The Chabot College forensics team recently competed in the weeklong Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Schaumberg, Illin. Read the full story

Budget cuts are not the only financial concern for lady gladiators volleyball. Three months ago volleyball head coach Amber Sammons booked a wine tasting event that last year pulled in $5000. However two weeks before this year’s tasting, a new manger at the Ruby Hill Winery had double booked the event day, cancelling the Chabot fundraiser claiming, “The facility was not designed for this type of event.” The excuse seems hard to believe seeing that the team hosted the same event just one-year prior.

This is a challenge that Amber Sammons and the volleyball team are willing to rise to. They’ve scheduled another wine tasting event that will be held here at the Chabot campus at the new event center, which will take place sometime in March. In the meantime, the team is selling dinner cards for $10 with a value of $25 and useable at restaurants all over the US. You can visit the website www.restaurant.com for more information.

The team needs this money badly for new uniforms, new balls and equipment, and to pay the assistant coaches who have put forth so much of their time and energy and have not of yet been paid. Amber would like to stress that “…any donations are welcomed and much appreciated.” If you would like to make any contributions to the team please contact Amber Sammons at: asammons@chabotcollege.edu or visit her office in bldg 2600 room 2646.

For all those who are interested, intercollegiate sports have open spaces

By Joseph Yates
STaff Writer

At Chabot College in the Spring there are plenty of sports for the avid athlete. Whether you like to play a team sport, or not there is something for you.

No matter what sports team you try out for it will require a lot of hard work. Most of the teams work out a minimum of four days a week, practicing in the morning and the afternoon.

Additionally athletes are held to a high standard to remain active on the team. According to the Chabot College website athletes must maintain a 2.0 G.P.A. and be registered in “12 units of which 9 count toward the associate degree, remediation, transfer and/or certification during your season of participation.”

The spring sports are men’s baseball, woman’s softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s golf, and men’s and women’s track & field.

There are a lot of athletes that are on a scholarship to play at our college, but some of the athletes who try out for the team are also walk on students.

Some of these walk on students don’t know how to get in contact with the coaches or how the programs are run.

One way to find out more about the sport your interested in is to contact the coach of the team or speak to a counselor.

The head coach of men’s baseball, Steve Friend, has shared some information on the requirements on how to make the team.

“It’s all about your athleticism, your talent, and your intangibilities, meaning do you have any skills, your ability to play the game, and your mental toughness, work ethics, commitment and resiliency.”

Mr. Friend has stated “We actively recruit approximately 20-30 local student athletes each year from district area High Schools and you have to be a pretty good player.”

Hard work is the key to practice making perfect. One way to make the team on any spring sport, is to take a summer class of the sport you’re interested in so the coach can get familiar with you.

For more information on Chabot spring sports contact the appropriate coach below.

Baseball coach: Steve Friend – Phone: (510) 723-6935  E-mail: sfriend@chabotcollege.edu .

Men’s golf coach Zack Papachristos Phone: (510) 723-7481 Email: zpapachristos@chabotcollege.edu .

Women’s softball coach: Chelsea Spencer Email:cspencer@chabotcollege.edu .

Men’s & women’s swimming: head coach: Greg Kubicki, Phone: (510) 723-7433 E-mail: gkubicki@chabotcollege.edu.

Tennis coach: HeadCoach: Rick Morris Phone 510) 723-7259 E-mail: rmorris@chabotcollege.edu .

Track & field coach: contact Ken Grace E-mail:kgrace@chabotcollege.edu or CoachKenGrace@att.net Phone: 510-723-6662.

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As the sun was setting Saturday night, the Chabot Gladiators took the field for the last time this season against De Anza College. With excitement in the air you could really feel the energy the players were emitting while some expressed the somber realization that this could be the last home game of their Chabot Career.

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The warm up routine consisted of the team dividing into positions and meeting with their respective coach while running through drills.

After the warm up the players gathered to support the sophomores that would be playing in their last home game wearing the Chabot Black and Gold. Families and friends joined their loved ones while walking through the tunnel of teammates.

Ryan Bosque and family walk through the tunnel of players as they prepare to start the final game of the season

Austin Williams

Eric Stewart

Then came the playing of the national anthem while the players and fans directed their attention to the scoreboard.

