NorCal Issue 111, January 2016

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VOL. 7. ISSUE 111

JANUARY 2016

NORCAL

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January 2016

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H

appy New Year, sports fans.

We’re excited to be back for another calendar year of high school sports in Northern California. We’re also excited that you’re along for the ride too.

Every new year brings the tradition of New Year’s Resolutions, a tradition that most of us at SportStars HQ have each taken part in at one point or another.

They can certainly be a good thing. And they can also be very hard to maintain — as everyone knows.

This year, I came across a blog post of a friend of mine with whom I play recreation league softball. He had a different spin on New Year’s Resolutions suggested to him, and took it to heart.

The suggestion was, rather than carve out a specific action or goal, pick a few specific words that will inspire you for the coming year. Make them words which you can strive to apply to all that you do, personally and professionally. He is a videographer and broadcast director, so his words for 2016 were CREATE and DISCIPLINE. The first word he hopes will allow him to push himself as an artist, to get out of his comfort zone and away from routine.

The second word was the one that would help him reach that creative apex, by avoiding procrastination and the all-too-easy distractions of modern life in the tech age.

I liked the idea quite a bit and it helped shape how I chose to think about SportStars and what we wanted to accomplish in what will be our sixth full year of bringing high school sports to our readers. The words we would choose wouldn’t just be for the magazine, but all that we do (our online coverage, social media, etc.).

Our two words for 2016 are these: CONSISTENCY and ENGAGE. Over the past few years, as we’ve tried to cover as many sports as possible in the pages of SportStars, we’ve realized that we’ve created some inconsistency in our coverage. For instance, baseball and softball fans love us from March through June, but won’t know if they’ll see any coverage of their sport from July to February. Same goes for a lot of the bigger sports. Even when a sport is in season, we may not have it in an issue for one reason or another.

So, being guided by our new devotion to consistency, it will be our goal to have at least football, basketball, baseball/softball, volleyball and soccer represented in every print issue of 2016. That starts with this issue, by the way. And, if you’re a fan of other sports, we’re not leaving you out by any stretch. But we wanted to start somewhere.

The other word, ENGAGE, is all about reaching our audience better. After 5+ years, there are still schools we cover that are hearing about us for the first time. We want to bring that number down. We also want to be a bigger and better presence on social media (which will take CONSISTENCY, by the way). We had a good 2015 in that department — finally clearing 2,000 Twitter (@sportstarsmag) followers — but we know we can do better.

If we’re engaging, more fans like you are going to find us. And if we’re consistent, they’re going to stick around. So raise your sports drink of choice, and let us toast to a new year of inspiration and great competition. ✪

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, Dave Kiefer, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans, III Marketing/Events Ryan Arter 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 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 • JustAGameEvents@gmail.com READER RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATION Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services 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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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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Paul Moseley/TNS via ZUMA Wire

Top 5 hashTags we wanT To have go viral

Okay y’all. Call us #grumpyoldmen, but we’ve been resisting this whole #hashtag thing for awhile.

It just seems... #intellectuallylazy. But. #WTH. #newyearnewyou. Right? So we’re going #wholehog, and giving you the #top5 #hashtags that we’d like to see #goviral this year.

1. #dubble — As in, the current iteration of the Dubs doubling up on Larry O’Brien trophies. Even though we’re nervous about the #@$%&*!!!spurs (we’re giving you that one free... #hashbonus) 2. #stAy — Seriously. Oakland. Alameda County. Lew Wolff. Figure this #spit out.

3. #raid-ium — In a similar vein, let’s sort out a way for the Raiders to get a stadium done, too, huh? #twoteammarket 4. #kaeperchip — Or maybe #chipernick? If Chip Kelly can’t resurrect Colin’s career (#decisionmaking), we’re not sure anyone can.

5. #sharknado — Can we get the Sharks some love? Remember? Hockey? Didn’t that used to be a thing? #bringingitback Now if they would just #realizetheirpotential and win a playoff series...

Whew. We got through it. But we’re not sure we feel good about ourselves. #sellingout.

— Bill #getoffmylawn Kolb

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Rapid FiRe JULLEN ISON Moreau Catholic-Hayward Football/Basketball

BAYLEE VANDERDOES Placer-Auburn Basketball

whaT waS your new year’S reSoluTion Grind hard to earn first scholarship offer

Be in best possible shape for college

Movie if you caTch in-proGreSS, you can’T flip away The Blind Side

Mulan

favoriTe Board/card GaMe GrowinG up Go fish

#

hashTag

A look at our favorite social media posts of the past several weeks. Got any good posts you’d like to nominate? email editor@sportstarsonline.com

SABRINA IONESCU Miramonte Girls Basketball Player, @ sabrina_i20 Jan. 18 “Humbled and honored to be a part of the 2016 @ McDAAG (McDonald’s All-American) team. Thank you to (coach) @KellySopak for making all this possible.”

PROLIFIC PREP ACADEMY @ProlificPrep Jan. 18 “Congrats to @j_josh11 (Josh Jackson) and @JustinSiena and our program for having our 1st McDonald’s All-American selection. History.”

SPORTSCENTER @ SportsCenter Jan. 19 “Crazy Stat of the Day: CLE trailed by as many as 43 pts vs.

GSW (on Jan. 18), largest deficit LBJ (LeBron James) has faced in his 1,127game career.”

wheRe They now?

With the undefeated (as of Jan. 19) St. Mary’s-Stockton High girls basketball team owning the No. 1 rank in just about every national poll, we thought we’d look back at the first (and only time, so far) we put the Rams on our cover. The athlete depicted was guard Regina Camera from the 2010-2011 team, who is now in her senior year at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The 5-foot-7 guard starts and averages 14.2, points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals for an Urban Knights team which was 14-5 overall through Jan. 18.

TRending What’s hot in the world of stuff that’s hot We miss Bowie.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day has come and dotted our social media accounts with many of his inspirational quotes. Be inspired. But do more than post about it.

The Texas Attorney General is the latest to say Daily Fantasy Sites like FanDuel aren’t legal in its state.

Whatever gets those commercials off the TV is fine with us.

The Oscar noms came out and Star Wars: The Force Awakens didn’t receive any in the major categories. Next time, try more Ewoks, fellas.

Nub nub.

The NFL’s Final Four is set: Panthers vs. Cardinals, and Broncos vs. Voldemort.

candy land

i GeT irraTionally GruMpy when .... i score an 85-yard Td that’s called back for clipping

people who don’t work their hardest

which of The final four TeaMS will win The Super Bowl Broncos

panthers

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what a year for norCal Football W

hether it was winning a milestone game, winning a state title or leading young men in very difficult times, it was an extraordinary 2015 season for Northern California football coaches.

Since we chose Bellarmine’s Mike Janda as the Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year, leading off with him makes the most sense.

After the Bells won a CIF Central Coast Section title for the sixth time since Janda began at the school in 1984, they moved on into the CIF NorCal Division I-AA bowl game against favored Folsom. The Bulldogs not only were 14-0 but were on a 30-game win streak (longest in the state) and a 43-game home field win streak.

Janda’s team matched Folsom in that bowl game score for score, and in the end won it 42-35 after taking advantage of a late turnover. That win also was win No. 270 for Janda’s career, which moved him to No. 1 on the alltime coaching win list for the CCS — one in front of Saratoga’s Benny Pierce, who retired in 1994.

Some other NorCal coaches who made history included Roger Canepa of Central Catholic-Modesto, Rich Cotruvo of Justin-Siena-Napa, Casey Taylor of Del Oro-Loomis and Justin Alumbaugh of De La Salle.

Canepa, last season’s Cal-Hi Sports State Small Schools Coach of the Year, earned his 200th career win in the Raiders’ season opener against Atwater (a 49-0 triumph). He ended the season with a fourth straight CIF State Bowl title, which ties the record for consecutive CIF bowl titles with De La Salle’s Bob Ladouceur.

With his team’s 55-14 triumph vs. Tamalpais-Mill Valley, Cotruvo joined those in the state club with 200 career wins.

His team finished 9-3 after a loss to Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa in the CIF North Coast Section Division IV playoffs.

At one point in the season, Taylor’s team at Del Oro was sitting at 2-6, but he kept the squad together and the Golden Eagles began to get rolling in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. They ended up knocking off a 15-0 team from Camarillo in the CIF Division II-AA State Bowl final for Del Oro’s first state crown.

