Issue 32, 09.22.2011

first tee meets the champs. Pg. 15

vol. 2. issue 32

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September 22, 2011

RED ZONE • Freedom defense is electric • Lincoln decimates another giant • Norcal top 20 • Run ‘n’ shoot PAGE 28

10 unforgettable performances.

Page 6

eat right, play hard Pg. 27 shoulder savers Pg. 19 questioning your coach Pg. 17

endure | excel | achieve

love it NCS girls singles title there for the taking. PAGE 12

get dirty area’s best runners kick up dust at Ed Sias invite. PAGE 24

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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, Mike Wolcott, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, Darryl Henick, Norbert von der Groeben

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Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com

Campolindo cross country is used to having some of the very best runners among its ranks. Carrie Verdon is the latest star. Pg. 20 First Pitch........................................................... 6 Locker Room.................................................... 8 AAA SportStars of the Week...................... 11 Tee2Green....................................................... 15 Behind the Clipboard.................................... 17 Health Watch.................................................. 19 Training Time................................................... 27 Red Zone......................................................... 28 Impulse............................................................. 34

Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com Account Executives Erik Stordahl • ErikS@SportStars Online.com (Special Sections, Calendar, Marketplace sales) 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 Directors 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

LOOKIN’ GOOD: Gotta look your best.

Gotta read Impulse. Pg. 34 Red Zone: All things football. Pg. 28 Prepare for the end times: You never know when, or how, life will be interrupted. Pg. 9

Camps + Clinics............................................. 35 Photo Finish..................................................... 38

ON THE COVER: Carrie Verdon by Jonathan Hawthorne

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #2, September 2011 Whole No. 32 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.

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Epic efforts: An ultimate Top 10 of individual performances

I

have something I need to get off my Section Division II championship vs. chest.

Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park: On the I was planning on a lazy Friday biggest stage the school’s football team night when I showed up to Deer Valley had ever been on, under the lights of what High on Friday, Sept. 16. The majority of is now the O.co Coliseum, Lloyd passed the magazine’s content for this issue had for 325 yards and five touchdowns. The already been planned, and I wasn’t anfifth touchdown won the game with 16 ticipating writing much off of the game. seconds remaining.

Perhaps a short item for our Red Zone 3 — Mary Vaccaro, Campolindo girls section, but nothing much. volleyball, 2010 CIF Division III state And if I were to be even more honest championship vs. Cathedral Catholicwith you all, I figured I would be leaving San Diego: Her 20 kills and 17 digs for a by halftime. I wanted to get a glimpse of five-set match seem a tad pedestrian after Folsom, who was entering that night as the type of numbers she’d put up in earlier the No. 10 -ranked team in our Sportmatches during the season, but Vaccaro’s Stars NorCal 20. Because I’d only heard effort in the state final was all about heart. lukewarm reviews of the host Wolverines, After hurting her hip diving for a ball in I assumed that the defending California the second set, Vaccaro missed a good Interscholastic Federation Division II portion of sets 3 and 4, both of which Castate bowl champions would be up by two thedral Catholic won to even the match. or three touchdowns at halftime.

She returned for the fifth set and made That was not the case. countless key plays to set-up others as the Folsom came as advertised, displaying Cougars won 15-13. a no-huddle spread offense lead by the 4 — Terron Ward, De La Salle footextremely accurate arm of Tanner Trosin. ball, 2009 vs. Monte Vista: In a program But Deer Valley was far better than the where the honor roll of running backs tepid reviews I’d heard along the reporter includes Maurice Jones-Drew, setting a grapevine. The Wolverines’ hung tough record for single-game rushing yards is against the Bulldogs, and the two teams going to stand out. Especially when it’s for were tied 20-20 at the half.

398 yards, accomplished on the road, and Deer Valley’s Shane Pooler took the against a budding league rival. second half ’s opening kickoff 82 yards 5 — Tanner Trosin. See above. for a score and the fireworks show began.

6 — John McArthur, De La Salle When the smoke cleared, Folsom had basketball, 2010 CIF state playoffs vs. won 49-46 behind a 597-yard passing Oakland: Another record-setting effort effort from Tanner Trosin — which set for a prestigious program. McArthur set a new Northern California record. He school marks for points in a game, points threw for five touchdown passes, the last in a half and points in a quarter (18). The of which was caught for the game-winner single-game points mark had stood since with 1:35 remaining. He also ran for a 1991. He scored 32 of the Spartans’ 46 score. second-half points and went 16-for-19 Chace@ It was a vintage performance. One from the foul line.

SportStarsOnline.com of the best I’ve seen in person. And I 7 — Stuart Wesonga, San Marin wondered if maybe it WAS the best? To basketball, 2011 NCS Div. III champi(925) 566-8503 be sure, I had to compile a list of the onship vs. El Cerrito: The 6-foot-7 center great performances I’ve covered as a high willed his team to its first section crown, school sports writer over the past decade. finishing with 26 points, 28 rebounds and The answer is that Trosin enters the charts at No. 5 among five blocks. the all-time individual efforts I’ve witnessed.

8 — Andrew Kjar, Miramonte baseball, 2009 vs. CamHere’s the list. polindo: In what I can firmly say was the best-pitched high 1 — Desmond Simmons, Salesian boys basketball, 2009 school baseball game I’ve covered, Kjar threw a no-hitter CIF Division IV state championship vs. Bishop Montwhile striking out 15. Meanwhile, his counterpart David gomery-Torrance: Simmons’ effort sometimes tends to get Gold tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts. Miramonte lost because the game ended on a buzzer beater by Kendall won 1-0.

