BA Issue 53, Sept. 27, 2012

ref rundown: high school to nfl

vol. 3. issue 53

FREE bay area

archbishop mitty puts WCAL on notice

top

20

rankings

norcal’s top football teams: moving the needle

Pgs. 6, 12

september 27, 2012

sportstarsonline.com

love lin Pinole Valley’s Stephane Lin quietly acing competition

born to run East Bay’s top XC talent on pace at DLS invitational

health watch abcs of acls: how & why they tear. pg. 17

training time speed & agility: it’s all in the way you move. pg. 21

east bay powerhouse: matador seniors charge

runnning start Tyler hanson of miramonte joins a host of other teams at prestigious de la salle invitational that have a job to finish. Pg. 18 humble but deadly: Pinole Valley’s Stephane Lin might be the East Bay’s top tennis player.

But she’s not gonna talk about it, so stop asking. Pg. 14 monarchs reign: Archbishop Mitty is ready.

Now it’s up to the rest of WCAL to deal with it.

Let us know how that turns out. Pg. 26 First Pitch............................................................................6 Locker Room.....................................................................8 AAA SportStars of the Week...................................... 11 Behind the Clipboard.................................................... 12 Health Watch ................................................................. 17 Training Time................................................................... 21 Impulse............................................................................. 32 Camps + Clinics............................................................. 34 Photo Finish..................................................................... 38 on the cover: Clockwise from top: Miramonte-Orinda boys water polo seniors, Drew Holland, Charlie Wiser and Jack Fellner. Photo by Dean Coppola

Jonathan Hawthorne

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

Caliente!

LLC

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER IN THE USA

Get noticed. Join today! www.SportStarsOnline.com

your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, September 2012 Whole No. 53 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).

1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 to cover postage. Back issues are $4 each.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care.

For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

Read Me. Recycle Me. 4

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Sympathy for the Devils Easier to understand plight of referees if you’ve called a game in their shoes

S

o officiating in the NFL is kind of a hot-button topic right now, huh?

Maybe you’ve heard? A few of you (don’t lie: most of you) watch or follow the NFL with the rest of America, and are undoubtedly caught up in the controversy of the subpar officiating being performed by the replacement referees who may or may not have blown their whistle during a high school football game just last season. I’m sure it’s come up in the office.

As a football-watching nation, it’s beginning to feel like a revolution is mounting, isn’t it? Like we’re not far off from seeing a mob of pitchfork-carrying tailgaters leaving their barbecues in an effort to put a few referee heads on spikes?

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve yelled at my television screen quite a bit in my time as a football fan. That includes plenty of remarks at the regular NFL officials who America desperately wants back on the field. And I’m sure if I were an NFL beat writer or columnist, I would salivate at the chance to write an opinion piece on how bad it’s become.

However, I write about high school football. And, while the various officiating organizations tend to do a good job of putting their most qualified personnel on the varsity games, my colleagues and I have certainly seen our share of referees experiencing tough nights.

In my time as a sportswriter, though, I’ve tried my best to represent referees and umpires of all sports as fairly as possible. I lean toward protecting officials because I can often empathize with them. For at one time, I was one of them.

I made a lot of my high school and college spending money as a basketball official and baseball umpire. In fact, there were a few occasions in college where I would wear both hats on the same night — referee and reporter. I would officiate a freshman game, change clothes, get dinner, and return to cover the varsity contest. Good times.

I very much enjoyed my time as a referee and umpire. And in many ways, it helped make me a much better sports writer. It gave me a much better understanding of the games, as well as the mentality of referees.

Referees also tend to have great stories. And I’ve got some favorites.

But there is one in particular that gets brought up at our family dinner table every once in a while. And in a way, I can draw an extremely loose parallel to it and what the NFL officials are likely to be experiencing.

As the story goes (or as I choose to remember the story going), I was 17 and it was my last summer at home before going to college. I was attending my younger brother’s Little League Seniors baseball game, when one of the umpires failed to show. The umpire who did show up knew I had worked games before and asked if I could fill-in.

I probably could’ve saved a lot of family strife that day by simply turning him down. But, I had plenty of games under my belt and knew that I could be impartial.

My brother wasn’t the problem, I had been an umpire in his games before. But his manager was a different story. I knew him as “Dad.” However impartial I believed myself to be, I was still putting myself under a lot of pressure. Not only did I want to do the best possible job as an umpire, but I also inherently didn’t want to let my dad or brother down. You can only imagine the type of pressure the NFL replacement officials must feel. Not only are they on national TV, but many of them are trying to do their best possible job in front of coaches and players they may have stood in line to get an autograph from at one point.

I may have missed a balk call.

My dad shared a fairly strong opinion of that late in the game. I didn’t budge. My brother’s team still won, however. Which was good, because my chances of getting dinner at home that night looked slim. (Kidding.)

The best umpires and officials can block much of the peripherals out, but in the end they’re all human. And what the NFL replacement officials are being asked to do is beyond what any referee or official should be asked to do.

Their heads don’t need to go on spikes. Their hands need a firm shake with a sincere, “Thank you,” from NFL officials, and then they should be allowed to return to the level of play they are comfortable with.

We can then go back to screaming at the real NFL officials. ✪

6

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor

Chace@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8503

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

rapidFIRE One TV show that you’d Who would win a Bay Bridge like to see World Series revived SpongeBob SquarePants

A’s

Sports venue/ event you’d most like to visit

Player/ opponent you greatly respect

Rio de Janeiro, World Cup 2014

Gareth Bale

Pizooki

Jackson Lewis Bernardo

Fenton’s Black and Tan

Acalanes

Mud Pie at Sunnyside Resort, Lake Tahoe

Trevor Jackson, Bella Vista-Fair Oaks

The OC

Giants

Autzen Stadium

(U. of Oregon) Robby Ow, Las Lomas-Walnut Creek

Rocket Power

Giants

Any Olympics

Best dessert

Plans for your Halloween costume

Tottenham/ Wales

De La Salle football

Something with my friends.

It’s a surprise.

Jack Fellner, Miramonte-Orinda 8

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Top 5 Bay Area Sports Celebs We’d Like to Send to the Island Did you watch Survivor: Philippines? Do people still watch Survivor? We don’t know. What we DO know is that former Giant great Jeff Kent (Hall-of-Famer Jeff Kent, in our opinion…) took a bamboo to the knee and kept on plugging away in typical grinder Kent fashion. He might have torn his Medial Collateral Ligament (and self-diagnosed said tear) in the first episode, but dude was a champ in the challenge, and might just rip your heart out for saying otherwise. Is he the best choice to represent Bay Area athletes on the Survivor scene? Here are the top five local jocks we’d like to see vying to not get voted off the island.

1. Ronnie Lott.

Seriously. He cut off his flipping finger because it impaired his ability to tackle.

Do you really think a little rain and sleep deprivation would slow this guy down?

2. Kevin Mitchell. Right. Going to the Way-Back Machine here, but for you young whippersnappers out there, Mitchell played left field for the ’89 Giants and famously ATE Vick’s Vapo-Rub when sick.

He ate petroleum jelly infused with menthol. Voluntarily. Not on a dare. Because he thought it was a good idea.

Can you think of anyone better in a food challenge?

3. Neil Parry. Who? Exactly. Parry was a San Jose State football player. Never made it to the NFL. Never really shined as a collegiate. Why send him to the island? Kid played college football on ONE LEG. Parry’s right leg was amputated below the knee before he ever set foot on the Spartans’ turf. That kind of toughness bears recognition. Here’s guessing he would not have been the first to quit in any challenge. Ever. Even if it was a butt-kicking contest.

4. Malinda Ripley. Never heard of her? She was a student at Deer Valley High School in Antioch a few years back. Pretty athletic. Oh. She was also the first girl to ever win a match at the North Coast Section Wrestling tournament. You know, before they separated the boys and the girls. Tough customer. Good luck topping her in one of those mud-pit events.

