BA Issue 56, Nov. 22, 2012

garcia watches and waits

vol. 3. issue 56

FREE

november 22, 2012

former all-pro still making an impact

ACES

Campo could’ve folded but won water polo gold instead

it’s ballin’ time: check out our must-see games.

Pg. 26

20

top

our inside source breaks down NCS playoffs

sportstarsonline.com

run strong

bay area

coach calls it:

Pg. 6

rankings sportstars’ top football Teams

mud & Rain doesn’t slow down NCS xC champions

state golf: Mission sj, norcal hold their own at finals

PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writers Erik Stordahl, Jim McCue Contributors Bill Kolb, Mitch Stephens, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Bryant West, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Jonathan Okanes Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler Intern Ryan Arter Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, (925) 566.8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStars Online.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com, Tommy Enriquez • Tommy@SportStarsOnline.com Sac Joaqin edition: Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Distribution/Delivery Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsOnline.com Board of advisors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law

party time!

Campolindo celebrates another NCS title. Their 12th, to be exact. Pg. 20

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First Pitch...........................................6 Locker Room....................................8 AAA SportStars of the Week......11 Behind the Clipboard....................12 10 to Go..........................................26 Red Zone.........................................28 Training Time...................................34 Health Watch .................................35 Impulse.............................................36

we know: And we’re in a sharing mood, so check out our predictions for the NCS football playoffs.

Pg. 28 Cross country is better covered in dirt. Pg. 24 on the cover: Maddie Browning, left, and Annie Shurtz .

Photo by Bob Larson.

LLC

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, November 2012 Whole No. 56 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery).

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November 22, 2012

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Walk Then Run After losing her 2011 state championship race by one second, Karlie Garcia had to put redemption on hold

C

arrie Verdon’s come from behind victory that won her a second-consecutive Division III state title was the feel-good story of the California Interscholastic Federation State Cross Country Championships a year ago.

The Campolindo-Moraga senior began feeling pain in her right foot one-third of the way into the race and pushed through it to finish Fresno’s Woodward Park course in a winning time of 17 minutes, 19 seconds.

Karlie Garcia’s time of 17:20 was a footnote.

“It happened pretty fast,” Garcia recalled of the final moments of the race. “I wasn’t really mad I didn’t win, though. I was happy with my time, and was more like ‘Darn it! She got me right at the end.’ If anything, I think the experience helped me run better the following week.”

The then Oakmont-Roseville junior dusted herself off and won the Foot Locker Western Regionals — Verdon’s foot injury kept her from competing — and then the week after that, finished fifth at the Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego.

She came home from Southern California viewed as one of Northern Calfornia’s brightest cross country stars and was deemed an immediate state championship favorite for 2012.

But when the starting gun went off for the CIF Division III state championship race at Woodward Park on Nov. 24, Garcia was a spectator.

She was only a few weeks removed from re-training her body to walk normally after a stress fracture in her left foot had her in a walking boot for four weeks.

“You really do have to re-teach your body how to walk, and then run,” she said. “After walking in a boot for so long, your hips feel lopsided and your foot still hurts.”

The injury was discovered just a few days before the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 29. And Garcia knew right away that her shot at the state title was gone.

“During track season in my sophomore year — one day after the (Sac-Joaquin Section) Meet of Champions — I had the same thing happen in my right foot.

So I’m all evened out now.” Garcia said jokingly.

Garcia expects to be at full strength when the track season arrives in March, and perhaps she can still attain some CIF redemption in a distance event at the State Track Meet in June.

But her true love is cross country.

So was the week leading up to the state championships as excruciating as we might expect?

Chace@ “YES!,” she exclaimed emphatically. “Really bad.”

SportStarsOnline.com And while nobody would’ve blamed Garcia if she planned on catching a matinee showing of “Skyfall” (925) 566-8503 or “Flight” — or BOTH, back-to-back — during the afternoon of Nov. 24, Garcia was adamant that she’d be glued to the live webcast of the state championships.

She will have a teammate running as Oakmont’s Marisa Carino qualified as an individual.

She also said she’d be following a few strong competitors and friends from other schools, including Vista del Lago-Folsom’s Clare Carroll and Madeleine Ankhelyi.

“I’ll be all into it,” she said.

And that’s pretty cool. ✪

First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor

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November 22, 2012

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rapidFIRE Item at top of your Christmas list

Date at which Christmas carols can be played

What product do you hope survives, unlike Twinkies

Martin Lawrence

New Jordan shoes

Day after Thanksgiving

Skittles or Starburst

Zach Galifianakis

GoPro

Dec. 17Dec. 26

Loofas

Favorite Thanksgiving dinner item

Favorite rainy day activity

Funniest actor/ actress

Sweet Potatoes

Hanging out indoors

Run

James Prothero, James Logan FB

Butternut squash soup

2 5 .

to tape adventures with teammates

only

I like them

count’EM

Aidan Goltra, Campolindo XC

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November 22, 2012

Recorded rainfall in inches for Hayward on Nov. 17, the day of the North Coast Section Cross County Championships.

Many who were at the event remarked it was the worst conditions they had ever seen for the 3-mile Hayward High course.

And seeing as how the 0.52 inches set a new record for Hayward rainfall on the date of Nov. 17, it’s probably true. Moreover, 60 percent of that rain total fell over a 70-minute span during the heart of the competition. For more rain-soaked images of the event, turn to page 24.

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Throughout the week we like to poll our Facebook fans on random things that come to our mind here at SportStars HQ. Come ‘Like’ us at www.facebook.com/sportstars to join the conversation. You just might find your comments in a future issue.

FROM NOV. 6: Happy Election Day! Who did everyone vote for as the best Bay Area sports team?

■ A week after the world series? Is this a real question ? — Anthony N. ■ NFL — 49ers, MLB ‚ SF Giants, College football — Stanford Cardinal, High School football ‚ De La Salle Spartans, of course! — Dave M.

sayWHAT “She was our go-to girl.

Everyone looked to her when it got tough out there and she was just amazing.”

Oakmont-Roseville volleyball coach Shelby Weinberger on the play of Katie Carle, right, who posted a team-high 25 kills and helped lift the Vikings to a come-from-behind, five-set victory in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III final.

Oakmont trailed 2-0 after the first two sets.

Jonathan Hawthorne

Brooke Starn of Monte Vista.

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kful Top 5 Reasons To Be Un-Than that means

ally, Well, folks, it’s Thanksgiving. Tradition -blah-blah columns blah for kful than we ’t aren smarmy, sappy, s suck. We here at and lists and such. Well. Those thing rning, sophisticated audidisce SportStars know you’re a more intelligence with that your lt insu ’t won ence. Which is why we offer you our top 5 reasons nonsense. Nope. Instead, we now to be Un-Thankful. , Giants win; there was 1. The World Series — Sure sure t we are unthankful for wha w Kno . much rejoicing, la-dee-da and swordsman Inigo there? To paraphrase the great sage not satisfied.’ Less baseMontoya, ‘Over too quickly. We are shoulda gone seven. Now It . ball is ALWAYS a bad thing, folks League World Series Little h? watc to what are we supposed reruns? hard it is to be a sports 2. Greatness — Do you realize how you look there’s ere ywh Ever fan in the Bay Area right now? championship a or er winn ion divis a a playoff contender or ay. Our DVR Anyw . riors War the ’s there , Also favorite. Oh. have time ldn’t wou we can’t handle all the options. And ay. to watch everything, anyw and potatoes and 3. Ubiquity — Turkey and stuffing TV and blockbuster family and company and football on day hasn’t even The h. movie releases… it’s all too muc just so hard to It’s d. uste exha dy started and we’re alrea pace yourself. of itself is an4. Greatness, Part II — That, in and had to break we s, noying. There’s so much greatnes — are know you Do ble. it over two items. Unforgiva is in Area Bay the t grea how of — re you FULLY awa and nalnatio have high school sports? You think they in ts spor all in ls idua state-ranked teams and/or indiv , tello Poca in ears their of out all seasons coming They do NOT, Idaho or Bismarck, North Dakota? old. I little a my friends. They do not. It gets a state t abou ed excit mean. How do you get one her anot ’s there know you title run when hum.

