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Riverbank High Sports Teams Rev Up for Fall Season
football duo
This football duo is waiting to talk to other RHS students who might be interested in playing for the Bruins this season. They were staffing a table at the Bruin Day event in the school’s main gym on Thursday, Aug. 1. At left is new varsity football coach Anthony Buich, shown with RHS senior running back DeOndre Davis. Ric McGinnis/The News

With the start of the new school year on Wednesday, Aug. 7, Riverbank High School teams also begin to organize more seriously for their fall seasons.

While football players began their workouts last week, the Lady Bruin volleyball teams, under the guidance of RHS Athletic Director John Bartlett, were to begin their season of practices on Monday, Aug. 5. Also due in fall is action for the cross country team and girls golf, with schedules to be announced.

 

Bruin Football

New varsity head coach Anthony Buich is welcoming back to the field returning as well as new players to the Bruin effort.

Workouts and passing drills were held over the summer, but formal practice actually began this past week on the RHS campus.

For the last few days of summer recess, the coach was holding mandatory two-a-days on Monday and Tuesday this week. The coach said that he was expecting even those who were planning on playing but had not yet submitted the required physicals to be at the practices.

With school starting Wednesday, practices shift to a 3:30 p.m. start.

“Football, as in life, is about sacrifice, dedication, motivation, inspiration, and desire. Who wants it more? Let’s challenge ourselves,” the coach said.

He has adopted for the team a motto of Confidence, Attitude, Respect.

Buich expects to guide the growing football family, helping “re-create and restore the respect and tradition” of Bruin football.

Riverbank’s first pre-season game will be on Saturday, Aug. 24, when the Bruins travel to Big Valley Christian High School in Modesto. Their 10-game season will end on Oct. 25 at Hilmar.

 

Girls Volleyball

Lady Bruin workouts were to begin on Monday, Aug. 5, and the girls have quite a few games, including tournaments in their 2019 campaign. They, too, start play on Aug. 24 and have 20 dates on their calendar, including multi-game tournaments along the way.

Where football plays each team just once in a season, volleyball, like most other Bruin sports, plays a ‘home and away’ season, where teams take on each opponent twice, once on the home field/court, and one time away.

The varsity team will travel to their first tournament, at Orestimba High School in Newman, on Aug. 24, then this year’s Foundation Game will be on the road at Johansen High School in Modesto, on Monday, Aug. 26.

Their last game is at home, Senior Night, hosting Hilmar on Monday, Oct. 21, followed by a league bye that Wednesday.