5. Andrew Luck. If we were running a competition for “Smartest Bay Area Athlete of All Time,” surely Luck’s name would come up eventually. Likewise, if we were talking about the most self-deprecating. Or the most impactful. Or flat-out goofy looking (yet likeable). And did you see what he did to Sean Cattouse that one time? The Stanford QB could lay the lumber AND appear unassuming enough to not seem threatening. Apparently being the prototypical modern NFL quarterback also means being the prototypical Survivor competitor. Who knew?

— Bill Kolb

Tim Wagner/ ZumaPress.com

count’EM

sayWHAT

362 Rushing yards by Pajaro Valley-Watsonville junior running back, Anthony Cantrell, in his team’s 34-7 win over Gonzales on Sept. 15. The total set the Santa Cruz County single-game rushing record.

Cantrell also set a school record with five TD runs in the win, which also snapped the Grizzlies’ 11-game losing streak.

“What I’m really proud of is our kids stepped up and played and never gave up. There we were, their best player, five seconds left, against our defense stacked up in goal line and he barely gets in. We made so many plays tonight.”

Bob Larson

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Acalanes-Lafayette football coach, Mike Ivankovich, told the Contra Costa Times following the Dons 40-39 loss to Campolindo-Moraga on Sept. 20. Campolindo won with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Brett Stephens on 4th-and-goal as time expired. It was just the first loss of the season for Acalanes.

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

9

10

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Powered by

Like us on Facebook

The Olito Thompson Express keeps on chugging. The senior running back racked up 131 rushing yards and three touchdowns (one receiving) in a 50-13 rout of Bethel-Vallejo on Sept. 14. He also had 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns when the Minutemen shut out Heritage 34-0 on Sept. 21. The Minutemen are 5-0 and all signs point to another NCS title run.

SportStars Magazine: You’ve been unstoppable so far this year.

Do you have a favorite moment?

Olito Thompson: Before the Heritage game, there was a little boy from Heritage and he asked me for my autograph. … After the game, I took some pictures with him. … I was shocked, myself.

SSM: Who do you try to model your game after?

OT: It’s a combination of three running backs: Chris Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore.

Frank Gore’s a downhill runner. … He makes the first defender miss. Chris Johnson’s so fast and has so much agility, and Marshawn Lynch because he’s amazing at breaking tackles. It’s just crazy.

SSM: “We will win the NCS championship if we ______”?

OT: Work. Work hard and just keep together as a team and not depend on one person but depend on each other.

SSM: Any pre-game rituals?

OT: Often times, I’ll go off and get in my own little section and

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

olito thompson concord . senior . football

honorable mention

taylor coover The Deer Valley senior golfer took medalist honors at the Lone Tree Invitational with a 1-over 73 on Sept. 17.

justin ewing The senior running back for Capuchino-San Bruno rushed for a video game-like 494 yards on 44 carries in a 35-28 win over GunnPalo Alto on Sept. 14.

polotu manoa Butch Noble imagine the game and imagine the plays. … I try to imagine what teams will throw at me and what they’ll do to try to stop me. … I get a group of guys together and we all pray.

OLITO’S QUICK HITS Favorite class: Bio Tech Favorite NFL player: Frank Gore Favorite NFL team: Steelers

The Concord outside hitter had 29 kills and nine digs against Livermore on Sept. 14 and 12 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces against Northgate on Sept. 21.

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

11

Coaches vs. refs Why do coaches yell at refs? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one change a call.

A.B., Galt

hy did the chicken cross the road? Why do fools fall in love?

Add to that list of eternal questions the one you posed: Why do coaches yell at refs?

Some coaches claim that they can buy a call later if they can get the ref to think he just blew one. They’re hoping for a make-up call at some point, so they make sure it’s clear a mistake had been made.

Unfortunately, most of the time coaches indicate the ref might possibly have been mistaken in his judgment by screaming at the top of their lungs that the official not only has vision issues, but is fat and ugly as well. Precisely how this will get the refs on anyone’s side is unclear, but it seems to be the most common tactic.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that a coach could get far enough inside the ref ’s head that there will be a sense of obligation that will lead to a favorable call. OK, so what would be the best way to do that? Let’s start a list: 1) Yelling out “That’s a foul” at the top of your

W

12

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

lungs; 2) Screaming “She was onside and if you ran down the field instead of jogging, you’d have known that”; 3) Loudly telling the captain to go ask the ref to explain that last pathetic call; or 4) Calmly discussing the possibility that a rule was misapplied or that a particular play was miscalled.

But simple observation will reveal that 4) is the least-popular tactic. Coaches much prefer to vent their frustrations by screaming at the officials rather than actually trying to get the refs to give them a favorable ruling later in the game.

In addition, let’s say a coach really does get the ref to pay attention, and really gets under the official’s skin with a series of well-timed bon mots – “I’ve seen better eyes on potatoes,” for example. What will be the result?

It’s highly unlikely that the ref is going to get any better when flustered; in fact, the odds are the official is going to get worse, and maybe a lot worse. At that point, calls become more like the flip of a coin than having any apparent relation to action in the game, and the chances of getting that fabled make-up call get slimmer and slimmer.

But to me, the worst thing about coaches scream-

A natural clash, but rarely beneficial to the coach

ing at officials has little to do with whether calls will wind up being tilted one way or another. After all, a good official won’t be swayed, and a bad official has no clue to begin with.

No, the worst thing that happens when a coach complains about the officiating is that the players start to buy in – and pretty soon, they have a built-in excuse to lose. “We didn’t have a chance because of the refs,” they’ll say afterward, when in fact the game was lost when they started to believe there was a reason they should lose.

Players feed off their coach, and a high school coach is well aware of the limitations of the refs. (If the officials were any good, they wouldn’t be doing high school; if the coach was any good, he wouldn’t either.) So if a coach wants to give his players an excuse, he should yell at the refs constantly and point out their every mistake.

Even though he won’t get a call changed, he will lower his chances of winning – and you know, that’s really not what a coach should be trying to do. ✪

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

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

lin-vinc Stephane Lin might be the section’s best tennis player.

Good luck getting her to admit it.

S

By erik stordahl | SportStars

tephane Lin dodged the question. Repeatedly.

It didn’t matter in what form it was asked, the answer was always the same.

“It’s just one match at a time,” Lin said. “One point at a time.”

Lin, a senior at Pinole Valley, stormed through the field at the NCS Div. I Singles Championships last year en route to her first title. She didn’t drop a single set in the two-day, winner-take-all competition.

It was a performance for the ages, and one that tagged her as the overwhelming favorite for a repeat.

Everyone is predicting a title defense. Well, almost everyone.

“I feel the same. I just play,” Lin said. “I don’t think about what’s ahead of me.”

Her humble approach is inspiring. She’s honest too. At least in interviews, champion athletes are given to political correctness and largely go through the motions when questions arise like title defense and season outlook. Not so for Lin. In an extensive interview, Lin never gave a hint that she was a favorite to win NCS this year. She even went so far as to think even the assumption was outlandish. Though that’s not to say she’s writing herself off.

“If you don’t work hard, you can’t get to that point (of winning a championship),” Lin said. “If I work hard I can possibly achieve my goal.”

Lin came up short of achieving her goal her freshman and sophomore seasons, bowing out in the quarters at NCS. What was the difference last year?

“I just continued playing and working on my game, “Lin said. “Working on my serve, volleys.

Getting physically stronger, mentally stronger. Just playing a lot.”

It’s no joke. Lin poured everything she had into tennis and reaped the reward. She lost only one match last year, a league match to Betsy Rose Samonte of Hercules, whom Lin credits for outplaying her. The rest of the season was a breeze, with Lin gliding to the singles title.

It’s easy to tell Lin carries a care-free attitude in her approach to the game. She rarely gets rattled and

14

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

never takes the game too seriously. Where does that mentality come from? That would be her personal coach, Morgan Shepherd.

“He’s the one who gave me the care-free attitude,” Lin said. “He told me to relax and play your game. Don’t worry about other people on the court.”

