Gridley Bulldogs do new tricks

With only two months into school, Gridley High School is already kicking and making a mark for the 2009-2010 school year. This year is already shaping up to be an impressive one. Our varsity football team won its first league game this past Friday night, and our history department is creating a name for itself throughout Northern California.

Gridley football took on the Las Plumas Thunderbirds on Friday night, and it was undoubtedly the game to be at. Although off to a slow start in the first half with Las Plumas leading 7-12, the Bulldogs kicked it into gear, fought back and clawed their way to a 28-12 victory.

Alexander Agapiades finished the game with two interceptions and a total of 50 rushing yards. Carlos Alejo scored four PATs, or points after touchdown, following each touchdown. Shane Cassity rushed for 55 yards. Quarterback Anthony Paredes completed five passes for a total 125 yards. Jessup MacFarlane, with a pass from Paredes, scored a 78-yard rushing touchdown. And Dakota Sisk took the Thunderbirds by storm by scoring three significant touchdowns and rushing a total of 136 yards.

Coach Cooprider, new to GHS this year, said, "Even though we struggled in the first half, any win is a good win. I was proud how my team responded and dominated the second half."

Amidst the insanity at the beginning of the school year, the GHS history department, under the instruction of teachers Sherie Kermen, Michael Pilakowski and Gary Story, received some great news about its 2009 state test scores: 80 percent of U.S. history students were proficient or advanced, compared to the 54 percent in 2008.

This past year, the U.S. history students at Gridley stepped up and made impressive gains on the state test. Kermen said, "I believe our scores have increased because of the dedication of academics at Gridley High School with the students, staff and administration." Our U.S. history test scores dominated all surrounding counties from here to the Oregon border, including Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Lassen and Sutter.

With Kermen teaching U.S. history, Pilakowski teaching AP U.S. history and world history and Story teaching government/econ and world history, the department is clearly unstoppable. Their goal, Kermen said, is "always trying to find a way to make history come alive in the classroom."

These are only a few of the exciting events happening at GHS, with many more to come, including the renowned Gridley Invitational Basketball Tournament, which will take place Dec. 10-12.

Amber McIntire is a senior at Gridley High School. Her column appears about every sixth week in Education.