The Associated Students of Cosumnes River College serve as the voice of the student body of the campus and operates under the direction of officers elected by the student body, according to the campus website.

The Student Senate within the ASCRC, formerly known as the Associated Student Govern-ment, are advocates of the student body and represents them at the district level, Student Senate Pres-ident Christina Alvarado said.

"We provide their voice," Al-varado said. "We represent that voice when they can't get us all in

one room."Serving her second term, Al-

varado said her main goal to start the semester is to gain more rep-resentation for the student body by filling the empty positions on the Student Senate and the Clubs and Events Board.

"We need students in order for it to work overall," Student Associate Adviser Winnie LaNier said. "It's an excellent way to learn project development and man-agement for careers. You don't al-ways have to start at the bottom of the totem pole."

Alongside serving as the ad-vocates for the student body, the ASCRC also provides the enter-tainment and the social and cul-

tural activities on campus to bring a balance that enriches campus life, LaNier said.

Funds for the ASCRC to put on events come from two sourc-es, LaNier said. Money allocated from the district based on previ-ous fall enrollment and fundraiser money gathered by the associa-tion for events and scholarships.

A third source of money comes from a student representa-tion fee of $1 that is paid by each student not using the Board of Governor’s Fee Waiver.

Course repeatability to be limited starting June 2013

Thinking about re-taking one of your favorite classes? Well you should consider taking it this coming spring because as of June 1, 2013, the repeatability of certain courses will no longer be permitted in the Los Rios district.

Repeatability of active par-ticipation courses, such as classes in physical education, visual arts, performing arts and others, will no longer be allowed. In the place of repeatability there will be a family, of progressing courses of which a student can take up to four, according to mandates from the California Community Col-lege Chancellor's Office.

Judy Beachler, the Dean of Instruction and Student Learn-ing at Cosumnes River College, explained the concept of a family of courses.

“Using Piano as an example, where the family is Piano I, Piano

II, Piano III and Piano IV, Piano V, Piano VI, students are allowed to take four of the six courses in the family,” said Beachler.

This legislation will come into affect almost a year after the most recent change of school pol-icy in regards to the repetition of classes, also known as the three-strike policy.

The three-strike policy means that “if you have already attempted a course three times, you will not be able to enroll in that course again (even if you are planning to take it at a different Los Rios college),” according to the CRC website.

The policy, enacted summer of 2012, means that any total of three “F,” “W,” or “D” grades in a class will remove the possibility of taking the class a fourth time. This policy is also retroactive, meaning that all past academic at-tempts are included and counted towards the three-strike total.

Volume 58, Issue 1 www.thecrcconnection.comVolume 60, Issue 1 September 20, 2012

By Josh slowiczekjslowiczek.connect@gmail

Stephan Starnes | The Connection

Penny Her, a psychology major, and Lisa McAlister, a music major, act in an improvised scene in their Theory and Techniques of Acting I class. The class is just one of many that will be grouped into families of courses that will be limited by legislative changes that will go into effect on June 1, 2013.

>>Repeatability, Page 2

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With all the ongoing con-struction throughout Cosumnes River College, visual enhance-ments are becoming apparent.

“I’m very excited about the construction around the campus,” said CRC President Debbie Travis.

“It indicates to me that we’re going to be able to serve our stu-dents and the community by hav-ing facilities that are wonderful state-of-the-art learning environ-ments,” Travis said.

As part of the Facilities Master Plan, Regional Transit approached to CRC with an op-portunity to extend it’s line. In preparation for the light rail, a five-floor parking garage with 2,000 secured parking spaces in April 2013.

It will be available to the pub-lic, but parking prices for students will not change.

Christina Alvarado, Student Senate President, commented on the new construction.

“It’s a great idea because with CRC's population growing, CRC have the expansion to be able to give students what they need,” Al-varado said.

By September 2015, the Re-gional Transit’s light rail service will be running to give South Sac-ramento and Elk Grove access.

Despite the campus being occupied with construction, the Northeast Technology Building was usable in time for the fall se-mester.

The technical building added three additional classes, natural lighting windows above the class-rooms and tool rooms.

In conjunction, larger labs for construction and welding were built on campus over the summer.

Next to the Learning Re-source Center, the Winn Center

for Construction and Architec-ture is under construction.

Wathen describes the new building to be a modernized

Campus expansion benefits students, communityBy Osay Ogbebor

kogbebor.connect@gmail

Mary Garcia | The Connection

The Winn Center for Construction and Architecture continues to be a work in progress. The two-floor building will be done July 2013.

“Student voice” aims to fill empty senate seats

By Scott Redmondsredmond.connect@gmail

Get Connected

>>Expansion, Page 2

>>To view the full story, please visit our website at

www.thecrcconnection.com

New recruit brings energy to women's soccer pg. 6

New CVPA Dean: his journey through CRC pg. 3

See how incom-ing freshmen are prepared for col-lege pg. 2

Check out photos from events this semester pg. 8

Check out the internship and career fair on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Quad

Beachler explained that the two pieces of state-mandated leg-islation, the repetition of courses and the repeatability of them, will work in conjunction with each other come June 1, 2013.