Ho er. corn the nd arou right ing com et: 5. Haste — Dirty little magazine secr you re befo aay waa stuff We had to write this at was it that ns mea h Whic it. had to read ing and least FIVE DAYS before Thanksgiv s decostma Chri we had already seen flipping initly, Crim . such and ials rations and commerc t abou said just we t wha see not people. Did you re holiday befo pacing yourselves? Let’s finish one you know, thing t Nex we? l shal , next the onto moving too.

Day, g we’ll be jumping the gun on Groundho at SportStars, oges Scro and ches From the Grin ng. have a very un-happy Un-Thanksgivi

James K. Leash

November 22, 2012

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November 22, 2012

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Defending your title is difficult enough. But doing it in the pouring rain and running in the mud definitely throws a wrench in strategy. Jena Pianin did just that when she captured her second straight NCS Div. I cross country title with a 3-mile time of 17 minutes, 56 seconds on Nov. 17 at Hayward High School.

SportStars Magazine: How was it running in those conditions?

Jena Pianin: It was kinda crazy. We had some idea that it might rain and that it might be muddy. I didn’t expect it to downpour during the race, though. You just have to tell yourself everyone is running in the same conditions. … You just have to put the conditions aside and you keep running.

SSM: How do you prep for that?

JP: We have to run on all different types of surfaces. … The more you run, the more used to surfaces you get.

SSM: When did you know you were going to win?

JP: I wasn’t 100 percent sure because nothing is ever guaranteed until I crossed the finish line.

I knew what I had to do to qualify my team for state. … It was just win at all costs.

SSM: Where does this performance rank amongst your personal bests?

JP: I’m happy I was able to defend my title. … It was such a huge goal (to qualify our team for

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jena pianin amador valley . cross country . senior

honorable mention

lilly walker The Diablo FC ’00 Blue Rampage goalkeeper allowed only two goals in three games at the Heritage Harvest Cup on Oct. 27-28.

harris ross The Pittsburg running back had himself a game on Nov. 9 at Monte Vista. He put up 269 rushing yards and four TDs as the Pirates won 55-29.

savrinah oliveros

Jonathan Hawthorne state) and season-long fight and I was glad to contribute to that.

JENA’S QUICK HITS Favorite athlete: Mo Farah Favorite class: We the People program, Civics team Favorite Starbucks item: Pumpkin Spiced Latte w/ extra whipped cream

In her first year in gymnastics, she moved on to the Level 4 State competition with a 36.45 all around score at the Harvest Moon Invitational on Oct. 27.

November 22, 2012

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TRUST US Refs aren’t plotting against your school

The refs have always hated our school, and we just lost a football game because of some really horrible calls. Why aren’t there better refs?

— F.K., Oakland

ctually, there are two questions, and the first is “Why do the refs hate my school?”

The answer to that one is simple: “They don’t.”

Look, officials work a lot of games in a lot of places and they simply don’t have the energy to remember that they really dislike this school so they’re going to call a lot of penalties, but they love this other school so they won’t. And think about it: When a ref sees what might be a penalty, does he stop and think which team did it before he throws the flag?

The answer is obviously no, and here’s proof. Presumably if officials go out of their way to make bad calls against one team, another team, or teams, is getting a bunch of good calls. So what team is that?

What fans and what team anywhere believes the refs love them and give them good calls all the time?

Again, the answer is obvious: No one. Everyone feels like the refs are against them, everyone feels like they get robbed every game, and everyone wishes there were “better” refs — that is, refs who wouldn’t call any penalties on their team, and a bunch on the other team.

So first, refs don’t hate anyone, and don’t think about what schools are playing when they make calls. They’re just out there trying to do the best they can.

Which leads to question two, which is “Why aren’t there better refs?”

The answer to that one is simple too: “If a ref is exceptional, he’s doing college or pro; most likely, he’s doing high school games for the same reason coaches are coaching in high school — he wasn’t quite good enough to make the jump to the next level.”

Now let me be very clear: There are excellent officials and excellent coaches at the high school level, and plenty of both. But the cream of the crop, the 1 percent if you will, get promoted to the next level — and the result is you have high school-level coaches, high schoollevel officials and, more to the point, high school-level players.

Again, there are good players in high school, and some very good ones, just as there are good (and very good) coaches and refs, but all in all, the level of playing, coaching and officiating in high school is not at the level of the same game in college. And that’s why the refs are going to be shaky sometimes, just as coaches and players make mistakes as well.

There are other reasons for the perception that officiating isn’t good at the high school level, but I only have so much room in these columns, so I’ll let it go now. But remember, the refs probably don’t even know what your team mascot is, and don’t care whether you win or lose. And, just like the players and coaches, they’re doing the best they can every time out. Maybe they aren’t spectacularly good, but how many people involved in high school sports really are? ✪

A

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com

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November 22, 2012

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After a controversial call went against it in section final, Campo refused to be derailed

T

By erik stordahl | SportStars

he score was 7-6 and 40 seconds remained. Both teams were huddled in their respective corners during a crucial timeout. Then an announcement was made over the PA system.

And that’s when the Campolindo High girls water polo team got angry.

The referees for the North Coast Section Division II championship match reviewed a shot attempt by Acalanes-Lafayette senior Megan Dietrich. Initially, it was ruled that the ball didn’t actually go in the goal upon hitting the crossbar. But after a timeout was called by Campolindo coach Kim Everist, the call was overturned.

“For one second it was anger,” said Everist of the controversial, gamealtering call. “Way after the fact for about a second. And then it was ‘Don’t care. We have to play. There’s 40 seconds. We have to go run it. I don’t care.’

“We weren’t going to let the referees dictate what we had to do. We were in control of what we were gonna do.” ◆◆◆ High expectations stacked up for the Cougars when the season started in August. They won NCS in 2010 and lost to Las Lomas in the 2011 final. They breezed through 2012, compiling a 25-1 record — their only loss to CCS juggernaut St. Francis-Mountain View — resulting in a No. 1 seed in the NCS championship. How did they deal with the pressure?

“It felt like everyone was trying to take us down,” junior Annika Jensen said.

“I think that’s part of the game, and that’s what’s gonna happen. But I think we all handled it pretty well and it was a good challenge for everyone.”

More than anything else, this Campolindo squad relied on chemistry to guide them through the season.

And it started on Day 1.

“It means that we’re a team and we’re a family,” junior Natalie Seidemann said. “It’s huge, I think that if we hadn’t clicked in the beginning of the season we would never have gotten here. And if everyone on our team didn’t contribute in all our games, we wouldn’t be where we are today. So it’s a team effort.”

Everist piggybacked on Seidemann’s chemistry remarks.

“From the very first day when we had our first practice and then our retreat, they were just a focused group and they got stuff done,” Everist said.

“There was never all the things a coach has to do to chase a team, getting them in the water, making sure the equipment’s out, dressing alike, being on time. We didn’t have to deal with any of the BS of all that stuff, they just did it.”

Campolindo breezed through league play in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League by going undefeated. That’s saying something considering Acalanes (No. 2 seed) and Miramonte-Orinda (No. 4 seed) were forces to be reckoned with. Add to the mix defending champ Las Lomas being in search of another title.

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November 22, 2012

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Jonathan Hawthorne photos

Campolindo celebrates its section title.

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November 22, 2012

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Thomas Carroll

Carroll & Co. Crowned Marin Catholic nets first title behind its All-American captain

Hannah Buck scores the game-winning goal for Campolindo And a championship date with Acalanes was probably the last thing the Cougars wanted. ◆◆◆ Both teams had first-round byes and made quick work of their quarterfinal opponents (Campo hammered Marin Catholic-Kentfield 21-2, Acalanes disposed of Ukiah 173) before tightly-contested matchups in the semis (Campo survived against Miramonte 10-7, Acalanes outlasted Drake-San Anselmo 8-4).

