While the Riverbank High School sports teams held their final home games the week before, a few away games were left to close out the 2015 Fall Sports season this past week.
Following the final home football game against Johansen High School on Friday, Oct. 30, head varsity coach Kit Jory – completing his first year at the helm – had a message played on the public address system as fans and families left the stadium that night:
From RHS Head Varsity Football Coach Kit Jory
“... I just want to send a quick shout out to all the family, friends, staff and students in the stands tonight.
“Your support this year has meant the world to us and while our record doesn’t show it, you’d be surprised how much this team and program has grown because of it. To have experienced everything this team has gone through this year and to watch as the coaches and players have come together as a family has been an awesome experience.
“This season has provided our program with life lessons that are more tangible than any score and go well beyond the hundred yards of the football field. The love and support that you’ve shown this team has proven that no matter what we suffer through, no matter what we have to persevere through, no matter what happens, the love and support of our families and community will always be there; and that, like our banners proclaim, ‘Win or Lose ... Family Comes First.’
“This season has been a real life lesson to the coaches and players to let go of the past, look beyond it, and always focus on the future.
“Thank you so much for your support this year. Keep Punching!”
VOLLEYBALL
While football ended in October, the Lady Bruins finished out their season with an away game at Modesto Christian High School. Coach Angela Cuellar said the girls fought hard in the contest, ultimately taking a 3-1 loss to the host Lady Crusaders.
“We lost in four but it was a really good game,” Cuellar said.
SOCCER
After a tough go in the Trans-Valley League, the Bruins had to travel for a first round playoff game in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs. They headed to Summerville for a Thursday night, Nov. 5 contest. The visiting Bruins had the upper hand, leading 2-1 at halftime, but the host Bears got the equalizer in the second half and the teams were knotted at 2-2 through 80 minutes of regulation. They then battled through two 10-minute overtime periods and had to go to a penalty kick shootout, with Summerville ultimately prevailing 6-5. That bounced Riverbank out of the playoffs and advanced Summerville to a second round match with Delhi, which shut out TVL champion Escalon, 3-0.
BASKETBALL
Though not a fall sport, teams are already looking forward to the arrival of the winter sports season and action on the hardwood.
Bruin varsity, JV and frosh basketball teams have begun practicing, both boys and girls, with scrimmages set to begin on Saturday, Nov. 21.
The varsity boys will host a four-game round robin event at home while the varsity girls travel to Oakdale.
