East County Sports 08.10.18

AUGUST 10, 2018

E

COUNT T S A Y HHH

SPORTS

HIGH SCHOOL & YOUTH LEAGUES

youth leagues gymnastics

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football cross-country

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Photos by Tony Kukulich

Football Roundup

Cheers And Chants

Jumpin’ Gymnastics

Youth Leagues

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Check out this season’s lineup of BVAL teams.

High school cheer teams take on the competition.

Local studios offer array of classes for all ages, levels.

East County’s assortment of recreation, youth sports, leagues.

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EAST COUNTY SPORTS

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AUGUST 10, 2018

Antioch building off successful 2017 run

Competitive Wolverines welcome early season

MICHAEL DIXON

MICHAEL DIXON

The Antioch football program is looking to build from a successful 2017 season.

A year ago, the Panthers went 6-3 in the regular season then defeated Irvington and Dublin in the North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs before losing an overtime game to Freedom in the NCS semifinals.

While football is perhaps the ultimate team game, one would be hard-pressed to find a player more important to Antioch’s success than senior quarterback Willem Karnthong.

As a junior, Karnthong passed for 1,601 yards and added 13 touchdowns.

He was also one of the most dangerous Panthers on the ground. His 800 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns ranked him second and third on his team a season ago and were the most of any returning Antioch player.

Karnthong will also have 2017’s top target back. As a junior, Gaudie Campbell led Antioch with 36 receptions for 760 yards and 10 touchdowns. Fellow senior receiver Tommy Jenkins Jr. and senior tight end Vincente Ballardo will serve as experienced targets for Karnthong. Jenkins and Ballardo also figure to play prominent

Deer Valley football coach Robert Hubbard saw a lot of progress with his team in 2017.

For the second year in a row, the players earned a team GPA above 3.0. On the field, they competed tough against what was an exceptionally strong Bay Valley Athletic League.

Unfortunately, for the third year in a row, the Wolverines completed their league slate without a win.

While Hubbard expects the same tough competition from the league, he also hopes to see some of those narrow defeats turned into victories.

“I expect the league to be really, really good; I think it’s the best league in Northern California,” Hubbard said. “The league is tough. But we’ve been competing every year and getting better and better. We’ve just got to finish better and some of those close losses become wins.”

Deer Valley’s 2018 squad is young, but the Wolverines are buoyed on the field by a trio of senior three-year starters.

King Matu holds things down on both the offensive and defensive lines. Behind

defensive roles. In 2017, Dalaan Green and Omari Harris filled in competently for superstar Najee Harris. Combined, the two totaled over 1,400 yards on the ground with 22 touchdowns. The graduation of those two means that for the second year in a row, Antioch will have to replace its primary rushers.

In 2018, that burden will likely fall on senior running back Jaysn Wade. In 2018, he rushed for 258 yards, averaging nearly 10 yards a carry. Senior running back Emonie Jenkins and junior receiver Dejuan Butler figure to have bigger roles for the Panthers in 2018.

Antioch will close its regular season slate with games against rivals Deer Valley and Pittsburg. But the Sept. 21 BVAL opener at Freedom will give the Panthers a chance to avenge the playoff defeat from a season ago.

To view Antioch’s schedule, visit www. thepress.net/special/east_county_sports

him will be running back Patrick Robinson and quarterback Joshua Scott.

Scott has started on defense at cornerback since his sophomore year and became the starting quarterback midway through his junior season.

Matu will be joined up front by fellow senior Tobe Vixon as well as juniors Jacob Caguyong and Kobe Decuir.

Hubbard also expects big things in 2018 from Jordan Pringle, a junior linebacker and tight end.

One thing that all teams are dealing with is an earlier beginning to the season.

The year kicks off Aug. 17.

While Hubbard has seen some drawbacks in that – namely with the overall numbers of the program – he’s seen some benefits as well.

“I’m excited; I love football,” he said.

“So the sooner the better, in my eyes.

There are some dynamics with school. But at the same time, you get the cream of the crop – the kids who really want to be there. So, to be honest, it’s just exciting that the football is starting earlier.”