This would be the fourth time the two teams met in the season and, although Campolindo won the first three meetings, the Dons were poised to finally come out on top.

Early on, all signs pointed to a Campolindo romp as they led 3-0 at halftime and took a 6-1 lead in the third quarter when Seidemann scored with 6:24 left in the frame.

Methodically, Acalanes roared back. They rallied off four unanswered goals when Dietrich scored her first of two goals making it 6-5 with 2:50 left in the match.

Goals were exchanged by Jensen and Chase Lanier before Dietrich tied the game at 7 with the disputed goal inside of a minute to play.

So what did Campolindo do after that crazy timeout sequence? They came down the pool and executed just like they had done all season.

A defensive breakdown by Acalanes led to a wide-open Hannah Buck who took the ball and fired it through the goal with 21 seconds left. “I was confident,” Buck said when the ball was in her hands in the biggest moment of the 16

SportStars™

November 22, 2012

match. “I knew what I needed to do to score the ball, but I was a little anxious and a little nervous.”

On the ensuing Acalanes possession, the Dons failed to get a shot off as they turned the ball over, which led to Campolindo playing keep-away for the final moments. The horn sounded and the celebration began with the Campo coaches ceremonially joining the action in the water.

“Two years ago when we won, my team didn’t push the coaches in the pool until after we got the award,” said a soaking wet Everist. “So there was a lot of anxiety about that.”

When the awards ceremony concluded, Campolindo embraced family and friends poolside, laughter shared and tears shed on a remarkable season.

“I would say for so many reasons this was definitely the best team that I’ve had a privilege of working with and coaching,” Everist said. “Honestly it’s because of them. The seniors this year were my captains and they were the absolute leaders on the team. The players all bought in. The seniors knew weº had to get it done. They were focused. They took care of business.

“We talk a lot about family, and you like to talk about it but you don’t always have teams that really believe it. But this group believed it and it was unbelievably special.”

And since Campolindo is losing only three players next year, they’re likely to be the favorites to repeat.

“We’re confident, but we can’t overlook anybody,” Seidemann said. “We have to be ready next year. We’re gonna be ready.” ✪

Nothing was stopping Thomas Carroll and the Marin Catholic water polo team from winning their first NCS Div. II championship.

After the game was tied at two with the first quarter winding down, Marin Catholic went on a 10-3 run spanning three quarters and rolled to a 15-8 win over Alhambra-Martinez Nov. 10. Seniors Patrick Eggert and Stephen Gavney combined for five goals.

Carroll, team captain and an All-American, led all scorers with seven goals.

“We were just having fun out there,” Carroll said. “On the ride over we were a little bit nervous but when we started doing our thing, we just couldn’t stop smiling. It’s all about having fun. When we’re having fun that’s when we play our best.” patrick eggert Wildcats coach Peter Urmini talked about the rich history of Marin Catholic water polo and how it played a key role in securing the school’s first championship.

“There’s none of this today without all the teams before them,” said Urmini. “All their brothers, their parents. Really, there’s a lineage. There’s a line of people to thank that got us to this point. Not just this year with this group; it’s everyone who came before them.”

Urmini didn’t hesitate to spread the accolades across the team but couldn’t deny Carroll was the catalyst behind this historic season.

“He’s once in a lifetime,” Urmini said of Carroll. “I’m never gonna see someone like that again. That was my four years with Thomas. I’m gonna enjoy watching him in college.”

“It’s over now,” said a relieved Carroll. “It’s been a great four years. It’s been a long ride.”

The losses of Carroll and fellow senior co-captains Eggert and Gavney will be felt strongly by the Wildcats but Urmini embraces the challenge of rebuilding.

“I got a lot of seniors. I need to rebuild,” Urmini said. “That’s OK.” ✪ — Erik Stordahl

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not backing down The State Girls Golf Championship tends to be a SoCal affair, but that didn’t stop a few NorCal standouts from crashing the party

H

By jim mccue | Senior Contributor

ard and fast greens at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga made for a challenging day for the 54-golfer field at the 2012 CIF Girls’ State Golf Championship.

And in an event that has historically been dominated by Southern California participants, the NorCal contingent battled respectably — placing a team inside the top three and pair of individuals inside the top 10.

Granite Bay’s Paige Lee was Northern California’s top individual, as the senior claimed a top-10 finish for the second straight year with a 5-over 79. It was a solo ninth-place finish for Lee, who finished in a 12-golfer tie for eighth place in 2011. She also qualified for the tournament as a sophomore in 2010.

“Qualifying for State three years in a row means so much for me,” Lee said. “(Playing at State) shows me where my game stands against some of the best California golfers.”

She attributed the difficulty of the greens to the higher scores from the entire field, and pointed to her putting as the one component of her game that could have pushed her farther up the leaderboard.

“I think if more of my puts dropped, things might have been different,” she said via text message. “Just from putting alone, I could have improved my score by at least four strokes.”

Her 79 was five strokes off the winning pace set by Torrey Pines’ Minjia Luo, who won the individual title along with the Falcons’ team title. Diamond Bar finished second as a team, 19 strokes back of Torrey Pines. And, in a bit of a surprise, third place belonged to Mission San Jose-Fremont as it edged out Palm Desert by a stroke.

It was the second straight state appearance for the Warriors, though less may have been expected of them this year after they finished third at the NorCal Tournament behind Foothill-Pleasanton and St. Francis-Sacramento. However, at Red Hill they were 13 strokes better than Foothill and 19 better than St. Francis.

Foothill’s sister engine of seniors Alex and Katie Sborov still showed well, as they each landed inside the Top 17 finishers.

Alex fired an 80 and Katie was one stroke behind her at 81.

And while St. Francis finished in sixth place, the future is bright for the Troubadours. With just one senior in the team’s starting six, St. Francis will return the majority of its players

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November 22, 2012

Butch Noble

Granite Bay senior Paige Lee lines up a putt during the SJS Masters Tournament. She finished up her high school career with a second straight Top 10 finish at the CIF State Championships on Nov. 12.

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to make another run at State in 2013.

Junior Emily Laskin, who is likely to lead that charge, was the team’s low scorer in Rancho Cucamonga despite battling pneumonia. She shot an 88, but felt that she could have done better despite the illness.

“I was disappointed that I shot 88, knowing that I could have done better even being sick,” she said via text while continuing to recover. “I learned a lot and hope to make it next year to make a good last impression.”

Sara Scarlett, the Sac Joaquin Section Masters champion, finished tied for 18th after firing an 82 on the difficult course. With practice rounds on the course not allowed, first-time players such as Scarlett lack the course knowledge to be familiar with where to best miss shots.

“Overall, the scores were high, but I have no doubt that I could have performed better,” said Scarlett, who will head to the University of Texas to continue playing after graduation in the Spring. “It was a great experience, though.” ✪

LEADERBOARD

Mark Hirsch

The Mission San Jose girls golf team is all smiles as it holds up its scorecard to celebrate a third-place finish at the state tournament. It was the second straight CIF appearance for the Warriors, who finished fourth in 2011.

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Following are the team standings and the top individuals from the CIF Girls State Championship Tournament held on Nov. 12 at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamoga. Par was 74.

TEAM RESULTS Torrey Pines-San Diego.................................401 Diamond Bar...................................................420 Mission San Jose-Fremont............................439 Palm Desert....................................................440 Foothill-Pleasanton.........................................452 St. Francis-Sacramento.................................458 TOP INDIVIDUALS Minjia Luo (TP).................................................74 Esther Lee (Los Alamitos)................................75 Sarah Cho (TP)................................................76 Jessica Vasilic (Canyon-Anaheim)..................77 Elizabeth Bernabe (Canyon)...........................77 Alice Jeong (North Torrance)...........................78 Haley Moore (San Pasqual)............................78 Lilia Vu (Fountain Valley)..................................78 Paige Lee (Granite Bay)..................................79 Alex Sborov (Foot) ..........................................80 Sandy Choi (TP)...............................................80 Katie Sborov (Foot)..........................................81 Grace Park (Cupertino)....................................81 Isabella Bosetti (Justin-Siena).........................81 Jiyoon Jang (PD)..............................................81 Bethany Wu (DB).............................................81 Kristie Yang (DB)..............................................81

November 22, 2012

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Campolindo secured a 12th NCS title, top seed in NorCal playoffs behind care-free attitude, immense talent

C

By Bill Kolb | Contributor

ontrast: Stark.