Shepherd is a former assistant coach at Boise State and former head coach at Pomona-Pitzer College. He’s been coaching Lin for the last two years.

“She’s incredibly hard working,” Shepherd said. “I think she does a good job. She’s very driven to perform well and she wants to play her best tennis. But I don’t think she gets too caught up in specific titles.”

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

cible

Lin is good, but it’s not gonna be a cakewalk Other players to watch for this season:

■ Allison Chuang, Albany, Junior. Lost to Lin in NCS Semis last year. Close friend of Lin’s and will be matched up in league play.

■ Rickimae Torres (left) ,Dougherty Valley, Junior.

Lost to Amador Valley’s Brooke Irish 3-6, 1-6 in NCS Semis last year.

■ Hillary fazekas, tamalpais, senior. Defending MCAL

champ will look to make deep NCS run in 2012.

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Photos by Butch Noble

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

15

One could argue Lin emerged victorious last year because of Shepherd’s tutelage, but he’s quick to give her the credit.

“What I noticed most was her athleticism,” Shepherd said. “Her desire to practice hard, her desire to really push herself. Her forehand and volleys and her serve have really improved.”

Lin emphasized the point of not just practicing a lot, but making each practice count. It may sound cliché, but she truly sees each practice as an opportunity to get better.

“I don’t have a lot of time to practice,” Lin said. “So every time I go out, I give my best effort in practice.”

Treating each practice like it’s a third set tiebreaker can be physically and mentally exhausting, but Lin is up for the challenge. After all, she has to prepare herself for competition like Allison Chuang of Albany. She’s a friend of Lin’s and another player coached by Shepherd. She gave Lin her closest call at NCS. Lin won their semifinal match in straight sets 6-3, 7-5. With the new Tri-County Athletic League debuting this year, Lin and Chuang could be on a collision course to play head-to-head three times before NCS. “I look up to her,” Chuang said of Lin. “She’s a really tough player. She trains hard. I want those qualities in myself.”

In addition to Chuang, Lin will have a host of competitors looking to dethrone her. Lin doesn’t know who they are, though that’s not meant as an insult.

“I don’t look at the draw,” Lin said. “You should have the mindset of playing your own game. Just play your own game and not worry about anything else. When you get on the court, you should know what to do.”

Shepherd elaborated on that mentality.

“I think she’s really good at figuring opponents out as the match goes on,” Shepherd said.

“She’s extremely creative. She has a very good court sense on how to figure out an opponent.

She’ll kinda pick apart what to do in a match. She’s very focused on playing her game style versus trying to expose her opponent’s weakness.”

Lin is so focused on just the day in front of her, that she hasn’t been aware of the colleges that are interested in her. When asked about that, she couldn’t recall which ones they were and she more or less shrugged it off.

“She had a lot of accomplishments before I started coaching her,” Shepherd said. “It takes 10 years to become a great tennis player, and she had already accomplished a lot in the seven years before I started coaching her.” ✪

16

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

ACL tears: Understanding how and why they happen

A

s the high school sports season gets back into full-swing, I see an influx of young athletes who suffer injuries to their knees.

Unfortunately, many of these athletes will have suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and require surgery. Many athletes wonder, “Why did this happen to me?”

Although some of these ACL injuries are related to bad luck, the sports medicine community has identified several risk factors that may predispose an athlete to have an ACL tear. Some of these can be controlled whereas other cannot. I like to break up the risk factors into intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

such as estrogen which increases the susceptibility of the ACL tissue to tear.

■ PROPRIOCEPTION & NEUROMUSCULAR CONTROL — These are fancy terms for describing your body’s (particularly your nerves) ability to control your muscles and identify where your body is in space at any given time. This is particularly important during landing; when many ACL injuries occur. Athletes who have poor proprioception or neuromuscular control have higher rates of ACL injury. The good news is that you can work on this.

■ LANDING — Landing with the knee locked or with the knees pointing to each other (knockkneed) with a flat foot dramatically increases the rate of ACL injury. This can be improved with training.

■ “CORE” STRENGTH — This refers to muscles about the pelvis, hip, and abdomen. Athletes who are unable to stabilize their trunk/hip region put more force on their knees; also increasing strain on the ACL. As with landing and neuromuscular control, this can be improved through training.

■ BIG QUADRICEPS, SMALL HAMSTRINGS — As athletes we like to concentrate on developing massive quadriceps muscles (the muscles in the front of the thigh).

Unfortunately, these muscles pull the shin bone (tibia) forward relative to the thigh bone (femur) — this is exactly what the ACL is trying to prevent! Having excessively strong

Health Watch Nirav K. Pandya

INTRINSIC FACTORS ■ GENDER — ACL tears are more common in females than males, and make up approximately 75 percent of the ACL surgeries I perform. There are several anatomic issues which increase the strain on the female knee. First, females have wider hips, which increases the force the knee experiences during activities such as jumping and cutting. Second, females have a smaller end of the thigh bone where the ACL resides.

This decreases the room the ACL has during movement, and can increase the tear rate as well. Finally, women have more laxity in their joints and ligaments. Some of this is genetic and some is postulated to be due to the level of certain hormones

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

quadriceps muscles with weak hamstring muscles (which are located in the back of the thigh and do the opposite of the quadriceps — pull the shin bone back relative to the thigh bone) increases the rate of ACL injury.

EXTRINSIC FACTORS

■ DIRECT BLOW — If someone hits your leg, you can’t really control the outcome. Luckily, this only accounts for about 30 percent of ACL injuries. The rest occur without contact when you cut the wrong way or land awkwardly.

■ DRY WEATHER — Studies have shown that dry weather increases the friction between one’s athletic shoe and the surface. As a result, patients are more likely to get “stuck” while pivoting and cutting; increasing the rate of ACL tears.

■ ARTIFICIAL SURFACE — As above, artificial turf also increases friction between the shoe and the ground. That wet weather on grass might not be so bad after all!

As you can see, ACL injuries are not completely random events. In Part 2 of this article, we will talk about how to prevent ACL injuries based on these risk factors. ✪ Dr. Nirav K. Pandya is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric sports injuries at the Children’s Hospital in Oakland. He sees patients and operates in Oakland and its facility at Walnut Creek. If you have any questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine for Young Athletes staff at Health@ SportsStarsOnline.com.

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

17

If its performance as host of the Nike Cross Country Invitational is any indication, the De La Salle High cross country team looks poised to make a serious run at a third consecutive North Coast Section title.

Behind a blistering pace set by junior Blair Hurlock, who won the race by a little more than 12 seconds over second-place finisher Steven Grolle of Sonora, the Spartans delivered three top 10 finishes and won the event easily. De La Salle posted a team score of 78 with Miramonte finishing a distant second with 111.

De La Salle’s other top 10 finishers included sophomore Matthew Schumann taking sixth place and junior Luke Williams finishing eighth. Hurlock’s first-place time on the three-mile Newhall Park course was 15 minutes, 12.68 seconds.

Other NCS teams to finish in the Top 10 were Acalanes (third), Amador Valley (seventh) and Clayton Valley (ninth).

The varsity girls race was dominated by St. Francis-Sacramento. The Troubadours scored 22 points behind five top 10 finishes, including the top three spots. The Acalanes girls were the top NCS team at the event, taking third behind Annie Marggraff and Kelly Collins who finished fifth and sixth overall, respectively.

Here’s a few images from SportStars photographer, Jonathan Hawthorne.

— SportStars Staff. Photos by Jonathan Hawthorne 18

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

LEFT: Acalanes’ Kelly Collins sets her own pace as she works her way toward a sixth-place finish. She finished directly behind teammate Annie Marggraff to help the Dons to a thirdplace team finish behind Sac-Joaquin Section teams St. Francis-Sacramento and Bella Vista-Fair Oaks. BELOW: Peter Schlachte was Amador Valley’s top finisher in the varsity boys race, taking 17th overall.