Andrews on a pass from Jabari Brown. But the play started 9 — Bryce McGovern, Monte Vista football, 2009 vs. when Simmons grabbed his 19th rebound of the game. SimPittsburg: This was officially the coming out part for Mcmons finished with 31 points to go with his 19 boards, and Govern. He caught six passes for 177 yards and two touchwas unquestionably the reason his team was in position to downs on offense. On defense, he intercepted three passes, win on the game’s final possession. including the one that sealed the win for the Mustangs.

“He was awesome, “ Bishop Montgomery coach Doug 10 — Erick Dargan, Pittsburg football, 2008 NCS Div. Mitchell said of Simmons after the game. “Everything I’d I semis vs. San Ramon Valley: He rushed for 205 yards and heard about him was true. When one guy can lift his game up five touchdowns, which was just enough for the Pirates to to a different level like that, he can lift his team up with him.” overcome a 448-yard passing effort by Joe Southwick. He also 2 — Ricky Lloyd, Concord football, 2010 North Coast had an interception. ✪

FIRST PITCH Chace Bryson Editor

6

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September 22, 2011

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rapid fire Steven Moore, Elk Grove football

PBJ

Best afterschool snack?

Favorite sports video game?

8

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September 22, 2011

Subway sandwich

Emmys Oscars Oscars

Biggest blowout win you’ve been part of?

Most grueling part of practice?

Nutella, bread, banana

Derrick Stom, Las Lomas football

YES YES NO

Would you go with no school-year holidays if longer summer break?

Emmys, Grammys or Oscars?

Natalie Smith, Alhambra soccer

77 pts

9 goals

35 pts

300-yard shuttles

Two-side sprints

Conditioning after practice

NCAA Football 2012

FIFA World Cup NCAA Football 2010 on Wii Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

he said what?!?

“Oh man. I saw it was wide open. ... I just threw it. I just knew it would be there. I trusted him, he trusted me, so I just threw it and he caught it.”

Folsom High quarterback Tanner Trosin on his 39-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to J’Juan Muldrow with 1:35 left in the Bulldogs’ 49-46 victory at Deer Valley on Sept. 16.Trosin threw for 597 yards in the win, setting the Northern California record for passing yards in the game. For more mindboggling statistics from this game, flip to Red Zone on Pg. 32.

2

The number of East Bay SportStars baseball players who got invited to participate in the USA Team trials following their performance at the National Team Identification Series in Cary, N.C., from Sept.

9-10. The two chosen players were Chris Flexen (17U player, selected to try out for the 2012 USA 18U team), and Kevin Milam (13U, selected to try out for 2012 USA 14U squad). The East Bay SportStars program began with 56 players over three teams, and sent 13 to North Carolina.

Game delays we’d just prefer to avoid

Weirdness was in the air a couple of weeks ago. No really. In. The. Air. A whole host of teams throughout the East Bay saw their Friday night football games delayed, postponed, suspended and even called as a result of, get this, lightning. In California. Next thing you know, there’ll be an earthquake in New York. Oh wait. Anyway, here are our top five reasons for delaying a game that are wonkier than lightning (in California. Really?): 1. A plague of locusts: Sure, sure. We don’t really trade in locusts ’round these parts.

Then again, when was the last time you heard about a lightning delay? We’re just saying.

2. A plague of mothers: Remember those golden evenings of your youth, blissfully tossing the pigskin around with your buds on some glorious autumn evening, only to have it cut short by the screeching calls of, “TommyJimmyBobbyMarySuzy! Time to come in! Dinner!” Brutal.

3. THE Plague: You know, bubonic? The Black Death? We heard there was an epic high school football game called off back in the 1400s due to an outbreak.

4. The zombie menace: That’s right. You heard it here first. Hordes of Undead, shambling across the goal line. The zombie apocalypse is coming. Prepare yourself.

5. The Apocalypse: Cheery segment, no? Yeah. Well, let’s face it. About the only thing that could really stop us from savoring our sweet, sweet Friday night lights is the End Times. Here’s hoping the Mayans had it wrong, and all the weird weather and seismic activity of late is just a fluke.

— Bill Kolb

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September 22, 2011

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10

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September 22, 2011

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Powered by

DANIELLE JOHNSON WATER POLO . LAS LOMAS . SENIOR

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DANIELLE’S QUICK HITS Favorite class: Psychology Favorite athlete: Buster Posey Favorite ice cream flavor: Java Chip

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Even though it’s early in the season, it’s never too early to get revenge. Just ask Danielle Johnson and the Las Lomas girls water polo team. Upset in the semis in last year’s NCS playoffs as the No. 1 seed, the Knights reeled off impressive wins, outscoring their opponents 47-10 in four matches as they captured the Acalanes Invitational crown on Sept. 10. Las Lomas bested Diablo Foothill Athletic League foe, and defending NCS champ, Campolindo in the final.

SportStars: How does it feel beating last year’s NCS champ?

Danielle Johnson: It feels amazing. Not just me, but the whole team was so excited.

They’ve always been our rivals.

Last year, we beat them in DFAL play in overtime. ... We wanted to get revenge. It’s always our goal to beat them. It always feel good.

SportStars: You guys were the No. 1 seed last year. What will it take to overcome NCS? DJ: We just have to work harder. It’s been our goal for two years now to win NCS. We’re so motivated.

SportStars: Favorite highlight from the tournament?

