Girls got gear too
Written by Me, for the Southbay Nightlife Magazine.
A local women’s football team maintains their success, as they head towards a perfect season. One of the San Diego’s two Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) teams, The San Diego Surge, defeated the Bay Area Bandits last Saturday, May 19, 2012. Their victory was a landslide, defeating the Bandits 57-0. This is the team’s fifth winning of the season, averaging 57.5 points a game.
The San Diego Surge (SDS) has a 40-50 person team, complete with team members specifically for; offensive, defensive and special-teams roles. According to SDS Offensive Line / Special Teams Coordinator—Mark Ring—team expertise is an attractive element for players.
“These ladies are an elite group of athletes, who come together to play with other elite athletes,” said Ring at a bi-weekly practice.
The team’s practice is similar to other practices witnessed in the college and professional divisions. The team’s practices with, full pads—not the ones with wings—full contact, eighty percent speed and one hundred percent heart. The ladies commit to two and half hours of practice, where; The Team divides itself into smaller groups and then scrimmages at Scripps Ranch High School, Monday and Thursday nights.
“We have enough coaches that players can get specialized attention but, still learn as a group. Some of the teams we have played have 27 players, you can’t specialize anyone that way,” Ring said.
The San Diego Surge is so committed to victory that at last week’s practice; they annexed a softball field that was across the street because their field’s lights did not turn on in time. Some teams would have taken this time of transition as an opportunity to, “lolled-gag.” But not the Surge, they hustled across four lanes of traffic and one parking lot, to continue practice, in the light, on an abandoned softball field. The Team is in their sophomore year of ownership, but so far has been successful. Last year, The Team played at the WFA Super Bowl, but lost to now rivals, The Boston Militia.
The Surge’s record season is much like last years. They are defeating teams like; The Silver State Legacy and the Pacific Warriors for a second time around. The San Diego Bay Area Nightlife Magazine asked the Team’s, Head Coach, Chris Suggett, “What do you think is responsible for the team’s success?”
“It’s the professional staff and committed athletes. The people who play and work here, really want to be here. We even have a group of ladies that pass three other teams and drive 120 miles just to be a part of this team,” said Suggett.
They call themselves the “120 Crew, because its 120 miles each way,” San Diego Surges Head Coach said. Ashley Moody (DB), Holly Peterson (WR), Melissa Strother (WR), Cassey Brick (RB), Deana Guidry (RB), Tarrah Philpott (LB) and Tanya Paaluhi (OL) are all members of The 120 Crew, who live in or near the county of Los Angeles (LA). From there, the Linebackers Coach – Will Harris leaves at 3:00 p.m. to pick up seven girls from the Los Angeles county and surrounding areas. They drive all the way down from LA twice a week for practices and sometimes a third for games. According to one 120 crew members, the girls are not in bed from practice till midnight.
The San Diego Surge is made up of women with various backgrounds and upbringings, all brought together for the love of full contact football. Team members do not belong to a single “category” or universal “body type.” Maybe a size awesome would do. Some are tall, some are short and some paint their nails, while the others want to break them. They are in every sense womanly football players who train, play and develop bond similar to those found of an all-male professional team.
With an entire winning record, the San Diego Surge truly is the best and the only undefeated team in the WFA’s 17th Division. Teams within WFA’s 17th Division are; the Silver State Legacy (3 wins, 2 losses), the Arizona Assassins (0 wins, 5 losses) and the Pacific Warriors (3 wins, 2 losses). The San Diego Surge plays each division team twice, as well as; two non-division teams—the West Coast Lighting and the Bay Area Bandits—once a season.
The San Diego Surge plays such a limited range of teams compared to the National Football League (NFL), for two reasons. The first being, the teams within the WFA’s have less funding then teams in the NFL. Who do not “pay to play” said, Nathan Benjamin, The San Diego Surge’s Defensive Coordinator. According to him, almost all games are kept in-budget and local.
“I would like to play The Boston Militia again. But there is no-way, that’s thousands of dollars. Just one trip would wipe out our entire budget,” said Benjamin.
In the NFL, owners can afford to ship a team all the way across the country. Whereas in the WFA, team owners, such Christina Carrillo of the Surge, must use their proceeds’ to break even. The Team does sell apparel and charges a nominal ten dollar game entrance fee, but there is still not enough revenue in these sources of income to afford weekly team travel. Other than the ability to play all across the United States, the games and championship brackets are identical of those in the NFL.