Alumbaugh, meanwhile, made it two straight CIF Open Division State Bowl titles in three years since he took over De La Salle from Ladouceur. Centennial-Corona scored 55

10

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Cole Montgomery holds the Small School Open Division trophy as coach Roger Canepa beams. points in the first half of its previous game against St. John Bosco (MaxPreps’ No. 1 team in the nation), and watching how the Spartans held the Huskies to 21 for an entire game was as gutty an effort by any DLS team in any game.

In addition to Alumbaugh and Taylor, others winning CIF state bowl titles were Jeff Harbison of Sierra-Manteca, Matt Tomlin of St. Bernard’s-Eureka and Travis Barker of East Nicolaus.

Other than the history, however, we also had NorCal coaches who endured – and shined – in the toughest of circumstances.

Mike Alberghini of Grant-Sacramento had to step in front of TV cameras and reporters for many days in the aftermath of the shooting death of one of his players, senior J.J. Clavo, just hours before the Pacers’ first SJS Division II playoff game. Grant played on the following Monday and won but then lost five days later to Granite Bay. Then there was Bill Foltmer of Middletown. Six of Foltmer’s players and three of his assistant coaches all lost homes in the massive Valley Fire in mid-September. The town in which Foltmer’s team represents also was basically destroyed (although the school itself survived). Middletown ended the season at 6-5 but the manner in which the football team aided in the town’s healing was hard to miss.

We only wish we could name all of them as a State Coach of the Year. ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.

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boys basketball state top 20 Through Monday, Jan. 18

9. (9)

—

Redondo Union-Redondo Beach

12-3

15. (17)

▲

Moreau Catholic-Hayward

13-3

1. (1) — Chino Hills 17-0 Same team that lost to San Ramon Valley in last year’s CIF D1 state final. Now Huskies are No. 1 in nation, No. 1 in state.

One of the losses by the Seahawks was in a competitive game to

It was a big week for the Mariners as they knocked Sacramento

Chino Hills.

from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 77-67 in a marquee game

2. (2) — Bishop Montgomery-Torrance 18-0 On course for Jan. 30 showdown against Chino Hills at the Fairfax State Preview Classic.

The Bulldogs have handed Modesto Christian its only loss, but

3. (3) — Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth 14-3 Its two losses over the MLK weekend were to national No. 2 Oak Hill Academy and national No. 3 Montverde Academy and the Oak Hill loss was on a buzzer beater.

10. (10)

—

Folsom

16-2

have lost twice since then and remain a NorCal Open Division threat.

11. (11)

at Monday’s MaxPreps MLK Classic at Haas Pavilion.

16. (13)

▼

Sacramento

16-1

We didn’t prop up the Dragons real high as an unbeaten team over more battle-tested teams . Our premonition was accurate, judging by the loss to Moreau

—

Fairfax-Los Angeles

17-2

Senior guard Donald Gipson is rounding into shape after tearing his ACL at the end of last season.

17. (19)

▲

St. Francis-Mountain View

12-2

Curtis Witt scored 15 points as the Lancers beat O’Dowd 66-54 on Monday at Cal and moved up two spots.

4. (5) ▲ Foothills Christian-El Cajon 11-3 UCLA-bound T.J. Leaf had 43 points in a one-point loss two weeks ago to Chino Hills and its UCLA-bound star, Lonzo Ball.

12. (14)

5. (4) ▼ Mater Dei-Santa Ana 17-3 Loss to Oak Hill Academy wasn’t close (74-55) but Monarchs get to play Foothills Christian in Nike Extravaganza on Feb. 7.

Mike LeDuc (previously at Glendora), one of the winningest

No. 12 Corona Centennial (56-55) and a shellacking of previous

coaches in state history.

No. 18 Bakersfield Ridgeview (70-48).

6. (6) — Modesto Christian 15-1 The Crusaders looked great winning own holiday tournament.

7. (7) — Crespi-Encino 18-1 Last year’s CIF Division IV state champs lost first game, but have been on a roll for several weeks.

8. (8) — De La Salle-Concord 14-1 The Spartans closed out Monday with a 54-44 triumph over Orange Lutheran in their own MLK Classic held at Cal.

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▲

Damien-La Verne

17-1

This is the team that beat Campolindo in last year’s CIF Division III state final and is now under the direction of new head coach

13. (15)

▲

Westchester-Los Angeles

14-5

18. (NR) ▲

Roosevelt-Eastvale

13-5

The Mustangs make a big splash in the rankings with two of the biggest wins in the state in the past week – one against previous

19. (12)

▼

Centennial-Corona

11-6

The Comets are two spots behind league nemesis Fairfax for first

Despite loss to Roosevelt, the Huskies still have enough quality

of two regular season meetings of the 2015-16 season on Friday.

wins against a tough schedule to warrant a top 20 spot.

14. (16)

▲

Alemany-Mission Hills

14-5

20. (NR) ▲

Ayala-Chino Hills

14-2

Alemany’s victory over Moreau Catholic (which just defeated

One of the two losses by the Bulldogs was to No. 5 Mater Dei

previous No. 13 Sacramento) continues to look good, and

and came in double-overtime.

the Warriors also have the first of two league showdowns with

Dropped Out: No. 18 Ridgeview-Bakersfield, No. 20 Santa

No. 7 Crespi on Jan. 22.

Margarita-Rancho SM.

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rolling on The river On June 11, Redding’s Sundial Bridge will become canoe and kayak central as it hosts the launch point for the California 100.

The California 100 is a one-day 100-mile paddling race on the Sacramento River produced by Rivers for Change. The race, which begins in Redding and ends in Chico, is actually open to all paddle enthusiasts and all paddle crafts. That includes kayaks, open canoes, surfskis, standup paddleboards, outrigger canoes & prone paddleboards.

The race weekend begins with a mandatory safety briefing on June 10, the eve of the race. June 11 is race day and June 12 features the awards ceremony, brunch and a river cleanup effort. The 2016 version of the race will also feature approximately 25- and 50-mile race options.

The Sacramento River is the state’s longest river and flows south from Mt. Shasta through oak woodlands, rolling hills, and open plains with views of Mt. Lassen to the East and the Yollo Bolly Wilderness to the west. The wide river bed accommodates reliable flows from 4,000 up to 20,000 cfs and above, yet remains a wellmannered giant due to the low gradient.

The largest rapids are class II, though currents can be swift. The mild climate, sweeping vistas, easy access points and reliable flow combine to make this a wonderful venue for paddle sport of all sorts, accommodating the experienced marathoner and the first timer as well.

The event organizer, Rivers for Change, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of a passionate group of river enthusiasts — many of whom volunteer — dedicated to changing the way people think about and interact with water. They strive to connect individuals and communities to rivers through adventure, conservation and education.

To registration for the California 100, visit http://www.riversforchange.org/ california-100/registration/. If you’d like to volunteer at this event, email: cal100@ riversforchange.org.

12

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The Shasta Magic AAU basketball program is coming off an incredible year and is ready to hit the hardwood for 2016. The Magic’s 2015 included AAU tournament victories between San Francisco and Portland. Both boys and girls Magic players also had immense success with their high school programs throughout the past year.

The Shasta Magic is the only non-profit youth sports basketball program in the Redding community. Emphasizing success on the court or field, as well as in the classroom and in the community, their dynamic staff provides an opportunity for all youth or Shasta County to be successful and supported.

The Magic begin their practices in early February and will gear up to host two key spring tournaments. The Shasta Magic Elevation Tip-Off takes place on March 19-20 for boys and girls in 4th through 12th grades. On the following month, the Magic and Redding play host again with the 12th Annual Battle for the North State. It too will be open to boys and girls from 4th through 12th grade.

Teams interested in registering or gaining more information about either tournament are encouraged to contact Magic coordinator Micheal Gray at 530-945-0182 or email Grayrealty@ charter.net. Information can also be found at shastamagic.com ✪ —Photos and copy provided by Redding Tourism and event organizers

Big league Dreams

Redding Soccer Park

20155 VIKING WAY 530-223-1177 March 2016: High School Baseball and Softball: Dates TBD REDDING.BIGLEAGUEDREAMS.COM

Shasta Magic March 2016: AAU 8th Grade Shasta Magic Elevation Tip-Off

WWW.REDDINGSOCCERPARK.COM Lacrosse: www.ReddingLacrosse.com February: Lacrosse Opening weekend Redding Boys Jamboree U13-High School.

