BA Issue 52, Sept. 13, 2012

head on: concussion concerns in h.s.

vol. 3. issue 52

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september 13, 2012

best in prep sports

bay area

hit parade: Kyra Holt & the Cougars set aim on return to state

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top players, teams as norcal volleyball is served up

life moves pretty fast, we’ll make sure you don’t miss a moment

iron girls

to go

Pgs. 6, 33

perfect tens

stampede James logan football locks it down

Mission San Jose swings for NorCal title defense

sportstarsonline.com

The next Step Kyra Holt and albany have a job to finish. Pg. 16

PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Erik Stordahl, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, 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 Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com

10 players & teams only the best of the best have made our list Pg. 20

Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, (925) 566-8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStars Online.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com Sac Joaqin edition: Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com

Dean Coppola

close to home: Placer coach guides his team but there’s more to him than just the sidelines.

Pg. 25

game on: Football’s here and we have all the latest must-haves for the fall, including new faces in new Madden places. Pg. 29 First Pitch................................................6 Behind the Clipboard...........................8 Locker Room.......................................10 AAA SportStars of the Week...........13 Training Time........................................14 Club Scene............................................15 Impulse..................................................29 10 To Go...............................................30 TriSteps..................................................32 Health Watch ......................................33 Power By Trucks..................................35 on the cover Kyra Holt, Albany High School.

Photo by Dean Coppola.

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 community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA • 94521 info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, September 2012 Whole No. 52 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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Concussion safety has improved, but still needs vigilance

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his story begins with me sitting at my desk on Friday, Sept. 7, counting down the hours (ahem!)... working diligently, prior to heading out to the football game I’d be covering between James Logan-Union City and San Ramon Valley-Danville.

Friday is typically the day our columnists will email their recent submissions. When the newest “Health Watch” offering arrived from the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff, I opened it up to take a peek.

The topic was, appropriately enough, on recognizing concussions. And while most of us who follow sports regularly have been drilled that concussions happen across all sports, the poster sport is clearly football. Tom Clennell, a physical therapist and the author of this issue’s “Health Watch” — which I urge you to check out on page 33 — writes of the obvious severity of the injury, the fact that they can be very hard to detect, and that they can be caused “from a ‘ding’, ‘getting your bell rung,’ or even a milder bump to the head.”

So with Clennell’s column on my mind, I hopped in the car and headed toward Danville. With the radio tuned to the A’s pregame show, much of my drive then consisted of reports and discussion on the health of A’s pitcher Brandon McCarthy. He had been struck in the head by a line drive two days prior and was still in intensive care after he needed surgery to repair an epidural hemorrhage and skull fracture.

So. Head trauma. Definitely on my mind as I hit the sideline.

Which takes us to the second quarter with James Logan already leading 14-0 and playing very physical defense against the team which knocked it out of the playoffs a year ago. San Ramon Valley Justin Bangay caught a 5-yard pass over the middle on first down, and was immediately hit by Colts safety Khari Thomas.

This was an “Oh” Hit. What’s an “Oh” Hit? It’s the type of hit that when you see it, and you’re a football fan, you subconsciously react by saying (or sometimes, yelling) “Ohhhh.”

Thomas’ hit was textbook and legal. Leading with his shoulders, he met Bangay right as the receiver was turning around. Thomas’s shoulder struck Bangay in the sternum first and then their helmets clacked second. Bangay’s feet went out from under him and he landed flat on his back.

The crowd yelled, “Ohhh.” Bangay, to his credit, held on to the ball and popped back up immediately. He stayed in the game and would later catch one more pass for a 12yard gain in the fourth quarter.

The California Interscholastic Federation and the state legislature have been very pro-active in trying to raise concussion awareness. In fact, new CIF Commissioner Roger Blake was a driving force behind instituting CIF Bylaw 313 in May 2010. That bylaw mandates that a student-athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion/head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from competition at that time for the remainder of the day. Once removed, the athlete may not return to play until he/she is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management and receives written clearance to return.

I fully support this bylaw, but I wonder how it protects guys like Bangay. I’m not saying Bangay was concussed by the hit he took. He may not have been. But what if he was? Sometimes it just takes a “mild bump to the head,” right? For the guys like Bangay, who pop right back up after a violent hit, it may not trigger concern from their sideline. Furthermore, coaches want to keep their productive players on the field if they continue to appear healthy from a distance. And if it’s obvious they are removing them to check for a concussion, then Bylaw 319 would mandate that the kid stay out the rest of the game.

In this new era of concussion awareness, kids are undoubtedly safer than their predecessors. But every time I see an “Oh” Hit from my vantage point on the sideline — and trust me, it always looks and sounds more violent from the sidelines — I wonder. Last year, Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy took an ‘Oh” Hit from the Steelers’ James Harrison. He popped right back up, finished the game, and then told his dad during a postgame phone call that he couldn’t remember anything that happened over the last quarter of the game.

The NCAA has a new rule that if a player’s helmet comes off at any point during a game, he must exit for at least one play. It seems that the CIF could encourage a similar rule that would allow referees or coaches to send a player who’d been violently hit to the sideline for at least one play — just to have a quick look from a trainer. The trainer can then make the call if Bylaw 319 should be followed.

Football will always be violent, and concussions won’t go away completely. The high school game is safer, but it doesn’t mean more can’t be done. ✪

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First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor

Chace@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8503

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Fair or not, football will always cast a big shadow on campus Our cross country team is great but the only sport anyone seems to care about in the fall is football. Why is that? It’s just not fair.

J.M., Moraga

s my particularly annoying history teacher back at Acalanes used to point out with depressing regularity, life isn’t fair.

Yes, football gets all the glory, and football players get all the glory (and many of the girls), and it’s not fair. After all, I don’t imagine too many defensive linemen could make it through a cross country practice without calling their mom for a ride to finish the warmup run.

Then again not a lot of cross country runners would survive a tackle from a 200-pound linebacker who had a 15-yard running start.

All sports have their weaknesses and their strengths, but the thing about football is simply this: People watch it. Now maybe the freshman girls in the stands don’t watch (or the senior girls, for that matter), but 99.9% of American sports fans like to watch football. And of that 99.9%, a large percentage loves football, and many will wander on down to the high school on Friday night to see a local team play.

I can guarantee they will not wander on down to watch a cross country meet, and many fewer will come watch a girls’ basketball game or even a baseball game.

This interest does not go unnoticed by school administrators, who not only realize that a good football team can get an entire community excited in ways that a good cross country team, or good wrestling team, will not, but also understand that whatever “school spirit” might be, a good football team will make it better.

Yes, there’s more to life than spirit — all those folks buying tickets to the game are doing so with cold hard cash that the athletic director can then turn around and spend on other sports that don’t generate any revenue at all. (And yes, cross country falls into the latter category.)

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Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

All those folks buying tickets to the game are doing so with cold hard cash that the athletic director can then turn around and spend on other sports that don’t generate any revenue.

On top of that, booster clubs are a huge part of school sports’ budgets in these days of education cuts and inflated pension plans. And boosters get more excited about football than any other sport.

Now in terms of the athletes, and the dedication it takes to succeed at a high level, football is no different than any other sport. It might be more painful, and players need to learn to love the weight room, but no athlete and no team gets really good without putting in the time.

So on a purely moral, ethical plane, all outstanding teams at a given school should receive the same level of student, administrative and community support.

But you know, even SportStars’ devoted and hard-working advertising sales staff couldn’t sell enough ads for a cross country preview issue — or one for girls’ volleyball or boys’ golf. But they can for football, and just as football’s following allows this magazine to write about cross country, so football’s impact on the school you attend has a lot to do with having a cross country team.

At one level, it isn’t fair, granted — but you probably learned a long time ago life wasn’t nearly as fair as people made it out to be. ✪ 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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Top 5 Ways to Absorb September Sports Overload It’s a confluence. A cornucopia. A conundrum. A coruscating quagmire of confustication. The A’s and Giants are deep into meaningful playoff runs. The Niners and Raiders just kicked off what promise to be compelling seasons (for varying reasons…). Stanford football entered the season ranked in the Top 25 despite the departure of the best college quarterback we can remember watching play in person. Cal opened its first season in a new stadium with a resounding THUD, but should be a factor in the Pac12 when the dust settles. Oh, and in case you hadn’t noticed, the Bay Area is home to the best high school football, water polo, volleyball — well, high school sports in general — in the country. So what’s a sports fan to do? You can’t watch it ALL. The Bay Area is like the AM/PM of sports markets. (Think about it… too much good stuff… try to keep up, huh?) How do you choose?