DJ: I think it was probably the beginning of the fourth quarter against Campo. It was like, ‘We have a chance of winning this.’

honorable mention

emily sklar The Presentation-San Jose senior finished with 27 kills in a 25-23, 26-24, 25-16 win over St. Francis-Mountain View in the final of the Mitty Invitational on Sept. 17.

tanner trosin Passing for 597 yards and accounting for six TDs, the Folsom QB led the Bulldogs to a 49-46 road win over Deer Valley on Sept. 16.

evan quigley On Sept. 10, the AlhambraMartinez cross country star ran the Ed Sias Invitational course in 10:20.10 — a Top 25 all-time finish for the long-running event.

September 22, 2011

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11

Open Season

Dougherty Valley’s Rickimae Torres joins flood of talented players aiming for an NCS singles title which goes undefended in 2011

R

ickimae Torres remembers her briefly. Hadley Berg remembers her all too well. Yet, neither is sad she’s gone.

No, Laura Posylkin will not be missed this tennis season, especially in November when the North Coast Section tournament rolls around. She stormed through her competition at NCS like a tornado, surrendering five games total in four matches en route to her second section championship last year. Posylkin graduated from San Marin-Novato a few months ago and is now unleashing her groundstrokes at Cal. Cue the collective sigh of relief from everybody else.

Posylkin’s departure inevitably opens the floodgates for hard court supremacy across the girls tennis landscape in the Bay Area. Add to the mix that Kristina Hovsepyan, a standout at Monte Vista, moved 3,000 miles away to the Chris Evert Tennis Academy in Florida, and that means the top two seeds at last year’s NCS are gone.

So, who fills the void?

Look no further than Torres, Dougherty Valley’s returning No. 1 player. As a freshman in 2010, the unseeded Torres upset fourth-seeded Miriam Lane of Middletown 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the NCS quarters before getting trounced by Posylkin in the semis 6-2, 6-0.

“I had never played (Posylkin) before,” Torres said. “I really wasn’t sure how to play her. I didn’t even see her around at other tournaments.”

While a ghost to Torres, Posylkin was the thorn in Redwood-Larkspur’s side for four years. She terrorized Redwood and the rest of the Marin Catholic Athletic League, garnering four straight league titles in her tenure at San Marin.

“She really had a complete game,” Redwood coach Marlies Zeisler said. “She wasn’t just a hard hitter, she had a big serve, she could place her serve …. She just has a great game.”

One opponent Posylkin terrorized was Berg. Now in her sophomore year at Redwood, she was runner-up in last year’s NCS final and is just as worthy of postseason honors as Torres.

“I would say (Posylkin’s departure) definitely opens the door for Hadley,” Zeisler said. “Hadley’s tenacious. She goes in with the at-

Story by Erik Stordahl • Photos by Butch Noble

Dougherty Valley’s Rickimae Torres

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September 22, 2011

Smashing Talent

While Rickimae Torres (Dougherty Valley) and Hadley Berg (RedwoodLarkspur) are the two returning North Coast Section semifinalists from a year ago, here are some other NCS singles players to watch over the course of the season.

■ Brooke Irish, Amador Valley, Sr. — Missed last season with injury. Finalist in 2009 NCS final (lost to Posylkin).

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titude of ‘It doesn’t matter who you are, I can play you. I can play my game and put up a fight, and just put a shred of doubt in your mind.’ When she’s on her game, she can beat anybody.”

Perhaps the only thing that can stop Berg is her schedule. Currently, she’s enrolled at Temescal – an independent study school – along with teammate Ayla Aksu where they’re able to devote more time to tennis and play in tournaments every weekend. She’s still allowed to play for Redwood albeit when there are no scheduling conflicts. “(Hadley and Ayla are) play on the Redwood team as often as they can,” Zeisler said.

“They come to as many practices and matches on their schedule. When you have girls playing at that level, they really need someone at their level to play with. This year and over the summer, they’ve all gone up a level.”

Raising one’s game in the offseason is crucial for continued success, and for most it’s accomplished in various USTA matches where players go up against the best locally, regionally and nationally. Torres participated in a USTA tournament in mid-September.

“I gotta hand it to (Rickimae),” Dougherty Valley co-coach Joyce Bonesera said. “She puts in so many hours on the court …. Her minimal goal out of high school is to eventually play Division I, and if she gets good enough, definitely attempt pro.”

But before she can hoist that Wimbledon trophy, Torres will be gunning for that elusive NCS title. She looked awfully good in beating Dublin’s Vi Nguyen 6-0, 6-0 on Sept. 13.

“I definitely had to improve on my fitness,” Torres said of her work over the summer. “My fitness at the time was really bad. And I had to improve on my own consistency.”

Consistency, like minimizing unforced errors, getting more first serves in play and maintaining an even keel on the court.

The last one might be the trickiest. Torres, while cool as a cucumber off the court, can be a firecracker between the lines.

“I’ve been told I’m completely different when I’m playing,” Torres said. “I would say if anybody I played took anything I said seriously, they might be seriously offended. Because when I’m playing, I don’t pay attention

to what I say.”

No such offense taken by Nguyen in their match on Sept. 13. In fact, the only barbs exchanged were between Torres and herself, such as verbal slaps on the wrist when a forehand went wide or a second serve missed by inches. These quips were used for motivation, which ended up fueling many a “Let’s go!” whenever she served up an ace or smashed a backhand winner.

“Mentally, she’s definitely a lot better (than her freshman season),” Bonesera said. “It was tough at first. She’s not used to the pace she was getting as a junior player. ... She’s always been a tough mental player, but maturitywise from last year to this year, she’s definitely more grounded.”