Rayovac flw Series

Feb. 18-20: Take your bass fishing to the next level! www.flwfishing.com

April 2016: Shasta Magic 15th Annual Battle For The North State 530-945-0182 OR GRAYREALTY@CHARTER.NET

Redding winterfest When you visit Redding, be sure to enjoy all we offer at WinterFest Redding! Arts, culture and the beautiful outdoors! Great food, great music, great scenery and great activities. Join us!

WinterFestRedding.org

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In the aftermath of potentially the best football game played between two East Bay high schools in all of 2015, Foothill-Pleasanton coach Matt Sweeney spoke to reporters following his team’s 55-54 North Coast Section Division I semifinal victory over host Antioch.

Sweeney’s Falcons were victorious due in large part because they were able to stop Antioch star running back Najee Harris just inches from the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:03 left to play. It was about the only thing the University of Alabama-commit was unable to accomplish that night while rushing for 390 yards, six touchdowns and a pair of two-point runs.

In his postgame comments, Sweeney may have best summed up Najee Harris’ 2015 season in two simple sentences.

“The thing I like most about him is that he’s 100 percent committed to Antioch football,” Sweeney said in obvious admiration. “Players like him can get caught up looking ahead to bigger things, but he’s giving every ounce of his effort to this team, and I think that’s awesome.”

And what happens when the nation’s No. 1-ranked junior running back pours every ounce of his talent and effort into his football team? A lot of really good things. He rushed for 2,744 yards, 39 touchdowns and 33 twopoint conversions as he helped lead a long-since-dominant program back to glory. Antioch would win its first league title since 1984 and complete its first undefeated regular season sine 1977.

It was a season to solidify all the hype and was deserving of the many postseason accolades, which included Cal-Hi Sports’ Mr. State Football, San Francisco Chronicle Metro Player of the Year and the SportStars NorCal Player of the Year.

“I can’t imagine coaching against this kid,” Antioch coach John Lucido said after a 54-14 win over Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park in mid-September. It was a game which Harris rushed for 224 yards — in just one and a half quarters. “You spend all week trying to stop him, and sometimes you have him and then he breaks a few tackles and does his thing. It’s got to be frustrating.”

Sweeney’s quote rings particularly true in describing Harris’ selfless nature — an attribute as equally impressive as his skill of breaking tackles.

Harris is quiet, unassuming and deflects praise — often to heap it upon others. After racking up 224 yards in the first 18 minutes of the Rancho Cotate game, Harris was more than happy to take a backseat while his teammates tacked on to the large lead. ““That’s what I like most,” Harris said that night, immediately after signing a young admirer’s jersey. “I always tell myself that I’m trying to give it all I’ve got until the second half, so I don’t have to play the rest. So other people behind me get to play. I like it when I’m out.

Other people probably don’t, but I like it when I’m out because I get to rest for the next game and the other players behind me get a change to prove themselves.”

That attitude paid major dividends as Antioch had several big playmakers by the end of the season, and were every bit Foothill’s equal in the playoff showdown. Now Harris and the non-seniors from the 2015 Panthers will have eight months to grind, thinking about falling one-inch short of a trip to the NCS championship game.

What will 100 percent of Najee Harris look like for Antioch in 2016? There’s a lot of East Bay coaches who don’t want to find out. ✪

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The similarities are uncanny and undeniable. Six feet tall, about 200 pounds, versatile, fast, a breakout 2015 season at the running back position, and dominance at a Northern California football powerhouse that was mostly overlooked outside the region.

When Elk Grove assistant football coach Jeff Carlson compares Thundering Herd star RB/DB/K/Return Specialist Ryan Robards to Stanford’s all-purpose phenom Christian McCaffrey, it is without a hint of exaggeration.

“With all of the things that he can do on the football field, Robards and McCaffrey are exactly alike,” Carlson said of the SportStars Magazine All-NorCal Offensive Player of the Year. “I’ve been coaching for a lot of years and seen a lot of talented players, and he is as good as it gets.”

Much like McCaffrey’s perceived Heisman snub, Robards is not getting the attention or respect from Division I football programs that Carlson believes his player deserves. Despite rushing for a school record and Sac-Joaquin Section-best 2,884 yards and 43 touchdowns — and adding seven more scores by way of reception, interception return, fumble recovery and punt return — the Thundering Herd senior is not considering multiple D-I offers. In fact, he signed with the University of Pacific to play baseball next year (he has options to pursue football should an enticing offer come in before the Feb. 3 National Letter of Intent Signing Day).

The fact that college football coaches are not yet clamoring for Robards’ signature is as much frustrating as it is comforting to Carlson.

As Elk Grove’s long-time baseball coach, Carlson has a star outfielder and team leader whose focus went to earning a third consecutive section crown in the spring as soon as Elk Grove fell to Folsom in the section football finals.

“He is just a phenomenal athlete and a natural leader,” Carlson said. “I’ve seen him grow up with my son and he is as genuine off the field as he is on the field.”

Robards assumed the lead tailback role after Elk Grove head football coach Chris Nixon entered the season with the position as a question mark. After a relatively pedestrian 91 yards on 15 carries in the team’s opening win over Reno, Robards rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the team’s last 13 games.

His best performance came in one of the biggest games of the season for Elk Grove. Facing Delta Leaguerival Grant-Sacramento on the road, Robards opened the scoring with a 70-yard interception return, added a 4-yard TD run, picked up a fumble and returned it 10 yards for a score, returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown, and dashed 62 yards for a score. And that was just the first half.

In addition to his breakout offensive season, Robards was a steady defensive back with 50 tackles and four interceptions, made 6 of 8 field goals, including four kicks from at least 40 yards, averaged 42.2 yards per punt and boomed 62 touchbacks. “He’s a phenomenal athlete and has a motor that just keeps going,” Nixon said before the section final. “I can’t keep him off of the field.” ✪

reserves QB — IAN BOOK | Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills | Sr. | 6-1, 195 | Notre Dame commit; 3,049 yards passing, 30 TD, 5 INT; 779 yards rushing, 12 TD QB — JACK NEWMAN | Analy-Sebastopol | Jr. | 6-1, 180 | 4,091 yards, 50 TDs each Bay Area-bests RB — JUSTIN RICE | Central Catholic-Modesto | Sr. | 6-2, 210 | Fresno St. commit; 2,698 yards, 32 TD RB — DESHAWN COLLINS | Grant-Sac. | Sr. | 5-9, 185 | 2,298 yards, 10.2 yards per carry, 28 TD RB — ANTOINE CUSTER | De La Salle | Sr. | 5-9, 185 | 1,340 yards, 16 total TDs, defensive playmaker RB — RASHAAN FONTENETTE | Oak Grove-San Jose | Sr. | 5-9, 185 | 2,538 yards, 36 total TDs WR — NOAH SOL | Monte Vista-Danville | Sr. | 6-3, 205 | 78 catches, 1,158 yards and 18 TD WR – DEVIN BALDWIN | Cordova-Rancho Cordova | Sr. | 5-10, 170 | 88 rec., 1,760 yards, 20 TD WR — ISAIAH HODGES | Berean Christian-Walnut Creek | Sr. | 6-3, 195 | 94 catches, 1,483 yards were both Bay Area bests OL — JAKE CURHAN | Redwood-Larkspur | Sr. | 6-7, 315 | Cal-bound tackle is ranked No. 57 nationally for his class, position OL – POPO AUMAVAE | St. Mary’s-Stockton | Jr. | 6-4, 300 | Tri-City Athletic League MVP OL — AARON BANKS | El Cerrito | Jr. | 6-7, 307 | Two-sport talent (hoops) weighing several offers

all-norCal deFense: Coming To sporTsTars on Feb. 4 16

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sTarTers

Jake Jeffrey

Derrion Grim

Sterling Strother

QB — JAKE JEFFREY Folsom | Sr. | 6-0, 180 Jeffrey led Folsom to a fourth straight Sac-Joaquin Section title and NorCal title game berth with a state-best 4,194 yards passing and a section-best 50 TDs against just 8 interceptions. As a dualthreat, he added 974 yards rushing and 11 TDs. RB — RYAN ROBARDS Elk Grove | Sr. | 6-0, 190 A baseball commit to the University of the Pacific, he could have two-sport options. Robards broke school records for rushing yards (2,884) and TDs (43) in a season while leading the Thundering Herd to the SJS Division I final. He added two receiving TDs, a pair of pick-sixes, and two punt returns TDs. RB — NAJEE HARRIS Antioch | Jr. | 6-2 | 222 SportStars NorCal Player of the Year, and Cal-Hi Sports Mr. State Football, Harris finished with 2,744 yards rushing and 36 TDs. He also added 33 2-point conversion runs for a total of 300 points to lead Antioch to and 11-1 record and its first league title in more than 30 years.

