How to resolve AdBlock issue? Andrews in search of more powerlifting records
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Dave Andrews shows off some of his recent hardware from his makeshift gym in his backyard.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Ojai Valley is home to one of the world’s strongest men. Longtime Ojai resident Dave Andrews currently holds two powerlifting world records, as well as a handful of national and state records. He has his eye on a few more in the future.
Sundowner Golf League to conclude with Saturday playoff
The fast-charging team of Bugsy's Bandits took home the second-half championship in the Sundowner Golf League this past Tuesday at Soule Park Golf Course.
The Bandits had their third consecutive week of 60 points or more to win the title by a three-point margin.
Nordhoff High School rich in athletic history
Photo submitted
The 1966-67 Nordhoff High School boys' basketball team won the first CIF championship in any sport in the school’s history. The team was composed of (back row, left to right): Stan Coburn, Mike Torres, Mark Mulleneux, Bruce Brubaker, Mike Probyn, Jim Sandefur, David Brown, and Coach Fred Linkenhelt. Middle (left to right) Mike Terry, Mike Cook, Tom Spraggins, and George Valle. Front row (left to right) Richard Conrad (manager) and Mike Ingles (manager). Valle, Sandefur, Linkenhelt and Coburn all earned a spot in the NHS Hall of Fame.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Ojai Valley has been home to many great athletes and as the valley’s only public high school, Nordhoff has a rich tradition of athletics as well. In order to properly honor those standout athletes, team, coaches and administrators, the Nordhoff Hall of Fame was started back in 1987.
Ojai AYSO getting creative with fall season
Photo by Paul DelSignore
Hundreds of local youth will be without a traditional AYSO season this fall due to COVID-19, but the league’s board is doing all it can to serve the community in other ways.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Normally more than 400 youth soccer players turn out to play the fall season of AYSO, but this year the popular program is looking to pivot as a result of COVID-19. Regional Commissioner Cindy Carver said, “We opened registration using a waitlist format so that families can register without paying in case there was a season. At this point it is not looking like we’ll be able to offer a traditional season, but we have a lot of creative people in this town, so we are going to come up with something.”
Rice rules Ojai Valley Inn Club Championship
Photo submitted
Lois Rice is defending her Ojai Valley Women's Club Championship title again this year with Claudia Wunderlich capturing the runner-up title. Rice has won this event an estimated 12 times over the years, according to event organizers.
Celebrating the NHS Athletic Hall of Fame
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Dick Sebek has been part of the Nordhoff High School faculty for 45 years and was one of the founding members of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
With high school sports on hold again until at least December, the Ojai Valley News continues to celebrate past sports legends by highlighting the Nordhoff High School Athletic Hall of Fame. This three-part series will feature some of the area’s best student athletes and administrators. We start by featuring sports historian and 45-year teacher and coach Dick Sebek.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Dick Sebek came to Nordhoff High School in 1975 when he was hired to teach English and coach the boys’ varsity basketball team. During his tenure at the school, he also taught physical education, served as the athletic director, coached baseball, and has been the boys’ golf coach for an amazing 41 years and he has also coached the girls team for 20 years. If you attend any NHS football games, you’ll also recognize Sebek’s voice because he is also the longtime announcer.
Ranger football fundraising efforts in full swing this weekend
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
The Nordhoff High School football program and the Ranger Gridiron Club are working hard to raise funding this weekend for the upcoming season.
Bugsy's Bandits take over top Sundowner spot
The team of Bugsy's Bandits were able to swipe the top spot in the Sundowners Golf League second-half standings after a massive 68-point week on July 28.
High school sports delayed amid COVID-19 pandemic
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff’s volleyball team is primed to make a run at a state title this season. Rather than starting their season in August, the Lady Rangers will be hitting the court in December as part of the CIF’s plan to delay the start of high school athletics.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
After months of guessing what the 2020-2021 sports calendar would look like as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, high school coaches, athletes and fans finally got a target date July 20 when the CIF announced its revised calendar for the year.
Ojai Valley Athletic Club hosts youth campers
Ojai Valley News photos by Holly Roberts
With options for youth athletes at an all-time low due to COVID-19, some lucky Ojai youth tennis players got the opportunity to learn some skills at the Ojai Valley Athletic Club Futures Tennis Camp.
The Characters surge to the top
Week 10 saw the 2018 league champion team of the Characters explode for a 62-point day and jump to the top of the second half standings in the Sundowner Golf League. The Characters began the 2020 season slowly, but have turned their season around and are now poised to make a run at the second half title and potentially hoist the Callender Cup as the overall season champs once again.
Fall sports reopen, then immediately close
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff High School football coach Lance Wiggins takes a pod of players through the team’s first day of offseason practice on July 13. The offseason was short lived after Ventura County ordered all organized team sports activities to halt due to an influx of COVID-19 cases.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
When the Nordhoff High School football program took the field for the first time this summer on July 13, there was cautious optimism the fall season would get underway in early August. However, that optimism quickly turned to disappointment when after one day, offseason workouts were ordered to stop.
Deadline to register for Ranger Gridiron tournament is July 19
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
The Nordhoff Ranger Gridiron Club will be hosting its annual golf outing Aug. 1 at the Soule Park Golf Course. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the NHS football program,
Villanova Prep water polo gets in some work
Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts
Members of the boys’ and girls’ water polo teams recently gathered at a safe distance at Solimar Beach to get in a little work on dry land.
Captain Camo maintains lead in Sundowner golf play
The Sundowner golf league reached the three-quarter pole July 14 at Soule Park Golf Course. Players are in midseason form and scores were generally better than average.
NHS Gridiron Club event carries different meaning in 2020
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
The Nordhoff Ranger Gridiron Club will be hosting its annual golf fundraiser Aug. 1 to raise money for traditional football equipment as well as supplies to keep players safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to head coach Lance Wiggins, players like Eli Dvortcsak (left) are itching to return to action in the near future.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
This year, Nordhoff High School’s main fundraising event for the football program will carry a different kind of significance. Each year the Gridiron Club hosts its annual golf tournament, which ends up being the most lucrative event of the year for the football program. In previous years, the event was mostly about the much-needed financial support, but this year is a little different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.