Torres and Berg can’t get too comfortable, however. As it turns out, a few new faces are hoping to crash the party.

For starters, Acalanes has two freshmen: Isabella vonEbbe and Tessa Karagocev.

“I’m told that vonEbbe is better than Rickimae,” Miramonte coach Mike McCollom said. “She is apparently quite remarkable.

She’s gonna be a really top flight player.”

There’s also Amador Valley senior Brooke Irish, an NCS finalist in 2009 who missed her junior season due to injury.

Also lurking in the Tri-Valley is San Ramon Valley, which returns its top four starters. Crosstown rival Monte Vista, despite losing Hovsepyan, is poised to repeat as NCS team champions.

“We’ve got a lot of depth,” Monte Vista coach Rich Favreau said. “That’s what we’re counting on.”

McCollom’s Matadors team is favored to be in the running for the NCS team title in November despite losing three of his top four players. “(My team is) very young,” McCollom said.

“I literally only have one returning singles player (daughter Tamar).”

On the flip side, Zeisler is beaming with confidence with her squad.

“I’m excited about our team,” Zeisler said.

“Last year, we had three freshmen (Berg, Aksu and Daphne deChantellus) and one sophomore (Sophia Hooper), all nationally ranked.” ✪

■ Isabella vonEbbe, Acalanes, Fr. — Receiving high marks from East Bay coaches.

■ Rachael Harris, Antioch, So.. — Was a surprise for the Panthers as a freshman a year ago.

■ Tessa Karagocev, Acalanes, Fr. — Teaming with vonEbbe to make a formidable duo in Diablo Foothill Athletic League.

■ Arlesha Samuda, Heritage, Sr. — Returns as the Bay Valley Athletic League’s defending singles champ.

■ Leslie Chan, Mission-San Jose, Sr. — Should win the Mission Valley Athletic League title handily.

■ Ayla Aksu, Redwood-Larkspur, So. — Talented Aksu gets overshadowed some by her teammate Berg.

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September 22, 2011

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tee2green

First Tee of Oakland participants enjoy rare round with PGA champions On Saturday, Sept. 10, The First Tee of Oakland was invited to be a part of a very special event held at the Claremont Country Club in Oakland — the MacKenzie Challenge, a unique individual and team event.

This event paired some of the all time great Champion tour players — Larry Mize (1987 Masters Champion), Don Pooley (two time PGA and Champions Tour winner), Morris Hatalsky (multiple PGA and Champions Tour winner) and Scott Simpson (1987 U.S. Open winner) — with some of the Claremont Country Club members, guests, the University of California Berkeley women’s golf team and our very own First Tee of Oakland player Sean Cadwallader.

Cadwallader was one of just 16 who were given an opportunity to play with the pros. His once in a lifetime experience was being placed in the group with Mize.

He, Mize and the other team members played some great golf and went on to capture the championship trophy. Congrats, Sean!

The excitement didn’t stop there. Building on The First Tee “Life-Skills” experience, eight of our junior players got to go “behind the ropes” and experience what its like to be a reallife caddie and scorekeeper for each of the Champions Tour professionals. The boys and girls of The First Tee of Oakland are so very appreciative, not only of the opportunity to have participated in, but also benefited from —net proceeds of the

First Tee Files

April Kenyon

PGA Champions Tour professionals take a photo with participants from The First Tee of Oakland. Back row (from left): Morris Hatalsky, Larry Mize, Phillip Parker, Sean Cadwallader, Don Pooley and Scott Simpson.

Front row (from left): Jasmine Setiyadi, Marbella Daniel. Alana Setiyadi, Joshua Henry, Juliana GuiottWilliams, Mawi Fasil and Clayton Lipping.

Champions Luncheon and Team Challenge benefited The First Tee of Oakland. ✪ First Tee Files is a rotating column featuring the executive directors of four Bay Area chapters of The First Tee. April Kenyon is the director of The First Tee Oakland. Find out more on each chapter at: www.TheFirstTeeContraCosta.org, www.

TheFirstTeeOakland.org, www.TheFirstTeeSanJose.org and www.TheFirstTeeTriValley.org.

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September 22, 2011

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15

When is it OK to challenge your coach’s strategies and schemes?

This kind of a situation is not unusual, and it’s the kind of situation where team captains should play a critical role.

We have so many defensive formations and so many reads that everyone’s confused all the time, and we don’t play very well. We’re always worried about what we’re supposed to do, and we wind up losing. Why doesn’t the coach just let us play football?

R.R., Fairfield

ne of the most difficult decisions a coach has to make, in almost every sport, is how much emphasis to put on strategy. Some coaches are excellent teachers, and can get their teams to understand a lot of formations and plays, and then execute them, and others can’t.

Of course, that also depends on the makeup of the team. Some groups are just better at absorbing plays and strategies than others, so what works one year might not work the next.

In football, there are coaches who believe in running just a few plays, and running them as well as possible — but after a couple weeks, that makes it pretty easy for the opponents to prepare. And even during a game, players and coaches will make adjustments, and what worked really well in the first quarter might not work at all in the fourth quarter.

O

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On the other hand, there are high school coaches who believe they are the second coming of Bill Belichick, and want to put in a whole new defense every week – and then get upset when their kids get confused.

It sounds like your coach falls more into the second group, but still, he may feel that if he just gives it a little more time, it will all fall into place for the players. Of course, he could be just stubborn, and will vow to make his plan work no matter how long it takes.

This kind of a situation is not unusual, and it’s the kind of situation where team captains should play a critical role.