WR — DERRION GRIM McNair-Stockton | Sr. | 6-0, 190 The Nebraska commit tied the state record for TD catches in a season (34), and did so in five fewer games than previous record-holder, Folsom’s Cole Thompson. Grim started the season with four consecutive 200-yard receiving games, including 6 TDs in the Eagles’ opener. He finished with 96 catches for 1,928 yards.

WR — CHRIS TAYLOR-YAMANOHA Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park | Sr. | 6-2 | 185 The Louisville-bound talent hauled in 82 catches for 1,473 yards and 23 TDs in helping the Cougars to a 9-4 season. Taylor-Yamanoha also rushed eight times for 103 yards and three TDs. TE — ANDREW DASCHBACH Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton | Sr. | 6-3 | 210 Dashbach’s 1,286 receiving yards was tops among Central Coast Section tight ends, and among the best in the state, according to MaxPreps.com. He had 62 catches, 15 for TDs. He also had 57 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.

OL — JONAH WILLIAMS Folsom | Sr. | 6-5, 295 As the lone returning starter for the defending state champion Bulldogs, the Alabama commit lived up to the hype in leading a potent offensive attack that relied as much on the run as it did the pass. Williams and his linemates helped facilitate 6,657 yards of offense in 15 games.

OL — ORLANDO UMANA Grant-Sacramento | Sr. | 6-4, 315 The centerpiece of a massive offensive line in which every player weighed in at a minimum of 300 pounds, Umana cleared paths for the Pacers to rush for an average of 317 yards per game.

His size and Grant pedigree have numerous Division I colleges seeking his commitment.

OL — JACOB CAPRA Placer-Auburn | Sr. | 6-5, 275 The Oregon-bound anchor on the Hillmen line steamrolled opponents to allow runners to gain 4,563 yards in 13 games. Jacob is looking to follow big brother Johnny (Utah) to the Pac-12.

OL — BLAKE WARDY De La Salle-Concord | Sr. | 6-3 | 215 Wardy was the Bay Area media’s consensus choice as the Spartans’ top lineman, drawing firstteam honors from both Bay Area News Group and the S.F. Chronicle. He helped lead the charge for an offense that produced three 1,000-yard rushers and another CIF Open Division Bowl championship.

OL — STERLING STROTHER Campolindo-Moraga | Sr. | 6-5 | 270 Strother was a two-way force for the 14-win Cougars. The Yale-bound lineman was the leader of an offensive front which paved the way for an effective committee of running backs, while also protecting junior QB Jacob Westphal and allowing him to throw for 2,726 yards and 31 scores.

K — MATTHEW BLAIR Campolindo-Moraga | Sr. | 6-1 | 195 In addition to being a touchback machine for the Cougars, Blair connected on 59 of 63 PAT kicks and made eight field goals on the season with a long of 47 yards. He was especially clutch in the playoffs where he was 4-for-4 on field goals and kicked a 32-yard game-winner in Campo’s CIF regional bowl win over Milpitas.

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January 2016

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17

W

hen James Fulwiler became the coach of the boys soccer program at Dublin High, there was not exactly a pedigree.

The program had no North Coast Section or league titles to speak of, and was two years removed from its only playoff appearance in the 2004-2005 season.

Then came the first two seasons, which saw the Gaels manage just eight wins in 40 matches. But finally, a plan was put in place.

One that would build a program. Since then, Dublin has won 108 matches in eight seasons, claimed two NCS Division II titles and posted five 15-win seasons.

And it all started with the 2008-2009 season, and being shunned from the playoffs.

Dublin went 13-5-6 that season after back-to-back four-win seasons, and by all accounts, should have been a playoff team. But at that time, the playoff teams and seeds were determined by coaches’ votes, and the unknown Gaels were left out.

“The year before we won our first NCS Championship we were 13-5-6 and we couldn’t get a seeding. We never forgot that,” Fulwiler said. “Our team came back the next year with a goal of setting our own destiny. Those seniors won league and then won an NCS title. They established the culture of winning regardless of opponent or circumstance.”

Since beating Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland in a penalty shootout on its home field in the 2010 NCS final, it’s been a very good run for the Gaels. The next season saw them reach the NCS semifinals and the season after that saw them earn the No. 3 seed before losing in the second round.

“The legacy and tradition of winning continues to be driven by each year’s senior class,” Fulwiler said. “The camaraderie that exists within our program drives the heart and spirit of each year’s team. We have a lot of traditions that continue to fuel the brotherhood of our program.”

Only 2013 saw them struggle a bit, going 8-9-4 with a first-round playoff exit. Still, the expectation of winning had been established.

“That (first) championship validated our program,” Fulwiler said. “It was the catapult that moved us from just another high school to the status of annual contender. It told us that what we were doing, the systems that we implemented, the style of play that we use, works.”

And just in case there were any doubts, Dublin erased them in 2014. The Gaels won another Div. II title from the same playoff positioning, the No. 3 seed, and on the same field in Dublin they had done it on four years prior.

But to this day, the Gaels go into every big match with the feeling of being underestimated, as a paper tiger who will be easily exposed. And this keeps them hungry.

“We started coveting the underdog role because we knew we weren’t a private or affluent school with unlimited resources,” Fulwiler said. “We knew we weren’t a large school with a large talent pool to draw from, so we had to create a culture of us being the underdog with no reputation for success. This forced us to work harder, demand more of ourselves, and look only to ourselves for inspiration. We established our own logo, culture, mission statement and legacies.”

This attitude, this approach of always feeling like the underdog came in very handy a season ago, when Dublin truly was the underdog. The enrollment of the school made the Gaels a Division I school, meaning they’d have to play teams like De La Salle-Concord, Pittsburg, Berkeley and the Danville schools of Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley.

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From left, Dylan Laranang, Suliman Khorami, Stefen Dillon and Navid Khamush

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AFTER TWO NCS TITLES IN FIVE SEASONS

Ê > > > > > > > > > >Ê > > >\> >Ê >Ê > > Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

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January 2016

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19

“we had to create a culture of us being the underdog with no reputation for success. This forced us to work harder, demand more of ourselves, and look only to ourselves for inspiration.”

— James Fulwiler, Dublin boys soccer coach A season with 13 wins, and just three losses in 24 regular season matches, saw them earn just the No. 13 seed that first Div. I season. The proverbial smack in the face resonated with the Gaels.

They beat fourth-seeded Pittsburg — the only non-East Bay Athletic League school to win a Div. I title in the last decade — in the first round. In the second round, against No. 5 College ParkPleasant Hill, it seemed the ride was over as the Gaels trailed 3-0 in the second half, on the road. But Dublin scored three goals to force overtime, and stunned the Falcons on penalty kicks.

The ride ended in the semifinals against eventual-champion San Ramon Valley, but the gauntlet had been thrown down: the Gaels are a Division I title contender. They have a win over Monte Vista and a draw against SRV to their credit this season to prove they’re a team to pay attention to when the NCS playoffs get underway on Feb. 17.

“It won’t be easy, and there are a lot of great teams that can win it all this year,” said Fulwiler, whose team boasted a 12-3-1 record through Jan. 15. “We are fast, dynamic, big and physical. This may be the fastest and most united team we have ever fielded.

We have the offense to score goals; we have the defense to shut out teams. We are coming to the tournament with the objective of winning this year.”

The talent is there, with scoring threats in Navid Khamush and Ali Amin, strong defenders in Ryan Murray and Stefen Dil-

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lon, and the return of senior forward Suliman Khorami, who is back after a year with the Earthquakes Academy.

“We all have confidence in ourselves which reflects on the field,” Khamush said. “When we walk on the field, we have a certain level that we are expected to play at and our coaches expect nothing less. So we aim to play above their expectations and that gives us confidence.”

That confidence has remained, despite the jump up to Division I a season ago.