“Repetition affects repeatabil-ity,” Beachler said.

If you are confused, you're not alone.

While still nine months away and in a constant state of change, the general idea is that a strike in the three-strike policy will count as an attempt at one of four pos-sible classes to be taken in a fam-ily, in regards to repeatability.

Theater Professor Frank Condon, who has been teaching at CRC for the past 18 years, has two classes affected by repeatabil-ity, both beginning and advanced acting.

“For students who are inter-ested in developing the craft of acting, I believe it hurts them,” Condon said.

The students themselves seem to agree.

“How are you supposed to develop your skills as an actor if you can't take the class over and over?” asks Jenny Cox, a 19-year-

old theater arts major. However, all is not set in

stone and school districts across the state are working with the Chancellor's Office to plan out how certain classes will be affect-ed by the new rules.

A few classes are exempt from the legislation, such as work experience and expanded learn-ing courses. Individual student exceptions will be made if classes are required by a legal mandate or an employer.

With state-wide budget cuts to public education and the ap-proaching vote on California Gov. Jerry Brown's Proposition 30, CRC is “responding to a current climate,” said Celia Esposito-Noy, the Vice President of Student Ser-vices and Enrollment Manage-ment.

As of now the administra-tive goal of CRC is to ensure that students are completing their de-grees in a rapid manner.

However, as the year pro-gresses students should not worry they are being left in the dark, as CRC is “committed to keeping students informed as it [the leg-islation] develops,” said Esposito-Noy.

September 20, 2012 | newS | 2 www.thecrcconnection.com

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Britni Alford, Mike Almanza, Takara Campbell, Cody DurhamEmanuel Espinoza, Kevin Frodahl, Mary Garcia, Latisha Gibson, Angel Hasson, Ariel Hevesi, Joshua Lee, Yegor Lyashenko, Victor Macias, Alex Mosqueda, Osay Ogbebor, Brittany Patrick, Andre PrattScott Redmond, Jonathan Rich, Micah Meekins Simon, Josh Slowiczek, Jacqueline Williams,Mozes Zarate

The Connection is an award-winning newspaper published bi-weekly by the Journalism 400 newspaper production class. Editorials and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the students, staff or faculty of CRC or Los Rios Community College District. The Connection is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC).

Letters to the Editor must be typed, signed and include the first and last name of the author and a phone number. They must be 200 words or less and may be edited for length, clarity or taste.

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Repeatability: new legislation worries teachers and studentsContinued from page 1

Los Rios Community College District budget update

"We, like all community col-lege districts, are awaiting the outcome of the November elec-tion as the passage or failure of Proposition 30 will greatly deter-mine our future budget scenario," said Associate Vice Chancellor,

Communications and Research Susie Williams.

For more information on Prop 30, subscribe to The Con-nection's website and pick up Issue 2 when it comes out on Oct. 4

Every year, thousands of freshmen stumble onto commu-nity college campuses without a solid plan of attack.

Students who enter com-munity college without an idea of what they want to do can find themselves stuck for a handful of years taking classes that they don’t need.

This brings up the issue of how high school students and college freshmen are being pre-pared for the workload transition.

Monterey Trail High School believes in getting their students on the right track early.

“Starting freshman year, we meet with students twice a year, assessing them, figuring out what they want to do,” said Jayne Captein, a career center counselor at Monterey Trail, via telephone.

“Hopefully by junior year, the stu-dents have a firm plan on what they want to major in.”

Monterey Trails also offers a program put on by California state universities called Pique.

Pique is a program that trains parents and students about what they need to do to get into a Cali-fornia university.

Once they have graduated from Pique, they are guaranteed admissions to a CSU as long as they have fulfilled their A-G re-quirements.

Cosumnes River College has resources to help students find the path to success, including the career center, tutoring centers and a plethora of counselors.

“The counselor led me into the direction I wanted to go and where I needed to be,” said Cindy Stutler, 36, human services major.

“They really paved the way for me.”In addition, CRC also has

classes specifically designed to help students decide what they want to major in and how to han-dle the college level workload.

Most notable is the freshman seminar.

Freshman seminar is a class that has been provided at CRC for six years now and is designed for people coming out of high school to help them have a smooth tran-sition to college life.

“Not only is it a class that will help students make the smooth transition to college, it also fulfills general education requirements,” said tutoring coordinator Sharon Padilla-Alvarado.

CRC also offers a college suc-cess class, which focuses on study skills and career development.

Both of these classes help students learn important college life skills such as money and time management.

If new students need more than just classes, CRC also pro-vides a new student guidebook that will be available online in the fall.

This way it is accessible to parents and students, and they can learn everything they need to know about being successful in college, before their first day.

CRC’s curriculum has earned two major statewide awards from the California Board of Gover-nors, and the college has been asked to present it’s innovative in-formation at other colleges.

“The Freshman Seminar awards from the Board of Gover-nors speaks to the commitment CRC has to helping students tran-sition from high school to college,” said public information officer Kristie West. “When students take these classes, they learn how to navigate the college environ-ment and many of them have told me they feel a lot more confident about their goals after taking Freshman Seminar. The awards are testament to these successes at the individual level.”

