Finally on the FB field

Warrior grad Goacher starts at Siskiyous

John Goacher, above, a 2010 Del Norte High graduate, is now a starting left tackle with the College of the Siskiyous Eagles in Weed. Goacher sat out last year and the first game of 2001 due to injury and is happy to be back. Photo submitted by Sherri Adams

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’ve been working hard.”

A 2010 Warrior graduate, Goacher had to wait awhile before making his debut with the Weed school, but said it was all worth it when he finally took to the field a few weeks back.

Goacher, a 6 foot 5 inch, 250 pound left tackle, sat out last year due to an injury and likewise sat out the first game of 2011 because of a concussion suffered during practice.

While his team lost 41-9 in his debut on Sept. 17 at home to Delta, he said that regardless of the score it was an amazing feeling  playing college football and starting on the offensive line.

“It was the first time I ever played a game in college,“ Goacher said. “It was really a lot of fun. It’s a lot different than high school. It’s more fast-paced.”

Last year, before the season began, Goacher tore cartilage in his knee at practice and was out for the year.

Goacher went to work to get back in football shape for the following season.

He also took part in track and field, competing with the squad at Siskiyous last spring. He took 9th place in the shot put and discus and 7th in the hammer throw in the Golden Valley Conference.

Current Warrior varsity head coach Ray Rook was the offensive line coach in Goacher’s senior year.

Rook said Goacher was a late bloomer who began to thrive his senior year, his lone year as a starter, and put in the effort to improve his technique and get bigger, stronger and faster.

Goacher was extremely dedicated, and he was a great kid to work with, Rook recalled.

“He was a real coachable kid and he worked 150 percent on and off the field,” Rook said. “He’s been successful because he’s a very humble, hardworking kid.”

While at Del Norte his strength and weightlifting  coach was his stepdad,  Dan Adams, who Goacher said was a huge influence on his playing career, as was then-head coach Bob Hadfield, and Rook.

“They helped me big time,” Goacher said.

The 1-2 Eagles play today on the road against Yuba.

Next week, the Eagles will be in the area, when they travel to Eureka to face College of the Redwoods. The game begins at 1 p.m.

Goacher said that in college it’s vital for someone on the offensive line to have good footwork, which he has worked hard on.

“Footwork is key in college,” he said. “You have got to have good technique against the types of athletes you face in our league... You’ve got to be really smart as well because you need to know what the defense is going to do next.”

Goacher has also excelled in the classroom and last spring was named to the dean’s list.

“It’s been amazing,” he said about being at Siskiyous. “It’s fun, and you get to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds and states.”

Goacher said sports has given him the discipline to do well in his studies.

“If I didn’t have sports I would probally be flunking,” he said. “It’s really helped me to focus, work hard and get good grades.”

Goacher plans to continue track this spring. While he has another year of eligibility in football remaining, Goacher has not decided at this time what to do next.

He does know he wants to go on to a four-year school, and it would be great if he had a chance to continue his athletic career in either football or track.

Goacher is not the only former Warrior on the Eagles squad. Fellow 2010 graduate Nate Bruder is on the practice squad for  College of the Siskious.