn on Hilltop Dr. in downtown Redding (530-224-6611 & mention the 1953 team for discount room rate). As of this press time 20 of the 24 living players will be attending. The team had a total of 28 players, four of which have passed away. Three of the original Knight cheerleaders will also be attending. If anyone associated with the team or cheerleaders has a question contact either Lloyd Snelson @ 916-715-6876, Ed Briles @ 916-920-2675 or Bill Kimball @
916-944-1736.
The 1953 season was the first time a Shasta College team in any sport knocked off a nationally ranked team. To win the championship the 1953 team knocked of national power Yuba College to win that first ever championship, 19-18. Yuba College was ranked #1 in the nation at the time and had thoughts of the Junior Rose Bowl dancing in their heads. Not this time said the Knight.
GO KNIGHTS!
Knights Spread Across Nation
JIM WHALEN STICKS WITH DALLAS
(9/4/03-Redding Record Searchlight-Jeffrey Jen) With the start of September, it's time to look around for Shasta College products on the gridiron. Starting at the Dallas Cowboys camp, James Whalen, a Knights player in 1996, made the 53-player roster again at tight end. Whalen is listed as the second-string tight end, though it was more his special teams play helped keep him on the Cowboys' payroll. Whalen finished 2002 with 17 catches for 152 yards last season and was fourth on the Cowboys with 15 special-teams tackles. Continuing around the nation, Oregon State opened with a 40-7 smashing off Sacramento State on Aug. 28. Playing for the Beavers is Shasta College and Trinity High School product Brandon Catanese, who recorded two tackles as a cornerback. On the other side of the playing field is Foothill product Robbie Garibay, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman for the Hornets. At Boise State, former Red Bluff player Andy Weldon is at tight end. Following two all-conference seasons at Shasta College, Weldon was redshirted last season but should see the field this season, especially since the Broncos like to play lots of two tight end sets. Another from Red Bluff and Shasta College is wide receiver Mike Cox with Arkansas State. Now a senior, Cox caught a team-high four passes for 34 yards in the Indians' season-opening 26-11 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday. Down at San Jose State, former Knights running back Damarcus Ingram was a starter in the Spartans game against Florida, the one they lost 65-3. Ingram finished with 21 yards rushing on eight carries. Another Knights product, Oscar Rigg is now at linebacker and has two tackles in two games this season. Knights head coach Craig Thompson said that Josiah Wilfong, a cornerback for Shasta the past two seasons, is now a walk-on at the University of Washington. Wilfong actually moved up into a top cornerback slot in fall practice before a quad injury sidelined him.
Ray has big day for Eskimos
ANOTHER GREY CUP?
(8/25/03-Edmonton, Canada) Former Shasta High School and Shasta College quarterback Rickey Ray led the host Edmonton Eskimos to a 49-31 victory over their rivals in the Canadian Football League's West Division, the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, late Saturday. Ray completed 24-of-33 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns as the Eskimos avenged their 32-14 loss to the Rough Riders (6-4) earlier this season. Ray also picked up 32 yards rushing on four carries, helping Edmonton (7-3) move into a three-way tie for first place with British Columbia and Winnipeg in the West Division. Edmonton next plays at 4 p.m. Sept. 1 at Calgary (2-8).
Repairs On Track
LAURA HALL TO SWIM 100 BREAST STROKE
(4/10/03-Redding Record Searchlight article by Jeffrey Jen) If you are out near the Shasta College track, you'll probably encounter the "FIELD CLOSED" sign. The process of completing the new track surface at Shasta College is finally restarting after a series of delays. Shasta hasn't hosted a meet since 2001 because of problems with the original resurfacing effort before last season. The company Southwest Recreations now is back to re-resurface the track after waiting for an extended period of good weather. At the start of this week, Southwest had a crew out at Shasta. Both Knights track coach Pete Giachetti and athletic director Gary Houser said a new track could be in place by the end of the month. That's the good news. The bad news is that the team can't practice on the track in the meantime and has to use other facilities, such as high school tracks at Shasta and West Valley. Also, rain is predicted for the weekend, and that could further delay the completion of the project. But Knights coach Pete Giachetti won't mind that too much. He's just happy he'll finally have a home track. "I know one thing — we'll have a track next year," Giachetti said. "We can host meets again." Knowing a refurbished track is in place next season is a potential boon to recruiting. Preps who were unsure about the Shasta track situation know that there won't be any problems when 2004 rolls around. "It's too bad the season is so short," Giachetti said. "We'll be just about done with our season when the track gets done." The track might still be complete in time for some of the better Knights who are expected to compete at the NorCal meet on May 3. For others, they'll have to wait till 2004 — but at least they'll know a track will be there waiting for them. • • •

Laura Hall continues to pile up Shasta College records in the pool. She set new standards in five events over the weekend. Hall has 11 individual records this season. Against Diablo Valley College on Friday, she set marks in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.05 seconds) and 100 individual medley (1:02.24). At the Solano Invitational on Saturday, she broke records in the 100 breast (1:08.56), the 100 butterfly (1:01.65) and the 50 freestyle (25.34). Knights swim coach Bob Smith said that Hall likely will swim in the 100 breast event at the Bay Valley Conference finals on April 24-26. The other two events haven't been decided yet, but are likely to be a medley event and a freestyle event. • • •

No ruling yet on the appeal by the Shasta baseball team regarding games the Knights had to forfeit due to a March brawl with Butte has been rescinded or not. Interestingly the Knights are 4-0 since the brawl and have moved back to .500 (8-8) in Golden Valley Conference play and have pulled to within two games of second-place Lassen after sweeping the Cougars at home Saturday. Much of the success this season has been attributed to freshmen. Ryan Gipson, a shortstop, leads the Knights with a .373 batting average and 19 stolen bases. Jordan Prado, a second baseman and graduate of Anderson High School, is second at .349 with 20 RBIs, while a third freshman, outfielder Cody Berg, is third on the team at .330. On the mound, Adam Bensen leads the team with a 6-1 record. He also has a 3.57 ERA thanks to his 40-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 58 innings pitched. The Knights host a big doubleheader at home Saturday against conference-leading Feather River (14-2 GVC). A split or a sweep would help Shasta dig out of what once seemed line an insurmountable hole. Jeffrey Jen's college notebook appears every Thursday. He can be reached at 225-8228 or jjen@redding.com.