Here are our top 5 ways for prioritizing your sports viewing and attendance.

1. Darts. Cut out little pictures of all the logos or helmets or what have you, and let the universe guide your dart, and your decision. Or just play darts while the game is on. You know, which ever. *Editor’s note: Do not, under any circumstances, throw darts at your television. We won’t be held accountable.

2. Phone a friend. I recommend your mom. You know you don’t call her enough, and she misses you. She’s also worried you’re not eating right.

And she would totally tell you which game was the most important one to watch. Some of you may still be living with your mom. In which case, you can call us.

3. Fanhood. You know yourself better than anyone (other than your therapist). You know, deep down, that even though you like the Niners and Cal, it’s the A’s. It’s always been the A’s. How could you even LOOK at another team?

4. Abdicate. Just skip it. Go have a nice dinner and watch a romantic comedy with your significant other. Sports aren’t the most important thing in the world, you know.

5. Yeah, right. No. 4 is an idiot. DVR everything. Put yourself in sports information lockdown to eliminate the possibility of spoilerism. Watch until your eyelids peel away from your skull. Repeat.

— Bill Kolb

49ers quarterback Alex Smith Tim Warner/ Zumapress.com

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rapidFIRE Who will be most tweeted ahtlete this year?

back to the NFL

Athlete from another sport who could play in NFL?

Best food at the game?

Super Bowl prediction

What team has the best uniforms?

49ers beat whomever they play

St. Louis Rams

LeBron James, tight end

Cowboys

Garlic Fries

Michael Ravens Vick over 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

LeBron Cowboys James, wide receiver

Garlic Fries

Robert Griffin III Dante Mayes, Freedom-Oakley, FB

Michael Hutchings, De La Salle-Concord, FB

random act of FACTNESS

Best stadium?

sayWHAT

Julia Maxwell, a junior on the Branson-Ross cross country team, set a blazing pace during the 28th Annual Ed Sias Invitational on Sept. 9 in Martinez. The pace was so fast that it nearly broke a course record that’s stood for 15 years.

Maxwell finished the Small School Varsity Girls race in a time of 11 minutes, 28.2 seconds. The second-place finisher was her teammate Anna Harleen, crossing the finish line 83 seconds later at 12:51.9. Maxwell came in just twotenths of a second shy of Kristen Gordon’s girls course-best 11:27 set in 1996. Gordon won a state title for Carondelet-Concord that season.

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“I think we took the heart out of them and got a little fire of our own. And we stayed up there. We always say that if you go up, you gotta stay up, you can’t go up and down. We got up, and that was our level for the rest of the game.”

— James Logan-Union City linebacker Ryan Bua on the Colts defense stopping San Ramon Valley-Danville’s 60-yard, game-opening drive and proceeding to shut out the Wolves 35-0 on Sept. 7.

left: James Logan QB Jeffrey Prothro looks for a receiver during the 35-0 rout of San Ramon Valley. Photo by Bob Larson.

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With the disappointment of 2011 in its rearview mirror, the Bishop O’Dowd girls volleyball team is in the fast lane to a deep postseason run in 2012. One of its leaders is Karsseboom who helped guide them to winning the top prize at the Deer Valley Invitational tournament on Sept. 8 — which boasted a 16-team field loaded with defending champions and expected playoff teams. They let everybody else know they’ll be ready this go-round.

SportStars Magazine: How did it feel dominating this tourney?

Brianna Karseboom: We really were just determined to win.

The first couple games, it took us a while to get into a groove. …

The chemistry on the court was great.

SSM: What was your favorite moment?

BK: The last match, the last game was really intense. A lot of high competition. We pulled through in the last point.

SSM: Your season abruptly ended in the NCS quarterfinals last year. What did you and your teammates learn from that experience?

BK: We knew we lost a couple good seniors. We had to fight hard to get better this year. We have the mindset to go farther this year than last year. At practice we’re always focused.

SSM: Where do you fit in being just a sophomore?

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brianna karsseboom bishop o’dowd-Oakland . volleyball . soph.

honorable mention

jamirr holland The FoothillPleasanton running back rushed for 116 yards and had two touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Las Lomas on Sept. 7.

sabrina clayton The CaliforniaSan Ramon senior had 80 kills and 42 digs at the Deer Valley volleyball tournament Sept. 8.

warren miles long Contributed BK: I do try to be a leader even though I’m the youngest. My team also helps me. I knew this year I’d have to step it up knowing the seniors were leaving.

BRIANNA’S QUICK HITS Favorite class: Biology Favorite athlete: Logan Tom Favorite Starbucks item: Caramel Macchiato

The James Logan running back rushed for a 4-yard TD and returned an interception for a 42-yard touchdown as the Colts blanked SRV 35-0 on Sept. 7.

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Three effective strategies for proper game day nutrition

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y far the number one question I get from athletes and parents is, “What do I eat on game day?”

They basically want to know how they can fuel themselves or their athletes for optimal performance on the day or weekend when they are going to compete.

The fact is if your athlete or athletes wait until Game Day to follow a sound nutritional practice of sports nutrition, then they have waited too long.

Good nutrition is “training nutrition.” This is the food they should be eating day in and day out while preparing for game day.

On game day there are three strategies that will guarantee athletes optimal energy to fuel optimal performance: ■ Do what they practiced: Athletes of all ages should rehearse their game day routine. Then they should do a trial run well before game day. Wake up at the same time, eat the same foods, and perform the same athletic feat. If they haven’t practiced, they’re leaving things up to chance. This is a big mistake. On game day, they need to show up and do what they practiced, simple as that.

■ Supply their bodies with energy for game day: During game day, your athlete’s main goal should be to make sure that their nervous system is stimulated for optimal performance and that they have a steady supply of blood glucose (sugar) to prevent them from

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gassing out.

So the competition feeding strategy is as simple as this: Eat small, easily digestible foods every 2-3 hours throughout the day. Snacking is the best policy. Snacks should contain some protein, fats and most importantly, quality carbohydrates. Also, your athletes should eat foods they are familiar with, something they’ve been doing all along to get them ready for game day.

Certain sports supplements can help with carbohydrate energy. Liquid nutrition can be very useful for sipping between events if an athlete is going to have several games or heats during the day. Liquid protein and carbohydrates best assist fluid replenishment and are often better tolerated.

■ Avoid foods that make them uncomfortable: Many athletes are over-stimulated on game day. If this is the case, they will find it more difficult to tolerate large meals or slowly-digested foods. They should eat foods that make them feel good, that don’t aggravate their stomachs and make them feel light. During their practice run they should experiment with different foods until they find a routine that works well.

Here are some guidelines for proper eating: Daily: Make sure each meal contains a Lean Protein (Chicken, fish, lean meat), Complex carbohydrate (whole grain rice, potato or fruit) and good fats (avocados, walnuts, olive oil etc.). The plate should

be divided into 1/3, which will be filled with each of these Macronutrients.

Some good pre-competition or practice meal examples:

2 hours or less before competition: ■ Homemade smoothie (frozen fruit with low fat milk or yogurt) ■ Banana with peanut butter ■ Greek yogurt with fruit

2 hours or more:

Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA

■ Oatmeal and piece of fresh fruit ■ Sandwich with lean meat, like turkey or ham ■ Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with glass of low fat milk ■ Whole wheat pasta with chicken, marinara sauce Taking care of your athlete’s nutrition is all within your control, as a parent. Ensuring that they follow and implement the three strategies above will enable them to perform at their highest level on game day. ✪ 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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Former NCS Diving Champ shows well on national stage Recent Acalanes-Lafayette graduate Asher Lichtig, who closed out his high school career by winning the 2012 North Coast Section Diving Championship, took another step forward in his diving career this past August with a trip to the National Age Group Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Lichtig, diving for the Sherman Divers club team, competed in the 16-18 boys division for both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard. In the 3-meter, he was edged out of qualifying for the finals by a single point and finished 13th overall. In the 1-meter competition, he finished 17th overall, missing the finals by 19 points.

