BA Issue 88 Aug. 2014 by Sport Stars Magazine

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vol. 5. issue 88 bay area

August 2014

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are going to happen, and 34 Injuries that usually means a long day waiting at the hospital. But it doesn’t have to be the case.

The Bay Area has long been the epicenter of synchronized swimming. The Aquamaids and Aquanuts are on a path to return the area to the top of the montain.

Conwright doesn’t have 14 Jaden a driver’s license, but he’s still in command behind the wheel. 4

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BREAKDOWN: 10 STATE California. We’re a big state and we’re used to doing things large. The Little League World Series is no different. The Golden State was won the US or World title more than any other state in the union. Score Digital Content: Scan SSM With LAYAR

room: Summer movies 8 locker are, like, the best. Things blow up.

pitch: The 6 First summer doldrums

People get super powers. Plots are set aside so that more things can blow up. At SportStars, we love superheroes (fingers still crossed a radioactive something-or-the -other bites us) and we are geeked for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’.

are anything but boring at SportStars. Good stories know no season. on the cover Canyon Creek’s Ryan Kang. Photo by Phillip Walton

camps & Clinics

Find your sport. Turn to page 41.

Fence: Tryouts, sign-ups, 43 The fund-raisers and more!

45 Advertiser’s index

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Off the beaten path F

or as long as I’ve been writing about high school sports, at least 7-10 times a year, I have had the same question asked of me. I’ve been asked this question a bit more since we began SportStars, but I’d hear it when I was in the newspaper business as well. What do you guys do during the summer months? My canned response is usually along the lines of, ‘The days of high schoolers taking a summer off from sports are pretty much over.’ I go on to explain how we still follow many elite athletes and teams at the club levels. But in truth, we also look at summer as our own little break. Not so much a break from putting out magazines, but a break from the norm. Without the confines of the academic season sporting schedule, we can stretch our legs and find stories about high schoolers whose sports rarely find a spotlight from September to June. This issue — both the Sac-Joaquin and Bay Area editions — are perfect representations of how we like to spend our summer. We obviously get a boost from Little League, especially in the Bay Area where hundreds of soon-to-be-freshmen from across the U.S. and throughout the world, come to Livermore for the Intermediate Little League World Series. Those stories are fun, but still somewhat in our wheelhouse. The rest of these issues are a break from the norm. In the Bay Area we wrote about about a Newark Memorial sophomore who began open -wheel racing in the Formula Car Challenge Series this past March — when he was still just 14 years old. We also took a close look at the sport of synchronized swimming and how the Bay Area practically pioneered the sport behind two clubs who continue to churn out national-level talent. Seriously, if you didn’t know that half the U.S. National Team roster for synchronized swimming came from Bay Area clubs, well you wouldn’t be alone. It is, and many of them are high schoolers or very recent graduates. In the Sac-Joaquin edition, writer Jim McCue dives into trap shooting and how it’s taken off as a high school club sport. (De La Salle fans, this is a story worth looking up on SportStarsOnline.com, as the Spartans are featured prominently as a team quickly encroaching on the long-dominant foothill schools.) McCue also spent an evening with retiring Sac-Joaquin Section Commissioner Pete Saco and put together a solid feature on the man and the lasting legacy he’ll be leaving. That’s four stories that we just don’t get to stretch our legs on in the fall, winter and spring. But they fit our mindset perfectly these days. I now look forward to the next person to casually ask me how we spend our summers at the magazine. I’ve got four solid examples to offer up. And in the meantime, I’ll be plotting out our 64-page football preview due out on Aug. 21. Because, well, you know. ✪

join our team PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Ben Enos, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Dean Coppola, Berry Evans, III Marketing/Events Ryan Arter Editorial Intern Mike Young Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Leslie Ellis • Leslie@SportStarsOnline.com Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsOnline.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com Central Valley, World Events: Anthony Grigsby • Area Director anthony.grigsby@worldeventssports.com Darin Wissner • dwissner@wordeventssports.com Reader Resources/Administration Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Angela Paradise • Info@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution/Delivery Phillip Walton • Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA 94521 • info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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your ticket to california sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #5, August 2014 Whole No. 88 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010-2014 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 16 issues, U.S. 3rd class $35 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 per copy for $6 total fo bulk. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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Rapid Fire

MILES HARRISON Clayton Valley Charter, Football

ian book Oak Ridge, Footbal

talent you wish you had Singing

Trending What’s hot this week in the world of stuff that’s hot Garth Brooks is kicking off his big comeback tour in Chicago. Yeah … we don’t care either. Wait, no. Maybe we care a little. No. No, it was gas. Apologies. Jason Biggs was in trouble for shooting off his mouth about Malaysian Air. It’s hard to believe that it’s come to this, but I guess we can’t count on the cast of ‘American Pie’ for cogent news analysis anymore. A man dressed as Spider-Man was arrested for punching a police officer in Times Square. See? Right there? Already it’s got a better plot than The Amazing SpiderMan 2.

Football is back as NFL training camps have FINALLY opened. So, uhhh, have the Raiders been mathematically eliminated yet?

Able to solve a Rubik's Cube

favorite new song 'Lifestyle' by Young Thug

'Burning Bridges' by OneRepublic

best way to stay cool on hot summer days

Go swimming

Go to Folsom Lake

favorite food to bbq Ribs

Steak

goal for the coming school year Earn a scholarship, go to college

Good grades, lead team to SJS title

ComicCon is happening. This would be a good time to make fun of them nerds down there in San Diego if we didn’t spend a good chunk of the weekend Googling Batman v. Superman trailer footage. Didn’t find it. Curse you, Luther.

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count 'em Number of sets that the Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy’s 17U boys team lost in the Open Division of the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships in Houston from July 2-5. Pac Rim went 11-0 in the tournament (taking 22 of 23 sets) and earned what is believed to be the Bay Area’s first boys club national title. The roster of the Pleasant Hill-based club includes standouts from CampolindoMoraga, California-San Ramon, Clayton Valley Charter-Concord, Deer Valley-Antioch, Miramonte-Orinda, St. IgnatiusS.F. and St. VincentPetaluma.

Top 5 reasons that we're geeked for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Well, it’s nearly August. And you know what that means: Not much, in the world of sports. Sure, sure, both local nines are in hot pursuit of the postseason. And, yeah, yeah, training camps are opening up in the blazing summer heat. But really? Not much going on. Which means we get to turn our attention to even more vitally important topics, like politics, global warming, the latest scandalous celebrity pics on TMZ. Or. Wait! Superseding ALL of that! Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1. And you know what that means? Exploding stuff. Here are the top five reasons we will be in line early on July 31 for the midnight showing. 1. Groot: What’s not to like about a gigantic tree monster that can only say, “I am Groot?” We think even Vin Diesel will be able to remember his lines in this role. Bonus: the tree’s forehead is way more realistic than Vin’s. 2. Drax: Casting a former professional wrestler (Dave Bautista, aka The Animal) as a muscle-bound knife-wielding psychopath. Bit of a stretch, huh? 3. Zoe Saldana: Just. Zoe Saldana. 4. Rocket Raccoon: It’s no surprise Marvel tapped Bradley Cooper as the voice of the violently aggressive anthropomorphic smart-ass. They have the same hairstyle. 5. Moneyball: You knew we couldn’t go all five without a sports item. But was anyone else stunned to see Scott Hatteberg as Star-Lord, Peter Quill? Maybe there’s still a chance they can get Art Howe to play Kang the Conqueror. Oh man. We nerded out for a second there, huh? — Comic Book Kolb

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The Golden State has long dominated the summer’s game