FAR LEFT: Clark Messman leads a pack of runners on the Hidden Valley Lakes course. The junior helped propel the host Spartans to a first-place team finish. MIDDLE: College Park’s Kendall Stuscavage powers her way to a 13thplace finish in the varsity girls race.

She ranked fourth over all among North Coast Section runners in the race.

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

19

I

READY, SET, GO: Movement can be improved upon

Linear acceleration consists of a four-step have been doing quite a bit of off-site team training lately and spending a lot of time sequence: teaching the basic skills of linear/lateral acStance: The Athlete assumes an athletic celeration techniques and concepts. This is where I stance with the center of mass relatively low, the always start with new athletes as many have never neck and shoulders relaxed, the eyes forward and been taught how to properly prepare and execute up, and the entire body positioned for movement. this skill.

Stances will vary from sport to sport, such as the Many high school athletes really only learn parallel stance of a volleyball player anticipating a sport-specific skills during practice. There is serve or the split stance of a football wide receiver. never a breakdown of actual movement, like a ball A variety of stances should be included, as well handling drill might be broken down in basketball as variations in height (low stance feet apart, half practice.

Tim Rudd for IYCA kneeling, etc.), initial hand and arm positions Athletes are just expected to get from point A (arms overhead, at side, etc.) and various other to point B as fast as they can, or get through the aspects of the initial stances. cones after a quick example of what it should look like. It’s Split: The next step is related to the preparatory step, almost as if linear/lateral acceleration concepts aren’t considor plyo step. The athlete should reposition the feet so as to ered a skill. provide maximum force production and optimal mechanics.

I’d say 99% of the athletes that I work with for the first In the case of the parallel stance, the athlete’s drive leg should time have never had these skills broken down in a way that move backward as the head, trunk and pelvis remain still helps them to understand what positions are optimal, how to before being rapidly accelerated by the front leg into forward perform it correctly and why understanding these skill sets acceleration. will increase their performance.

Forward lean: During sprint performance, the athLet’s quickly go over linear acceleration. lete will alter his or her mechanics relative to sub-maximal Linear acceleration is one of the most fundamental movejogging by leaning forward at the hips, thereby accentuating ment skills in virtually all athletic activities. It basically involves maximum acceleration over a relatively short distance. the force production of the hip extensors (butt muscles). The forward lean should occur in precise synchronization with Think of a football running back bursting through the hole or a basketball player driving to the hoop for a layup. the opposition drive to follow.

Training Time

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Opposition drive: The most complex portion of this skill set is the opposition drive. This involves precise timing and coordination of muscles in both the upper and lower extremities with stability provided throughout the core. The foot is positioned behind the body while the drive foot (front leg), should be pushed down and back into the ground to produce forward acceleration. The focus is to push the body forward with every step, forcefully triple extending (hips, knees and ankles) with each stride.

Simultaneously, during the initiation of the opposition drive, the arm opposite the drive foot should be forcefully driven upward and forward, while the arm on the same side as the drive foot should be forcefully driven behind the body through shoulder extension. This opposition drive portion of the skill set is then repeated over the prescribed distance or number of steps. It’s best at first to work on the starting skill without subsequent strides.

These are critical first steps in building more advanced motor skills. Through the purposeful and progressive integration of linear/lateral acceleration mechanics, coaches can establish the basics of movement that will serve to optimize performance and protect against injury. ✪ 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.

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

21

Jack Fellner is a scoring threat from almost anywhere in the pool for Miramonte.

Photos by Dean Coppola 22

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Despite graduating half of its NCS championship roster, Miramonte hasn’t skipped a beat behind talented senior trio

C

By Chace Bryson | Editor

almly treading water near the center of the pool, Jack Fellner held the ball at an arm’s length away from his defender and waited.

He watched as his Miramonte boys water polo teammate Charlie Wiser thrashed about attempting to gain position against his San Ramon Valley defender approximately six feet in front of the goal.

Wiser thrashed, and Fellner waited.

And just when it appeared that the defender guarding Wiser had gained an advantage, Fellner flicked his wrist and sent the ball on a slight lob toward his teammate. As the ball reached its apex, Wiser’s right hand shot out of the water. He still had his back turned to the goal.

As the ball hit the water, Wiser scooped the ball with his right hand and in one fluent motion turned his torso and fired the ball into the right corner of the goal. The San Ramon Valley goaltender never even grazed the ball on its way in.

None of this surprised Fellner.

“When you have someone like Charlie, it’s just awesome,” Fellner said. “You can rely on him so much. You just know that if you get the ball to him, it’s either going to be a kick-out or a shot, every time.”

It’s usually a shot. It’s usually a goal.

The Fellner to Wiser connection isn’t a new concept for Miramonte. It’s also nothing that San Ramon Valley hadn’t seen before the Matadors, and that includes the goal that decided the North Coast Section Division I championship match last November.

After two extra periods had been played with the score tied 7-7, the title match went to a sudden-death period that ended as Fellner floated a pass to Wiser — this time out on the left wing — who scooped and fired the golden goal on a line to the opposite corner of the net. The win marked the program’s 12th NCS title, and denied the Wolves a chance at their first.

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

23

San Ramon Valley had entered their Sept.

19 nonleague showdown at Miramonte hoping to gain a bit of revenge and potentially gain the upper hand for when the two teams are certain to be seeded for the NCS Tournament that begins in early November. The Fellner-to-Wiser goal gave the Matadors a 3-1 lead that they would build to 6-1 before cruising to an 11-6 win. Wiser finished with two goals and an assist. Fellner had three goals and two assists.

“Both of them can do whatever they want in the pool,” Miramonte senior goalkeeper Drew Holland said of Fellner and Wiser after the Sept. 19 victory. “It’s awesome to have them in front of me all match.”

Fellner, Wiser and Holland comprise what’s left of the starting seven from last season’s championship team. That group was seniordominated — including not just four starters, but up to four key substitutes — and the graduation of that class left some questions marks for the team that would return in 2012.

James Lathrop, who has coached the Matadors to six NCS titles in his first eight years at the helm, believes things could not have fallen into place better to start his ninth season.

“I think we can play with anyone,” the coach said. “I think we do have the talent to do that. Really, it’s no different than any other season in that we’re still learning and figuring out roles, where our depth is, and who contributes off the bench.”

And having an All-American, four-year varsity player like Wiser who can lead the way? Well, that helps, too.

24

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

“It’s always nice to have those type of guys come back,” Lathrop said. “Charlie always prides himself on being a team player and he’s excellent on defense and distributing the ball.

We’re going to ask him to take on more of a scoring role this season, and that’s something he’s very capable of.”

With Wiser and Fellner — who Lathrop labeled as the team’s “most prolific scorer and a very great shooter” — leading the attack, the Matadors seem to be in good hands offensively. What makes the team even more potent is it has an equally-gifted senior leader as the backbone of the defense as well.

As much as San Ramon Valley tired of trying to stop Fellner and Wiser, they undoubtedly left the Miramonte pool just as frustrated

by Holland.

The Matadors goalie posted 11 blocks in the contest, including at least three that were uncontested shots due to missed defensive assignments.

“It’s great to have someone in the cage who we know that if we make a mistake there’s a very small chance that it’s going to go in,” Wiser said after the match. “He’s basically like a brick wall back there. He saves our butts so many times when we let down our guard. It’s good to have that in the back of your mind that if you do slip up, he’s got your back.”

The win over San Ramon Valley improved the Matadors’ record to 3-2 on the young season. It split its first four matches of the year during a sixth-place finish at the highly-competitive Santa Barbara Invitational earlier in the month.

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

LEFT: Four-year varsity standout and All-American selection Charlie Wiser had the NCS championship-clinching goal for the Matadors in 2011. He will carry a larger offensive role in 2012.

RIGHT: Senior goalkeeper Drew Holland notched 11 saves in Miramonte’s Sept.

19 win over San Ramon Valley.