Lichtig’s runs concluded a very strong summer by Sherman Divers. The club had a strong run at the Region 10 and Zone E Diving Championships led by Lichtig, Morgan Matranga, Brenna Cetrone, Miranda Gold and Harrison Fisher.

VOLLEYBALL

Representing the United Stated, and Northern California, in the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in late July, the Northern California Volleyball Association won a silver medal in the Boys National Division.

The team went 5-2 at the tournament, with it’s only losses coming to Puerto Rico. After Puerto Rico had defeated NCVA in four games earlier in the tournament, the two teams met in the gold medal match and NCVA was definitely up for the challenge. In fact, NCVA took a two games to nothing lead before Puerto Rico was able to storm back and win 19-25, 25-27, 25-17, 25-17, 15-8.

The NCVA team featured high school standouts from both the North Coast and Sac-Joaquin Section. The full roster: Justin Beskeen, Trevor Bryant, Anthony Clowers, Robert Curtis, Griffin Galvin, Jacob Getz, Mason Humes, David Parker and Aaron Willis-Wimberly.

— SportStars staff

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Contributed

Asher Lichtig with coach Steve Sherman at the National Age Group Championships.

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Twice Shy

After missing out on two match points in 2011 state finals, Kyra Holt leads an Albany team all too eager to make things right

Story by Chace Bryson Photos by Dean Coppola

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wo points. Two missed chances.

The Albany High girls volleyball team didn’t just come within one point of winning the CIF Division III state championship in 2011. It came within one point of winning the title — twice.

Leading two sets to one over heavily-favored Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, Albany twice had an opportunity to serve for the match, and were rebuffed each time. Cathedral eventually won the fourth set 31-29, and though the Cougars kept things close in the fifth set, they never truly regained the momentum and succumbed 16-14.

“Whenever a game gets close again, I’m going to think of that,” said Kyra Holt, who led the Cougars with 22 kills in the state final, and returns this year for her fourth and final season with Albany.

“I’m going to think of those two points and I’m going to push even harder to make sure we don’t let them slip away.”

Four players graduated from that Albany team which came oh-so-close. However, only two of them were starters. That left more than 80 percent of the roster and two-thirds of the starting lineup left Concordia University in Irvine staring down a nine month wait until they could suit up again for the Cougars and begin their quest to get back to the state final.

It was a long nine months. “(That loss) stuck with me,” Holt said. “I wasn’t dwelling on it, though. It was more about using it as motivation to work harder and pushing forward to get to the next season.”

She wasn’t alone.

Third-year Albany coach Roger Worsley said his players — though many went off to play for separate clubs — put in some of the best offseason work he’s seen in his short time leading the program. Furthermore, Worsley acknowledged that the team showed up for its first workouts together in August with the type Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

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of hunger he expected to see from a team which had just missed out on a state banner.

But that look wasn’t quite there during the team’s first nonleague contest, a 3-1 home loss to St. Francis-Mountain View on Sept. 4.

The Cougars lost the opening game and then rallied to square the match behind a big second game from Holt. After that, however, St. Francis made quick work of games three and four.

“That match was a bit of a reality check,” Worsley said the day after the loss to St. Francis. “Their hunger was not where it needs to be at this point in time ... Realizing and actualizing are different things. That match was an exclamation point on the fact that this is a new year for us.”

A new year, but still plenty of talent. And that starts with Holt.

Holt stands 6-feet, 1-inch tall and possesses an engaging smile, an athletic build, and a right arm that can bring the thunder. She was far and away the leader in kills for the 2011 Albany team, posting 481 at a hitting percentage success rate of close to 50 percent. She also added 381 digs, 66 blocks, 43 aces and an oral commitment to play for Washington State.

Not bad for someone who didn’t pick up volleyball until her eighth grade year.

Holt was initially drawn to the sport by the fact that many of her friends were trying out, and having just moved to Albany from El Sobrante, she was hoping to make some new friends as well.

“Personally, I didn’t fall in love with it at first,” she said. “Mainly, because I wasn’t very good. But

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“(Holt's) going to be multifaceted and she accepts and understands that. She’s always been a physical leader, and now she’ll need to grow into that floor coach Roger Worsley on leader role, too.” — hisAlbany star player Holt, above left

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it was a lot of fun to compete and I just kept playing and eventually it just became a part of me.”

Worsley could see the potential from the moment he took the reins of the program.

“She was certainly a raw talent with a lot of upside,” the coach recalled. “Any time you’re talking about a high school sophomore, there’s going to be a big upside. Over the past year though she’s really come into her own maturation-wise. She strives to be much more of a team player at this point, and she’s willing to do whatever’s necessary — which will be key for us this year.”

Holt, who certainly feels most comfortable as an outside hitter, will probably wear a few different hats this year as Worsley tries to make the best of her talents.

“She’s going to be multi-faceted and she accepts and understands that,” he said. “She’s always been a physical leader, and now she’ll need to grow into that floor leader role, too.”

Holt will certainly have help, as well.

The three other returning starters include junior middle hitter Amber Erhahon and senior outside hitter Marin Gibson.

Both players played key roles in the Cougars attack last season, each producing over 200 kills and 60 blocks.

Gibson, who was more of a utility player a year ago, was one of the primary players Worsley had in mind when he gushed about offseason dedication.

“At the end of each season I sit down for an hour with each individual player and talk about goals,” the coach said.

“She took our season-ending conversation to heart and is probably as prepared to get back to state as anyone on the team. She’s made a huge jump forward in terms of her commitment.”

Holt has noticed similar things from Erhahon.

“Amber has really surprised me,” she said. “She came back with a better attitude and better skills.”

The attack trio will be complemented by returning defensive specialist Brooke Tannahill. She led the team One of four returning starters, junior defensive with 481 digs a year ago, inspecialist Brooke Tannahill will be a key piece to the cluding a team-best 48 in the Cougars’ back row in 2012. state final.

But who gets the the big three hitters the ball? That may be the biggest question the Cougars face early in the season — replacing the vacancy left by the graduation of McKenzie Giblin. Worsley will be turning to a pair of freshmen for the task, Jasmine Assia and Christine Legasto-Miller.

Assia is the more natural setter, but she’s been battling an early-season injury so the majority of the work has fallen on Legasto-Miller. And if the season-opener against St. Francis was any indication, there will be a learning curve.

“Just get up a hittable ball. That’s all we’re going to ask of them,” Worsley said. “I’ll continue to remind them that they don’t have the be fancy or cute or creative. Just get the ball in an area where our hitters can go to work, and they will.”

Two nights following the St. Francis loss, the Cougars rolled to an easy 3-0 win over Piedmont and followed that by winning the San Lorenzo Invitational tournament without dropping a single game.

“That St. Francis game was an eye-opener for us,” Holt admitted. “We stopped worrying about other things and regained our sense of urgency in finishing off opponents.”

Finishing off opponents. That will continue to be a theme that follows the Cougars this season.

“Two points is my mantra,” Worsley said. “We left two points on the court last year that could’ve, should’ve, turned out a lot differently. That’s going to stay with us throughout the season. It’s going to be a constant reminder.” ✪ Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

“We left two points on the court last year that could’ve, should’ve, turned out a lot differently. That’s going to stay with us throughout the season. It’s going to be a constant reminder.

— Worsley

September 13, 2012

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1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

A young team a year ago, the Monarchs graduated just five seniors and return a major haul of talent for 2012.

That includes middle hitter CLARE POWERS and setter KELSEY CRAWFORD, both juniors. Archbishop Mitty went 25-12 a year ago and were bounced from the Central Coast Section Division I semifinals by St. Francis-Mountain View, a team which they have already defeated this season as part of the Milpitas Spikefest.

2. Presentation-San Jose

The defending CIF Division II state champs are recently coming off of so-so performances at the Deer Valley Invitational in which they struggled in pool play and were forced to the Silver Bracket (which they won.) This result is misleading, however, as some Panthers, including leading hitter ALEX SHEREDY, were not available due to ACT testing. At full strength, SUE DVORAK’S squad is full of firepower. Chloe Ainley (right, top) is another force with which to be reckoned.

3. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

The Cougars return 2/3 of their starting lineup from a team which was twice on the brink of winning the CIF Div. III state championship. Washington State-bound outside hitter KYRA HOLT will lead a three-pronged attack that also includes senior MARIN GIBSON and junior AMBER ERHAHON. With Bishop O’Dowd also in the mix, the Div. III bracket may be the most entertaining come November.

7. PALO ALTO

Sure the Vikings graduated star hitters MELANIE WADE and MADDIE KUPPE — the keystones of their back-to-back Div. I state titles in 2011 and 2012. However, it’s still Palo Alto and there’s still plenty of building blocks for more success, including hitter SHELBY KNOWLES (right, bottom) and setter SOPHIA BONO.

8. CALIFORNIA-SAN RAMON

The Dragons were the eventual winner of the Deer Valley tournament — not surprising since they entered the year considered the East Bay’s top teams on paper.

Senior setter SOPHIA MAR leads the way for O’Dowd, and should have plenty of targets to choose from, including sophomore outside hitter BRIANNA KARSSEBOOM. The Dragons were upset as the NCS Div. III top seed a year ago, and we don’t expect the same in 2012.

If you’re like us, you hear the name SABRINA CLAYTON and think, ‘Didn’t she graduate already?’ It seems like Clayton has been dominating the East Bay Athletic League for more than just a few years now, but she is indeed back for her senior season. And that reason alone makes the Grizzlies a definitive team to watch. Add junior setter CAITLYN QUINDOY and senior hitter JENNIFER GILL and you’ve got a team to fear.

4. Campolindo-Moraga

9. SAN RAMON VALLEY-DANVILLE

SCOTT BISHOP, the coaching mastermind behind a pair of state championship teams (2007, 2010) has stepped down, but new coach JOHN VUONG still has plenty of talent to work with. Seniors SOPHIE SEIBERTH (setter), CASSIDY ABEL (defensive specialist) and ANNIE SHURTZ (outside/middle hitter) were all part of the 2010 state championship team as sophomores and know what it takes to get back to that level.

5. St. Francis-Mountain View

The Lancers were within one game of reaching the Div. II state final a year ago, falling to Presentation 3-2 in the NorCal championship. St. Francis lost star setter TAYLOR FORMICO, but still returns a slew of hitting talent including CHLOE LOTT and CATHERINE WES. In the early going, the Lancers have already posted wins over Bishop O’Dowd and Albany. Their lone loss as of Sept.

10 was to No. 1 Mitty.

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6. Albany

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Phillip Walton

The Wolves lost hitter ERIN SHERWOOD from their NCS Div. I championship squad of a year ago, but still boast three-year varsity hitter EMILY REDER, among others. The EBAL team should once again be a ridiculously tight race, and if California stumbles just slightly, we won’t be surprised if SRV takes full advantage.

10. FOOTHILL-PLEASANTON

Yes, another EBAL team. The league is just that competitive. The Falcons could probably earn a place in a Top 10 Teams to Watch list every year on reputation alone, but they don’t need to this year. They still have some talent, even after being hit pretty hard by graduation. Seniors JENNIFER CORBIN and AMANDA TUAZON will anchor the defending NCS Div. I runners-up as they try to get back to the top of the hill.

Phillip Walton

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We are the first to admit there are a lot more than 10 Bay Area girls volleyball players who are worth buying a ticket for. But we feel pretty confident you can’t go wrong with the following standouts.

SABRINA CLAYTON, OH, CALIFORNIA-SAN RAMON, Sr. Just about the only thing Clayton hasn’t accomplished in her varsity career with the Grizzlies is winning an NCS title. She just might have the supporting cast to pull it off this season. Oh yeah, she’s already got 93 kills over the team’s first seven matches.

SOPHIA MAR, S, BISHOP O’DOWD-OAKLAND, Sr. The hitters get all the glory, but any good hitter is the first to admit that they can’t get anywhere without a quality set. Mar delivers nothing but quality for the Dragons. If she isn’t the East Bay’s top setter, she’s on a VERY short list.

KYRA HOLT, OH, ALBANY, Sr. It’s not that the Washington State-bound hitter had almost 500 kills a year ago that’s so impressive, it is the fact that nearly one out of every two of her attacks landed for a kill. She finished the season with a 45.7 hit percentage, and is on the exact same clip early in 2012.

CLARE POWERS, OH, ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE, Jr. It’s kind of scary to think that she and setter Kelsey Crawford are going to get another year together after this one. Powers will be the keystone to a very strong offensive attack, one that has the Monarchs pointed toward a CCS title and beyond.

ALEX SHEREDY, OH, PRESENTATION-SAN JOSE, Sr. After spending most of last year as the sidekick to standout hitter Emily Sklar, Sheredy is ready to step into her own for the defending Division II state champs. In her first 13 matches of 2012, Sheredy already has 85 kills and 80 digs.

CHLOE LOTT, OH, ST. FRANCIS-MOUNTAIN VIEW, Sr. The daughter of Football Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott, the Lancers hitter is obviously loaded with athleticism. She will feature prominently on a St. Francis team that has all the tools to make another deep postseason run. We’re not sure Chloe could concuss any wide receivers, but we won’t put it past her, either.

MADDIE DILFER, S/RS, VALLEY CHRISTIAN-SAN JOSE, Jr. The daughter of former NFL quarterback, Trent Dilfer, established herself as an extremely gifted all-around talent for the Warriors a year ago. Her 2011 season included 433 assists, 236 kills, 196 digs, 58 aces and 30 blocks. She’s a team captain as a junior.

MICHELLE LAWRENCE, OH, NORTHGATE-WALNUT CREEK, Sr. Much like Sabrina Clayton, it seems that Lawrence has been a driving force on the Broncos for several years. And also like Clayton, she’ll be the most-feared hitter in her league in 2012. If Northgate makes a deep NCS run, it will be on the shoulders — and swinging arm — of Lawrence.

SOPHIE SEIBERTH, S, CAMPOLINDO-MORAGA, Sr. Seiberth could join Mar on that short list of the top setters in the East Bay. After a rebuilding season a year ago, Seiberth should have plenty of talent to spread the ball to in 2012.

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Maddie Dilfer, left.

Michelle Lawrence, top.

Chloe Lott, middle.

Sophia Mar, bottom.

Photos by Phillip Walton, Dean Coppola and contributed

September 13, 2012

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Bay Area Girls Golf Season Preview

New Mission Last year’s surprise NorCal champs, Mission San Jose out to prove it was no fluke

By Chace Bryson | Editor

Not many saw the rise of the Mission San Jose girls golf program coming. Not many outside of the Warriors program, at least.

But golf rewards consistency, and no girls team was better at it in 2011 than Mission San Jose.

Lead by a couple of steady senior leaders and a mass infusion of young talent, the Warriors were the feel-good story a year ago as they stormed their way to a second-place finish at the North Coast Section Tournament of Champions, and then one-upped themselves by claiming the NCGA/CIF NorCal championship with a 14-stroke victory over second-place Amador Valley-Pleasanton.

The following week, the Warriors competed in the program’s first CIF State Championship tournament and took fourth out of six teams, the best finish among NorCal teams.

“Last year, we were really close,” junior Meredith Hirsch recalled. “We had a lot of really good practice sessions. We came in (to the playoffs) and we felt confident. We knew what we could do and we came in and we were ready. It was just our time.”

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Mission San Jose’s Monica Chen

Norbert von der Groeben/ SportStars file photos

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THE FAIRWAY’S FINEST

Mission San Jose’s Meredith Hirsch, right.

Their time may not be up quite yet.

The team saw half of it’s top six graduate, including Taneesh Sra, Sarah Rotter and Hirsch’s older sister, Madison. However, Monica Chen — who shot a 2-over 72 to pace the Warriors at last year’s NorCal’s — joins Hirsch (the team’s top individual finisher at the state tournament) and Amy Huang to form a solid top three for 2012.

“They’ve got a chance to be even better,” said Bill Kriskovich, who coached the program for the previous 11 years before stepping down in 2012.

Jason Cain inherits the job of managing Mission’s talented roster. Cain, who played college football at San Jose State, coached in the Warriors football program for four years before adding the boys golf team to his resume a year ago. This year, he’ll coach both golf teams.

And even though Cain wasn’t around the team much last year, he is well aware that he’s stepped into a good position.

