Cal Sports Quarterly - Fall 2010 by Cal Media Relations

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CONTENTS

SPORTS

on the cover

QUARTERLY

Strong Foundation

Senior linebacker Mike Mohamed spent the majority of the summer in Berkeley, taking classes and busily preparing for the 2010 football season. And in late July, just before his final training camp began, he joined his family at a rented house in the Mission Beach area of San Diego for an annual get-together with his parents and five younger sisters.

fall 2010 FEATURES

Lucky Number 13

Old Family Recipe

For many, the number 13 conjures images of black cats, full moons and bad luck, but for Alex Morgan, it represents an opportunity and a goal she’s pursued since playing age-group soccer. Morgan chose the superstitious numeral in honor of longtime USA star Kristine Lilly, and now, some 11 years later, she is on the same senior squad with her childhood heroine.

Cal volleyball junior Tarah Murrey’s support base has the strikingly rustic flavor of an old family recipe. Her story is steeped in special ingredients, and its product evokes a lasting impression. While it may be easy to credit her athletic talents to her genes, she believes whatever talent she has acquired comes from the life lessons her family has taught her.

Featured Spieker

Major Accomplishment

Cal will host the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Tournament for the first time Dec. 4-5, putting the championship in a pool that has produced more collegiate water polo crowns than any in history. The Bears have captured the title 13 times, and Spieker Aquatics Complex will move to center stage when Cal hopes to compete for championship No. 14 in Berkeley.

Bedrock for the Bears

Fred De Grosz’s support for Cal – from the Athletic Department to the business school – will never slow down. In addition to his numerous donations to buoy both the men’s basketball and football programs, his commitment to the Endowment Seat Program ensures that he and his family will continue to enjoy the Blue and Gold for generations to come.

Soccer has lifted Hector Jimenez to new heights throughout his life, and his time at Cal is no exception. The midfielder has developed into one of the top playmakers in program history, and at the end of the fall term, the fifth-year senior will become the first member of his family to graduate from college.

DEPARTMENTS LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS....................... 2 SIDELINE REPORT.................................... 4 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?...................... 16 FALL SEASON PREVIEWS...................... 18 ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT..................... 20 ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.................... 34 HOME EVENTS CALENDAR................... 36

FALL 2010

LETTER

from

Director

Athletics Sandy Barbour

Dear Friend of Cal Athletics:

ach fall, I seem to begin my Cal Sports Quarterly letter by expressing my excitement over our students returning to campus and the fall seasons getting underway. However, this year, my enthusiasm for the coming year is heightened as we see the StudentAthlete High Performance Center and the renovation of California Memorial Stadium taking shape, with each day representing a step closer to their realization.

We have talked about both of these projects for a long time. Well, the time for mere talk is past. These ventures will change the way that Cal Athletics functions, not only from an operational standpoint, but also by creating an endowment that will support our long-term financial sustainability. Once completed, our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans will be able to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities that will enhance the overarching Golden Bear experience. Whenever I head up to Strawberry Canyon, I can’t help but be impressed by the tremendous progress being made. Already, workers are busy adding drywall and utilities to the interior of the SAHPC and installing landscaping around the perimeter. Although we still have almost a year until the High Performance Center opens – and, of course, until 2012 for the stadium to be ready – the anticipation continues to build. California Memorial Stadium has generated so many wonderful memories over its 87year lifespan. The construction team got a head start over the summer, with major restoration efforts set to begin soon after the final home football game against Washington on Nov. 27. I am so proud of all of those who have worked hard for us to reach this moment! The incredible outpouring of support for both of these endeavors will benefit generations of Golden Bears. Through the Endowment Seating Program, which so many of our loyal supporters have supported, Cal Athletics will secure its financial future. Your generosity enables us to provide a first-class academic and athletic experience for our studentathletes and, with the development of the High Performance Initiative, become a model program on the national level. My sincere thanks go out to each and every one of you who have helped make these transformational projects a reality. Many of you have heard me say that I have never before in 30 years in intercollegiate athletics been involved with a project that has evoked such passion, commitment and energy. It is a great testement to the determination and resiliancy of Golden Bears throughout the world. Now let’s go have our best year ever! Go Bears!

Sandy Barbour

ISSUE 33 - FALL 2010 ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS: Sandy Barbour DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS: Steve Holton DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/SWA: Teresa Kuehn Gould SENIOR ASSOCIATE AD/ INTERCOLLEGIATE SERVICES: Foti Mellis HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR: Keith Power EDITORIAL STAFF 349 Haas Pavilion Berkeley, CA 94720 EDITOR: Herb Benenson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Scott Ball, Dean Caparaz, Melissa Dudek, Anton Malko, Kyle McRae, Tim Miguel, Anna Oleson-Wheeler, Jeremy Wu DESIGN: Evan Kerr PHOTOGRAPHY: John Todd (goldenbearsports.com), Michael Pimentel, Kelley Cox, Richard Ersted, Michael Burns, Nikan Robinson, John Dunbar, Evan Kerr, Mollie McClure and Tim Binning (TheSwim Pictures.com), among others ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 195 Haas Pavilion Berkeley, CA 94720 510-642-2427 bearback@berkeley.edu ATHLETIC TICKET OFFICE (800) GO BEARS For daily updates on Cal Athletics, including schedules, press releases and player profiles, visit the department’s official website at CalBears.com. ON THE COVER Senior linebacker Mike Mohamed, the leading returning tackler in the Pac-10, leads a hardhitting Cal defense in 2010. Photo by John Todd (goldenbearsports.com).

Director of Athletics General Manager: Damon Dukakis (510) 643-4825 ddukakis@ispsports.com

cal sports quarterly

SIDELINE REPORT What to Watch for at Memorial Stadium This Fall

hen Golden Bear fans arrive on campus for football games this season, progress on both the Student-Athlete High Performance Center and Memorial Stadium construction projects will be readily evident. The timeline to complete the SAHPC is well past the midway point, with opening expected for fall of 2011. Fans will also notice the large temporary braces supporting the west wall of the stadium, as well as the demolition of the interior offices and Hall of Fame Room that have greatly increased the size of the concourse. For the most part, fans will enter and exit the stadium in a similar fashion to 2009. As was the case last season, a three-color diagram of Memorial Stadium has been created to help fans find their correct gate. Patrons are requested to enter and exit through the gates that correspond with their section color. To assist in the process, the recommended gate will be printed on each ticket. In addition to having maps posted

A corridor atop the Student-Athlete High Performance Center provides fans with access from north to south on the west side of Memorial Stadium.

around the outside of the stadium, Athletic Department representatives will be stationed around campus on gamedays to provide directions, distribute maps and answer any questions. One of the most significant improvements for 2010 will be evident just outside the west side of Memorial Stadium where fans will be able to access portions of the roof of the SAHPC to reach their sections, with a continuous path from north

to south. Last year, elevated walkways above the construction zone offered limited means to walk along the side of the stadium and did not provide a clear route from one end of Memorial Stadium to the other. Once the SAHPC is complete, the entire roof of the facility will serve as a gameday plaza. For more information on Memorial Stadium access, please visit CalBears.com/ gameday.

Cal Fans to Enjoy Increased Coverage of Golden Bears on Radio, TV

olden Bear fans will be able to enjoy enhanced coverage of their favorite teams through an expanded array of programming beginning this fall on the Cal/ISP Sports Radio Network, which includes a renewal of Cal football games on KGO Radio (810 AM), a move for men’s basketball to KNEW Radio (910 AM) and the first-ever commercial broadcasts for women’s basketball on KKGN (960 AM).

Bears

on the

panded hour-long pregame show that will include interviews with head coach Jeff Tedford, Cal players and special guests. During home football Saturdays, the first 30 minutes will be broadcast live from FunZone on Maxwell Family Field. Joe Starkey and Troy Taylor will once again call the action from the booth, with Todd McKim providing reports from the sidelines. After the game, Cal’s Postgame at the

During the fall, segments will include appearances by Tedford and selected Golden Bears players on a weekly basis, as well as regular interviews with assistant football coaches, head coaches and student-athletes from many of Cal’s other sports, Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour, Cal alumni and more. Beginning in December, the focus will shift to Mike Montgomery and Joanne Boyle and their basketball programs. On television, the Cal Sports Report re-

Air

Cal Football flagship............................................KGO Radio (810 AM) Cal Men’s Basketball flagship...........................KNEW Radio (910 AM) Cal Women’s Basketball................................... KKGN Radio (960 AM) Cal Coaches Corner (Mondays, 6 p.m.)...........KNEW Radio (910 AM) Cal Sports Report (Wednesdays, 5 p.m.*).....................CSN California *Check local listings in case preempted by live programming

In addition, the Cal Coaches Corner, a new one-hour show devoted to Cal sports, will air weekly on KNEW Radio, running from 6-7 p.m. on Mondays, starting Aug. 30. Football broadcasts will begin 30 minutes earlier than past seasons with an ex4

cal sports quarterly

Paragon – held at the Claremont Hotel Club and Spa in Berkeley – returns with hosts Kate Scott and Lee Grosscup. The Cal Coaches Corner on KNEW Radio (910 AM) will also air live from the Paragon, with McKim serving as host.

turns to CSN California and will air each week from 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday except when preempted by live sporting events. Be sure to check local listings each week for the exact time to catch the Golden Bear features program in your area.