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Beginning the season on a trip like that proved highly beneficial for a team that needed some time to establish chemistry and identity.

“It’s a tourney that has some of the top teams in the state, so we felt really good about what we did,” Lathrop said. “And they were all close games. Early in the season, to be tested in that way, made it a really good experience to start off the year. ... We also found that we had a lot of guys who could contribute in any given game.”

Among the players that have established themselves, key newcomers to the rotation are senior Nick Solit, juniors Clay Smudsky, Nick Coufal and Tyler Kirchberg, and sophomore Jack Conner.

Conner and Coufal each scored twice in the win over San Ramon Valley. Kirchberg also had a goal and two assists.

“It’s been good watching the younger players develop into key roles this year,” Fellner said. “I’d say we have four to five different guys who are really stepping up their games.”

Fellner has been especially surprised by Conner.

“I can’t say a bad thing about him,” he said of the sophomore attacker. “When I played with him this summer, he wasn’t where he’s at now. He’s really come a long way.”

Miramonte now obviously moves forward with the proverbial target on its back. But with 12 of the 17 NCS titles since 1995, the Matadors are no stranger to being the hunted.

While the team will travel to a few more high-profile tournaments outside of the North Coast Section bubble, Miramonte’s next big barometer match in terms of a local challenge will be De La Salle on Oct. 2. The Spartans are the only other program with multiple NCS championships to their credit (they have four), and a win for Miramonte would go a long way in solidifying the top seed when the playoffs arrive on Nov. 1.

“I just really think this year is a special year and I want to go out on a good note.” Wiser said. “The biggest thing will be to keep our focus. If we do that, we’ll get where we want to be.” ✪

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

25

Norbert von der Groeben photos

Mitty sophomore standout Dakari Monroe (1) delivered a game-changing 99-yard kick return in the Monarchs 28-27 win over Palo Alto on Sept. 14.

Surprise Monarchs enter WCAL play with loads of momentum By mitch stephens | Contributor It wasn’t the deficit that concerned Matt Haniger. It was a lack of energy.

So the Mitty football coach pulled his troops together on the sideline after falling behind 14-7 at Palo Alto and told them in no uncertain terms to turn it up a notch.

“I couldn’t feel any emotion,” he said. “I try never to get them too high, but in this case I challenged them. I definitely needed to open some eyes.”

And the Monarchs responded by opening up the field.

On the ensuing kickoff following Haniger’s rant, sophomore Dakari Monroe followed a cavalcade of blockers and raced 99 yards for a touchdown, propelling Mitty to a 28-27 road win on Sept. 14.

Senior Zane Karl (6-foot, 175) sprung Monroe (5-11, 165) with a big block. Several more followed including one by Kyle Evans (5-7, 170).

“I don’t think anyone even touched Dakari,” Haniger said.

26

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

archbishop Mitty-San Jose “It was definitely a nice response.”

The Monarchs weren’t done.

The next time they got the ball there was 90 yards to go and only 1:10 left on the clock before halftime.

Former cornerback and now senior quarterback Wyatt Hansen led Mitty on a beautiful seven-play drive, capped by a 16-yard scoring strike to Andrew Scott with six seconds left. Haniger had already used a final timeout so this was one last play in the half to cash in on.

“He’s a big target out there and Wyatt put it right where it needed to be,” Haniger said. “We couldn’t have drawn it up any better.”

When Evans scored on a 13-yard run in the third quarter,

Mitty was up 28-14 and in control. A couple of late scores more than made it interesting, but the Monarchs were in charge most of the way against a team many thought was the best in the Central Coast Section.

Though the score might have surprised some, Mitty improved its record to 3-0 and opened some eyes around the region. Haniger said these Monarchs won’t wow many.

Not on first glance anyway.

“We’re pretty small,” he said. “We have a bunch of average-looking kids. We’re not overly talented and don’t have any superstars to speak of.

“But in the six years I’ve been head coach, this is the strongest team I’ve ever had. They might not look like it, but these kids are very strong.”

Said Hansen: “We don’t have any 6-5, 260 guys, but no one is going to push us around. We’re small but mighty.”

Much of that has to do with third-year strength and conditioning coach Brett Nichols, who prepped at King City, starred at Division II power Cal Poly and interned as a

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Wyatt Hansen, right, has excelled at quarterback this season after spending 2011 as a starting cornerback on defense.

“He’s been nails for us,” Mitty coach Matt Haniger said. strength coach with the 49ers.

“He’s one of the most well-known strength and conditioning teachers in the South Bay,” Haniger said. “We’re very lucky to have him.”

And salute him. At 6-4 and 265, the Monarchs address Nichols with nothing but “sir” references. To his face anyway.

“He’s a beast,” Hansen said.

Like the time last spring when he gave a little bench-press demonstration.

“He pressed out 515 pounds,” Haniger said. “He repped it out 4-5 times. The guys went nuts.”

Said Hansen: “That definitely caught our attention.”

He’s not the only authority figure to do so.

Defensive coordinator Jake Malae is a Santa Clara police offer and has been “Police Officer of the Year,” more than once, according to Haniger. He and Haniger have been together for the last six seasons.

“He was a linebacker at Bellarmine on one of the best defenses the CCS has ever seen,” Haniger said. “He went on to star at San Jose State and was All-WAC. He was also one of the best wrestlers to come out of this area.”

Offensive coordinator Kurt Heinrich was a former coach at Saratoga and one of the CCS’s most respected offensive minds. He convinced Haniger to switch from the spread — a difficult offense to master with little spring and summer practice time — to the triple option.

Besides being a master game planner, “he’s also the best storyteller you’ll ever hear,” Haniger said. “The kids just love these guys. They’re great role models and take a huge stress off me.”

There’s not much to stress about with this group, Hansen said.

They’ve been picked to finish in the middle of the West Catholic Athletic League pack and without the superstar mentality, everyone gets along like x’s and o’s.

“We got a great group of guys,” Hansen said. “We’re good friends, there’s little egos. We work hard. There’s just a good vibe.”

He lost a quarterback battle last year with all-leaguer Andrew Barna and instead of pouting, he figured out the best way to help the team: play defense.

He was an all-WCAL cornerback and team leader. When he shifted to quarterback this year, no beat was missed.

“He’s been nails for us,” Haniger said. “Last year and this year. Offense and defense.

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

27

Mitty linebacker Drew Mount gets a clean shot on Palo Alto standout quarterback Keller Chryst. The Monarchs defense will get another big test on Sept. 28 when they open WCAL play against Serra-San Mateo.

He’s just a real smart, solid kid. He runs the option beautifully. He was awesome against Los Gatos.”

That was a season-opening 28-20 win at perennial CCS-power Los Gatos. Hansen completed 9 of 14 for 209 yards and two touchdowns and rushed eight times for 89 yards and another score.

An outfielder on the baseball team, Hansen might play both sports in college. Or one.

Or none. He should get into sports communication. His analyses of things are spot on and beyond his years.

“I’m open to anything,” he said. “I’m definitely looking to play something (in college).”

Mitty’s running game – like the rest of the squad – is balanced and led by 6-foot, 200-pound junior Chandler Ramirez, who had eight carries for 168 yards and a score in a 34-7 win over Leland-San Jose.

Hansen and Evans are other strong running threats and the receiving core is led by returning first-team All-WCAL player Jacob Wesson, Scott and Monroe.

“That’s the good part of our team,” Hansen said. “You can’t really key on one guy.”

Monroe will definitely be keyed on in the future. He just turned 15, becoming eligible right before the season. He is one of three special sophomores on the team along with backup quarterback Brett Foley and tight end Thomas Hudson.

The junior class is terrific, led by center and defensive tackle Daniel Mendoza, an All-State sophomore last year. Tight end-defensive end Jason Sutton, a three-year starter, leads the senior class. He’s a Division-I prospect.

“We don’t have a bunch of Division-I guys,” Haniger said. “But we have a lot of good football players. This is the deepest team I’ve ever had here.”

