New coach: It’s a honey of a summer already
With veteran basketball coach Karen Foster now taking the reins of Davis High’s girls varsity program, one thing is certain — it’s going to be a honey of a season.
With spring and summer leagues and tournaments requiring a lot of travel, entry fees and on-the-road food, Foster and her girls were exploring ideas for a unique — and painless — fundraiser.
Candy sales, baked goods and wrapping paper for the holidays seem to have gone the way of the eight-track tape.
Sure, they just finished a traditional — and successful — carwash last weekend. But these are Davis girls. Thinking outside the box is mandatory.
“Actually, the idea came from one of my basketball parents,” Foster explains. “Jeanne Weinstock (mother of Chloe) suggested it.”
Entrepreneurs that they are, the Blue Devils and a committee of parents went shopping for the right stuff. What they’ve come up with is Blue Devil Honey, available in three sizes.
Foster says it’s a fun fundraiser and “our first pour is almost sold out.”
The girls first made a beeline to a local hive-keeper. Then off they went to Mann Lake Wholesale Supplies in Woodland to purchase jars and bottles. Michelle Kim (mother of Daisy) created a catchy label, which was produced en masse at Kinko’s.
Then the players stepped up.
“Several girls from the varsity team came to practice early last week and we poured the honey, sealed the jars and labeled them,” Foster continues. “It was fun and players feel great because they created it.
“We also let the players calculate how much we should sell the honey for … (taking) into consideration all our expenses and then a little profit. Voila! A great product.”
Folks can purchase a 12-ounce, squeezable bottle of honey for $6. One pound costs $8 and two pounds runs $13 in fancy jars.
“I am extremely proud of my players (for) giving this a try and doing all the work,” the coach adds.
But basketball at Davis High hasn’t been all honey and sweetness. Foster has demanded a lot of hard work from the girls in her program — and she thinks it will soon be paying off.
The Devils have been playing since March (Rio Linda Spring League through May) and are practicing three days a week. Davis will be headed to the Chico basketball camp this weekend and has four tournaments scheduled in July.
“We are playing a lot of basketball,” Foster says, adding that Hilary Brittan — a DHS history teacher — remains as the varsity assistant. Kalyca Seabrook, last year’s freshman coach, is helping wherever necessary and is in the running for the JV position vacated by Foster.
Foster hopes to have her three-team coaching staff completed soon.
“We will definitely field three teams this coming fall! We have plenty of players,” Foster continues. “I am very excited to see how things go.”
Notes: With four-year standouts Malika and Khaliya Wilkins headed for San Francisco State and tough-as-nails Sarah Sadler graduated, Foster knows she has some big holes to fill. Kylie Drexel and Danielle Gantar were terrific for Foster at the JV level and are expected to join proven varsity players like Tori Powell, Ashleigh Vandenbrink and Ali Campos next season. … After a 21-7 mark during a tumultuous season (six-year coach Jeff Christian was removed at mid-season), Foster says she’s pleased with what she sees in depth and talent. “I’m looking forward to this summer … and the regular season.”
— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at bgallaudet@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8047.
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=56902
Posted by Jonathan Edwards
on Jun 23 2011.
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