CRC helps new students get acclimatedBy Cody Durham

cdurham.connect@gmail

LEED Platinum certified build-ing and energy efficient two story 24,000 square feet architecture fa-cility that will provide rooms for photography, architecture, phar-macy and architectural design technology students.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifica-tion provides independent verifi-cation that buildings are designed and built to meet standards in human and environmental health, according to United States Green Building Council. Platinum is the highest rating.

“I’m excited,” says photogra-

phy professor Jim West. “The ability to go to the new

facility when the Winn Center is accessible, we will be able to give the students current job skills training so they can go out and get work. Change is progress, we are looking at a amazing facility that’s going to benefit students years to come.”

National Student Design Competition winner for the Cali-fornia region and former CRC student Nathan Dea, along with his teammates was able to com-bine their ideas from the compe-tition with the architect to make the final project for the building.

The Center, a $16.6 million project, will include eight lecture rooms, 13 classrooms, a commu-nity room for large group meet-ings and 37 offices, to accommo-date a capacity of approximately 795 students. The project will be completed late July 2013.

“I think the other thing I’m excited about is the fact we’re able to do construction because the citizens of the community passed bond measures by their votes so we would have funds that could only go for construction and that means, in my opinion, that the taxpayers are supporting higher education,” Travis said.

Expansion: construction continuesContinued from page 1

With the start of a new se-mester many Cosumnes River College students make the inevi-table trip to the financial aid of-fice.

“We have actually awarded more students this year to date than the same time last year,” said Financial Aid Supervisor Alice Kwong via email.

As of July 1, 2012, new quali-fications for the Federal Pell Grant were officially enacted.

The federal law now limits the number of Pell Grants to 12 full-time semesters a student can receive towards their first under-graduate degree or equivalent, which according to the official student aid website.

Students without a high school diploma or GED equiva-lent will no longer be eligible for student federal aid. In conjunc-tion with the new qualifications, the option of passing approved

tests (ATB) or completing at least six college units without a high school diploma or GED will no longer be offered, as stated in the CRC Financial Aid fact sheet.

Many students still have a hard time qualifying for any monetary assistance.

“I understand the govern-ment wants to limit the funding to those who really need it,” said 31-year-old biology major Ely-ssa Hipsher. “But they reduce the amount of people eligible so often they don’t realize they’re actually doing more bad than good.”

Hipsher’s comment sheds light on the most drastic changes to both federal and state student funding. The California Com-muntiy College Chancellor's Of-fice announced the administra-tive change in the calculation of elgibilty for BOG Fee Waivers and FAFSA.

“The federal methodol-ogy or the formula to calculate a student’s eligibility has changed where the family income ceiling

to qualify for federal financial aid has lowered; reducing a student’s eligibility,” said Kwong.

Kwong said with the begin-ning of summer 2012, a student must establish a minimum finan-cial need of $1,104.00 whereas in the prior year a student only needed to demonstrate need of at least $1.

However, Kwong reassures that if students are having diffi-culty qualifying for any financial aid there other ways to receive monetary help.

“There are federal student loans where students who have financial need but not for the federal grant can receive a Sub-sidized Federal Direct Student Loan,” said Kwong.

Except Kwong still advises that students should at least try to apply for BOG Fee Waivers and FAFSA.

“All students should apply and apply early,” said Kwon. “The FAFSA and the BOG Fee Waiver processes are free and simple.”

Financial aid continues to be a hot topicBy Alex Mosqueda

atmosqueda.connect@gmail

“The counselor led me inTo The direcTion i wanTed To go...”

-Cindy StutlerStudent

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A once “knucklehead kid” who first arrived at Cosumnes River College intimidated, Torence Powell found his way back to the college that pushed him towards the right path.

Even with a supportive fam-ily to go home to each day, Powell had managed to get into trouble as a kid.

“In the 90s, it was pretty bad,” Powell said. “There was a lot of gang violence. I lost three friends to gang violence growing up be-fore I was 18, murdered behind ri-diculous stuff. I got in a fight my first week at Valley High, which is why I had to transfer [schools].”

Now, in slacks and a striped tie, Powell walks in the VPA of-fice and through the door with a plaque on the right labeled

“Dean’s Office.”Relaxing in his chair, though

with his energetic personality clearly evident, Powell continues to describe his journey.

For the new Communication, Visual and Performing Arts dean, now 32 and a graduate of Cailifor-nia State University, Los Angeles, CRC was an important aid in his path.

“To be encouraged and nur-tured by the faculty here was huge and that was one of the catalyst for me coming back here,” Powell said.

A few of the professors that Powell met during his years as a student are now his colleagues. In particular, photography Pro-

fessor Jim West seemed to have grasped a connection with him during that time.

“He is one of those kind of guys that will do amazing things in his life,” West said.

And with his new position, Powell will be supporting West and the rest of the faculty under the CVPA department.

“This is very personal to me,” Powell said, making it clear that

he understands how much of an entry point community colleges are for many people.

As dean, Powell’s first priority is to continue to support and even enhance some of the campus and community-based projects that communication students engage in.

Greenforce program admin-istrator Lynn Hurtado worked be-side Powell, who was previously

the director, and shared that he was very dedicated to his job and encouraging.

