GEYF in the News
Shafter Gladiator Colby Miller representing
Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football
on the National Stage with USA Football.
We are proud of you Colby…
Former GEYF Players Go Pro
Former Baylor Bear Garces Ram and Irish youth football stand out Grant Campbell signs a free agent contract with the Pittsburg Steelers as a
middle line backer.
Kyrie Wilson (Fresno State) former GEYF Wolverine Player Signed with the Oakland Raiders.
Jared Norris former GEYF Falcon Player Signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Ban youth tackle football in Kern County? Not so fast…
After reading Clay Farr’s Feb. 10 Community Voices article, “Ban youth tackle football and keep our kids CTE-free,” I felt compelled to separate fact from fiction for readers.
For well over 50 years now, youth tackle football has been a cornerstone of Kern County athletics. It’s steeped in rich tradition and local history and it positively impacts the lives of thousands of young athletes.
On the heels of the recently released movie “Concussion,” and through personal anecdotal experience, Farr was quick to criticize youth tackle football coaches and to point out his concern for the safety of our children by referencing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Although I share his concern for the overall safety of all youth athletes who participate in contact sports, I was a bit taken aback by his assertion that players under the age of 13 years should simply not be allowed to participate in youth tackle football, and our community should take steps to “ban it.”
In fact, The American Academy of Pediatrics, representing over 64,000 primary care physicians and other health care professionals, sets no limits as to when our children should begin playing tackle football and realizing its rewards, so long as important standards are in place.
It is clear that there is an inherent risk of injury in all types of physical activity such as bike riding, cheerleading, soccer, lacrosse, and yes, flag and tackle football, among many others.
Regardless of the activity, proper teaching of safe and proven fundamentals is paramount to injury prevention and safety as a whole.
Over the past five years, there has been tremendous growth in the number of local youth tackle football coaches certified through USA Football’s Heads-Up Tackling Program, and our community is seeing that benefit come to fruition.
USA Football and its local affiliates have really helped reshape our local youth tackle football landscape through their comprehensive, progressive instruction and certification model.
In addition, research from the Datalys Center published in the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine in July 2015 found young football players are less likely to be injured or sustain a head injury when their coaches are trained in teaching proper tackling fundamentals.
Leagues that took part in Heads-Up Football had a 76 percent reduction in juries. Furthermore, leagues that adopted the Heads-Up Football program had a 34 percent reduction in concussions during practices and a 29 percent reduction of concussions during games.
In 2015 nearly 6,500 youth tackle football leagues around the country registered through USA Football’s Heads-Up program, a number that equates to about 70 percent of all U.S. youth tackle football leagues.
Farr’s polarizing attempt to somehow draw a connection between what he may have seen on the Esquire Channel’s “Friday Night Tykes” vs. what actually occurs in the majority of youth tackle football settings is a bit reckless and inaccurate, and it detracts from what progress has been made in the sport both locally and on the national level.
Inflammatory generalizations can discredit individuals who generously give their time to benefit children in a wide range of sports.
To be fair, there are obviously youth coaches in all sports that have no business serving as mentors to our children and, quite frankly, give coaching a bad name at all levels.
What is often underreported is how the sport of football, regardless of age, positively impacts and changes lives, instills self confidence and citizenship and promotes physical and mental fitness.
With the continuing advancement in protective equipment, injury prevention and early recognition, as well as consistent, proper teaching techniques, combined with continued coaching education, it is my belief that youth tackle football is safer now than it has ever been.
Ron White is the Executive Director of Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football. He has more than 30 year experience in this field as a coach, administrator, league president and board member. White is a former youth, high school, and junior college tackle football coach and former player.
GEYF supports one of our own, Jen Ramirez (Ravens Area Rep), who’s gone under the Gridiron to play Women’s Football for the
“Bakersfield Bombers”.
Empowering women is nothing new for Brittany Rivera and her mother, Arlene Anion.
Long before the idea of brining a semi-professional women’s football team to Bakersfield occurred to them, the ambitious duo created the Women’s Empowering Network, a local organization dedicated to assisting local female entrepreneurs pursue their passions and dreams.
While Rivera was raised playing football in Bakersfield, she had her first tackle football experience in the Independent Women’s Football League while a student in Sacramento. She played receiver and defensive back.
But it was only after returning to Bakersfield when she knew that something needed to change.
“I moved back to Bakersfield after living in Sacramento and I just knew I had to play again,” Rivera said.
Although it took a lot of thinking, Rivera and her mother decided to purchase a franchise from the IWFL earlier this year, and they have self-financed the entire enterprise.
Having come from a strong military family, toughness comes natural for Rivera. Anion and her husband are U.S. Army veterans, and Rivera’s sister is actively serving. Though Rivera is co-owner of the team, her intention is to try out and earn her spot.
The Bakersfield Bombers will have a roster comprised of team members who live in the Kern County area, each with a different range of football experience.
But deciding to own a women’s team in a sport that is male dominated has invited much criticism. Some robustly argue that if a professional men’s team cannot be maintained – referring to the Bakersfield Blitz, which dismantled in 2007 – then a women’s league shouldn’t be expected to flourish.
Rivera is skeptical.
“They didn’t hit the right demographic,” she said. “They couldn’t cover their own expenses. But the Bombers are going to play on a high school field. It’s going to be family oriented, and we’re going to have affordable prices.”
As a member of the IWFL, which is distinct from the Legends League, the Bakersfield Bombers will be fully dressed and padded. The tentative kickoff date is sometime in April, but Rivera and Anion will meet with the league in Texas in November to determine next year’s schedule.
The IWFL is a nonprofit women’s tackle football league founded in 2000. It consists of 36 teams across North America and has more than 1,600 female athletes.
If you’re interested in supporting the Bakersfield Bombers or seeking more information, contact Rivera at 330-9143 or visit bakersfieldbombersfootball.com.
Our Town: Golden Empire Youth Football
By Gregory D. CookPhotos by David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
Bakersfield Life Magazine
In the mind of a young football fan, few things are sweeter than a perfectly thrown spiral, breaking the last tackle before the end zone or making the game-saving stop at the goal line. They are truly the stuff of football dreams, and one local organization is giving area youth a head start at making those dreams realities.
The Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football and Cheer Program was formed in 1998 out of a desire to create a competitive feeder program that could better prepare kids for high school football.
Over the last 18 years, the program has grown to over 3,000 participants playing and cheering on 18 teams, each acting as a feeder team for an area high school.
Teams are made up of players who live within the school’s enrollment area and practice on the high school’s field.
“When a player is done playing with us and they get to high school, we want them to be able to just plug in and refine,” said Ron White, executive director and one of the program’s founders. “We want them to know how to tackle, know how to block and know the terminology. We want to share philosophies and ideologies and become an extension of that school’s program.”
In addition to making better football players, White says the program has players rely on one another as part of a team, which develops discipline, sportsmanship, commitment and respect.
“It’s basic citizenship,” he said. “If you’re not taking care of those things in life you’re not going to succeed.”
With any contact sport, safety is a primary concern, and GEYF makes the safety of its players a top priority. In addition to the program’s own training, all GEYF coaches must be certified by USA Football, a national organization devoted to training coaches in safety.