Single-Game Football Tickets on Sale Now

ingle-game tickets for all 2010 Cal football games are on sale now through the tickets link at CalBears.com or by calling (800) GO BEARS. Don’t miss your chance to see the Golden Bears in action in the final year of California Memorial Stadium before renovation.

Upcoming Football Game Promotions Opening Day

Sept. 4............................. UC Davis

Spirit of America Day

Sept. 11....................... Colorado

Homecoming

Oct. 9...................................... UCLA

Hall of Fame Recognition

Oct. 23.................Arizona State

Academic Recognition

Nov. 13............................. Oregon

Cal Basketball Season is Near

s the Golden Bear basketball squads prepare for the 2010-11 season, it’s time to start thinking about tickets for the upcoming year. Season tickets are on sale now for both the men’s and women’s teams and feature great amenities, including postseason ticket priority, early access to single-game tickets, options to purchase parking and more! The defending Pac-10 champion Cal men welcome a recruiting class that has been ranked among the top 25 in the country

2010-10 Golden Bear Home Basketball Schedules Men

113th Big Game

Nov. 20......................... Stanford

Senior Day

Nov. 27.................... Washington

Football Alumni Tailgates Back for 2010

alling all California alumni football players! All former Golden Bear gridiron players are invited to the second annual Alumni Football Tailgate parties before each home game this season. They will be held at Minor Plaza at the School of Optometry, just a short walk from Memorial Stadium, and start two hours before kickoff. The tailgates provide a great opportunity for Cal football alumni to re-establish and maintain relationships developed through long hours spent together in practice, games and class. Complimentary appetizers and refreshments will be served. Contact Jennifer Lovewell in the Development Office at (510) 643-7246 or jlovewell@berkeley.edu with any questions about the events.

and features a non-conference home schedule highlighted by visits by national powers Kansas and New Mexico. The Golden Bears, who captured the 2010 National Women’s Invitation Tournament title, host the annual Colliers International Classic in late November and open Pac-10 action vs. Stanford Jan. 2. For more information, visit CalBears. com or call (800) GO BEARS. Complete schedules for both teams can also be found on CalBears.com.

Women

Nov. 10............... Sonoma State (exh.) Nov. 16............... Cal State Northridge Nov. 20............................. New Mexico Dec. 1.................................... UC Davis Dec. 8.........................San Diego State Dec. 12..............Southern Mississippi Dec. 18....................................Cal Poly Dec. 22..................................... Kansas Dec. 28....................................Hartford Jan. 13.....................Washington State Jan. 16.............................. Washington Jan. 27............................ Oregon State Jan. 29...................................... Oregon Feb. 3............................. Arizona State Feb. 5.......................................Arizona Feb. 17.......................................... USC Feb. 20........................................ UCLA March 5.................................. Stanford

Games

are

More Fun

Nov. 4......................... Vanguard (exh.) Nov. 14.............................Saint Mary’s Nov. 23...........................................Yale Nov. 27-28................................Colliers International Classic (Cal, Fullerton, Tulane, Portland St.) Dec. 11........................Long Beach St. Jan. 2...................................... Stanford Jan. 6.............................. Arizona State Jan. 8........................................Arizona Jan. 20......................................... UCLA Jan. 22........................................... USC Feb. 10............................. Washington Feb. 12....................Washington State Feb. 24..................................... Oregon Feb. 26........................... Oregon State

with a

ring your group of Cal fans out to Memorial Stadium or Haas Pavilion for exciting college football, basketball and volleyball action! A Cal sporting event is a great place to host birthday parties, alumni or family reunions, and business retreats. Group tickets are also a fun way to entertain clients or reward employees for their hard work. For more information on Cal’s group tickets program, contact Kevin Holman at (510) 642-8131 or ticketsales@berkeley.edu.

Group

FALL 2010 Fall

Bears Celebrate National Championship Week Sept. 7-11

al Athletics perpetuated its storied tradition of national champions during 2009-10 as Golden Bear studentathletes brought home a national team title in rugby, while men’s swimming won an unprecedented four NCAA relay titles and the men’s varsity 8 captured the IRA crown. Individually, Cal continued to make waves in the pool as standouts Nathan Adrian, Damir Dugonjic, Liv Jensen and Tom Shields all added to the Bears’ legacy of swimming champions. Cal has now had at least one national champion in 75 of the past 90 years, including every season since the 1973 Bears won the NCAA men’s water polo title, making it 37 straight years of athletic excellence in Berkeley. To properly honor the accomplishments of these exceptional student-athletes and their coaches, the Cal Athletic Department will be celebrating the school’s fifth annual National Championship Week, Sept. 6-11.

“In collegiate athletics, a national championship is the ultimate accomplishment and comes as a result of years of hard work, determination and perseverance,” said Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour. “Establishing a National Championship Week has been our way of publicly recognizing these tremendous achievements and formally offering our congratulations to the student-athletes, coaches and support staff that helped make a dream of a national championship become a reality.” Events during National Championship Week include the unveiling of a dedicated display case in Haas Pavilion and a Chancellor’s reception at University House. The week culminates with the introduction of the national champions during Cal’s Sept. 11 football game vs. Colorado.

New-Look CalBears.com Offers More Features

alBears.com, the official website for Cal Athletics, underwent a major overhaul during the summer and re-launched as a more streamlined and an interactive site to follow the Golden Bears.

cal sports quarterly

Among the many new elements now online are: • Increased video profiles and features • CalBears.com Blog for up-to-date news on the Bears • Easy access to Cal social media pages, such as Twitter and Facebook • Direct links to merchandise, tickets, schedules and Bear Backers • Devoted pages to the Student-Athlete High Performance Center and Memorial Stadium construction projects, including live web cams • Reorganization of links to make the site easier to navigate We hope that you enjoy the new look and use CalBears.com as the best source for information about the Golden Bears.

Rugby celebrates its national title (left); Liv Jensen won the NCAA 50 freestyle (top); Cal’s 400 free relay champs (middle); the men’s varsity 8 claimed the 2010 IRA crown (bottom).

Dave Rosselli Accepts Position at Pacific

ave Rosselli, Cal’s associate athletic director for development who has worked at the University since 2004, has resigned his position to return to his alma mater, the University of Dave Roselli the Pacific, as assistant dean for development, effective Sept. 7. “Although it is extremely difficult to leave my staff and close friends at Cal, I am confident that I leave the development operation in great shape and the Endowment Seating Program well on its way towards completion,” Rosselli said. “I would like to thank Athletic Director Sandy Barbour for giving me this exciting opportunity to work closely with her on this transformational project and incredible career journey. I will always feel part of the Cal family.” Rosselli, who will be based at Pacific’s Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, previously spent eight years at UOP as director of development for the Schools of Engineering and Business in the 1990s. A search for his replacement at Cal is currently underway.

Strong

FEATURE

Foundation Mike Mohamed Remains Close to His Parents, Five Sisters

By Kyle McRae

ifth-year senior linebacker and preseason All-American Mike Mohamed spent the majority of the summer in Berkeley, taking classes and busily preparing for the 2010 football season.

But in late July, just before his final Cal football training camp began, he joined his family at a rented house in the Mission Beach area of San Diego. Although he could only stay for a weekend, he wasn’t going to miss a family tradition that’s been going on for more than a decade … even if it did include a trip to the local salon for a pedicure. That’s what can happen when you grow up in a family with six women. “My dad started getting pedicures with my mom and I was like ‘hey, I’ll do it, sounds good,’” said Mohamed, whose family includes five younger sisters plus his mother and father. “It’s kind of like a foot massage. As long as you don’t put anything on your nails, there’s nothing wrong with a guy doing it.” Getting pedicures is certainly not the only thing that Mike and his father, affectionately known as Big Mike, have done together. “My dad and I formed a strong bond being the only guys in the house,” said Mohamed. “We did everything together – sports, video games, watching football, all those kinds of things – because it was just

cal sports quarterly

me and him. We had to bond being surrounded by so many different girls. “Since I’ve been in college, he’s kind of been left to face all of them on his own,” he added with a smile on his face. Big Mike doesn’t seem to mind too much. “I grew up with a bunch of boys,” said the elder Mohamed, who owns a farming business with his two brothers. “I have had to change the way I think. When you grow up in a house with a bunch of men, it’s a lot different than growing up in a house full of women. You can’t treat women like you treat men and Mikey is very aware of that. He’s very respectful of other people, and I think his mother and sisters played a big part in that.” All joking aside, the eight members of the Mohamed household have always enjoyed each other’s company and love their annual beach get together. “It’s awesome, just hanging out at the beach,” said Mohamed. “With four of us now in college, there are not too many times we all get to be together.” “We really enjoying being together,” added his mother, Molly. “We say we’re just ‘beaching it.’”