The difference in appearance and tone between the Bishop O’Dowd and Campolindo high school girls volleyball team huddles after Game Four of their battle for the North Coast Section Division III championship was clear, and it might have summed up the difference between the squads, as well as in the match.

One circle was grim-faced, intense, focused — maybe a little tight.

The other was a ring of smiles, jokes, and good-natured ribbing. Loose doesn’t begin to describe it.

The host Cougars, seeded No.1 and ranked No. 1 in the section and the state in DIII, had just squandered a two-game lead in the race to three.

They had blown what appeared to be a commanding and decisive 19-15 advantage in the third game, and then watched as the No. 2 Dragons banged away at their defense to take the fourth and force a decisive fifth game.

Think you know which huddle was which? Bet you’re wrong.

The faces of the Dragons didn’t appear capable of movement, so intent on coach Chad Salcido’s words were they. It was a bit jarring, after watching their freewheeling play in closing out the fourth game. They had every right to be a little raucous after twice staving off section-title elimination.

Meanwhile, Campolindo senior outside hitter Annie Shurtz elbowed senior libero Cassidy Abel in the ribs, and the two long-time teammates shared a laugh. First-year head coach John Vuong — nearly lost in the tall trees of his charges — smiled easily while offering words of encouragement and direction.

“The players were the ones telling me, ‘Coach, it’s okay. We’ve got this,’” Vuong said.

And they did.

It was only appropriate that Shurtz, co-team captain, Diablo Valley Athletic League MVP and one of the best all-around players in Northern California, put the exclamation point on the match with an emphatic kill, capping a scintillating 25-18, 25-13, 20-25, 21-25, 15-9 Campolindo victory.

Shurtz had four of her team-high 22 kills in the fifth game, and was instrumental in keeping everyone on the floor playing free and easy.

“If we’re tight, that’s when we’re not going to play well,” Shurtz said.

“We know that we have 16 girls who are incredible players. We just have to focus on ourselves and play.”

The Cougars looked like they were just having fun, and the climactic game was, well, a little anticlimactic. Campolindo grabbed a 10-7 lead and never looked back.

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November 22, 2012

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Fourth-seed Las Lomas storms Div. II bracket for first title When the Las Lomas High girls volleyball team showed up to the Maria Carrillo gymnasium for the NCS Div. II final in Santa Rosa, it understood there was more at stake than a championship.

“We’re all so excited,” said senior co-captain Rachel Linden. “We were talking about it before the game; we were like, ‘If we win this game, we could start a legacy.’”

So when the final point was scored on a 25-16, 23-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-12 Knights victory, a raucous and emotional celebration ensued. The Walnut Creek school had entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed and came out with the program’s first section championship and a top four seed in the CIF NorCal playoffs.

“It doesn’t even feel real that we did this, I’m just speechless,” said opposite hitter Lauren Fitterer. “It’s just really exciting and it gives us a lot of momentum going into state. Hopefully, we take this win and go far.”

The section title was actually just another milestone in a season of firsts for the Knights. It’s also the first Las Lomas team to surpass the 30-win mark for a season. The Knights entered the state tournament with a mark of 36-7.

At the start of the critical game five, head coach Jim Changaris knew that schools’ first NCS title was within reach.

“Those fourth and fifth games were just unbelievable,” said Changaris. “It’s a credit to the girls, all 14 of them. They push everybody at practice and that’s what makes us who we are.”

The Knights will have their hands full in a Northern Regional playoff field that includes nationally-ranked Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, but Changaris points out that the Knights confidence couldn’t be any higher than it is right now.

“It’s a big confidence builder,” said Changaris. “Anytime you do something in the history of the school first, and the girls have got to say that, it’s big. I’m so proud of them.”

The potential Mitty matchup could come as early as the second round. And the Knights are fine enjoying the moment and dealing with each challenge as it comes.

“We usually do well when we are the underdogs,”Nieto said. “We need to keep fighting and pushing for these wins. ... It’s like a dream,” said Nieto. “It’s so amazing, it’s unreal. I’m just so happy.” ✪ — Jonathan Hawthorne, contributor

Las Lomas co-captain Rachel Nieto pumps her fist and enjoys the moment during the postgame celebration.

Jonathan Hawthorne photos

Far left: Senior setter Sophie Seiberth celebrates immediately following the championship point. Center: The Campolindo bench erupts in excitement after a point is scored during the fifth and deciding set.

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November 22, 2012

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“That’s our style,” Vuong said. “We always tell them, ‘This is a game. Practice is work. The game is vacation. On vacation, you’re supposed to have fun.’”

It is the second NCS title in three years for the Cougars, who parlayed their No. 1 seed in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California playoff bracket in 2010 into a state championship. Thanks to Saturday’s win over Bishop O’Dowd, Campolindo (27-4) once again garnered the top NorCal seed, and hosted Northern Section runner-up Shasta-Redding (23-15) on Nov. 20 in Moraga.

The Cougars are powered by a trio of senior captains — setter Sophie Seiberth, Shurtz and Abel — all three of whom were part of the 2010 state title team. But the roster is peppered with talent, like senior defensive specialist and serving wiz Rachel Hua, sophomores Kelley Wirth and Annie Doyle and freshman Kirsten Sibley — among others — all of whom came up big at one point or another in the final.

“We have a lot of options,” Seiberth said. “We have 16 people. That means sometimes it’s hard to find a place for everybody. But everybody is dynamic. This team has connected from Day 1. I know that all 15 of them have my back. I don’t have any doubts about anyone.”

In a bit of a twist, despite not winning their section, the Dragons (29-7) earned the No. 3 seed, but still had to travel for the opening round of the NorCal tournament, making the long trek to No. 6 seeded Enterprise-Redding (40-6), which won the Northern Section title.

There is the distinct possibility that these two teams could meet for a fourth time this season.

Bishop O’Dowd topped Campolindo 2-1 at the Deer Valley Tournament way back on Sept. 8, but the Cougars bit back with a 2-0 win at the Stockton Classic on Oct. 20. There’s no question the Dragons would love to even the season-series in the NorCal final on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

“They are a dangerous team,” Vuong said of the Dragons. “Today, we celebrate. But Monday, it’s back to work. (The NorCal playoffs) are going to be a challenge, especially not knowing our opponents. We have to expect the unexpected.”

O’Dowd would have to get past No. 2 seed Valley Christian-San Jose (33-8), winners of the always-tough Central Coast Section. Campolindo’s road isn’t much easier, as it would likely have to top Sac-Joaquin Section champ Oakmont-Roseville (34-2), the No. 4 seed.

The Cougars have the advantage of hosting throughout, however, and the home-court was kind on Saturday.

“Getting the home court, and getting the crowd out here was huge,” Shurtz said. “It’s a huge advantage for us to have the home court. It’s all coming together.”

Things came together for O’Dowd in the playoffs as well. The Dragons, ranked No. 7 in the state

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November 22, 2012

Campolindo outside hitter Kelley Wirth elevates to send the ball over Bishop O’Dowds Kyle Carlson, left, and Maya Williams.

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in Division III, knocked off defending champ Albany in the semifinal, and appear to be clicking on all fronts heading into NorCal. Senior setter Sophia Mar, the West Alameda County League MVP, smoothly directs the offense to big hitters like senior middle Maya Williams and sophomore outside hitter Brianna Karsseboom, who unleashed a series of thunderous kills on the Cougars on Saturday, and almost single-handedly won the critical third game.

