B2 SPORTS thedesertreview.com AUGUST 7, 2018 EAGLES SET TO PROTECT IVL CROWN ing it across the field. Athletes Eagles finished with a record By Kalin Turner dropped to their three-point of 14-1, including an EL CENTRO- With the Imperial stance and struck the sled work- undefeated league Valley gearing up for the start ing their blocking techniques on record, and compet- of the 2018-19 school year, the manuevering around a defender. ing deep Southwest High School football The Eagles played seven on team hit the field on August 2 seven scrimmages working both for a week of drills and condi- the defense and offense. These tioning for this year’s hell week. drills marked the end of practice, Currently around the valley, allowing the Eagles work on football teams are preparing for both sides of the ball in the August 15 early season start, real game situations. when first games kickoff. Now, with hell To prepare for the early start, week over and prac- the Southwest Eagles worked on tice beginning for the all aspects of the field, includ- soon-to-arrive sea- ing the defensive back posi- son, the Eagles will tion. These athletes worked on look to remain on applying pressure to receivers top, defending and quickly reading the oppo- their league into sition. This station was led by champi- the CIF Defensive Back Coach Chris onship. playoffs. Alvarado. Coach drilled his play- For Head coach John ers on blocking live receivers. the Mitosinka will look to “For this season we are work- lead his team to another ing on putting pressure on the winning season with hopes offensive receiver by not let- of developing teamwork and ting anyone get behind us in the an aggressive game strategy for backfield,” said coach Alvarado. the upcoming season. Their first Offensive and defensive 2017 game is August 17, the Eagles lineman drilled hard and often sea- will host West Hills High School THE 2017 IVL DEFENDING CHAMPION EAGLES prep using the infamous sled, forc- son, from Santee. the nest for the 2018 title defense. Photo by Kalin Turner the TYREE UNLEASHES DOGS IN LEAGUE Last year, the tough IVL Another heavily anticipated, By Javier Guerrero competition landed Calexico city bragging rights rematch with CALEXICO - In their third amongst the lower ranking teams crosstown foe Vincent Memorial year under Head Coach John in the division at 1-4 in league may be motivation enough after Tyree’s tenure, the Calexico play and 2-9 overall. last year’s catastrophe versus Varsity football team is pumped “We’ve got about half the the Scots, as the Bulldogs focus and primed for the 2018-2019 team back from last year, but we on becoming bigger, faster, and season. are much more committed and stronger. With a new stadium and disciplined this year,” contin- “It’s all coming together continual renovations through- ued Tyree. “We’re gonna try to now. It’ll be the third year of the out the summer, the Bulldogs’ knock off somebody in IVL and program, and we think that the post season hopes include a big see what we can do.” discipline, the commitment, the spark from the crowd and local A major contributor to the weight training we put in -- all community. Bulldog’s offensive production of those things add up,” confided “Our goal this year is to win last season was running back Tyree. a playoff game; it would only be Christian Gonzales who was With the likes of the divi- our second in 34 years,” stated Calexico’s second leading rusher sional heavyweights adding on Tyree. last season at 303 yard through- after last season, Calexico will The last time Calexico High out seven games. have to dig deep this year to won a playoff game was two “Our attitude and mindset make noise in the conference seasons ago when the Bulldogs has become to win every game and piece together another play- stunned Palo Verde 35-6 and this season, to go far, and to be off run. penetrated deep into the playoffs successful,” said Gonzales. “My “We’ve been working hard in with a CIF semi-final appearance teammates this year are very the weight room, conditioning, in Tyree’s first season as head hard- working and dedicated to and grinding,” Gonzales said coach. the game – and just want to win when asked about what the dif- football games.” ference maker will be this year. THIS AND THAT

By Chris Grant SPORTS TALK COLUMNIST

he NFL inducted its 2018 mediocre teams to better teams. THall of Fame class Thursday. Once I came up with a good Well, everyone except Terrell trade, I would call my friends Owens. I guess we’ve already and ask them if they thought it talked about that, but I still find would work. If the majority of it funny/petty they did not even them responded positively, then mention his name. I suppose I would go ahead and pat myself you can still see his plaque if on the back. I remember being you visit Canton. I have not obsessed with the idea of Dale heard anything about them do- Murphy joining the Yankees ing away with that, too. for the longest time. I still think With the Hall of Fame in- that should’ve happened. duction comes the Hall of Fame The Pittsburgh Pirates did get game, which means football is Chris Archer. Honestly, when back. Well, preseason football I saw this, I wondered if the anyway. Pirates were even relevant in I think the most interesting 2018. So I checked, and they are thing about the NFL’s