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Sports Hayward, California
Tennis and tenacity By Elise Reyes
ereyes@thechabotspectator.com
If you’re a part of either Chabot tennis teams or if you’ve been to a Gladiator tennis match, you know who head coach Rick Morris is. You can spot him observing the matches, talking to his players, in his office and just doing what every good coach does--being there for his teams. Morris has been a coach at Chabot since 1991 and has been teaching since 1995, and is the head coach for both men’s and women’s tennis. “It’s unique working with both teams,” he said. “You get a variety of people to coach.” So far this season, the men’s team has gone undefeated with a 3-0 record and the women’s team has held a 2-1 record. “Some highlights of the season have taken place at tournaments,” he said. “The men got off to a good start in the Modesto tourna-
ment placing third out of 14 teams with Gerald Mahone reigning as champion. For the women, they took fourth place in the Mission tournament with Namrata Sher being a singles finalist.” Two of his players have played key roles in leading their teams throughout this season. “For men’s tennis, Brook Workeneh was the number one All-American singles leader last year. He has a good work ethic, is a good student, and sets a good example for his teammates,” Morris said. “Other teams comment on his good sportsmanship and he’s just a good guy all around. “Namrata Sher has been a leader for the women’s team,” he also said. “In 2011, she was All-American for singles and doubles and is currently undefeated. She’s ranked as one of the top five players in the state.” Although successes play a part in every sport and with every team, everyone
www.thechabotspectator.com has things they can work on. “It’s been hard to make sure that everyone has a working schedule,” Morris said. “It can be difficult to get everyone here. Some players have work and other studies [to attend to]. Being a student comes first.” As for things the players can work on as a whole, Morris had a few words to say. “We need more work on our doubles and our returns,” he said. “I want them to play smarter and not give their opponents any chances to beat them.” Even with obstacles and things to work on regarding game performance, Morris and his teams have been able to positively progress through the season. “We’ve gotten better, and though there is lots of work to be done, we continue to work on our games and get better every day,” he said. “Our top goal every season is to win the conference title,” Morris added. “If you win that you get a good play off seeding. If we can
Chabot’s American Martial Arts Club By Nathan Ramos
nramos@thechabotspectator.com
Chabot College American Martial Arts club provides community members in the area as well as students with a great way to get physically active. Rudy DeGuzman, an veteran advisor for the club, extends his invitation to all students and community members to join. The club meets in room 2903. “Anyone can drop in at any time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at either 12 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. or in the evening at 6:30 BASEBALL Ohlone - Mar. 12
2:30pm
Cabrillo - Mar. 19
2:30pm
SFCC - Mar. 21
2:30pm
Mission - Mar. 28
2:30pm
SOFTBALL West Valley - Mar. 12
3pm
Gavilan- Mar. 14
3pm
MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT IN FREMONT MAR 16TH
San Jose City
9am
Merced
11am
Feather River
5pm
SWIMMING Alumni Meet - Mar. 23
11am
Gladiator Fundraiser Mar. 23
5pm
TRACK & FIELD Chabot Relays - Mar. 30 9am
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tennis Coach Rick Morris for Men’s and Women’s tennis team has been a coach since 1991 and teaching from 1995
achieve that, we’re on the look out for the team state title.” To be the best, you have to work at it. Morris shared a few player and coach essentials when practicing or preparing for a game. “Players should work hard at every practice and come with a strong racquet and a good meal before-
Davis Dichoso/Staff Photo
hand,” he said. “Off the court preparation matters just as much as what happens on the court. “As a coach, I always want to be on time, be prepared, and work hard. We all have to give our best effort and our best shot. We constantly strive for excellence.”
members were very dedi- stuck together, while the cated and passionate about rest of us with little experip.m. - 8:30 p.m.” In Rudy’s health, learn taekwondo, learning new techniques and ence learned the basics from 12 years of instruction, he kicks, and spar” for about improving on the technical a fellow leading student. The entire experience has advised the variety of 3 years now. He extends training. Just learning a few lessons that the club offers an invitation to people who techniques helps you strike was very demanding, from which including “martial are looking for “exercise, and takedown an opponent its cardio work to the physiarts, taekwondo, self de- knowledge, confidence, from one of the experienced cally engagment. From a fense, and forms of MMA.” self-esteem, and safety”. member to another. After a alternative stand point lookSome cool perks that he points out is “anyone can join ranging from any level of experience, whether they are a student or a community member of any age”. Interestingly, the club is attractive especially to people who are looking to train, whether it is for the military, police force, or even as a firefighter. In the past, Rudy remembers the club used to be offered as a class and for credits. He remembers, “this room used to be packed wall to wall with people, which is good and bad at the same time.” “The club had enough people to Taekwondo student El Cid Exequien, a Yellow Advance student, holds a body shield while a fellow stujoin events such as tournadent works on her rear leg round house kick. ments, but the club was also Davis Dichoso/Staff Photo full of people who were not very passionate about the El Cid likes seeing people couple takedowns the high ing and recommending this art.” Now, “the club is full from all different ranges of of adreneline was more than to anyone else who wants to have fun work out in a non of dedicated members that experience and even points expected as of satifiying. Later on, people who traditional gym setting this look to spread their knowl- out that also kids come out were interested in learn- is the place to be. edge of martial arts with to this martial arts club. To join the club, you just other community members While, joining them ing some basic taekwondo with passion for martial in the day of training and broke off into a small group need to come by room 2903 arts.” it was a real exciting exe- and also those who were near the swimming pool, El Cid Exequien, a 22 perince. They’re willing to interested in sparring some and an easy payment of year old student with a fire- help out anyone with abso- more in wrestling, kickbox- $12.00 a month registration fighting major, attended this lutely no experience on the ing, and MMA style. The fee for the entire remanding club to “promote physical mat for training. All of the more experienced members of the semester.