Cathedral Catholic-San Diego is, once again, the team to beat in the Southern California Division III bracket.

The Dons (30-4) have a hammerlock on the San Diego Section title, and have played for the past four DIII state crowns. Campolindo topped them in 2010, but the Dons bounced back to nip Albany last year for their third state title in four years. They are ranked No. 3 in the state in Division III behind Campolindo and Valley Christian.

By and large, the Cougars claim that they have not thought that far ahead.

“We purposely don’t look ahead,” Seiberth said. “We really take it one point at a time. We don’t think about the second game before we finish the first.”

“One step at a time,” Shurtz echoed. “NCS and state are always a goal, and I think we can do it. But, one step at a time.”

Abel, though, admits to having projected her thoughts down the road a bit.

“In 2010, I was on the bench,” she said. “Being able to come back my senior year as libero is the best feeling. ... We have thought about (state) a little bit. Our first goal was to win league. Our second goal was to win NCS. Our third goal is NorCal, and then state.

But you’ve got to do them in order. After 2010, everybody thought, ‘That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It’s over. That can’t happen again.’

“So, to do it again two years later would be pretty special.” ✪

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The Cougars starters huddle at center court prior to the opening set of the Division III championship match on Nov. 17.

November 22, 2012

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tough

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November 22, 2012

Cross country is a rain or shine sport, and there was no shine to speak of at the North Coast Section Championships on Nov. 17 at Hayward High School. Over 10 championship races, competitors admirably endured the rain and mud with the hopes of qualifying for the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships on Nov. 24. Following is a breakout with the first-place teams and individual finishers from each championship race on the 3.1 mile course.

BOYS Div., Team (score) Individual (school), Time I San Ramon Valley (40) Tariku Abdo (Berkeley), 15:48 II Maria Carrillo (74) Ryan Anderson (Maria Carrillo), 15:55 III Miramonte (58) Aidan Goltra (Campolindo), 15:30 IV San Rafael (56) John Lawson (Sir Francis Drake), 15:45 V St. Joseph Notre Dame (44) Trevor Reinhart (Marin Acad.), 15:51 GIRLS Div., Team (score) Individual (school), Time I Granada (55) Jena Pianin (Amador Valley), 18:12 II Maria Carrillo (73) Ashley Moffett (Casa Grande), 19:11 III Acalanes (58) Annie Marggraff (Acalanes), 18:25 IV Arcata (26) Chloe Pigg (Arcata), 18:23 V University (66) Julie Maxwell (Branson), 17:22

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hMUDDERS

FAR LEFT: Acalanes’ Cameron Gaskell takes some of the course along with him as he churns for the finish line. LEFT: John Lawson (1205) of Sir Francis Drake won the Div. II race. ABOVE: Clockwise from top, a pack of Div. IV girls navigate a straightaway; fans line the course with every color of umbrella; Div. II girls winner Ashley Moffet of Casa Grande; Branson’s Julie Maxwell who won Div. V with the best girls time. TOP RIGHT: Amador Valley’s Jena Pianin won the Div. I girls title for the second straight year. BOTTOM RIGHT: Bishop O’Dowd’s Eugene Hamilton III uses his finishing kick to snare fifth in Div. III.

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November 22, 2012

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Bay Area Must Go Nor Cal Tip Off Classic, Nov. 24, Newark Memorial High Close to eight months since the Newark Memorial High boys basketball team saw it’s California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regional Division II run end with a loss to eventual state champ Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, Joey Frenchwood remembers the post-game locker room scene like it was yesterday.

“It was sad at first,” said Frenchwood, who is a captain this year. “We were like a family. We were losing six seniors and it was like we can’t play basketball anymore.”

Ah, but a new season always dawns.

Frenchwood and the new-look Cougars look to start the new basketball season on the right foot when they host the 6th Annual Nor Cal Tip Off Classic on Nov. 24. The showcase event, which in recent years has seemed to mark the official “start” to the boys basketball season in the Bay Area, features seven games on its slate this season. Newark Memorial takes on Castro Valley in the sixth game of the day at approximately 7 p.m.

Among the seniors the Cougars will be replacing this season is Casey Norris, a four-year varsity player and the unquestionable leader of the 2011-12 team.

“Casey’s always real calm,” said Frenchwood, who in the offseason played for the Oakland Rebels Red AAU team. “He never gets real irritated on the court. … At certain times, he knew when to take over. When he was a junior, I was a freshman. He’d do stuff like that so that was a learning experience for me.”

Now it’s Frenchwood’s turn to take on that leadership role. A defensive stopper and one of the key ingredients to Newark Memorial’s postseason run last year, he’s relishing the opportunity.

“Last year, Casey led the team. I feel like I’m gonna take over the leadership role, so I’m gonna have to be the one who steps up,” Frenchwood said.

Joining the fiery junior as captain is big man Damien Banford, whose football season just ended on Nov. 17. There’s also Sultan Siddiq, Josef Zamora and Matthew Thomas. Coach Craig Ashmore should have the luxury of a deep bench once again.

Winning the first game of the season sets a positive tone.

Last year, Newark Memorial defeated Deer Valley in the Nor Cal Tip Off Classic, which worked as a barometer for gauging where they stand in the competitive Bay Area landscape.

“We were hearing that Marcus Lee was a top recruit and we won pretty easily,” Frenchwood said. “That gave us the confidence that we could beat anybody.”

The 74-58 win over Deer Valley sparked a season-long run that featured a 12-game winning streak, the school’s first NCS title since 2000, and getting one game from the state championship before giving Mitty, back-to-back Div. II state champs, all it could handle.

What’s in store for this season? Frenchwood said winning state is the goal and it all starts against Castro Valley, a school that was also one game from the state title in the 2010-2011 season before being upset by De La Salle.

“A couple of their players were AAU teammates of mine,” Frenchwood said of Castro Valley. “I know they’re gonna be good.”

– Erik Stordahl, SportStars

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6th Annual Nor Cal Tip Off Schedule

All games on Sat., Nov. 24, at Newark Memorial HS

11 a.m.

Dublin vs. Freedom-Oakley

12:30 p.m. Heritage-Brentwood vs.

McNair-Stockton

2:15 p.m. St. Patrick-St. Vincents-Vallejo vs.

Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove 3:45 p.m. El Cerrito vs. Miramonte-Orinda

Jonathan Hawthorne

Newark Memorial junior guard Joey Frenchwood takes on a leadership role for the Cougars this year.

5:30 p.m. McClymonds-Oakland vs. Antelope 7 p.m.

Newark Memorial vs. Castro Valley

8:30 p.m. Deer Valley-Antioch vs. Sacramento

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CIF State Championships, Concordia University, Irvine, Dec. 1, all day — For the past two seasons, the California girls volleyball world has belonged to the North. NorCal has won eight of the past 10 state titles, with the Central Coast, North Coast and Sac-Joaquin Sections all getting in on the fun. Can it continue? Maybe not at an 80 percent clip — the South didn’t dominate for a decade for no reason — but there are plenty of NorCal programs who hope to have a say, including Campolindo-Moraga, which claimed the 2010 state title and is the top seed in Division III. If you can’t get to Irvine, games are likely to be both telecast and webcast. We’ll post that information to our Facebook and Twitter sites, so be sure you’re liking and following us (@SportStarsMag).

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MAGAZINE HUNT

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SportStars 2012-13 Basketball Preview Issue release, throughout the Bay Area, Dec. 6, all day. — If you couldn’t tell from our No. 1 entry on this list, the hoops season is here. What better way to kick off a month of tournament-crazed weekends then to pick up our fullyloaded preview, set to include both boys and girls features, preseason rankings, players to watch, predictions and more.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Chris Vontoure Spartan Classic, De La Salle HS, Concord, Dec. 6-8 — The first of several boys tournaments is also one of the most competitive. Between host De La Salle and Deer Valley-Antioch, there are already two teams ranked among the Top 10 in CalHiSports.com’s preseason state rankings. Add in four more teams (Acalanes-Lafayette, Fairfield, Serra-San Mateo, St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo) who had at least 18 wins a year ago and you’ve got the ingredients for three days of strong competition.

