Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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VISALIA -- For the first time in the school's 96-year history, the Shafter High Generals are Valley Champs in baseball after an 8-0 rout of the Matilda Torres Toros on Friday at Valley Strong Park in Visalia. Shafter got their first run in the third inning of the Division V title game, getting three runs across on some timely hitting and quick base running. On the mound, Matteo Martinez pitched a masterpiece. Martinez allowed the Torros three hits through the first three innings, but shut the...
The Shafter High Generals baseball team swept their rivals last week, completing their SSL season in second place. The teams came into the series tied for second place. The Generals beat the Tigers at home, 2-1, to get a game separation between them heading into the final game of the regular season. Shafter traveled to Wasco on Thursday and completed the sweep with a 12-10 win. The Generals used timely hitting in the first meeting, with a strong pitching performance by Jesus Paez, who struck...
A Lady General athlete became the first ever to qualify from Shafter High for the State Swimming Championships – male or female. With a first place in the 100 yard butterfly at the Valley Championships, Sara Jane Osborne punched her ticket for the State meet this weekend – by over a full second. According to Head Coach Larissa Davis, Osbourne has been dominant this year and she is proud of all of the girls. "We have worked so hard, especially with not having a home pool to swim in, that thi...
The Shafter High girls swimming team had an outstanding showing at the SSL championship meet last week, qualifying in several events for the upcoming Valley meet held in Hanford. The relay teams, both the 200 freestyle and the 400 freestyle teams medaled. In the 200 relay, the team, consisting of AnneMarie Piuser, Sarah Jane Osborne, Josephine Martin and Sydnee Macias won the league championship with a Valley-qualifying time of 1:45. Shafter placed second in the 400 relay. In individual events,...
The Shafter High girls swimming team has had an outstanding season so far, thriving in the pool despite having a small team this year in numbers. The squad competed earlier this month in an SSL Powermeet at Taft High School and also competed in the Sierra Pacific Invitational in Hanford. At the Power Meet, the 200-yard freestyle relay team won the race with a Valley-qualifying time in the process. The relay team is made up of Sydnee Macias, Josephine Martin, Sarah-Jane Osborne and Annemarie...
The Shafter High School baseball and softball teams swept their series last week, both teams dominating Kennedy High School. The baseball team beat the Thunderbirds 8-0 on Tuesday and 9-3 on Thursday in a home-at-home series. In the first game, the Generals racked up seven hits, with Andy Gomez grabbing two of them, with an RBI. Matteo Martinez had a strong performance on the mound, giving up only two hits and striking out seven in the game. In the second game of the week, Jesus Paez pitched a...
As the Wasco High School Spring sports season comes to an end, the teams have shown successful performances in baseball, softball, swim, track, boys golf and boys tennis. With a blend of determination, skill and unwavering team spirit, several stand a chance to take home the coveted South Sequoia League Championship title. In an interview, Ddirector of Athletics and Activities Joshua Huddleston shared an update on the spring sports program. He said baseball is in first place in the South...
Julissa Gonzalez became the first female wrestler at Shafter High to qualify for the State Championships last year. She repeated that feat this year, as well as becoming the first female wrestler to win a Valley title. Julissa added to her accomplishments last weekend when she traveled to the Reno World Wrestling Championships, placing second in her weight class. This is impressive enough, but the Gonzalez family boasts a quintet of talented wrestlers, with all five of their children excelling...
The Shafter High Generals baseball and softball teams both swept the McFarland Cougars last week, each winning a two-game series in the SSL. The baseball team outscored the Cougars in the series, 27-2. They won the opener on Tuesday, 16-2, and followed that with an 11-0 shutout. In the first game, Jaime Martinez was the standout, 2-4 at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases. The Generals ended the game with 12 hits in the game, with Christopher Espinoza having a perfect 3-3 game...
The Shafter High baseball team opened their SSL campaign with a split against Chavez High School. On Tuesday, the squad dropped an 8-2 decision to the Titans, but bounced back on Thursday and beat Chavez, 7-5. In the victory, seven different Generals had at least one hit in the game, continuing the Generals prowess at the plate. The team is averaging over 7 runs per game this season. Matteo Martinez had a great series, going 3-4 at the plate and scoring three runs in the win. In the loss...
The Shafter High softball team opened its SSL season with a 0-0 tie against Chavez High School. This game was a pitcher's duel, with both teams finding it hard to find some offense. The Lady Generals then competed in the Fowler Softball Tournament, opening with a game against highly touted Orange Cove. The Lady Generals fought hard, but came up short in the contest, dropping the game by a score of 5-2. The loss drops Shafter's season record to 9-4-1. Coached by Sharaya Durant and Julia Garcia,...
FRESNO – The Shafter Spartans youth wrestling team traveled to the State Tournament last weekend and came away with several medals, including a State Champion. The tournament was held at the Selland Arena in Fresno. Led by Coach Eli Espericueta, the Spartans had a champion in Jayden Gonzalez. Gonzalez, along with his brother Julian and sister Janali, all came home with medals. The Gonzalez family is no stranger to winning, with their older sister, Julissa, becoming the first female qualifier i...