“The real encouraging part is the core is still fairly young,” Cain said. “Most of them are juniors and sophomores, and many of them are getting a chance to prove themselves now that there are opportunities to earn a spot in the top six.”

Filling out the first three spots on the card will be easy for Cain.

It will all start with Chen, Hirsch and Huang. “(Chen) is certainly going to be on top of her game,” the coach said. “(Hirsch) is just very, very consistent. She’ll be a strong leader on the team, not just with golf but in general with her work ethic. (Amy) has picked up right where she left off a year ago, too. She’s also a very consistent hitter.”

All three players are juniors, which is another thing Cain can smile about. In fact, the team features just one senior in Lucy Shen. Shen is part of an extremely tight competition to earn one of the final three spots.

Among the first girls to really impress Cain and the rest of the team in that competiSupport Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Here’s a quick glance at some of the Bay Area’s top individual girls golfers to watch for this fall.

■ Yuri Ahn, Granada-Livermore, Sr. — Ahn shot a 74 at the NCS TOC in 2011 to qualify for NorCals as an individual. She and teammate Janelle Reali make the Matadors a threat for an EBAL crown in 2012.

■ Sydney Babiak, BentleyLafayette, So. — Bentley doesn’t have a large golf team, but Babiak may put the program on the map anyway. She shot a 79 at NCS as a freshman a year ago.

■ Monica Chen, Mission San Jose-Fremont, Jr. — Chen was at her best in the postseason for the Warriors in 2011, posting rounds of 74 and 72 in the NCS and NorCal tournaments, respectively.

■ Andrea Nielson, Freedom-Oakley, Sr. — Nielson has steadily improved each year for the Falcons, so much that she missed qualifying for NorCal’s by single stroke last year. Expect her to break through this year.

■ Alex Sborov, FoothillPleasanton, Sr. — She shot a 73 at NCS to qualify for NorCal’s and followed it up with a 79 — good enough for a T18 finish. She and her twin sister Katie make a dominant 1-2 punch at the top of the Falcons’ order.

■ Kathleen Scavo, JustinSiena-Napa, So. — One of the top junior amateurs from the Bay Ara, Scavo shot a 72 to tie for second at NorCal’s and a 74 to finish with a solo fifth at the state tournament.

■ Elizabeth Schultz, Acalanes-Lafayette, Jr. — The defending DFAL champion also narrowly missed a trip to NorCal’s a year ago, firing a 76 at the NCS championship.

■ Anna Zhou, Gunn-Palo Alto, So. — Just a freshman, Zhou fired a 2-over 72 to tie for second at the NorCal tournament.

She backed that up with a 75 at state, good enough for a T6 finish.

— Chace Bryson

September 13, 2012

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tion has been Sarah Rotter’s younger sister, Emily.

Just a sophomore, Emily Rotter has perhaps shown the most improvement of any of the young guns.

“All the girls say that she has completely turned her game around,” Cain said of Rotter. “Everyone I’ve talked to remarks about how she’s made vast strides. And it seems that things keep clicking for her as she’s understanding more and more about her swing.”

The Warriors have already played three nonleague dual matches, earning a win over California-San Ramon and losing to Granada-Livermore and Clovis West-Fresno, the last of which was a 1-stroke loss over 18 holes. Chen wasn’t available for the first three matches, however, and Cain used a couple of them to evaluate some of the younger players as well.

The Warriors won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season though, and there are more than a few teams that are chalking up the same goals. The East Bay Athletic League is never shy on talent, and should boast some of the top teams once again.

The best of the bunch could be Foothill-Pleasanton, which returns four of its top six after it missed qualifying for the NorCal tournament by only one stroke a year ago.

Granada and Amador Valley-Pleasanton will also be teams to watch in the EBAL. Acalanes-Lafayette of the Diablo Foothill Athletic League will likely continue its rise behind a pair of standout juniors, Elizabeth Schultz and Adrienne Lee. The early 1-2 record has done nothing to affect the Mission San Jose’s confidence, nor is it representative of any new pressures the team might be feeling from a desire to repeat the success it had a year ago.

“I feel really good about our golf team this year,” Hirsch said.

“We’re definitely trying to get back to that level, but I wouldn’t say we’re feeling any extra pressure.

“We have goals set, and we’re just trying to reach them.” ✪

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“I feel really good about our golf team this year.

We’re definitely trying to get back to that level, but I wouldn’t say we’re feeling any extra pressure.

We have goals set, and we’re just trying to reach them.”

— Meredith Hirsch

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Placer coach savors win while championing cause close to home

SportStars NorCal Top 20 All records through Sept. 8 Rank (Last Wk.) School

Record

1. (1)

De La Salle-Concord

2-0

2. (2)

Vacaville

2-0

3. (3)

Elk Grove

3-0

4. (4)

Bellarmine-San Jose

1-1

5. (5)

Lincoln-Stockton

2-1

6. (6)

Franklin-Stockton

3-0

7. (8)

Serra-San Mateo

1-0

8. (9)

James Logan-Union City

3-0

9. (7)

Marin Catholic-Kentfield

2-1

10. (10)

Folsom

3-0

11. (11)

Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove 2-1

12. (12)

Palo Alto

1-0

13. (15)

Palma-Salinas

1-0

14. (16)

Concord

3-0

15. (13)

Del Oro-Loomis

0-2

16. (14)

Granite Bay

0-2

17. (18)

Oakdale

2-1

18. (NR)

Campolindo-Moraga

3-0

19. (NR)

Placer-Auburn

2-0

20. (NR)

Central Catholic-Modesto

2-1

Top 20 Facts-Figures-Fallout DROPPED OUT: Freedom-Oakley, Buhach ColonyAtwater, St. Mary’s-Stockton

BIGGEST MOVER: Nobody moved more than two spots this week, so we’ll give the nod to Campolindo who jumps into the rankings after a 3-0 start. The Cougars only loss since 2010 came in last years CIF Division III championship bowl game.

KNOCKING AT THE DOOR: St. Mary’s-Stockton (2-1), Nevada Union-Grass Valley (2-1), Chico (2-0), CaliforniaSan Ramon (3-0), Monte Vista-Danville (3-0), Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (3-0).

Placer High School improved to 2-0 with an impressive 4214 victory over Northern Section power Foothill-Palo Cedro on Sept. 7, but the Hillmen’s explosive wing-T offense and suffocating defense were not alone in increasing their profile.

The game was one of seven varsity showcase games at Oak Ridge High that made up the Football for Families event, which raises awareness for the foster care system.

“We have had two convincing wins over very good football teams,” Placer coach Joey Montoya, right, said of his team’s fast start. “And I couldn’t see playing for a greater cause.

Helping those who are orphaned or homeless in our world is something I wish we could find a way to do better.”

Montoya is intimately familiar with the plight of foster kids, especially those that are nearing the end of their time in the system. Montoya and his wife have taken in two high school students in recent years and seen first-hand the challenges of young adults with no full-time parents or caretakers.

“It is both alarming and heart-wrenching,” Montoya said of foster kids nearing adulthood and facing the world on their own. “The college system offers some great perks to kids in the foster system, but the percentage of kids that get to that point to take advantage of that support if very low. The cards are really stacked against them.”

Montoya said that he made it a point to share the cause with his players before they took the field to address the business of winning football games. While Placer has taken care of business with quality wins over Foothill and Central Catholic-Modesto, Montoya’s work is not done.

In addition to spending time at the second day of the Football for Families event to help the cause, the coach was also taking time to scout Placer’s Week 3 opponent, Casa Roble-Orangevale.

“I was out there to support the cause and to check out Casa (Roble) because we play them next,” Montoya said Saturday afternoon from his office on the Auburn campus.

“Unfortunately, as a football coach, there are no real days off to enjoy the wins.”

SWISS ARMY KNIGHT

Las Lomas’ Adam Wood boasts the improbable position listing of wide receiver/quarterback/linebacker. He also plays special teams. He’s pretty much on the field for every play.

And in Friday night’s 35-21 loss to visiting Foothill-Pleasanton, it seemed like he was in on all of them, too.

He intercepted Falcons sophomore quarterback Kyle Kearns in the second quarter to turn back a promising drive.

He promptly gave it back, forcing a wobbly throw into the end zone with 34 seconds left in the half that Foothill defensive back Nick Mendonca nabbed to prevent the Knights from getting within a touchdown.