The program also prides itself on making sure each player plays in high-end equipment that is individually fitted for each child.
“We put safety first; everything else is a distant second,” said White. “It has to be that way.”
According to White, the true strength of the program, both on and off the field, is the program’s nearly 500 volunteer coaches and staff members.
“We don’t look at our coaches like coaches,” said White. “You want to impress this organization? Be a mentor.”
One of those coaches, Kraig Gradowitz, varsity coach of the Southwest Mojo, the feeder team for Stockdale High School, started coaching in 2007 when his oldest son became interested in playing. Like White, Gradowitz believes there are valuable life lessons to be learned from football.
“I tell the kids, ‘In life, it’s not just going to come to you easy,'” he said. “‘You’re going to face adversity. And playing football, you face adversity. Sometimes you lose games, but sometimes you overcome adversity. If you work hard and push yourself, you can succeed.'”
Teams normally start holding tryouts as early as March, with the season beginning in September and culminating in playoffs and a bowl game in December.
Last year the program instituted a rookie division for players as young as 6 years old, in addition to its freshman (8-9), sophomore (10-12), junior varsity (11-13) and varsity (12-14) divisions. Both male and female players are welcome.
For more information, visit geyf.org
GEYF in the News
2015 BY TREVOR HORN Californian staff writer thorn@bakersfield.com
Eight years ago, in the Golden Empire Youth Football league, there was a feeling that there was something special going on.
There was a handful of running backs making cuts and running over and around the rest of the competition. The future seemed bright.
Those little tikes are now closing out their high school careers this fall, and as impressive as they were as 10-year-olds, they’re even more of a sight to see now.
Those “little guys” — Sheldon Croney, Marcus Bruce, Anthony Mariscal, Isaiah Sharp and Matt Smith — now are the leaders of what is one of the best overall running back classes in Kern County history.
“It’s been a while since we have seen that many come through at one time,” East coach David Fanucchi said. “This is really a special time here for the fans.”
Yes, there have been fantastic individual seasons: Steve Wofford at Bakersfield, the county’s leader in career rushing yards with 7,100 from 1992-1994; Ryan Mathews with his incredible 3,396-yard, 34-touchdown performance as a senior at West in 2006; and most recently, Cody Shirreffs’ 2,317 yards for Taft in 2009.
But this group, diverse and deep, is special, and the players are enjoying the end of their impressive run here at home.
“Growing up, we all knew each other and have been around each other playing Golden Empire,” Bakersfield Christian senior Matt Smith said. “We knew we were going to be that group.”
Smith, an imposing presence at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, has rushed for at least 1,300 yards in each of his three seasons for the Eagles, including 1,694 yards and 24 total touchdowns as BCHS went to the CIF Division IV state championship game a year ago.
Sheldon Croney, now at Ridgeview, has the best overall season of the group after rushing for 2,377 yards and 28 scores for Garces last fall.
A transfer brought Croney back to his neighborhood school for his last prep season. Looking back at the years playing against his fellow seniors, Croney said it has been a blast to be a part of this impressive group.
“We all knew at a young age that we were all talented,” Croney said. “We knew it could pay off in the end.”
Isaiah Sharp was an all-state performer as a sophomore for Wasco in 2012. His 2,317-yard, 34-touchdown performance helped lead the Tigers to a 13-0 record. Injuries kept Sharp off the field for half of last season, but he still managed 889 yards in six games on an out-of-this-world 16.94 yard-per-carry average.
Sharp transferred to Frontier in the offseason. Titans coach Rich Cornford was at the helm at West during Mathews’ career when the San Diego Chargers running back shined, and Cornford says Sharp is “the best back I’ve coached since Ryan.”
“Sharp has a lot of the same attributes as Ryan,” Cornford said. “He doesn’t waste time. He’s a really good all-around player and a very well-rounded young man.”
Bruce’s numbers at Bakersfield aren’t as shining as the other seniors around the city, but his leadership and athleticism has made him a third-year starter for the Drillers.
Teamed up fellow senior Lameshio Hill, Bruce likes the fact that the two get to battle it out daily in practice together for the defending D-I state champions.
“Me and Lameshio, we get to go against each other every day in practice,” Bruce said. “Every play, it’s either him or me. We compete every day.”
Mariscal, the only one of the bunch so far that has verbally committed to play college football, might very well be the fastest of the bunch, too.
Headed to Arizona as defensive back, Mariscal led Liberty a year ago with 1,089 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The toughness and selfishness that Mariscal plays with was evident in the final game last season. In a playoff loss to Clovis, Mariscal couldn’t play offense after dislocating his elbow. But he still made an impact on defense, intercepting a pass, and, with his left arm dangling to his side, zooming past the Cougars for the score.
Healthy now, Mariscal sees a future for this group of backs: To finish out their stellar prep careers and shine on the big stage at Division I college programs.
“I know we were all going to play in college,” Mariscal said. “We have always had the spotlight on us. This class is becoming the name out of Bakersfield. We have some talent that no one has seen. We are all capable of great things.”
Smith and Croney have both been on the radar of many colleges, with Smith pulling in offers from Colorado State, Utah State and UC Davis while Croney has a Pac-12 offer from Oregon State to go along with seven other offers.
As all of Kern County football fields still boast the old-school grass fields that the rest of California has stopped using in the last decade, it makes sense that the offenses here are geared around a three-yard burst and a cloud of dust.
Or, thanks to the unreal talent of these backs, it’s more like a 20-yard scamper with a juke, a stiff-arm and defenses left in the rearview mirror.
“You have running backs that defenses have to try and stop before they go another 70 yards,” Bakersfield coach Paul Golla said. “Those are things you can’t coach.”
Golden Empire Alumni continue to Shine
at the next level including:
- ALL AREA Player of the Year – Liberty High Anthony Mariscal (Far West Freedom Alumni)
- ALL AREA Offensive Player of the Year – Ridgview High Sheldon Croney (South East Wolverines/Southern Ravens Alumni
- All Area Defensive Player of the Year – Bakersfield High Marcus Bruce (Southwest & Far West Freedom Alumni)
And many, many , more…
We are all very proud of you!
2014 BVarsity All-Area Football Team
By The Bakersfield Californian
2014 BVarsity Player of the Year
Anthony Mariscal * Liberty
RB/DB * 6-0, 192 * senior
A workhorse running back who averaged 7.6 yards per carry to amass 1,252 yards and 19 touchdowns, the Arizona recruit was even more valuable on defense, where he scared offenses away from him and still had 74 tackles, two forced fumbles and a team-leading eight passes defended.
Offensive Player of the Year
Sheldon Croney * Ridgeview
RB * 6-1, 210 * senior
After three historic years at Garces, Croney had his best season yet, rushing for 2,269 yards (second in the Central Section, according to MaxPreps) and 31 touchdowns (tied for first), and helping the Wolf Pack to the second section championship in school history.
Defensive Player of the Year
Marcus Bruce * Bakersfield
RB/LB * 5-10, 200 * senior
One of the most versatile players in the county, Bruce makes the most impact on defense as a linebacker who racked up 120 tackles, including 5 for loss. Bruce, who has scholarship offers from San Jose State and UNLV, also ran for 1,194 yards and 15 touchdowns, caught two TD passes and even threw for one.