The second reason why the Surge plays such a limited number of teams is because, “they (Surge) are so damn good,” said Benjamin, that, “it wouldn’t be fair to play some of the teams,” out of their league or affordability to travel. For example, San Diego’s second WFA team, The San Diego Sting, has been scored upon an average 78 points per game. Whereas the Surge has only allowed their opponents to average 12 points a game. According to Ring, if lower-ranking teams where to play The Surge, it would be a blow out.
The end of May and the beginning of June, mark San Diego Surge’s, “bi-week,” where players and coaches get time to, “rest hearts, bones and muscles,” said Sugget. “This is the time to regenerate, re-focus and re-commit,” he added, at the end of Monday’s practice. After the break, The Team has an opportunity to continue their winning streak and move hire up within WFA rankings. The women will have to prove themselves and the San Diego City, June 2. 2012. in Las Vegas against the Silver State Legacy for a second time around.
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Review: “Bark at the Park.” Poway community raises 1,000 dollars for kids education and health.
Written for Me.
May 19, 2012. The Poway News Chieftain, The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation, The Poway High School Key Club, along with 20 other estimated vendors, hosted this summer’s dog-fundraising event focused on kids in need.
The Event tilted, “Bark at the Park,” was at the Community Park in Poway. Here local dog lovers and tail wagers alike conjugated for a day of, “puppy-pageantry.” Proceeds from the events, 1,000 dollar estimate, will go to local education scholarships at Poway & Abraxas High Schools; as well as grant to Rady’s Children Hospital.
Only Poway’s Community Park could complete a true, “Bark at the Park,” for education event. From a dog’s perspective, there was probably nothing better than The Park, treats the San Diegan Sun, dogs and their dog-loving people.
According to one attendee and local writer for “Zoo News,” Peggy Scott, there is no better place for her and her dog, Tiki.
“No one can really know what he (Tiki) is thinking. But I would imagine that he is very happy puppy sitting here under this tree,” Scott said. Her dog Tiki, is a 115 pound St. Bernard with paws the size of five half-dollars. Tiki and her mother sat under a tree in the corner of Poway’s Community Dog Park.
From there, they could see the agility course, three fields of interconnected grass and hundreds of dogs and their perspective owners. The day was a little warmer than expected. But temperatures of 78 degrees ferinheight did not stop dogs and their overlords, from enjoying a, “Puppy-pageantry” for kids in need.
Crowds were estimated to have peaked and declined somewhere in between the 70’s and 80’s. Whereas in the more popular hours of the morning, crowds reached up to 100. According to one attendee, “It is the best place for dog watching and socializing.” Judging by the number of tail wags, The Event made many pups pleasantly pleased.
“Dogs and people like to see other dogs and people. Poway is such a small town that, when I go out people say, ‘Your Tiki’s mom!’” said Scott.
People who attended The Event, often found themselves in the same circles of local community dog clubs. Some of these official and unofficial, “clubs,” meet at a public area such as Dog Park, and other parks located around San Diego. According to Scott, this local dog event attracted crowds of other, “dog watchers” that live within North County it-self. What separates, “Bark at the Park,” from pervious regional meetings, is the number of people brining their dogs is greater and the support from local neighborhood business.
The park was lined with vendors such as, “Because We Care Dog & Cat Grooming,” “Company Pub and Kitchen,” “JenLovesPets,” “Barons Market,” and many more. These vendors passed out promotional flyers, discount coupons and treats. The raffle ticket operation, event mastering of ceremonies, and gift-bag distributions were managed by volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Poway (KCP). According to the Poway High School Key Club Event Coordinator Delanie Hausner, “Key Club members earned volunteer credit for operating the event.”
Poway High School Key Club, the Kiwanis of Poway are a part of Kiwanis larger International Organization. They and 20 other vendor’s came together to, raised an estimated 1,000 dollars for a variety of children’s educational and health goals.
Preview: Poway’s classics in the park: “Community Band Festival Event.”
Written for Me.
Ditch the horse buggy and revive your inner-renaissance-being, by driving your fine automobile to the Old Poway Park for fine dining and varieties of classical play. This Saturday and Sunday, Old Poway Park Action Committee Members: the Pomerado Community Band and the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild (PACG) and the City of Poway invite the public to this year’s annual, “Community Band Festival Event,” at Old Poway Park from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. May 19-20, 2012.
Band players will include the Pomerado Community Band, San Diego City Guard, San Diego Concert Band, First Kearny Mesa Concert Band, and many more. Fine arts will be available to the public, sponsored by the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild.
