Photo by Rebecca Holt

Emily Cordes was born on a snowy December 16th, in 1991. It is said she played soccer since birth, throwing around little toy soccer balls in the cradle. “We would always just pass the ball to each other; it was her favorite thing to do,” exclaimed TJ Alumni and older brother Wesley Cordes.

Emily began playing for her first team at the age of five for the Skyline Association until the 6th grade, and she then began to play for much more competitive teams in Westminster and Storm. Emily contemplated playing for her middle school team, the Hamilton Huskies, but decided she wanted to take her skill in another direction. “She was always very talented and stood out more than all the other kids,” are words from a very proud mom, Candy Cordes. Emily proved herself to be the leader of each one of those teams, and she knew she was more than ready to perform at a higher level.

Emily made the hard choice of which high school to attend, and with the help of her brother, chose TJ. The Spartans are very appreciative of that, as Emily showed up to tryouts and thoroughly impressed the coaches. She was named a varsity starter her freshman year, and managed to put in six goals and added an astonishing 21 assists. She has even led the team to a playoff appearance each of the last four years, but could only advance past the first round her freshman year. “Playing soccer for TJ has been one of the happiest and best experiences of my life,” said Cordes,who is one of the senior captains this season.

An even more impressive feat, Emily Cordes is coming off a devastating knee injury she incurred during the basketball season last year. Despite multiple doctors advising her and telling her she would not have the ability to play, she trained hard, and eventually made a full recovery. “She had a very bad injury… I was very surprised, and proud that she was able to come back,”  said her coach, Sarah Andolsek.

Emily attended her final playoff game as a Spartan this past Tuesday, and unfortunately she could not play due to a red card the previous game. She was right there on the sideline cheering on her teammates every minute of the game. The Spartans unfortunately faced the #6 seed in the state and came up against a tough challenge, ultimately losing 7-0.

Emily will be attending Colorado State University this fall with her 4.0 GPA. She hopes to try out, and make the club team. What is assured, though, is that no matter which team she plays for she will leave a legacy of success, dedication, and triumph.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

On a cold, rainy, early May day the Lady Spartan Soccer team traveled the hour-long road up to Silver Creek high school, in Boulder to face the #6 ranked team in the state. The team felt that the odds were against them, with the nasty weather and dark clouds and the remote territory, it made this game one of the toughest task these girls have faced. “I was cold,” said senior Rachel Laux. “But I was ready to get out there and give it my all.” Give it their all is what they did, as they came out with a defensive strategy that kept their opponents out of their zone, at least initially.

As time went by, and the conditions became worse, the girls’ fatigued began to show as they allowed unanswered goals. They kept at it and never gave up, making sure they went home with their dignity intact. After an encouraging halftime speech from Senior Captain Emily Cordes the ladies came out in the second half with their heads up high, only allowing two more goals. With a disappointing final score of 8-0, it does not portray the great year these ladies have had.  Congratulations.

Artwork by Rebecca Holt

Floyd Little has finally earned what he deserved: an induction into the Hall of Fame. His on-field explosiveness and charisma made his remarkable career a standout.

Floyd Douglas Little was born July 4th, 1942. Bronco fans are thankful for that, to say the least. His running back career started at Syracuse University, following in the footsteps of many other great running backs, including Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. Little was an All American with the Orange, and in the spring of 1967 he became the first ever draft pick of the then AFL Denver Broncos. Many people called him “the franchise” for saving the team from certain relocation due to lack of talent and poor ticket sales. His presence started a string of sell-outs, the likes of which still last today. Little impressively led the NFL in rushing yards for six straight years, from 1968-1973. Though his extreme amount of talent should have brought wins, it didn’t, and he unfortunately never came home with a championship trophy. Other awards he received, though, include being elected to the AFL all-star game twice, and also the NFL pro bowl three times. His former coach, Lou Saban, stated that Little was “…one of the most explosive running-backs he has ever seen.”