The entire Mohamed clan: Mike, his parents (center) and his five sisters.

“My parents are the foundation and rock of our family. They kept everybody together and raised us to be good people.” - Mike Mohamed

Big Mike and Molly raised Mike, 22, and his five sisters – Annie, 21; Calie, 19; Emily 18; twins, Gabi and Dani, 13 – in the small California desert town of Brawley, located in the heart of the Imperial Valley about 125 miles east of San Diego and 30 miles north of Mexicali, Mexico. Although members are starting to spread out throughout the country, they remain a tight-knit family. “We have a strong family that supports and loves each other,” said Molly. “There’s not a day that goes by that I’m sure Mikey doesn’t stay in touch with someone from the family, even if it’s just a quick text message. We have a really strong bond and a strong family foundation that is important to all of us.” That familial base has helped create a young man who is friendly, pleasant, polite and respectful. “With a bunch of women around, our house was loud,” said Molly. “Mike would get his two cents in and then sit back and listen. He might stir the pot a little bit then go back in the shadows, kind of sit back and laugh, and see what played out.” “I’ll admit that I’m not the most talkative person, but I still think I do a good job of relating to a lot of different people,” said Mohamed.

That has been important as he has adjusted to life in Berkeley, where the culture is much different than the one he knew back home. “It was definitely a culture shock,” Mohamed recalled about his arrival at Cal. “There were a whole lot of different people and a whole lot of different ideas that I’d never seen or been exposed to. I remember my first time walking down Telegraph Avenue, thinking what the heck is going on. But now all the craziness is just second nature to me. I’ve met a lot of different people and it’s made me a better person.” Being a good person is something Mohamed learned from his parents and much of what he is all about. “My parents are the foundation and rock of our family,” he said. “They kept everybody together and raised us to be good people.” There is no doubt he’s been good – not just off the field in class and in the community, but also on the gridiron. Mohamed is on target to receive his bachelor’s degree in business administration in December with a GPA just shy of 3.5. Twice he has earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic recognition and last year added District 8 All-Academic honors from CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine for the first time. Mohamed has also been one of the team’s most active players in the community with

his outreach including the Sage Mentorship Project that matches Cal students with local youths to serve as one-on-one mentors. “I just help out whenever I get a chance,” he said humbly. Mohamed’s accomplishments on the field have flown largely under the radar during his first three collegiate seasons. But after the numbers he racked up as a junior in 2009, when he led the Pac-10 with 112 stops and earned first-team all-conference honors, he couldn’t help but be noticed. In fact, Mohamed has been the team’s most recognized player prior to the 2010 season, picking up multiple honors, highlighted by preseason All-America status. He is also on national watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player), Rotary Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker), The Lott Trophy (IMPACT player of the year) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player). True to his nature, Mohamed is more concerned about the team. “I’m aware of all the individual preseason honors, but at the same time I’m not really too worried about it,” Mohamed said. “If I end up playing well enough to make some of these things come true that’s great, but my main goal is to win the Pac-10 with my team. That’s all I really need.” Well before he gained recruiting notice from the Golden Bear coaching staff, Mohamed understood all the opportunities Cal offered. “I always had Cal in the back of mind as a school to go to, even without the football part of it,” he said. “When the opportunity to come to school and play football here came up, I definitely jumped on it. This is a great academic institution and getting a degree from Cal is something you can proudly put on your resume. A Berkeley education opens up a lot of doors.” Hanging out with six women, that’s something he’s surely been doing for others his entire life. FALL 2010

FEATURE

or many, the number

conjures images

of black cats, full

moons and bad luck, but for

Alex

Morgan

represents an opportunity and a goal she’s pursued since her days running down the pitch with the rest of her

recreational

league

13 soccer team.

Lucky Number Alex Morgan Looks to Take Her Place among the World’s Elite

By Anna Oleson-Wheeler

cal sports quarterly

Morgan, now in her senior season with the California women’s soccer team, selected the superstitious 13 as an age-group player in honor of U.S. Senior National Team star Alex Morgan Kristine Lilly. Little did Morgan know that some 11 years later, she would be on that same senior squad with her heroine. After attending several training camps with the senior team, Morgan made her first appearance with the U.S. national squad this past March in a 1-0 victory against Mexico. Playing in snow – a first for the Americans – Morgan saw a full half of action versus Mexico, playing alongside the players she idolized as a prep. “Prior to the game against Mexico, [head coach Pia Sundage] told me I was going to see 45 minutes, so I had time to mentally prepare,” Morgan said. “We couldn’t feel our feel our feet and had trouble anticipating things, so it didn’t really feel like a first cap to me.”

In May, the Diamond Bar, Calif., native’s more a part of a family and making friend- coming in, but there are 22 girls at practice good luck and athletic talents earned her ships that will last a long time.” every day to work harder,” Morgan said an invitation to join the team for a game Nowadays, the pair of Lilly and Morgan, of the self-imposed voluntary sessions. against Germany. In a proverbial clash of tied together by their number and forward “We want to work every day to improve so the titans, the match pitted the No. 1 team position, jokes about how nervous Mor- that we can do better in the Pac-10 and the in the world, the United States, against gan was not only meeting Lilly, but then NCAA Tournament. I think this year will second-ranked Germans. Morgan’s mood playing alongside her. After Morgan told be a really good year for us to take it all the brightens noticeably when discussing the Lilly that she selected her 13 in her honor, way to the end and not slow down as the game, in which she season progresses.” played 26 minutes. This fall, Morgan “Going in for the will transition all she States to play against has learned while Germany was a comwearing the red, white pletely different expeand blue to the blue “In meeting Alex, rience than any I’ve and gold of Berkeley. had,” Morgan said. The 5-7 starter has you would never “Those games espeled Cal in scoring in know of her fame, cially made me want each of the past three to continue to work seasons and is fourth success and ability. hard for the team, and on the all-time scorShe carries herto do more. I wish I ing list with 31 goals could have contribcoming into her senior self with great uted more – like a goal campaign. McGuire humility and leads or two – but it was fully echoes Morgan’s amazing.” sentiments that her her team as a While Morgan dons time with the national captain the players number 20 with the teams has vastly imsenior team with Lilly proved her already all look up to.” still sporting her numstellar play. -Cal head coach ber 13, Morgan wore “Alex continues to 13 when she led the grow as a player and Neil McGuire U.S. Under-20 Nahas no doubt benefittional Team to the gold ted greatly from beAlthough Alex Morgan dons number 20 while with the U.S. Senior National Team, medal at the 2008 FIFA ing around some of ‘she wears her traditional number 13 for the Bears. U-20 Women’s World the best players in the Cup in Chile. She won the Silver Ball as Lilly told Morgan that she would bequeath world,” McGuire said. “Alex’s play is forthe tournament’s second-best player and her jersey number to Morgan upon her ever evolving as she adds different dimenthe Bronze Shoe as the third-leading scorer, retirement. sions to her game.” in addition to expanding her fan base from Not only will this fall be the last for Mor“I’ve had 13 since I started playing club America to the world. soccer, and it may seem like just a num- gan in a Cal uniform, but it will also be “In meeting Alex, you would never know ber but to me, it’s more than that,” Mor- her final semester of school. Morgan took of her fame, success and ability,” Cal head gan said. “Lilly and the others played in a full load of classes over the summer to coach Neil McGuire said. “She carries her- the 1999 World Cup, which really opened ensure she will be set to graduate in Deself with great humility and leads her team the doors for women’s soccer in the States. cember with a degree in political economy. as a captain the players all look up to.” I’ve always looked up to her, Mia Hamm She selected the major for its emphasis on From her gold in Chile, Morgan made the and Joy Fawcett, who I’ve met before be- international relations after she traveled transition to U-23 team training camps and cause she’s a Cal alum. Meeting all of these abroad with the Cal squad to Italy, studying then the big time with the senior national players and having Lilly come back into in Spain last summer and to multiple counteam. While Morgan has gone toe-to-toe camp and getting to know her, it’s all made tries with Olympic Development Program with some of the best players in the country for a crazy six months.” and national teams. Somewhere down the with the Golden Bears and the world with Morgan noted this summer differed from line, Morgan sees herself earning an MBA the U-20 team, joining the senior national others because trained with multiple teams, and pursuing a career in international team intimidated her at first. including Cal and the U.S. National Team. business. “It’s surreal playing with these players,” To help her workout regimen, Morgan also Morgan planned her studies carefully to Morgan said of senior stars such as Abby spent time practicing with the Golden Bear graduate a semester early so she could be Wambach, Christie Rampone, Hope Solo, men’s soccer team. Additionally, Morgan free to play professionally in the Women’s Shannon Boxx and, of course, Lilly. “Some and many members of women’s side have Professional Soccer league in the spring. of them have been playing together for come to Berkeley earlier than required to In the meantime, you can catch Morgan years, but as I come in more and gain more condition. loping across Goldman Field at Edwards experience, it’s been easier. I’m becoming “We have a young team with 11 girls Stadium in her lucky number 13.