Captains are usually assumed to be the voice of the coaches to the other players, but they should also be the voice of the players to the coaching staff — and as hard as it may be, they probably need to set up a meeting with the coach.

Obviously, it’s important for the captains to be respectful and listen as well as talk, but if a message is delivered properly, a coach will pay attention.

After all, he wants to win, and if the captains ask for a meeting, come in with questions or comments that are backed up with logical reasons, and engage in a

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

mature dialog, most coaches will respond positively.

Does that mean your coach will do what you want, which in this case is simplifying the defense? Maybe not, but most likely he will tell the captains why he’s doing what he’s doing, and what progress he sees.

It’s also possible that he’ll realize that the players feel overwhelmed, and perhaps he’ll cut back a little on the complex strategies.

It is true that some coaches think they know everything, and that the players’ only contribution should be to do what they say, but those kind of coaches are in the minority. Most coaches understand that they are part of the team, and that everyone — players, coaches and parents — shares common goals.

Hopefully, your coach is one of the majority, and will listen to his captains, which means your first step is to approach the captains yourself and see if they agree with what you’re saying. If so, then you can suggest to them that they meet with the coach to talk about the concerns of the players.

You never know – maybe next week you’ll just be running two defenses and all you’ll have to think about is making plays. ✪

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.

September 22, 2011

SportStars™

17

Save your shoulder: Mechanics behind a healthy tennis serve W ith tennis season in full swing, here are a few tips to keep you on your game. Protect your shoulder by training the kinetic chain.

The kinetic chain encompasses transferring energy generated and stored in the legs through the core/abdominals/back and then powering the shoulder/elbow and finally to the wrist holding the racket.

Below are four stages to the tennis serve where energy is transferred from one body part to the next, all working toward powering the racket. These stages were researched by van der Hoeven et al, 2006 and Elliott, 2005. The progression of the serve is described below in respect to the ground up transfer of energy: Feet >Legs >Hips >Torso >Shoulder >Elbow >Wrist >Racket >Ball.

■ Shoulder speed: Your shoulder speed starts from your legs during stride stance at the baseline. Shifting your weight from your front foot to your back foot moves the energy up to your knees and is built upon when your thigh muscles activate. This is winding up all that power to then move up your torso and builds as your trunk rotates, winding up the core leading to the shoulder.

■ Elbow speed: The shoulder speed transfers to two pieces of the serve making up your elbow speed. One is how you position your shoulder in the early phase of the swing. Your arm should be down and behind the hip and lower back, storing up the power from your legs. The second is the positioning of the arm in the later phase of the swing. Your arm should be at its maximal point away from the body with the inside of the arm facing away from you.

■ Wrist speed and racket positioning: The elbow speed allows the wrist to get its energy. All the power stored up from the previous steps transfers through the forearm as it straightens and the wrist turns, bringing with it the shoulder moving toward the body.

■ Racket speed: This is the final point where all your stored kinetic energy from all your body parts gets transferred to the ball allowing you to ace your opponent.

Developing the links in your kinetic chain is essential to preventing injury and having a faster, stronger serve. If the kinetic chain is broken and there is more than a second of delay from one stage of movement to the next, the body loses about 55 percent of its stored energy (Wilson et al, 1991). Stored energy could be considered elastic, meaning the muscles are pre-loaded similar to stretching a Slinky. Losing this stored energy causes each individual body part in the kinetic chain to have increased stress and force.

Wait. ... Is this why my shoulder hurts when I try to ace my opponent with my first serve? Well, if you have not been training your kinetic chain, most likely. When training for tennis, remember that about half of the force used to hit the ball comes from your big toe, legs, hips, trunk and core combined.

What? My big toe?

Yes, your power and energy transfers from the feet up. Do you need to do toe crunches? Well, no, but you do want to strengthen your lower body and core. ✪

Health Watch Caron Bush

Caron Bush is a physical therapist for the staff of Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. If you have a health-related question for the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsOnline.com

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September 22, 2011

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The Growth Of Carrie Verdon CROSS COUNTRY Freshman 2008 ■ NCS D3 (at Hayward High): 3rd (18:03) ■ State D3 (at Woodward Park, Fresno): 11th (18:19) Sophomore 2009 ■ NCS D3 (at Hayward High): 3rd (18:19) ■ State D3 (at Woodward Park): 9th (18:19) Junior 2010 ■ NCS D3 (at Hayward High): 1st (17:19) ■ State D3 (at Woodward Park): 1st (17:15) ■ West Regionals (Mt. Sac, Walnut, Ca.): 4th (18:22) ■ Nationals (at Balboa Park, San Diego): 19th (18:05) TRACK AND FIELD Freshman 2009 ■ NCS (Edwards Stadium, Cal): 3200 (6th, 11:01.85) Sophomore 2010 ■ NCS (Edwards Stadium): 1600 (2nd, 5:03.41); 3200 (3rd, 10:53.86) ■ State (Buchanan HS, Clovis): 1600 (5:12.60, DNQ for finals) Junior 2011 ■ NCS (Edwards Stadium): 1600 (1st, 4:51.80); 3200 (1st, 10:41.50) ■ State (Buchanan HS): 3200 (3rd, 10:22.50)

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Carrie Verdon is the latest in a tradition of dominant Campolindo runners

Story by Mitch Stephens | Photos by Jonathan Hawthorne Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

September 22, 2011

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I

t’s just past quitting time on the grassy knoll in front of Campolindo High School in picturesque Moraga.

