The quest for CIF gold continues for a number of Crawford High School winter sports teams this season.
With the season moving along for the Colts, College Times Courier recently caught up with the respective varsity head coaches at El Cerrito school.
On the wrestling mat, head coach Lorenzo Ramos is in his third year at the helm of the Colts. 
“When I started here we had between six and eight wrestlers and now we have 70,” stated Ramos.
A season ago, the Colts had three kids place in CIF, going first, second and fifth, respectively. Crawford also had a pair of first-year wrestlers reach the California Masters. Finally, the program also had its first state placer.
According to Ramos, some key wrestlers this season are looking to include a senior captain Abubakar Zimbo. At last check, Zimbo was undefeated on the season.
Ramos noted that junior Su Reh has been competing against CIF, masters, and state wrestlers and has defeated many of them.
Fellow junior Christopher Salas fought heavier kids and won. According to Ramos, Salas is a favorite in CIFs in his weight class.
Sophomore Phillip Huynh jumped up two weight classes to help fill out the roster, while senior Edwin Aguilar is reportedly favored to go all the way to states.
“We want to take CIF this year and bring Crawford her first ever CIF wrestling banner,” Ramos added.
* In boys soccer action, head coach Humphrey Mahowa leads the Colts into action this winter after a Division IV championship a season ago. The Colts made it to the CIF semifinals and were league champions and undefeated winners of the Grossmont Tournament. League play for Crawford will begin on January 10th. 
Heading into this season, Mahowa noted that he will look to key players including junior forward Christian Quezada (CIF Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season), senior forward Jamesley Exantus, junior forward Samuel Ruiz, sophomore forward Kervens Chery, junior midfielder Michael Masimango, junior defender Alan Fierros, junior midfielder Abdullahi Sharif, senior defender Hamad Sharif and senior defender Haji Musa.
“Our goals this season are to demonstrate the attributes of the best student-athletes by achieving a team GPA of 3.25 or higher, an emphasis on sportsmanship in respecting opponents and officials, and hard work tough,” commented Mahowa. As Mahowa sees it, “There is no substitute for hard work. The best athletes in the world are the hardest workers. Talent is not enough.”
* In girls soccer games, Crawford went 1-9 last season.
Under head coach Ray Parris, the Lady Colts battled through many injuries last season, which had an impact as they lost key players in a number of games.
Things look brighter this season as the team started 3-2.
“We have been working hard during this year as most of the players commit to summer practices,” said Parris. 
Parris added some key players who helped the team develop include Valeria Alvarado, Kimberly Gonzalez, Kimberly Haro, Mwamini Shabani and Maua Mloko.
“Some quotes we have set up for this season are ‘The word CANNOT be used on the field.’ Also, we have the girls working on patience because they get really anxious during practice and games,” noted Parris.
* In girls basketball action, coach Linette Fort’s team entered play last week with a 4-8 mark.
“We are playing higher divisions to prepare us for our league schedule,” Fort pointed out. “We made it to the playoff this season and we were eliminated in the first round against a great GraniteHills. The season before last we were number two in the champstal co-league. We also ended up placing one division from Division V to Division IV”[alnag[all-playoffl-ista;unlig[addaimmakonnaeliminatifl-ewwelrawndkontratimkbirta’GraniteHillsL-istaġunta’qabell-aħħarkonnan-numrutnejnuchampstal-ko-leagueSpiċċajnawkolltpoġġietdiviżjoniwaħdaminnDiviżjoniVgħalDiviżjoniIV”
According to Fort, some key players for the Lady Colts this season they include two brothers. 
Fardawsa Abdi is a senior shooting guard and sophomore Fatuma Abdi plays forward and guard.
“They are both great shooters and really set the pace for the team,” commented Fort. “With the addition of my great defender Ana Maria and Blossom Bess our record should change for the better.”
Fort added that she is trying to help the team understand that they need to play team basketball.
“We can’t win without sharing the ball,” added Fort. “But win or lose, always play with respect and integrity on the court.”
* In boys basketball play, the Colts under head coach Ed Baskin entered action last week with a 3-7 record in Division III. 
A season ago, Crawford went 17-9 and was a CIF semifinalist and Central League (Division IV) co-champs. The previous season, the Colts were 13-8 and CIF Division V champions.
In June 2022, the team was devastated by the death of senior Woodlain Zachee (pictured left).
Zachee drowned at Mission Beach while celebrating his graduation with friends. Two of Zachee’s friends with him in the ocean at the time were saved but Zachee never resurfaced after being caught in a rip current.
Baskin noted that some key players this season include senior power forward Hasani Battle and sophomore shooting guard Tico Kirk-Patrick.
“After the death of our star player (Woodlain Zachee) after last season, the goal of our ‘life’ is to always be where you are supposed to be,” said Baskin. “Your true character always shows when faced with adversity. Defense requires effort, playing time is measured by defense.”
Editor’s note: Girls basketball photos courtesy of Daunte Rogers – instagram.com/piecebypmedia/
