Humboldt High School Athletics - December 2020

"After a tough work out the boys and gals like to break a mental sweat too. Thank you to those teachers who have sent work for the kids to do. It has brightened their day and I hope yours as well. Thank you and always #GOHAWKS!" A message and photo provided by coach Novacheck, Humboldt High School Wrestling (Winter 2020)

By John Pucci - Humboldt Athletics 

Most coaches would be satisfied with 2 athletes making it to the state tournament, with two others almost qualifying, but not Coach Novacheck.

Last year’s wrestling team was one of the most successful groups Humboldt has had in recent years, with graduated Senior Ryan Prisch making the state tournament. He was not alone however, with star Sophomore Kyaw Htway also qualifying. In addition, Junior Crown Htoo was the most improved wrestler in the team, which Coach Novacheck credits assistant coach and Humboldt alumni Scottie Bonds for. Crown missed qualification for the state tournament by mere points. Finally, one of the unsung heroes of last year’s team was 8th grade phenom, Po Si Si. Po Si Si is the younger brother of Kyaw Htway, and clearly wrestling dominance runs in the family. 

Instead of being satisfied with a great 2019-2020 season, Coach Novacheck is hungry for more. He believes that this year’s team may be even stronger than the last, and Crown, Kyaw and Po Si have returned to the team in match ready form. In addition, Seniors Pa Ha and Hsa Loo have both been identified by Coach Novacheck as athletes to watch for this upcoming season. While the pandemic has once again forced coaches to move to digital platforms and caused quite a bit of disappointment across the state, nothing can damper the excitement of Coach Novacheck and his athletes. 

The wrestling team started digital practice last week, which included a home workout led by their coaching staff, as well as a tactical wrestling session, reviewing techniques and strategies the team looks to implement this season. As a Humboldt community, let’s praise Coach Novacheck and his staff for prioritizing student safety and wellness while still engaging and improving his student athlete’s ability and well-being at the same time. Great work coach!

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team has begun their digital training sessions as well, led by Coach Garcia and Winters. They plan to implement a new offensive system this season, and have been using film analysis and breakdown to teach it to their athletes. 

Girls Basketball

The girls basketball team is excited to build on last year’s successful season, and challenge for the city title. The team will be led by seniors Makayla Mapp & Ilianese Delarosa, as well as junior Lili Hobday. 

Boys Swimming

The boys swimming team will operate as a cooperative with Washington and OWL this season, similar to the girls during the fall. Watch for Junior Ywar Hay Tha to have a breakout season! 

Winter Sports Preview 2020-2021

 by John Pucci -  Humboldt Athletics 

While all fall sports with the exception of Volleyball have ended, many athletes are gearing up for their winter season. 

     This winter, Humboldt and OWL athletes will have the option to participate in girls and boys basketball and wrestling, while the boys swim team will try to match the great season the girls had this fall. Our PI/CI adapted teams will continue to meet virtually. Many athletes are excited about the chance to participate in winter sports, and the Hawks are primed to have competitive seasons with multiple teams. 

PHOTO: Ryan Prisch, and coach Brad Novacheck (Credit: SPPS - Fair Use) 

Girls Basketball Preview

     To begin with, Head coach and Humboldt alum Tyler Chavez returns all but one starter on the girls basketball team. Point guard Ilianese DeLaRosa and shooting guard Makalya Mapp return to headline the Hawks Offense, while Underclassman Jocelyn Mann looks to be the defensive stopper for the team. The Girls earned the number two seed in a competitive section last winter and have high expectations for this upcoming season. 

Boys Basketball Preview

The Boys basketball team had the opposite happen, as almost the entire roster graduated in 2020. With that said, coach Garcia is confident in this season’s group. He returns Leading scorer Brian Williams, and combo Guard Keith Pabon to bring some leadership to the group. In addition, a surprise Senior transfer in Xavier Garcia will help sure up the Hawks line-up, as he was St. Croix Lutheran’s top man last season. Watch for the boys basketball team to put quite a few teams on upset alert this winter. 

Wrestling 

Boys wrestling looks to continue to be a constant St. Paul Powerhouse this winter. Lead by coach Brad Novacheck, the Hawks return a strong roster headlined by three ranked wrestlers in Crown Htoo, Kyaw Htway and Po Si Si. Watch for Senior Pa Ha to possibly fill the shoes of heavyweight graduate Ryan Prisch, a notable graduate for the Hawks. The Hawks wrestlers will call the Open World Learning Campus home for this winter, and have already laid out their mats. Coach Novacheck was eager to move the seemingly heavy mats and get everything set up on Friday. “Nothing sounds more fun to me than hauling mats around on a Friday morning - I could do this all day,” said coach Novacheck. 