The Monarchs don’t have a lot of history, like say that of their WCAL rivals St. Francis or Bellarmine. They’ve won just two Central Coast Section crowns, in 1999 and 1994. Both were at lower levels (Div. III and IV). Since Haniger took over in 2007, the Monarchs are 33-22-3.

Hansen points to Bellarmine and Palo Alto, which have each been to a pair of state bowl title games.

“Those are teams we’ve played and beaten over the years,” he said. “Why couldn’t it be us?

None of us are talking about it or predicting it, but it’s definitely all on our radar.” ✪ Mitch Stephens is a national columnist for MaxPreps.com.

28

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Rank (Last Wk.) School

Record

1. (1)

De La Salle-Concord

4-0

2. (2)

Elk Grove

5-0

3. (3)

Bellarmine-San Jose

2-1

4. (4)

Franklin-Elk Grove

5-0

Senior running back Pepe Vitale, right, and his Spartans teammates outlasted St. Mary’s-Stockton 21-13 on Sept.

14 despite a sloppy effort that included four fumbles and three turnovers.

5. (5)

Serra-San Mateo

3-0

6. (6)

James Logan-Union City

5-0

Butch Noble

7. (11)

Folsom

5-0

8. (12)

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 3-0

9. (14)

Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 5-0

10. (10)

Marin Caholic-Kentfield

4-1

11. (13)

Concord

5-0

12. (16)

Placer-Auburn

4-0

13. (15)

Oakdale

3-1

14. (9)

Vacaville

2-2

15. (18)

Palo Alto

2-1

16. (NR)

California-San Ramon

4-0

17. (20)

Burbank-Sacramento

4-0

18. (NR)

St. Mary’s-Stockton

4-0

19. (7)

Lincoln-Stockton

2-2

20. (NR)

Cardinal Newman-S. Rosa 4-0

SportStars NorCal Top 20 All records through Sept. 21

Top 20 Facts-Figures-Fallout ■ DROPPED OUT: Granite Bay, Nevada Union-Grass Valley, Buhach Colony-Atwater

■ BIGGEST MOVER: Folsom continued its spreadoffense perfection behind sophomore quarterback Jake Browning, and climbed four spots to rest at No. 7. They benefitted from losses by Vacaville and Lincoln-Stockton — by far the biggest tumbler this week after being shelled by cross-town rival St. Mary’s (back in the poll at No. 18). The North Coast Section also sent two new teams into the poll this week with California-San Ramon and Cardinal Newman both improving to 4-0.

■ TEAMS REMAINING FROM PRESEASON TOP 20: 13

■ KNOCKING AT THE DOOR: Foothill-Pleasanton (3-1), Freedom-Oakley (3-2), Buhach Colony-Atwater (3-2), Chico (3-1), Seaside (3-0), Pittsburg (3-2), Monte Vista-Danville (3-1), Campolindo-Moraga (4-1).

Three things we think we know at the halfway point When games on Sept. 29 come to a close, the high school football regular season will already be at its mid-point.

With the first five weeks as our guide, here’s three things we feel confident declaring.

■ 1. De La Salle has already had it’s “scare.”

It seems to be a pattern that’s developed over the first few weeks of the past several seasons, the Spartans seem to have one game against a Northern California opponent that ends up being a lot closer than people expected. That game happened on Sept. 14 when a sloppy offensive night by De La Salle kept a visiting St. Mary’s-Stockton team in the game.

The Rams hung tough before losing 21-13.

Spartans coach Bob Ladoucuer was more than discouraged at his team’s efforts after the game.

“When you make the mistakes we make, it’s going to be a game like that,” he said.

However, in typical Spartans fashion, they bounced back with a 48-14 win over previously-unbeaten Granada-Livermore. If we’ve learned anything from the Spartans during the Ladouceur Era, it’s that they always improve as the season goes along.

■ 2. Elk Grove is a hotbed for good football. The city has six high schools now and after five weeks their football programs are a combined 21-6. Five of the six schools had records better than.500, including two undefeated teams at Elk Grove High and Franklin. Elk Grove has risen to No. 2 in our NorCal Top 20 and Franklin is now No. 4. And many of these records aren’t built on pushovers, either. Elk Grove has wins over Lincoln-Stockton and Nevada Union-Grass Valley, and Franklin has wins over Thousand Oaks, Freedom-Oakley and Consumnes Oaks-Elk Grove.

The place to be on Oct. 19 will be Elk Grove High when the Thundering Herd clashes with Franklin.

■ 3. The West Catholic Athletic League will be a wild ride. Archbishop Mitty’s resurgence has really upped the ante on this league this year, because it doesn’t look like Serra-San Mateo or Bellmarine-San Jose have skipped a beat, either. Add the fact that St. Ignatius-San Francisco and Valley Christian-San Jose have both gone 2-1 against tough non-league slates, and you have five teams which are all equally dangerous. We didn’t mention that

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Riordan-San Francisco also entered WCAL play 3-0.

Serra and Mitty clash on opening night on Sept. 28. Buckle up.

HIGH RETURNS

So much for the Five Year Plan.

When Tim Murphy packed up his things at Ygnacio Valley at the end of the 2000 football season and headed south, the goal was to be back by the Bay in five years. Eleven years later, Murphy finally disengaged himself from his role at the helm of the upstart Clovis-East football program and let state route 99 bring him home.

You could say he took the long route to travel the four miles between Ygnacio and new home Clayton Valley, where he has the Eagles playing punishing football and off to a solid 3-1 start.

“The plan was to go, open up the school, stay five years, and come back,” Murphy said after a rollicking 58-19 win over Liberty in his home-opener with the Eagles on Sept. 21.

“I ended up staying 11 years. It was time to come back.”

After leading the Timberwolves to an 82-39 record with two section championships and six league titles in 10 seasons, Murphy has his shotgun double-wing offense and smashmouth defense clicking in Concord.

Clayton Valley’s wins include the 68-21 trouncing of Vintage-Napa and a 57-35 win over Montgomery-Santa Rosa. Feature back Joe Protheroe is clearly thriving in the tricked-out offense. Protheroe had 139 yards and a score on just eight first-half carries against Liberty, and caught a 37-yard scoring strike from brother Michael as the Eagles racked up 561 yards of total offense. Joe Protheroe is averaging over 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns per game in Murphy’s system.

“It’s good to be back,” Murphy said. “Things haven’t really changed. Kids are kids. They’re still fun to be around. It’s good to be here.”

— SportStars staff

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

29

heritage soccer club Universal soccer academy

Building a better soccer league About the time you’ve dropped your backpack on the kitchen floor, settled into the family recliner with a cold drink, turned the game on and got your homework on your lap, a bunch of kids are finishing their after-school workout with a final jog. Their course will eventually lead them through gaping doorways and into the cavernous 48,000-square-foot indoor facility at Universal Sports Academy.

The Heritage Soccer Club is, to say the least, a competitive bunch. In an extra effort to hone skills and stay in shape, directors have instituted their new indoor soccer league. Heritage partnered their new league with USA in Martinez. It works out to a long-term agreement to run their own program on the brand new turf fields with a side agreement to co-promote each other’s programs — both youth and adult. Heritage can field 35 competitive teams of boys and girls U9-U18 along with adult league play. The youth programs alone have more than 500 players in Premier- to Bronze-level play.

USA’s Glenn Salling says the benefits of a partnership with HSC are clear.

“It’s their established community presence and quality programs, not to mention spotless reputation that brings instant credibility to our new facility,” he said. “Their indoor soccer league compliments our own indoor softball and dodgeball programs, and so helps us to accomplish our own goals of

30

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

sports diversity, meaning the “Universal” in our name intentionally stands for our vision is to provide a full palate of sports for kids and adults.”

“A great partnership and with great people,” adds USA’s Tommy Sparacino. “This partnership fills a critical time slot, and brings extra credibility due to their sparkling reputation.