A throng of freshmen football players are refining special teams coverage. Parents in adjoining parking lot wait in luxurious cars for pickup. And the 100-member-strong cross-country teams stretch following a lengthy 9-mile workout on this bright and warm late summer’s afternoon.

“Maintenance,” said Chuck Woolridge, the sixth-year coach of the one of the state’s top cross-country programs.

“Gotta do maintenance. It’s all about the little things.”

Carrie Verdon isn’t quite ready for her maintenance regime. She still jogs around the parameter of the school while her teammates warm down.

What gives, coach? She can’t get enough? Obsessive-compulsive? Discipline problems?

Woolridge laughs.

“We train by minutes rather than miles,” he said. “She spent five minutes (with reporters). She’s just finishing up her time.”

Did he tell her to keep running?

More laughter.

“I reminded her, but she would have done it anyway,” Woolridge said. “She never misses a day, a workout, a maintenance session.

She is the most dedicated athlete I’ve ever coached.”

Woa-ho-ho-ho now! Coming from Wooldridge, that’s saying something.

He’s coached cross-country and track and field for 16 seasons and helped to build running dynasties at both College Park and Campolindo.

He’s trained some of the region’s most devoted and successful athletes, including Lindsay Allen, a former state 1,600-meter runner-up for College Park who later starred at Stanford and recently signed a professional contract with Nike.

Allen has always been the region’s poster girl for distance excellence and work ethic and style and grace.

And now, in Verdon, Woolridge has at least her equal, a humble, hard-working, utterly devoted gracious athlete who enters her senior year as one of the top 10 distance runners in the country.

“I felt incredibly lucky to have coached one athlete at that level,” Woolridge said. “To have two. … it’s beyond words. It’s just fantastic. And the best part is that both are such great kids with so much character who come from such great families.”

After two promising and accomplished seasons while being introduced to the sport, Verdon catapulted into the national stage winning the CIF State Division III crosscountry title in 17 minutes, 15 seconds at Woodward Park in Clovis — the second fastest time of the day — while leading her team to a state championship over favored Palos Verdes.

“That was the very best,” Verdon said. “There were so many tears — tears of joy. I remember my teammates racing up to me asking, ‘Did you win, did you win?’ And I remember saying ‘Yes, did we win, did we win?’ ” Verdon didn’t win the next three weeks but made her national mark.

She placed fourth at the Foot Locker West Regionals and 19th at Foot Locker Nationals. And she backed that up with perhaps an even better track and field season, taking one of 22

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September 22, 2011

got really fit and put in lots of miles and now I’m even more excited to see what’s in store for the future.”

Her goals in cross country are to help the Cougars repeat as state champions, win state individually, place in the top three regionally and top 10 nationally.

Track wise, don’t be surprised if she tries to double, but with Simi Valley sophomore phenom Sarah Baxter around, she’ll be chasing a rabbit.

Either way, Woolridge won’t put anything past his star pupil.

“She’s already top 10 nationally in cross country,” he said. “She’ll likely be mid-4:40s in the mile and around 10 in the two mile.

With her work ethic, who knows how much faster she can go.”

Hooked On Running

the most impressive distance doubles in North Coast Section history, winning the Meet of Champions 1600 in 4:51.80 and coming back less than two hours later to capture the 3200 in 10:41.50.

She dropped the 1600 the following week to focus on the 3200 for the state championships, and it paid off tremendously as Verdon took almost 20 seconds off her best time to take third in 10:22.50 – the 16th best mark in the country.

“I was really happy and excited with my junior season,” Verdon said. “All the hard work and attention to detail paid off. I

Verdon picked up the sport as a freshman only after her brother Spencer and parents Lisa and Wayne talked her into it.

Her parents are active cyclists and Wayne played soccer and rugby as a youth in England. Lisa, a Southern California native, loved to dance.

Spencer, now a student at the University of Oregon, had a great cross-country experience at Campolindo and thought little sister would benefit as well.

Verdon, who tried all sports as a youth growing up in the Oakland hills — volleyball, basketball, figure skating, horseback riding and especially soccer — was partially enthusiastic to the new sport.

She was downright reluctant, however, the first day of practice as a ninth-grader.

“I remember it was really hot and two weeks before school started,” she said. “(Woolridge) had us wearing sweats and I thought there was better things to do.

“But I remember my parents telling me that it would get easier and as I started making new friends on the team, and I heard that (Woolridge) really cared about his athletes. I basically got hooked.”

By the end of her freshman season she was the team’s top runner. She took third at NCS and was 11th at state, one spot from medaling. Her time of 18:19 was more than a minute faster than any of her teammates.

Woolridge could see the promise.

“She had great talent but more important, she had great mentors on the team,” he said. “I think she’s never forgot that.

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It’s why she’s such a great mentor herself.”

Her sophomore cross country season was plagued with tendonitis and though her ninth-place finish at state earned a medal, her time of 18:19 at Woodward Park was the exact same mark she had as a freshman.

She decided to get serious. Very serious. And it stemmed from a conversation she had with Woolridge.

“He sat me down and told me that I was a real good runner but I had a chance to be a great runner,” Verdon said. “He said I could be one of the top distance runners in California. I came away amazed. I had so much more confidence.”

Stepping Forward She gave up competitive soccer and paid attention to all the sport’s details: stretching, weights, rest, icing and of course miles. She runs 60 to 70 per week.

Verdon was rewarded with a stellar sophomore track season, taking a second and third at the NCS MOC in superb times of 5:03.41 and 10:53.86.