“He also counseled me on a personal level and has encour-aged me to better myself,” Hurta-do said.

Powell realizes a large por-tion of time is dedicated to being a dean, and making accommoda-tions for his other interests is just another transition.

This year, he is taking a step back from coaching Little League and traveling. Instead, he looks forward to traveling locally with his family and fraternity brothers.

Powell is also taking time to get back into running, currently training with his buddies for the California International in Sacra-mento. He has yet decided wheth-er to tackle the full marathon, with this being his first.

Powell follows the “work hard, play hard” method, which is just another piece of motivation he speaks about in a passionate tone.

With all his positive outlooks, in life and at work, Powell knows he will have to face an even harder challenge—more program cuts.

“Not knowing what we have to work with in terms of money is going to be a challenge,” Powell said.

Powell shares how he went from a struggling high school student to college administrator

By Ashley Boucheraboucher.connect@gmail

Zach Hannigan | The ConnectionTorence Powell, the new Communication, Visual, and Performing Arts dean, considers his time as a journalism major at Cosumnes River College to be what put him on the path to academic success.

“I lost three frIends to gang vIolence growIng up before I was 18, murdered behInd rIdIculous stuff. I got In a fIght my fIrst week at valley hIgh, whIch Is why I had to transfer [schools].”

- Torence Powell

Man Phan sips his iced cof-fee while sporting a crisp button up shirt, slacks and gelled back hair. It’s another typical Monday morning in his office.

However, business Profes-sor Phan’s days were not always so typical. He grew up carrying buckets of well water to and from his village as a part of his daily life.

“Coming from the outside to assume a full-time teaching po-sition is pretty rare,” Phan said.

“I’ve been blessed and fortunate.”Phan lived in a village in

Vietnam until the age of 7, when he, his three brothers and his dad fled to America in hopes of a better life. Phan’s mother was not able to leave for another eight years.

She planned to flee with them, but because of circum-stances in the village they had to reunite later.

During those eight years, “my father was my mother. That’s

why I love him dearly,” Phan said.Phan now “rolls out of bed

and into the classroom,” where he thrives on relating everyday life to concepts found in the textbook.

“It’s the ‘a-ha!’ moment that gives me joy,” Phan said.

Even at a young age, Phan knew he wanted to be an educator.

“I want to pique students' in-terest and inspire them to think and learn,” he said.

Phan spent most of his edu-cation career within a two-mile radius in the San Diego area.

A scholarship to the Uni-versity of San Diego led Phan to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in international business.

Phan is currently working towards his doctorate at Califor-nia State University, Sacramento, focusing on community colleges.

“The community college ad-ministrators have given me a real vivid picture of how education af-fects students. That really rattled my interest,” he said.

Phan enjoys teaching and

“it’s the culture and climate that I appreciate being a part of here at Cosumnes River College,” Phan said.

“I’m grateful for the oppor-tunity to be on campus every day working with colleagues and helping students learn.”

Using the socratic method of teaching, Phan encourages his students to ask questions and en-gage in an active student-teacher dialogue.

“My biggest fear is students falling asleep in my class,” Phan chuckled.

Students showed no signs of heavy eyelids in the lively and in-teractive vibe during Phan's busi-ness introductory course.

“He tries to get people to par-ticipate and makes sure they’re in-volved,” said 24-year-old business major Brandon Martinez.

“If I can inspire a student by stirring his or her interest and motivating them to ask questions and seek knowledge, then I have done my part as an instructor,” Phan said.

From the village of Vietnam

to the classroom of CRC, Phan hopes to inspire his students and strive for future success.

“My father always said, "seek out education available in the U.S.'

—I did just that.”

September 20, 2012 | Features 4 | www.thecrcconnection.com

Artists captivate thepublic, painting town into a studio tour

By Brittany Patrickbpatrick.connect@gmail

Brittany Patrick | The Connection

Professor Margaret Woodcock pulls off the tape, holding her strong line, on her current mixed media work.

Passionate brush strokes, in-triguing angles and an infectious buzz filled the streets of down-town Sacramento for the Capital Artists’ Studio Tour.

Beginning in 2006 CAST, put on by the Center for Contempo-rary Art, has grown from a small number of art studios showcasing work to over 150 participating members.

The event is a self-guided tour through downtown and midtown Sacramento, supporting local art-ists and interest in art.

This year’s event was split up into two packed weekends the first, occurring on Sept. 8 and 9, had a total of 132 participating artists and the following weekend holding 22.

Cosumnes River College’s very own art Professor, Margaret Woodcock, had her studio locat-ed south of the thriving William Land Park.

Woodcock has participated in CAST since 2006 and has en-joyed people coming through and

“responding” to the lines and col-ors of her art.

She showcased her paintings and mixed-media art work out of her working studio nestled be-

tween her house and lush green garden.

“I like to garden. I like out-door stuff so that tends to be my imagery,” Woodcock said. “I don’t have a set idea that I sketch out or paint towards, I literally just de-velop it as I’m working.”

Woodcock built all of her own wood panels as her starting block. She works with the hard surface so she can really “push into and drag through it” with different media. From there she just starts putting on colors and collaging.