D'Marco Jimmerson

After the conclusion of the opening ceremony the game got underway. Chabot won the toss and elected to receive with number 27, Brian Mickel waiting in the backfield. Bellow is the sequence of images showing Mickel’s 95 yard return for a touchdown putting the  Gladiators on top to start the game.

Brian Mickel

After Mickel ran past the defenders the sidelines erupted and teammates celebrated what would eventually turn out to be the only points Chabot could get on the board tonight.

Gladiators offensive linemen Carrington Reyes #71 and Kyle Mickey #70 celibate after their team scores their first touchdown during the first quarter against De Anza College.

Travis Gardner

Bryan Jones

A view from press box at the Chabot College football field during the 1st half of the game

As the game would come to an end De Anza would prevail as the victor with a final score of 29 to 7.

The Chabot College Forensics Team finished off the fall tournament season on Friday, Nov. 5 at the Delta College Invitational Tournament with noteworthy success. Aside from the individual awards received, the team as a whole took fourth place amongst all community colleges.

In an e-mail sent out to the Chabot community on Monday morning the following students’ achievements were highlighted

Toan Nguyen took fourth place in Varsity Impromptu Speaking and was the only community college student to place in this event. Arturo Diaz took fourth place in Varsity Dramatic Interpretation of Literature.

Kathryn Dinatale and Daymond Dixon were awarded fourth place in Varsity Duo Interpretation of Literature, a great achievement for their first tournament. Dinatale also received Top Novice in Programmed Interpretation of Literature.

In regards to this semester’s team, Director of Forensics Jason Ames said, “They’ve been really great. They’ve gone beyond expectations of what I had for this semester. And I had high expectations.”

The forensics team has been coached to its success this semester by Ames with a lot of help from Assistant Coach Christine Warda and Student Assistant Coach Steven Mireles

Mireles, who competed on the team the two previous years, said, “This year it’s interesting to see how individuals grow and to be part of teaching and coaching the team with Jason and Christie. It’s an honor to teach and know they (the team members) listen and take advice and to see them succeed using that advice. Seeing that is humbling.”

Toan Nguyen, who also took two third place finishes in Varsity Interpretation of Literature and a fourth place finish in Varsity Programmed Oral Interpretation of Literature this semester, also felt it was a major benefit to be part of the team.

“Academically the skills you learn are phenomenal. I take notes better. I really think about what I’m learning instead of casually taking notes. My comprehension is better and I even feel like I can be a teacher now,” said Nguyen, member of the team for a year and a half now.

In talking with various members of the team it was clear that there was an overall agreement on the hugely supportive nature the team fosters.

Jake Hewitt, new to the forensics team this semester, said, “Everybody’s cool. It’s a very open environment. You can say something that may not be all that smart and everyone still supports you. It’s nice to be in a class where everybody’s opinion is heard.”

The before mentioned Monday morning e-mail recognized the hard work of all team members and further stated, “This semester, 15 students have competed for Chabot College, and 13 of them have brought home at least one award, with 8 of them bringing home multiple individual awards throughout the semester.”

The forensics team’s traditional speech night, titled “The Speak Up,” will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Chabot’s Little Theater. A $5 donation is requested at the door and there will be cookies and water offered during intermission.

Speech night provides the team with a chance to showcase its talent, demonstrate examples of the kind of events team members participate in at tournaments and fundraise for traveling tournaments.

Those planning to attend the speech night can also purchase a $1 raffle ticket for a chance to win two tickets to the upcoming Raiders vs. Broncos football game, a $160 value.

All donations and raffle proceeds will go toward the team’s trip to Mt. Hood in Portland, Ore. for their national tournament in spring.

The team will also be hosting and judging the upcoming intramural tournaments at Chabot, where students from various communications classes compete against each other.

The IE intramural, at which students compete in persuasive, informative and interpretation of literature, will take place on Dec. 2. The debate intramural will follow on Dec. 9.

When speaking about the agenda for next semester, Ames said, “Spring is always the most competitive because we have state and nationals … state in mid March and nationals at the end of March. The spring semester is the ‘big one.’”

“I’m really proud of the team, really am. They really deserve all the awards they’ve received,” added Ames as a final note.