“It is a time where people can sit back and enjoy the “Good old times.” A place where people can come to the park on a nice sunny day, eat food, listen to great music and meet great people,” Dean Hickman, Pomerado Community Band Conductor and Community Band Festival Event Coordinator, said.
This weekend’s event will attract 12 local bands as well as two military ensembles—the Southwest Navy Band and the First Marine Division. The Community Festival will also attract various other cultural groups including, the El Cajon German Band and opening ceremonies performed by the Boy Scout Troop 608.
According to Keith Seguine, tuba player of five other bands including the Pomerado Group, festivals are important because they make classical musical more visible and accessible to the public and players alike.
“It works out for everyone, we get to see what other bands are playing, and the community gets to see what we are playing,” Seguine said.
This weekend’s music festival provides the community an opportunity to see spring’s musical and artistic community is doing at the Old Poway Park. During the, “Community Band Festival Event,” music enthusiasts, weekly park strollers and the public can meander around the Old Poway Park for a day of classic relaxation.
This theme is authenticated by the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild which members produce, “Jewelry, art, plates, pots, photography and cloths from the late 1800’s to early 1920’s, Donald Leo, photography member of PACG, said.
People like Leo come from all over the county to participate, ”In the finer arts once practiced before,” Hickman said. For example of Hick mans students travels all the way from La Mesa, to Mira Mesa once a week to be a part of the recreational program hosted by The Community Band.
“Music sharpens the mind like homework, it makes one concentrated and accomplished,” Gyle Botteger said.
Botteger concentrates in a way, in which he uses three different trumpets for the same practice. One trumpet has a grip on all primary valves, while the others are variously muted. He openly celebrates the rebirth of brass instrumental play. According to Botteger, “it revives” the brain.
As we progress into more digital forms of entertainment, the popularity of classical bands and music remains uncertain. Hope still does remain, as crowds nearing the thousands are predicted for Saturdays and Sundays performances. To refine the cultural understandings of a simpler time, hear the trumpets play, the flutes whistle and the horns blare at The Old Poway Park this weekend starting May 19, 2012. at 11:00 a.m.
For a follow up story read, “Community Band Festival Review.”
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
Preview: The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation and the Poway News Chieftain will be hosting, “Bark at the Park,” to benefit local education and Rady’s Childrens Hospital.
Written for Me.
The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation (KCPF) and the Poway News Chieftain will be hosting, “Bark at the Park,” to benefit local education and Rady’s Childrens Hospital. On May 19, 2012, the public is welcome to the Poway Dog Park for, “Puppy Pageantry.”
“They [judges] will evaluate the dogs on a very friendly basis for ribbons,” David McKenzie, Poway Kiwanis Club (KPC) member, said. The dogs at Saturday’s event will compete for best trick, costume, and cutest overall dog. Proceeds from the competition will go to local kids in need. The event is open to the public but, there is a ten dollar competition fee for owners submitting pets into, “Puppy-Pageantry.”
“Bark at the Park,” is just one of the many fundraising events held and spent by the Kiwanis of Poway. Their foundations primary focus is, “Assisting individuals, families and organizations in need, particularly those involving or associated with children helping in the aid of childern,” KCFP’s website said.
According to Jeff Wilson, Club Membership Administrator, proceeds from, “Bark at the Park,” are planned to for a local children’s hospital and Abraxas / Poway High Schools.
“Though a variety of fundraising mechanisms, we are able to give significant sums of money to scholarships programs and places like, “Rady’s Children’s Hospital,” Wilson said over a phone interview. Kiwanis of Poway hosts other events such as, “‘The Padre: Spring Kick-Off Lunch-In’ and the, “Tour de Poway’ bicycle event,” said Wilson.
This years, “Bark at the Bark,” was co-hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation and The Poway News Chieftain. The Chieftains editor, Steve Dreyer, is also PKC’s secretary. The event will host, “twenty-three vendors,” Pomerado News Chieftain Inside Sales Representatives, Katy Hoke, said. Altogether, The Pomerado News Chieftain was able to assist The Kiwanis Club of Poway Foundation’s mission of fundraising by, providing advertisement and event staff. The events vendors will include; private retailers, animal rescue foundations, the Police Department and several more.
For more information about the Poway Kiwanis Club or “Bark in the Park,” visit their website at, powaykiwanis.org or the Poway Dog Park on May 19, 2012.
For a follow-up story read, “Review: ‘Bark at the Park’— A hound of a time.”
-Thanks again for reading, Bryce Dunham-Zemberi