First-team offense
Brandon Jones * Bakersfield Christian
QB * 6-3, 200 * senior
A year after tying the Central Section record for touchdown passes, Jones had quite an encore, throwing for 3,522 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and leading BCHS to a share of the SSL title and to the Division III semifinals.
Gabriel Cabezuela * Wasco
RB * 5-11, 185 * senior
The transfer from rival Shafter shined in his one year as a Tiger, running for a county-leading 2,376 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging more than 8 yards per carry. He surpassed the 200-yard mark in seven of Wasco’s 11 games.
Curtis Threlkeld * North
RB * 5-11, 170 * junior
The big-play running back averaged 8.2 yards per carry and led North back to the playoffs by rushing for more than 200 yards in three games, including a 270-yard effort in a playoff win over Wasco. Threlkeld finished with 1,645 yards and 21 touchdowns.
R.J. Oliver * Bakersfield Christian
WR/TE * 6-3, 230 * senior
His receiving totals of 1,131 yards and 14 touchdowns were easily tops in the city. The tall transfer from Stockton-Brookside Christian became Brandon Jones’ go-to outlet for big plays. Will play football at Yale.
Braylin Scott * Liberty
WR * 6-3, 188 * senior
Previously known more for his basketball prowess, Scott exploded onto the D-I recruiting scene with a highlight-filled season that included 37 catches for 902 yards and 9 touchdowns. His leaping ability and speed made him a tough cover for all but the very best cornerbacks.
Fred Weaver * Independence
WR * 5-11, 180 * junior
Speedy wide receiver was Jordan Wiley’s favorite target in the Falcons’ high-flying offense, catching 43 passes for 808 yards and 9 touchdowns. He had four games with more than 100 yards receiving, plus a 135-yard rushing day against East High.
Blake Bryant * Liberty
OL * 6-2, 276 * junior
An anchor for Liberty’s offensive line, which was the backbone for one of the section’s most balanced offenses: 2,227 passing yards and 2,442 rushing yards for the SWYL champions and D-I section finalists.
Ruben Guerra * Liberty
OL * 6-5, 290 * senior
A senior leader and captain for the best Patriots team in school history, Guerra was one bookend for an offensive line that sprung the likes of Anthony Mariscal, Jordan Love and Quincy Jountti.
Dylan Guillermo * Bakersfield
OL * 6-0, 255 * senior
A prototypical Drillers road-paver, Guillermo was smaller than the average lineman but faster than almost all of them. He helped a team that didn’t have the luxury of a passing attack rush for 3,182 yards anyway.
Jestyn James * Ridgeview
OL * 6-1, 310 * senior
One of the emotional leaders of the Wolf Pack, James, a three-year starter, also was a physical force, paving the way for the powerful rushing attack and pitching in on defense when needed, too.
Chris Martinez * Ridgeview
OL * 5-11, 270 * senior
Another of the Wolf Pack’s three-year starters on the offensive line, Martinez helped Ridgeview rush for 4,482 yards against what was easily the best schedule in school history.
Lameshio Hill * Bakersfield
Util * 5-10, 208 * senior
The rare full-time wildcat quarterback, Hill rushed for 1,151 yards and 16 touchdowns and threw for 384 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. Hill also caught six passes, the most of any Driller.
Lawrence White * Ridgeview
Util * 6-0, 165 * junior
The sparkplug for Ridgeview’s offense, White threw for 1,228 yards with 14 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions, and he ran for 1,033 yards and 11 more touchdowns. Oh, and he also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass and pitched in on defense when the Wolf Pack needed an ace cornerback.
Jefferson Escobar * South
K * 5-7, 135 * junior
As consistent as they come in the kicking game. Converted four of five field goal attempts with a long of 48 yards and was successful on 94.5 percent of PATs (35 of 37).
First-team defense
Nigel Brooks * Bakersfield
DL * 6-3, 300 * senior
The spearhead of the Drillers’ dynamite defense, Brooks lived in the backfield despite frequent double-teams, racking up 60 tackles, including 9 for loss, during the regular season. He has six D-I scholarship offers, including from Pac-12 schools Arizona and Colorado.
Darryl Clark * South
DL * 6-2, 200 * senior
A bruising force for the Rebels defense that gave up just 8 points per game in Southeast Yosemite League play. Had 25 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and four batted passes.
Hugo Martinez * Chavez
DL * 5-11, 210 * junior
This defensive end’s numbers are simply eye-popping: 135 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 5 forced fumbles. In one game vs. Taft, he had four sacks and six quarterback hurries.
Peyton Solf * Liberty
DL * 6-2, 230 * senior
One of the area’s best pass-rushers, Solf blew up the backfield repeatedly for the 10-3 Patriots, accumulating 12 sacks and 9 tackles for loss among his 66 stops.
Frank Zavaleta * Ridgeview
DL * 5-11, 200 * senior
A lack of size didn’t bother Zavaleta, who could power over offensive lineman or zip around them. His array of moves resulted in 7.5 sacks and 4 additional tackles for loss.
Krys Barnes * Liberty
LB * 6-2, 220 * junior
An active sideline-to-sideline linebacker, Barnes had 130 tackles — by far the best on his team and the top total in the SWYL. Barnes, who has an early scholarship offer from Boise State, also forced five fumbles and an interception he returned 71 yards for a touchdown in a playoff game against Clovis West.
Ethan Cullifer * Stockdale
LB * 5-10, 205 * senior
Despite missing three games because of injury, Cullifer racked up 88 tackles, 6 for loss, in seven games. The returning first-team All-Area player also made an interception, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles.
Jaccob Lopez * Ridgeview
LB * 5-10, 215 * senior
Forced to move full-time to linebacker when Croney arrived to play running back, Lopez shined, ranking second on the team in tackles and making three interceptions, including the one that sealed a Division II section championship victory against Dinuba.
Mario Solorio * Chavez
LB * 5-11, 205 * junior
Second in the area in tackling with 153, including a whopping 44 tackles for loss, Solorio was the South Sequoia League defensive MVP and the linchpin of a defensive unit that carried the Titans to their first SSL championship.
Alex Fulmer * Bakersfield
DB * 5-7, 140 * junior
Physical safety was one of the Drillers’ leading tacklers and key cogs in a run defense that keyed many of Bakersfield’s nine victories with 28 forced turnovers.
Curtis Hampton * Bakersfield
DB * 5-8, 155 * senior
Twice in SWYL play, Hampton returned a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown to seal a Drillers’ victory. He made four interceptions in all to go with a 24.6-yard kickoff-return average, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown.
Stavros Katsantonis * Liberty
DB * 5-10, 172 * senior
With Mariscal, he formed the area’s most fearsome safety combination. Katsantonis was consistently disruptive, making 72 tackles and four interceptions, deflecting six passes, forcing a fumble and recovering two, including one he returned for a touchdown to key Liberty’s huge win at Mission Viejo.
Mason Saba * Centennial
DB * 6-1, 190 * senior
One of the area’s best on-ball defensive backs, Saba made two interceptions among his 10 passes defended. He also was a physical presence in the running game and was a big reason why the Golden Hawks defense rarely gave up a big play.