For more information about the forensics team and their upcoming events please contact Jason Ames at james@chabotcollege.edu.

On Sept. 25 nearly 5,000 fans packed the Pit in Salinas, Calif. to watch the undefeated Chabot Gladiators take on the Hartnell Panthers (0-2). After an exciting game the Gladiators won 55-38.

Behind the passing attack of Austin Fales, Hartnell raced to a quick 21-0 lead. The Gladiators responded with touchdown passes of 51 and 61 yards to Darnell Reed and James Davenport, respectively.

In an attempt to put the Gladiators away, Hartnell put up 10 more points and went into halftime with a 31-20 lead.

The Gladiators, however, would not go away. Behind a balanced attack the Gladiators reeled off 35 unanswered points.

Quarterback Travis Gardner led the attack, throwing four second half touchdowns. Gardner set a new Chabot record totaling seven touchdown passes. Reed was the recipient of three.

Bryan Jones balanced the offense with 157 yards on the ground. He also had three touchdowns.

The Gladiators were 11-18 on third down and 6-6 in the red zone.

Hartnell put up a good effort behind the play of Fales. Fales completed 22-26 passes for a total of 285 yards and three touchdowns.

The Gladiators once again did a good job protecting the ball. In two of the first three games the Gladiators did not turn the ball over once. For the season the Gladiators lead the turnover battle plus seven.

On Saturday Oct. 2 the Gladiators (3-0) are figured to have their hands full as they hit the road to take on the College of San Mateo, the No. 2 ranked team in the country. This rivalry produces two of the highest scoring teams in Northern California.

The San Mateo Bulldogs are also 3-0. They recently manhandled West Valley College 77-14, setting a junior college football record by rushing for 592 yards.

Saturday September 11 the Gladiators hosted the West Valley Vikings of Saratoga. The Gladiators used a suffocating defense and a potent offense in the blowout of the Vikings 65-13.

The game was decided before many fans even reach their seats. The Glads led after one quarter 28-0. Within the first four possessions, the Glads had forced two turnovers including a 24 yard interception return for a touchdown by Aoese Noa.

West Valley ran for a mere 49 yards on 40 carries. The Vikings only gained another 107 yards in the air. The defense recorded 6 sacks including 2 1/2 by Langakall Moa. Noa also had a sack

The Gladiators out gained West Valley 482-156.

The Gladiators also scored touchdowns on their first six possessions. They also finished 8-9 in the red zone.

In the game, Chabot played most of its reserves. They only needed 12 carries from D’Marco Jimmers who scored three touchdowns and was done after only getting a half of work. Quarterback Travis Gardner finished 16-20 for 173 yards including three touchdowns passes.

Chabot only punted one time in the game.

If there was one place that the Gladiators would like to improve on, it would most definitely be to limit their penalties. They committed an astounding 16-169 yards.

The Gladiators improve to 1-0 on the season. They travel up to Mendicino County Saturday for a showdown with the College of the Redwoods.

The Chabot football team has been practicing hard all summer for the start of the 2010
season and they couldn’t be anymore excited about it. “We are tired of hitting each
other,” Head Coach Danny Calcagno said, now entering his seventh season.

Though optimistic about his team right out the gate, Calcagno will be striving for
improvement throughout the season: “I’m looking forward to seeing us develop.
Hopefully by conference we will be better than week one.” Development is going to be a
key term this season due to all the newcomers.

There are many fresh-faced freshmen on the squad this season that survived camp and
Calcagno is very excited to see what they can do. “We have some talented freshmen but
they just have not played in a college football game yet,” said Calcagno.

These new freshmen will play an enormously big role this season for a squad that only
has four players returning from last season. “We are very young, only one returner on
offense and three on defense,” noted Calcagno.

Asi Moa and Travis Tupou are two of those returning players Coach Calcagno will
look toward to take charge and make the biggest and most immediate impact. Both
players being on the defensive line should make for some serious pass rushing as well as
dominant run stopping.

Though this squad is young there is depth as well as talent. If these players can come
together and play at the level this season’s coaching staff feels they can there will be
plenty of wins. “Potentially we will be competitive,” said Calcagno.