Shafter High girls basketball Coach Shawn Pennell has retired after 20 seasons at the helm, completing a transformation that took the Lady Generals from the bottom of the SSL to Central Section supremacy. Pennell ended his career a few weeks ago when the Lady Generals made it to the Central Section Division III semifinals and lost a tough game to the eventual Regional Champions, the Bakersfield Christian Eagles. The team won their own basketball tournament and also finished in third place in...
The Shafter High School track and field team is off to a quick start, with a strong showing at the Kern Invitational track meet last weekend. The highlight was sophomore Jocelyn Pierucci, who won the discus event, throwing a distance of over 122 feet, outdistancing her competition by 22 feet. Pierucci is continuing her high school athletic career after having an outstanding freshman season, advancing all the way to the Central Section Masters meet, just missing qualifying for the State track mee...
While the Shafter High girls wrestling team has had unprecedented success this year, their feeder program has also shined this season. The Shafter Youth Wrestling team, the Shafter Spartans, has a young wrestler that is on his way to the State Tournament at Selland Arena in Fresno this weekend. Nehamiah Salcido, who is in just his third year of competitive wrestling, will be competing in the 2nd/3rd division in the 77 lbs. weight class. Salcido has already captured a Valley title and a Masters...
The Shafter High girls basketball team saw their season and Head Coach Shawn Pennell's tenure end with a loss to the top-seeded Eagles of Bakersfield Christian on Wednesday night, 70-47, in the semifinals of the Central Section Division III playoffs. The Lady Generals, seeded number four in the tourney, came out firing in the first quarter, using a smothering defense to force a few Eagle turnovers and turning them into easy points. After leading after the first quarter, the teams traded baskets,...
Julianna Gonzalez, who came into the State Wrestling tournament last weekend at Mechanics Bank Arena as the number three seed, fell short of making it to the medal rounds, falling in the quarterfinals, suffering her first pin of the season. Gonzalez won her first two matches by pins. Her first match she pinned her opponent just 45 seconds into the match. She had no more trouble in her second match, securing the pin to make it to day 2 of the season-ending event. After the loss, Gonzalez was...
In another historic accomplishment for Wasco High School athletics, the varsity boys wrestling team made history by winning the Valley Championship. The girls team had standout performances, with Areli Solis securing the Valley Champion title in Division 1 and seven girls qualifying for the masters. Juan Gallardo, the head coach, described winning the prestigious championship as exciting. "It was something I never felt before that the kids did it. The kids were committed to the program, and it...
The Wasco High School swim team is set for its first meet on March 1 at the Wasco pool. It is a South Sequoia League meet and Shafter, Taft and Delano will compete. It promises to be an opportunity for the team to showcase the talents they have been working hard to cultivate under the leadership of Head Coach Chris Gebhardt. "Chris has almost a decade of coaching experience. His coaching philosophy is unique. "I look at coaching swimming more than just the swimming. My goal is to help the kids g...
The Shafter High Lady Generals basketball team completed an undefeated SSL season on Thursday night, crushing their rival Wasco High by a score of 78-15, making the Lady Generals back-to-back SSL Champions. Led by Coach Shawn Pennell, Shafter used a smothering defense to force several turnovers, resulting in numerous points in the transition. Shafter had the lead 50-7 at the end of the first half, The second half was played with a running clock, preventing the score from being even more...
The Wasco High School wrestling team, under the guidance of Head Coach Juan Gallardo, has emerged victorious from the South Sequoia League Championship. The team's achievements and the dedication of both players and coaches have led to a memorable season. About the win, Coach Gallardo said, "It's wonderful. Overall, with varsity boys, varsity girls and the JV boys, we had 20 champions." As the head coach, Gallardo oversees 48 wrestlers with the help of eight other coaches. "I've got a great...
The BVarsity All Area football teams were announced, and the Shafter Generals were well represented in the group, giving the Generals the largest amount of players honored in the school's history. On the offensive side, the Generals' sophomore quarterback Ezekiel Osborn was named to the First Team All Area. Osborn had 2,677 yards passing on the season, with 35 touchdowns. Osborn also won the Most Valuable Player award for the entire South Sequoia League as well. Osborn led the Generals to an...
The Wasco High School varsity cheer team competed in the California Interscholastic Federation Valley Championship and won, making history by being the first in the school ever to earn this title. Cheer Advisor Hailey Coyle said, "I am extremely proud of the girls and coaches on this huge accomplishment. This team is so deserving of this title. It takes a lot of hard work, long practices, dedication and drive to achieve something like this. Cheer is not easy. It's not easy competing, and it's...
The Wasco High School varsity girls soccer team is blazing a trail of success this season, emerging as the top leader in the South Sequoia League. With an impressive record of five wins and one loss, they have firmly secured the top spot and are poised for further triumphs. Jose Castro has been the head coach for the last four years. He said the team's success can be attributed to the girl's willingness to try and learn. "We have been working off-season for the last two years and have been...