Tyler Watters * Golden Valley
P * 6-3, 225 * junior
An impressive quarterback, Watters was even better as a punter. He dropped 16 of his 33 kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and averaged 39.9 yards per punt. As a QB, Watters completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 1,574 yards, 12 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Second-team offense
QB: Dalton Gallis, Kern Valley (6-3, 180, sr)
QB: Jordan Love, Liberty (6-3, 170, jr)
RB: Rolando Arrona, Kennedy (6-1, 191, sr)
RB: Quincy Jountti, Liberty (5-11, 210, jr)
RB: Isaiah Sharp, Frontier (6-0, 205, sr)
WR: Zach Balfanz, Bakersfield Christian (5-8, 175, sr)
WR: Chad Gleason, Desert (5-9, 175, sr)
WR: Jachi Harrell, Golden Valley (5-9, 180, sr)
OL: Mason Grantz, Centennial (6-4, 265, sr)
OL: Lino Medrano, South (6-0, 235, sr)
OL: Blake Pierce, Frontier (6-5, 275, sr)
OL: Rocky Radcliff, Tehachapi (6-1, 210, sr)
OL: Oscar Rosette, Wasco (5-10, 300, sr)
OL: Daniel Schoene, Bakersfield (6-6, 290, soph)
Util: Andrew Hansen, Centennial (6-1, 190, sr)
Util: Ja’mar Moya, Ridgeview (5-10, 160, soph)
Util: Jordan Wiley, Independence (6-4, 190, sr)
K: Coleman Olivas, Bakersfield (5-10, 170, sr)
Second-team defense
DL: Kurtis Brown, Liberty (6-2, 250, soph)
DL: Juan Garcia, South (5-11, 170, sr)
DL: Maxx Garris, Centennial (6-2, 265, jr)
DL: Angel Garcia, Tehachapi (5-11, 245, jr)
LB: Parker Holbrook, Centennial (6-0, 170, jr)
LB: Matt Hubble, Liberty (6-0, 195, jr)
LB: Brennen Medley, Kern Valley (6-4, 185, sr)
LB: Steve Rodriguez, Chavez (6-0, 175, sr)
LB: Joe Rogers, North (5-9, 200, jr)
LB: Eddie Sanchez, Bakersfield (5-8, 170, sr)
DB: Josh Boyd, West (6-3, 175, jr)
DB: Cristion Brown, Ridgeview (5-9, 160, jr)
DB: Daylyn Jackson, Frontier (6-2, 164, jr)
DB: Chris Reyes, South (5-8, 160, sr)
DB: Jaron Stewart, Ridgeview (6-0, 155, jr)
P: Alex Galland, Liberty (6-2, 175, sr)
Honorable mention
Arvin: Derek Adams
Bakersfield: Dymon Ford, Deion Nobles, Jakell Tomlin, Robert Trujillo
Bakersfield Christian: Nathan DeJager, Stephen Figures, Tyler Lozano, Josh Mantle, Matt Smith
Boron: Laron Cherry
Burroughs: Adan Pena
California City: Daville Walker
Centennial: Matthew Clendenen, Cole Duey, Cole Hennen, Cole Nelson, Brandon Stout, Andrew Straw
Chavez: Damin Avila, John Cabico, Mike Cervantes, Eduardo Hernandez, Malcolm Jordan, Michael Nava, Alex Tapia
Delano: Cameron Dimas, Robert Rivera
Desert: Scott Bonham, Ed Escobar
East: Ben Flores
Foothill: Jaffee Ward
Frontier: Tui Atuitasi, Dominic DeMarco, Joseph Duncan, Brady Serda, Jarrod Snyder
Garces: Tanner Henderson, Cameron Roberson
Golden Valley: Juan Curiel, Omar Medellin, Nimrod Quintanilla, Dimas Reza
Highland: Carlo Balmet, Breaker Brannan, Chance Cooper, Bryan Lopez, Michael Sanchez
Independence: Ben Ochoa, Gilbert Varela, Ty Williams
Kennedy: John Estrada, Julio Galvan, Josh Lee, Eusebio Martinez, David Zepeda
Kern Valley: Zach Bushling, Braeden Grimsby, Shane Hawk, Dillon Kirby
Liberty: Sean McCullum, Jake Seaney, Colby Sheridan
Mira Monte: Carlos Picasso
North: Logan Creel, Raymond Rios, Julio Rodriguez, Nick Tuck, Steven Twiss
Ridgeview: Dayvon Johnson, Ricky Leung-Wei, Byron Mendoza, Jaleyn Prevost, Darius Smith
Shafter: Johnny Balderas
South: Isaiah Carr, Tommy Castellon, Alec Gutierrez, Aries Harris, Kahari Johnson, P.J. Jones, Devin McCord, Isaiah Mireles
Stockdale: Zach Burden, Brayden Davenport, DeAndre Henderson, Dawson Putney, Jacob Sanchez, Henry Song, Kenny Torrence, Luke Tovar
Taft: Gage Gonzales, Jamil Iakopo, Joseph Sanchez
Tehachapi: Abraham Katona, Chris Rhodes, Nick Steele, Willy Urciel, Daniel Wight
Wasco: Marcus Darden, Deonte Henderson, Caleb Morin
West: Kyzelle Franklin-Carr, Evan Quiroz, Terry Stephens
GEYF in the News
BY TREVOR HORN Californian staff writer thorn@bakersfield.com
Eight years ago, in the Golden Empire Youth Football league, there was a feeling that there was something special going on.
There was a handful of running backs making cuts and running over and around the rest of the competition. The future seemed bright.
Those little tikes are now closing out their high school careers this fall, and as impressive as they were as 10-year-olds, they’re even more of a sight to see now.
Those “little guys” — Sheldon Croney, Marcus Bruce, Anthony Mariscal, Isaiah Sharp and Matt Smith — now are the leaders of what is one of the best overall running back classes in Kern County history.
“It’s been a while since we have seen that many come through at one time,” East coach David Fanucchi said. “This is really a special time here for the fans.”
Yes, there have been fantastic individual seasons: Steve Wofford at Bakersfield, the county’s leader in career rushing yards with 7,100 from 1992-1994; Ryan Mathews with his incredible 3,396-yard, 34-touchdown performance as a senior at West in 2006; and most recently, Cody Shirreffs’ 2,317 yards for Taft in 2009.
But this group, diverse and deep, is special, and the players are enjoying the end of their impressive run here at home.
“Growing up, we all knew each other and have been around each other playing Golden Empire,” Bakersfield Christian senior Matt Smith said. “We knew we were going to be that group.”
Smith, an imposing presence at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, has rushed for at least 1,300 yards in each of his three seasons for the Eagles, including 1,694 yards and 24 total touchdowns as BCHS went to the CIF Division IV state championship game a year ago.
Sheldon Croney, now at Ridgeview, has the best overall season of the group after rushing for 2,377 yards and 28 scores for Garces last fall.
A transfer brought Croney back to his neighborhood school for his last prep season. Looking back at the years playing against his fellow seniors, Croney said it has been a blast to be a part of this impressive group.
“We all knew at a young age that we were all talented,” Croney said. “We knew it could pay off in the end.”