To view Deer Valley’s schedule, visit www. thepress.net/special/east_county_sports

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EAST COUNTY SPORTS

AUGUST 10, 2018

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New head coach plans to Patriots poised to pounce continue Falcons’ success KYLE SZYMANSKI

KYLE SZYMANSKI For the first time in 16 seasons, the Freedom football team won’t be led by head coach Kevin Hartwig.

But the Falcons ought to have plenty of talent to continue their winning ways.

Andrew Cotter takes over the head coaching position with an impressive resume. He played for Hartwig at Liberty High School and went on to rebuild Moreau Catholic into one of the top Catholic school teams in the Bay Area in his 10 seasons at the helm. Moreau won a combined 10 games in six seasons before Cotter’s arrival, but then won 25 in Cotter’s final three seasons alone. He also guided the Mariners to their first 10-win season and first playoff victory.

Now the coach is focused on carrying on Freedom’s longstanding success.

“It’s tough being the guy after the guy, but I love the challenge,” Cotter said. “That was something that was appealing about the job.

It brings another challenge into the fold. I have a great group of coaches that I am real excited about.”

The Falcons, whose 9-3 season in 2017 ended in a 37-0 loss to Liberty in the North

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Coast Section championship game, return allleague players quarterback Joey Aguilar, running back Giles Jackson and wide receiver Mekel Ealy on offense.

R“It’s been a long summer, but we have worked pretty darn hard,” said Cotter.

“We are excited to get this thing going in a couple of weeks.”

Aguilar, Jackson and Ealy will be three core pieces for a quality offense that will feature slot receiver Jaimier Parker and deep threat Kimahni Tolefree.

Roy Lee is also expected to see some time at running back with Jackson likely to play a prominent role in the Falcons’ passing game.

Colby Hunter, Taleni Lepolo, Ryan Fithian and Deric Lapuz will anchor the offensive line, while Lepolo, Jacob Hawkins and Julian Partida will do the same along the defensive line.

All-leaguer Diego Fratus, Brett Bausola, Hunter McAllister and James Dziedzic will all see time at linebacker, and Jeloni Brown, Ziare Williams, Daniel Roanhorse and Lee will roam the secondary.

The Falcons nonleague schedule features five 2017 playoff squads in Turlock, Windsor, California, San Leandro and San Ramon Valley.

To view Freedom’s schedule, visit www. thepress.net/special/east_county_sports

The Heritage football team will enter the season as a young squad looking to prove that it belongs in the deep Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL).

The upstart Patriots graduated 36 seniors from last year’s 7-5 squad, bounced in the second round of the North Coast Section playoffs – but 14 seniors remain to carry the team.

“Honestly, we are going to be young, but we’ll surprise some teams,” said head coach Don Sanders. “We are going to be a hardworking group. I am fairly upbeat about our season.”

Junior Trevor Moorman and sophomore Asher Haynes, both newcomers, are competing for the starting quarterback position. Juniors James McNorton, Kevin Moore and Adam Smith and seniors Christian Borja and Joaquin Gonzalez anticipate being the big boys up front protecting the quarterback and opening holes for a running back by a committee that is expected to include junior Tony Zalec and sophomore Hanai Muhammad, among others.

Whoever ends up as starting quarterback will throw to a wide receiving corps of senior Daniel Simone, Anthony Ford, junior

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Kendrick Shaw, junior James Williams, senior Hunter Dixon, sophomore Brad Ehlen and senior Hayden Goldston.

Meanwhile, McNorton will join senior Gabe Cortez, sophomore Gerrick Dacpano and newcomer Otha Johnson to hold down the defensive line.

Linebackers Jimmy Grossi, a senior, Ehlen and Zalec will bolster the defense.

Sanders said he’s been especially impressed with the team’s work ethic in practice.

“We are grinders, we are workers,” Sanders said. “I think we are viewed as the underdogs, and I think we are going to keep grinding and keep working and keep getting better every day.”

Heritage’s nonleague schedule features a quintet of 2017 playoff teams: San Ramon Valley, Foothill, Kennedy, Amador Valley and California.

“Our preseason and regular season is definitely a challenging one,” said Sanders. “The BVAL is always challenging and, preseason-wise, I have added some quality teams like Cal and Amador, Foothill and SRV. We have our work cut out for ourselves, and we are kind of excited about it.”