Budget Woes Hit State Playoffs
FEWER TEAMS IN STATE TOURNEYS
(4/4/03-Jeffery Jen-Record Searchlight) Fewer regular season games isn't the only thing community college coaches have to worry about next season. The state playoff systems are also being reduced in the aftermath of the state's athletic directors meeting in Reno last week in response to the likelihood of cuts to community colleges in next year's state budget. While the road to a state tournament is tougher next season, it's better than having no postseason at all. "At least this keeps the playoffs around," Shasta College athletic director Gary Houser said. "The other choice, one we didn't even want to think about, was to do away with state competitions for the upcoming year." As in the regular season, Houser said, the postseason changes are for one year only before reverting back to normal — unless the state's budget woes continue or grow even worse. Many Shasta coaches said they were expecting to lose games due to budget cuts. Some say it's better to have cuts across the board rather than being forced to axe programs. Houser said that Shasta has 19 different teams, one of the larger athletic departments in the state, and he believes that all 19 should survive next season. Still, some possible changes could be tough to swallow. An ongoing discussion has regional and state events held in more centralized locations. This could cost Shasta the 2003 NorCal cross country championships. Knights cross country coach Michelle Hannaford expressed disappointment and frustration over that possibility. "Some coaches from the Bay Area aren't willing to travel up here," Hannaford said. "Redding is not that far off the beaten path that schools can't come up here for meets. It is discouraging to have your schedule controlled by other coaches." As for the postseason changes, basketball gets hit the hardest in the 2003-04 season with the Northern and Southern California playoffs going from 32 to 16 spots. There will be four, not eight, teams in the state finals. "It's going to make things difficult," Knights women's basketball coach Jerry Brown said. "We knew it was going to happen. It will make scheduling a bit more difficult. I've already had two teams to pull out of our own tournament because they can't travel overnight." The decrease from eight to four teams in the state finals also applies to volleyball, softball and baseball, though those sports keep their current number of 16 playoff spots. The changes, though, could inspire some athletes despite the decrease in games and changes made to the state finals. "It becomes more of a motivating factor," said Bubbles Lee, a freshman on the Shasta volleyball and softball teams. "You don't get as many chances at it because of fewer games. You got to make the most of the chances you get." Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or jjen@redding.com.
Budget Cuts Lop JC Schedules
CUTS BY 10 TO 20 %
(4/3/03-Jeffery Jen-Record Searchlight) The Commission on Athletics, the state governing body for junior college sports in California, passed emergency legislation on Friday that will cut the number of games played in all sports during the 2003-04 school year. Athletic directors from across the state met last week at their annual spring meeting in Reno. The main topic of conversation was how looming state budget cuts will affect the state's community college athletic programs. The adopted measure cuts the maximum allowable number of games junior college teams can play in each sport by 10 percent to 20 percent, though the decrease is for one season only. Schedules are being cut depending on how frequently the individual sports play. Programs such as baseball and softball play the most and therefore are faced with the largest cuts. Programs that don't meet much, such as cross country, face a smaller decrease. The act was designed to cut costs in athletic departments to avoid entire programs being lost. "We wanted to make sure that the sports we offer stay intact," Shasta College Athletic Director Gary Houser said of the decision. "As we know, when programs get cut, it is very hard to get them back." Most of the programs face a 15 percent cut. Baseball and softball are faced with 20 percent cuts. Baseball goes from 44 to 36 games, while softball goes from 52 to 42 games. Football and cross country both get 10 percent cuts. Cross country falls from nine meets to eight meets. Football usually has 10 games to a season and a scrimmage. The sport loses its scrimmage games, and will have its season moved up one week with one less week of fall practice. "All the programs are faced with losing scrimmages and a week of practice," Knights football coach Craig Thompson said. "Sure it will be tough, but it affects all the programs." Basketball has the number of play dates cut from 28 to 24, though the sport sometimes gets more games due to multiple-game tournaments.