“Going from Division II to Division I was different for sure,” Dillon said. “The divisions play in different ways. Division II plays a more physical game, and relies on that to win games, whereas Division I is a more finesse type of play. (Teams) would rather juke you out instead of body you up. But we as a team don’t look at what division they are in, we feel like we have the ability and the potential to beat any team we play, as long as we stick to our game plan and play Dublin soccer.”

And playing Dublin soccer might just lead them to reach new heights in the realm of North Coast Section soccer. No team has won titles in both divisions since it became a two-division format in 2001.

“We are working really hard to give ourselves at least a chance to compete for the title,” Fulwiler said. “We know it will take luck, health and perhaps a little spark of magic, but we are hungry and we will show up for the tournament.” ✪

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Suliman Khorami

Stefen Dillon

Dylan Laranang

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Records through Jan 18 1. (2)

▲

De La Salle-Concord

14-1

2. (4)

▲

Moreau Catholic-Hayward

13-3

3. (3)

—

Modesto Christian

15-1

4. (1)

▼

Sacramento

16-1

5. (5)

—

Folsom

16-2

6. (6)

—

St. Francis-Mountain View

12-2

7. (7)

—

Sheldon-Sacramento

9-4

8. (12)

▲

Weston Ranch-Stockton

13-4

9. (13)

▲

Salesian-Richmond

14-4

10. (8)

▼

Jesuit-Carmichael

13-3

11. (9)

▼

Capital Christian-Sacramento

9-7

12. (10) ▼

Manteca

14-3

13. (14) ▲

Granite Bay

15-3

14. (16) ▲

Monte Vista-Danville

13-3

15. (17) ▲

Serra-San Mateo

11-3

16. (NR) ▲

Oakland Tech

18-1

17. (20) ▲

Newark Memorial

11-5

18. (18) —

Dougherty Valley-San Ramon

17-1

19. (11) ▼

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

8-6

20. (NR) ▲

Half Moon Bay

15-1

DROPPED OUT: No. 15 Freedom-Oakley and No. 19 Dublin BIGGEST MOVER: With just some minor shuffling at the top, including a new No. 1 in De La Salle, the biggest movers were more in the middle of the pack. Weston Ranch-Stockton and Salesian-Richmond both vaulted four spots into the top 10. Salesian actually had the better week, but Weston Ranch moves up with the Pride since it has a 69-67 win against them from earlier in the season.

Oakland Tech also jumped into the rankings at No. 16 with it’s four-point win over previous No. 15 Freedom.

Darren Nelson 22

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January 2016

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Rising Granite Bay squad passes first test in stride How a team responds to adversity says coach Jason Sitterud knows the ball and a lot about the character of the players and his team are in good hands. the makeup of the team. The Granite Bay “Coach relies on the seniors, especially boys basketball team provided an emphatic the guards, and we embrace that leadership response to what could have been a devrole,” Tooley said. astating loss, and are showing the Sierra With the 6-foot-8 Nelson able to mix Foothill League, Sac-Joaquin Section and it up down low with the best post players Northern California that the Grizzlies can from the SFL and beyond, and with Tooley be a serious threat in the postseason. and Boyle able to knock down big shots On Jan. 8, Granite Bay opened SFL play from the perimeter, Granite Bay’s insidewith a road test at defending league and out offense has been clicking for most of section Division I champion Folsom. The the season. The team’s only losses have Grizzlies were never in the game as the come against Folsom, undefeated (through Bulldogs ran away with a 62-39 victory. It Jan. 16) Sacramento High, and Utah’s was a defeat that might have been cause for fourth-ranked team, Westlake-Saratoga alarm for a less seasoned group.

Charlie Tooley Springs.

“They made a statement that night,” Nelson has cut his teeth against the Granite Bay junior center Darren Nelson likes of Sac High standout Solomon Young said. “After the game, though, it was done. We had a short and rising Folsom center Mason Forbes. He will also have at time to talk about it and learn from it, but then it’s over.” least two showdowns with sophomore star Jordan Brown of The Grizzlies did not even have a full day to employ the Woodcreek-Roseville during the regular season. Likewise, the team’s “24-hour rule” to look back on any one game after it Grizzlies have accumulated their impressive record against a ends. That’s because Granite Bay was facing East Bay-power formidable schedule that has included Freedom-Oakley, Oak Monte Vista-Danville on Jan. 9 as part of the Father Kelly Ridge-El Dorado Hills, St. Mary’s-Stockton and BurbankTribute at Jesuit High in Carmichael. Showing no signs of the Sacramento. previous night’s defeat, the Grizzlies edged the Mustangs 63The SFL is among the best leagues in the section with no 56 to get back on track. easy games on the slate for Granite Bay, but Tooley and the “We got back to having a good time together as a team,” Grizzlies welcome the challenge.

Nelson said. “We were not focused on having to win or mak“We have high expectations this year because we know ing a point.” we can beat good teams,” Tooley said. “Last year, we thought But that is exactly what they did. that we could compete with the best teams, but we are more Led by captains Nelson and senior guards Charlie Tooley confident this year that we can win big games. We want to and Sean Boyle, Granite Bay improved its overall record to compete in league and earn a trip to Sleep Train.”

15-3 overall and 2-1 in SFL play with subsequent league wins Granite Bay would need to advance to the SJS Division I at Rocklin and Del Oro-Loomis. Seniors Kovey Palmaer and semifinals to earn the right to play on the Sacramento Kings’ Scott Henrichs have also contributed to the veteran team. Hen- home court. richs, a three-sport athlete who plays football and baseball in “We want to get a top-4 seed to have home games that can addition to hoops, overcame a rare lung disease, an auto-imget us to Sleep Train,” Nelson said. “We are not just a one- or mune disorder, in the past year and his recovery has inspired two-player team, but we are strong together. If Charlie or I his fellow athletes, students and teachers at Granite Bay. get locked down, we trust others to step up.”

The trio of captains bring a wealth of varsity experience So far, the Grizzlies have stepped up — with the Monte (Tooley and Nelson are three-year varsity players) that Vista victory as the best example — and the expectations and provides a calming guidance to the team both on and off the resumé can continue to grow before March arrives. ✪ court. With Tooley and Boyle anchoring the backcourt, head — Jim McCue & Chace Bryson

BAY WATCH

DOUBLE THE LEADER

If the first two months of the season were any indication, the Bay Valley Athletic League could be shaping up to be the East Bay’s most competitive league from top to bottom this season. The league’s six teams finished a combined 58-30 in nonleague games over the past month and a half, and four of the team’s entered BVAL play with at least 10 wins. HeritageBrentwood leads the pack with a 15-2 overall mark, followed

by Liberty-Brentwood (12-3) and Freedom-Oakley (11-4).

Pittsburg picked up it’s 11th win in its Jan. 15 BVAL opener, beating Deer Valley-Antioch (8-6) 63-60. So, yeah. Don’t expect an unbeaten league champ.

Sacramento Waldorf senior Lillian Olson leads the SacJoaquin Section in both points and rebounds at the midway point of the season. The 6-foot-2 forward is averaging 30.6 points and 17.6 rebounds per game for the Waves, who are 9-5 overall and 3-0 in the Central Valley California League.

Olson has recorded a double-double in all 14 games this year and posted season-high numbers in points (40) and rebounds (27) in a 59-36 victory over three-time defending league champion Woodland Christian.With her output this season, the three-year starter eclipsed 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for her career as she currently has 1,421 points and 1,040 rebounds as a Wave.

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Records through Jan. 18 1. (1)

—

St. Mary’s-Stockton

17-0

2. (2)

—

Miramonte-Orinda

15-0

3. (3)

—

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

11-3

4. (5)

▲

Pinewood-Los Altos Hills

12-2

5. (6)

▲

Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills

17-1

6. (8)

▲

Salesian-Richmond

13-5

7. (4)

▼

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

11-4

8. (9)

▲

Antelope

17-0

9. (11)

▲

Carondelet-Concord

9-5

10. (10) —

Vanden-Fairfield

9-8

11. (12) ▼

McClatchy-Sacramento

13-4

12. (7)

Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F.

9-6

13. (15) ▲

Valley Christian-San Jose

12-3

14. (17) ▲

Presentation-San Jose

14-2

15. (19) ▲

Sacramento

11-7

16. (16) —

Brookside Christian-Stockton

11-7

17. (18) ▲

Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa

13-4

18. (NR) ▲

Castro Valley

15-2

19. (20) ▲

St. Francis-Sacramento

13-4

20. (NR) ▲

Lincoln-Stockton

13-4

▼

DROPPED OUT: No. 13 St. Mary’s-Berkeley, No. 14 Folsom BIGGEST MOVER: Minor movements all the way around, despite a lot of big matchups over the MLK weekend.