To view Heritage’s schedule, visit www. thepress.net/special/east_county_sports

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EAST COUNTY SPORTS

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AUGUST 10, 2018

Lions eyeing state title run

Pirates primed for push to postseason

KYLE SZYMANSKI

MICHAEL DIXON

The Liberty High School football team won its first-ever North Coast Section (NCS) title in 2017.

Now the Lions have set their sights on capturing a state crown in 2018.

Liberty (11-2 last year) returns with a host of talent on both sides of the ball, including seven starters on offense and six on defense, said head coach Ryan Partridge, who guided the Lions to a thrilling 37-0 triumph over rival Freedom in the 2017 NCS title game in his first season.

Highly touted quarterback Jay Butterfield, undefeated in four varsity starts, will guide the offense alongside returning allleaguers – running back Tyerell Sturges-Cofer (1,128 yards last season) and wide receiver Sione Vaki (37 receptions for 809 yards and 12 touchdowns last year).

Junior Peyton Borrelli, who stepped up in the playoffs last year, and relative newcomer senior Thomas Vi will serve as the team’s tight ends.

Returning starters Payton Zdroik (an all-state player), Reese Watkins-Nelson and Josh McKey will anchor the offensive line with Matthew Groover and rising star Akili Calhoun.

Pittsburg’s football program entered 2017 not having won a Bay Valley Athletic League title in two seasons, a long drought for the storied program.

But in 2017, that drought came to an end in emphatic fashion.

The Pirates not only won the league title but also won the D1-A Norcal title and narrowly lost the state championship game to Narbonne.

With many of that team’s top players returning, the 2018 team certainly appears more than qualified for another great run.

Quarterback Justin Boyd had a fantastic year as a junior for the Pirates.

He passed for nearly 2,000 yards with 26 touchdowns against only three interceptions.

With 167 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, Boyd was also his team’s fourth leading rusher.

Pittsburg’s leading rusher from 2017 – senior Premier Murphy – also returns.

He averaged nearly seven yards a carry a season ago, adding six touchdowns in a crowded Pirates’ backfield.

In the passing game, senior Willie Harts III should have a bigger role than he did a

Wide receivers Jordyn Turner – whose stock appears to be rising – Jerrin EasterWilliams, Adrik Lamar and Cody Muth and running backs John Fio, Darrion Bartley and Brenden Bell also figure prominently in the Lions’ plans in what is adding up to be another explosive and talented Liberty team.

Liberty also returns a handful of all-league defensive players in linebackers Nicholas Einess (the 2017 Bay Valley Athletic League defensive player of the year) and Ethan Dumond, defensive lineman Brock Hammer and defensive back Bell.

Borrelli, Zdroik, Watkins-Nelson and Hammer will hold down the defensive line.

Dumond, Einess, Sturges-Cofer and Bartley will serve as linebackers, and Vaki and Bell will anchor the safety position. Fio is expected to serve as one corner, but a battle is on to fill the remaining corner position, Partridge said.

The Lions’ preseason schedule includes quality squads in Vacaville, Gilroy, McClymonds, Rocklin and Cardinal Newman.

To view Liberty’s schedule, visit www. thepress.net/special/east_county_sports

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season ago. As a junior, Harts caught 19 passes for 342 yards with seven touchdowns.

He is his team’s leading returning receiver.

On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburg should be as tough as always.

Senior linebacker Jack Lacy III returns for Pittsburg.

Defensive tackle Jacob Bandes figures to wreck the interior lines of the Pirates’ opponents again. As a junior, he recorded 50 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.

In addition to being one of the area’s top receivers, Harts is also one of its best defensive backs, leading a loaded secondary.

The Pirates have nonleague games scheduled against perennial Northern California powers Clayton Valley, St. Mary’s, Serra and Vacaville with another trip to Southern California against Centennial in the middle.

To view Pittsburg’s schedule, visit www. thepress.net/special/east_county_sports

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LUHSD cheer teams ready for winning year KYLE SZYMANSKI

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Liberty, Freedom and Heritage cheerleaders, seen here together at the USA Cheer and Dance Nationals last year, are excited for the upcoming school year. Heritage plans to field traditional competitive, stunt and sideline cheer teams, while Liberty and Freedom will go with stunt and sideline squads.

s the Liberty, Freedom and Heritage football teams gear up for another exciting

season, the school’s cheer teams are also prepping to root for their gridiron companions, excite fans and win awards.