Wood rallied, leading the Knights on an impressive 12-play, 68-yard, 5-minute drive before plunging straight ahead on a quarterback keeper for Las Lomas’ second touchdown.

He also completed 8 of 11 pass attempts for 104 yards.

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Doug Guler/photo

He sacked Kearns on the ensuing Foothill possession, forcing a punt.

Then, in the fourth quarter, when Greyson Bromstad came clean off the left edge of the defense to block Ray Hudson’s punt, the ball shot straight to — you guessed it — Adam Wood. Wood plucked the ball out of the air with a full head of steam heading the other direction, tucked into a phalanx of Knights blockers, broke at least two tackles, and rumbled 40 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown.

“When the ball came to me, I thought, ‘Oh my god! We’re gonna score!’” Wood said between deep breaths after his busy night. “Honestly? I wasn’t thinking about tacklers at all, I could just see the wide open end zone. All night, guys were making plays, and I just kept being in the right place at the right time.” ✪ —Jim McCue/Bill Kolb, contributors

September 13, 2012

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Bob Larson/photos

Ahki Muhammad (2), Ansar Muhammad (40) and Marquise Carpenter (35) swarm tackle a hapless San Ramon Valley ball carrier during the Colts 35-0 win on Sept. 7.

Wild horses Colts use dominant defense to set promising early tone

By Chace Bryson | Editor

Whether the James Logan High football team wants to point to its Sept. 7 win at San Ramon Valley-Danville and call it a statement game — (It was.) — isn’t as important as one might think.

The Colts aren’t looking for a statement game. By extricating themselves from a Mission Valley Athletic League which has not offered much competitions in recent years, the Logan program built an independent schedule with several tough opponents.

The Colts are looking for a statement season.

And if the 35-0 beat down of San Ramon Valley — the same team which eliminated a previously unbeaten James Logan team from

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james logan-union city the 2011 playoffs — was any indication, than the Colts are well on their way to reaching that goal.

“This is just one step,” said James Logan coach George Zuber in a moment of caution. “Our goal is not to be 3-0, and it’s not to be 10-0. Our goal is to go deep into the playoffs and win an NCS championship. If it means playing some tough teams and losing to get that experience, we’re willing to do that. But this team just does not want to lose.”

It doesn’t want to give up points, either.

The overwhelming theme to the Colts’ first three victories has been defense. Staunch,

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San Ramon Valley running back Jaiwan Gardner is unable to escape the grip of James Logan outside linebacker Warren Miles Long.

stifling and extremely opportunistic defense. All of those elements were on display against San Ramon Valley.

The Wolves drove 60 yards on the game’s opening drive and were then promptly held to just 74 more yards the rest of the night.

Colts linebacker Ryan Bua scored the first of three defensive touchdowns for Logan with a 42-yard fumble return that opened the scoring. Karsten Wethington added a 50-yard interception return that helped build a 14-0 lead, and Warren Miles Long capped the scoring with 42-yard pick six with 9:08 left in the game.

That this all came against the same pass-happy spread attack that frustrated the Colts so much during their 28-14 postseason loss to the Wolves a year ago, made the defensive performance even sweeter.

“We didn’t come at it as a revenge game,” Bua said afterward. “This is a new team for us — a new season and way to approach the game. We just came at it and said we want to play great football and we want to get ready for the playoffs, and this is a great way to prepare.”

Defense wasn’t even the part of the game that generated the most buzz concerning the Colts prior to the start of the season. Most experts predicting success for the program pointed to all the returning skill positions players: quarterback Jeffrey Prothro, running backs Long and Damond Beasley, and receiver Amalani Fukofuka.

Even the coaching staff wasn’t certain what it would get from the defensive side of the ball.

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September 13, 2012

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“In a lot of ways, (how quickly we’ve come together) took me by surprise, too. I think people may have underestimated us a little bit, but they’re going to see what’s going on now.”

James Logan defender Karsten Wethington

Warren Miles Long strolls into the end zone to finish off a 42-yard interception return. The fourth-quarter touchdown was the Colts’ third defensive score of the game. “I saw a gift,” he said. “And I’m not the kind to turn down gifts.”

“Having all four linebackers return, and a great coaching staff was a good starting point,” Zuber said. “Plus, this is the second year of this defense that we’re running. We knew we had something (with this group), we just didn’t know what we had.”

However, following back-to-back shutouts over two perennial playoff programs (San Leandro was the other, a 29-0 blank job on Aug. 31), if the defense had been flying under the radar it isn’t anymore.

“In a lot of ways, (how quickly we’ve come together) took me by surprise, too,” Wethington said. “I think people may have underestimated us a little bit, but they’re going to see what’s going on now.”

With the Colts’ next two opponents, Heritage-Brentwood and Berkeley, a combined 0-5 through Sept. 7, it would seem a good bet that James Logan has a chance to go into it’s last big test of the regular season — a Sept. 28 match at Del Oro-Loomis — with an unblemished 5-0 record. Even with a loss to the defending CIF Division II state championship bowl runner-up, the Colts would be

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heavy favorites to win the remaining games on their schedule and vie for the No. 2 seed in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.

Coincidentally, that’s the seed James Logan held last year before losing their playoff opener to San Ramon Valley. The Colts last postseason victory came on Nov. 16, 2007, when the top NCS division will still called 4A East Bay. They defeated Foothill-Pleasanton 31-7 that night and were ousted from the semifinals the following week.

Playoffs are still a long way from the Colts players’ minds, though. Bua, keeping things grounded, made sure to point out that there’s still room to get better.

“This is the most solid game we’ve had so far,” the linebacker said.

“Obviously we still have improvements. I have individual improvements. Everybody can come out and say what they did wrong and can improve on.

“But our goal tonight was to play a great game, to be able to come away and say we played a great game, and we did that.” ✪

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Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by staff writer Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with what’s currently hot on the market. Feast your eyes on a gridiron full of football goodies to get you ready for another season.

Gloves

Asking us what our favorite brand is for gloves is an exercise in futility. Probably because no matter the grip, we’d STILL drop the ball. At any rate, have at it with Under Armour, Nike or Adidas.

Footballs

Whether you need one to throw through a tire swing in your backyard like you’re on the set of Friday Night Lights, or if you’re about to play in the Super Bowl and you need to get your reps in, we recommend going with the Under Armour UA Gripskin 495.

Madden ‘13

When yours truly first played this series, the Buffalo Bills just reached their first of four straight Super Bowls. Needless to say, the Madden franchise has come a long way. In addition to buying and running your own franchise, which includes setting ticket, merch and hotdog prices, drafting players and negotiating their deals with agents and contending for a Super Bowl, you can still actually PLAY A FOOTBALL GAME. The latter’s become so realistic, it feels like Jim Harbaugh’s gonna sub you in on the next play. Don’t blow it!

Cleats

Just like gloves, it’s nearly impossible to pick a brand of cleats and stick with it. For us it’s like picking our favorite issue of SSM. Nike, Under Armour and Adidas lead this race but it gets more nuanced than that when you get down to the nitty gritty. Cleats nowadays are specifically designed and engineered for speedsters WRs and RBs, woolly mammoth linebackers, and Joe Cool QB’s.

Fan gear

Once you’ve gotten all your rah-rah gear and you’ve draped yourself in school spirit, run out and buy jerseys, hats, T-shirts, earmuffs of your favorite NFL team. The season is here! Just don’t buy any Cowboys stuff because nobody will like you.

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NCAA Football ‘13

Now you can play as RG3, Tebow and other college legends on their rival teams. Grab a copy today and see it with your own eyes. The latest in the EA Sports franchise comes with a blitz package of all-new graphics, rosters, and rankings.

September 13, 2012

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As die-hard high school and teen sports enthusiasts, we realize that you face many tough choices on what games to see, which athletes to watch and everything in between. 10 To Go is our attempt to lend a hand with such quandaries. Behold our list of the Top 10 things to put on your prep sports bucket list through the end of September.

JAKE BROWNING: Deer Valley-Antioch at Folsom football, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. — The sophomore quarterbacking sensation has quickly established himself as Folsom’s newest spread offense superstar. He tossed 16 TD passes in his first three games (including a recordsetting 10 on Aug. 24).