California in the

Little League World Series Sean Burroughs/CalHi Sports File 1993

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Golden State teams have won the U.S. or world title in Williamsport 20 times, which dwarfs the total from any other state. Every summer in a Pennsylvania community that is still small enough to have just one high school, tens of thousands gather at Howard J. Lamade Stadium outside Williamsport to watch 12-year-old boys (with a few 11-year-olds thrown in) compete for the crown of Little League World Series champions. California teams have become a force in the event, which began in 1947 and later became televised on ABC and ESPN. The state’s teams have won the title or reached the final game against an international opponent 20 times. The next highest states are Florida and Pennsylvania with just five similar finishes, although in recent years teams from Georgia and Hawaii have performed strongly. To qualify for the Little League World Series, a California team first must win the West Regional title, which has been decided at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino since 1971. Both a Northern California and a Southern California champion head to San Bernardino and compete against teams representing Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Even when a California team does not win the U.S. championship or the Little League World Series itself, it’s very rare for a California team not to be among the best. In 2012, that was the case when the boys from Petaluma (in Northern California) lost in the U.S. final to Goodlettsville (Tenn.) 24-16 in perhaps the wildest game in LLWS history. In that game, Petaluma scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to come back from a 15-5 deficit, only to see Goodlettsville score nine in the top of the sixth. The best player to have starred in the major leagues who played on a championship California Little League World Series team has been Carney Lansford, who was on the 1969 team from Santa Clara as a boy. Lansford went on to appear in a World Series three times for the Oakland A’s, winning once. He also won an American League batting title and was second in batting in another season. There have been three future NFL quarterbacks who played on California Little League teams that reached the finals in Williamsport. The first was Brian Sipe from El Cajon in 1961. He was followed by Gale Gilbert of Red Bluff (1974) and Matt Cassel of Northridge (1994). Here is a closer look at the nine teams from California that have won it all or reached the title game (losing to an international opponent) since 1991:

CHULA VISTA (2013)

Four years after Park View Little League of Chula Vista went to Williamsport and won it all, nearby Eastlake Little League won the U.S. title but fell short in a 6-4 loss to Japan in the LLWS championship. Unlike the West Region tournament, when Chula Vista suffered a loss to Belmont-Redwood Shores (the Northern California team) only to bounce back and win 9-0 in the final, the San Diego County squad didn’t lose until reaching the final against the international bracket champion.

HUNTINGTON BEACH (2011)

Nick Pratto came through for the Californians with a basesloaded RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to give them a 2-1 walk-off win over Japan in the championship game. For the series, Huntington Beach outscored its foes by a remarkable 35-3 margin.

CHULA VISTA (2009)

Of all the California teams to have won it all in Williamsport, this one may have to be regarded as the most imposing. Led by 6-foot-2, 212-pound Luke Ramirez, Chula Vista set a record with 19 home runs en route to its world title. In the U.S. championship, Chula Vista (managed by Oscar Castro) scored nine runs in the first inning en route to a mercy-rule 12-2 victory against San Antonio (Texas). In the final, it came from behind to beat Chinese Taipei 6-3.

THOUSAND OAKS (2004)

History wasn’t on the side of the Californians in the championship game as Willemstad of Curacao became the first team from a Caribbean island nation to win the title with a 5-2 triumph. Thousand Oaks won the U.S. championship with a 3-0 win over Preston (Md.). Sean McIntyre shined in that game with three hits, two RBIs and was the winning pitcher.

MISSION VIEJO (1997)

In the most heartbreaking final for a California team, Mexico scored four times in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Mission Viejo 5-4. Nick Moore’s third homer of the week helped Mission

Viejo take a 4-1 lead into the sixth, three outs away from the world title. The California squad (managed by Jim Gattis) crushed Bradenton (Fla.) 12-1 in the U.S. championship.

NORTHRIDGE (1994)

This team served as inspiration to a community that had been devastated seven months earlier by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that left 57 dead. The Northridge boys shut out Springfield (Va.) 3-0 in the U.S. final on a one-hitter by Nathaniel Dunlap and a three-run homer in the first inning by Spencer Gordon. In the final against Venezuela, Gordon homered in the fifth to cut the score to 4-3, but the Californians couldn’t get the tying run across.

LONG BEACH (1993)

Jeremy Hess came through with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the sixth to give Long Beach a 3-2 triumph in the final over Panama. The win on the field contrasted sharply with the year before when Long Beach lost to the Philippines only to learn one month later of Philippines having used illegal players. In the U.S. final, Sean Burroughs threw his second no-hitter of the week and crushed a pair of homers as Long Beach trounced Bedford (N.H.) 11-0. Burroughs had perhaps the best career of any player in Little League history.

LONG BEACH (1992)

The first of an unprecedented two straight LLWS crowns for Long Beach did not get decided on the field. The California boys had lost 15-4 to the Philippines, but one month later were awarded the title due to ineligible players being used by the international squad. Long Beach earned the U.S. title by defeating Hamilton Square (N.J.) 1-0 with 11-year-old Sean Burroughs throwing the shutout and Ryan Beaver hitting a home run in the sixth inning.

DANVILLE (1991)

Jason Barringer ripped a pair of homers and Kevin Graham had a three-run shot as Danville (representing the San Ramon Valley Little League) cruised past Staten Island (N.Y.) 13-4 to earn a trip to the championship game. The California team (managed by Troy Ward) was shut down in the final 11-0 by Taiwan.

Visit the online version of this column at SportStarsOnline.com to view the other 10 California teams who have reached a Little League World Series final. There you can also learn more about the Cal-Hi Sports e-book “California: The Baseball Capital of the World.” ✪

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Still a year away from having a driver’s license, Fremont’s Jaden Conwright is proving to be one of the Bay Area’s most promising racing talents

teve Brisentine had a hard time believing what he was hearing. The 53-year-old San Ramon-native had come to renown World Speed Motorsports at Sonoma Raceway to talk about the logistics of beginning a driver development scholarship program. He had recently purchased a Mazda FormulaSPEED2.0 race car and wanted to sponsor a driver for one season of the Formula Car Challenge West Coast Series. World Speed was more than encouraging and happy to sign on as part of the project. Then the talk turned to how to find a driver. That’s when World Speed president Telo Stewart caught Brisentine off guard. “He said we’d need someone from 14 to 18 yearsold,” said Brisentine, a long-time representative for a Livermore-based electronics company who was only just beginning to immerse himself in the racing world. “I said, ‘Really? I’m naive to all this, but you want to put a 14 year-old in a race car?’” As it turned out, after a month’s worth of promotion, 35-plus applicants and a test day between four finalists, it was a 14-year-old who emerged as the most qualified candidate for the driver scholarship. While Brisentine was finalizing the purchase of his first race car, Jaden Conwright was in his first semester at Newark Memorial High in Fremont. He was still more than a year away from even being able to visit the DMV and test for a learner’s permit. But he could drive the heck out of a go kart. Conwright began racing with Quarter Midgets when he was 7 and moved to karting a year later by attending the now-defunct Jim Russell Drivers School at Sonoma Raceway. By the time he was 12 he’d already won an International Karting Federation (IKF) Junior 2-Cycle national title. “I don’t know where it came from,” Kim Lee-Conwright said of her son’s passion and natural talent for racing. “We came across a test day for Quarter Midgets and let him try it. He got in the car and the rest is history.”