Sacramento regained upward steam after having fallen down to No. 19 in the later half of December. The Monarchs climbed four spots back to No. 15, helped in part to Salesian’s 50-49 Jan. 16 win over SoCal power La Jolla Country Day. Sacramento has a 64-56 win over Salesian from Dec. 28 at the West Coast Jamboree. Lincoln-Stockton, who was ranked in the preseason, returns to the Top 20 this week as well.

January 2016

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I

f the approximate number of 13,000 participants and 25,000 spectators at the 2015 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships in New Orleans this past summer is any indication, volleyball — especially for girls — seems to be experiencing an impressive surge in appeal.

Club programs are seeing a record amount of girls between the ages of 11 and 18 years old trying out for both their Power and Premier teams. The Northern California Volleyball Association (NCVA) has grown significantly over the past several years and is now the 4th largest region nationwide as the meat of the 2016 season begins in earnest this January.

The growing national success of Bay Area club teams such as Tremors (San Francisco), Nor Cal (Tri Valley), Red Rock (South Bay), City Beach (Fremont), Vision (South Bay), Absolute (Marin County), Rage (Central Valley), NCVC (Sacramento) and Encore (Peninsula) have led to the strengthening of talent and overall response from teenage girls.

The Foundry, undoubtedly the most state of the art “Olympic Center” type facility in the entire Bay Area, is home to more than twenty-seven teams (including Monsoon and Encore) at their 45,000 square foot Redwood City location.

“Girls are training harder and at a higher level than ever due to the opportunities available to them and the ability to continue to play in college,” said Encore 17-1 Navy coach Jennifer Agresti, who was a superb three-sport athlete at St. Mary’s-Stockton High before her volleyball career at Washington State.

The appeal of women’s volleyball has been on the rise over the last 8-10 years thanks in large part to the popularity of beach volleyball. The Olympic gold medal success of Kerri Walsh-Jenning and Misty May-Treanor at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 summer Olympics — and the NCAA’s decision to add sand volleyball as a scholar-

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ship sport — has added to the allure of the game. Girls see the club volleyball experience as an entry to the sport.

While high school volleyball is exciting and builds on the community aspect of the team, club volleyball DIG DEEPER ONLINE allows girls to improve on their skills, To see a compilation of 2015 hightechnique and conlights from various NorCal volleyball ditioning at a higher clubs, visit SportStarsOnline.com/ level. It is a commonly ClubVB/2015Review. know fact, that more girls get recruited to play college volleyball from club teams than out of high school.

It’s not uncommon to see more than 20 NCAA Div. I and Div. II college recruiters at a weekend tournament. One college recruiter told SportStarts that he can be evaluating between 20 and 50 prospects during a typical Northern California weekend club tournament.

The Power League is a very competitive “travel ball” type experience. Points and tournament performance can get a team to the Junior National Championships. The Premier Leagues, while competitive, are less of a commitment and more suited for multisport athletes or girls with other outside activities.

The NCVA holds an annual National Qualifying Tournament.

The Western Qualifier is held annually in April in the RenoSparks Convention Center over two weekends.

The 2015 Junior National Championships, a 10-day event, took place from June 23- July 2. Several NorCal programs qualified for the event and secured Top 10 finishes across the 31 different divisions.

— Michael Copeland, contributor

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PROMISING START The first NCVA tournament of 2016, the California Kickoff, was held from Jan. 14-16. Here are the top teams from each Open division and their record from the event.

(Number after team name denotes age group and team level. Example: SF Tremors Wolverines age 12, 1st level) DIVISION

CLUB

RECORD

12 OPEN

SF Tremors Wolverines 12-1

7-0

13 OPEN

SF Tremors Wolverines 13-1

8-0

14 OPEN

SF Tremors Cobras 14-1

6-1

15 OPEN

Red Rock 15-1

8-0

16 OPEN

Absolute Black 16-1

8-0

17 OPEN

Five Starz 17-1

8-0

18 OPEN

Rage 16-Gabe

7-0

Monte Vista-Danville 2015 graduate Hailey Lindberg during an Xceleration 18 Blue practice in Concord last June.

Phillip Walton photo

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January 2016

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27

Get to know

tyler peters alHaMbRa-MaRtINeZ - baseball With just two weeks before most high school baseball teams across Northern California can officially begin practice, we checked in with one of the top third basemen/pitching talents in the East Bay. Tyler Peters was kind enough to call us back while making his drive through the desert on the way home from participating in the Perfect Game MLK Championship Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. Peters batted 5-for-12 with a double and five RBI at the event as his West Coast all-star team took third out of 32 teams at the event. Here’s some more things you can learn about Alhambra’s top returning senior. ›› POSITION: Third base/pitcher

HIs tHoUGHts oN 2016 bUllDoGs: “We’re going to be good. We have a lot of returning seniors. We have a good staff with a deep rotation and a nice lineup 1-9.” ›› 2015 REWIND: Peters’ standout junior season with the Bulldogs included team-bests in average (.419), hits (31), runs scored (17), RBI (20), doubles (10) and extra base hits (12). He also made eight pitching appearances and posted a 1.58 ERA and a team-leading two saves. Alhambra went 17-10 overall and reached the North Coast Section Div. III semifinals. ›› COLLEGE DESTINATION: San Francisco State ›› MORE MOUND: Peters will move into a starting pitching role this year. It’s something he’s definitely looking forward to. ›› NOT JUST HIM: Alhambra will also get key contributions from pitcher Jordyn Eglite, catcher Josh Abraham and center fielder Matt Beck. ›› TOUGHEST PITCHER HE’S FACED: James Vacarro of Miramonte-Orinda ›› FAVORITE DIAMOND TO PLAY AT ON THE ROAD: Las Lomas-Walnut Creek ›› DREAM DIAMOND: AT&T Park ›› FAVORITE MLB BASEBALL TEAM: Giants ›› FAVORITE MLB PLAYER: Mike Trout ›› FAVORITE BASEBALL-THEMED MOVIE: The Benchwarmers ›› FAVORITE GAME DAY RITUAL: Usually go for pizza before the game at DeVinos in Pleasant Hill. ›› FAVORITE NON-BASEBALL ACTIVITY: Airsofting ›› FAVORITE BAND/MUSICIAN: Foo Fighters ›› FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza (Pepperoni and Olive)

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training time: tim rudd

Your season of sport is hectic, but finding time to train goes a long way

IN-SEASON POINTERS ›› Get frequent workouts (realistically 2 per week) with higher intensities but lower volumes. >> Intensity is the key to training, not volume and this applies even more inseason. ›› Never skip an in-season workout. A 15-minute, oneset workout is better in the long run than a missed day. ›› Work lower body strength and power in-season. Don’t “save the legs”. If you save them in September, they will fail you in November.

BOTTOM LINE: Quick workouts with an emphasis on higher intensity (heavier weight) lower body and lower volume (less sets)

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High school athletes who are in-season must budget their time extremely well. For most competitive athletes the time and energy commitment needed to succeed in their chosen sport is very intense and time consuming. Many athletes quickly assume they will not have the time to train even for a single hour each week with their busy schedule.

But just like anything else, they should always find an hour or two to devote to something that is vital to their success.

If you are a coach or serious athlete who wants to succeed, you should know that in-season training has a pretty strong list of reasons why it can give you or your team a big competitive advantage. #1 Injury Reduction — Most non-contact injuries occur when athletes either lack strength or conditioning late in the season. Fatigued athletes are at greater risk for sports injury and the same goes for weaker athletes. In-season training helps to maintain the efficiency in which the athletes move by maintaining movement quality through the ankles, hips and shoulders that can erode during the season. #2 Performing at a high level throughout the season — In-season programs maintain an athlete’s movement quality as mentioned above along with, strength, speed and power gained in the offseason.

Together these form the base of an efficient and high-performing athlete throughout the season. The fact is that athletes and teams who consistently train during the season will have a huge advantage over those who don’t. Those athletes who maintain or gain strength, power and explosiveness in-season, adding to each consecutive offseason, will distance themselves from the pack. They will continue to improve all the qualities that are vital for performing at a top level while getting closer to their true athletic potential. #3 Improved recovery — Most athletes just assume that in-season training is just going to beat them up. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In-season training focus is still centered on high intensity, but at much lower volumes. In-season programs should include recovery strategies such as self-myofascial release, stretching and mobility.