FALL 2010

FEATURE

Featured Spieker

CALIFORNIA’S Championship Tradition Cal has captured more NCAA men’s water polo titles than any school in the country.

NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship Comes to Cal in 2010, 2011 By Scott Ball

1973

1974

1975

1977

1983

1984

he University of California will host the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Tournament for the first time this December, putting the championship in a pool that has produced more collegiate water polo crowns than any in history.

Dating back to their first title in 1973, the Golden directing the Bears to back-to-back championships Bears have captured the national title 13 times, and in 2006 and 2007. Spieker Aquatics Complex – the team’s venerable This year’s Cal squad just happens to feature two facility at the corner of Dana Street and Bancroft players, seniors Brian Dudley and Zach White, who Way – will move to center stage this Dec. 4-5 when were key performers as freshmen when Cal upended Cal hopes to compete for championship No. 14 in USC, 8-6, at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center for its Berkeley. last crown in 2007. “It is obviously an “The guys on this honor to host this type of year’s team are extremenational championship, ly excited to have the especially at a place with opportunity to play for a tradition of winning a national championship NCAA titles,” said Cal at home,” said Everist. head coach Kirk Everist, “There is that little added who has spent nearly excitement knowing this 15 years and numercould be a historical seaous hours playing and son. We have a couple of coaching among the conseniors who won a nacrete confines of Spieker Brian Dudley, 2009 Co-MVP, had a 4.0 GPA last spring. tional championship as Aquatics Complex. “To freshmen and now have have the national championship at Cal for the first an opportunity to play their last game at Cal for the time makes it special and we are all excited. Spieker national championship. That would be fantastic. is a place rich in water polo tradition, so it is kind of We also have a large and talented junior class who natural to have it here.” now know they have an opportunity to possibly do Everist is also a natural to lead a Bear squad that it twice here.” is one of the frontrunners for a spot in the four-team Not only will Spieker Aquatics Complex host the NCAA field. An Olympian and member of the Cal NCAA Championship this fall, it will repeat as the Athletic Hall of Fame, Everist is the only person venue in December 2011. ever to win a national water polo title as both a playFormerly known as Harmon Pool, a refurbished er and a coach more than once (Stanford coach John Spieker Aquatics Complex was completed in the fall Vargas has one title as a UC Irvine player and one of 1982 and was named after former Cal water polo title as the Cardinal’s coach). As a student-athlete, letterman Edward “Ned” Spieker, who provided mahe led Cal to NCAA crowns in 1987 and 1988 under jor funding for the renovation. Since that time, the the Bears’ legendary mentor Pete Cutino, earning Bears’ men’s water polo team has won more than NCAA Player of the Year honors in ’88. 200 matches (205-49, .807) at home, including unEighteen years later, Everist wielded his winning defeated seasons in 1988, 1991 and 1992. For the ways in repeat fashion, this time as Cal’s head coach 2010 NCAA Tournament, seating capacity will

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The Golden Bears have developed a large following, which helped Cal earn the right to host the NCAA Championship.

be expanded to more than 1,000, with temporary Jon Sibley. In addition, the Bears return eight other letterwinners and welcomes in freshman class that bleachers gracing the upper deck of complex. Yet even with Cal’s success at home, there are no includes three first-team high school All-Americans guarantees for 2010. Although the Bears possess and two foreign athletes who were members of their as much talent as any team in the nation - they are junior national teams. “It is a big deal that Cal is hosting the NCAA chamranked No. 1 in the preseason poll - the character of Everist’s squad might be what propels the Bears into pionships for a lot of reasons,” said Steffens. “It is an this year’s NCAA field and places them among the opportunity for kids in the community to come and experience what water polo is like at Spieker and enschool’s all-time great teams. Cal’s team captains, Dudley and junior Charlie Stef- joy the atmosphere just like I did when I was growing fens, are both elite student-athletes who garnered 4.0 up as a Bear fan. For the alumni, it is a chance to come GPAs last spring. Dudley, a 6-5 defender/utility man back to Cal and reconnect. When you enter Spieker, it is like you are captured from Johannesburg, inside its walls with all South Africa, is attendthese great people and ing the Haas School of great community. I was Business and was the in awe of the legends like team’s Co-MVP last Pete Cutino when I was a season. Steffens is makid, and I felt like I was joring in ethnic studies part of the Cal team, just and is the son of Carlos like I do now. Steffens, who helped “For the players, the Bears to the 1977 every year it is about NCAA title and was the 1979 Pac-10 Player After watching championship Cal teams as a kid, Charlie Steffens winning the national championship, but it of the Year. hopes to claim one of his own in Berkeley this December. is an extremely difCal has two outstanding juniors from Serbia, Ivan Rackov and ficult thing to do. This season we’ll be fighting all Luka Saponjic. Rackov is the Bears’ top return- the way. There is pressure, but it is good, fun presing scorer with 55 goals while earning third-team sure. We have all studied championship teams from All-America honors. Saponjic is a 6-5 left-hander the past and know what made them successful, but attacker who is a member of the Serbian National it is time to write our own chapter and make our Team. Last season, Saponjic paced Cal with four own history.” goals in an overtime victory over Stanford in the MPSF semifinal, including the match-winning 2010 NCAA Championship Details score. Saturday, Dec. 4 Brothers Zach and Spencer White are both strong Semifinal 1 – Time TBA inside players who will play a key role for the Bears, Semifinal 2 – Time TBA while junior Cory Nasoff returns after earning AllSunday, Dec. 5 America notice in ’09. Cal also has three goalies who Consolation Match – Time TBA will be vying for playing time: junior Wil Toppen, Championship Match – Time TBA who was named as the team’s most improved player, and two members of the U.S. Junior National Team Spieker Aquatics Complex, Berkeley, Calif. – sophomore Justin Parsons and incoming freshman

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Visit CalBears.com for complete ticket and event information on the 2010 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship at Spieker Aquatics Complex or contact the Cal Athletic Ticket Office at (800) GO BEARS. FALL 2010

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Courtney Johnson a Trailblazer for Women’s Water Polo By Melissa Dudek

n Friday, Oct. 22, Courtney Johnson will officially become a member of the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame. As a student-athlete, Johnson was the MVP of Cal’s club team before women’s water polo became a varsity sport in 1995. In that first year, Johnson helped the Bears make a huge splash, leading them to a second-place national finish. She was also the Bears’ first national tournament MVP and their inaugural first-team All-American, along with teammate Kailya Young. Johnson’s playing career, and her series firsts, did not end at Cal. She earned a spot on the U.S. National team in 1996, the same year the Olympics were held in Atlanta. Despite men’s water polo’s status as an Olympic sport since 1900, women’s water polo did not have the same privileges. “In 1996, we sat outside looking in at the Olympics,” Johnson recalled. “Softball and women’s soccer had just been added. It was a huge boost for women’s sports, but we kind of got left out of that. There was a concern that we would never get in.” The U.S. team worked with the Australian National team to encourage the International Olympic Committee to add women’s water polo for the 2000 Games in Australia. After a hard battle, the IOC at last voted to add the sport to the docket for Sydney. Johnson continued playing well for the American upstarts. The team lacked national funding until it earned Olympic status, putting it at a competitive disadvantage behind many other fullyfunded national teams around the globe. “We were probably the eighth-best team in the world when they announced water polo was going to be in the Olympics,” Johnson said. “We had to make a lot of improvements in a short amount of time to even to make the Olympics.” The U.S. team did qualify for the six-team Olympic field in 2000, making Johnson a member of the first-ever U.S. Olympic water polo squad. She and her teammates did not just make the Olympics. Johnson and the rest of the team defied the odds and 16

