Ezidro Calls His Shot
Mammoth High Football
Mammoth High Football is a young team but they have a lot of potential. First year Head coach Martin Ezidro knows that, “We lost a lot of seniors last year, but we have a lot of sophomores. They are young but they have a lot of passion and a lot of grit.”
On what it means to be a young team, Ezidro said “We just need to find our identity. We can use the 8,000 feet to our advantage. We run a hurry up offense and hopefully we can tire some opponents out. Teams don’t like coming here. We have to use what we got.”
Mammoth plays in the central division of the eight man freelance league. Last season they went 4-6 but they made the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
Ezidro believed the streak would continue “I want nothing less than the playoffs, and in the next three years, we are getting a state championship.”
The goal is lofty, Ezidro knows that, but he truly believes in his players. He is projecting the three year development from sophomores to seniors, and likes what he has in QB Cody Lambert, and RB Charlee Gray, both sophomores. Highlighting skill positions is easy, so Ezidro tacked on that he liked the development of all his players, saying this summer they got bigger and faster.
The passion did not stop there, as Ezidro put it “I always wanted to be a Head Coach, and small town football is something I really believe in. We are trying to sell out the stadium, bring back the tradition that we used to have.”
He highlighted his shirt which read “One team, one family” which provided his view not just on the team, but how he views football in this town. He wants to change the culture of Mammoth Lakes Football, and over the next three years he believes he can do it. Ezidro said he would win a title in that timeframe: the least the town can do is watch.
The season begins Friday, August 30, when Mammoth High hosts Tonopah High.
Mammoth Volleyball
Mammoth High Volleyball has experienced sustained success under head coach John Morris. Now, Morris is out, and Kevin Gilfoy and Erin LeFrancois are co-head coaches. Gilfoy views this as, “A Passing of the torch,” since he learned under Morris, and believes, “that our athletes are smart volleyball players and will adjust quickly.”
The Sheet asked Kevin Gilfoy if any players deserve being highlighted before the season, and this is what we recieved:
“We have a very talented group of six seniors for our 2019 season. Led by perennial First-Team, League MVP and All-CIF athlete, Ella Thompson, who I believe to be the most dominant athlete in the Eastern Sierra and beyond. High-flying Kendall Lach returns to varsity this year after having transferred to SoCal for her junior year. Adi Witherill begins her second season as a varsity setter. Drew Presson gives us a solid swing at the outside hitting position. The defensive specialist, Keely Podosin will be digging the heat in the back row. Last, but not least, is the Grate (Jerry would be proud) Ruby Walker. Add to these seniors the extremely talented juniors and lone sophomore and you have an Eastern Sierra all-star team sourced right here at Mammoth High School.”
High-flying, digging the heat, and even a grateful dead reference to boot. You can feel the knowledge and pride. This is good for the Huskies, as they rightfully expect big things, “All of us coaches believe in these kids and feel that if they continue to work together as a team, they should be winning matches well into the Fall playoffs.”
The team has already topped Carson City in a 5-setter, but as Gilfoy points out “It’s early and we have a lot of work to do.” The volleyball season is long, and they are in a new league just like the Mammoth Football team. They will be freelancing in the High Desert League (HDL), central section. They didn’t schedule games against two league members (Cal City, and Frazier), but they do have league matchups against Kern Valley, Rosamond, Boron and Bishop to sort out the hierarchy.
Bishop Football
Unlike Mammoth Football, Bishop Union has a team of veterans. Head Coach Arnie Palu, entering his 4th year, said, “We have a lot of guys with multiple years playing (for the Varsity team), and a ton of them are seniors.”
He continued, “We had a great spring and a great summer, so we have really high goals. There has been competition at every position.”
Palu was confident yet reserved. Last season the team went 7-3 in the regular season. They made the playoffs and lost in the first round, ending the season 7-4. That was in division five. Bishop Union got moved down to division six this year, but that just means the bar rises.
“We feel like we have a chance to win the state championship, and that is what we are aiming for.” Said Palu.
The team returns both quarterbacks, Luke Mcclean and Clay Omohundro. Last year the team split snaps depending on the opponent/ scheme, and it appears to be the same this year.
“We run the spread option, so both quarterbacks run and pass all the time. Luke is more of a runner, and Clay is more of a passer. But they both know how to operate our offense, it just depends on the situation.”
Coach Palu has named Clay one of the captains alongside Tristan Valle, a player that plays many positions and who Palu says will be “a great captain.” Palu added, “In addition to those guys, we will pick two extra captains every week based on practice.” One of those players will be from special teams to showcase those players, and one will be from any side of the ball, and again will be chosen by the coaching staff.
Bishop opens up their season on Friday, August 23 when they host Fernley High, a team from Nevada. After that they aren’t home until September 27 when they host Burroughs High from Ridgecrest.
MHS Football 2019
Date Time H/A Opp.
8/30 7:00 P.M. Home Tonopah
9/6 7:00 P.M. Home Coleville
9/13 7:00 P.M. Home Pahranagat
9/20 7:00 P.M. Away Trona
9/27 7:00 P.M. Away Lone Pine
10/4 7:00 P.M. Away Min. County
10/18 7:00 P.M. Home Faith Baptist
10/26 1:00 P.M. Away Big Pine
BUHS Football 2019
8/23 7:00 P.M. Home Fernley
8/30 7:00 P.M. Away Yerington
9/13 7:00 P.M. Away Rim of World
9/20 7:00 P.M. Away Desert
9/27 7:00 P.M. Home Burroughs 10/4 7:00 P.M. Away Sierra
10/11 7:00 P.M. Home Kern Valley
10/18 7:00 P.M. Away Rosamond 10/25 7:00 P.M. Home Boron
11/1 7:00 P.M. Away California City
MHS Volleyball
8/19 5:00 p.m. Away Carson City
8/23 TBD Away Yerington
8/24 TBD Away Yerington
8/27 5:00 p.m. Away Burroughs
8/29 5:00 p.m. Home Boron
9/4 5:00 p.m. Away Lone Pine
9/6 TBD Home Tournament
9/7 TBD Home Invitational
9/10 5:00 p.m. Away Bishop
9/13 TBD Away Cal City
9/13 TBD Away Cal City
9/14 TBD Away Cal City
9/20 5:00 p.m. Home Burroughs
10/1 5:00 p.m. Home Kern Valley
10/3 5:00 p.m. Home Bishop
10/8 5:00 p.m. Away Boron
10/10 5:00 p.m. Home Carson City
10/22 5:00 p.m. Away Rosamond
10/24 5:00 p.m. Away Kern Valley