Former Shasta College Standouts Find Success on Bigger Stages....
(12/26/02-Redding Record Searchlight Article by Jeffery Jen) Tis the day after Christmas and the creatures are stirring once again. Well, not so much here around the college scene. Both the Shasta College men's and women's basketball teams are on the road this weekend, with the men at the Diablo Valley Tournament in Concord from Saturday through Monday and the women at Ohlone College on Monday. So what's left is to look back on 2002, which turned out to be a banner year for a handful of Shasta College alumni. • Nicole Teter set a national indoor record in the women's 800-meters at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships in March with a time of 1 minute, 58.71 seconds. Ironically, Teter still owns Shasta school record in the event at 2:07.35, a mark she set in 1994. • Quarterback Ricky Ray goes from the Arena Football League 2 in Fresno to the Grey Cup game in Canada — all in one year. After starting out with the Fresno Frenzy, Ray earned a chance to join the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. Next thing you know, he goes Kurt Warner circa 1999 or Tom Brady 2001, leads the CFL in passer rating and Edmonton nearly wins the Grey Cup title. • Speaking of Shasta College quarterbacks of yore, Ray's successor didn't have too bad a year himself. Brian Jones leads the University of Toledo into the Motor City Bowl in Detroit against Boston College at 2 p.m. today. Toledo barely lost to Marshall in the Mid-American Conference title game, but Jones had a stellar year, finishing third in the nation in pass efficiency. And Jones could still follow Ray into the pro ranks. According to Knights coach Craig Thompson, Jones has been invited to three postseason games for college seniors to showcase their talents to NFL scouts. He should play in at least one of them. Jones has decent size for a quarterback (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and has shown some mobility in his senior season, rushing for 382 yards and five touchdowns in addition to his 3,115 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes. Another Shasta College product could be playing in a bowl game today. Brandon Catanese, a junior safety/kick returner at Oregon State University, is in the Insight Bowl in Phoenix today when the Beavers take on Pittsburgh at 5:30 p.m. • • • Once more, congratulations must be extended to the Shasta College wrestling program. In only its second year after a 19-season hiatus, the Knights finished fifth in the state tournament and had two wrestlers earn All-American honors — Sean Reid placed third at 184 pounds and Raul Lopez fourth at 133. The Knights finished second among Northern California schools behind Fresno City and coach Max Burch was named the NorCal Coach of the Year. • • • One last Shasta College product to mention: Drew Bailey, a graduate of Foothill High School, helped the Kansas Wesleyan University football team to an 8-3 record, a second straight Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title and a berth in the NAIA playoffs. The Coyotes lost in the first round to Sioux Falls 45-7 on Nov. 23. Bailey, a junior defensive end, led the Coyotes with 6.5 sacks and eight tackles for losses. He had 60 tackles in all. • • • Enjoy the remainder of the holiday season and all those college football bowl games. And may Toledo win today, say 38-35 over the Eagles with Jones heaving a 45-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expires.
Jones Looks Dangerous to Eagles
(Redding Record Searchlight - Knights product to lead Rockets against hardened Boston College R-S wire services December 26, 2002 — 9:28 a.m. DETROIT) — After playing powerhouses like Miami, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, it would be understandable if Boston College had a hard time taking little-known Toledo seriously. But the Eagles are insisting that they know just how tough their Motor City Bowl opponents will be. The teams meet today in the first college football game at Detroit's new Ford Field. "Toledo could win 10 games for the third year in a row, and I don't care what conference you are playing in, that's impressive," Boston College quarterback Brian St. Pierre said. "They battle with Marshall every year for the MAC championship, and everyone knows about the stuff Marshall has done." The biggest challenge for Boston College (8-4) will be to stop Toledo's spread offense, which features a bewildering number of formations and options and is led by quarterback Brian Jones, a former standout at Shasta College and Pleasant Valley High School in Chico. And, unlike most teams that run a wide-open attack, the Rockets (9-4) have one of the nation's biggest offensive lines. "They are very big up front and they have two little backs that kind of hide behind them," Eagles coach Tom O'Brien said. "The first big challenge will just be to find them, but then their quarterback is throwing at 70 percent, which is almost unheard of in college football, and their receivers catch the ball and run with it. No one has stopped that offense." Toledo quarterback Brian Jones, who has set several school passing records this year, thinks there is too much going on with the offense for any defense to figure out. "We've got more sets and player packages than anyone in the country," Jones said. "We can go anywhere from two tight ends to five wide receivers, and that's tough for anyone to match up with."