When we had the reunion of Del Norte High School for classes 1946–1952 last Saturday, I had the opportunity to connect with former teammates that I had not seen since they graduated.

Bill Stevenson was one such teammate, a 1949 Warrior grad and one of the really great teammates that I had the privilege of playing with while at Del Norte. Bill looked great, almost like he could still put on the pads and helmet with no face mask and take to the field again.

He played while the Warriors still wore red and white. He was an excellent running back and defensive back, playing as a junior under coach Telmud Kramer and as a senior under coach Brick Bralich — each of these coaches were only at Del Norte for one year.

With the first day of school taking place at Del Norte High School this week, it brought back a lot of memories.

It had been a dream of mine since my junior year in high school to coach football here at Del Norte, so it was a dream come true when I was able to come back. Having been away for 19 years coaching in Yucca Valley, located in the Southern California desert, returning here was like a whole new experience.

DN girls golf finishes 4th at Benbow GC Fri.

The Del Norte High School girls golf team opened its season Friday with a Humboldt-Del Norte League tournament at Benbow Valley Golf Course in Eureka, taking fourth place among five teams.

The Warriors combined score of 617 put them behind tournament champion McKinleyville (563), Arcata (585) and Eureka (603). Fortuna (649) finished in fifth place.

The Del Norte High girls tennis team gathers before its season and home opener against McKinleyville on Thursday. The Warriors defeated the Panthers, 6-3, winning four of the six singles matches. Del Norte Triplicate/ Robert Husseman

 Fielding a full team the day before its opener, DN defeats Mack

On Thursday, the Del Norte girls tennis team was five members strong and looking like it would have to forfeit matches in competition.

Fast-forward two days. The Warriors put a full team on the courts at Del Norte High School  for its first scheduled match Saturday morning — and walked away victorious.

Del Norte won four of the six contested singles matches and two of the three doubles matches for a 6-3 victory over McKinleyville and a major shot in the arm for a team coming together.

Pease throws for 164 yards, 2 TDs as starting QB

Del Norte is officially in the win column in 2012.

Warriors sophomore linebacker Napooi Shorty intercepted Healdsburg High quarterback Scott Reynolds’ pass with 15 seconds remaining to seal a 20-14 victory for Del Norte in Healdsburg on Friday night.

The Warriors (1-2 overall) gained 338 yards in total offense. Junior fullback Jackson Evans broke 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career (116 yards), and Jordan Carpenter totaled 102 yards rushing and receiving for Del Norte. 

Del Norte junior outside hitter Ashton Smedley goes up for a kill in the Warriors’ 3-1 victory over Brookings-Harbor High in Brookings on Thursday. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Clemann racks up 16 kills as Warriors get first win of season

Two nights after a disappointing loss to Gold Beach, the Del Norte High School volleyball team found its groove in Brookings.

The Warriors defeated the Brookings-Harbor High Bruins in four sets, 25-15, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17, on Thursday night to for their first win of the season (1-1 overall).

“It was a little bit different attitude,” Del Norte co-head coach Pablo Lorenzi said. “The goal for Brookings was to play more intense but with more enthusiasm, more communication. We did a pretty good job with that.”

Jim Mitchell of Crescent City caught a 37-pound chinook on Thursday. Submitted by Jim Mitchell

If ocean salmon is your preference, then there’s still two days left for Del Norte County, but the last day for ocean salmon fishing is Sunday, Sept. 9.

Lower Klamath River

The numbers of chinook salmon caught in the lower Klamath has been picking up, according to fishing guide Steve Huber.

Del Norte Little League meeting set for Sept. 17

Del Norte Little League is holding its year-end board meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. at Mary Peacock Elementary School. 

Year-end business, board member appointments and 2013 goals will be addressed. The general public is welcome to attend.

Del Norte senior Cortney Penner goes up for a ball against Gold Beach.

Clemann records 8 kills in loss; junior varsity wins season opener

Too often in Del Norte’s varsity volleyball home opener, the Warriors failed to capitalize on controlled possessions.

Hits went long, wide and every which way against nonleague opponent Gold Beach. As the match progressed, the effect of the mistakes was amplified. 

“We weren’t intense,” Del Norte junior Kaitlyn Clemann said. “We didn’t feel like ourselves.”

The Panthers defeated the Warriors in four games on Tuesday night, 25-20, 17-25, 25-11, 25-20, as those squandered possessions drew the ire of Del Norte head coach Debbie Lorenzi.

Del Norte senior Austin Paradzinksi takes a shot in the Warriors’ 7-3 victory over Illinois Valley High of Cave Junction on Tuesday. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

In the end, Del Norte held on, and has a 2-0 overall record to show for it.

Jesus “Chito” Herrera and Juan Alvarado each scored first-half goals as the Warriors walked away with their first Humboldt-Del Norte Big 5 League win of the season, 2-1, over the Panthers.

“They played a lot better than (in Tuesday’s 7-3 win against Illinois Valley),” Warriors assistant coach Donald Bloyd said. “In the second half (on Tuesday) they were still flat and they were lucky. This time, we played up to our standings.”