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FOOTBALL

CIF Northern Regional Playoff Games, various sites, Dec. 7-8 — For the first time, the CIF State Bowl Game participants are going to be determined through regional playoff games. We have no idea how this will turn out, or if this is the same format we’ll have five years from now, but we say bring an open mind and enjoy what should be some pretty enticing NorCal matchups. Dates, times and broadcasts are still to be determined, so watch our Facebook and Twitter feeds to find out specifics.

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sac joaquin Must Go BOYS BASKETBALL

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose at Sheldon-Sacramento, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.

— How can we not list a matchup between the two-time defending CIF Division II state champions (Mitty) and last year’s Div. I state runners-up? We can’t. Embrace it. Mitty features senior center and national recruit Aaron Gordon, who recently narrowed his college list to Arizona, Washington and Kentucky. Sheldon returns a pair of starters, Dakarai Allen and D’Erryl Williams III, who have already committed to San Diego State.

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BOYS SOCCER

Cathedral Catholic-San Diego at De La Salle, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. — Much like De La Salle’s ‘Chris Vontoure Spartants Classic’ tournament is the first notable boys hoops tourney of December, the De La Salle Soccer Showcase is the first major boys soccer event of the winter season in the Bay Area. The two-day showcase has been known to include as many of six matches on each day. The final match of the last day this year caught our attention as the host Spartans — fourtime defending NCS champions — take on a Cathedral Catholic team that posted 18 wins and reached the San Diego Section Div. III final a year ago.

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FOOTBALL

CIF State Bowl Championship Games, Home Depot Center, Carson, Dec. 14-15 — After the North returned from Carson with four state titles in 2010, the South re-asserted its dominance a year ago. Only De La Salle won (a 35-0 shutout of Westlake-Westlake Village in the Open Division). Might things even out this year?

And how much will the regional playoff games the week before play a factor? We look forward to finding out. Per usual, the Small School and Division I games will be Friday night, and Division III, II and Open are Saturday. If you can’t go, these games will be broadcast up North, so don’t fret.

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WRESTLING

Lou Bronzan Invitational, Liberty High, Brentwood, Dec. 2122 — Any selfrespecting wrestling fan in the Bay Area knows that the Lou Bronzan is the first local tournament to pay attention to. The host Lions are perennial contenders, and they typically bring in a number of top Bay Area programs to grapple with. This year’s list includes De La Salle and James Logan.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL

West Coast Jamboree, East Bay Area, various sites, Dec. 27-29 — The mammoth girls basketball event celebrates its 13th year, and will once again have well more than 100 teams on hand for its multiple-bracket affair. For girls hoops fans, there’s no better way to spend the second half of your Holiday break than flitting around to various gyms to see some of the top girls basketball talent in the Bay Area and beyond. For a full list of participants and the an2012 WCJ MVP Jordin nouncement of the brackets, keep Canada of an eye on the tournament’s site, Windward-LA Phillip Walton www.westcoastjamboree.com

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November 22, 2012

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How one coach sees NCS Divisions I-III playing out EDITOR’S NOTE: For the third straight year, we’ve tracked down a North Coast Section football coach whose team’s season has already ended, and asked him to break down the top three divisions as they head into semifinal games on Nov. 23. Here’s what he gave us.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES

DIVISION I

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Photos by Butch Noble

Tiapepe Vitale of De La Salle

■ THE FAVORITE: It seems too routine to pick De La Salle-Concord, but until someone proves they can topple the Spartans, they have to be the pick here. Tiapepe Vitale is the kind of back that can once again pace a championship-caliber ground game, and quarterback Chris Williams showed against Pittsburg that he can add an extra dimension to their offensive attack. Defensively, they have the usual cast of athletes who can shut down any type of offensive attack. Austin Hooper, Victor Egu, Andrew Buckley, and Michael Hutchings are all top-notch defensive weapons who will play large roles in the big games. And as usual, the only way someone is going to truly challenge the Spartans is if they can match their line play for 48 minutes, and that is a tall task for anyone in the section.

■ THE CONTENDER: I don’t know whether to go with California-San Ramon or James Logan-Union City here, but only one of them will remain standing for a showdown with the Spartans. James Logan really impressed me with their quarterfinal win over Freedom-Oakley, and reminded of the team that throttled San Ramon Valley-Danville 35-0 early in the year. Throw in the fact that Del Oro-Loomis, the one team to beat the Colts, is still alive in the Sac-Joaquin Section, and they have a real impressive resume. Their defense has the athletes to slow down any offense, and the backfield tandem of Warren Miles-Long and Jeff Prothro can move the ball on the ground.

Cal’s balanced rushing attack, meanwhile, can also keep their defense off the field, something they did with amazing efficiency against Foothill. Cal also played tough with De La Salle a few weeks ago, so they should be prepared up front for another challenge. That is the one big question mark with Logan — can its line play match the get-off that both Cal and De La Salle feature up front? I still favor the Colts here, though.

■ THE GAME-CHANGER: No disrespect to Vitale, Amador Valley’s Kyle Moreno, or Cal’s Karris Johnson, but the wild card in these playoffs has got to be Miles-Long. After shredding Freedom’s defense for 290 yards in the quarterfinals, the Colts have to feel good about their ability to ride their pistol-based rushing attack into the finals, and control the clock against two physical teams.

■ SEMIFINALS: De La Salle over Amador Valley; James Logan over California ■ FINALS: De La Salle 28 James Logan 20

DIVISION II

■ THE FAVORITE: Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park may be undefeated, but it really feels like Clayton Valley Charter-Concord can control any game right now. Joe Protheroe is as solid as they get in the backfield, evidenced by his amazing performance against Dublin in the quarterfinals, and their offensive line just seems to be so much faster than the defenses they are facing. They are physical as well, and fullback-linebacker Jesse Medrano gives them a confidence level that can take them to a title. They have the mentality of a team who is bringing the proverbial lunch pail to work, just a tough group of talented athletes who have bought into coach Tim Murphy’s style and mentality.

■ THE CONTENDER: Rancho Cotate has been knocking on the door for a couple years now, and has yet to be beaten this season.

They feature a potent ground game of their own, and have an impressive win over Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa towards the end of the season. They did a good job of forcing turnovers during the regular season, but turned it over a couple times themselves in a quarterfinal win over Las Lomas-Walnut Creek. They will need to protect the ball and get a couple turnovers with their defense to control the tempo of the game against Clayton Valley, provided they can get past a peaking Northgate-Walnut Creek team in the semis.

QB Michael Protheroe, left, of Clayton Valley ■ THE GAME-CHANGER: If Rancho Cotate is going to challenge Protheroe and the Eagles, they will need another huge performance from Jalon Luque. Luque put up 184 yards on the ground in tough conditions against Las Lomas, and will need to go beyond that effort to keep pace with Protheroe.

■ SEMIFINALS: Clayton Valley over Concord; Rancho Cotate over Northgate.

■ FINALS: Clayton Valley 42, Rancho Cotate 21

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November 22, 2012

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QB Jared Goff of Marin Catholic

DIVISION III

■ THE FAVORITE: This division again lives up to its hype as the most balanced and competitive division, top to bottom. Defending champion Campolindo is out after a classic game with Analy-Sebastopol, and four very capable teams remain. I’m going with Marin Catholic-Kentfield, though. Cardinal Newman was super efficient in its win over EncinalAlameda, but the Wildcats seem to be playing out of this world right now, and QB Jared Goff has the big-game experience needed to succeed in this environment.