In 1984 Little was made a charter member of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame. He was the first Bronco to ever win the rushing title in 1970 with 901 yards, and then the following year he became the first Bronco to rush for more than 1000 yards in a season with a total of 1133 yards, leading the entire NFL. Little had an unusually small frame, only 5’10” and weighed a mere 195 pounds, which made him the smallest back to lead the entire league in rushing since World War II. He was one of the league’s most exciting players. “ I loved to watch him play; he had such quickness I sometimes held back blinking when he had the ball,” said Chip Warren, who had season tickets for the 70-71 season. In 1967-68 Little was the only player to return a punt for a touchdown, something that now commonly happens in the NFL. Despite Little playing for a team that lacked any distinguished talent, he was by far one of the most explosive offensive threats of all time.

Little retired becoming the 7th leading rusher in the history of the NFL after only eight seasons. After waiting for years, Little was finally nominated to be inducted into the NFL hall of fame in the summer of 2009, and was eventually voted in on February 6th, 2010. He was the first Denver Bronco to have his jersey “44” retired. Little was finally rewarded for his spectacular career, and will go down as one of the best running backs in Bronco history. “I was elated, but at the same time a little disappointed that it took so long … there was a lot of pain over the years; that doesn’t wash away completely,” Exclaimed Floyd in a recent Denver Post interview.

Little now owns his own law-firm, and also owns automobile dealerships in Denver, Santa Barbara and Seattle.

photo by Rebecca Holt

On Tuesday and Wednesday the girls’ soccer squad had a very difficult task: beat DPL powerhouse rival East high school, and also Falcon High School back to back. This did prove to be quite a challenge, as they fell to East first by a score of 7-1 with the lone goal by Senior Lauren Kelsch. “It definitely hurts to lose to East,” exclaimed Junior Casey Edelman.

Falcon, being a powerhouse in their own division, came out with confidence, and took down the ladies by a score of 5-1. The girls were undoubtedly fatigued from East, which was a major factor in the defeat. The lone goal came from senior striker Stephanie Warren. “It feels good to score, but not to lose; we will get back on track quick,” she said

The girls’ next match-up is another DPL rival Montbello this Monday the 19th at Montbello at 4:15. Come watch to help them get back on the winning trail.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

On Friday the Lady Spartans took on a tough DPL rival in Denver North, and the home field territory certainly helped.

With a great audience cheering on the ladies they managed to put in two fantastic goals with one from junior midfielder Casey Edelman, and another one from sophomore mid fielder Belin Gomez. “ We knew we were going to win, we just had to start playing like it, and we eventually did,” stated by senior captain Lauren Kelsch.

The girls also had an important game on Saturday against another rival in  Denver West. The odds were surely against West, but they gave their best effort, and made it a close one. “This game was an eye opener. Their program has really improved and their first goal took us by surprise,” exclaimed Head Coach Sara Andolsek. “ With a huge team talk at half, determination and team work we pulled off a 3-1 victory that we really needed.”

With a two game winning streak the girls have all the momentum heading into their next match against the very talented East Angels Tuesday at TJ, at 4:15.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

The girls’ soccer team, coming off a two-game winning streak, had all the momentum they could possibly need heading into this home matchup against the competitive Rampart High School. “We knew it would be a challenge; I was hoping we could keep it close and pull out a victory,” said senior left wing Stephanie Warren. Unfortunately for the team, that did not happen, as Rampart’s mix of quickness and strength were just too much for the young defensive line of the Spartans.

The girls are looking forward to bouncing back with a win against DPL rival South High School next Tuesday at TJ at 4:15. This should be an even, entertaining match-up so make sure to come watch.

photo by Rebecca Holt

The Spartan girls showed up Saturday afternoon ready to play, and that they did, taking it to Rifle High School 5-0. With a dominating performance all around,  a solid brick wall for defense, and a quick transition offense, the home team was heavily favored. TJ’s leading scorer Morgan Bruzas led the offensive dominance, actually putting in two scores, making her season goal count, four. Other goals came from Sophomore Belen Gomez who also scored twice, and Junior Casey Edelman.

