4th Annual Encina Alumni Challenge

Principal Myrtle Berry wrote:

"Another Super Evening for the Apaches & Bulldogs! I didn't think it could get any better than in past years. There seems to be a special "aroma" in the gymnasium when you return to your alma mater! As always, we appreciate all that you do for the students and the Encina community.

With our current budget crisis, the pledges/donations, more than ever will benefit ENTIRE school programs.
Just think, four years ago, Steve Palmer & Bob Goosmann joined us to help pull off what was to be a fundraiser basketball game between members of a professional football team and our varsity basketball team.(to net about $5,000). Here we are, four years later, Bigger & Better than we had ever envisioned! You guys are really a class act.

Harlan, thanks for promoting this great event. Without your updates and publicity, I know that we wouldn't get the pledges that we always receive. (you seem to have a knack for motivation)

A special "thank you" to our core group of booster club parents who continue to do it all. Again, thanks to all of the Apaches (staff and students) for your overwhelming generosity. We are open to your ideas for the 2005 alumni challenge game. Give us a call with ideas, complaints, etc. "

ALUMNI TEAM NOTES

Doug Kempster '65 wrote:
"I had a great time at this year's game. Now, if I had just been smart enough to knock off a half hour earlier last Sunday I might actually have been able to run! This was the first time my son Matt had ever seen me play in a game, and he really enjoyed it. After my assist to Bill Glaholt, he said, "Dad did something good!". Thanks for the opportunity to play, and for raising so much money for the school. This is a great event, Harlan. Keep up the good work."

Mike Martis '77 wrote:
"What a great thrill to share the court with past and current Apaches/Bulldogs. My thanks to Steve Palmer and Bob Goosmann for creating and continuing this event (and inviting me to participate!), to you Harlan for your tireless promoting, selling and chronicling, and to all who pledged - way to step up so mightily once again, Paul Bonderson. This is a very cool means of giving back, allowing today's Encina student-athletes many of the things we took for granted.
And how about that game, sports fans!! Encina varsity team members, take no shame in defeat - you guys played well. But...you see, my alumni teammates came to *play*, and play we did, putting on a pretty decent display of fundamental basketball, minus the 36-inch vertical leap. Great to run the floor with guys like Doug Kempster and Dave Jensen, what inspirations you are (and nice "three" from the corner, Doug); Bob Goosmann, you're a true competitor, and that's an impressive offensive array you bring to the court - thanks again; Greg Grant, a familiar old face, what a pleasure on and off the hardwood, and I'm glad the knee held up; Chris Dahlberg, aka "The Luxury," it was fun sharing old stories and watching your talents from close range; Rafael Enriquez and James Jones, from covering your exploits as preps during my Bee days to suiting up for the alums, you two still have plenty of game, and are quality guys as well...that was fun; And Bill Glaholt, your energy was truly motivating, and sorry again for hogging OT!
Thanks to Tom Clark, Rocky, Patty and Lissa for the personal pledges (Matt Shelton, stand up and be counted!). I hope more alums emerge to carry on this great cause - TC, I expect to see you lighting it up next year. I'd gladly pay to see uniforms on guys like Ted Peterson, Don McCarthy, Charley Moulton, Mike Frederick and, especially, Bob Bingham."

James W Jones '87 wrote:
"I haven't had a feeling in my stomach like that in a long time, butterflies usually don't go along with my current line of work.
It was nice to play again in the gym, it brought back a lot of old memories of playing with my old class of 87 teamates, I think the gym must think it still owes me some karma beecause things couldn't have gone much better for me in the game, in fact it might of been the best game I ever
played for Encina. Thanks to all the alumni team for playing hard, see you again next year. "

Dave Jensen 72 wrote:
"I thoroughly enjoyed playing with and getting to know my alumni teammates. Thank you all for the experience. And thank you Harlan Lau, Steve Palmer and Bob Goosmann for your organizational efforts."

Bill Glaholt wrote:
"Wow! That was *SO* much fun!! I am honored to have played with all of you - each of us brought something awesome to the table, and I think we played better team-ball as a whole this year than last. Thank you - each of you - for your willingness to take me on and drag me through the process of learning the zone defense. (*winks to Doug*) I'm glad we got the chance to give back to our school like this; I hope that each year is as successful!"

Chris Dahlberg wrote:
"I'd like to thank you and all the alumni for giving me the oppurtunity to participate in this year's Alumni Challenge. I consider it a very special
privilege. The game was great. The guys on the team have a lot of drive. A lot of teams would have given up and said this is good enough. Not our team. Not only did we want to raise money, we also wanted to win. I think this can be attributed to the fortitude of the team and the intense school spirit shown by all of the alumni at the game and those supporting the website. GO APACHES!!"