Boys Swimming

Boys swimming looks to build off the success that the girls had this fall, with coach Caitlyn Gill leading both squads. While the boys team lacks some of the experience that the girls have, a few swimmers stood out last winter, and look to make a bigger splash this time around. Senior Eh Ler Moo was a first time swimmer last winter, but really took to the sport earning an all-conference honorable mention. He returns alongside team captain Elliot McNally, who was as smooth as could be in the water last season. Watch for these two to have a breakout season this time around. While our PI/CI athletes and coaches are sad that they cannot compete in person this winter, we as a Hawk community are very thankful and proud of coaches Vibar, Bohland and Long for keeping the teams connected digitally. 

Thanks for all that you do!

Humboldt/OWL Athletics Fall 2020 Update (November 2020)

Submitted by John Pucci Humboldt/OWL Athletics Fall 2020

(Photo: Steve Aeilts, 2020)

     St. Paul, Minn...Weeks ago at the start of the season, Coach Damon Liberatore was preaching growth and development throughout the season. He spoke about how each week he hoped his team would elevate their game, and continue to become more and more competitive in the always tough Saint Paul City Conference. It appears they have done just that. Early in the season, the Hawks dropped a match 3-0 to Harding High School; a consistently tough conference opponent. Coach Liberatore continued to find the positives and identify areas of growth within his squad as they geared up for a rematch scheduled for 11/4/20. The Hawks definitely carried themselves with a noticeably different mentality prior to the match. Not only did they want to win, but they felt that they were going to win. 

As the match began, it was clear coach Liberatore had prepared his team with not only the right mentality, but the correct tactics to dominate the match. The Hawks won the first two rounds of the match handily. Stunned, the Knights of Harding High School rallied for a tough third round that could have gone either way, and snuck out a point, but the Hawks remained un-phased. They entered the fourth round with the belief that they would earn that final point and secure the win, and they did just that. In defeating Harding, the Hawks have proven that they can compete with just about everyone in this conference, and finally have the confidence, composure and mentality to do so. Seeing how proud they were after their victory was exciting, but seeing their drive to earn another victory in their next match was inspiring. The Hawks’ next match will be against Johnson on the road on 11/6. 

Goodluck Volleyball!

Football - Fall 2020

   The Hawks football team has shown a lot of development in the past few weeks. While the Hawks dropped a tightly contested match to Harding, and faced likely conference champion Como Park last week, their mentality and goals have not changed. Even Coach Flores, a seasoned Humboldt veteran as both a player and coach is optimistic for the remaining two games of the season; St. Paul Johnson and St. Paul Highland Park. The Hawks face off with Johnson on Friday, 11/6/20. While the Governors of Johnson High School had a strong season in 2019, Coach Flores felt confident in the practices leading up to the game. “they’ve (Johnson) struggled against the same teams we’ve struggled against. I think with the way we’ve been practicing, we stand a good chance of winning”. The Mental toughness that not only Coach Flores, but his assistants which include fellow Humboldt Alum Tyler Chavez is contagious amongst the team. The Hawks’ match against Johnson will be held on 11/6/20 at Harding High School. The match is slated to kick off at 5:00 PM. Best of luck to our Football athletes!

Humboldt's Pucci and Luna named St. Paul City Conference "Coach of the Year"

Source: Matt Osborne - Athletic Director Humboldt High School

Congratulations to John Pucci and Mario Luna for being named St. Paul City Conference Coach of the Year!  John coaches the Humboldt Boys' Soccer team who finished second place in the conference with a 5-1 record and an impressive 7-3-3 overall record. It was a great year for the team and even better to see coach Pucci recognized for all the work he puts in. 

Mario Luna won the Boys Cross Country coach of the year award. He did a great job motivating his team who got faster with each meet. In his first-year coaching, during a pandemic, Coach Luna was able to recruit and maintain more boys than in previous years. 

Go Hawks! 

Prep athletes of the week: St. Paul Humboldt soccer gets winning lift from new-look force

 

By Jim Paulsen Star Tribune

It was difficult for Humboldt coach John Pucci to believe that Oo, whom he coached last year as a sophomore, was the same player who showed up for this season. Oo, a Thai refugee of Karen descent, was 6 inches taller and significantly heavier. Pucci moved him from forward to the center back position, and a potential star was born.

“He’s been lights-out back there, a real force for us,” Pucci said. “He’s probably the best center back in the conference. 

Coaches from other teams are asking about him.”

Read the full article here on the Star Tribune. 

(Photo: Yah Naing Oo, St. Paul Humboldt soccer - Star Tribune)