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Jaden Conwright got his start by racing Go Karts. And despite his meteoric rise and development in kart racing, nobody could’ve predicted how naturally he’d transition to an actual car. The Mazda FormulaSPEED2.0 cars are Indy-style open-wheel cars designed and built by World Speed. They feature a 195-horsepower two-liter engine, which is essentially the same engine that can be found in a Mazda Miata. The car weighs about 1300 pounds when adding the driver and can top out at speeds close to 130 miles per hour. Conwright joined Brisentine’s VMB Driver Development the first week of March — just 10 days before the Formula Car Challenge’s first West Coast race of the season at Sonoma Raceway. Making things more daunting was the fact that his young age prevented him from doing any on-track testing before the race weekend. “When I finally got the scholarship, I was relieved,” Conwright said. “Then I found out that I had no practice or anything, and (Sonoma) was the track I was afraid of the most out of all them. I had to come out to the track I was most nervous about with no practice in the car hardly at all.” And he won. The Formula Car Challenge races feature three classes of formula cars all on the same track at the same time in a timed 30-minute race. The Pro Formula Mazdas are the fastest, followed by the Formula Mazdas and then the FormulaSPEED2.0 cars. They are ranked together in qualifying, but are only measured against their own class once the race starts. Conwright was the fastest of the three 2.0 cars in that first race at Sonoma on March 15. He was leading the group the following day when he suffered a blown tire and was forced to pit before finishing third. “I remember thinking,‘How well is he going to be able to drive a car because he can’t even drive a street car?,’” said Kevin Harrison, the World Speed team manager who worked with Conwright during that first weekend. “He definitely surpassed any expectations that I had for the first time. I was like, ‘Wow, he’s got it. Just like any other sport probably. Like in football when you see an elite quarterback and you say wow, that guy, he’s just got it.” In the four race weekends which have followed, Conwright has taken first in six of the eight races. Three wins came at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows in April and May, one came at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas in early June and he swept both races at Portland International Raceway over the Fourth of July Weekend. “He’s got tons of talent and tons of car control — more than I’ve seen out of a lot of karters, or any drivers at his age,” World Speed mechanic Max Martin said. Martin has been with Conwright through all five race weekends, acting as both mechanic and his radio contact during the races. “They could’ve got someone winning the sponsorship who didn’t progress as much as he’s had. He’s really done a great job of taking care of the car all year.” Conwright has already locked up the points title for the 2.0 class with two races left in the West Coast series. The final two races happen Sept. 13-14 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Because he doesn’t meet the age requirement to participate in test days at Sonoma or Laguna Seca, Conwright keeps his driving skills sharp by continuing his kart racing during the gaps in the Formula Car Challenge schedule. He currently sits fourth in the Red Line Oil Karting Championships standings despite racing in just three of the first five faces. For all intents and purposes, Conwright’s scholarship season with Brisentine and VMB will conclude with the September races in Salinas. Harrison, and fellow team manager and engineer Jan Trojan, both believe he would be ready to move up from the 2.0 to Formula Mazda class in 2015. He could do so with World Speed, but it’ll be a matter of whether the Conwright’s can find the financing to do it. 16

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The first step would be a car. World Speed may be able to provide a car, but it’s unclear at this point. Brisentine said he may also look into purchasing a second car to help keep the VMB racers in the series after the scholarship ends. But even if a car is available, the cost of one weekend of racing usually starts around $2,000. “There are so many talented kids who want to become race car drivers but just don’t have the financial resources for it,” Brisentine said. “It’s not like going to sign up for soccer or baseball and playing $400 for a season. ... So that’s the frustrating thing. If we can go out and get sponsors to help defray their costs (for the next season), that’s our goal.” Conwright, who was an honors student during his first year at Newark Memorial, is determined to have a career in racing. He’d like it to be a driver, but is interested in the engineering side as well. “I’ve always wanted to race,” the young driver said. “We’re always going to try and consider ways (to move up). It’s just a matter of coming up with the money, because it’s such a big investment.” But if the professionals at World Speed are right about Conwright, there could be a time soon enough when it will be a third party investing in the young man’s talents. “He has a jump start,” Trojan said. “There’s a lot of fast drivers out there. But for his age, he’s definitely three to four years ahead of most people. “There’s really no limitations for him.” ✪

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Some of the best 13- and 14-year-old Little Leaguers in the world will take Max Baer Field in Livermore from July 29-Aug. 4. This year it can truly be advertised as bigger and better as the tournament will feature one more international team than the inaugural series did a year ago. The Europe/Africa Region will have its first representative in the form of South Moravia from the Czech Republic. We’re thrilled to be a part of the event once again. And we’ll bring something new this year as well. In addition to previewing the event here, and covering it through SportStarsOnline.com and our social media sites, this year we’ll also be holding our own event in conjunction with the series. Our SportsJam Field of Dreams event presented by Kaiser Permanente will take place Aug. 2-3 on an adjacent field to Max Baer. It will feature a variety of fun activities and clinics for fans of all sports, not just baseball. Once you’ve flipped through this primer, make sure to check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites for plenty of updates throughout the week of competition. Enjoy the games! — Chace Bryson, Editor

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#20

JORDAN NEVAREZ Favorite Baseball Team: San Francisco Giants Favorite Baseball Player: Troy Tulowitzki

Favorite Baseball Moment: “Whenever we’re winning a game.”

Favorite Non-Baseball Hobby: Hanging out with friends or swimming Why He’s Excited About the LLWS: “We’re having fun and have the chance to go to the championship.” Favorite Superhero: My Dad Biggest Inspiration: My Dad

Favorite TV Show: Shark Tank

#28

brian kang

Favorite Baseball Team: San Francisco Giants Favorite Baseball Player: Buster Posey Favorite Baseball Moment: Winning the District 54 title (to qualify for LLWS) Favorite Non-Baseball Hobby: Watching movies with friends Why He’s Excited About the LLWS: “Having the experience with all the other kids.” Favorite Superhero: Iron Man Favorite TV Show: The Walking Dead

#17 ryan kang

Favorite Baseball Team: San Francisco Giants Favorite Baseball Player: Derek Jeter Favorite Baseball Moment: Hitting a home run last year Favorite Non-Baseball Hobby: Hanging out with friends Why He’s Excited About the LLWS: “Meeting all the top teams around the world and facing them.” Favorite Superhero: Superman Favorite Movie: World War Z

meet more of the team! Meet more of the Canyon Creek LL team at

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U.S. TEAMS CALIFORNIA: CANYON CREEK LL Home: San Ramon. Miles To Livermore: 13 Quick Facts: The District 54 host team should feel pretty good about its chances to compete after the team it beat in the District 54 final lost in the Divisional championship to El Dorado Hills. That ED Hills team lost to Nogales National (Ariz.) in the West Region final. CENTRAL: TAYLOR LL Home: Taylor, Michigan. Miles To Livermore: 2,047 Quick Facts: Michigan represents the Central for the second straight year. Georgetown LL of Jenison, MI., went 1-2 a year ago. Taylor is the hometown of former Atlanta Braves pitcher, Steve Avery. EAST: BERLIN LL Home: Berlin, Maryland. Miles To Livermore: 2,510 Quick Facts: The Berlin All-Stars blasted their way through the East Regional, going 6-0 and outscoring opponents 86-20. Berlin’s historic downtown was used as the film location for movies “The Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting.” SOUTHEAST: BARBOURSVILLE LL Home: Barboursville, West Virginia. Miles To Livermore: 2,134 Quick Facts: Barboursville scored in double digits in every game of the Southeast Regional. The team won the regional final 18-7 over Fort Myers American LL (Florida). Barboursville’s town motto is “The Best Little Village In the State” SOUTHWEST: MID CITY LL Home: Midland, Texas. Miles To Livermore: 1,182 Quick Facts: The boys of Midland are the second Texas representative for the Southwest. Post Oak LL of Houston was undefeated before losing the 2013 U.S. final. Midland is the home city for the Oakland A’s double-A affiliate, the Rockhounds. WEST: NOGALES NATIONAL LL Home: Nogales, Arizona. Miles To Livermore: 756 Quick Fact: Nogales National, which hosts the West Regional tournament, is making its second straight trip to Livermore. Nogales had a rough go last year, finishing 1-2 overall. INTERNATIONAL TEAMS ASIA-PACIFIC: GYEONGGI LL Home: Gyeonggi, South Korea. Miles To Livermore: 5,632 Quick Fact: It will be up to the boys of Gyeonggi LL to defend the World Series title for the Asia-Pacific Region. Izumisano LL of Osaka, Japan, won it all a year ago. This team defeated Japan’s representative 4-2 in the Asian-Pacific Region final. CANADA: WHALLEY LL Home: Surrey, British Columbia. Miles To Livermore: 797 Quick Fact: The team from Whalley will be hoping to give Canada its first Intermediate World Series victory after a winless trip for last year’s Northern representative from Lethbridge, Alberta. Whalley went 6-0 at in its regional tournament. EUROPE-AFRICA: SOUTH MORAVIA LL Home: Brno, Czech Republic. Miles To Livermore: 5,923 Quick Fact: South Moravia is the first team to represent the Europe-Africa region at the Intermediate World Series. Coincidentally, South Moravia’s 12 year-old Majors All-Stars will be the representative in Williamsport, Penn., too. LATIN AMERICAN: PABAO LL Home: Willemstad, Curaçao. Miles To Livermore: 3,698 Quick Fact: Pabao LL has sent five 12 year-old Majors All-Star teams to Willamsport. The 2004 was the first Caribbean nation team to win it. That team featured current MLB players Jurickson Profar (Rangers) and Jonathan Schoop (Orioles). PUERTO RICO: SAMARITANA LL Home: San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Miles To Livermore: 3,609 Quick Fact: The Samaritana All-Stars will be trying to build upon the strong showing their country’s representative delivered a year ago. The team from Yabucoba, PR, lost just twice in its trip to Livermore — both to eventual-champion Japan. Note: Distances to Livermore calculated at www.distancefromto.net

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California

Central

Walk the Walk

Latin America

Livermore held its second annual parade welcoming the teams of the Intermediate Little League World Series. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a few of our Photos by favorite shots. For more shots of the parade and action throughout Phillip Walton the tournament, be sure to LIKE us at Facebook.com/SportStars

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Two world-renown clubs have made the Bay Area an epicenter for synchronized swimming. Can those clubs put the U.S. back atop international podiums?