Isaiah Sharp was an all-state performer as a sophomore for Wasco in 2012. His 2,317-yard, 34-touchdown performance helped lead the Tigers to a 13-0 record. Injuries kept Sharp off the field for half of last season, but he still managed 889 yards in six games on an out-of-this-world 16.94 yard-per-carry average.
Sharp transferred to Frontier in the offseason. Titans coach Rich Cornford was at the helm at West during Mathews’ career when the San Diego Chargers running back shined, and Cornford says Sharp is “the best back I’ve coached since Ryan.”
“Sharp has a lot of the same attributes as Ryan,” Cornford said. “He doesn’t waste time. He’s a really good all-around player and a very well-rounded young man.”
Bruce’s numbers at Bakersfield aren’t as shining as the other seniors around the city, but his leadership and athleticism has made him a third-year starter for the Drillers.
Teamed up fellow senior Lameshio Hill, Bruce likes the fact that the two get to battle it out daily in practice together for the defending D-I state champions.
“Me and Lameshio, we get to go against each other every day in practice,” Bruce said. “Every play, it’s either him or me. We compete every day.”
Mariscal, the only one of the bunch so far that has verbally committed to play college football, might very well be the fastest of the bunch, too.
Headed to Arizona as defensive back, Mariscal led Liberty a year ago with 1,089 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The toughness and selfishness that Mariscal plays with was evident in the final game last season. In a playoff loss to Clovis, Mariscal couldn’t play offense after dislocating his elbow. But he still made an impact on defense, intercepting a pass, and, with his left arm dangling to his side, zooming past the Cougars for the score.
Healthy now, Mariscal sees a future for this group of backs: To finish out their stellar prep careers and shine on the big stage at Division I college programs.
“I know we were all going to play in college,” Mariscal said. “We have always had the spotlight on us. This class is becoming the name out of Bakersfield. We have some talent that no one has seen. We are all capable of great things.”
Smith and Croney have both been on the radar of many colleges, with Smith pulling in offers from Colorado State, Utah State and UC Davis while Croney has a Pac-12 offer from Oregon State to go along with seven other offers.
As all of Kern County football fields still boast the old-school grass fields that the rest of California has stopped using in the last decade, it makes sense that the offenses here are geared around a three-yard burst and a cloud of dust.
Or, thanks to the unreal talent of these backs, it’s more like a 20-yard scamper with a juke, a stiff-arm and defenses left in the rearview mirror.
“You have running backs that defenses have to try and stop before they go another 70 yards,” Bakersfield coach Paul Golla said. “Those are things you can’t coach.”
GEYF’s version of Shrine Potato Bowl has been a winner for all involved
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1 of 1
L-R: Kern County Shrine Club president Don Pudiwitr, Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football executive director Ron White, and Kern County Shriner David Stevenson. The youth football league donated proceeds from its recent bowl-game event to the Shriners.
BY ESTEBAN RAMIREZ Special to The Californian
Over a half-century, the Shrine Potato Bowl provided countless memories for football players and fans in Bakersfield and a sizeable financial boost for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles.
When the annual community college game ended several years ago, Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football executive director Ron White decided to try to revive it, in a different format, to continue to support the Shriners Hospital, and provide a stage for youth football as well.
In early 2010, I just happened to be driving by the Kern County Shrine Club and noticed the old Potato Bowl float in the parking lot,” said White. “It was pretty decrepit, beat-up, and … I realized how sad it was that the community lost that event.”
It got White to thinking.
“Myself and a few other people approached the Shriners about the idea of bringing it back, and they were in agreement,” he said.
“We wanted to make sure that the Shriner’s Hospital for Children would continue to receive funding from the Bakersfield community like it had always.”
The Shrine Potato Bowl started in 1948 as the first junior college football bowl game. It was consistently a big draw, including a crowd of 20,963 in 1990. In 2002, the Shriners Club chose to withdraw its sponsorship of the event because of increased fees by the state Commission on Athletics.
The name of the event was changed to the Golden Empire Youth Shrine Potato Bowl when it was brought back in 2010 and has been going ever since. The event consists of four to five games between youth teams from Bakersfield and Santa Clarita, including a final game between all-area youth teams from both cities. It has been held at Garces and Independence high schools. Since 2010, the bowl has raised nearly $25,000, including $8,000 this past year to the Shriners Hospital for Children.
“It’s very personal to me because as a young man I attended those games, I took my son to those games and you never want to see a staple of the community go away like that, so on a personal level it has meant the world to me,” White said of helping the Shriners Hospital.
David Stevenson, chairman for the Kern County Shriners Club Youth Potato Bowl Committee, felt it was a good union from the start “because it does nothing but help kids all around. Whether it’s the kids getting to learn the skills in football or the kids in the hospital that are benefitting from the donations.
“So how can it not be a win-win situation all around?”
If you want to play at the collegiate level, it all starts here…
Kamari Cotton, Keoni Taylor, Cole Mazza, Corbin Jounti, DJ Martin all played for GEYF and are now going on to the collegiate level. See story below…
National Signing Day is Wednesday
BY ZACH EWING Californian staff writer zewing@bakersfield.com
By Shelby Mack / The Californian
For many fans of high school football and college football, following recruiting has become a way of life, and the first Wednesday in February has become Christmas morning.
That’s tomorrow: National Signing Day, the first day of the period in which high school football players can sign binding national letters of intent to attend a specific college. For many of the top recruits around the country, it’s a day of drama, with different hats on tables and hidden T-shirts and even pets and tattoos.
Garces offensive lineman Keoni Taylor (75) is expected to sign Wednesday with San Jose State as part of National Signing Day. In all, six Kern County football players are expected to sign with Division I schools Wednesday.
Here in Kern County, though, National Signing Day has been less theatrical and more ceremonial. Even when a recruit changes his mind – like Ridgeview DB Shannon Edwards did last year, moving from UCLA to Fresno State – news is out before signing day. The most heralded recruit to come out of Bakersfield in the past decade was QB Cody Kessler, and he had to come back from USC to join his Centennial teammates at a “signing” party.
That doesn’t mean tomorrow is insignificant, of course; it’s just that we know what to expect. Four schools are holding signing ceremonies tomorrow, and all of them include at least one Division I football player. In addition, talented Stockdale running back D.J. Martin is expected to sign with Eastern Washington tomorrow, though Stockdale typically honors all of its Division I athletes at the end of the school year in one event.
Here are the Division I football signees expected to sign tomorrow:
Ridgeview DB Kamari Cotton-Moya, Iowa State
Centennial WR Andrew Daughtery, Air Force
Liberty RB Corbin Jountti, Northern Arizona
Stockdale RB D.J. Martin, Eastern Washington
Liberty OL/LS Cole Mazza, Alabama
Garces OL Keoni Taylor, San Jose State
In addition, several former Kern County prep athletes signed with teams out of junior colleges: QB Brian Burrell (Fresno State), TE Mike Dunn (Fresno State) and DB Mercy Maston (Boise State) out of Bakersfield College; and QB Tyler Ferguson (Penn State) out of College of the Sequoias.
Jacob Stephen Varner of the United States celebrates during the victory ceremony after winning the gold medal in 96-kg freestyle wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
On Top of the World: Varner captures Olympic gold
BY ED KLAJMAN Special to The Californian
LONDON — Bakersfield’s Jake Varner is an Olympic wrestling champion..