But as the sport tends to do, Verdon was humbled the next week at the state meet trials. Her 1600 time of 5:12.60 was well off her best, ending her season on a bitter note.

“She was wide-eyed and overwhelmed,” Woolridge said. “She had the potential to make finals, but lacked experience and confidence.”

Said Verdon: “I was crushed. I ran off the track crying.”

Woolridge didn’t let the pain linger. She said it was a defining moment in her running career.

“He just gave me a big hug and told me to brush it off,” she said.

“He said he was proud of me that I had made it that far and it’s OK to have a bad race and to simply move on and learn from it. I think I did.”

About a month later, Woolridge said he had a breakthrough mo-

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ment as well.

At a camp with more than 150 runners, the athletes were asked to stand and step forward with a series of questions about their aspirations. The last question was “do you see yourself running in the Olympics?”

Verdon was one of only two athletes still standing.

“It was then I truly realized that she was committed all the way,” Woolridge said.

That dedication and excellence showed throughout her junior season, not only in her accomplishments but her leadership skills. Shy and soft spoken by nature, Verdon emerged a team leader.

“She constantly checks in with others and makes sure the team is where it needs to be,” Woolridge said.

Said senior Juliet Farnan: “She always encourages everyone in the most positive way.”

Verdon often works out with the boys team during long runs and her male counterparts barely blink. Both teams have a legitimate shot at winning state Division III crowns this season.

“She’s got no ego at all,” said Campolindo senior Thomas Joyce, who placed fifth at state last season. “She totally believes in and pushes everyone in this program, not just the top runners.”

Woolridge said Verdon’s lack of ego has been a double-edged sword.

It ingratiates her among peers and teammates, but it can be debilitating when addressed by large groups and media types.

It’s also the opposite of Allen, whom he said “always came off poised and confident. I think Carrie is learning that. She gets overwhelmed in the spotlight sometimes. She doesn’t like it. She likes to be part of the team, part of the group. It’s never the Carrie Verdon Show with her.

“That is part of her charisma and part of the reason why the team rallies around her so much. Because she genuinely doesn’t set herself apart.”

She saves that distinction for the finish line. ✪

Campolindo On The Run GIRLS Highlights: 2010 NCS and State D3 championships. … Team time of 1:31.32 was fastest ever by NCS team at state meet.

Key returners: Sr. Carrie Verdon (1st at state), Sr. Rachel Meadows (17th), Sr. Juliet Farnan (43rd), Jr. Sarah Orders (55th) and So. Haley Shipway (68th). Others: Jr. Megan McMillan, Jr. Margeaux Bergman, Jr. Jessie Thompson.

Quote: “We have a lot of talent coming back and a lot of talented freshmen coming in. We’re so motivated to repeat.” – Farnan BOYS Highlights: 2010 NCS D3 runner-up, fifth-place at state. … Championship of 2011 De La Salle/Carondelet Invite.

Key returners: Sr. Thomas Joyce (5th at state), Sr. Vinson Compestine (36th), Sr. Leland Wong (74th), Sr. Keith Geiger (110th). Others: Jr. Adam Hathaway, Jr. Cameron Sun. Quote: “We’re much improved over last season. We think we can take NCS and top three at state, and maybe on a good day even win it.” – Joyce

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For the second straight year, we sent SportStars ace photographer Bob Larson to the East Bay’s first major cross country meet of the season, the Ed Sias Invitational on Sept. 12. Held at Hidden Valley Park in Martinez, it was the 27th running of the event.

Among the day’s winners were, Kevin Fong of Campolindo-Moraga (JV boys), Tyler Hanson of MiramonteOrinda (Varsity boys-small school), Connor McCarthy of Amador Valley-Pleasanton (Varsity boys-large school), Sophie Espteine of RedwoodLarkspur (JV girls), Nicole Lane of El Molino-Forestville (Varsity girls-small school) and Corina Novell of GranadaLivermore (Varsity girls-large school).

Granada posted the top girls team score with 76 points, followed by St. Francis-Mountain View (98) and Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa (123). Miramonte had the top boys mark of 71, narrowly topping rival Campolindo by four points.

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland took third with 105.

FAR LEFT: Granada High’s Carina Novell is captured in mid-stride on her way to winning the varsity girls large school race in a time of 11 minutes, 55 seconds. TOP LEFT: Tyler Hanson of Miramonte kicks towards the finish on his way to winning the varsity boys small school race. TOP RIGHT: A seemingly endless number of competitors break away from the starting line at the opening of the varsity girls small school race. BOTTOM RIGHT: Members of Carondelet’s junior varsity surge forward together at the start of the Frosh/Soph/JV girls unlimited race. BOTTOM CENTER: Amador Valley junior Connor McCarthy won the varsity boys large school race by nearly five seconds.

BOTTOM LEFT: Fans cheer near the finish line during the conclusion of the varsity boys small school race.

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September 22, 2011

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Fill that gas tank: Eating right is just as crucial as training hard I t’s that time of year again when my favorite sport of the year, American football, is in full swing. I personally love all levels, especially high school. I love the intensity of game day, team work, the hard hits, comebacks and all the athletic ability displayed on the field.

I played football and understand the physical and mental training required during a season, which becomes even more challenging when paired with school and homework.

So beyond all the training, what is it your young football players are doing off the field and out of the gym to make sure their hard work results in the performance edge needed for a winning season?