Another highlight from the match was Senior Captain Emily Cordes, who tore her ACl last year, and is playing spectacularly, even against the odds. “I come out there and I give it my all, I’m glad I can help my team win.”

The ladies are back in action on Monday against Rampart High School at home.  Make sure to come support them in their hopes of a three game winning streak.

Artwork by Rebecca Holt

The Lady Spartans began their season this year with fairly high expectations, and did not disappoint in the season opener against The Cardinals of Elizabeth High School. The Cardinals, who have struggled of late, were no match the Spartans’ strong offensive strategy and determination. Goals were scored by Junior Morgan Bruzas, Senior Stephanie Warren and a final goal was fortunately off the foot of the opposing team. The final score was 3-0.

Assistant Coach Jon Poole expressed excitement and pride, saying, “These girls have a lot of potential.  If they can put it together and gel as a team, this season will be a great one. ”Also excited about the season is Senior Stephanie Warren, who is one of the team’s strongest offensive players. “Every player on this team is skilled, and we all have a mutual goal: to win!” she said.

The girls play Columbine High School on Tuesday – which will be one of the toughest challenges of the entire season – and also Woodland Park high school at Woodland Park at 4:15 on Wednesday. Come watch either and support the girls as they venture on the quest of a winning streak.

]]> http://www.tjjournal.com/2010/03/12/girls-soocer-blasts-into-season/feed/ 0 http://www.tjjournal.com/2010/02/25/nbas-most-underrated-players/ http://www.tjjournal.com/2010/02/25/nbas-most-underrated-players/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:50:57 +0000 Keith Warren http://www.tjjournal.com/?p=9436 J.J. Redick: He’s no “bust.”

Artwork by Anna Becker

This article is just the beginning of a series of editorials which will highlight the sixth man, the guys who make under a million, the guys under the radar, the guys who deserve credit for their potential. These men are the leftovers of the league, the ones who take up space on the bench and can only imagine the impact they could make if given the chance.

Meet J.J. Redick, born July 24th, 1984 in Cookeville, Tennessee. He is a professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic. Even though now he spends a large amount of time on the sideline, he had a sensational career as a collegiate athlete. Redick attended Cave Springs High School in Virginia, where he averaged an astonishing 36 points as a senior, leading his team to the state championship and taking the title. These stats and his strong leadership earned him a scholarship at the highly acclaimed Duke University where he served as a captain all four years. Redick was a pure scorer, leading his team in points scored in each of his seasons. He was also an excellent free throw shooter, even setting a record for the most consecutive free throws made in the ACC with 54. He was also one of the most consistent shooters of all time, finishing his career with an NCAA record 457 three-point field goals. Redick even managed to become one of Duke’s most storied players, by becoming the college’s all time leading scorer by putting up 30 against Miami on February 19th 2006, earning him a total of 2557 points breaking Dickie Hermic’s 51-year-old record of 2587 points.

Due to Redick’s complete domination of college basketball, opposing fans became infuriated with his skill and he was the target of much abuse. Travis Clay of CBS Sportsline even called him the “most hated current athlete in America.” He was often a target of obscenity-laced tirades from fans, even though on February 4th, 2007, Redick’s #4 jersey was retired at Cameron Indoor Stadium at a special halftime ceremony.

It was clear to many scouts that Redick was going to be a success in the league with his spectacular stats, which lead him to being taken 11th overall in the 2006 draft by the Orlando Magic.

In an interview with the Charlotte observer, Redick said, “ I think I’ll be a role player like 80 percent of the players are in the league. I don’t expect to be a star.” This, of course, was true, as in his first season a combination of limited play time and mediocre play led many critics to place the title of “bust” on Redick.