On the final day of competition at the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Bakersfield High graduate claimed the gold medal in the 96-kilogram division with a comprehensive victory over Ukrainian Valerii Andriitsev.
“Every time I step on the mat I expect to win,” said the 26-year-old, moments after having the gold medal draped around his neck and then listening to his national anthem. “But I think I smiled more than I usually do. It’s just cool to have (this medal). It’s so crazy.”
He said he planned to celebrate the fulfillment of his lifelong dream by “going out for some chocolate milk” with his parents, girlfriend and a few close friends who came to watch him.
“I just want be around the people I love right now — just enjoy it as long as I can. It’s exciting to have my family with me and I can go out spend the night with them,” said Varner, whose father, Steve, a wrestling coach, got him involved in the sport..
He added that all the support he has received from Bakersfield has meant a lot to him.
“Bakersfield’s awesome. I guess this puts it on the map, but it’s a great place to be. I’m glad I’m from there.”
Varner, who was a two-time national champion at Iowa State, also became a lot wealthier with his victory. He collected a $250,000 bonus from the Living the Dream Medal Fund that supports American wrestling.
Coming off a bronze medal at last year’s world championship, Varner came into these Games with a laser-like focus on the gold medal — insisting that everything else about the Olympic experience was of minimal importance to him. And he had to wait until the very end of the two-week Olympiad for his chance to shine..
Still, there were quality opponents for Varner to battle, starting in the first round with veteran Kurban Kurbanov, the Asian champion from Uzbekistan.
After a scoreless first round, tiebreaking protocol was followed with a red ball and a blue ball placed in a bag. Varner had to choose. He got red, which put him in an advantageous leg clinch position. Kurbanov had to defend for 30 seconds to win the round, but Varner threw him out of the ring for a point within seconds. Kurbanov won the second round on a slippery maneuver but Varner got a quick takedown in the third and defended the rest of the way to advance to the quarterfinals.
Sanderson said he was particularly pleased with how Varner won by sticking with their game plan and not panicking..
“We wanted to push the pace and make conditioning a factor and I think he was able to do that,” said Sanderson, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and went 159-0 wrestling at Iowa State for four years.
The semifinal was dramatic against George Gogshelidze of Georgia — a 32-year-old former world champion and bronze medalist from Beijing. Varner was dominated by his opponent in the first round, losing 2-0. The second round was scoreless, meaning another random choice of red or blue ball with Varner’s Olympic Games hanging in the balance.
Once again, luck was on his side as his opponent grabbed blue, putting Varner in charge..
“It came out blue and luckily that was my color. I know how to score so I just went in there and did what I could do,” said Varner, about the good fortune of the random ball grab going his way..
Sanderson said it was a “huge win” for Varner.
“Jake’s very good at adjusting and figuring out what the guy was trying to do, slowing him down, grabbing his shoe hand and he did a nice job and it was a little bit closer than we hoped but that was good,” he said. “You don’t want to go to a ball grab in the second period down by one. But he did an awesome job. It’s do or die and you want to be a gold medalist that’s the time to shine and he did it.”
After Varner made the final, the Iranian powerhouse Yazdani went down with a serious knee injury and could barely stand up against Andriitsev, who beat him easily. Yazdani was taken away in a wheelchair and the path was clear for Varner to face Andriitsev, who was second in the European Championships this year and is a former junior world champion.
“He won dominantly,” said Sanderson of the championship match, noting how Varner won using his special ankle pick over the Eastern European. “He was controlling the periods and the tie-ups. He’s awesome. He just likes to compete. He’s the same whether it’s the Olympic finals or any match. And that’s one of the reasons he’s so good.
“He just has great composure. That and just living the lifestyle for a long time. He’s the man. He’s been dedicated this whole trip. He’s just been sitting in his room resting and doing what it takes to win and that’s why he won.”
U.S. Olympic team coach John Smith was also effusive in his praise for Varner.
“Varner’s tough whether he’s ahead or behind. It doesn’t matter. He’s the Olympic champ. But when he is in the lead, he’s got great short-time defense. He’s great at being in the blocking position. You can’t get to his legs.”
As for his wrestling future, Varner said he has yet to think about it.
“We’ll see. Just going to enjoy the moment right now and make plans later.”
Drillers’ Nacita wins Mayor’s Trophy
BY ZACH EWING Californian staff writer zewing@bakersfield.com
As Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall listed the accomplishment’s of this year’s Mayor’s Trophy recipient Wednesday night in the Harvey Auditorium at Bakersfield High, Silas Nacita sat up in his chair.
Nacita had no idea he was about to become the 36th winner of the award, given annually to Bakersfield’s top senior student-athlete as measured by athletic, academic, leadership and community service qualities.
Related Photos
By Michael Fagans / The Californian
BHS’ Silas Nacita asks mayor Harvey Hall for permission to touch the Mayor’s Award trophy after being named the 2012 recipient of the honor during the PEAAK Awards ceremony held at Harvey Auditorium on Wednesday night.
Nacita played running back and defensive back on Bakersfield High’s varsity team for three years, helping the Drillers to a 2010 Central Section runner-up finish and the 2011 Division I championship.
He also was a two-time state medalist in wrestling, including the 170-pound silver medal this year.
He was first-team All-Area twice in each sport and also picked up diving on a whim last month with three weeks left in the season: He narrowly missed qualifying for the section finals.
“I did it to get a tan,” Nacita said. “Just kidding. I’m just not the type of person to not be doing anything. I had to pick up something else.”
Nacita also was the BHS senior class vice president, the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes president and a two-year captain in both football and wrestling; he’ll play football at Cornell University..
Nacita volunteered for a number of community organizations, including the Special Olympics, Relay for Life, Great American Clean-Up, Bakersfield Homeless Shelter and Jesus Shack.
Other finalists for the award were: Patrick Farley, Garces; Matthew Huckaby, Bakersfield Christian; Lucy LaFranchise, Liberty; Harmandeep Manku, South; Cameron Miller, Stockdale; Ka’ylee Moyer, North; and Adrianna Salazar, West.
The Mayor’s Trophy was presented at the beginning of the second PEAAK (Promoting Excellence in Athletics and Activities in Kern) Awards ceremony at BHS.
Other notable winners included Best Male Athlete Chris Hannible, BHS; Best Female Athlete, Meghan Shain, Frontier; Best Sportsmanship, Isaac Lopez, Ridgeview; Play of the Year, Javier Kirksey, Ridgeview; Best Male Student-Athlete, Ryan O’Leary, Highland; Best Female Student-Athlete, Brooke Dickens, Stockdale.
“Golden Empire Making an Impact at the Next Level”
several Kern County All Area Players
got their start right here in
Golden Empire including the 2011 Kern County
Player of the Year Chris Hannibal
BHS quarterback Hannible named
All-Area Football
Player of the Year
zewing@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Dec 31 2011 08:37 PM
Michael Lopez / Special to The Californian |
Bakersfield High quarterback Chris Hannible is The Bakersfield Californian Football Player of the Year. |
Bakersfield High quarterback Chris Hannible is The Bakersfield Californian Football Player of the Year.
Pressure, Chris Hannible has discovered, is nothing when mixed with talent and a lot of preperation..