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Above: Courtney Johnson surrounded by her family (l-r): daughter Ainsley (4), son Gideon (6), husband Darren and son Maddox (2). Johnson competed at the 2000 Olympics (in blue cap, above left) and posed with the silver-medal winning Team USA squad (lower left).

advanced to the gold medal match, falling to host Australia in the final. Johnson came home with the first-ever silver medal for Olympic women’s water polo. “People always ask what makes the Olympics special,” Johnson said. “There were six teams. We play those teams all the time. It wasn’t all that different from any other competition, but you do feel the pressure of the Olympics with all the media there and all the fans there. The Olympic gold medal game was in the natatorium [Sydney International Aquatic Centre] where it held 17,000 people. And it was full. That was the most they have ever had watching a women’s water polo match. “ Though she retired from playing in 2001 after earning her law degree from Santa Clara University, Johnson remained active in the USOC. She began as the USA Water Polo representative to the Athletes Advisory Council, serving four terms before being elected to the Executive Committee. She also recently served on a 13-member USOC governance restructure task force, headed by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, that was charged with looking at the structure and operations of the USOC. These days, Johnson and her husband Darren (also a Cal grad), live in Moraga with their three children, Gideon (6), Ainsley (4), and Maddox (2). They have a fourth child, a girl, due in October. The 25th Cal Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Friday, Oct. 22, at the Greek Orthodox Church conference center in Oakland. To order tickets for the event, visit BigCSociety.org or call (510) 333-5927.

sports Previews

Fall 2010

mEN’S CROSS COUNTRY T

he Cal men look to return to the NCAA Championships this year behind an experienced trio of runners that includes a pair of track & field All-Americans. Senior Michael Coe, who redshirted during the 2009 cross country season, is back for his final campaign. He was a contributing member of the Bears’ 2007 and ’08 squads that finished among the top 25 at the NCAA meet, and is a two-time indoor track All-American as part of Cal’s distance medley relay. Senior Steve Sodaro developed into the team leader last fall, earning all-region honors after taking 16th at NCAA West Regionals. Later in 2009-10, he placed sixth in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA outdoor track championships. Senior Kari Karlsson, another key member of Cal’s 2009 NCAA squad, claimed all-region status in ’09, while a host of other competitors will try to establish themselves among the squad’s top five runners.

WOmEN’S CROSS COUNTRY H

ead coach Tony Sandoval believes he has the pieces in place for the Cal women to contend for their first trip to the NCAA national meet in more than 20 years. The Bears just missed out on a spot last season and return an experienced and deep crew of runners. Heading the list is junior Deborah Maier, who became the first Cal woman to be chosen first-team All-Pac-10 after she took sixth at the conference championships in the fall of 2009. She later brought home All-America recognition in the outdoor 5000 meters in track & field. Sophomore Laurynne Chetelat becomes eligible this year after transferring from Stanford, where she earned All-Pac-10 and all-region honors as a freshman in 2008. Junior Keena Kohl and sophomore Ellie Keene both established themselves in the lineup last season and will add depth and experience to the roster.

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FIELD HOCKEY W

ith nine starters returning from last year, Cal hopes to find itself atop the NorPac standings this season after earning the No. 2 seed in last year’s NorPac Tournament. While the Bears lose their points leader from a year ago, Natalie Nurnberg (25 points), returning is Cal’s scoring leader from 2009, junior Erin Magill (9 goals, 21). Magill, a member of the all-region team last year, also made the NorPac all-conference second team with sophomore Deanna Kennedy, who paced the Bears with 10 assists. On the defensive side, three-time NorPac Defensive Player of the Week Lisa Lohre is back. She collected six defensive saves in 2009 to lead her team and finish third in the conference in that category. Head coach Shellie Onstead and the Bears open the season with a three-game homestand.

Important Home Dates

Sunday, Sept. 5 vs. UC Davis The Bears welcome the Aggies for the NorPac opener Friday, Oct. 29 vs. Stanford Cal faces Stanford under the lights in the regular-season finale

FOOTBALL W

hen Cal takes the field for the first time in 2010, the Golden Bears will do so as one of the most accomplished Pac-10 teams of the last eight years, having averaged 8.4 wins per season under head coach Jeff Tedford. With his next victory, Tedford will record his 68th win, passing the legendary Pappy Waldorf on Cal’s all-time list. The Bears return 19 players who started at least five games a year ago. with three of them – punter Brian Anger, tight end Anthony Miller and linebacker Mike Mohamed – earning preseason All-America recognition. In addition, senior quarterback Kevin Riley heads the offense as the Pac-10 active leader in both wins (15) and touchdown passes (37). The final season in Memorial Stadium before construction begins in earnest in December features seven home games, including the 113th Big Game vs. Stanford.

Important Home Dates

Saturday, Nov. 13 vs. Oregon Bears, 3-0 vs. Ducks in Berkeley under Tedford, host preseason Pac-10 favorites Saturday, Nov. 27 vs. Washington Final game in Memorial Stadium before moving to AT&T Park in 2011

MEN’S SOCCER C

oach Kevin Grimes looks to lead the Golden Bears back to the NCAA Tournament after injuries derailed what was a strong start to the 2009 season. A solid core of seniors includes midfielders Hector Jimenez (2009 Pac-10 leader in assists with 9), Servando Carrasco and Demitrius Omphroy, forward David Paul and defender A.J. Soares. Junior goalkeeper David Bingham (0.95 GAA in 2009) and midfielder Tony Salciccia, Cal’s 2009 Freshman of the Year, are back for the Bears, as well. Bingham and Soares, who posted career highs in points (7) and goals (3) last year, were both members of the Far West All-Region team in ’09, while Carrasco and Jimenez joined Bingham and Soares on the All-Pac-10 team.

Important Home Dates

Friday, Sept. 10 vs. Saint Mary’s Home opener and first game of the Cal Legacy Classic Thursday, Nov. 11 vs. Stanford Final regular-season game against rival

vOLLEYBALL T

he Golden Bears put themselves in elite company after advancing to the NCAA regional final for the third consecutive year in 2009. Cal joined just three other teams on a short list to accomplish the feat, including three-time defending champion Penn State. The Bears return two-time All-American setter Carli Lloyd to the lineup as she teams with junior outside hitter Tarah Murrey. In the middle, Cal will feature the talents of sophomore Correy Johnson, who was a member of the Pac-10 All-Freshman team a year ago. Defensively, senior Meagan Schmitt steps into the role of libero. Head coach Rich Feller earned his 200th victory as Cal’s leader and 500th career win during the 2009 season. He will look to guide the Bears to a schoolrecord fifth straight 20-win season and their ninth consecutive NCAA selection in 2010.

Important Home Dates

Friday, Nov. 5 vs. USC The Bears and the Trojans clash in the middle of the Pac-10 season Friday, Nov. 19 vs. Stanford The home team claimed five-set victories in each meeting last year

mEN’S WOMEN’S SOCCER WATER POLO A W

fter advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007 last season, California is aiming to improve on 2009’s 11-9-1 overall mark. The Bears return 17 letterwinners and welcome 12 newcomers, including a power-packed freshmen class. Senior Alex Morgan, who paced Cal with 14 goals and eight assist last year, as well as U.S. Under-23 National Team player Megan Jesolva and Icelandic National Team starter Katrin Omarsdottir, key the list of veterans on the roster. Head coach Neil McGuire, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the Bears, has scheduled an exciting slate of 15 home games and hopes to have Cal back in the national playoffs for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons.

ith the NCAA Championships coming to Spieker Aquatics Center in December, the Golden Bears bring an experienced squad to the pool that hopes to earn its record 14th national title in its home venue. Kirk Everist’s team features four returning All-Americans – seniors Brian Dudley and Zach White, and juniors Ivan Rackov and Cory Nasoff – plus several other talented performers. Additional major contributors will include junior attackers Charlie Steffens and Luka Saponjic, plus junior goalie Wil Toppen. Cal also welcomes in a freshman class that features three first-team high school All-Americans and two foreign athletes who were members of their junior national teams.

Important Home Dates

Thursday, Sept. 23 vs. Portland The national-power Pilots close Cal’s nonconference homestand Saturday, Oct. 30 vs. Stanford Cal battles the 2009 NCAA runner-ups in the Bay Area Derby

Saturday, Oct. 9 vs. UCLA Rematch of 2009 MPSF Tournament final won by UCLA Friday, Nov. 19 vs. Stanford Annual Big Splash played night before Big Game this year

FALL 2009

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Athletic Development Bear Backer Spotlight

Bedrock Bears for the

Fred de Grosz Is a Stalwart Supporter of Cal Athletics

By Anton Malko

eff Tedford sat at a donor appreciation lunch in June 2003 after his first season, one that saw the Golden Bears’ fortunes turn around dramatically and set the stage for a string of postseason bowl appearances. The head coach was surrounded that day by supporters who knew the football program was on the right track.