Heritage The Patriots are expected to roll out sideline, traditional competitive cheer and stunt cheer teams this season. Heritage’s sideline and competitive cheer teams, which are mostly comprised of the same 30 girls, will cheer on their classmates while refining their routines in hopes of shining at both the USA Nationals in Anaheim and the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Florida.

“The school and representing the school are the most important things on the sidelines and doing sideline cheer, but we are very happy with how we have done our (traditional competitive cheer) performance in the past, and we don’t want to go backward,” said head coach Tatum Garcia. “We are continuing the program, and we get stronger every year.”

The Patriots finished second in the super varsity show cheer advanced division and 11th out of 52 teams in the group stunt

Press file photo

advanced division in Anaheim last year. The squad also narrowly missed reaching the finals at the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando.

“I know, based on our scores, we would have been in there (in Orlando), but we had a penalty because of an injury,” Garcia said. “If our scores were high enough last year, then we should be good this year.”

Early on, Garcia said the team’s future looks bright with a lot of new additions, which include several talented flyers.

Freedom The sky is the limit for the Freedom cheer

teams this season after a historic campaign in 2017.

The Falcons stunt cheer team finished its inaugural season with a perfect 9-0 record, which included winning the Bay Valley Athletic League and the North Coast Section (NCS) titles.

Freedom’s traditional competitive cheer team also finished second out of 52 teams in the group stunt advanced division and second in the large varsity show cheer advanced division at the USA Cheer and Dance Nationals in Anaheim.

This year, Freedom has opted to field only sideline and stunt teams since the competitive cheer and stunt cheer seasons

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“We owe our success last year to stunt,” said head coach Sandra Torres. “The girls absolutely fell in love with the sport and, overwhelmingly, just decided last year, along with the coaches, that there was no way they wanted to start late – no way we wanted to be behind.”

The Falcons expect to field about 30 members on the varsity sideline cheer team and hope to expand the stunt team from 18 to about 30 in the spring.

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EAST COUNTY SPORTS

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AUGUST 10, 2018

Gymnastics options abound in East County We like to build the child as a whole, not just their sports skills and athletic ability.

We want to build their confidence and everything else that goes into making the whole child, connecting with the kids in a positive way.

DAWNMARIE FEHR

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ymnastics is a sport that requires strength, agility and mental discipline.

Many parents put their children in gymnastics to see them develop in the sport and in their personal lives as well. When looking for a gym, whether the goal is to make the Olympics or just try a new skill, East County parents need look no farther than their own neighborhoods.

Located in Brentwood, Black Diamond Kids Center is one of the largest gyms in the area, offering gymnastics, dance, cheer and Ninja Zone classes. Students can choose recreational level classes, or they can push their abilities with private lessons and competitive level teams.

Brittney Rhoads, Black Diamond assistant site leader, said the gym’s goal is to train the whole child, not just the gymnast.

“We like to build the child as a whole, not just their sports skills and athletic ability,” she said. “We want to build their confidence and everything else that goes into making the whole child, connecting with the kids in a positive way.”

Katie MacDonald’s daughters have been part of Black Diamond’s competitive gymnastics program for over six years, and she couldn’t be happier with the results.

“The competitive team teaches your girls not only gymnastics but valuable life skills they’re able to take outside of the gym and apply to everyday life,” MacDonald said.

“The staff are kind and skilled and make all the kids feel welcome and encouraged.”

Also in Brentwood is The Little Gym. Owned and operated by Jim Lark, The

– Brittney Rhoads, Photo courtesy Shaun Samuels Photography

The Little Gym, located in Brentwood, specializes in enrichment and gymnastics programs for children 4 months to 12 years.

Little Gym specializes in enrichment and gymnastics programs for children 4 months to 12 years. Lark is a firm believer in learning through play, and his location focuses on what he calls ‘serious fun.’

