Articles by Phillip Brents

It can be an intimidating stage with 7,000 people watching every move you make on the wrestling mat at the annual California state championship tournament.

But it can also be a rewarding stage for those in the spotlight who persevere through the adversity to come home with a coveted medal.

A total of seven East County mat men qualified for the 45^th annual state tournament, held March 3-4 in Bakersfield. Though none managed to earn a spot on the awards platform, it was a journey most of them will likely not forget.

The CIF-Metro Conference Kiwanis Cup roller hockey playoffs faced off Feb. 22 and, much to the delight of Patrick Henry High School’s first-year program, the Patriots were included in the 12-team draw.

Patrick Henry received the No. 9 seed and met eighth-seeded Otay Ranch in the first round.   

The game, played at Castle Park High School’s outdoor rink, was expected to be close after the teams played to a 6-6 tie in January’s Pam Wiser Classic tournament, and a month later, the rematch lived up to its billing.

Patrick Henry High School’s fledgling roller hockey team has certainly experienced its ups and downs in its inaugural season. The team carried a 0-5 North County League record into the New Year, which quickly became 0-8 following the opening two weeks of the 2017 calendar year.

The 2016-17 NFL playoffs have kicked off and the initial 12-team field has been reduced to eight teams – four teams in each of the NFC and AFC playoff brackets – following last weekend’s wild card round.

Two divisional playoff games will be played on Saturday, Jan. 14, and two more on Sunday, Jan. 15, to further reduce the field to four teams.