The Verge Center for the Arts is housed a short drive from Woodcock’s studio. This ware-

house provides studios for over 30 unique artists and is open to educate the public in many art-related subjects. Hands-on experi-ence in print art is also provided for tour-goers.

A brisk walk from the Verge Center, a pair of artists shared an underground stu-dio down an al-ley on 10th Street. Marked only by a black door with

“nicholaswray.com” spray painted in white on the side.

“For us we have gotten a lot of people down here who wouldn’t have normally come to our stu-dio,” said Nicholas Wray, a 31-year-old professional and self-dubbed street photogra-pher. “Just being able to show our stuff to the public who wouldn’t have normally seen it. I kind of enjoy it.”

Jason Bove, a 36-year-old abstract painter and studio-mate of Wray, enjoyed showcasing his work to the public and absorbing their advice, critiques and com-pliments.

“People have been really re-ceptive,” Bove said.

Wray’s half of the studio consisted of black and white pho-tos of street scenes presented on tall planks of plywood. To the left a photo of a bicycle tire and its shadow at an intriguing angle caught the eye.

A slide-show of his work was projected on a screen directly in front while his favorite Pandora station played in the background.

“I try to look at angles that aren’t typical. To me that’s what makes a photo different, and that is what makes it something that someone else can’t create, ” Wray said.

Bove had his colorful ab-stract paintings creatively placed along his space, coming off of the walls. An old wood window stood above his desk that was comfortably cluttered with inspir-ing odds and ends.

Tourists could be found strolling around the entire town with cameras in hand while art-ists passionately presented their work and gave process demon-strations.

Those who visited gained an invaluable insight on how the art “just comes out,” explained by many artists.

Brittany Patrick | The Connection

Andrew Patterson-Tutschka of Verge Studios uses acrylic paint to capture this life scene of Elk Grove.

One professor's hunger for educationBy Ariel Hevesi

ahevesi.connect@gmail

Professor Man Phan calls on a student to read aloud an article projected on the screen during his business intro-ductory course on September 11.

Britni Alford | The Connection

“ My biggest fear is students falling asleep in My class.” -Man Phan

“Play every day like it’s your last.”

These are the words that base-ball’s head coach Tony Bloomfield instilled in his players at the be-ginning of last season. A season that would bring Cosumnes River College its first state champion-ship in one of the hardest ways possible.

The Hawks never played a home game, nor did they ever have a home practice due to con-struction at CRC.

But through all the adversity, the road warriors, as Bloomfield coined them, did the impossible. They won a state title without the support of home games the whole season.

“It’s hard to explain,” Bloom-field said. “I’ve been trying to do it for 22 years and I don’t think anyone has done it that way.”

Former CRC catcher Shawn Wheeler, who was a part of the state championship team and transferred to Sac State, believes Bloomfield had a lot to do with winning the title.

“He played a huge role. His back and neck probably hurt from carrying us all the way,” Wheeler said in an email.

Bloomfield’s love for baseball started at West Torrance High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. He starred on the school’s basketball and football teams. Baseball always came third to the other two, he said.

After playing football in high school, he continued his playing career into college.

“I wanted to play football,” he said. “But I was a little guy and when I saw the size of some of the players, I said ‘No thank you.’”

So, Bloomfield started play-ing baseball for Los Angeles Harbor College, the same school

where he would begin his coaching career as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Jim O’Brien.

“I knew I would be a coach from the get-go,” Bloom-field said. “I was a leader on the field.”

Following a 1990 state championship as an assistant with Harbor, B l o o m f i e l d took over as head coach and led his team to four consecu-tive conference championships.

After a suc-cessful stint at Harbor, Bloom-field headed to CRC and has coached here for 14 years.

Bloomfield also brought a certain philosophy to CRC that he still abides by today.

“Our intention is never to make pro baseball players,” he said. “We’re trying to make hus-bands and fathers. We want to in-still character.”

Bloomfield taught Wheeler a lot about life beyond the baseball diamond, he said.

“One thing I learned from him was how to act on and off the field as a student athlete,” he said. “How to be a man for the most part, and definitely how to be disciplined.”

Bloomfield also holds his players to a certain rule.

“Be a good teammate,” he said. “Treat everyone the same whether he is your best player or worst player.”

For his accomplishments last year, Bloomfield was named the National Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association. He will be honored at a national convention in Chi-cago, Ill. Admittedly, the award means very little, he said.

“It just means I had good as-sistant coaches,” he said. “It’s nev-er about the individual, it’s about the team.”

Bloomfield cared less about the award, than he did about last season.

“It was a special bunch of guys,” he said. “Team chemistry came along, and the kids bought into our philosophy.”

Of all of his accomplishments in his 28-year coaching career, Bloomfield ranks the state cham-pionship at CRC near the top.

Bloomfield’s coaching style and philosophy are just part of what Wheeler will remember moving forward in life.

“I will remember his integ-rity and his honesty and just how good of a guy he was, also his little smirk, you know you did some-thing funny or good when you see the smirk,” he said. “There is too much stuff to remember about the guy.”

But in typical Bloomfield fashion, he wanted to talk more about the team and less about himself.

