GONE CAMPIN': THS HOSTS GOLDEN STATE WING-T CAMP FOR 2nd STRAIGHT YEAR

Posted 06-20-04

Troop Distribution:  Camp Instructor Mike Schonewolf instructs each team on the next assignment

Wow.  315 football players on one field is a heckuva lot of helmets and padding.

But the Warriors sure don't mind that fact, with over 80+ Tehachapi Warriors and Braves clashing heads with some of the California's best Wing-T schools in the 17th Annual Golden State Wing-T football camp at the Benz youth football fields on June 18-20.

The teams that participated in 2004 at Tehachapi included two teams from Los Angeles (Roosevelt and Narbonne High), Granite Hills (El Cajon, San Diego), East Bakersfield, and Madera High School.  This year's camp marked Tehachapi's eighth year of participation.

With the rules so stringent on practice time for schools and limited opportunities for teams to actually come together as a cohesive unit, camps like the Golden State Wing-T camp are a nice breath of much need fresh air for programs that only have one goal in mind for the upcoming fall...

winning.

And winning they can definitely do, especially with a program like the one put on by Golden State.

“We have some great people involved in this camp program when it comes to knowledge of (the Wing-T) offense,” said Mike Schonewolf, Tehachapi Golden State Instructor. “When you have a great support staff, it carries over to the high school coaches and the players, and over the years it’s been a great thing to see the success take off.”

Sort of like Tehachapi winning a section title last year, right Mike?

While having a great teacher like Mike on the staff (who was a receiver's coach at Princeton University), the list of other capable instructors that came to Tehachapi was a great benefit as well.  Other coaches like Bill Zwaan from Westchester University, Mike Hollway from Ohio Wesleyan University, Bill Cubit from Stanford University, and a large number of successful prep Wing-T coaches made the trip up to spend time with the six schools in attendance at Tehachapi.

The head director of the Golden State Wing-T program is Steve Verbit, who currently serves as the defensive coordinator at Princeton University.

Yes fans and parents...I think it's safe to say that Tehachapi's football youth is in good hands early on.

“Overall I’d say that this Wing-T program that we’ve been doing every year is a large part of the success of our program in the early stages,” said Warrior Head Coach Steve Denman. “When you have a chance to get together and run plays and learn from some great minds, it helps us fine tune many different aspects of our program and get the players on a higher level heading into summer practice.”

While Tehachapi has had success running the vaunted Wing-T offense since it's installation in the mid-90's, the roots of it's teachings span back all the way to 1966.

The Wing-T has original roots stemming from the University of Delaware, where head Coach Harold R. “Tubby” Raymond installed the then-revolutionary offense with his Blue Hen team during his tenure from 1966-2001. Raymond, who coached his final season just three years ago, compiled a 300-119-3 record in 422 games with Delaware, winning the UPI small college national championship in 1971 and 1972, and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1979.

With the founding school giving notice to the potential of the offense, the concept of it's teachings served notice (and started to produce success) at the high school level.

Many teams bought into the wing-t system in hopes of producing more successful results in their respective divisions. One of the teams that took on the wing-t concept locally was Clovis West High School, who successfully transformed their football crazed town into a title winning machine with heavy running and sophisticated blocking schemes. With Clovis West as a barometer of the offenses success, many teams like Garces, East-Bakersfield, North-Bakersfield, and Tehachapi bought into the winning system and joined the Wing-T bandwagon after seeing Clovis West's dominance in the Central Valley.

For teams like Tehachapi, the teaching received this past June will hopefully help to produce a mirror season of 2003.

For those hardcore Warrior fans out there, there is plenty of reference material out there for your disposal to brush up on the wing. For a taste of the reading out there, you can click here.  Knowledge is power…

	The Bakersfield Californian recently gave out some awards for our Warriors for spring sports.  Highlighting the bunch was yet another All-Area grab for Brandon Rooney, who advanced to state this past spring for the first time in three years, competing in the 1600.  Rooney was a central section stud in the 1600 all year, winning the event at the Central Section Sequoia-Sierra Division Championships and placing third in the 1,600 (4:21.53) at the Central Section Championships.  Rooney, a senior next year, is expected to be a strong contender for the state title in cross-country next fall with a 2003 Division III title in hand and a 10th place state finish to build on. Runnin' Warrior:  Brandon Rooney setting records in the Central Valley and Beyond Joining Rooney in track for area recognition was Mountain Football’s Maurice Sales, who received a second team All-Area recognition for his skills in the high jump.  In baseball, Kris Haycock, Mike Wright, Kyle Bruce, and J.J. Holguin all received honorable mention.
	Warrior baseball and softball also received strong recognition in SSL all-league categories, with Sophomore J.J. Holguin getting rookie of the year honors for his dominating pitching, and Mike Wright, Kris Haycock, and Kyle Bruce nabbing first team votes.  In softball, Ashley Rehbock was a first team vote getter for the Lady Warriors, while Dana Liebengood, Dan Haycock, and Matt Trevino rounded out the second team honors for both sports.  Kris Haycock and Mike Wright were also honored in the Kern County all-star game in May, with both players getting a chance to play shortstop and centerfield, respectively among the county’s best.
	Forgot about this…but wanted to give some special appreciation to a couple of  people in the Tehachapi High School front office…Mary Landon and Debbie Haycock.  These two ladies were instrumental in letting thswarriors.com sack the elusive yearbook vault in the front office for team pics of Warriors throughout the years.  With the 75th anniversary upon us…a virtually complete Warrior History couldn’t have come at a better time!  Please be sure to help me join in thanking Mary and Debbie for their support, and be sure to check out the history page!