One of the boosters at Tedford’s table was Fred de Grosz, who received his BS in 1964 from the Haas School of Business. De Grosz listened as Tedford confided his disappointment that efforts to gain approvals – and funds – to replace the natural grass at Memorial Stadium with artificial turf were proving to be unsuccessful. De Grosz and the rest of the table urged the head coach not to give up. Soon, they convinced him to stand and make an appeal to everyone at the lunch. After some urging and a quick check with then-Director of Athletics Steve Gladstone, Tedford stood and told the room full of Cal supporters that the funds needed to pay for a new playing surface were not materializing. By the end of that day, fortunes had changed. “We raised $250,000 on a napkin,” Tedford said, “and when the Chancellor saw that, he said, ‘Go ahead and do it.’ I’ll never forget Fred for really encouraging me because it has made such a huge difference in our entire athletic program. At that point, it really became evident to me that if supporters are educated about something, they’re willing to support it. He’s given not only sound advice but great financial support, too. He’s a great friend of the program.” In the seven years since then, de Grosz has only increased his commitment to Cal Athletics. In addition to his numerous donations to buoy both the men’s basketball and football programs, his seven season tickets for basketball and another six for football through the

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Endowment Seat Program ensure that de Grosz and his family will continue to enjoy the Blue and Gold for generations to come. “It ties our family to Cal with a long-term commitment,” explained de Grosz, who sees excellence in athletics as a natural extension of the campus community. “It’s clear that a successful athletic program contributes to the University’s ability to attract bright students and contributes to the positive alumni contributions. I strongly believe that strong academics and successful athletics can coexFred de Grosz in the ist and, in fact, enhance each other.” 1964 Blue & Gold De Grosz was raised in Burlingame and San Francisco, where he attended Lincoln High School. Looking across the Bay toward his collegiate ambitions, Cal was “always my dream and my parents’ dream,” he said. “Once in a while I’d go over to Cal just to walk on the campus and that alone was a motivator to somehow make it there as a student.” He arrived at the University in 1962 after two years at junior college and embarked toward his degree from Haas while maintaining a busy work schedule as both an employee of a fresh-fruit forwarding company and the manager of the ice-skating rink at San Francisco’s Jack Tar Hotel, known at the time as one of the town’s swankest at Geary and Van Ness.

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With its modest tuition rates, Cal was as big a bargain financially as it Fred and Kathi de Grosz have been was a powerhouse academically, and generous donors to the Haas School de Grosz found a way to balance his of Business, as well as Intercollegiate busy schedule to succeed in both the Athletics. classroom and the workplace. “I was literally working fulltime every day and on the weekends to generosity. Fred cares for people put myself through Cal. That’s one and is willing to help whenever of the reasons that I’ve been so inpossible without the spotlight being volved with the University as a doon him.” nor,” de Grosz said. “I felt I had a Tedford described the vital role de debt I had to repay there, which I Grosz and other donors play to nurcontinue to do.” ture the Athletic Department, espeAfter receiving his undergraduate “I’ll never forget cially in a tough economic climate: degree from Cal, de Grosz earned an Fred for really “Donors are always the lifeline of MBA in 1967 from San Francisco encouraging me the program,” Tedford said. “WhethState, going to school at night while er you talk about scholarships or the continuing to work fulltime for the because it has made other financial obligations to run a fruit-forwarding firm. He then land- such a huge differDivision I football program at this ed a job with General Foods, and the ence in our entire level, it’s absolutely imperative that following five years saw him move athletic program.” you have support. With times being from San Francisco to Denver, to the - football coach as hard as they are right now, it recompany’s headquarters in White Jeff Tedford ally just shows the strong commitPlains, N.Y.; back to Denver and ment people have to the athletics then Memphis, where he was the program.” district manager handling the comMontgomery agreed. “In the curpany’s coffee business in three states rent economic times, it is vital for “Fred cares for before deciding he wanted to come people to give back to the Univerback to the West Coast. people and is sity so that others may experience Back in San Francisco, de Grosz willing to help that which is Cal,” he said. jumped into a one-man insurance whenever possible Added Tedford: “Even though company in 1971. Over the course without the things are tough economically, for of 38 years until his retirement in spotlight being people to continue to come out and 2009, de Grosz built Alburger de support us creates a great deal of apon him.” Grosz, Inc., into a major insurance preciation. It’s imperative for our and financial services company - men’s basketball coach success that that continues, and we which merged with the Mario L. Mike Montgomery want to make them proud, as well.” Basso Agency to become ABD InDe Grosz’s wife, Kathi, did not surance & Financial in 1990. The attend the University but is “a very new firm grew into the 14th-largest committed Cal Bear,” according to brokerage in the United States by de Grosz. Their daughter, Kerri, got 2005, with 970 employees. ABD was acquired by Greater Bay Bancorp in 2002 for $200 million; her BA from Cal in 1993 before earning her JD from Santa Clara in 2007, Wells Fargo took ownership in a $1.5 billion acquisition and passing the bar, while their son, Kurt, earned his MBA from Haas in 1994 following his undergraduate studies at UCLA. of Greater Bay Bancorp. Kerri and Kurt have produced five “little Bears,” as de Grosz Unsurprisingly, retirement has not slowed de Grosz down. He still consults for brokerage firms and has joined a couple of boards called his grandchildren, three boys and two girls – one of whom is distinctively named Berkley. of directors as well as The Angels Forum, a seed-funding group. Asked if he envisions his grandchildren enjoying football games De Grosz’s support for Cal – from the Athletic Department to the business school, making him an official Builder of Berkeley – from his ESP seats at the renovated Memorial Stadium, de Grosz painted a different picture. “My grandchildren aren’t going to be will never slow down, either. “I believe that the Cal experience enabled me to compete with in those seats,” he said. “They’re going to be across in the student anybody on this planet,” de Grosz said. “I respect the University, section. Hopefully, I’ll wave to them.” As multiple generations of de Grosz family members wave to I love it and I feel that we need a great UC Berkeley in California and in this country. My experience was that I left Cal confident each other from either side of Memorial Stadium, an equally committed family of student-athletes will be taking the field filled with that I could do and be whatever I wanted.” After spending some time with de Grosz over the summer, pride to represent themselves, their families, their University and men’s basketball head coach Mike Montgomery said he was all the supporters who stand tall to support the Bears on their quest “greatly impressed with his passion for all things Cal and his for continued success. FALL 2010

FEATURE

Old Family Recipe Junior Outside Hitter Tarah Murrey Keeps Family Close at Heart

By Jeremy Wu

t might just be the perfect blend of fresh ingredients and aromatic spices. For Cal volleyball junior outside hitter Tarah Murrey, her support base has the strikingly rustic flavor of an old family recipe. Like a carefully calculated, simmering roux, Murrey’s story is steeped in special ingredients. Its product evokes a lasting impression, one its connoisseurs are unlikely to forget. On the surface, Murrey’s indomitable presence is undeniable. She stands 6-foot-3 and exudes a confidence not seen in your average 20-year-old college student. Incredible leaping ability and willful control of her body through the air helped her net 345 kills as a sophomore. As high as Murrey can fly, her talent at staying low produced 275 digs for the Bears. “Tarah possesses a great combination of size, power and speed,” said head coach Rich Feller. “She can be physically imposing at times, but can also show great finesse at others.” While it may be easy to credit Murrey’s athletic talents to her genes, she believes whatever talent she has acquired through genetics comes from the life lessons her family has taught her. “If my parents instilled anything in me, they’ve taught me that I have to work hard,” said Murrey. “Because of them, I know that if I care about something, I’ll give it 100 percent. If I do that, I Tarah Murrey registered 345 kills for the Bears know I’ve succeeded.” as a sophomore in 2009. 28

