Buc Fans,
Please see the attached write up for Esports. This week the VHS Band/Choir will be participating in their Region Festival held at Anchorage Christian School on April 13-15.
As always, Go Bucs!!!
VHS Esports
The esports teams just completed their final week of the regular season.
Despite some technical difficulties, the Smash Bros. team was able to win enough games to qualify for the state tournament. Ethan Weber once again battled to a win and secured enough points for the team to propel the Bucs into the 16th seed of the playoffs.
They will face off against #1 ranked Kenai Central High School on Friday, April 14.
Isaiah Gamon closed out his senior season of Madden with a victory against Bishop Mora Salesian. The win places him at #34 out of 51 teams in the Pacific Region. Though this final season of his high school career was challenging, Isaiah became a much more consistent player. He has developed a greater understanding of the game and is in position to continue competing in esports leagues after graduation.
Over the past 2 years, Isaiah has an overall record of 7-8 with one state playoff appearance. He will be remembered as a consummate gamer who played for the love of the game. His presence and leadership at practices will be missed.
Valdez High School Alumni Update
Sara Bauman, VHS Class of 2020, is a JR Interior Design Major working on an entrepreneurship minor at North Dakota State University. In her free time she participates on the NDSU Marksmanship (club) Team, air rifle and .22 Smallbore team. Sara achieved some pretty big milestones this year. On a trip to Michigan, She shot a Personal best shooting a 588/600 in Air Rifle, taking 2nd place in the Western intercollegiate Rifle championship event. She also was named “Second Team All Conference” for Smallbore and “First Team All Conference” for Air Rifle. She travels to Indiana in the beginning of April to Compete at Collegiate Club Nationals.
On March 22, 2023, Sara got an email announcing a 2nd round invite to compete in the JUNIOR OLYMPICS. This was the last year Sara could qualify as the age cutoff is 21.
April 12 to 15 are the dates of the Junior Olympic event.
Good luck Sara!
Girls Varsity Basketball
2022-2023
The 2022-2023 Girls Basketball Team closed out the season with an Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 29. The team finished the season with a 17-11 record, placing first in the Nikiski Tournament, second in the Valdez Elk’s Tournament, third in the West Valley Tournament, and second in the Aurora Conference.
New School Records:
Masen Holmes – 23 rebounds in one game
Destiny Day – 11 assists in one Game
Destiny Day – Most charges taken in a Season (12)
Destiny Day – Tied Most Charges taken in a Game (4)
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2022-2023 Season Awards:
Masen Holmes – Most Rebounds (248)
Destiny Day – Most Assists (84)
Autumn Longoria – Most Improved
Rylee Wade – Most Inspirational
Destiny Day – Best Defense
Masen Holmes – Most Valuable
Thank you to all the Coaches who made this season so successful: Coach Barb Lyons, Coach Dan Eide, Coach Carey Wade, Coach Billie Comer
Track and Field
Russ Edwards Big C Relays in The Dome-3/31 and 4/1
This past weekend 26 Buccaneer track and field athletes traveled to The Dome in Anchorage and joined over 950 other athletes from 32 teams across the state to compete in the Russ Edwards Big C Relays. It’s always a treat to compete in The Dome. The energy was high, the competition was fierce, and the Bucs did not disappoint.
Gabe Brewi started his throwing season off with a bang by setting a new VHS school record in the Shot Put with a mighty throw of 42’ 10.75” beating Dennis Mott’s record set last year of 41’ 4”. Momoe Togaga’e had an impressive Discus throw of 94’11” earning her 3rd place overall at the meet.
In Long Jump, Andrew Baczuk had a jump of 17’ 10.25” setting him up 1st in the 3A teams competing at the meet. A.J. Mann jumped 16’ 4.25” placing him 3rd for 3A. Izzy Kizer had a great jump at 14’ 6.75” earning her a place in the finals, 5th place overall at the meet, and 2nd place for 3A.
Dillon Fowler blazed through the 110 Hurdles with a second-place finish in prelims behind Eagle River, with a time of 16.94, and finished 2nd in 3A teams in the 300m Hurdles with a time of 45.65.
In the 4X100 relay, the team of Andrew Baczuk, A.J. Mann, Nick Alfaro, and Jason Smilie placed 1st among 3A teams with a time of 47.96. The girl’s team of Anika Palomar, Isabella Smelcer, Destiny Day, and Izzy Kizer, was second in the 3A teams just behind Homer with a time of 57.27.
The Big C Relays offer the opportunity to compete in relays not seen in other regular season meets such as the 100/100/200/400, 200/200/400/800, Distance Medley 1200/400/800/1600, and the co-ed 100/200/300/400. This was the first time that VHS competed in the co-ed 100/200/300/400. The team of Anika Palomar, Griffin Hastings, Kelsey Prax, and Cole Wadsworth had a time of 2:36.66, and the freshman team of Madison Sauls, Evan Morris, Hailey Major, and James Humphrey ran it in 2:57.11. Dillon Fowler, A.J. Mann, Barrett MCCumby, and Rafe Caruthers set a new VHS record for the 200/200/400/800 with a run of 4:12.38, and the Distance Medley team of Cole Wadsworth, Romen Weber, Barrett McCumby, and Rafe Caruthers also set a new VHS record with 12:45.24.
This was a fantastic start to the 2023 season and the Bucs look forward to our next meet at Wasilla High School on April 29th and 29th.
VHS Esports Update
The Bucs Smash Team entered this week with a 3-3 record, knowing they needed another win to stay in the playoff race. They faced off against #18 ranked Service High School. Ethan Weber played first and quickly put down his opponent, winning the series 2 games to 0. Braiden Williams played next. He also won his series 2-0. That ended the match, with the Bucs claiming 2 out 3 series. The win puts the Bucs at 4-3 on the season with one week left to play.
Next week the Bucs take on Chief Ivan Blunka school, out of New Stuyahok. Another win and we’ll see the Bucs qualify for their first ever esports playoff appearance!
Isaiah Gamon laced up his cleats this week and took his Madden23 on the road against Mathias out of Torrance, CA. Their first game was a nail biter. Isaiah pulled into the lead with (what we thought) was a game ending score. But Mathias moved his team down the field with enough time for a last second TD, winning the game by 3 points. In the second game, both teams struggled to keep the ball, trading interception and fumbles. In the end, the Valdez Bucs lost the second and final game to the Torrance Tartars.