“The Little Gym has been around for 40 years, and the curriculum, in my opinion, is the best enrichment program out there designed to develop social, cognitive and physical skills,” Lark said.

While The Little Gym does not offer a competitive level of gymnastics, the instructors teach the same foundational skills that can be learned at a competitive gym.

Shawna Kurz loves The Little Gym and its fun learning environment.

“Our favorite gymnastics place is The

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EAST COUNTY SPORTS

AUGUST 10, 2018

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Your guide to East County activities SOCCER

Biddy Sports 925-522-9284 julie@biddysports.com Delta Youth Soccer League P.O. Box 2085, Antioch 925-978-5020 AJAX East Bay www.ajaxeastbaysc.com Impact Soccer Club 415 Beatrice Court, D, Brentwood 925-516-8260 West Coast Soccer Club West Coast Office 320 W. Larch Road, Suite 11, Tracy 202-229-1095 www.westcoastsoccerclub.com Diablo Futbol Club P.O. Box 97, Clayton 925-779-2102 www.diablofc.org BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL NorCal Shockers Softball www.norcalshockers.org Knights Baseball Club 3501 Byer Road, Byron 925-354-1200 Team Combat nils_805@yahoo.com debbigalvan@yahoo.net L4 Baseball P.O. Box 155, Brentwood 1550 Auto Center Drive Antioch communications@L4baseball.org Perks Sports Academy 3500 A Wilbur Ave., Antioch 925-480-7375 www.perkssportsacademy.com

Delta Dawgs www.ddbaseball.com

Delta Baseball and Softball P.O. Box 3883, Antioch contactus@deltabaseballleague.com Brentwood Pony League 415 Beatrice Court, Suite C Brentwood www.bpbl.org East County Little League Laurel Ball Fields, Oakley info@eastcountyll.org www.eastcountyll.org FOOTBALL East County Youth Football and Cheer 925-625-1698 www.ecyflions.com Brentwood Oakley Falcons Football and Cheer Freedom High School 925-679-5303 falcons.president@live.com www.boffc.com Delta Patriots Football and Cheer 1145 Second St., #A322, Brentwood deltapatriots@deltapatriots.com www.deltapatriots.com WRESTLING Ironhouse Wrestling Club 1050 Neroly Road, Oakley 850 Second St., Brentwood www.ironhousewrestling.com Delta Wrestling Club 140 Birch St., Brentwood 925-234-5730, 925-522-6813 ktcftp@gmail.com dcalkins@yahoo.com tiffanyd703@gmail.com

Wildcats Wrestling Antioch High School wildcatswrestling47@yahoo.com

510-304-7213 info@teamdumdumaya.com www.teamdumdumaya.com

MARTIAL ARTS

Tosh’s Academy of Shorin-Ryu Karate 3850 Balfour Road, Brentwood 925-626-7785 www.shorin-ryu.biz

Crosley Gracie Jiu Jitsu 3291 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood 925-634-6958 www.crosleygracie.com

Max Martial Arts 50 Sand Creek Road, Brentwood 925-354-3758 info@maxmartialarts.net www.maxmartialarts.net

Keep in Time Dance Academy 5351 Neroly Road, Unit B, Oakley www.keepintimedance.com 925-732-3456 BOWLING Harvest Park Bowl 5000 Balfour Road, Brentwood 925-516-1221 www.harvestparkbowl.com

Verrett’s Karate Kempo 4501 O’Hara Ave., Brentwood 925-550-7696 www.verretts.com

BASKETBALL East Diablo CYO 4505 Discovery Place Discovery Bay info@eastdiablocyo.com www.eastdiablocyo.com

American Karate 8650 Brentwood Blvd.