“I’ve seen a lot of things on a baseball diamond, but that was special.”

The men’s soccer team lost their second match in a row to nationally ranked No. 24 Mt. San Antonio on Friday.

Cosumnes River College played a hard, physical game, but were overmatched by the much faster and crisper Mount-ies as they lost 3-0.

“They are a very dynam-ic, incisive and decisive team,” Hawks head coach Ron Preble said. “They are fit and organized and are so quick about knowing what they want to do.”

Both teams started off the game with a lot of inten-sity. However, the Mount-ies’ precision passing and patience al-lowed them to control pos-session of the ball early and often.

W i t h i n the first five minutes of the match, the Mounties had already put heavy pressure on the Hawks, taking-multiple shots on the goal.

In the 17th minute, Mount-ies’ freshman midfielder Ar-mando Ochoa broke the tie when he was able to get by the Hawks’ defense and put a quick shot past the goalkeeper.

“I went down the line and just tried to hit the back post,” Ochoa said. “The keeper curved in and I was able to get it past him.”

The Mounties maintained possession for the rest of the

first half and held the Hawks to one significant shot on goal.

Hawks’ sophomore keeper Marvin Hernandez made a handful of saves to keep the score 1-0 going into the midway break.

The Hawks started off the second half with more aggres-sion, and in the 3rd minute they had their best chance to score when sophomore forward Evan Alcala’s chip shot floated just over the goal.

“My teammate put a lot of spin on the ball and I couldn’t get a good hit on it,” Alcala said.

The Mounties were able to settle down afterwards as they

began to control the p oss ess ion battle.

In the 10th minute A r m a n d o’s b r o t h e r , sophomore f o r w a r d N o r b e r t o Ochoa, in-creased their lead with a

wide open goal.Armando then broke the

game open when he cashed in on a penalty kick, his second goal, just five minutes later that put the Mounties up 3-0.

Sloppy passing and impa-tience prevented the Hawks from scoring before the match ended.

The loss brought the Hawks record to 2-3, while the three-time defending state champion Mounties remained undefeated.

“We don’t think about the past,” Mounties head coach Juan Sanchez said. “We are going to take it one game at a time.”

SportS | September 20, 2012 | 5Follow uS on twitter @CrCConneCtion

Hawks baseball wins first state title

The Hawks celebrate after winning CRC's first-ever state title. The team beat nationally ranked No. 3 Rio Hondo 8-6 on May 20 in Bakersfield to secure the championship. Pitcher Austin Ales won MVP honors.

Hawks lose two in a row, fall to Mt. San Antonio in tough game

By Cody Durhamcdurham.connect@gmail

Mary Garcia | The Connection

Freshman defender Mohammed Jagun falls over Mt. Sac goalkeep-er Julian Sanchez while trying to score. The Hawks were shut out.

“They are a very dynamic, incisive and decisive Team. They are fiT and orga-nized and are so quick abouT knowing whaT They wanT To do.”

­—Ron­PrebleHead­Coach

Baseball coach’s ‘old-school’ approach helps college win state championship

By Zach Hanniganzhannigan.connect@gmail

Mayra Fuentes | Special to The Connection

Coach’s team-first mentality infused work ethic in team, players say

Mayra Fuentes | Special to The Connection

Braving the heat and direct sunlight more than 50 people gathered for the offi-cial dedication of the new Cosumnes River College stadium and athletic facility.

Guests of the dedication were greeted with shade tents, iced bottled water and trays of cookies, as well as an enthusiastic welcome by the Hawks’ mascot.

“This is uplifting to our college, our partner Elk Grove Unified School District and our region.” CRC President Deborah Travis said in her introductory speech.

Interim Los Rios Community College District Chancellor Jon Sharpe spoke next

on the long history of partnership between the two districts. Sharpe also spoke about the merits of two like-minded groups put-ting their focus on benefiting students and the community as a whole with this en-deavor.

Renovations began on the stadium in October 2011 and were funded by bond Measure M and A, according to the CRC press release. Measure M funded CRC’s half of the project, Sharpe said.

Los Rios Board President Ruth Scrib-ner, EGUSD Superintendent Steven Ladd, Ed.D., EGUSD Board President Chet Madi-son Sr. and Valley High School Principal Chelsea Bowler all spoke in succession of-fering their thanks to their partner district and the taxpayers for helping make the sta-dium a reality.

“This new facility matches the pride we have in our students and our program,” Bowler said.

CRC’s stadium will host football games for Valley High School and soccer games for CRC. It will also provide for a variety of cul-tural and educational events, Scribner said.

LRCCD trustees Kay Albiani, Dustin Johnson, Pamela Haynes and Scribner next presented the temporary partnership dedi-cation plaque in lieu of the one that will be placed before the main gates in the future.

“CRC and the Elk Grove Unified School District have a long-standing, exceptional partnership,” Johnson read from the plaque.

“And share in a mission to educate students and develop academic, cultural and recre-ational opportunities for residents of the lo-cal community.”

The new facility benefits the students of CRC and Valley High as well as the commu-nity, Johnson said.

