Bible Club Travels to Oral Roberts University
March 5th, 2010
By Kenya McKinney, Sponsor

This last weekend three BRHS students had the opportunity to attend college weekend at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a long drive but completely worth it. Students were able to attend classes, visit with professors about specific majors, ask current students about college life at ORU, and connect with other high school students from across the country through team competitions. On behalf of the Bible club I would like to thank everyone for helping us raise the money to help these students attend college weekend.

 

Blue Ridge Hosts Pines Chess Tournament
February 16, 2010
By Jeff Robinson, Coach

This past Saturday the Mid School Chess Club hosted the 2010 Chess in the Pines Tournament.  This was a qualifying tournament for the Arizona State Scholastic Chess Championships which will be held on April 23rd – 25th in Tucson. It was a brisk and breezy morning on the juniper flats, where the Middle School is located out on Porter Mountain Road.  Dave Butterfield, the Mid School coach, and I were hoping for a decent turnout and although we had a fair number of players show up it was below our expectations.  However, folks came from far and wide for a chance to qualify for the state tourney. We had people up from the Valley and over from Flagstaff to participate. The pre tourney excitement was palpable – a buzz in the air that builds to a crescendo until the players shake hands and then, BAM! their clocks click on… and the action begins!  We had three sections: K-6, K-9 and an Open section.  It was a very smooth and well run tournament thanks to the tournament directors Jon Martis and John Coulter. Both of whom came up for the Valley to run the tournament. 

In the K-6 section Zane Towne of BRMS finished in first followed by Jaisen Brown of Sequoia Village School in second.  Third and fourth places were secured by Zach Miexler of BRMS and Noah Sempert of BRMS, respectively.  BRMS ran away with the team title placing nine players in the top ten.  Sequoia placed second, flowed by Show Low in third. 

In the K-9 section top honors went to Austin James of Canyon Day JHS, followed by Blaine Bonito of Alchesay HS in second.  John Benedict of Mount Elden Middle School in Flagstaff took third place while fourth place went to freshman Tyler Martis of BRHS.  Raj Bkakta of BRJHS rounded out the top five.  Team honors went to Mount Elden Middle School followed by Canyon Day JHS in second.   

In the Open section, the high school students competed with each other as well as USCF rated adults from the community.  BRHS alumni, Sanchez Feller took the top spot going undefeated and placing first.  He was followed by Monte Prestwich of BRHS in second, David Ertz of BRHS placed third and Tyler Martis came in fourth.  Adult player, Ray Zutterland took 5th.  Mr. Zutterlund is a 1600 rated player and was upset by both Tyler Martis and Monte Prestwich!  BRHS placed 5 players in the top 10 and took the team honors, followed by Alchesay HS in second. 

BRMS qualified the following players for the state tournament: Zane Towne, Zach Miexler, Noah Sempert, Parum Bkakta, and Seth Glaser.

All in all it was a very satisfying day of chess in the pines… though perhaps next year we should change the name to “chess in the junipers!”

 

Wrestling Team Looking Ahead
February 16, 2010
By Leon Syth, Coach

Safford 267
Payson 152.5
Snowflake 144
Show Low 132
Blue Ridge 127
Cooliage 101
Round Valley 99 

Blue Ridge had 2 Champions Adrian Perkins 189 and Joseph Baldonando 145lbs. Zane Gouker 152, Kevin Henderson 160 and Steven Pearson hwt placed 4th and Jose Compose 215 placed 6th.  We had Freshman Bradley Syth119 and Sophomore Caleb Brady171 just missing the medal rounds by one match.  This year there were a lot of upsets especially in the 119lb class and the 152lb class.  Blue Ridge will come back next year with a lot of young talent and will finally make its name in the wrestling world.  We have a free style program that runs into the summer with about 25 wrestlers, and a little guys program that starts in the middle of March.  Thanks, and we will see you next year!!

BRHS Wrestling Takes Region by Storm
February 8, 2010
By Leon Syth, Coach

  The East Gym never looked so nice!  The gym floor was covered from end to end with wrestling mats.  The bleachers were over flowing with spectators!  It truly was a beautiful site!  We had the light up for the Championships, truly cool!  We were in line to take the Region by storm, coming from 5th to 1st!  We practiced at 6 in the morning and practiced at night.  The stars were in line and the music was blaring.  We fell short, placing second to Show Low.  We had some unexpected blows in the championship where we got pinned.  In the long run, we were not expected to do that well.  We still have State!  Here are your placers: 103 Bryce Carr 3rd, Jacob Sullivan 4th, Bradley Syth 3rd, Randy Lilly 3rd, Joseph Baldonando 1st , Z ane Gouker 3rd, Kevin Henderson 2nd, Caleb Brady 2nd, Adrian Perkins 1st, Jose Compose 3rd, Steven Pearson 1st.  

Thank you Blue Ridge! (Administrators, custodians, score keepers, maintenance, fans).

Wrestlers Medal at Freshman Tournament
January 30, 2010
By Leon Syth, Coach

Blue Ridge took 9 freshmen to the All Freshman State.  There were 38 schools and 450 freshmen, from 1a to 5a schools.  1st place was Cody King, Brad Brevik, 2nd place was Tony Bob Holden, 3rd place, Brad Syth, 4th place, Jacob Badger and Jacob Sullivan.  These kids started their bus ride at 3a.m. in the morning and finished at 7p.m. Most of them wrestled 7 times to get their medal.  This weekend we will host the 3A East Regional Championships at the East Gym, starting at 9a.m.

 

BRHS Wrestlers Battle It Our
January 14, 2010
By Leon Syth, Coach

In the EAST VS WEST DUALS yesterday, your Blue Ridge wrestlers looked like Spartans on the battle field.  They didn’t give much ground to their opponents and took pride in not getting pinned.  They battled so hard, sometimes against much muscular opponents that blood was dripping down their faces and bodies almost like a blood bath.  Coach Gouker looked like an ER surgeon cleaning blood off mats and bodies!  The adrenaline of these wrestlers was like hungered hyenas.  We are getting ready to post matches on U tube so that you can enjoy the competition with your wrestling team. I will keep you posted!  The scores last night were BR 45 Parker 22, BR 48 Chino Valley 27, BR 66 River Valley 12, BR 57 Wickenburg 12, BR 50 and Estrella Foothills 27.

 

BRHS Basketball Dominating
January 7, 2010
By Dave Clark, Athletic Director

Girl’s basketball-  varsity finished 5th at the Round Valley Classic in December and 6th at the Payson tournament.  The girls team has been on a roller coaster this season but when they are playing together as a team they are unstoppable.  The team continues to improve and Coach Naranjo and Coach London are working hard to build towards the future.  They have the potential to be a force to be reckoned with.

 Boy’s basketball - Currently, the varsity is at the top of the 3A East with an undefeated record and are 14-2 overall.  The team finished 2nd in the Winslow tournament in December and won the White Mountain Holiday Classic.  That has not been done in a while.  They also completed a sweep of the Alchesay team with a 4 point victory at home on Tuesday night.  That has not been done for quite a few years (probably not since players like Toby Elkins and Adam Moro were here)  The gym was rocking.  The cheer squad was leading the school spirit and from what I understand it was one of the largest crowds to attend a Blue Ridge vs. Alchesay game in a few years and we all know how Alchesay brings a lot of fans anyways.  I also noticed that our fans brought a lot of noise for the first time in a while in regards to this rivalry.  Usually, it is the Alchesay fans making it seem like the game is in their gym.  The gym was just loud.