■ THE CONTENDER: El Cerrito may be the undefeated top seed, but I’m going with Analy as the surprise pick. They are also undefeated, and feature a pitch-and-catch tandem of Darin Newman and Aaron Maher which is a step above anything the Gauchos have seen recently. They have the potential to make things interesting with Marin Catholic as well, though the Wildcats just shut down a solid passing attack from Miramonte-Orinda.

■ THE GAME-CHANGER: If El Cerrito is going to get to the final, they will need a big game from Adarius Pickett. It will be his job to keep the ball out of the hands of Newman and Maher. But the Marin Catholic holds the real game-changer — the Cal-bound Goff, who is looking to shake off the disappointment of last season’s bitter loss to Campolindo.

■ SEMIFINALS: Analy over El Cerrito, Marin Catholic over Cardinal Newman ■ FINALS: Marin Catholic 38, Analy 20

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November 22, 2012

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Petaluma’s Gentle Giant

Cas Banaszek, right, and Steve Spurrier were both first-round selections of the 49ers in 1967. Contributed photo

Former 49ers All-Pro lineman Cas Banaszek continues to make impact 30

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November 22, 2012

By harold abend | Contributor Casimir Joseph Banaszek II isn’t your typical grammar school physical education instructor.

Most grade school PE teachers aren’t 67-years old and ex-professional football players.

But at the Meadow School in Petaluma, the grandfather of five and former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman, not only instructs the kids in a unique type of PE, the “knowledgeable teddy bear,” as principle Melissa Becker calls him, is the school’s only PE teacher.

In fact, Banaszek, who for three years has been teaching 22 half-hour periods a week at Meadow to supplement physical education instruction given by the kids’ regular teachers, is the only PE teacher in the two-school Waugh District – and he accepts

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SportStars NorCal Top 20 EDITOR’S NOTE: These rankings were compiled once all regular season games were finished throughout the six Northern California sections. The next update will come following the CIF Northern Regional bowl games on Dec. 7-8.

All records through Nov. 10

Rank (Last Wk.) School

Record

1. (1)

De La Salle-Concord

10-0

2. (2)

Bellarmine-San Jose

9-1

3. (3)

Franklin-Elk Grove

11-0

4. (4)

Folsom

11-0

5. (6)

Elk Grove

10-1

6. (5)

Serra-San Mateo

8-2

7. (7)

Placer-Auburn

11-0

8. (8)

Marin Caholic-Kentfield

10-1

9. (9)

St. Mary’s-Stockton

9-2

10. (10)

Burbank-Sacramento

11-0

11. (11)

Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 10-1

12. (13)

California-San Ramon

8-2

13. (14)

Buhach Colony-Atwater

9-2

14. (NR)

Granite Bay

8-3

15. (15)

Oakdale

3-1

16. (16)

Oak Grove-San Jose

10-0

17. (17)

James Logan-Union City

10-1

18. (18)

Freedom-Oakley

9-2

19. (19)

El Cerrito

11-0

20. (20)

Clayton Valley-Concord

9-1

Top 20 Facts-Figures-Fallout ■ DROPPED OUT: Archbishop Mitty-San Jose ■ BIGGEST MOVER: It was clearly Granite Bay, which after a 1-3 start to the season quickly morphed back into the juggernaut many expected it to be. The Grizzlies forced their way back into the poll at No. 14 with seven straight wins that included a perfect run through the Sierra Foothill League.

■ TEAMS REMAINING FROM PRESEASON TOP 20: 10 ■ KNOCKING AT THE DOOR: Sutter (11-0), AnalySebastapol (11-0), Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park (110), Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (10-1), InderkumSacramento (9-2), Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (7-3), Del Oro-Loomis (6-5)

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Harold Abend

Caz Banaszek, here with students Bryce Olson, Cole Becker and Sophia Kandler, has become a beloved volunteer physical education teacher at Meadow School in Petaluma. no pay to boot.

“He’s an amazing man,” Becker said. “One of the kindest men I know. I like the fact he’s old school, not just teaching but he encourages the kids and gives them hugs.

“At his age and situation he could be doing whatever he wants. Instead he’s choosing to invest his time in children at no pay. He’s the real deal. The whole staff loves having him here and the kids really look forward to his class. I can’t imagine not having him.”

Banaszek is not new to teaching physical education.

Despite being a first-round choice of the 49ers and the 11th player taken overall in the 1967 draft, Cas had an off-season job like most players back then.

“The first three years in the NFL, I taught school back home in the off season,” said Banaszek, who after graduating from Gordon Tech Catholic in Chicago went on to star at Northwestern.

Not only does the staff love Banaszek, the kids love “Coach B,” too.

“I give them options,” Banaszek said. “An ideal class is 20-

25 kids so if I can have four activities going with six in each activity. The kids get exercise. They can play basketball, volleyball, tetherball, wall ball, kick baseball, dodge ball, football, tag games, or running.”

Cole Becker, another third-grader and the principal’s son, claims those sports are just scratching the surface.

“He lets us play capture the flag too,” the third-grader said.

“And cops and robbers.” ◆◆◆ “Its unfortunate so many schools have cut PE, but I love it here and the kids love me, Banaszek said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Banaszek has another connection to Meadow School that’s tearing at his heart right now.

His 12-year old grandson C.J. (Casimir Joseph Banaszek IV), a student at Meadow, is waging a courageous battle against chronic myeloid leukemia, a bone marrow disease that rarely affects children. C.J. is currently undergoing a second round of chemotherapy in wait of a second bone marrow transplant after the first one didn’t take.

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“I call him OG, the original guard. I saw pictures of him in high school and a little film.

OG man, he’s the original.”

Elijah Qualls, Casa Grande-Petaluma football player

“It’s a day to day situation for C.J.,” Banaszek said. “All I can say is kudos to Petaluma and how they’ve supported him.”

When Banaszek leaves Meadow School he doesn’t head home or to the golf course.

He heads over to Petaluma’s Casa Grande High School for football practice.

There he assists coach Trent Herzog and offensive line coach Frank Giammona — all while mentoring some of the players.

“Trent is a great coach and a great young man, and Frank does a great job. I’m another set of eyes,” said Banaszek describing his role with the Casa Grande team that had its season end with a 14-6 North Coast Section quarterfinal loss to visiting Concord on Nov. 16. “The kids like it, knowing there’s a pro looking at them. I give them advice like bend your knee, get your hips through, and keep your head up. If I say something it lends some credence.”

It didn’t take long for the Gaucho players to pay attention when Banaszek spoke up.

“I call him OG, the original guard,” said 6-foot-1, 282-pound Washington-bound Elijah Qualls. “I saw pictures of him in high school and a little film. OG man, he’s the original.”

The former 49ers right tackle who played his entire 11-year pro career in San Francisco, only started at Casa Grande three months ago, but he’s hooked.

“I haven’t had that feeling in 40-years since I left the Niners. It’s the Friday night lights, he said. “I look forward to it so much. If it hadn’t worked I’d have been out of there in a week.

“And the team has been unbelievable for C.J. He cherishes the helmet they gave him they all signed.” ◆◆◆ With everything he’s doing in retirement, when does Banaszek have time for family?

His wife Diane, whom he met at Northwestern, and married the same year he was drafted by the 49ers, is busy in her own right.

She’s the head of marketing for Apple American Group, where she and Cas are partners in 436 Applebee’s restaurants in 13 states.

The couple opened an Applebee’s 20-years ago in Santa Rosa, moved to Petaluma 11-years ago, and eventually operated six stores in the North Bay before joining Apple American Group seven years ago.

Their son Cas III also works for Apple American. He’s C.J.’s father and also has a daughter named Gabby, a freshman at Casa Grande, playing varsity volleyball.

After leaving the 49ers and before Applebee’s, Banaszek worked for 20 years in Silicon Valley selling electronics components while he and Diane lived on the Peninsula raising Cas III and daughter, Jennifer, who lives and works at UC San Francisco.

His stint at Casa Grande isn’t his first as a coach, either. Banaszek coached two years at Cal under Roger Theder, and two years with the 49ers under Bill Walsh.

