By ETHIC NEWS STAFF

The Redlands East Valley Associated Student Body hosted their first Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28 during lunch in order to recruit more players and fans to support the spring sports season.

This is the first year that a sports fair was organized as well as the first year for the new Athletic Director Chad Blatchley. Blatchley is now in charge of the day-to-day workings of all the sports programs at REV. With the help of the ASB and the sports representatives, he was able to organize the Spring Sports Fair.

Blatchley said, “We wanted to get more fans coming to games and build support. We plan to have a fall sports day.”

In order for students to participate in any sport, students must have a current physical, fill out a clearance form on the REV website, turn it into the office to the athletics secretary Gabi Heinel and wait for an email that confirms that they have been cleared to participate.

Softball

Softball is looking for new players for their junior varsity and freshman teams. Some tryouts have already occurred and more tryouts are coming soon.

Sophomore Ivy Walker is looking forward to having a full season since last year’s season was short due to the lack of pre-season games. 

Peyton Angelini, a senior at REV, said, “Just come out and have fun and try something new.”

Boys golf

Boys golf will be under new leadership this year with coach Jake Ducey. Ducey, a current physical education teacher at REV, played golf at REV and the University of Redlands. 

Senior Bailey Jung joined the golf team his sophomore year and feels that he has improved greatly since then. 

“It helps you learn to keep your cool, helps you learn proper etiquette, and be a better person,” said Jung. 

Due to not having a golf course on campus, the team practices at the Redlands Country Club and Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont. 

The team will compete in a Beaumont golf tournament at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon on March 14.

Redlands East Valley High School seniors Bailey Jung, Patrick McIntyre, Alex Miller and Kadin Khalloufi advertise the boys golf team during the Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28. (CYRUS ENGELSMAN/Ethic News photo)

Track and field

Track and field is unique in that it has various events to partake in: sprints, jumps, hurdles, long-distance and throws. Despite not having an all-weather track, REV’s track and field team competes in Division 2 in CIF. The team’s head coaches are Camille Andreas and Matt Sartori. 

Redlands East Valley High School junior Craig Morrison speaks to Track and Field players, seniors Felix Espericueta and Keyvon Rankin, about the incoming season during the Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28. (CYRUS ENGELSMAN/Ethic News photo)

Senior Felix Espericueta, a sprinter on the team, said, “It’s interesting to meet new people and see what their passions are about sports.”

Track and field’s first meet will take place against San Bernardino High School at San Bernardino on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.

Badminton

The badminton team, the only co-ed sport on campus, including the fall season, encourages students to represent the Wildcats on the court.

Badminton players Quinn Larson, Ashley Hernandez Osorio, Angelita Cornejo Talavera, Prescott Neiswender and Arnie James Corpus collect sign-ups at their table during the Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28. (CYRUS ENGELSMAN/Ethic News photo)

Ted Ducey, the head coach of the badminton team, says, “My favorite element of badminton is the fast pace and approachability—there are so many strategies, that just about everyone regardless of physical ability can find some key role to play on the court.” 

Ducey, also mentioned some of the more unique aspects of badminton, saying, “A few things that make badminton unique include that it is the only sport on campus that has one team for both boys and girls. Another interesting thing about badminton is that it is very approachable for newcomers.”

Join badminton if interested in an opportunity for exercise and making lasting, strong bonds with fellow teammates.

Boys tennis

The tennis team is looking forward to new players, especially with the season starting in a few weeks. Because of COVID-19 lockdown, the boys’ team was prevented from having a full and proper season. They are confident that will have a complete season this year.

“Honestly, I don’t think it will affect us much because the last two seasons were very rough due to COVID-19. And as difficult as it was, we still continued to play through it,” says Logan Wells, REV senior and boys varsity tennis captain. 

“I’m looking forward to the whole season, but specifically our match against RHS because it is our biggest match of the season,” continues Wells. 

Tennis players Abigail Washburn, Maryn Strong, Denver Neff, Colin Hawkins, Dorothy Clerk, Logan Wells and Hayden Rentz encourage students to join their sport during the Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28. (MAURICIO PLIEGO/Ethic News photo)

Baseball

Going into the spring season, the REV baseball team is looking for new players. Daren Espinoza is the coach for the REV Baseball team. If interested in joining the team, there are available positions.

Senior Emmanuel Palos, who plays pitcher and field, says, “It’s cool, I’ve never done it before.”

Sophomore Donovan Gonzalez, who plays first base and pitcher, says he is excited about the spring season. 

Redlands East Valley High School students Devynn Heller, Cameron Leaney, Korbin Fickett, Dayton Thompson, George Cordero, Laviel Pickett, Emmanuel Palos, Aidan Hermosillo, AJ Daniel and Donavan Gonzalez represent baseball with their sweatshirts at their table. (MAURICIO PLIEGO/Ethic News photo)

Boys volleyball

The REV boys volleyball team is asking to have Wildcats’ support. If interested in joining the team, positions are available. Supporting fellow Wildcats from the bleachers is appreciated, as well. 

Senior varsity player Aiden Hernandez said, “I’m excited that other students that might not know about certain sports get an opportunity to find other sports they might be interested in.” 

Hernandez adds that he believes that this fair is “to get more athletic involvement in the spring sports because fall sports are more popular, like football. Spring sports are not as popular with the student body.” 

The boys volleyball team is currently having sign-ups and will be holding their first open gym clinic on Feb. 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wildcat Gym. 

Boys volleyball will have their first away game on Feb. 25 against Martin Luther King High School with junior varsity at 3:15 p.m. and varsity at 4:30 p.m.

Redlands East Valley High School seniors Aiden Hernandez and Noah Snodgrass represent boys’ volleyball in hopes of gaining more support and new players for their upcoming season during the Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28. (MAURICIO PLIEGO/Ethic News photo) 

Swim

The swim team adds new coach and REV teacher Austin Brown to their coaching staff this year. Many new swimmers have signed up, but the team is still looking for new players. Interested students are encouraged to contact coaches. 

 Joined by coaches Julianne Ford and Austin Brown, swimmers Bryce Coen, Nathan Derry, Max Cannon, Gregory Coffield, Ethan Geureca, Emma Guerrero, Anastasia Tardie, Isabella Martinez Spencer and Nico Perna help gather new recruits during the Spring Sports Fair on Jan. 28. (MAURICIO PLIEGO/ Ethic News photo)

Ethan Guereca, a junior at REV, said, “As I saw more and more people sign up, it got me excited for the season. With the help of Mr. Brown, Mrs. Ford and all the other coaches that come out to help, I believe that myself and several others would improve as swimmers.”

Reminiscing of his first season, Guereca said, “As of competition-wise I think it would be better than we did last year. Last year was my first year being on a swim team and participating in swim meets and I was nervous and several others were the same as me. Now that I’m more experienced with how everything works I would be less nervous I was last year and I believe others on the swim team think the same way.”

Juliann Ford, assistant swim coach, said “We have the best workouts and we’re just the best.”

Editor’s note: Walker’s name was mistakenly published as Ivy Wilder in the original post. It has since been corrected on Jan. 28 at 11:09 p.m.