By david kiefer | Contributor

ere in the Bay Area, when we think of the success of our sports teams, a quick rundown of Super Bowls, World Series, and even the odd NBA championship may conjure up great memories. But as for sustained greatness at the highest level, one sport stands above the rest: synchronized swimming. The Santa Clara Aquamaids and Walnut Creek Aquanuts not only have combined for 27 national team championships, but regularly form the backbone of U.S. National and Olympic teams. A glance at USA Synchro’s website roster reveals that more than half of the 23-swimmer combined roster for the junior and senior national team is comprised of Aquamaids and Aquanuts, most of whom have attended area high schools. The list includes Claire Barton, Katie Gu, Isabel Malcolmson, Rebecca Moody, Sarah Rodriguez, Karensa Tjoa, and Amanda Urke of the Aquamaids. And Karina Boyle, Gillian Brassil, Dana Drury, Joanna Langner, and Sandra Ortellado of the Aquanuts. “It’s really a strong rivalry, but it’s healthy and good” said 2008 Olympian Kim Probst, who swam for and now coaches the Aquanuts. “With the U.S. struggling at

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Santa Clara Aquamaid, Claire Barton, competes for the U.S. in a duet with Sarah Rodriguez during the FINA 2013 World Championships in Mexico City last November. Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

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Sync your calendars August will be a busy month for both clubs. Here’s a couple of key dates to make note of. ›› AUG 10-16: The UANA Pan American Age Group Championships at the Riverside Aquatics Center in Riverside. Follow the event at www.uana-aquatics.org ›› AUG. 29-AUG. 31: The Aquanuts host the 45th anniversary of their iconic fall showcase in a theatrical format, complete with lights a 3-D stage and glittering costumes. This year’s theme is ‘Earth Odyssey’. Tickets available at aquanuts.org or through Sports Basement. ›› AUG. 30: The Aquamaids celebrate their 50th Anniversary with an extravagant event at the Mayer Theatre on the campus of Santa Clara University. For tickets or more information, contact Dawn Billman at dawn_billman@yahoo.com or call 650-274-0278

Brian Horii/Walnut Creek Aquanuts

Recent Northgate-Walnut Creek grad and U.S. National Team member, Karina Boyle, competes for the Walnut Creek Aquanuts at the National Championships last April.

the international level now, it’s really brought us together. We’re more unified and willing to work together to get it back on track.” That’s the next challenge for both clubs, to be at the forefront of a U.S. resurgence. The U.S., led by individuals such as matriarchs Gail Emery of the Aquanuts and Chris Carver of the Aquamaids, was among the countries that pushed hard for inclusion in the Olympic Games and was among the early powers. Synchro was unveiled as a medal sport in 1984 and, for the first three Games, the U.S. and Canada won every medal. However, since 2000, Russia has won every gold. And, in 2012, the U.S. failed to earn one of the eight qualifying spots for London. In fact, U.S. synchro was represented by only a single duet team, which included the Aquanuts’ Mariya Koroleva, a graduate of Las Lomas High in Walnut Creek. The problem, says Stanford coach Sara Lowe, a former Aquamaids’ star, is that the U.S. has changed in both style and training, while countries like Russia and China are taking different approaches and have greater funding. “The sport is much faster now,” said Lowe, who moved from Texas to join the Aquamaids at age 15 and graduated from Monta Vista-Cupertino. “I see the pros and cons of it. When I was growing up, we were doing things a lot more controlled. Technical skills were required then and there were no acrobatic lifts or throws. “Today’s sport is much faster, with a number of acrobatic movements. Now, you’re not getting the technical side until they’re seniors. It’s hard to teach that when you get to that level.” Lowe, who won a team bronze in the 2004 Olympics, also sees an emphasis internationally on land-based training – including strength and cardio and core training. While U.S. clubs are also going that direction, “you’re going to see a bigger shift in the next couple of years,” she said. “It’ll be interesting to see what happens.” One difference in the U.S., is the need to attract young swimmers. The U.S. doesn’t have academies where swimmers are supplied by national governing bodies. In fact, U.S. Synchro gets no funding from organizations like the U.S. Olympic Committee. “When you’re a club, you have to hook them with an element of fun,” Probst said. “They love the music, they love to swim, they love to dance. They put athleticism first and synchro second.” 30

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Gary Chow/Santa Clara Aquamaids (left), CREDIT (RIGHT): Brian Horii/Walnut Creek Aquanuts

LEFT: Celine Joo, left, and U.S. National Team member Katie Gu, perform for the Aquamaids. RIGHT: U.S. National Team member Dana Drury gets her dance on in a routine with the Aquanuts. It was that confluence of music and movement that drew Carver. Growing up in 1950’s Palo Alto, Carver was heavily influenced by actress Esther Williams, whose film roles showcased what would become synchronized swimming. The essence of the sport is essentially unchanged since Williams mesmerized audiences with grace and style, inspiring a new form of movement and athletic competition. Carver, who became the Aquamaids’ head coach in 1984 and continues in that role, took it one step further, building a reputation as an innovative choreographer and coaching her teams to dynamic performances. Four Aquamaids — Becky Dyroen-Lancer, Jill Sudduth, Suzannah Bianco and Heather Simmons-Carrasco — came up through the club’s age-group program and culminated their careers by winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games in team routines choreographed and coached by Carver. In Walnut Creek, Emery created a coaching tree that rivals that of Bill Walsh. Besides heading the Aquanuts for 30 years and serving as the head coach of three U.S. Olympic teams, three of her protégés — Heather Olsen, Tammy McGregor, and Probst — won U.S. Synchro Coach of the Year honors after being coached or mentored by Emery. Emery was on the U.S. team that competed in an exhibition at the 1972 Munich Games in the hopes of drawing support for future inclusion. Today, she is retired from official coaching roles, but remains a daily presence at the pool, teaching youngsters how to swim, or serving as a sounding board for the club coaches. “She was hugely instrumental in getting our sport added to the Olympic Games,” Probst said. “Gail was probably my biggest influence. She was hard on me, but tender. She has this unique ability to be able to communicate with any age group and with swimmers of any ability.” Largely because of these two individuals, the clubs grew in stature and the Bay Area became the U.S. capital of synchronized swimming, drawing from around the country, and even the world. But it’s not easy. Certainly synchro is one of the most demanding sports around. Besides the conditioning and flexibility, there is that water part of it, too. When the Aquamaids’ Claire Barton is asked to provide an insight into synchronized swimming, she offers this comparison: “It’s like running a mile while holding your breath for half the time,” Barton said. “And smiling at the same time.” Barton spent as much as seven or eight hours a day in the pool, even while attending Los Gatos High, where she graduated this spring. “Sometimes, it’s hard to keep smiling,” she said. “You think, ‘I’m exhausted. I just can’t do this.’ But 32