Athletes who train in-season will have more, not less, energy. Foam rolling and stretching increases blood flow to overworked muscles, allowing for quicker recovery from exhausting practices and games. Workouts that emphasize lower volumes of intensity will keep an athlete’s nervous system more alert and energized than they would be otherwise. The combined result is that athletes feel fresher during the toughest parts of their schedule. #4 It strengthens resolve — The more proactive an athlete is in their own success, the more likely they will sacrifice to achieve a goal.

On an individual level, the simple act of prioritizing an in-season workout sends a powerful subconscious message that they are willing to go above and beyond to achieve excellence. And imagine the impact of an entire team that willingly works on their development during the season while their competition gets more worn down with each passing week. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

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AED units for heart issues aren’t as commonplace as they should be — and that needs to change health watch: bruce valentine Screening for cardiac disease prior to participation in athletics is a hot topic these days.

The American Heart Association has a 12-element recommendation for inclusion in any pre-participation physical examination of young athletes.

Included are a personal and family history (verified by a parent or guardian), and physical examination to include listening for a heart murmur, blood pressure and heart rate. During the physical exam, it is not recommended to perform an electro cardiogram on all athletes.

Currently, with a significant false positive/false negative rate, the accuracy of the testing often leaves a family with unnecessary anxiety, and can just as frequently not catch the cardiac issue.

With an imperfect yet steadily improving screening process for young athletes still on the horizon, the most reliable and proven method of lifesaving in the event of a sudden cardiac crisis remains the Automatic External Defibrillator.

Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are important lifesaving devices that should be readily available in all public places where athletics occur.

Unfortunately, they have not yet become as common a sight as an exit sign, or fire extinguisher. It is the one item that no one wants to ever use, yet everyone should have access to. The AED is designed for simplicity, with verbal instruction and pictures to guide the user through the action of saving a life.

The problem remains, however, that we as a society have not reached the tipping point of having the expectation of finding an AED in any building, field of play or sporting venue. The good news is we are not very far off.

The public’s awareness is also increasing. CPR classes cover its use, news and print media cover the issues, and the universal sign of a heart with a lightning bolt is becoming more common place. Still, more advocates are needed and it is the public’s pressure on institutions that presses the issue to make the AED a pervasive sight. ✪ Bruce Valentine is a physical therapist assistant and certified athletic trainer for the sports medicine staff at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.

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NEW GOALS

YEAR

Conceiving new goals is easy; the rest takes attention to detail

get mental: erika carlson

Keep your eyes on the prize. Work with the end in mind. It’s that time once again when we re-organize, re-commit and set goals for the year ahead. As athletes, we tend to be very goal oriented, and taking the time to set goals properly is incredibly important to your success.

I spend a lot of time with my athletes helping them to come up with complete goal plans that create a process to lead them towards their goals. If you want to advance your goals for 2016, here is a guide to go from typical to better goals.

BE SPECIFIC Typical: “I’m going to work hard in practice today.” — Vague goals are a waste of time and energy. Lack of specificity gives too broad of a target and no real measuring stick.

Better: “I will keep my intensity at a level 7 throughout practice today.” — This goal gives you a specific target to work towards. Once you establish what a “7” feels like, you can stay on track and increase the quality of practice.

MAKE IT MEASURABLE Typical: Assuming you’re getting better because you show up and work through practice — This is risky (how do you really know you’re improving?) and keeps you from owning your improvements.

Better: Quantifying improvement through statistics or evaluation (self-evaluation or from a

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coach) — This is a huge confidence booster. Set daily and weekly performance based goals to track improvements and consistency.

SET A TARGET DATE Typical: “I want to play on the top level team.” — This is a specific goal, but it could be stronger with a timeline.

Better: “I want to make the top team in 2016.” — Break down your goals into smaller parts with timelines: January: Increase endurance with two long runs per week; February: Start mental training for confidence and consistency; March: Complete weight lifting plan three days per week; April: Juggle for 15 minutes, four days per week; May: Make the U16 top team to get exposure to college coaches.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Typical: Check off goals once accomplished (or never checking back on goals).

Better: Create detailed daily/weekly goals and track your progress every day or two — You might be surprised how much you are already doing to work towards your goals. Include diet, hydration, performance goals and competition goals. Planning and staying accountable to all of your training is a great way to earn your confidence.

Wishing you a mentally tough 2016. ✪ Erika Carlson is a CEO and certified mental trainer at Mental Training, Inc. in Pleasanton

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nutrition: jill daniels

A brief look at recovery nutrition and tips on doing it right Want to stay in top form for your next practice or competition?

Recovery nutrition is key! Here are some tips on how to eat and drink after a workout so that you can replenish carbohydrate stores, replace fluid losses and repair muscles.

If you are training for 90 minutes or more, or if you’re playing multiple games in a tournament, recovery nutrition will be especially beneficial for you. Refueling after your workout helps replenish your energy stores and starts rebuilding your muscles.

Eat a meal or snack with a ratio of 3:1 carbohydrates to protein. Here are some ideas that fit this game plan: smoothie, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, granola bar and chocolate milk, turkey sandwich on a bagel, cereal and Greek yogurt. It’s fine to have your carbohydrate in any form: solid or liquid, simple or complex. They are equally effective in restoring carbohydrate (glycogen) stores.

To help your body start repairing and rebuilding muscle, make sure to include about 10-25 grams of protein in this recovery meal. If you’re a smaller

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athlete, aim for the lower end of the range, and if you’re bigger, aim for the upper end of the range. Eat within 30 minutes post workout, and follow up 1-2 hours later with a similar meal.

Chocolate milk has been touted as the ultimate recovery drink.

There’s nothing magical about it, but it does have a few perks. It provides carbohydrates and protein in the 3:1 ratio, it’s fluid so it can be easier to ingest especially after a hard workout, and it’s chocolate!

Many athletes enjoy this nourishing and refreshing treat after training.

Replenishing the fluids you lost during your workout is also important.

Weigh yourself before and after your workout, and drink 20 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight lost. Utilize these nutrition strategies and notice how much faster you recover! ✪ Maximize your performance by seeking out personalized advice from Nutrition Coach Jill Daniels, MS, RD, CSSD, Certified Specialist in SportsDietetics. www.

JillDanielsRD.com

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build? blast? both?

It’s sort of funny: Our boys basketball coach never yells, it seems like. Even when guys screw up, he tells them “Nice try” or “Good job.” But our girls coach yells all the time. She gets mad at her players and tells them they’re not working hard enough. Both teams are pretty good, but not great, so I’m wondering — which way of coaching is better? Being really nice or yelling all the time?

-C.G., Hayward

T

hat’s a really good question, but it’s also hard to answer because there are so many factors.

Here’s the first: Coaches have to be true to themselves (and so does everyone, for that matter). A person who tends to emphasize the negative can’t suddenly change and be smiling all the time. If they try to fake being nice, it just won’t work — they won’t feel right, and the players will see through it sooner rather than later.

Here’s another: Some players respond better to yelling than to praise, so some players will do better playing for a coach who doesn’t praise much. (It’s unfortunate that your girls coach is the yeller, because the received coaching wisdom, genderwise, is this: If you tell a guy he’s terrible, he’ll do anything to prove you wrong; if you tell a girl she’s terrible, she believes you.) And of course some players respond better to support than negativity.

For me as a player, I never liked to be yelled at or told I

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wasn’t very good (which was, sadly, probably the truth). I wanted to be told how to do better the next time. Now of course some coaches do just that — tell the player how to improve — but at a very high volume and with a lot of other words mixed in, which makes it hard to separate the signal from the noise.

Ideally, of course, you’d have a coach who would praise the players who needed to be praised, and yell at the players who needed to be yelled at – and would be able to know which one was which. Then again, people are different on different days, and yelling that works on Monday may be counterproductive on Wednesday.

In the end, there’s no right or wrong way to coach. A good coach can balance their own personality with that of the team, and also manage to control the group dynamic as well. In fact, that’s what coaching is really about: Group dynamics.

Any system can work in basketball, or any sport, if the coach believes in it, can teach it and the players buy in. Of course the coach has to have some talent to work with, but if he or she can get the group to believe and to play hard, good things are generally going to happen — regardless of whether there’s lots of yelling or lots of praise. ✪ Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsitybasketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at clayk@fullcourt.com

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january 21

january 23 uSKS 29th annual just for Kicks

GIrLS SOCCer: CarondeletConcord vs.