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Murrey’s mother, Barbara, played volleyball at San Jose State where she met her husband, Doug, a Spartan men’s basketball star. In 1981, Doug Murrey received notice from the Golden State Warriors that he had been drafted into the NBA. One year after they married, Doug and Barbara had their first child, son Barry. A year later, Tarah’s older sister, Brittany, was born. Surrounded by athletes from birth, Tarah grew up in a world where sports were second nature. With her parents standing by as coaches, her siblings pushed the right buttons and nurtured a competitive edge from the very start. While Barry and half-brother Jerryck Owens-Murrey starred as basketball players, it was Brittany who carried the volleyball torch as she matured into a starting role as a setter at UC Riverside. The older-sister influence helped fuel Tarah’s desire to improve as a volleyball player. But it was her own inner competitive spirit that shaped her into one of the most sought-after recruits coming out of nearby St. Mary’s High School. When Brittany was 13 and Tarah 10, camping excursions and family vacations evolved into club volleyball trips. Weekends at New Brighton Beach and outings to Disneyland eventually gave way to overnight stays in hotels near the next major club tournament. Undaunted, the Murreys found ways to mix business with pleasure and turned those trips into fun for everyone. “My family means everything in the world to me,” said Tarah. “When we’re together, we’re always laughing and cracking jokes with each other. This family does everything together.” While some things changed when college came around, many things stayed the same. With their four kids all leaving the nest in rapid succession, Tarah’s father made his wishes clear. “A family that plays together, stays together,” said the elder Murrey. “And a family that prays together, stays together. I’ve always encouraged my children to stay connected with each other. When they left for college, I encouraged each of them to keep a Bible with them and every so often, I’ll try to lift them up with words of encouragement.” For a family that has always had fun together, the father’s belief that a solid foundation creates life balance has cultivated deeper roots in his children than he could ever have hoped. For

From vacations to meals around the dining table to volleyball tournaments, Tarah Murray and her family developed close and loving relationships.

all the challenges that have come from academics, social life and her athletic career, Tarah has had a place to turn. Though she often speaks with her mother first, she allows herself to be transparent with both of her parents and that has made a vital difference in her life. Doug and Barbara Murrey are also among Tarah’s best friends. Though it offers no true tangible advantages, Tarah likes to think her biracial background creates a situation in which she is able to experience the best of both worlds. In a parallel universe, the diverse nature on the University of California campus breathes the same sentiment. For someone who took special care in selecting her collegiate destination, Tarah found the same familial comforts with the coaches and her teammates at Cal. “I’ve known since I was in the fourth grade that I wanted to come to Cal,” said Murrey. “Even though I took a look at other colleges, my heart has been here all these years. The way I see it, I had the chance to immerse myself in something incredibly diverse and I took it.”

Choosing where to attend college and play volleyball was the easy part. The road since arriving on campus has been marked by the ebb and flow of the victories and struggles that accompany many collegiate athletic careers. Even if there is little that Murrey can do to change the challenges that arise, she is often comforted by the simplest of loving acts, such as a text message from her father. One message that Murrey refuses to delete from her phone arrived moments after she had expressed her frustrations to her mother on another call. The words of encouragement from her father read: “Faith performs the miracle. It is the appetite for big challenges. Faith craves the impossible and challenges the most difficult situations.” The 140-character message brings a smile to the face of a daughter who needed just that; the unbridled sense of joy and comfort is unmatched by anything Murrey says she has experienced as a player. Sports for the Murrey family is a commonality more than a foundation. Its importance is undressed when the larger picture is revealed. When asked what he believes his daughter would be doing had she not been gifted with an aptitude for volleyball, Doug Murrey refers to Tarah’s love for food and cooking as her second joy. Tarah’s recollection of a pastor’s sermon at church draws her attention to the importance of food in a family setting. “After listening to my pastor’s message,” said Murrey, “I realized that the kitchen really brings my family together. Food is how so many people learn about the world; how to show love to one another and how to be loved by someone else.” Whenever she is home, she gladly trades her uniform for an apron and does what she can to help prepare the family dinner. For Murrey, food is a chance for the family to be together around the table. It’s where stories are shared and firm foundations are built. Upon further examination, food just may be Murrey’s third joy after family and volleyball. With no lack for ingredients and enough servings to never go hungry, Murrey will hold this old family recipe close to her heart. FALL 2010

FEATURE

Major Accomplishment

Soccer’s Hector Jimenez First in His Family to Earn College Degree By Dean Caparaz ’90

occer has lifted Hector Jimenez to new heights throughout his life, and his time at California is no exception.

The senior midfielder has earned All-Pac-10 first-team status, as well as gained several academic accolades, the past two years, all while developing into one of the top playmakers in program history. But no matter how the Golden Bears do on the field this season, Jimenez will conclude his time in Berkeley in unique fashion thanks to his work in the classroom. A social welfare major with a minor in education, the fifthyear senior will become the first member of his family to Hector Jimenez graduate from college. Jimenez participated in a graduation ceremony at the end of the 2010 spring semester but will officially earn his degree after the fall semester. “It’s huge,” Jimenez said. “Both my parents cried when I walked. I haven’t graduated yet, but it’s big in my family. I have a huge, extended family, and I’ll be the first one to graduate. I’m leading by example. It’s been a long five years.” After an admittedly difficult sophomore year in the classroom, Jimenez rebounded to garner Pac-10 All-Academic second-team honors for the 2008 season. He duplicated that feat in 2009, when he also gained a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 8 team. “He’s very devoted to academics,” head coach Kevin Grimes said. “He’s worked extremely hard to get himself acclimated to the Cal academic environment. That’s always a tough transition for a kid coming from high school to college. For Hector that might’ve been a little more challenging. He’s done a great job since, and he’s doing very well in school.”

Parental Influence Jimenez credits his parents, Dalila and Mauricio, for pushing him to excel academically and in soccer. His father played soccer for semi-professional teams and also wore the No. 16 jersey that son Hector would later adopt as a youth player. Hector Jimenez added to the family pedigree by playing for an elite youth club and for a youth national team. A product of Bell Gardens, Calif., Jimenez starred for Bell Gardens High School and the Arsenal Football Club, which featured future Cal teammate Davis Paul. He won U.S. Youth Soccer national titles at the Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 levels with Arsenal 30

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( and parlayed his success into stints with the U.S. U-17 National Team in 2004 and 2005. Jimenez spent part of 2005 in a U.S. U-17 residency camp that included 2010 U.S. World Cup forward Jozy Altidore. Soccer played a key role in steering Jimenez clear of the troubles that afflicted other kids growing up in his southern California neighborhood. Whether it was because he was playing and traveling with Arsenal or living in the full-time U.S. U-17 residency program in Florida, Jimenez stayed away from the situations that put some of his contemporaries behind bars. Besides ensuring Hector stayed out of trouble, Mauricio Jimenez coached him to play in a certain way – as the player who sets up his teammates. “I love players like [former French star] Zinedine Zidane; just playmakers,” the younger Jimenez said. “That’s what my dad wanted me to be. I started playing for my dad on the Bell Gardens Tigers back in the day. My dad was always saying, ‘I don’t want you to score; I want you to assist.’ Growing up, it was hard because all my other teammates were scoring. I was a little kid. I cried, ‘Why can’t I score?’ But he always told me to assist other people and make the people around me better.”

Passing Fancy Now wearing No. 9 at Cal, Jimenez fits in well with the Bears’ possession style of play. The 5-9, 140-pound midfielder needs

A two-time all-conference performer on the field, Hector Jimenez also earned Pac-10 All-Academic and Academic All-District honors last fall.

just two assists to move into second place in the school record books. He needs 19 more to surpass the Cal record of 40. Jimenez bounced back from a broken leg that ended his 2008 season to collect a Pac10 leading and career-high nine assists in 2009, giving him 22 for his career, which ranks third all-time at Cal. He hopes that a talented, veteran squad – Jimenez is one of seven seniors on the team – will change Cal’s fortunes in 2010 after several injuries derailed the Bears last year, causing them to miss out on the NCAA playoffs. As one of the more experienced members of the team, Jimenez has joined fellow seniors A.J. Soares and Servando Carrasco as a team captain this year. “This summer, all of us have been up here preparing for the season and getting everybody on the same track,” Jimenez said. “It’s the final season for seven of us, and we all want to end on a good note. We want to prepare as much as we can so we can put ourselves in a good position. Hopefully we don’t have any injuries this season. We have a lot of talent and a lot of experience. Everyone’s got the right mindset and has a lot of heart. Hopefully the marbles roll our way this season and we can go far.” After he completes his time with the Bears, the talented playmaker has a shot to become the latest in a long line of Grimes’ players to enter the professional ranks, whether it’s with former teammate Andrew Wiedeman in Major League Soccer or elsewhere. Whenever his playing career is over, Ji-

)

Hector Jimenez poses with his younger sister, Nereyda, at his early graduation ceremony in the spring.

menez wants to put his studies to good use by giving making sure children in his community stay in school. “Where I grew up, there are a lot of kids who don’t have the opportunity I have,” Jimenez said. “Their parents don’t really push them or support them. My parents were always there for me, and at school I always had someone pushing me and advising me. I want to do that if soccer doesn’t work out for me – be a counselor to kids. I went through it, so I want to help kids out. A lot of guys where I grew up have a lot of talent, soccer-wise, but don’t have the education or the grades, and they never make it far. “I know how it feels when somebody helps you out. It feels good.” FALL 2010