“I was in the press box on the headphones with Walsh when Dwight Clark made ‘The Catch,’” he said. “Roll right option was the play call.”

That was one of the few times he was able to get the best of the Cowboys.

As a player in the 1970-71 season — in the last game at Kezar Stadium — the 49ers were ahead in the NFC Championship game with just over a minute to play when Dallas scored and recovered an onside kick and score again in a bitter 17-10 49ers defeat.

In the following season, the 49ers went to Dallas for the NFC title game and lost 14-3.

And the year after that, the Cowboys eliminated them 30-28 in the Divisional playoffs.

“I hate the Cowboys,” Banaszek said.

Offensive linemen don’t get a lot of recognition, but as a player Banaszek was First Team All-Conference in both 1970 and 1971 and played in the Pro Bowl game both seasons.

“Cas is one of the greatest people I have ever come across,” Herzog said. “He’s very humble and friendly. He’s a great addition to our family at Casa Grande. A great coach, but a better person – a true gentle giant.”

One who has become an unsung hero to a lot of kids in Petaluma, small and big. ✪

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November 22, 2012

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Reaching a CORE understanding: It’s all about stability

T

oday I want to cover the subject of core training for performance with the intention of giving more of an understanding of what it is, why it’s important, and how it not only improves performance, but can go a long way in reducing injuries.

When I go off site for team training I usually see the traditional type of core training that I believe most people think of: sit-ups, crunches, leg lifts and Russian twists. A lot of the training is focused on spinal flexion,

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extension and rotation. in pain, injury (knees, ankles, The main job of your athlete’s lower back, shoulders, etc.) and core is lumbar stability (lower decreased performance. back), which allows it to redisWhen the core is stable and tribute and redirect force through strong and athletes have a more movement and posture. It’s essenneutral position of the pelvis tial to get stability in the lumbar and spine, then the forces are spine, not movement. If athletes redistributed throughout many of train the core through spinal flexthe lumbar segments of the spine ion, extension and rotation they resulting in a healthy and highare not efficient at redistributing performing athlete. and redirecting force.

RediRECTION OF FORCE: Tim Rudd for IYCA RediSTRIBUTION OF Most elite athletes are built like FORCE: Let’s use an example tree trunks from their thighs up. from Formula One. These cars are Let’s use Albert Pujols for an example: This made to collapse and break apart on impact guy is built like a Mack truck from his lower (redistribute the force to the car on impact thighs, hamstrings, glutes and trunk. He has so the driver assumes less force). If the car great stability, and when he goes to swing was not made this way, all the force would his bat, he produces a great amount of force go directly to the driver, killing him on into the ground from these powerful force impact. We need to think of the spine in the producers. These forces then travel back up same way. If we have a weak core (external through his lower extremities and hips, and obliques, hamstrings and glutes) leading to are redirected through his core, upper body, an anterior-tilted pelvis (forward tilt), the all the way through his bat, producing the spine is in excessive hyper-extension. This force necessary to smash the ball out of the leaves a very concentrated area of force to park. be redistributed where maybe two lumbar Thus, the core is not a force producer, it’s segments get excessively stressed resulting a force transmitter. Athletes don’t need the

Training Time

core to flex, rotate and extend their spine, they need it to produce stability (redistribute) in the spine so it can optimally transmit force (redirect) from our power producers.

Yes, athletes need rotation and extension to produce forces, but it shouldn’t come from the spine. It should come from the lower and upper extremities. If an athlete wants to produce maximal strength, speed and power they must stabilize their body effectively.

Coaches and trainers need to understand not only the functional anatomy and how it works, but also how to properly assess athletes. This way coaches can make informed decisions on how to best program and coach their players. This requires more than just abdominal training and needs to be a systematic and progressive approach to developing the athlete’s core for maximizing on-field performance and the long-term health of your athletes. ✪ Tim Rudd is an International Youth Conditioning Association specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). For more information on anything you read in Training Time, email him at tim@fit2thecore.com.

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Causes of shin splints, and why the best medicine is rest

M

edial tibial stress syndrome, commonly referred to as shin splints, is the most common leg injury in distance runners.

This problem is primarily characterized as pain and tenderness when running, along the posteromedial tibial crest, where deep flexor muscles attach to the tibia. The pain will vary from mild to severe, and can be experienced before, during and after running. In more significant cases swelling can appear, and normal gait can be adversely affected, resulting in the dreaded forced abstinence from running.

So, what are the causes of shin splints, how should this condition be treated and can they be prevented?

The causes may be one, or more likely a combination, of several variables: from anatomical to bio-mechanical to training methods to footwear to training surfaces.

Anatomical factors may include high or low arches, hip angles or hypo/hyper mobility in foot and ankle joints. These factors may require solutions that include stability or mobility training of muscles around the hip or ankle. But it is not conclusive that anatomy can be compensated for through exercise or stretching alone.

The bio-mechanical factor most often linked is excessive pronation at the ankle during running, a repetitive strain by nature. Pronation is a medial collapse of the arch and ankle during the loading stance phase of running when the most

force is placed on the foot and ankle. Muscles about the ankle have to work very hard to counteract this collapse and the result strains the tibia, where these muscles originate.

In response, the bone develops an imbalance between resorbtion of minerals and the formation of new bone. When a bone demineralizes faster than it heals, shin splints result and can progress to the “dreaded black line,” seen on an x-ray as a stress fracture.

Studies show the most significant factors in the development of shin splints are a sudden increase in work load and/or speed, and working on uneven surfaces. These problems can be mitigated by gradually increasing these variables and avoiding sudden changes.

Methods that have not been shown to be effective include tapping, strapping and bracing, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and — oddly enough – stretching. Off the shelf orthotics have shown promise in correcting the overpronation problem of some runners.

If the problem becomes chronic or severe, consultation with a physician will be necessary to rule out a stress fracture. In these cases, sadly, the only solution is rest for four to eight weeks, possible vitamin/mineral nutritional supplementation, or cross training with pool work or cycling. Once pain-free, a gradual return to impact activities is imperative.

Rest is what frustrates a dedicated runner the most, but

rest is the best medicine. ✪ Bruce Valentine is a physical therapist assistant for the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland. Email him at Health@SportStarsOnline.com.

Health Watch Bruce Valentine

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November 22, 2012

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Windows 8

iPad mini

After taking a backseat to Apple for so long, Microsoft is starting to make some headway. And it starts here.

Windows 8 is touchscreen enabled and employs splitscreen, which means you can watch the Twilight series on one side and The Avengers on the other. Though that doesn’t even begin to scratch the… surface! (sorry for that).

Disclaimer: This is a naive snap review of one of the more revolutionary products for our generation to behold. It’s the same awesome iPad, only now it’s easier to hide in class or at home when you’re supposed to be doing homework. That’s probably the only advantage we can think of. And when the one advantage is making sure you don’t get caught, then what’s the point? Still, we want one of these.

this week in addic

Warp that brain into

mush

ting iPhone game

s

Windows Surface

We’re not gonna pretend we know everything about this thing and how it works. OK, we know very little. But what we can tell you is: 1) It’s a formidable opponent to the iPad, 2) It looks freakin’ awesome, 3) We want one, and 4) Now!

Angry Birds Star Wars

Could their timing be any more perfect? With the recent sale of LucasFilm to Disney for, like, a bajillion dollars, Star Wars Episode VII is all anyone can talk about. Rumors galore of who’s going to direct and getting the old cast members back are flooding the Internet. Well, to help keep your mind razor sharp on it, you can download the latest Angry Birds entry for only 99 cents. Download it or don’t download it.

There is no try (sorry, again).

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Mikey Shorts

Run through each level as quickly, efficiently as you can.

Skylanders Lost Islands

Customize your own island village, unlock skylanders and get in adventures.

Zookeeper DX

This is on the Gotta Have It level for everybody. Capture as many as animals as you can, level up every time you get 100 of the same animal. Good stuff.

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November 22, 2012

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