And speaking of records, when Folsom faced Deer Valley in Antioch a year ago, thenquarterback Tanner Trosin set a Northern California record with 597 passing yards. Browning torched that with 689 in his 10-TD performance, but unless Deer Valley has vastly improved its defense, more records could fall.

1

FOOTBALL: Archbishop Mitty-San Jose at Palo Alto, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. — This might very well be a preview of a CCS Open Division semifinal, or possibly even championJake Browning ship. Mitty has made a strong Photo by Doug Guler showing in the early going after somewhat of a rebuilding year in 2011. Palo Alto entered the year on everyone’s radar as a team to beat in the CCS, thanks in large part to junior quarterback Keller Chryst.

2

CROSS COUNTRY: Nike Invitational, Sept. 15, Newhall Park, Concord, all day — Arguably the premier early-season cross country event, hosted by Concord’s De La Salle and Carondelet High prepares for its 18th running.

The Invitational is known for drawing the Bay Area’s top-rated teams and individuals. Last year’s winner of the varsity girls race, Carrie Verdon of Campolindo-Moraga, went on to win a state title. Two of the top four varsity boys finishers a year ago ended up placing in the top six at state. Amador Valley’s Jena Pianin (pictured) returns after finishing third at the Nike Invite a year ago.

Bay Area Must Go

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Archbishop Mitty Volleyball Invitational, Sept 14-15, Mitty High, San Jose — Mitty, which has risen to the Top 10 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings, doesn’t just bring in the best teams from the Bay Area for its tournament, it brings in the best teams from across the state. This year’s field of 16 includes CampolindoMoraga, Presentation-San Jose, St. Francis-Mountain View, Santa Barbara, Vista del Lago-Folsom, Frontier-Bakersfield and Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita. There’s even one out-of-state team, Bishop Manogue-Reno (NV). No pool play, either. This is a straight-up 16-team, double-elimination tournament. Play begins at 2 p.m. on Sept.

14 and continues at 10 a.m. on Sept. 15 with the championship slated for 6 p.m. that evening.

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Jonathan Hawthorne

September 13, 2012

Sophie Seiberth, Campolindo

Photo by Phillip Walton

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GOLF: Deer Valley Girls Golf Invitational, Sept. 17, Lone Tree Golf Course, Antioch, 12:30 shotgun — Always considered a strong tournament, the Deer Valley Invite typically hosts some of the best Northern California programs.

The top five finishing teams at this tournament tend to consistently end up at the North Coast Section Tournament of Champions. Last year’s DVI champion, Foothill-Pleasanton, is likely to be back featuring the talented Sborov Sisters, Alex (pictured right) and Katie.

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GOLF: Dan Ashley’s Friends of Camp Concord Tournament, Sept. 24, Round Hill Golf Club, Alamo, 11:30 a.m. shotgun — The ABC7 news anchor will host the 16th Annual playing of this tournament to raise money in support of Camp Concord-Lake Tahoe, a children’s summer camp established in 1967, that currently serves up to 100 young people each week throughout the summer. Rather than be a spectator, this one of the rare 10 to Go items that is open for participation. You can register to participate in the tournament at www.friendsofcamp.com. The registration cost includes a wine reception, dinner, raffle and a putting contest with a prize of $10,000. Not too shabby.

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Norbert von der Groeben

sac joaquin Must Go FOOTBALL: Lincoln-Stockton at St. Mary’s-Stockton, Sept. 21, 7:15 p.m. — In a battle of extremely talented Stockton teams, this one boils down to the new guard vs. the old guard.

After St. Mary’s represented Northern California in the 2009 CIF Division II state championship bowl game, the Rams have been in a rebuilding mode. And filling their shoes as Stockton’s powerhouse has been Lincoln. Lincoln went 11-2 a year ago behind the rising talent of RB Justin Davis and QB Zack Greenlee (pictured). However, St. Mary’s can lay claim to one of those two losses, beating the Trojans 35-27 last September.

BOYS WATER POLO: NCS/CCS Challenge, Sept. 28-29, multiple sites — Some of NorCal’s top programs plunge into a tournament featuring the best teams in the North Coast and Central Coast Sections. The tournament typically features 32 teams and is played out over four pools on multiple campuses. It’s a lot of water polo.

First five rows may get wet.

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James K. Leash

SOCCER: South Kent SchoolSouth Kent (CT.) at JesuitCarmichael — Jesuit is no stranger to being in the national spotlight, and after opening their season with a 6-0 record, the Marauders find themselves James K. Leash inside the Top 5 in the national rankings. Jesuit is also no stranger to hosting top tier programs from across the country, and South Kent is definitely one of them. South Kent went 19-0-1 in 2011 and closed its seasonwith an unbeaten streak of 28 matches. They did graduate star player Tre Ming, however.

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FOOTBALL: Salesian-Richmond at El Cerrito, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. — In all likelihood this game ought to end up crowning the champion for the new Tri-County League-Rock Division. Salesian entered the season on a 21game win streak after winning back-to-back NCS Division IV championships. But they are no longer in the comfort of the Bay Football League, and a talented El Cerrito team should have a legitimate chance to defeat the Pride if it can stay disciplined.

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Beat the winter blues and keep in shape S o, the weather has begun to change, you’ve cleaned and put away the bike, and your wet suit is in the closet.

Maybe you’ve raced three or fives races this season; maybe just one. But you’re physically and mentally tired. You don’t want to even look at most of your triathlon gear, especially in the area that you feel is the most challenging.

The offseason has begun! What do you do now? Most people think, “Yes, ‘offseason!’ I get to sit around, watching TV and eating whatever I want!”

Well, you could do that.

But the offseason is not really off from the healthy lifestyle that you have started. You have spent months building your fitness, gaining strength and abilities, maybe even losing some weight — why waste all that work just to build it all again starting in February?

Set a Positive Focus Really, the offseason is about a different focus. What you really need during the offseason is a physical, but mostly mental, break from triathlon training and racing. Triathlon takes a lot of equipment and a lot of mental focus. It’s tiring.

During the fall and winter, focus on your weakest link, like improving your swim form. With no distance or intensity needed for an upcoming race, you can enjoy swimming and focus more on form and feel. Or reward yourself by focusing on what you like to do best.

We are lucky here in California to have nice weather through fall and most of winter. So you can go out for a bike ride just to enjoy being on the bike because you want to, not because you have to.

What I do is focus on running.

During the winter when the weather is not so great, running is perfect. Running can be done just about anywhere and at any time. It can be done on a treadmill or outside.

It takes the least amount of time for a quality fitness workout, relieves stress and keeps you in shape. Instead, you enjoyed fun winter training and have a better fitness and strength base. The only real piece of equipment you need is your running shoes.

Indulge, You Deserve It!

But don’t lose what you’ve worked so hard to build.

Fall and winter mean the holiday season is here. Kids are off from school, preparations are being made and family is in town; or you are traveling to visit relatives. Make sure to pack your running shoes! Your schedule may be off over the holidays, but make sure to schedule your workouts. You have put in so much time and effort, so keep up the good work and don’t put yourself in a place where you will have to rebuild your fitness. Have a great time, enjoy your time off from work, game nights with Liz Elliott the family, and just a break from the norm — but continue to enjoy the fitness you have built. Remember, even if you just have 20-30 minutes, get out for a run! Especially with more people in the house, a little “me time” may be just what you need.

If you need any extra motivation, include your family and friends.

The kids will enjoy mom or dad time while riding a bike on a crisp autumn morning.

As far as eating: turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin or pecan pie — whatever most entices you, EAT IT! We all need a little break, so don’t be hard on yourself if you over-indulge.

Enjoy what you love; it’s the holidays. Just keep in mind how the beginning of next triathlon season will feel.

Tri Steps

Work on Form and Strength The winter is a perfect time to work on form and gain leg and core strength. During the actual triathlon season more focus is on distances, intensities and actually swimming, biking and running. Form, as well as leg and core strength, get squeezed, but mostly thrown to the wayside in lieu of a long bike ride.

Stay Motivated by working out with people Training in winter can be tough. It’s cold and dark when you get off work, and Saturday morning is so chilly you see your breath — it’s not easy to crawl out of bed. Include your friends and family.

Now that you can relax a bit with no impending race, some easy rides, runs and swims with a friend or family member not only introduces others to a fit lifestyle, but will make working out fun.

