Bakersfield College’s volleyball team has served BC with a great season, according to Coach Carl Ferreira said.
The last season match for the team was both a loss and a gain in the Southern California playoffs at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.
It was a learning experience for the team, Ferreira said.
The team lost 3-1 by scores of 30-16, 30-25, 25-30 and 30-16.
Ferreira said the team has constantly sought ways to increase their kill percentage and reduce their attack error percentage. In this last game, according to Ferreira, the team was especially alert to control the serving and passing in the game.
“When we passed well, we got into a great rhythm. When we did not pass well, we got out of that rhythm,” Ferreira said.
Ferreira looks forward to next season with 10 returning players.
Reflecting on this recently concluded season, Ferreira said, “Every season is a separate entity.”
Ferreira conceded that he was very pleased with this season because his players were easy to work with and teach.
“The ball has no personality, but people do,” he said.
Wrestling
Nine members of the BC wrestling team pinned down spots in the Community College Championships during the Southern California Regionals Dec. 2.
Freshman George Silva nailed sixth place at 125 pounds, sophomore Cody Gibson won fourth place at 133, Brice Wasserman got second at 141, and freshman Eric Timson landed fourth at 149.
Zach Johnson fifth at 157, Orlando Landois placed sixth at165, freshman and Shafter native Jason Carrasco gained second at 184.
Sophomore Ramon Perez sixth at 197, and sophomore Josh Marquez got second at heavyweight.
This qualifications came despite a few difficulties this season, including commitment and academic problems, according to Coach Bill Kalivas.
At the team’s match with Cal State Fullerton, they had to relinquish 18 points to forfeits, according to Kalivas.
“It was very difficult for us to recover,” Kalivas said.
Because of various complications, the team only took a few players to the bout at Cal State Fullerton, according to Kalivas. The team finished 10th at the tournament, he said.
Nevertheless, the BC wrestlers participated at the Southern California challenge Dec. 2 at Cerritos to qualify for the state championships at Fresno City College Dec. 8-9.
The team still had some individual wrestlers who shined at the Fullerton challenge. Marquez, according to Kalivas, performed well as a heavyweight, and Landois stood out for his 165 weight class.
Also notable were Johnson at 157 and George Silva at 125.
In fact, Kalivas said that Marquez, Landois and Johnson all achieved top “A” in their respective weight classes at Fullerton.
Kalivas remarked that his team members were in much better physical condition than many other members of opposing community college wrestling teams. The BC wrestling team has a superior competitive spirit, said Kalivas.
Kalivas said that the team focused on improving mechanics, positioning and scoring off of others’ mistakes. Kalivas said he looks forward to more individual successes and also wants the team to finish in the top 10 in the state.
Marquez, who ranks second in the state for heavyweights, said he “feels pretty good” about the season despite the team’s conflicts. Marquez said he lost to only one opponent this season.
“The team will surprise some people at the end,” Marquez said, speaking of the state championships.
Marquez said his greatest strength is the way he deploys his legs in matches. Usually opponents use upper body strength tactics, Marquez explained. Marquez also said his other strength is speed.
“I’m the smallest heavyweight, but I’m a lot faster than other heavyweights,” Marquez said.
Marquez said his specialty maneuver is the low single-leg takedown.
Golf
BC women’s team member Sara Ansolabehere won third place in the Southern California Regional Championship in Fresno.
Playing at Belmont Country Club in November, Ansolabehere shot 76 the first day of the tournament and shot 77 the second day.
The total was 153. Ansolabehere and another contender tied for third after the regular tournament and then engaged in a sudden-death playoff. Ansolabehere secured third place.
With her high finish in the state finals, Ansolabehere was then selected to be part of the California all-state team, which consists of only six women from all over the state.
BC coach Larry Cook said Ansolabehere is a “hot item” to many colleges, including Chico State, and is very likely to earn a scholarship to four-year institution.