San ramon ValleyDanville

Berean Christian High plays host to this popular martial arts show

by Concord’s United State Karate Systems. More info: 925-6829517

As of Jan. 6, Carondelet was a perfect 10-0 and SRV was 7-1-1. The Wolves only loss was a 2-1 defeat to Carondelet on Dec. 15.

Must-see soccer, 6 p.m. at De La Salle High.

january 30-31 LaCrOSSe: Camo Classic Lacrosse Tournament

january 30-31

Swashbuckler Lacrosse and Placer Valley Tourism are ringing in 2016 with the Camo Classic, an incredible two-day lacrosse tournament that benefits the Wounded Warrior Project. This exciting event will take place on January 30-31 at Foskett Park in Lincoln and will feature both boys and girls junior high and high school teams. The tournament was moved to the end of January because of poor weather conditions. For more information, call (916) 773-5400 or email Amy Looney at alooney@ placertourism.com

february 5-6 bOyS WreSTLInG: Mission San jose Tournament It’s the last high-caliber tune-up competition before the postseason schedule begins.

The path to peaking at the right time often goes through Fremont.

More info: msjwrestling. com

february 5-6 GIrLS WreSTLInG: SjS regional Qualifiers Some of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s toughest girl wresters, such as defending state-champion Sariyah Jones of Enochs-Modesto, will begin their march to the CIF State Girls Wrestling Invitational. The regional qualifiers are followed by the Masters Championships on Feb. 19-20.

The CIF invitational takes place Feb. 26-27.

january 23

january 23 GIrLS HOOPS: Corner Bakery Showdown

Byers Roseville Gymnastics Invitational

Bentley High in Lafayette hosts this multiple game girls basketball showcase featuring primo matchups that include Pinewood-Los Altos Hills vs. Brookside Christian-Stockton and Miramonte-Orinda vs.

Carondelet-Concord.

In its 20th year, the BRGI takes over Mahany Sports Complex to host one of NorCal’s most prominent competition for Levels 3 through 10 (ages 8-16).

More info: byersrosevillemeetdirector@yahoo. com

Rugby Kick-Off Tournament Sacramento Valley Rugby Foundation will host the 32nd rendition of the season-opening tournament.

Plenty of boys and girls teams from divisions U-19, U-17, U-14, U-12 and U-10 will arrive at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova for their final tune-up competition prior to NorCal league play beginning in February.

Moire info: kickofftournament.com

feBruary 6 Willie Davenport Olympian Track & Field Clinic James Logan High’s popular track and field clinic will once again feature an all-star cast of former-Olympian instructors/speakers, including Eddie Hart and Mike Powell.

More info: lwebb@nhusd. k12.ca.us

feBruary 3 naTIOnaL SIGnInG Day NorCal’s best senior football players make their college commitments official. Soccer and water polo athletes can sign this day also.

feBruary 6-7 GIrLS VOLLeyBaLL: NCVA Power League Qualifiers The Northern California Volleyball Association’s holds its Power League qualifier weekend with the Under-16 girls clubs competing at the Sacramento Convention Center and the U17 and U18 clubs competing at the San Mateo Events Center.

Find schedules and follow results at www.ncva.com/girls/league-play/powerleague/

feBruary 8 SPrInG SPOrTS fIrST Day Of PraCTICe Spring sports in most of the Northern California sections are allowed to begin tryouts and practice on this Monday. Sports getting under way will include baseball, softball, lacrosse and track and field, among others. Typically, teams can begin scrimmaging after one week and participate in full games after two.

loCal wresTlers shine aT wesT CoasT ToC Placer Valley Tourism and Sacramento Area Wrestling Association (SAWA) are delighted to report that the inaugural Women’s West Coast Tournament of Champions on Dec. 19 at Rocklin’s Hardwood Palace was a huge success. With more than 30 teams and hundreds of high school female wrestlers, it was truly a spectacular event.

“We worked hard to make this not only a high quality, premier tournament, but a very competitive one as well. I’d say we hit

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the mark,” Jeremy Arsich of SAWA said.

Arsich, the girls wrestling coach at Natomas High in Sacramento, knew it was important to have many of the best female wrestlers in the state at the WWCTOC. With more than 20 state qualifiers competing, that was definitely accomplished.

Del Oro-Loomis won the tournament with 180 points. Elena Topete, the Golden Eagles’ senior captain, took first at 150 pounds. Maddie Anderson (235) and Can-

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dice Corralejo (111) also were gold-medal winners from Del Oro. Bringing home silver medals from Del Oro were Emelia Kingston (189) and Kaleigh Burrage (137).

Del Oro’s bronze-medal winners were Paige Martinsen (143), Savannah Scott (121) and Yaoyao Wolansky (111).

Two other local teams had noteworthy wins, Lauren Mason from WoodcreekRoseville took the gold in the 116 pound division and Natalie Lipman from Lincoln

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Roseville plays host to USTA’s NorCal Junior Championships event President’s Day weekend will be in full swing at the Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville as the United States Tennis Association (USTA) NorCal Junior Championship will be taking place throughout the three-day holiday this coming Feb. 13-15.

Boys and girls ages 12 to 18 will be competing in singles tennis matches, bringing some of the most competitive junior tennis athletes to Placer Valley.

This three-day event is considered to be an advanced level of play within the USTA, and the competition will be fierce.

“There will be kids competing from all over Northern California at this championship,” said Cris Bacharach, Johnson Ranch Racquet Club Tennis Director. “And since this is a USTA-sanctioned tournament, many of the top players from California will be here competing,” The first serve will take place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, and games will continue well into the evening for each day of the long weekend. The final matches deciding the NorCal Champion in each age division will take place Monday, Feb. 15.

If tennis is your game, mark your calendar and come on down to the courts at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club, located at 2600 Eureka Rd in Roseville, to see the best junior tennis athletes in Northern California compete. ✪

was fourth at 121 pounds.

Placer Valley Tourism is already looking forward to bringing the WWCTOC back in December 2016 and plans to add a junior varsity division along with a day for college teams to compete. Keep your eyes out for more information in the coming months. ✪ —All copy and photos provided

by Placer Valley Tourism

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❒ Army National Guard Recruiter ..............................................3 ❒ Big O Tires Northern California/ Nevada .................................2 ❒ Bigfoot Hoops .......................................................................25 ❒ Blankenship Baseball ............................................................34 ❒ California Football Academy .................................................24 ❒ Catchflame.Com ...................................................................38 ❒ Championship Athletic Fundraising.......................................26 ❒ Club Sport...............................................................................7 ❒ Colin Knightly Lacrosse.........................................................35 ❒ Concord American Little League ...........................................35 ❒ Diablo Futbol Club ...............................................................17 ❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards .....................................................38 ❒ Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union .......................................33 ❒ Diablo Valley Volleyball Club ...............................................34 ❒ East Bay Badminton Assn. .....................................................35 ❒ East Bay Bulldogs Basketball .................................................34 ❒ Halo Headband ....................................................................38 ❒ Heads Up Sports ...................................................................38 ❒ Heritage Soccer Club ............................................................14 ❒ Jumbo Sunflower Seeds .........................................................32 ❒ Kneed-A-Brace ......................................................................32 ❒ Krossover ..............................................................................24 ❒ Mental Training Inc ...............................................................38 ❒ Muir Orthopaedic Specialists ..................................................5 ❒ Oakland Police Department Recruiting .................................29 ❒ Placer Valley Tourism Board ............................................36, 37 ❒ Renaissance Club Sport.........................................................27 ❒ Rugby Nor Cal ......................................................................28 ❒ San Ramon Slammers Baseball .............................................34 ❒ Special Olympics Northern California...................................35 ❒ Speed 4 Your Sport: The Program ...........................................35 ❒ Sports Stars Magazine .............................................................4 ❒ Stat Med ...............................................................................39 ❒ Stevens Creek Toyota.............................................................21 ❒ Tpc / The Pitching Center ......................................................28 ❒ U C S F Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland ........................31 ❒ U S Air Force.........................................................................40 ❒ Visitredding.Com ............................................................12, 13 ❒ Walnut Creek Soccer Club ....................................................11 ❒ Willie Davenport Olympian Track & Field Clinic...................20

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