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you have this club pride. It takes you to another level. That’s what gets me through the day.” Elite competitors describe a sport that’s perhaps unparalleled in its demand for long hours and precise teamwork. This combination creates close relationships that make the process worthwhile. Barton, whose mother Patti was a longtime synchro coach and sister Carrie, a 2000 Olympian, said she would often stay awake until 2 a.m. doing homework, but still managed to secure A’s and manage her time. “When you have a limited amount of time, it doesn’t matter how tired you are,” she said. “You just know that you have to finish. “But I don’t have any regrets. I got to go to my prom and to graduation. I went to all the dances. I don’t feel like I missed anything in high school. And I gained so much with synchro. They’re my second family.” While Barton has committed to compete through the 2020 Olympics, Karina Boyle is retiring from competition. Boyle, a four-time senior national-team selection and a recent graduate of Northgate High in Walnut Creek, will attend UC Santa Cruz this fall. “I wanted to experience college as a normal student,” she said. “It’s time for me to focus on the rest of my life.” Boyle remembers being awed by the experience of attending one of Walnut Creek’s summer swim shows with her friend, Rina Horii. The theme was “Under the Sea,” taken from the animated film, “The Little Mermaid.” “It was my favorite movie of all time,” Boyle said. “I said, ‘I have to do this!’” As Boyle progressed through the ranks, she set her goals toward the 2016 Olympics. But over the past year, she grew to realize that the Olympics didn’t seem as realistic as they once did. Plus, she felt her priorities beginning to change. Boyle is not ready to give up synchro altogether. She’ll continue to come to the pool and help the young swimmers if she can. “It was a very tough decision,” Boyle said. “My life was shaped around synchro. It made me a more confident person. I was completely shy. I would never go up to a new person and talk. But through performing, I’ve learned to project confidence in everything I do.” Boyle has one last performance in her. She will perform in Walnut Creek’s annual swim show in late August — the event that turned her on to the sport, and ignited her Olympic dreams. Perhaps she also will inspire another young swimmer, who will dream big while getting a chance to swim, dance, and smile all at the same time. What could be better? ✪ Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

getting treated: hunter greene, m.d.

Many common sports injuries can be treated at urgent orthopedic care facilities with much less hassle than a hospital Broken bones, sprains and other injuries happen when we least expect them: on the playing field, on the job and even in our own backyards. When an injury occurs, we often turn to the nearest emergency room or urgent care clinic for treatment. However, these are not always the best options. In a hospital emergency room, you run the risk of a long wait time, exposure to others’ conditions, and a costly medical bill. And a traditional urgent care clinic, while convenient for many medical problems, usually lacks the expertise of an orthopedic professional. For an urgent orthopedic problem or injury, an orthopedic urgent care clinic can offer a less expensive, less stressful alternative to the ER, with the orthopedic expertise you may not find at a standard urgent care clinic. At an orthopedic urgent care clinic, patients access care from orthopedic specialists during and after normal business hours. Patients are accepted on a walk-in basis and typically are seen in less than an hour. Orthopedic urgent care clinics are staffed with trained orthopedic professionals who provide a complete array of treatments for conditions such as: Complex fractures

Sports injuries

Cuts and abrasions

Painful or swollen joints

Injuries resulting from an accident or fall

Sprains and strains

Musculoskeletal pain or injuries Concussion evaluation

Sudden or acute pain

Most orthopedic urgent care clinics have on-site digital X-ray facilities, casting/splinting capabilities, and the ability to repair lacerations. The specialists at an orthopedic urgent care clinic will follow you from diagnosis and treatment through your rehabilitation and recovery, while a general practitioner or emergency room physician may refer you to an orthopedic specialist for follow-up care. Typically, urgent care centers contract with most major health plans and patients’ insurance is verified at the time of service. As with any medical appointment, be sure to bring your current valid insurance ID with you. Knowledge of medical history and medications you’re currently taking is also helpful. Unlike an emergency room, orthopedic urgent care clinics are not equipped to care for severe injuries or non-orthopedic problems, such as chest pain, and are typically not open 24-hours-a-day. In addition, orthopedic urgent care clinics are not designed to treat life-threatening medical emergencies. If you do experience a life-threatening emergency, you should always call 911. Due to the smaller scale and lower volume of patients, orthopedic urgent care clinics can provide efficient care, saving you time and money. The next time you’re injured, remember that an orthopedic urgent care clinic offers a convenient alternative for receiving high quality care. ✪ Hunter Greene, M.D., is a board certified orthopedic surgeon with Summit Orthopedic Specialists in Carmichael, CA. He specializes in adult and pediatric sports medicine. Summit offers comprehensive orthopedic care and an orthopedic urgent care clinic.

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get mental: erika carltson

Do you fear

success

Believe it or not, many athletes may not reach their goals because they fear the pressure success might create

As athletes, we dream of one day cashing in on all the blood, sweat and tears for the glory of our sport. We imagine winning the championship, earning the scholarship and even winning the gold medal. Ironically, many of us also fear success. Surprisingly, at times we actively sabotage our chances of success. Why on earth would we purposely diminish our chances for the glory we dream of? Intuitively we fear that a fully executed commitment also sets us up for a complete failure. A failure that comes without excuses and may bring truths that we don’t want to face. Success can also bring the crushing weight of pressure. Pressure to continue to be successful. Pressure to meet the expectations that your success established. It can be a lot to live up to. What does fear of success look like? ›› Not completing your workouts for the week. ›› Not eating proper nutrition/poor timing with eating ›› Not getting proper sleep and recovery needed to manage your training load. ›› Getting frustrated and deciding that you just can’t get better, stronger or faster. ›› Spending a lot of time thinking in the future about “what ifs” (“What if I win the sprint and now I’m expected to always win the sprint? What if I win the tournament and now everyone is watching me and expecting me to win?”) Fear of success is subtle and often hard to detect, but it deviously undermines our best performance. Here are some tips to help minimize and overcome fear of success. ›› Set up a weekly goal plan with everything you need to do in order to be prepared for game day. Update and execute this plan every week with 100 percent commitment. ›› Share your goal plan with your coaches, trainers and/or your sport psychology professional to review for additional accountability. ›› Manage your self-talk to be sure you are staying focused and not giving yourself permission to let down. ›› Manage emotions that can lead to irrational behavior which may make us feel “justified” in not staying committed. ›› Discuss your fears out loud with your coach, trainer or sport psychology professional to give them a voice and to help get some strategies to overcome. I often say, it’s your mental game that controls your physical game. Being mentally strong allows you to prepare and perform your best. Performing your best is nothing to be afraid of. ✪ Erika Carlson is a certified mental trainer and owner of Excellence in Sports Performance in Pleasanton.w

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training time: tim rudd for iyca

FIVE RULES for athlete nutrition Following these simple eating guidelines could dramatically improve your health and performance

Do you know the types of things athletes must do to improve their health, body composition and performance? As a Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach, I have the most up-to-date, scientific-based researched and practical nutrition strategies at my fingertips. Everything I teach my athletes is based on the 3S criteria, developed by Precision Nutrition. SIMPLE: Are the rules easy to follow? SCIENCE-BASED: Are the rules based on sound scientific principles? SUCCESSFUL: Have the rules produced success in others like your athletes? A system based on those three things is absolutely critical. To help you out, here are the exact rules I’ve used with my athletes for years. 1. EAT EVERY FEW (3-4) HOURS: Now, the athletes don’t need to eat a full meal every few hours — some of them can be smaller snacks. But every few hours they should be getting a dose of good food that follows the other rules below. 2. INCLUDE PROTEIN-DENSE FOODS IN EACH MEAL AND SNACK: The most proteindense and high-quality proteins come from animal foods (chicken, beef, fish, dairy etc.) 3. INCLUDE VEGETABLES IN EACH MEAL OR SNACK: One of the best and easiest things athletes can do to improve their health and performance is to include veggies in each meal or snack. 4. EAT MOSTLY UNPROCESSED CARBOHYDRATES: This includes things like rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. These should come from whole food sources that contain no more than three ingredients if packaged. Athletes should control their portions, limiting them to a cupped palm size with each meal. 5. INCLUDE A GOOD BALANCE OF HEALTHY FAT IN YOUR DIET (There are three types of fat): ■ Monounsaturated fat should come from mixed nuts, olives, and olive oil. ■ Polyunsaturated fat should from flax seed oil, fish oil, and mixed nuts. ■ Saturated fat come from animal proteins, butter and coconut oil. Eating all three kinds in a healthy balance can dramatically improve one’s health, performance and body composition. Those five rules alone will have athletes eating better — and performing better — than 85-90 percent of their competition. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

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tri steps: liz elliott

Beat The Heat Summer tips for outdoor endurance training Woohoo, it’s summer! Bring on the summer heat and training.

Most endurance athletes — especially triathletes — spend a lot of our time

training and racing in the heat of the day.