Plus there’s a crossover that ties into our fitness and sports programs. Parents get a feel for all we offer while they’re here with their kids and can register for memberships, take advantage of our speed and conditioning programs, our indoor baseball and softball workout facility or join one of our leagues. Our cross-fit functional strength workout program starts up in October. They’re gonna go nuts about that.”

Heritage’s Indoor Youth 9v9 Soccer Leagues (U10-U12U14 boys and girls league), games start Nov. 17 and will be played on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Teams play 10 games each. Cost is $100 per player, with a minimum of 12 players per team and include field, referees, league awards and certified coaches and trainers. Keeper training and strength and conditioning training are also included.

Team signups are going on now, so visit www.heritagesc. com for more information. Parents and players should arrive an hour early on Nov. 17 to pay registration and sign waivers.

While there, parents can also sign up for drop-in work outs

during games.

For Heritage’s Indoor Adult 8v8 Soccer Leagues, coed plays on Tuesday and Men’s Open league plays Thursday. Games are from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Cost is $100 per player, minimum 12 per team. The season starts Oct. 30, so sign up now.

Universal Sports Academy’s fields are premium indoor turf, 120 by 200 feet with a playing area that is 24,000 square feet.

Goals are 21x7, and USA provides electronic score boards and timing. Games are 40 minutes.

Established in 2002, Heritage Soccer Club is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization based in Pleasant Hill/Martinez and provides player development through competitive soccer programs. From Academy (ages 4-9) to competitive teams, players of all ages are taught by 31 certified coaches and trainers, each with years of experience spanning high school and college. Play is on local fields (both indoor, outdoor), there are paid youth referee mentoring programs and summer clinics and camps.

Heritage offers free pre-tryout winter clinics and competitive registration fees. The club even offers affordable payment plans. Tryouts for 2013 teams are January and April.

Heritage is home to the “6v6 Blow-Out” and “Harvest Cup” tournaments which feature youth indoor leagues as well as adult coed and men’s pen indoor leagues. ✪ — SportStars staff Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by staff writer Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with the latest and greatest and what’s currently hot on the market.

iPhone apps

◆ Angry Birds Space. The latest installment in the franchise is one of the most popular iPhone games right now. At only 99 cents, that means you have to do one, MAYBE two chores. Trust us, it’s worth it.

◆ Battery HD+. Get the most out of your battery life with this free app. You can see how much music and video playback you have, in addition to Internet browsing and talk time you have, left before it’s time to do homework.

SportStars™

Some of the older folk here at SSM were pumped in their adolescent heyday to ride a Schwinn, the créme de la créme of the bicycle crop. Nowadays, bikes are so technologically advanced that sooner or later we’ll see built-in iPhones on handlebars. But before we get THAT advanced, we have Niner Bikes.

Hit up www.ninerbikes.com to build your own bike so you can blaze new trails.

◆ YouTube. Since it’s no longer a built-in app, you’ll actually have to download it from the App Store. Don’t worry, it’s FREE. See? Now you can save your money for …

◆ Google Earth. Never been to Europe before? The Great Wall of China? The Eiffel Tower? The Pyramids? Let Google Earth take you there! With crisp 3D visuals, you’ll feel like you’re *practically* there.

Seriously, get this app.

32

Niner Bikes

We know you all pre-ordered the iPhone 5 and will be waiting outside the Apple Store giddy with giddiness for the latest from the tech masterminds of Cupertino. To get you started, here are some essential apps you’ll need to download pronto:

September 27, 2012

S’well

This is the last water bottle you’ll ever buy. S’well keeps your drink cold up to 24 hours or hot up to 12 hours. It’s eco-friendly which is something we can always get behind. Perfect for those crazy hot or frozen-tundra tailgating days. Go to www. swellbottle.com for more info.

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

33

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Blankenship Baseball We are a year-round competitive baseball program based in Danville. The Camp focuses on teamwork, hustle and sportsmanship. We also offer small group training as well as one-on-one training.

Info: lancerblankenship@ sbcglobal.net or 925-708-3173.

EJ Sports EJ Sports provides individual, group, team, coaching and manager clinics in many levels of baseball.

Among the numerous different services offered, the Spring Clinic, Summer Clinic and the Fall League for children of Little League age has proven to be successful, instructional and most of all fun for the kids. Contact EJ Sports for a list of upcoming clinics, or contact your local little league to see if they participate in our coaches and managers training program. Info: 925866-7199, www.ejsports.com.

The Pitching Center In an effort to develop baseball players to their full potential, The Pitching Center has become the Total Player Center (TPC), a fullservice baseball/softball training academy. We provide comprehensive, fully-integrated training programs that evolve based on the best research and information available in areas from health/safety, peak performance,

34

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

education techniques and more. Age- and skill-specific programs available for students age 8-High School. Info: 925-416-1600, www. thepitchingcenter.com.

BASKETBALL Mike Allen Sports Learn the basics of basketball, sharpen your skills and improve daily at the Ballin’ Ambassadors basketball clinics and leagues! Go to www. mikeallensports.com to reserve your spot. 408-279-4123.

CHEER East Bay Sports Academy East Bay Sports Academy offers the best in gymnastics and cheerleading training. Our top of the line recreational and competitive programs earned us the exclusive “Best in the East Bay” award for Best Gymnastics Classes 2011. You can bring your team to be a part of the excitement, as our talented & motivated staff becomes your team’s best support system. All of our team camps are custom-built to complement your coaching needs and team goals. Info: 925680-9999, www.EastBaySportsAcademy.com.

Xtreme Cheer Camps Xtreme is a competitive All-Star Cheerleading, Dance and Recreational Tumbling Gym in Antioch.

In it’s 4th year Xtreme is ready to take the competition world by storm yet again! The All-Star gym staff are enthusiastic, trained professionals

and maintain many certifications in order to stay current on the latest teaching techniques.

All of our camp classes are fast-paced, fun and geared toward achieving your child’s goals. Info: 925-565-5464; xtremetumble andcheergym@yahoo.com FITNESS Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the International Youth Conditioning Association, Fit-2-The-Core Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting your young athletes back on the field of play post-rehabilitation (which gets your athletes to normal function), continuing the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court.

For F2C’s Back to Sports programs we offer training weekdays, with 2 days/week or 3 days/week program options. Bottom line: Our program gets your athletes back on the field.

Sign up today for your two-week free pass at www.fasteryoungathletes.com, or call 925639-0907 for more information.

TransForm FX At TransForm FX Fitness Boot Camp, we believe that parents can take better care of their kids when they take care of their own health and fitness. We have designed adult fitness boot camp workouts to fit your busy lifestyle. Each boot camp workout is designed to help you burn fat and increase your cardiovascular endurance in less time. Info: 925-289-8042; www.transformfxfitness.com.

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

GOLF The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development Golf program for boys and girls ages 7-18. Participants will learn about golf and the life skills and values inherent to the game. In addition to golf skills, rules and etiquette, participants are introduced to The First Tee Nine Core Values honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. Fee assistance available. Info: Angela Paradise, 925-686-6262, Ext. 0, angela@thefirstteecontracosta. org; www.thefirstteecontracosta. org. See you on The First Tee! The First Tee-Oakland The First Tee of Oakland participants receive a minimum of 12 hours of instruction over an eightweek period.

Instruction is conducted at three City of Oakland affiliate golf courses. Each of the golf courses donates their range, golf course and classroom use. We introduce the game of golf in a way that

allows participants to progress with the mechanics required, and that teaches the values of the game, celebrates the fitness aspect of playing, and is offered at little or no cost. Info: 510-3522002, info@thefirstteeoakland. org; www.thefirstteeoakland.org.

The First Tee-Silicon Valley The First Tee of Silicon Valley develops youth through the game of golf throughout Silicon Valley.

We impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices though the game of golf.

Participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals for their future. Seasonal classes are offered at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course (San Jose) and Palo Alto Golf Course. We welcome participants ranging from second to twelfth grade. Scholarships are available upon request. www. thefirstteesanjose.org.

