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Holly Franks-Russell made her Centennial High School coaching debut on Tuesday night. Her team made it a match the 28-year old will long remember for more than just that reason, though.

The state-of-the-art facility, built with 2016 Measure K general obligation bond funding, will be available for all KHSD schools to utilize for competitive events.

UPDATE: The Arvin Girls have advanced to the semi-finals where they will take on the no. 1 seeded South El Monte.

UPDATE: The Foothill High School Boys Soccer team beat George Washington Prep in Round I  with a 2-1 win and will advance to the semifinals and take on No. 3 seeded Troy High (Fullerton) on Thursday at 4 p.m.

As specialization has crept into the fabric of American athletics, many athletes simply aren’t playing multiple sports. At North High School, one athlete is going against the grain and proving that an individual can compete in multiple sports and be successful in all of them. Senior, Hailee Sliter is leaving her mark as one of the best athletes in Kern County and in North High’s history as she has competed in 5 varsity sports this year. It no longer is “Bo Knows” - it now is “Hailee Knows”.

So, what is the overall impact of Moises Medrano and Cade Sakamoto on the athletic landscape of Highland High School? “Together, they have been on 10 SEYL Championship teams, have each one a CIF Central Section Valley Championship, and have accounted for some unbelievably memorable moments,” states a proud Athletic Director, Steve Matney, “Through their success they have definitely helped to steer our culture into an expectation of success of our programs. Our athletic teams go out expect to win at almost any contest and these two have been a big part of this across the board.”

A tough opponent is what the Arvin Bears have become. Entering into today’s game against Shafter High School, the Arvin Bears had a 2018 record of 21-5 with a league record of 9-2. “This current team is just a good group of young men that work together and do everything that they can to benefit the team,” states Lopez, “They are a very tight, close knit group, they call each other family and they are constantly picking each other up, even when things aren’t going our way.” However, little did Coach Lopez and his team know that it would be a classic game for the Arvin Bears against the Shafter Generals, truly showing that this is a team and program that needs to be recognized.

For Stockdale High School, two Mustangs have demonstrated what it means to be “Branded by Excellence." Aaliyah Wilson and Sean Mullen have left an incredible mark as Mustangs on athletics in Kern County. They gallop towards the PAC 12 to play in one of the top conferences in collegiate sports with tenacity, determination, mental toughness, and the ability to compete among the best.

In the early 1980s, “Jumpin Joe” Turner established his legacy as one of the top basketball players to ever play in Bakersfield, while helping to build Foothill High School as a basketball power. In 2018, his son Edward “Squid” Turner is creating his own legacy as one of the top basketball talents in Bakersfield while also helping to rebuild Foothill into a basketball power once again.

After earning a medal with her sixth place finish at the CIF State Wrestling Tournament, East Bakersfield High School junior standout, Cynthia Pelayo, is focused and determined win it all this year. Currently 15-0, Pelayo is leaving her legacy on the Blade FAMILY.