As excitement continued to fill the air and thank yous were given, the respective members of the boards gathered together for the ceremonial ribbon cutting at the pathway to the home field side of the sta-dium.

With laughter and smiles they posed with giant golden scissors for photos and with a three count the ribbon was cut by Albiani and Madison, officially opening the stadium for the fall 2012 season.

September 20, 2012 | SportS6 | www.thecrcconnection.com

TheCheapSeats

Column: Major League Soccer is shooting itself

in the footBy Zach Hannigan

zhannigan.connect@gmail

The cheers of over 75,000 strong can be heard throughout Manchester, England on any given Saturday. There is a certain passion and electricity in the air. Old Trafford is packed with thousands of Red Devils fans cheering on their beloved Manchester United

Across the pond, on a very similar Saturday night there is only a murmur coming from RFK Stadium, home of Major League Soccer’s D.C. United. This potential playoff team —and one of the MLS’s founding teams—is only averaging 13,668 fans per game, ac-cording to The Washington Post. That’s down 10 percent from 2011.

So why is it that the same sport on the same night can thrive so well in one country, but not the other?

The answer is simple: The U.S. is not allowing soccer to grow.

America’s top soccer league, Ma-jor League Soccer, is failing to tap into huge markets. There is a soccer-loving Cuban population in the Mi-ami area that MLS has yet to capitalize on. There is also a market in Arizona, whose warmer weather and college at-mosphere would be very conducive to soccer success.

It’s not as if soccer stadiums are costing an arm and leg for MLS teams to build either; 14 of MLS’s 19 teams play in soccer-specific stadiums.

The newest stadium belongs to the Houston Dynamo at a cost of $110 mil-lion. But the newest NFL stadium in East Rutherford, NJ—home of the New York Giants and Jets—had a sticker-price of $1.6 billion.

The number don’t lie, MLS can get a team into the same markets as the NFL for a fraction of the cost.

It doesn’t stop there either. MLS continues to shoot itself in the foot. The league refuses to abide by the FIFA calendar and insists on a spring-to-fall schedule rather than the standard Au-gust-to-May format that the world’s top soccer leagues follow.

The current schedule conflicts with the World Cup and several other FIFA international tournaments. This forces the league’s top players to leave their respective MLS team for interna-tional duties that could take up to two months.

How does a league expect to suc-ceed without its top players? The NBA would have a hard time succeeding without Lebron James or Kobe Bryant. So why is MLS trying to force the issue?

That brash scheduling also dis-courages some of the world’s best soc-cer players from coming to the U.S.

The formula is simple - missed economic opportunities coupled with a lack of world talent equals failure. How MLS has kept afloat this long is nothing short of a miracle.

MLS must get its act together or the U.S. will always be second-tier to Europe when it comes to soccer.

Knee injury leads freshman recruit to women’s soccer team

By Brittany Patrickbpatrick.connect@gmail

The women’s soccer team welcomed their new forward Jena Mamola, a 17-year-old business major, back from a terrible in-jury.

Mamola tore her meniscus four months back, during a high school game her senior year. Her team was winning the game 6-0, Mamola was credited with two of those goals. Her coach wanted her to get a hat-trick, so he put her back in to get a third goal.

Reliving the moment, Mamola said that she went in for the goal at about the six-yard box, and took her shot.

During her follow through, one of the opposing team members ran into her and twisted her leg, while another defender slide tackled her.

Both of these players’ charge on her caused her knee to pop out, tearing her me-niscus.

“I can probably count how many times I’ve cried out on the field on just one hand, in my entire life,” Mamola said, “but I knew this was not good, and I was just crying.”

The freshman forward recovered for a month, enduring a series of X-rays and MRIs and was told that her meniscus tear was scarring behind her kneecap. Conse-quently, the scarring always caused her to play in pain.

In order for her to ever be 100 percent and play without pain she would need a lateral-release surgery, that would get rid of the scar tissue.

After the surgery, it took her three months of rehabilitation in order to get clearance to play again.

Mamola said it was “pain-ful” to be on the sidelines, es-pecially during warm-ups before a game, because she was excited for the games and wanted to play badly. She said she w a s anxious to get back onto the field.

“ W h e n I got cleared, when they said I could kick the ball, not play, but kick the ball I was out there doing my moves,” Mamola said. “It just felt so good to be out there.”

Her first game back from the injury was against Cerritos Col-lege. She had only been able to participate in two practices prior and was

“so nervous” to be playing in a game again. She didn’t want to disappoint her new teammates or coaches, because she didn’t know how she was going to play in her first college-level game fresh off of surgery. The game was a 4-1 loss, but Ma-mola said that the team played “amazing”

and it was uplifting to be pat on the back by her teammates after her debut.

Mamola had the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Cuesta

College. It was only her second game back from her surgery.

Mamola was originally set to go to William Jessup

University on a scholar-ship.

“They signed me while I was still on crutches,” she said.

But she didn’t like the team or the girls, so

turned down the opportu-nity.

Enter Mamola’s career at Cosumnes River College.

Hawks Coaches Cesar Plasencia and Leo Rojas, came up to Ma-

mola after a game again McClatchy High School, prior to her injury, to talk to her about CRC. Mamola had already had her mind set on Jessup so did not give the idea too much deliberation.