The First Tee-Tri-Valley We’re a youth development organization using golf and its etiquette to teach important life skills and core values. We

offer seasonal The First Tee Life Skills Experience Classes and Summer Camps for youth ages 7-17, held at the Pleasanton Golf Center on the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

Info: Call our office, 925-4627201; www.TheFirstTeeTriValley. org.

LACROSSE Atherton/Vitality Lacrosse Join Atherton Lacrosse and learn the basics of the game in their fall camps.

Every camper receives access to the best high school, college and professional lacrosse coaches in the Bay Area in a setting with an extremely low coach to camper ratio. Every camper receives a free Atherton Lacrosse T-shirt. Every camper needs a lacrosse stick - we have partnered with Sling It! Lacrosse to bring the best value possible.

Go to www.athertonlacrosse. com for more info. Sign up with Vitality Lacrosse to join one of their summer leagues in the Peninsula, Marin, East Bay, Petaluma and San Francisco.

We serve the entire Bay Area!

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Go to www.vitalitylacrosse.com for more info.

MARTIAL ARTS USKS Adult and children’s programs, kick box fitness, mixed martial arts.

Providing excellence in martial arts instruction and services for the entire family. 925-682-9517; www. usksmartialarts.com.

two decades, the Diablo Futbol Club has proved to be the premier training ground for youth soccer players in the area.

Headquartered in Concord, Diablo FC offers training to boys and girls from levels U6 to U23,

and has premier, gold, silver and bronze level teams with players from throughout Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda counties. For complete info, call (925) 798-GOAL or visit www. diablofc.org.

RUGBY

Diablo Rugby Youth rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Both non-contact and contact versions of the game are popping up in summer leagues, physical education classes, after school programs, YMCA’s, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs and backyards all over the country. Based in Clayton, our club is dedicated to providing a positive rugby experience for boys at High School, Jr. High School and Youth levels. 925-381-5143, diabloyouthrugby@gmail. com; http://diabloyouthrugby. clubspaces.com.

SOCCER Diablo FC With a history that goes back

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

35

Walnut Creek Soccer Club The Walnut Creek Soccer Club uses all the resources available to provide the proper coaching and playing environment for all members. Our goal is for every member of our club to learn and grow as a soccer player and person. We will promote a positive learning environment for our players and families as we work to provide the highest level of coaching and coach’s education. Info: wcsc_info@wcsc.org; www.wcsc.org.

West Contra Costa Youth Soccer League Our program caters to competitive youth players ages 8-9 regardless of race, creed, gender or religion. The main focus of our program is not on winning, but on the development of the total soccer player within the framework of a team. We also offer specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers. We desire to promote personal responsibility, fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork. 510-758-5288, wccysl.com.

SWIMMING-DIVING Sherman Swim School Our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain and improve their swim skills with little interruption.

Lessons are usually offered in sessions of 3-4 weeks. (During the slower months of Fall, Winter and Spring, schedules can be more flexible, such as M-W, W-F,

or only one day/week.) We teach from age 9-months to adults, from non-swimmers to competitive levels. Since our lessons are private, they are tailored to each student’s age, ability and readiness. We also offer beginning and competitive diving classes.

Beginning sessions typically have three students and are 30 minutes long. Classes are taught in three-week sessions. Info: 925283-2100, www.ShermanSwim.com.

TENNIS ClubSport Valley Vista ClubSport Valley Vista has successfully teaching tennis in the Walnut Creek area for 33 years, with expert instruction. Tennis pro Dale Miller and his team of seasoned professionals will teach your children the fundamentals of tennis or help them improve their skills for recreation or competition. Programs are available for young players of all ages and varying skill levels. ClubSport Valley Vista members receive discounted rates. Info: 925-934-4050.

VOLLEYBALL Pacific Rim Volleyball Through private lessons, and the opportunity for year-round skills classes, athletes of any age or level can learn and improve the skills needed to gain a competitive edge.

Our advanced training, for junior levels (12th grade & below), will

provide athletes the opportunity to excel at becoming elite players in preparation for high school and/or collegiate volleyball. Info: www. pacificrimvolleyball.com.

U.S. Youth Volleyball League The USYVL leads in developing,maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys, girls ages 7-15.

Info: 888-988-7985, www.USYVL.org.

WRESTLING Community Youth Center The CYC wrestling program offers athletes the opportunity to excel in one of the world’s oldest sports. The program trains and challenges wrestlers at all age groups from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels from beginner to champion.

The program is nationally recognized under the guidance of Head Coach Mark Halvorson. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www. communityyouthcenter.com.

MULTI-SPORT

Velocity Sports Velocty Sports Performance in Dublin offers a variety of fall programs to check out.

For info: 925-833-0100, velocitydublin.com.

SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides Individual and team instruction in the sports of baseball, softball and lacrosse.

Prepare to Perform! Info: 925-459-2880. ✪

Advertiser Index ❒❒ A A A No. California, Nevada & Utah........ 10 ❒❒ Halo Headband....................................... 37 ❒❒ Antioch’s Great Family

❒❒ Heritage Soccer Club............................... 31

Entertainment Centers............................ 33 ❒❒ Home Team Sports Photography............. 33 ❒❒ Army National Guard Recruiter.................. 7 ❒❒ Image Imprint......................................... 34 ❒❒ Bay Area Blast Volleyball Club................. 36 ❒❒ Kinders B B Q........................................... 39 ❒❒ Bay Area Golf Show................................. 25 ❒❒ Midway Paintball Park............................ 34 ❒❒ Big 5 Sporting Goods.............................. 13 ❒❒ Mountain Mike’s Pizza............................. 16 ❒❒ Big O Tires................................................. 2 ❒❒ Norcal Courts........................................... 24 ❒❒ Blaze Volleyball....................................... 35 ❒❒ Passthaball.............................................. 35 ❒❒ Cal Bears................................................. 33 ❒❒ Rocco’s Pizza............................................ 27 ❒❒ Championship Athletic Fundraising........ 17 ❒❒ Rockin Jump.......................................35, 40 ❒❒ Cheergyms.Com...................................... 15 ❒❒ Sheldon Jr. Huskies Football & Cheer....... 36 ❒❒ Children’s Hospital & Research Center..... 12 ❒❒ Sky High Sports....................................... 27 ❒❒ Community Youth Center........................ 37 ❒❒ Sports Stars Magazine............................. 37 ❒❒ Core Volleyball Club................................. 34 ❒❒ Star Sports................................................ 6 ❒❒ Crowne Plaza.......................................... 37 ❒❒ Stevens Creek Toyota............................... 20 ❒❒ Diablo Car Wash & Detail Center.............. 37 ❒❒ Sutter Delta............................................. 33 ❒❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards........................ 28 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Contra Costa.................... 37 ❒❒ E J Sports Elite Baseball Services............. 34 ❒❒ Trucks Training........................................ 28 ❒❒ E Teamsponsor........................................ 34 ❒❒ U C Merced................................................ 5 ❒❒ East Bay Sports Academy...................21, 35 ❒❒ U S K S Martial Arts................................. 37 ❒❒ EPIC......................................................... 20 ❒❒ Umigo Indoor Kart Racing....................... 27 ❒❒ Excellence In Sport Performance............. 36 ❒❒ Velocity Sports Performance........19, 28, 35 ❒❒ Fit 2 The Core........................................... 33 ❒❒ Wingstop Restaurants............................. 14

36

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

September 27, 2012

SportStars™

37

Valley Christian-Dublin quarterback Theman Taylor III looks to work his way up field as Durham linebacker Chris Brandt hangs on in an attempt to bring him down. Valley Christian won the Sept. 7 game 44-13.

Photo by Doug Guler

Want to submit your pic for Photo Finish? Send it to us at editor@SportStarsOnline.com. Photos must be 300 dpi and at least 10 inches wide in the jpeg format.

Please identify every person in the photo and include your contact information.

38

SportStars™

September 27, 2012

Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com