Sure, Hannible had the unenviable task of replacing three-year starter Brian Burrell as Bakersfield High’s quarterback. But it didn’t take him long to realize he could make it work.
“Yeah, there was a little pressure, coming in with a team so young, first year starting at quarterback,” Hannible said. “But it’s been a dream of mine to live up to those big standards, and I was very excited to take charge.”
Did he ever. In Bakersfield’s triple-option offense, Hannible threw for 1,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions, and he ran for 1,239 yards and 22 touchdowns. Most important, he led the Drillers to a 13-0 season — the legendary program’s first unbeaten run since 2001 — and their record 35th Central Section championship.
For that, Hannible is The Californian’s All-Area Football Player of the Year.
“He did an unbelievable job of managing the game when it needed to be managed,” Bakersfield coach Paul Golla said. “For a first-year starter, that’s pretty special.”
Of course, Golla had more than an inkling his offense would be OK with Hannible taking over. Rewind back to the 2010 section playoffs, when Hannible would stay after practice and zip around passes for the scout team, doing a passable impersonation of Centennial’s All-American quarterback, Cody Kessler.
“He’s explosive, he’s strong, he works hard in the weightroom,” Golla said. “He’s really developed himself in those areas. But he’s always been a team guy. You tell him to play whatever position, and he’ll do it. He just wants to compete. Even as a scout-team quarterback, he’s yelling at our guys. He’s special in that way.”
And the Drillers needed that quality during several sticky spots during their unbeaten run. First, at Frontier, the host Titans erased a big deficit to tie the game 35-35 late. Bakersfield’s Kevin Elijah — The Californian’s Defensive Player of the Year — made an interception with less than two minutes left, and Hannible did the rest, running the ball in for the winning touchdown.
More notably, with Bakersfield facing a 42-21 deficit and the premature end of its season in the section quarterfinals against Centennial, Hannible went to work.
He was 6-of-7 for 154 yards and two passing TDs and ran the ball six times for 42 yards and a touchown in Bakersfield’s frantic comeback, including two perfectly placed deep balls to Kevin Hayes for the tying and winning touchdowns in a 49-42 victory.
“We just said, ‘Heck yeah,’ which to us means not to get down, just go forward, stay calm and do your technique,” Hannible said. “That was a huge down, but we had to keep our heads up.”
Hannible was more of a game manager in a semifinal victory against Clovis — the Cougars took away his lane to run in the option, so he handed off to fullback Silas Nacita 16 times for 153 yards — but he was back to his explosive self against Bullard, throwing for 154 yards and running for 98.
“It was crazy how it’s all worked out,” said Hannible, who started on defense as a sophomore and junior. “My sophomore year we lost in the semifinals. Last year, we lost in Valley, and my senior year we made it back and won it. All in order.”
Hannible, who has moved around Bakersfield with relatives because of an unstable family situation, is waiting on first-semester grades to come in before he’s certain he’ll qualify academically to play in Division I college ball.
“Football has been everything to me,” Hannible said. “I’ve played since I was 8 years old, and it helps me a lot.
If Hannible does continue his career at a four-year school, there is plenty of interest from Fresno State (as a safety) and Nevada (possibly as a quarterback). If that route doesn’t work, he’ll likely play at a junior college near you.
“It really doesn’t matter; I’ll play anywhere,” Hannible said.
Wherever he lands, be assured that Hannible plans on making an impact.
“He wants to compete, and when he understands what he’s supposed to do, he’s going to get it done,” Golla said. “He’s a lot like (Fresno State standout safety and former Driller) Phillip Thomas. He’s extremely intelligent and he understands the game.
“He’s a gift.”
Featured Team of the Week: Golden Empire Youth Football & Cheer
With Golden Empire Youth Football & Cheer, Athletes Excel On and Off the Field.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (CSD) – Golden Empire Youth Football and Cheer is a home-grown organization. And has it ever grown!
The program was launched in 1998 by current Executive Director Ron White and 14 other board members, and it now includes 2,300 football players and cheerleaders, plus 400 coaches and countless volunteers.
“We’re one of the largest high school feeder programs in the state,” said White, a former East Bakersfield High School player who went on to play at Porterville Junior College. “High school coaches see us as a huge benefit for them because we develop these young men and women, and use the high school’s philosophies, fundamentals and techniques.
“When a 7-year-old starts in our program, by the time he gets to the high school level, he already has seven years of experience in the same system that his high school football program uses. Golden Empire uses the same play-calling systems as many of the local high schools, but modified to meet the age and ability of youth football players.”
Golden Empire Youth Football games are played on local regulation high school and collegiate fields. Currently, the organization has 15 geographic programs inclusive of four divisions: freshman level (ages 7-9), sophomore (10-12), junior varsity (11-13) and varsity (12-14), with rosters of approximately 30 players each.
Each team plays a minimum of seven regular-season games, followed by playoffs that are similar to the structure used by the NFL.
“We’ve had some great young athletes advance through our program, and some have gone on to play at colleges including USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Colorado State and Fresno State,” White said. “And last month, Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews, who played in our organization, was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the 12th overall pick.”
In recent years, Golden Empire Youth Football and Cheer has been represented by 10 teams that have earned championships, including three last year, at the National Youth Football Championships in Las Vegas.
White said that Golden Empire Youth Football and Cheer would not exist were it not for the tireless work done by volunteers.
“The strength of our organization is volunteer coaches,” White said. “We also have 22 men and women on our board who are professionals in the community, and they give much of their time to make this work, including some as coaches. We coach a lot of at-risk kids and give them the type of structure they need in their lives. And for families that are struggling financially, we offer the Community Athletic Scholarship Program.
“First and foremost with our group is sportsmanship. What we teach goes way beyond the X’s and O’s of football. We train these young people in how to conduct themselves, how to display sportsmanship and how to provide community service.”
Tryouts are held in early March and full-contact practices begin in July. The season runs from early September through mid-November.
Those interested in learning more about Golden Empire Youth Football & Cheer may visit www.geyf.org or call 661-837-GEYF.
FORMER GOLDEN EMPIRE PLAYER
POISED TO TAKE OVER FOR L.T.
Former GEYF Tomahawk player and West High Grad Ryan Mathews was recently selected by the San Diego Chargers in the First Round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Ryan is poised to take over for future NFL Hall of Fame Running Back& Ladanian Tomlinson. Ryan is a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can bring to those who dream of one day playing football at its highest level.
We are all very proud of Ryan as well as the GEYF Tomahawk coaching staff that helped develop such a fine young man.
“IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE”
“2009 GEYF Freedom Players will compete
on a “National Stage”
Colton Foster, Anthony Mariscal, and Justin Nieto have been selected to represent Golden Empire’s Far west Freedom Football Program in the 2009 FBU U.S. ARMY YOUTH ALL AMERICAN BOWL. The game will be played in the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas on Sunday January 10, 2010.
Colton, Anthony, and Justin were selected as three of the top youth football players in the nation.It is quite an honor to have these three fine young men represent not only Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football, but our Bakersfield Community as a whole.
The following Photos of the U.S. ARMY ALL AMERICAN SELECTIONS, GEYF Board Members, and Coaches.were taken during the U.S. ARMY BOWL SELECTION PRESENTATION Press Conference held at Kern Security on Tuesday 12,15,2009.