For summer training and competitions, cover your skin and hydrate. Hydra-

tion is not just water. It’s having a balance of water and electrolytes. In lay terms electrolytes keep the water working in your body where needed.

Electrolytes include calcium, potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and

can be found in the foods you eat everyday including tomatoes, oranges, leafy

greens and other foods found in nature. Many fruits and vegetables containing electrolytes also add

liquid to your system. Watermelon and watermelon juice is high in water content, and the amino acids have been shown to help prevent post-workout muscle soreness.

If you are a heavy sweater, add some salt to your fruit. Salt helps water stay in your body in general. Here’s a list of some summer essentials:

★ Full bottle of water.

★ Electrolytes. On an on-going basis, through everyday foods, and with supplements. ★ Sunscreen.

★ Hat or visor.

★ Sun glasses.

★ Arm sleeves/coolers. For biking and running. Some help block uv rays and cool skin. Have fun, and be safe. ✪

Liz Elliott was an All-American collegiate swimmer and is the head coach at Tri-Valley Triathlon Club.

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health watch: jamie faison

Don’t fear the static While dynamic warm-ups are taught more and more, static stretching can still be very effective I was working at an Elementary School Field Day last week, teaching the students about the importance of warm-up and stretching before exercises. When teaching the kids about our “Dynamic Warm-up,” a little voice came from the front saying, “My mom says that stretching is bad for you!” Sometimes a little information used without proper understanding and context can be dangerous. While static stretching before activity has been shown to decrease muscular strength and power, that does not mean that stretching is bad for you. Actually, I feel that static stretching actually has received a bad rap. Static stretching, if used properly, is a critical part of our flexibility programs. It helps to decrease soreness after a hard workout, and helps to increase flexibility by relaxing into a good stretch. >>Implementation of a Static Stretching program: Stretching should always be done on a muscle that has been properly warmed-up. We use dynamic stretching to increase mobility and flexibility before athletics. Static stretching is usually performed after practice and games. >>Top 3 areas to Static Stretch after practice: HAMSTRINGS (Doorway stretch): Lie on your back with your legs straight. Lift both legs up and prop one up on a doorway. Slowly lower the other leg down toward the floor, feeling a gentle stretch in your hamstring. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side. PEC MAJOR (Lying on a foam roller): Lie on your back on a foam roller and drop your arms straight out to your sides. Keep your palms up and let gravity stretch your pecs. CALF/GASTROC STRETCHING (Standing against a wall): Place both hands flat on a wall, step both feet back so your body is leaning forward. Step one foot toward the wall and stretch your back calf. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the other side. Remember, Static Stretching is your friend. If done correctly, it can really help you stay flexible throughout your season. ✪

Jamie Faison is a physical therapist assistant at UCSF Benioff’s Children’s Hospital Oakland and its Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes in Walnut Creek. He is also a certified athletic trainer who specializes in treating, rehabilitating and educating injured high school athletes.

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Cal Club Baseball CCB is one of the premier college development baseball programs in California. We have hitting sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. Times for these hitting sessions will be sent out at the beginning of each week and will be listed on our website. In these hitting sessions we set up stations for players to work on hitting for power, gap-to-gap, two strikes, balance and opposite field. Pitching sessions are set up with stations to get specific work on certain mechanics for pitching. Info: erick@calclubbaseball.com; (408) 204-8771 Fieldhouse Baseball Camps/Clinics The Fieldhouse is an indoor baseball facility providing baseball-related developmental and training services for teams and organizations. These services include baseball classes for hitting, pitching, catching, base running, infield and outfield defense, speed/agility/strength training, and teaching the mental aspect of baseball. Along with the class instruction, our services also include developing a long term training and development program for baseball organizations interested in developing a sustainable and successful program. Info: Don Gieseke; don@ thefieldhouse.net Got ‘Em Baseball College Development The College Development Camp is a camp geared toward those elite high school student athletes that have aspirations of playing at the next level. We have teamed up with numerous colleges, professional instructors, current MLB scouts, motivational speakers and life skills coaches to bring to you an unforgettable 4-day/3-night baseball and life skills experience. The College Development Camp for grades: 9-11 takes place at University of the Pacific & Delta College in Stockton. Max Number of Campers: 60. Info: baseball@gotembaseball. com Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy Former first-round draft pick for the New York Mets, Gregg Jefferies put together an amazing 14-year career at the Major League level. Now he can train you! Enlist in camps and specialty clinics like hitting and pitching classes; onsight rehab and arm care, speed and agility, srength/ core classes, team programs or join our monthly Baseball Membership. We even offer Family Membership Plans so all your children can be involved and share our 12,000 square foot indoor facility. Info: (510) 209-6194; (925) 4841036; tarynalexander13@gmail.com Headfirst Baseball Academy Though many people have heard about Headfirst, few understand the HF network, especially in the Upper Division. The basic principle is that we want to train young players who are willing to work hard to make the next level. We are proven in the area of recruiting talented players and developing them. Most importantly (and this is the most overlooked concept by young players) Headfirst is proven in having the relationships with colleges that will result in players being connected with their desired school. Info: MJi0209@aol.com; Mario74iglesias@aol.com

Total Player Center In an effort to develop baseball players to their full potential, The Pitching Center has become the Total Player Center (TPC), a full-service baseball/softball training academy. We provide comprehensive, fully-integrated training programs that evolve based on the best research and information available in areas from health/safety, peak performance, education techniques and more. Age- and skill-specific programs are available for students aged 8-18. Info: 925-416-1600, www.thepitchingcenter.com. South Bay Sports Training Baseball/Softball These one-of-a-kind camps are a great opportunity for any young player to obtain the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to become a better player. Camps serve players aged 6-14. Info: (408) 283-0643; southbaytraining@aol.com BASKETBALL CalStars The Stars Basketball Academy (SBA) is a fundamental-based skills development camp for kids in 3rd-11th grade. It’s suitable for all skill levels and open players not involved with the Cal Stars’ program. All camps are held at Bentley High in Lafayette. Info: www.calstars.org. East Bay Bulldogs The Bulldogs are pleased to bring back our hugely popular Week Night Skills Workouts. The program focuses on fundamental skills that are tough to spend much time on in practice. We do three 2-hour long skills workouts, that are open to boys and girls from 2nd-12th grade. This is a complete workout touching on all skills needed to play the game. You don’t have to be a Bulldogs player to attend. We are based in Martinez. Info: PGLeClaire@comcast.net; 925-570-1334 FastBreak Basketball Margaret Gartner, the highly-decorated girls basketball coach for Carondelet High in Concord, leads this girls basketball camp focused on fundamentals. Three week-long sessions are offered, two for grades 5-9, one for grades 1-5. Info: www.FastBreakBball.com; or email Fastbreak_club@yahoo.com CHEER/DANCE California Spirit Elite Cheer Camp CSE Cheer Camp, based at our facility in Dublin, is four days of fun-filled activities. Learn cheers, make crafts and make friends! Learn more about our club at csecheer.com. Info: (925) 556-1095 CheerGyms.com Customize your clinic to fit your needs! Let us teach the clinic you need to take your team to the next level! We offer residential overnight camps that include many awards, team bonding ideas and an experience of a lifetime. We also offer Two-Day Camps for a less-pricey overnight experience. Finally, there are Private Camps in which your cheerleaders get all the attention. You pick the hours and decide what they will learn. Cheergyms.com facilities in Concord, San Jose and Petaluma! Info: morton@cheergyms. com, 925-685-8176

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com ENRICHMENT Dianne Adair Programs Come join any of our eight Dianne Adair summer sites for our fun and exciting summer program. Each week campers will be able to choose from several camps, including sports, fashion, drama, CSI, science and so many more. We take weekly field trips to places like an A’s or Giants game, museums, the Jelly Belly Factory, Six Flags, the pool, the movies, parks and the zoo. Field trips and camps vary by site. Offers and rates may vary at any of our nine locations. Info: www.dianneadair.org. FENCING Stanford Fencing Camp For the beginning fencer, this camp at Stanford University teaches the elegant sport of Fencing from experienced staff. You will learn how to thrust, parry, and lunge like the musketeers! This camp is open to anyone who wants to learn how to fence and is 8-18 years old. The average age of the camper ranges from 8 -13. Fencing camp runs half day from 9am -noon We provide all equipment. Info: Cdarcey@stanford.edu; 650.725.3001; www.stanfordfencingcamp.com FITNESS Children’s Hospital Sports Speed Camps Learn and put into practice the five pillars of SPEED training. Emphasizing flexibility, stability, strength, power, and speed. We’ll give you the training secrets that will make you faster than you’ve ever been before. The 2-week program is

