More than 50 kids taking part in local cheer group

Del Norte Youth Football AA cheerleader Sami Aguirre, A Gold cheer member Brittany Cavyell and AA cheerleader Kailee Coopman during a game at Mike Whalen Field at Del Norte High School on Sunday. (The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)

The members of the Del Norte Youth Football A Gold squad were working on a stunt in which  team member Kenzy Harrison was lifted up by her teammates and caught under the watchful eye of  the coaches.

For Harrison, being a cheerleader has been an exciting experience.

“I like that we get to cheer and do stunts,” the 8-year-old said. “I like that we get to go backwards and go up high.”

Del Norte High senior Lexie Nelson smashes the ball during a game against Eureka on Thursday night. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

It might not have been pretty in parts but when push came to shove the Warriors shoved right back to earn the crucial win and take sole possession of first in the Big 5 Conference.

Both teams were 3-1 heading into the contest. Now the Warriors are 13-10 overall and 4-1 in the Big 5.

If Del Norte had lost the  game it would have put into serious jeopardy the Warriors’  chances of earning their 21st straight conference crown.

“This was our biggest win of the year,” co-coach Debbie Lorenzi said. “It keeps us in first place.”

Two players who led the way were seniors Lexie Nelson and Kristen DeBacker. Nelson had 12 kills, two blocks for kills, 13 digs and five aces.  Lorenzi said she was proud of how aggressive Nelson was and the way she brought her game up to another level.

Del Norte High senior quarterback Thor Hadfield gets ready to throw the ball in a home game against Fortuna last Friday. Tonight, the 1-4 Warriors face the 0-6 Arcata Tigers on the road starting at 7:30 p.m. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Play a team that has struggled even worse than you have.

Tonight, the Del Norte High varsity football team hopes it can earn a much-needed victory in Big 4 Conference action against the winless Arcata Tigers on the road.

Del Norte (1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Big 4) has not won since a 6-0 season-opening win against Hidden Valley of Oregon on Sept. 11.

Coach Steve Luis watches JV action Friday night as his Warriors play Fortuna. Photos by The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

His eldest daughter had just wed and he vowed that he would live to see the birth of his first grandchild.

Today, after having the left side of his jaw removed last October, Luis is in remission and has beaten the odds so far.

And the head coach of Del Norte High’s junior varsity football team has seen the birth of not one but two grandchildren.

“My cup is full,” said Luis, 55. “It’s a good feeling to still be around.”

Today Luis celebrates another milestone, 31 years of marriage to his wife, Cherie. This is also the one-year anniversary of his jaw surgery.

Soon, he plans to go to health classes at the high school and warn kids about the dangers of chewing tobacco, something he did for about a decade when he was young.

He suspects that contributed to his cancer, and his doctors agree.

“Hopefully we can turn away a few of these young people from taking that first chew,” he said.

Luis is a well known figure in local sports, having been a youth wrestling coach for many years and for the past 10 years the head coach for JV football.

He is coaching again this fall and said the work has played a key part in his recovery by giving him something to focus on.

“It’s just been a lot of fun still being able to work with the kids,” Luis said. “I’m glad to be able to do this and that I’m still here ... When I wake up on the right side of the grass in the morning, it’s a good day.”

For 25 years local resident Russ Burnett, 62, has dreamed of qualifying and taking part in the Super Bowl of triathlons, the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

On Oct. 10 his dream was fulfilled as he was able to finish the grueling race on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Out of 1,800 participants of all ages more than 200 were unable to finish the event, which consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile marathon.

Burnett finished with a time of 14 hours, 18 minutes and 15 seconds, good enough to place 31st out of 50 participants in his 60-64 age group.

“It was unbelievable,” said Burnett, who qualified for the race at the Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho in June. “I can’t believe I really did this.”

Two days before the event  there were doubts Burnett would be able to take part.

DNHS cross country competes at South Fork

Local swim club to host open house on Nov. 2

Sign-ups happening for dodgeball and soccer

Matthew Coopman of the DNYF AA Blue team eludes a McKinleyville defender on his way to a 63-yard touchdown on Sunday at Mike Whalen Field on the Del Norte High School campus in Crescent City. The Blue squad won the contest 28-0. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

The AAA team was able to down Arcata 36-12.

The AA Gold team defeated Arcata 22-0 and the AA Blue squad downed McKinleyville 28-0.

In the A division the White squad downed Arcata 27-0 while the A Gold team for Del Norte lost to Redwood Youth Football 25-0.

The A Blue team traveled to the Eureka area and lost to the Loggers 19-6.

Jackson Bruder of the DNYF A White team gains enough yardage for a first down against Arcata on Sunday. Bruder scored on the next play. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

This Sunday the DNYF teams will all be on the road.

The AAA squad will be at St. Bernard’s in Eureka.

The AA Blue squad is at South Fork while the AA Gold team is at Brookings High School.

In A action the Blue team is at Fortuna High School, the Gold squad is at Brookings High and the White team is at South Fork.