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Season of the Panther

Fall season wrap-up

December 7, 2009
by Lovelle Harris | Features Editor

Breanna Warnock spikes the ball while teammate Emma Moroski looks on during practice. Terri M. Venesio

With the fall season quickly coming to an end, City College Panther fans have experienced both the highs and the lows that come with collegiate sports. From the domination of the women’s volleyball team to the men’s basketball team continuing to search for a win, fans witnessed the Panthers’ unrelenting competitive spirit all season long.

Undefeated at 30-0 and the Big 8 Conference champions, the women’s volleyball team placed fifth at the state championships Dec. 4-6 at Stockton’s San Joaquin Delta College. Northern California Coach of the Year Laurie Nash and conference MVP Natasha Vinnikova were at the helm.

Another shining star in the Panther athletics constellation, the women’s golf team won its first California state championship Nov. 17 and, according to the team’s site, the Panthers’ combined two-day tournament score of 668 was five strokes better than state runner-up Bakersfield College.

Unfortunately the men’s basketball team hasn’t fared so well. With 18 games left in the season, it has the opportunity to dig out of the 2-5 hole that it currently finds itself in. The women’s basketball team, however, is experiencing some success nine games into the season, with a record of 3-4.

Football fans enjoyed moderate success this season as the Panthers ended their season a game above 500 with a record of 6-5; capping the season off with a 40-17 victory over the Laney Eagles in the Laney Eagles Bowl Game. According to Randy Routier, voice of the Panthers, freshman quarterback Cody Allen ended his record-breaking season with four touchdown passes against the Eagles which, according to the final team statistics posted on the Northern California Football Association’s Web site, brought Allen’s total to a staggering 30 touchdowns.

Joseph Gardner grapples with another City College wrestler during a practice early in the season. Terri M. Venesio

Coach Jang-Ha Oh, his coaching staff and the women’s soccer team experienced a bittersweet season. Though the team’s talent was stellar; the team ended its season with a disappointing record of 7-9-5, one game shy of making the NorCal Championship playoffs.

Fans of women’s water polo suffered through a disappointing season as the team wrapped up its winless season Nov. 7 at the Big 8 Conference Championships with a 17-3 loss against San Joaquin Delta College.

The men’s wrestling team placed third at the North Regional match Dec. 5. The team has a stunning record of 9-2 and six of its wrestlers ranked in the top five in the state individual rankings.

The fall season has brought with it many reasons for City College sports fans to take pride in the fine assembly of athletes, coaches and assistant coaches that help make Panther athletics a force to be reckoned with.