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Keeping It in the Family Erin Magill

Field Hockey’s Erin Magill Has Ties to Campus Dating Back nearly 50 Years By Tim Miguel

hen Erin Magill, a defender on the Golden Bear field hockey team, For Magill, a San Jose native, those ties made decided to come to Cal, she was following in the footsteps of her decision to come to Berkeley that much previous family members who were associated with the university’s easier. grounds. Her cousin, Sheila, is a graduate, and her grandparents, Tom and Magill spent her freshman year boarding in the Paula Chance, once lived on what is now the Clark Kerr Campus. Clark Kerr residence halls. Almost a half century earlier, her grandparents, Tom and Paula Magill, also lived on the site when it housed the California School for the Deaf and Blind and, as a result, became lifelong Cal fans. Both her grandparents are hearing impaired. Erin recalled her grandparents were thrilled when she decided to be a Bear. “I remember the first time I visited Clark Kerr with my grandparents, I could see how excited they were to be at their old school,” Magill said. “It was only much later, once I realized I would be living at Clark Kerr, that it did influence my decision to come here. It connected me to Cal and to Clark Kerr much more strongly than I think most incoming freshmen would normally feel.” Magill remembers fondly the first time her grandparents visited her during her freshman year. “It was a little surreal,” Magill said. “The first time my grandparents visited me, we walked around the Clark Kerr Campus and they told me where they used to go to class, eat and relax. They spent most of their adolescent lives living at Clark Kerr, and here I was living there, as well, almost a half century later. They have been my biggest fans my entire life and it was great to be able to share that with them.” A junior athletically, but a senior academically, Magill will graduate in the spring of 2011 as a political science major and plans to forego her final season of eligibility once she obtains her degree. An interest in the subtleties of political language and action that influence elections and media drove Magill to choose the major. Magill will be called upon to lead the Bears in 2010. She paced the team in goals (9) and game-winning goals (3) last season, earning all-region and second-team all-conference honors, as well. In addition, Magill gained a rare distinction having been voted both NorPac offensive and defensive player of the week during the ’09 campaign. When the 2010 season gets underway this fall, an enthused group of Magills will be supporting her with gusto. “My parents and grandparents have created an extended family of Cal athletes and fans,” Magill said. “My dad refuses to wear the color red, and not a day goes by that he doesn’t wear something with the Cal logo on it – I’m not kidding! My grandparents were the original Cal fans in my family, but it has Erin Magill and her grandparents have a special tie to the residence halls at Cal’s Clark Kerr Campus. absolutely spread to everyone else.” 34

cal sports quarterly

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Disciplined Approach Deborah Maier Finds Long Training Hours Facilitate Her Focus on Academics

Deborah Maier

By Herb Benenson

hrough only four years of competitive running – two in high school a correlation in the fact that in sport, if you work hard, and two at Cal – Deborah Maier has established herself as one of you see benefits. It’s the same with academics.” Within her political science major, Maier is emthe top cross country and distance runners in Golden Bear history. During her sophomore season in 2009-10, she became the first phasizing international relations with a goal to work Cal woman to earn first-team All-Pac-10 honors in cross country in international aid, displaying a particular interest in eastern Afafter finishing sixth at the conference meet. She then set school rica. As she moves into her upper-division classes this fall, Maier indoor records in the 3000 and 5000 meters before capturing the brings the confidence that years of preparation will help ensure she MPSF league crown in the 3000. And in the spring, she finished is ready to handle the difficulties of more challenging courses and fourth in the 5000 meters at the Pac-10 championships, as well as greater expectations in her athletic specialties. ninth at the national NCAA meet, despite missing three key weeks of training due to injury. Maier’s list of accolades for her academic work is just as prestigious, if not more so, and has developed from a lifetime commitment to education that reaches throughout her entire family. “Pretty much all of my brothers and sisters were valedictorians or salutatorians in high school,” said Maier, who will compete as a junior this year. “Academics was definitely something that was held high in my house. My siblings set a standard to do your best and work hard. I saw growing up that they were able to get the jobs they wanted and get into the schools they wanted because they worked hard.” The college of choice for the Maier household has primarily been Cal. One of six children of Paul and Donna Maier, Deborah is the fifth to attend UC Berkeley. Her older brother, Chris, was also a member of the Golden Bear track and cross country teams a decade ago. “It wasn’t so much that they really pushed us and expected us to get straight A’s,” Maier said of her parents. “Starting at a young age, they would read to us and build a base for enjoying learning.” Among Maier’s scholastic honors to date at Cal are membership on the Pac-10 All-Academic and track & field coaches’ association All-Academic teams. In May, she received a Golden Bear Award for having the highest GPA on Cal’s cross country squad – 3.808 as a political science major. Maier said that the long training hours required to be an elite runner have clear benefits to aid her classroom achievements, using the time to escape from her schoolwork, relax and recharge. In addition, the workouts help provide the discipline needed to keep her focused on completing her assignments in a timely manner. “When you’re practicing and you need to get your sleep, you realize that you’re on a tight schedule and you need to get things done,” Maier said. “You can’t procrastinate. I find that I work better that way instead of thinking that I have plenty of time. There’s definitely Deborah Maier is carving out her own academic and athletic legacy at Cal. FALL 2010

home events 2010 FALL calendar

Au g ust

MBB WBB FH FB MGLF

Men’s Basketball (Haas Pavilion) Women’s Basketball (Haas Pavilion) Field Hockey (Maxwell Family Field) Football (Memorial Stadium) Men’s Golf (Meadow Club)

MSOC WSOC MTN WTN VB MWP

WSOC vs. Loyola Marymount

FB vs. Colorado VB vs. Seton Hall VB vs. Fresno State

MSOC vs. San Diego State WSOC vs. Washington VB vs. Washington State

Men’s Soccer (Edwards Stadium/Goldman Field) Women’s Soccer (Edwards Stadium/Goldman Field) Men’s Tennis (Meadowood Resort in St. Helena) Women’s Tennis (Hellman Tennis Center) Volleyball (Haas Pavilion) Men’s Water Polo (Spieker Aquatics Complex)

FB vs. Oregon

WBB vs. Saint Mary’s

MSOC vs. UNLV WSOC vs. Long Beach State

VB vs. Washington

FH vs. Miami (OH) WSOC vs. Santa Clara VB vs. UC Santa Barbara

MSOC vs. UCLA WSOC vs. Washington State MGLF hosts Alistair MacKenzie Invite

WSOC vs. San Francisco

WSOC vs. UC Irvine

VB vs. Manhattan

S eptemb er 3

VB vs. CS Bakersfield

17 18

MGLF hosts Alistair MacKenzie Invite

MWP in NorCal Tournament FH vs. Pacific

FB vs. Arizona State

MBB vs. Cal State Northridge MWP vs. Stanford VB vs. Stanford FB vs. Stanford MBB vs. New Mexico

WBB vs. Yale

MSOC vs. San Francisco MWP in NorCal Tournament WSOC vs. Pacific

MSOC vs. Oregon State FH vs. Stanford

WSOC vs. Stanford

FB vs. UC Davis MWP vs. UC Davis

FH vs. Michigan State WSOC vs. Rice

MWP vs. Santa Clara FH vs. UC Davis WSOC vs. Hawaii

MSOC vs. Saint Mary’s VB vs. UC Davis

WSOC vs. Portland

MSOC vs. Denver MWP vs. Pacific WTN hosts Cal Nike Invitational MTN hosts Napa Valley Classic

WTN hosts Cal Nike Invitational MTN hosts Napa Valley Classic

VB vs. Oregon State

MWP vs. Loyola Marymount WBB vs. Vanguard (exh.)

WSOC vs. Oregon VB vs. USC

FB vs. Washington WBB vs. Cal State Fullerton

WBB vs. Tulane/Portland State

Dec ember 1

MBB vs. UC Davis

MWP hosts NCAA Tournament

MBB vs. Sonoma State (exh.)

cal sports quarterly

VB vs. Arizona

MWP vs. Long Beach State WSOC vs. Oregon State

FB vs. UCLA MWP vs. UCLA FH vs. Harvard

VB vs. Oregon

Nov ember

MWP vs. UC Santa Barbara VB vs. UCLA

O ctober

MSOC vs. Washington

VB vs. Arizona State

MSOC vs. Stanford

MBB vs. San Diego State WBB vs. Long Beach State

MBB vs. Southern Mississippi

WBB vs. Rutgers

For a complete schedule, pick up a Cal schedule card at any home event or visit the official Cal website at www.CalBears.com.

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