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Battlefit Gym 161 Sand Creek Road, Suite B Brentwood 925-634-2691 www.battlefitgym.com

Black Diamond Kids Center 2015 Elkins Way, Brentwood 925-516-6619 www.blackdiamondkidscenter.com

East County Performing Arts 3901 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood 925-240-5556 studiomanager@sbcglobal.net

Saint Anthony CYO 971 O’Hara Ave., Oakley saintanthonycyo@yahoo.com www.saintanthonycyo.org CYCLING

Expressions Dance Academy 640 Harvest Park Drive, Brentwood 925-634-3339 www.expressionsdanceacademy.com

Big Break Jiu Jitsu 2105 Main St., Oakley info@bigbreakbjj.com www.bigbreakbjj.com

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Step 2 This Dance and Performing Arts 1530 Neroly Road, Suite B Brentwood 925-625-4699 step2thisarts@gmail.com www.step2thisdance.com

Twin Tiger’s Academy of Self Defense 700 Harvest Park Drive, Brentwood 925-513-7591 bear@twintigersacademy.com www.twintigersacademy.com

Guila’s Hawaiian Kajukenbo-Kickboxing 4389 Hillcrest Ave., Antioch 925-755-3434 www.guilakarate.com

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Delta Valley Velo 925-382-4662 www.deltavalleyvelo.com

Fabulous Feet Dance & Athletics 80 Eagle Rock Way, Brentwood 925-634-4399 www.fabulousfeetdanceandathletics. com

Oakley American Karate 1625 Main St., Oakley 925-679-3368 Ricardo Barros Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 6730 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood 925-240-7091, jiujitsu@rbbjj.com www.rbbjj.com

Red Door Dance Studio 817 First St. Brentwood 925-516-3667 www.reddoordance.com

Team Dumdumaya Jiu-Jitsu 3460 Main St., Oakley

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Runners ready for season

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hile many flock inside during the heat of summer in East County,

Bay Valley Athletic League crosscountry teams will soon embrace the warm weather with the season right around the corner.

The Heritage, Liberty and Freedom boys’ and girls’ squads will all figure prominently in the battle for league and state supremacy.

ON THE COVER: Freedom cheerleader Maribel Sanchez (left), Heritage crosscountry runner Robert Miller (top) and Liberty football player John Fio will be three of many high school and youth athletes participating in sports this fall.

Photos by Tony Kukulich

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The Heritage boys’ team and Liberty girls’ squad shined last season in the league championship at Contra Loma, while the Freedom girls’ squad also factored into the results. All three schools had representatives in the North Coast Section and state championship meets as well.

“All the varsity runners and even some of the other ones have been working out all summer,” said first-year Heritage head coach Robert Miller about his squad.

Teams are hard at work finalizing rosters, schedules and other plans for what will be another close battle in the Bay Valley Athletic League.

“Every year is a new year,” Miller said.

“You can’t really say you are going to dominate, because you never know who is going to come up.”

All Bay Valley Athletic League teams are expected to begin official practice in the coming days with meets soon to follow.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net/ special/east_county_sports

to ramp up both school and community spirit for the school’s athletic teams.

In the spring, the team will shift to the stunt cheer season, during which time it hopes to compete in a greater number of competitions after participating only in league events last season due to the overlapping competitive cheer season. “(The stunt cheer season) was really exciting,” Torres said. “The girls can’t wait to do it again. There was so much mat time, so much excitement in the sport and so many great opportunities to be had. We had college recruiters reaching out to us, which in 22 years of traditional competitive cheer has never happened.”

Liberty Liberty will feature only sideline and stunt cheer teams this season, but this leaves plenty of traditional competitive cheer success in its wake.

The Liberty traditional competitive cheer team won the small varsity show cheer intermediate division and finished

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sixth in the intermediate stunt division last year at the USA Nationals and also had a successful stunt season.

This season, the Lions will field about 22 varsity sideline cheerleaders, whose first job will entail rooting for the reigning NCS Division I championship football team.

“We are really excited to cheer for our football team, because they won NCS last year,” said head coach Wendy Gilfoy. “From what I understand, they will be really good again this year.”

Like Freedom, Liberty also expects to increase the size of their stunt cheer team in the spring as well as its participation in nonleague competitions.

“We are really excited about the stunt season,” said Gilfoy. “We think we did really well last year. Now that we understand the dynamics of the sport, having gone through it in the first year, I think we have generated a lot more excitement from the athletes and the student population as to what it is about.”

To comment, visit www.thepress.net/ special/east_county_sports

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Smile of the Week

aitlin H. attends Antioch High School and plays soccer. When she grows up, she wants to be a Toys R Us Kid! She sends her thanks to Brentwood Orthodontics for her wonderful new smile.

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