( Photos taken by Action Digital Photography )
Congratulations to all who made this possible, and a special thanks to our Community for the continuing support of Golden Empire Youth Tackle Football and Cheer…
Freedom in the News
Article from Bakersfield Press
Local Athletes Promote Cancer Awareness
By: Paul Garcia
Topics: Youth Football Cancer Awareness October
Posted by PaulTGarcia Tue Oct 20, 2009 23:20:42 PDT
Local Athletes Promote Cancer Awareness
Freedom Freshmen Football team shows support by wearing pink
From national teams to those at the club level, athletes around the country are wearing pink and recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
My son plays for a Golden Empire Youth Football team, Freedom’s Freshman team, and after practice one evening he approached me with some pink shoelaces. He explained to me that a parent donated them to the team, to be worn for the next few games. I knew why and this gave me an opportunity to explain to my son why.
Throughout October, NFL athletes have been wearing pink during games. Brett Favre, Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees and many other NFL stars will wear pink cleats and other pink-colored gear during games this weekend as the league supports October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Jessica Ramirez, a Freshmen Freedom football parent, may have seen the NFL players doing it on the field and thought what a great idea for our football team to do as well. She invested in pink shoelaces and donated them to the team.
The pink laces have been proudly worn by the Freshmen Freedom football team during the month of October.
This has been a great way to educate our youth and get them actively involved in supporting cancer awareness.
Many of our families have been affected by breast cancer and many people know someone who has been affected by it.
Freshmen Freedom football has something in common with the NFL and now breast cancer awareness. This is a really cool idea to unite the nation’s sports and it’s athletes, at all levels of the playing field, and bring awareness to breast cancer.
How wonderful for our area’s youth athletes, as well as national athletes, to support awareness for such a worthy cause.
Former Golden Empire Southeast Varsity Wolverine, Steven Roberson, represents the United States in the Global Callenge Bowl held in Kawasaki, Japan
Every once in awhile a player comes along that is destined for greatness, both as an athlete and a human being. That individual is Steven Roberson. I had the distinct pleasure of coaching Steven as a member of the 2005 Golden Empire Varsity Wolverine Conference Championship Team. To be honest I’m sure I actually learned more from Steven than I was ever able to teach him. As an extremely humble, unassuming and hard working player, I could think of no one better to not only represent Golden Empire, but the United States in this international competition.
Sincerely,
Ron L White
Former Southeast Varsity Wolverine Head Coach
1999 to 2006
Former Golden Empire Southeast Varsity Wolverines Players
(Christian Taylor and Jake Peterson)
Help bring home a Valley Title
Jake Peterson and Christian Taylor are outstanding young men both on and off the football field. It was really a blessing to have the opportunity to coach and help mold these young athletes. Both Jake and Christian led the 2004 Varsity Wolverines to the Conference Championship Game and went on to help bring Bakersfield Christian High a Valley Championship. Jake and Christian proudly represents not only Golden Empire and Bakersfield Christian, but the whole Kern County Community. We look forward to big things from both these young men in the near future.
Ron L. White
Southeast Varsity Wolverine Head Coach
1998 to 2006
Mark Forrest – Ex-Fighting Irish Player
Oak Grove football standouts Mark Forrest and Aaron Huck made oral commitments to attend Nevada on Wednesday night.
The pair have been friends since before grade school – their fathers Mark Forrest and Rick Huck, an Oak Grove assistant coach, played football together at San Jose State.
“At the beginning of the season we talked and said ‘Whoever is recruiting us – we have to tell them it’s a package deal,'” said Forrest, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound linebacker, who is expected to move to defensive line in college.
Right tackle Huck took his recruiting trip to the Reno campus last weekend with his father.
“I just thought it was a good fit. Nevada has a great young quarterback with freshman Colin Kaepernick. And the linemen are older, so I should get a chance to play soon,” said the 6-foot-3, 290-pound Huck, who paved the way for a pair of 2,000-yard rushing seasons by Eagles running back Nevin Gardiner. “The team has been to Bowl games for three years in a row, it’s a program on the rise.”
Forrest, who is also a standout basketball player, underwent two knee surgeries during his sophomore year and decided football was his best bet in college. He also received scholarship offers from Fresno State and Wyoming.
“My knees just couldn’t handle all the jumping in basketball, so football was actually easier on them,” said Forrest, who had 13 sacks and 65 tackles this year.
Huck and Forrest were both key in the Eagles’ run to the Open Division title this year
Nathan Mantle was a member of the GEYF Varsity Freedom Championship Team in 2001. Nathan also was elected to the GEYF All Area Varsity Team that finished 2nd in the 2001 National Youth Football Championships in Las Vegas. As an Ohio State Buckeye “True Freshmen” Nathan is playing on a national stage and represents Golden Empire and the
Bakersfield Community proudly.
City of Shafter Honors the Gladiators with
a display in the Town Plaza
Ten years in, Golden Empire Youth Football one of state’s largest leagues
The Bakersfield Californian | Monday, Jun 23 2008 9:43 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Jun 25 2008 9:27 AM
The Golden Empire Youth Football League, which has grown to 1,700 players on 56 teams with 350 coaches and 500 cheer participants  one of the largest independent youth football and cheer organizations in the state and will be celebrating its 10th season this year.
Although tryouts were in March, many teams are still accepting players. The season will get jump-started in August with the “Kickoff Classic,” festive, carnival-like day at Garces High that will include team scrimmages.
The following is an informational background of Golden Empire Youth Football League, which was founded in 1998.
Age groups/divisions
Freshmen Division — Ages 7-9
Sophomore Division — Ages 10-11
Junior Varsity Division — Ages 12-13
Varsity Division — Ages 13-14
Membership areas — Arvin, Bakersfield, Shafter, Tehachapi, Wasco
Timeline
Team tryouts – March
(Some teams are still accepting players)
Instructional football camp — June
Kick Off Classic (all-day carnival-type event, with scrimmages) — August
Regular season — September-November
Postseason — November
Financial aid — GEYF offers the Community Athletic Scholarship Program. Participants who need assistance to participate in the league may apply for help with registration costs. Golden Empire never turns a player away in need of financial assistance.
* GEYF mission: To provide a competitive youth tackle football and non-competitive youth cheer program for local elementary and junior high school students. The primary goal of this organization is to provide a training ground for the basic fundamentals of youth football and cheer, to develop sound mind, body, and character and first and foremost to have fun.
* Executive director Ron White says: “One of the reasons we opened this league … is that we saw a need for a more competitve football organization. There was really no venue or forum for a competitive league with multiple levels.”
* Structure — GEYF is governed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of 22 local men and women.
Awards — GEYF just received a 10 year Commitment To Youth Award from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.
Gladiator Honored by Shafter Chamber of Commerce
Courtesy of the Shafter Press/ Reed Print Inc.
Shafter Youth Football program was the recipient of the Youth Development Award at the 60th Annual Shafter Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner.
This award was given in part for the positive impact that this program has had in the community. Operating on program fees and donations, over 115 young people are given the opportunity to play football yearly. The countless hours of volunteer time put in by the Board and Coaches was recognized also.