But after her decision to forgo Jessup she said, “The first person I called was Cesar. The

day after school started and he said, ‘Come in today, and we will get

you your classes.’” The next day Mamola had all her

classes and all of her signatures with per-mission numbers and she was playing.

“To me things happen for a reason, and this turned out amazing,” Mamola said.

Britni Alford | The ConnectionMembers of the Board of Trustees, Elk Grove Unified School District board members, and Valley High School principal cut the rib-bon to officially dedicate the stadium. A plaque will be placed in the stadium to honor the partnership between EGUSD and CRC.

New stadium opens after renovation

By Scott Redmondsredmond.connect@gmail

SportS | September 20, 2012 | 7Follow uS on twitter @CrCConneCtion

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Fresh off the CRC Classic, the Cosumnes River College vol-leyball team looked to build off their strong performance in the tournament where they went 2-1.

The Hawks went up against Columbia College on Sept. 12, but they didn’t look like the same team that showed up to play in the tournament.

Columbia won in three sets by the scores of 19-25, 18-25 and 23-25. With the loss, the Hawks have dropped two in a row.

“It definitely helps going 2-1 in your own tournament and knowing that the last one was in our reach, that was our match to lose,” said head coach Natalie Wells. “Maybe some of them got a little over confident.”

The Hawks were able to keep it close in the first set trail-ing 19-16 after the first timeout was called, but lack of communi-cation and costly errors resulted in points for Columbia, putting the first set out of reach.

“I think we could work more as a team, communicate more on the court,” sophomore out-side hitter Hoang Nguyen said.

“We lack that, which we demon-strated today by losing all three games.”

At the beginning of the sec-ond set, the Hawks took a 9-6 lead, forcing Columbia to call a timeout. The timeout seemed to kill the Hawks momentum as Columbia stormed back to take a 16-14 lead, forcing CRC to call a timeout of their own.

After the Hawks timeout, their lack of communication and sluggish play continued. Only

being able to rally for four more points in the set. That trend con-tinued into the third set.

“For me, I need to be more vocal on the court, like speaking to my setter and asking what set do I set,” freshman middle hitter Rose Koloamatangi said.

The third-and-final set saw a lot of back-and-forth ac-tion between the two teams and it was either teams set to lose. Down 11-8, the Hawks managed to climb back and keep the game tied at 20-20.

However, Columbia rallied

to pull off three points late for a 23-25 victory.

“We’re going to work harder tomorrow,” said Nguyen. “Defi-nitely come in with more chem-istry and more intensity and we’re going to have a better atti-tude toward the next game.”

With the loss, the Hawks record dropped to 3-4, with the San Jose City College Tourna-ment just around the corner.

“We have a long way to go and it doesn’t matter how we start, it’s how we finish,” Wells said.

Hawks volleyball loses to Columbia College

Jonathan Rich | The Connection

Victor Maciasvmacias.connect@gmail

#13 middle hitter, Marquesa Harris (left), #2 setter, Laura Villano (middle), #9 setter, Candice Bohlmann defend a spike from Columbia College on Sept. 12 at Cosumnes River College. The Hawks failed to win a set.

Opponent

San Jose City College

American River College

Delta College

Santa Rosa Jr. College

Location

San Jose

ARC

Delta

CRC

Date/Time

9/21-9/22 - 1 p.m.

9/26 - 6:30 p.m.

9/28 - 6:30 p.m.

10/3 - 6:30 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE

WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE

Opponent

Mesa College

Mira Costa College

American River College

Modesto Jr. College

Location

Mesa

Mira Costa

CRC

Modesto

Date/Time

9/22 - 3 p.m.

9/23 - 11 a.m.

9/27 - 7 p.m.

10/2 - 4 p.m.

Opponent

Modesto Jr. College

Sacramento City College

Diablo Valley College

Delta College

Location

CRC

SCC

DVC

CRC

Date/Time

9/21 - 3:30 p.m.

9/25 - 7 p.m.

9/28 - 3:30 p.m.

10/2 - 3:30 p.m.

September 20, 2012 | Photos | 8 www.thecrcconnection.com

"I haven't been able to give blood for a number of years and I took the first opportunity I had," said 29-year-old brewing science major Juan Cuevas, while in the Blood Source coach at Cosumnes River College's Health Resource Fair on Sept.13.

In case you missed it...

Outside hitter, Hoang Nguyen, spikes a ball past Hartnell's defense to score for the Hawks during the CRC Classic on Sept. 7. The Hawks were 2-1 for the tournament, losing their third game to Hartnell.

Philosphy professor Rick Schubert gave a lecture on bioethics that covered the issue of informed consent on Sept. 12.

The development from spring to fall, the new parking structure is almost ready for completion.

Stephan Starnes | The Connection

Mary Garcia | The Connection

Mary Garcia | The Connection

Mike Hendrickson | The Connection

Kevin Frodahl | The Connection

Mary Garcia | The ConnectionFreshman midfielder Jessica DeAnda cashes in on a penalty kick against Fresno City College on Aug. 28. The Hawks eventually won the game 2-1, after a goal in stoppage time.