Not only looking to be competitive against other teams, but being competitive against
each other will also play a big role for many of these young freshmen that are new to the
college football environment. “All these freshmen are competing for a job and there is no
one that has taken a position” noted Calcagno.

Being consistently competitive with each other in practice will only make these
Gladiators tougher and more sound on the field come game day.

Calcagno has a record of 28 wins and 23 losses in his six-year career as Chabot’s Head
Coach since starting in 2004. Coaching football for seventeen years, however, Calcagno
brought an instant success to the program leading the Gladiators to their only Bowl Game
of the new millennium back in his first season coaching in 2004.

Calcagno will be looking to lead this young batch of ball players to Chabot’s twenty-first
Bowl Game as well as the school’s fourteenth Conference Championship. Chabot has a
strong football tradition and this season will be no different.

The Gladiators start their season Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. here on Chabot’s very own turf against West Valley College. Last year’s football squad handled these opponents
with ease, winning the game 56 to 13, and this year should be no different.

Season starts this week with home doubleheader

The Lady Gladiators will kick off their season against Modesto as part of a doubleheader with the men’s squad on Sept. 3, and host the following two games at home against Los Medanos Sept. 10 and West Hills Sept. 14.

The women will be anxious to improve on their 2009 season – reaching the playoffs for the first time under Head Coach Tony Igwe but losing in the first round to top-seeded Solano College. They finished third in the Coast Conference South Division with five wins, three losses, and one tie, and ended the season with nine wins, ten losses, and two ties overall.

They’ll play an exciting brand of “total soccer”, attacking regardless of scoreline and hoping to surprise opponents with counter attacks. With four returning seniors this year, Igwe expects them to provide solid leadership, while defensive midfielder Amanda Murillo and midfielder Erica Garcia should be among the stars on this year’s team.

The Lady Gladiators will play twice against the arch-rival Hawks: first in Livermore Sept. 24 and then at home Oct. 29. There’ll also be some important road clashes, including a match against San Bruno’s Skyline, 2009 Coast Conference champions, Oct. 1.

Skyline was undefeated in league play in 2009 but was pushed to the limit by the Lady Gladiators in a 3-2 road defeat. A return match will be held at Chabot Nov. 4, a game that should go a long way in determining the playoff aspirations for both teams.

The women will also battle Foothill, runners-up in the Coast Conference last year, in another tough road encounter Oct. 15.

As for the men, Coach Igwe has a positive outlook on the upcoming season, and has stressed the importance to his players of on-field communication and building stamina in the weeks of practice and conditioning leading up to Friday’s opening game.

Igwe will be relying on his top players to help lead the Gladiators back to the playoffs following their twelfth place finish in 2009 league play.

They’re loaded at the goalkeeper position, with both Rafael Campos and Anthony Ajido competing for minutes. Solid sophomore forward Raoul Noumbissi is a dangerous goalscoring threat, while sophomore midfielder Jun Nishioka should keep opponents on their toes.

The Gladiators kick off their 2010 campaign with four straight games at home: non-conference foes Modesto Sept. 3, College of Redwood Sept. 6, Napa Valley Sept. 8, West Hills Sept. 14, and Contra Costa Sept. 17.

The conference portion of the season begins in earnest as the Gladiators play host to Cabrillo College of Scotts Valley at 1 p.m. Sept. 24, the first of fourteen games to be contested in the 2010 Coast Conference Championship.

The Gladiators will also host CCSF, Hartnell, Foothill, Ohlone, Evergreen, and Mission for the home portion of the schedule, and will face arch-rivals Las Positas in the penultimate game of the season – a trip to Livermore Nov. 9, the home of the Hawks, for the chance to lay claim to bragging rights for the next year.

And what of the long awaited soccer field at Chabot? With final preparations beginning this month, the Gladiators expect to open their new $1.4 million soccer field sometime in January of next year.

Unfortunately, it won’t be ready in time for this season, but Coach Igwe hopes to invite Hayward-based National Premier Soccer League team Bay Area Ambassadors, who reached the first round of the 2010 US Open Cup and will share the new field with the Gladiators, to play the San Jose Earthquakes’ reserve team in the grand opening match.

For more information on the Gladiator teams, including scheduling, game times, and roster information, visit the Chabot College Web site, www.chabotcollege.edu.