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best suited for athletes (ages 12-19) who play soccer, football, basketball, lacrosse, and track & field. Space is limited to 15 athletes per session with 3 sessions offered. Camps are held in Walnut Creek and Berkeley. Info: (510) 428-3558 Fit 2 The Core As a youth conditioning, speed/agility and nutrition specialist with the International Youth Conditioning Association, Fit-2-The-Core Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting your young athletes back on the field of play post-rehabilitation, continuing the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court. Athletes are closely supervised while being coached through the workout, with attention on proper technique and safety. For our Back to Sports programs we offer training weekdays, with 2 or 3 days/week options. Info: www.fasteryoungathletes.com, 925-639-0907. Renaissance ClubSport We offers sports and speciality camps for kids ages 5-12. Participants have fun-filled, active breaks as they receive instruction in a variety of sports, activities, and projects. For families with multiple children, we offer a 10% discount on each additional sibling. Info: Kids World at 925.942.6344. Trucks Training We know exactly what it takes to achieve the next level of sports & fitness safely and effectively. A true hometown feel from true hometown

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com people. We offer 1-on-1, group and small group training for fitness and sport-specific needs. Info: truckstraining.com; 925-756-7321 FOOTBALL AG Evaluations Artie Gigantino, a former NFL coach with the Rams and Raiders, and college coach at USC and Cal, offers players evaluations and consultations. Its guidance for your football future. Info: artiesports@yahoo.com, 925-209-9465 All Out Sports League Our football camps are held in Antioch and Clayton. The four-day non-contact camp teaches every position on the football field and are geared toward the fundamentals. Every aspect of the game is covered. Camps are open to boys and girls ages 6-16. Info: 925-203-5636 or www.alloutsportsleague.com Cascade Football Team Camp The purpose of the Cascade Team Camp is to provide a fundamental camp for high school athletes to learn the game of football from their own coaching staffs and to allow teams to meld together and spend quality team time for activities. The 5-day, full-contact camp is held at the beautiful campus of McCloud High at the base of Mt. Shasta. It’s attended by 7 teams and features facilities for both 11-and 8-man teams. Info: Matt Hunsaker 530-233-0333; m61hunsaker@gmail.com Coach Cotter Football Camp This Moreau Catholic High camp is designed for

everyone to have fun while learning essential football skills in a non-contact environment. Each camper will have the opportunity to learn the skills for all offensive and defensive positions. Campers will also tour the campus, weight room and team room areas. Each day of camp will conclude with “Mariner Ball,” a fun touch football game giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate. Info: (510)-881-4333 or acotter@moreaucatholic.org Walnut Creek Marauders The Walnut Creek Marauders are part of the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference. This division represents 18 cities across Contra Costa, Solano, Napa and Alameda counties. The Marauder tackle football program is led by trained volunteer coaches who strive for the personal and athletic growth of each athlete. Info: (925) 941-4745; ldavenport41@gmail.com GOLF The First Tee The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development Golf program for boys and girls ages 7-18. Participants learn about golf and the life skills and values inherent to the game. Check with local chapters, Oakland, Contra Costa, Tri-Valley, Silicon Valley or find another at thefirsttee.org GYMNASTICS East Bay Sports Academy Summer Day Camps at East Bay Sports Academy offer the best gymnastics, cheer-

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leading, and tumbling SUMMER CAMP FUN anywhere! We offer four AMAZING WEEKS of half-day and full-day camps for girls and boys ages 5 and up. Recreational and competitive athletes will benefit from training with mostcommitted coaches in the Bay Area. Our 13,000 square foot facility is clean, bright, and has the newest equipment around. We host private mini-camps and clinics. We gladly welcome all high school, middle school and youth football teams. Info: www.eastbaysportsacademy.com, 925-680-9999. Encore Gymnastics, Dance and Climbing Our facility in Concord offers sessions for kids ages 5-12. These camps are packed full of activities such as gymnastics, rock climbing, dance, cool crafts, games, water balloons, team building activities and more. Info: 925-932-1033, office@encoregym.com Nor Cal Elite All-Stars Cheer Camp Join the fun at Nor Cal! We have classes for everyone at every level: Summer cheer clinics, group and individual camps, private tumbling lessons, recreational cheer classes and more. Info: www.nceallstars.com LACROSSE Atherton Lacrosse Our lacrosse camps are specifically designed for boys and girls ages 5-14, who are beginner or intermediate players. Beginner campers use soft sponge balls and no pads are required. This allows every camper to learn the fundamentals

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of the sport in a safe and fun atmosphere. Our intermediate camps are designed for players with 1-3 years experience. Atherton has been introducing both boys and girls to the sport in the Bay Area since 2005. Our group of coaches are leaders in the lacrosse community. Info: 888-526-3330, athertonlacrosse.com ENCORE Lacrosse Our camps are for those players looking to take their game to the next level. Jonathan Christmas is present at every camp where the focus is on developing each and every player according to the S.T.R.I.V.E. model (Sustainable, Training, Reactive coaching, Innovative, Video, Energy).

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Beginners, check out our introductory and intermediate camps. All camps offer goalie training and there are a limited number of goalie discounts available. Camp locations include Walnut Creek, Belmont, Marin, Sacramento and San Francisco. Info: info@ EncoreLacrosse.com MARTIAL ARTS Hanabi Judo & Japanese Culture Camp Hanabi’s Judo and Japanese Culture Summer Camp is a fun, active introduction to the traditions of Japan. Every themed session will have children learning judo (a requirement in Japanese schools), Japanese songs, Japanese stories as well as the main artistic, linguistic or culinary activity. Info: (510) 530-8312; dan@ hanabijudo.com OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE SPORTS Diablo Rock Gym We offer kids summer camps every week starting in June and ending in August. Sign up for a week at a time or multiple weeks. Ages 6-17; multiple kid and/or week discounts. Call for pricing, 925-602-1000. Tri-Valley Triathlon Club We will train you for a sprint, Olympic or half-ironman triathlon. Join us at one of our free practices occurring 3-5 times a week. Located in the East Bay with practices in Fremont, Newark, Union City, Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and San Ramon. Info: liz@ trivalleytriclub.com Umigo Indoor Kart Race Camp Imagine driving a high-performance go kart at breathtaking speed. Race camp teaches you cornering and passing techniques and a solid understanding of the racing experience. Come to our indoor track in Livermore & experience the thrill. Info: 925-373-7223; umigoracing.com RUGBY Diablo Rugby Based in Clayton, our club is dedicated to providing a positive