Mostly, have fun with fitness during the offseason, so you come back to triathlon with a better base and are refreshed mentally to reach new goals. ✪ Liz Elliott is the Head Coach of the Tri-Valley Triathlon Club based in Dublin. Liz specializes in preparing beginner triathletes for their first race(s). She was an All-American swimmer in college, and has over 20 years experience in teaching and coaching swimming. Contact her at Liz@ TriValleyTriClub.com

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Treating concussions starts with understanding what they are

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ere we are at the start of the fall sport season and with it comes the start of football. The hottest topic in football these days is concussions. Whether it is in the NFL or at the high school level or down to Pop Warner, concussions are being discussed. In reality, studies have shown that most people don’t really know what a concussion is.

On average, athletic trainers report 5-6 percent of athletes suffer a concussion each year. However, when athletes were educated on what a concussion is defined as, about 45 percent of them admit to having one in the past year. Why the discrepancy? Because when athletes don’t know what constitutes a concussion, they are unable to explain what they are feeling.

So what is the definition of a concussion? A concussion first and foremost is a brain injury. It is caused by a blow to the head OR body that results in the brain moving rapidly inside the skull and hitting the inside wall of the skull. Picture throwing Jell-o at the wall, the brain is the Jell-o and the skull is the wall, not a pretty picture. It can result from a “ding”, “getting your bell rung” or even a milder bump to the head.

Important points to remember are: ■ A concussion is a BRAIN INJURY ■ All concussions are SERIOUS ■ Concussions can occur WITHOUT loss of conscious-

ness ■ Concussions can occur IN ANY SPORT What to look for in young athletes who you believe may have suffered a concussion: ■ Appear dazed or confused ■ Confused about assignment or position ■ Forgets an instruction ■ Is unsure of game, score or opponent ■ Moves clumsily ■ Answers questions slowly ■ Loses consciousness at all ■ Shows behavior or personality changes ■ Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall ■ Can’t recall events after hit or fall It is important to remember that evidence shows no young athlete recovers the same day as a blow to the head. If there is any doubt regarding a concussion, there is no doubt. Seek immediate medical attention from a professional trained in concussion management.

Information provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For free materials visit www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports. ✪

Health Watch Tom Clennell

Tom Clennell is a physical therapist for the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland, with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. If you have questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsOnline.com.

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Program design: Having a goal is good, knowing how to get there is better

H

ave you ever gotten into a car to go somewhere, realized you have no idea whatsoever how to get there, then started the car and drove off hoping to get there? I would think not.

I ask this only because people start training every day expecting to get results, but have NO IDEA what path to follow to get there.

So they spend countless hours, days, months, and years wandering around the gym expecting to somehow “arrive” at their destination.

Modern science has allowed our species to gain more information about itself physiologically, which means we understand how to use specific stimuli OVER TIME to elicit a desired result with our bodies.

The problem is that people, and even trainers, are too lazy to take the time to seek out this information. When that happens, the goal is to simply “get tired” while hoping you stumble upon a positive result.

When it comes to program design, here are some basic guidelines in understanding how to structure your training program: First, choose a desired goal.

Once a goal is chosen, understand how to get the body to REACT to a stimulus in a way that reflects your goal (example: a result/reaction of weight loss in a body comes from a stimulus of an increased heart rate and a strength training program to increase lean muscle mass and the testing metabolic rate) ■ Weight Loss = Increase heart rate during workouts and strength train to increase lean muscle mass to increase the metabolic rate, and in turn burn more calories to burn fat.

■ Weight/Mass Gain = Increase lean muscle mass by increasing caloric intake, and by a program design structure of 4-6 sets of 10-15 reps with weights between 55-75 percent of your 1 rep max in the selected exercise. And no more than 45-90 seconds rest between sets.

■ Strength Gain = First, build a greater muscle mass because more muscle allows a better ability to gain strength (“You can’t flex bone”).

Next, use a program design structure of 5-8 sets of 1-6 reps with weights between 75-95 percent of your 1 rep max and approximately 2-3 minutes rest between sets.

■ ower Development = Gain strength first, because power’s most important attributing factor is strength. Next, use a program design structure of 3-6 sets of 4-12 reps with weights between 65-85 percent of your 1 rep max with 1:30-2:30 minutes rest — all while moving the weight as explosively as possible using IMMACULATE form and technique. Trying to work on power using poor form can quickly cause injury.

Have a progression or structure of phases to build up to. This is called periodization. This can come in multiple forms and has been coined “Muscle Confusion” most recently in a popular program. All it means is that you must consistently change the program you follow so the body continues to make changes and not plateau.

Once the program is created, FOLLOW IT THROUGH using the law of the harvest. That means put the work in CONSISTENLY over time and reap the rewards later, because no one plants a seed and grows a tree over night. BE PATIENT. If you keep jumping around you’ll NEVER see the results you want.

This information is the most basic foundation to understanding how to create a program for yourself. Follow it consistently and watch your body make great changes over time. ✪

Powered by Trucks

Anthony Trucks

Anthony Trucks was a decorated football player for Antioch High and the University of Oregon before spending time on multiple NFL rosters. His Trucks Training facility has been operating since 2008.

Powered By Trucks runs once a month in the magazine and will include additional content at SportStarsOnline.com. Send your weight training questions to Anthony at Contact@TrucksTraining.com.

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Advertiser Index ❒❒ 3rd Annual Baseball With The Pros.........................................35 ❒❒ Image Imprint........................................................................38 ❒❒ A A A Northern California, Nevada & Utah..............................12 ❒❒ Kinders B B Q............................................................................5 ❒❒ All World Sports.....................................................................39 ❒❒ Metropolitan Golf Links..........................................................23 ❒❒ Army National Guard Recruiter.................................................7 ❒❒ Midway Paintball Park...........................................................34 ❒❒ Back Forty B B Q.....................................................................35 ❒❒ Mountain Mike’s Pizza............................................................15 ❒❒ Bay Area Blast Volleyball Club................................................33 ❒❒ Norcal Courts..........................................................................28 ❒❒ Bay Area Golf Show................................................................22 ❒❒ Big O Tires................................................................................2 ❒❒ Passthaball.............................................................................37 ❒❒ Cal Bears................................................................................36 ❒❒ Rocco’s Pizza...........................................................................34 ❒❒ Championship Athletic Fundraising.......................................38 ❒❒ Rockin Jump.....................................................................33, 40 ❒❒ Cheergyms.Com.....................................................................37 ❒❒ Sheldon Jr. Huskies Youth Football & Cheer............................34 ❒❒ Children’s Hospital And Research Center.................................27 ❒❒ Simply Selling Shirts..............................................................34 ❒❒ Club Sport..............................................................................18 ❒❒ Sky High Sports......................................................................34 ❒❒ Community Youth Center.......................................................37 ❒❒ Star Sports.............................................................................31 ❒❒ Core Volleyball Club................................................................34 ❒❒ Stevens Creek Toyota................................................................9 ❒❒ Crowne Plaza.........................................................................37 ❒❒ Diablo Car Wash & Detail Center.............................................37 ❒❒ Sutter Delta..............................................................................3 ❒❒ Diablo Rock Gym......................................................................8 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Contra Costa...................................................37 ❒❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards.......................................................34 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Contra Costa Match Play.................................24 ❒❒ E J Sports Elite Baseball Services............................................34 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Oakland.........................................................24 ❒❒ E Teamsponsor.......................................................................34 ❒❒ Thunder Sox Baseball Club.....................................................26 ❒❒ East Bay Sports Academy.................................................14, 33 ❒❒ Tpc / The Pitching Center........................................................36 ❒❒ Excellence In Sport Performance............................................33 ❒❒ Trucks Training.........................................................................8 ❒❒ Fit 2 The Core..........................................................................26 ❒❒ U S K S Martial Arts................................................................37 ❒❒ Garaventa Enterprises............................................................32 ❒❒ Halo Headband......................................................................32 ❒❒ Umigo Indoor Kart Racing......................................................19 ❒❒ Home Team Sports Photography............................................36 ❒❒ Velocity Sports Performance.........................................6, 8, 33, ❒❒ Hyatt Place Sacramento / Roseville........................................36 ❒❒ Wingstop Restaurants............................................................17

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