The title of “bust” is given to glorifies college athletes who end up having less than mediocre NBA career’s. This, though, does not apply to J.J. Redick who is a spectacular shooter, and who has range for days. He can pull up from four or even five feet behind the three point line and sink it, which poses a great threat to defenses as it opens up defenses and makes game planning difficult for opposing coaches, which also compliments Orlando’s star player Dwight Howard, standing at 7’ feet tall. Redick can score, and is a strong proven athlete who can guard some of the league’s greatest shooting guards like Kobe and Dwayne Wade.

Redick has been a key component to the Magic’s success of late, who were in the 2009 NBA finals, but sadly lost. There is no way Redick can be stereotyped as a “bust” as his skill, composure, confidence and leadership will develop throughout the next few years. Look for him to be one of the league’s future stars and a valuable asset to any team.

Andrea Shacklock and her mom and dad celebrate her award from the DPS Board of Education. photo courtesy Lani Nobles

Andrea Shacklock is one of TJ’s most gifted athletes, and students. Andrea has been an integral part of three different teams: track, volleyball and swimming. Andrea also stands out academically from the rest of the class with her excellent work ethic, and it shows with her outstanding grades. Andrea was not only a state qualifier, but she was also honored with the TJ Outstanding Student Athlete award and was recognized with a proclamation from Board Member Bruce Hoyt and the DPS Board. This is a major honor because only one student from each DPS school is chosen.

Andrea shines the most when competing in the pool. She spends hours every single day perfecting her technique, which has been the case for the past thirteen years. Shacklock’s mom, TJ counselor’s secretary Julie Shacklock, began teaching her how to swim at the young age of four, and she joined her first competitive team at nine. “ I was ready to compete. I knew I had what it took to win,” said Andrea. She joined the local team at Eastmoor swim club, just a few streets down from TJ. Andrea made a great teammate, and also helped her team win three championships. At the age of twelve she received her first state honor, and has been a state qualifier every year since. Still to this day Shacklock swims meets with the Eastmoor club.

Andrea’s swimming career extended into high school, where she was a key part of the varsity swim team her freshman year. She has been on varsity, and lettered and had state qualifying times every season since. This season Andrea has already earned two state qualifying times, an astounding 26.3 second time in the 50 free, and later on a 26.1 second time in the 50 free as well.

With these fantastic times Andrea earned herself a trip to state last Saturday, the 13th of February. Andrea was the only representative from TJ, as she faced off against the best of the best of Colorado’s woman swimmers. She competed in her favorite event, the 50 meter freestyle and ended taking a respectable 35th overall with a time of 26.69.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

Shacklock’s state performance was a great showing of her athletic talent, but that is just one of the many things Andrea excels in at TJ. She is also a very dedicated student who participates in many strenuous honors, X and advanced placement classes. She spends nearly two to three hours per night on homework, which has given her the right to claim herself at the top of the senior class. “It definitely is a lot of work, but in the end I feel so accomplished,” she exclaimed. Her coach agrees, as Cindy Allen states, “ It’s great how she can focus her time on her studies and swimming alike.”

Being the valedictorian is an award given to the senior who finishes at the top of the class, and is an honor for which Andrea is in close contention. Fellow Senior and valedictorian candidate Tommy Moelman said, “She is just so smart. She is one of my close friends and whoever wins, wins!” Shacklock and her 4.67 grade point average plan to attend the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, California.

Andrea also competes in track where she has been a varsity leader every season since her freshman year. Also, she is a very talented volleyball player, and has played varsity her entire high school career. This year Shacklock lead TJ to a 3rd place finish in districts, and was even named to the All-state team, where she will be competing against other states in June. “I have watched almost all of her matches,” exclaims her good friend Lauren Kelch.”She is just an amazing athlete.”

Andrea is a three-sport athlete, and one of TJ’s brightest students. There is certainly a bright future ahead for her, and she has set very high expectations for herself. If she is not in the classroom, you can find her out in the pool, in the gym, or on the court, so make sure to attend every sporting event you can and prepare to be entertained by her great skill.