preseason a .500 team, which means they is keeping track of how many are probably in play for a wild players suffer season-ending card berth. injuries before they ever even The two best teams in base- play a snap. Multiple guys have ball will spend the weekend already gone down, and teams playing each other at Fenway enters the Hall of Fame with the likes of , , , Jerry are barely starting practice. I Park. I am a Red Sox fan. I am Kramer, Robert Brazile, and in the 2018 class. Photo Courtesy of sbnation.com. guess you just have to hope guessing you know this. While I your team’s best players are enjoy Boston beating up on New line by picking up All-Star sec- Clayton Kershaw is healthy and Bobby Beathard. not the guys getting hurt as you York as much as the next guy, ond baseman Brian Dozier. He they added Dozier and Manny All were all very deserving patiently wait for August to end. I wish we could have at least a hit one of the Dodgers’ seven Machado. There is no way this of the honor. It was quite a I was disappointed Bryce few years where the Yankees home runs against the Milwau- is not the best team in the NL. stacked class, in my opinion, Harper didn’t get traded at the weren’t relevant. I know they kee Brewers on Thursday night. Finally, a salute to the guys as these were some of the best MLB trade deadline. Not that say it’s good for baseball when Right now, L.A. is atop the the NFL did mention at their players in the game during the I thought he might go to my New York is good, but some- west, but they have only the Hall of Fame Ceremony. Brian 1990s. Urlacher, in particular, favorite team. I just like the idea times I just wish they would go third-best record in the National Dawkins, Ray Lewis, Randy was always one of my favor- of him being traded. When I away for a while. League. I expect this to change Moss, Brian Urlacher, Jerry ites, and it was great to see him was a kid, I used to always work The Los Angeles Dodgers over the next two months. Kramer, Robert Brazile and honored. out deals to send superstars on made another splash at the dead- Desert Pro Wrestling night wows local fans By Daniella Rodiles was $10 for adults and $5 for kids. In between cutter throws, A meet and greet with wrestler powerslams and many suplexes IMPERIAL - Body slamming, Hijo de Rey Misterio was also returned from both of the teams, shouts of excitement from the scheduled prior to the event. children in the front row screamed crowd, and lots of high flying To kick off the night, the their lungs out in amazement for stunts translated into a success- first fight was a semi-pro match each slam and slap KC Douglas or ful Friday night at the Desert Pro between professional wrestler Charming exchanged. Wrestling event held at Ricochet Vaquero Jr. and Jorge Saldaña, a El Centro resident Jose Recreational Center in Imperial. wrestling student from the Desert Hernandez was accompanied with Throughout the year, the Desert Pro Wrestling School. his young daughter. He said it was Pro Wrestling Company pro- As Saldaña and Vaquero cor- the first time he’d attended to a motes six wrestling nights across nered themselves waiting for one Desert Pro Wrestling event, and he Imperial Valley. But Friday night of them to perform the first maneu- cheered with the crowd right along was the biggest, with a debut show ver, the excited crowd cheered on with his daughter, who is a fan of the organization has been hosting both wrestlers. Saldaña then gave wrestling. for five years now. Vaquero the first headlock, throw- “I like the ambience that the Richard Ignacio, promoter ing him to the floor in the ring. place has. All the screams and and founder of the Desert Pro After many brainbuster throws applause from the people. It’s a Wrestling Company, said he is a and powerslams between the wres- good Lucha Libre event, and I former wrestler and his family has tlers, Vaquero won the match and would come again to a wrestling been in the wrestling business for high fived the audience in triumph. night,” said Hernandez. 30 years. Saldaña also left the ring with a He admitted the combat sport huge ovation for his performance shows receive big, positive feed- and motivation for the crowd. back from the community, since Just as the public was getting there are not many wrestling events warmed up, parents purchased in the Valley. merchandise for their kids who SPORTS “When doing these shows, peo- then ran off with their masks and Send your sports photos, caps on back to their seats. ple gather together and they come editor@ for a good night of entertainment. Another match that made scores & stats to the ring tremble from the audi- It’s for the whole family,” said thedesertreview.com Ignacio. “If you give it a chance, ence’s cheers was a tag team fight it’s not as cartoonish as on TV. between AK Rambe, consisting of Local news ? Let us DYLAN KYLE COX of Bomb Squad kicks Robbie Phoenix mid-air I invite the public to come, and wrestlers Michael Hawkins and while King of Wrestling Alonson Alvarez lies in the ring during a triple- they’ll have a good time.” KC Douglas; and Sour Charm know! threat match at the Desert Pro Wrestling event on 08/03/18 at the Ricochet The cost for general admission with “Sour” Donnie Suarez and Recreational Center in Imperial. Photo by Daniella Rodiles “Charming” Biagio Crescenzo.