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August 2014

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rugby experience for boys at high school, jr. high and youth levels. Info: 925-381-5143, diablorugby.com SOCCER Dublin United Soccer Camps Dublin United Soccer is pleased to offer their excellent program in a day camp format. Our camps feature a fun & friendly atmosphere with challenging curriculum. We take an educational approach to coaching that focuses on being inclusive & welcoming of all players. Participants are not required to play for DUSL. Interested community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Info: td@dublinsoccer.org Impact Soccer Club We are a community-based organization dedicated to the development of the soccer culture in Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Knightsen, Byron and Discovery Bay. Our summer camps are run by Impact Coaching Director Rick Morin. Rick has 30 years of coaching experience and coaches at Carondelet High and the Univ. of California. Impact’s Junior Academy Program, for under-6 is designed to provide age-appropriate soccer training and the proper foundation for young players in our club. Info: richardmorin1@comcast.net, (925) 323-1410 West Coast Soccer Lead by nationally-recognized coach and former SJ Earthquake, Troy Dayak, the WCSC’s programs are designed to bring professional experience and guidance to youth soccer players across Northern California. West Coast Soccer camps create an environment that encourages experimentation and a passion for the game. Info: www.westcoastsoccerclub.com West Contra Costa Youth Soccer League Our program caters to competitive youth players ages 8-9. The main focus of our program is not on winning, but on the development of the total soccer player within the framework of a team. We also offer specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers. Info: 510-758-5288, http://wccysl.com. SWIMMING/DIVING Santa Clara Aquamaids Jump in with the Santa Clara Aquamaids and learn the basics of synchronized swimming! The Aquamaids are looking for swimmers ages 7-12, who are eager to learn, attentive, able to follow directions and work cooperatively in a group setting. Basic synchro skills are taught such as sculling, ballet legs, simple figures, arm strokes, land drilling, and more. The Santa Clara Aquamaids has been producing world-class synchronized swimmers and Olympic athletes since 1964. We have programs designed for beginning through elite levels. Info: 877 722-4630; 408 988-9936; info@aquamaids.org Sherman Swim School Located in Lafayette, our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain and improve their swim skills with little interruption. Lessons are offered on M-W-F’s and T-Th’s over 3-4 weeks. We teach from age 9-months to adults and non-swimmers to competitive levels. Our private or semi-private lessons allow you to progress at YOUR pace. We also offer beginning and competitive diving. Classes (30 min. long) are taught in three-week sessions. Either on M-W-F or T-Th. Info: 925-283-2100, www. ShermanSwim.com. VOLLEYBALL Bay Area Blast Summer Clinics Bay Area Blast Volleyball Club (BABVC) is a volleyball organization in Martinez. Our primary goal is to build character and develop sportsmanship. BABVC offers personalized 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 lessons and skills clinics designed for beginner and intermediate players. The clinics focus on player development in the fundamental skills. BABVC holds two summer skills clinics for boys and girls of all levels, each running three nights a week for two consecutive weeks from 7-9 pm at NorCal Courts in Martinez. Sessions cost $125. Info: tracyfeldmann@gmail.com Core Volleyball Club We offer a competitive, fun environment where your daughter

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com

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A G: Guidance For Your Football Future.......................................................................42, 43 Antioch Sports Legends....................................................................................................43 Big O Tires Northern California/ Nevada.............................................................................2 Borge U S A Indoor Soccer League....................................................................................32 Cal Athletic Camps......................................................................................................... 44 Carnegie S V R A...............................................................................................................22 Cassidy Turley Real Estate.................................................................................................37 Championship Athletic Fundraising.................................................................................12 Cheergyms.Com...............................................................................................................29 Club Sport..........................................................................................................................7 Club Sport Renaissance....................................................................................................38 Community Youth Center................................................................................................ 44 Concord Youth Football & Cheerleading...........................................................................42 Core Performance.......................................................................................................16, 42 Core Volleyball Club..........................................................................................................43 Diablo Futbol Club............................................................................................................27 Diablo Rock Gym..............................................................................................................16 Diablo Trophies & Awards.................................................................................................42 East Bay Parks..................................................................................................................44 Excellence In Sport Performance......................................................................................38 Garaventa Enterprises......................................................................................................19 Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy ......................................................................................36 Halo Headband................................................................................................................45 Heavenly Greens..............................................................................................................26 Home Team Sports Photography......................................................................................30 Kaiser Permanente...........................................................................................................48 Kangazoom......................................................................................................................30 Little League Intermediate World Series..........................................................................47 Livermore Downtown Assn................................................................................................5 M L B Scout Online...........................................................................................................43 Mountain Mike’s Pizza......................................................................................................13 Muir Orthopaedic Specialists............................................................................................37 Passthaball.......................................................................................................................45 Rhino Sports Of Northern California.................................................................................32 Rocco’s Pizza.....................................................................................................................42 Scottish Highland Gathering & Games.............................................................................40 Sky High Sports ...............................................................................................................43 Sport Clips........................................................................................................................17 Sport Performance Institute.............................................................................................18 Sports Stars Magazine......................................................................................................12 Stevens Creek Toyota........................................................................................................31 Sutter Health East Bay........................................................................................................3 Taking The World By Storm Soccer....................................................................................33 Tpc / The Pitching Center..................................................................................................23 U C S F Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland......................................................................35 U S A Elite.........................................................................................................................41 U S Air Force.....................................................................................................................25 Umigo Indoor Kart Racing................................................................................................16 United States Youth Volleyball League.............................................................................46 Walnut Creek Aquanuts....................................................................................................44 West Coast Soccer Club.....................................................................................................41 Wingstop.........................................................................................................................13

will enjoy competing at a high level not only in games, but in practices as well.Our goal is to prepare your daughter for the next level; whether that is her middle school, high school, or college program. Clinics are held at Velocity Sports Performance in Dublin. If you are looking for some extra touches prior to tryouts this is an excellent clinic for you. We work on all skill development and fundamentals. Info: info@teamcvc.com; Ph: 925-925230-9795 Pacific Rim Volleyball Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy in Pleasant Hill is dedicated to providing athletes with the technical, tactical and physical training, to reach their highest potential. Pacific Rim will assist each athlete in reaching maximum performance through proper training and nutrition education. Our advanced training for junior levels (12th grade & below), will provide the opportunity to become elite players at the high school and/or collegiate level. Clinics are available for beginners, girls fall ball and skills-specific, boys skills-specific, open play and private lessons. Info: (585) 313-2215; rworsley@pacificrimvolleyball.com U.S. Youth Volleyball League The United States Youth Volleyball League is hosting a series of volleyball camps this summer in several Northern and Southern California locations. The USYVL is the leader in developing and maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. Its motto “Volleyball starts here,” clearly represents its commitment to the development of the sport. Each camp is taught by instructors who have played or coached at the club, high school or college level. Registration fee includes a t-shirt, certificate, snacks and water. Info: 1-888-988-7985, www.USYVL.org. WRESTLING Community Youth Center The Concord-based CYC wrestling program trains and challenges wrestlers at all age groups from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels from beginner to champion. The program offers three types of week-long (July & Augu st) wrestling camps. The Elementary Camp for ages 5-10 and The All Corners Camp for ages 11-18, and the Advanced Camp serves the same age group and runs in August. Each camp runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at the CYC. Camp fees vary slightly. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www.communityyouthcenter.com. MULTI-SPORT Cal Camps Enrollment for Cal Athletic Camps are now open. Space is limited, so please make sure you reserve a place now. Camps are offered for girls and boys ages 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options. Most camps take place on campus in Berkeley and are held from June through August. Among the sports offered are: Baseball, Basketball, Rowing/Crew, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Rugby, Soccer, Strength & Conditioning, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo. Enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Info: CalBears.com/ camps. De La Salle Camps De La Salle High School will host athletic summer camps to provide a fun, skill-building week for kids. Camps appeal to local youth with a variety of athletic interests. De La Salle will offer the following sessions: Football, Track & Field, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Quarterback & Wide Receiver, Lineman, Volleyball, Baseball, Soccer, Water Polo and Strength & Conditioning. In addition to serving local athletes, the camps also benefit De La Salle students by contributing to The Bishop John S. Cummins Scholarship Program. Info: summercamps@dlshs.org; 925-288-8144. Livermore Area Rec and Park Sports Camps LARPD offers a variety of sports for all ages. The popular Sports Camp (ages 5-12), Pee-Wee Sports Camps (ages 3-5) and Flag Football return to complement year-round traditional Baseball/T-Ball, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Golf and Tennis programs from youth to teens. New sports have taken off with

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the introduction of Frisbee Golf, Gymnastics and Martial Arts. Most of our sport-specific camps accommodate ages 8-14. Info: (925) 373-5733; zsilva@larpd.dst.ca.us Saint Mary’s College Camps We have camps available for ages 6-18. Dates are posted and registration is open. Our various camp offerings include: All-sports, baseball, basketball, rugby, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Each clinic features the head coach of the respective Gaels’ program along with a hand-picked staff of trained professionals. Each athlete will have the opportunity to develop their skills through individual instruction, group instruction and game experience. Click “camps” at www.smcgaels.com for detailed information and to register on line. Info: smccamps@ stmarys-ca.edu, 925-631-4386. USA Elite Camps We offer camps with superior instruction from professional athletes and top Division I collegiate coaches. Sports served by USA Elite Camps include boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball and baseball. See our ad in this issue for more info. ✪

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August 2014

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