I’m sure you heard of the saying “we are what we eat,” and most high school athletes leave much to be desired when it comes to performance nutrition. Well the fact is that when your athletes train at high intensities, tissue and cell damage occurs resulting in sore muscles along with inflammation. To be blunt, if your athletes eat crud, their body will feel and perform like crud. This leads to limited muscle gain, increased pain, injury and poor performance.

Good nutrition is required for the body to repair this damage and optimally recover. If not, their bodies will continue to breakdown, having a negative impact on their performance. To ensure optimal performance throughout the season they must eat a combination of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This, along with a proper training and recovery strategy, will guarantee optimal performance throughout the season.

Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional components necessary for optimal Football Performance: ■ Carbohydrates: They are first and foremost a source of immediate energy and essential for recovery and performance. Natural sources of carbohydrates like fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains should be eaten throughout the day. High quality carbohydrate intake will promote energy and limit the amount of muscle wasting that occurs during training.

■ Protein: The building blocks of life. It’s found in animal products like meat, dairy and eggs, and can also be found in nuts, seeds and beans. Protein is important for repairing and building muscle tissue while also helping to maintain other bodily functions.

■ Fats: Vital in the health and recovery of athletes. Fatty acids are essential in hormone production and vitamin absorption. They should be included in every meal to help reduce the pain and swelling associated with intense training.

According to James L. Harris MS, RD, SCCC at www. trainingrecovery.com (go here for a more extensive list), there are three steps to building a great meal to speed exercise recovery, improve performance and promote great health. These are his top five in each category.

Step #1: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, immune

boosters 1. Water, 2. Tart cherries, 3. Blueberries, 4. Walnuts, 5. Flax seed Step # 2: Fill the “gas tank” (carbohydrates) 1. Sweet potatoes, 2. Carrots, 3. Fresh pineapple, 4. Wild rice, 5. Steel cut oats Step # 3: Lean Proteins 1. Salmon (wild), 2. Black beans, 3. Chicken/Turkey breast (free range), 4. Egg whites, 5. Natural peanut butter

As important as training and practice is for optimal performance on the field, nutrition is just as important and cannot be ignored when preparing for a winning and injuryfree season. ✪

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.

Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA

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September 22, 2011

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Red Zone

Freedom gets defensive in push for a perfect nonleague slate

By Chace Bryson | Editor For a school celebrating its 15th birthday this year, Freedom High in Oakley doesn’t necessarily have the type of long football tradition as some of its Bay Valley Athletic League opponents like Pittsburg, Antioch and Liberty.

Because of that, it makes it pretty easy to peg the 2008 Falcons as the school’s greatest team to date.

That team set a school record for wins during its 10-2 season, and also surpassed the first round of the playoffs for the first time.

Led by quarterback Diondre Borel — now a wide receiver on the practice squad of the defending Super Bowl-champion Green Bay Packers — that Falcons team left its mark on a number of the program’s offensive records.

Since coach Kevin Hartwig took the reins in 2002, most of the more successful Falcons teams have been recognized for offensive prowess.

Freedom-Oakley

That can be attributed not only to having game-breaking athletes, but those same athletes being featured in Hartwig’s up-tempo offensive schemes.

The Freedom squad of 2011 might have a chance to change the tune a little.

Through the Falcons first three games — all victories — it’s the defense which is drawing a fair amount of attention.

“We have guys who fly around the field and are having fun,” Hartwig said of his defense.

“It’s a contagious behavior that the rest of the team picks up on and it’s fun to watch.”

Statistically, Freedom’s defense is one of the best in the East Bay through games played on Sept. 17. The Falcons are allowing just 220 total yards of offense per game, but are especially stiff against the run. Despite

James K. Leash

Franklin-Elk Grove running back Christian Fonbuena is stopped cold by a trio of Freedom defenders during their game on Sept. 9.

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Red Zone a defensive front four that features all new starters, Freedom has yet to allow 100 yards rushing in any game this season.

Opponents are averaging just over 65 yards on the ground.

“I am impressed with those guys,” senior linebacker Frank Cisneros said of the new-look defensive line that includes Justin Lee, Robin Ririe, Mitchell Silva and Bobby Montgomery. “They’ve been kind of dominating at the line of scrimmage.”

Cisneros is no slouch himself, a three-year starter who might be the embodiment of Hartwig’s “fly-around-the-fieldand-having-fun” description. The senior leads the team in tackles, averaging close to 10 per game.

“He’s just been a spark plug for us,” Hartwig said. “He’s just got a nose for the ball.”

But part of being a three-year veteran and team captain is deflecting attention off oneself. So when Cisneros was asked what it would be like to be part of a Freedom playoff team renowned for its defense, he naturally wanted to talk about the offense.

“We’ve still got a great offense this year, too,” the linebacker said.

“We’ve got a sophomore halfback averaging over 100 yards, maybe 150 yards per game. We’ve got a second-year quarterback and all the linemen are stepping up to the plate.”

The sophomore halfback is Joe Mixon, who is actually averaging 164 yards per game and has increased his rushing totals by almost 100 yards in each of his first three starts.

He ran for 61 yards in an opening win over Amador ValleyPleasanton, 169 in a win over Franklin-Elk Grove and 262 in

James K. Leash

Freedom’s defense is allowing opponents just 65 yards rushing per game over the first three weeks of the season. A big part of that is the play of new defensive linemen like Bobby Montgomery (56). a 30-29 come-from-behind thriller against West-Tracy. He’s scored touchdowns in each of the three games, as well.

“He’s a solid kid,” Hartwig said of Mixon.

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“(West) played us for the pass, and we said, ‘Hey, we can run the ball.’ ... Joe is 15 years-old and said, ‘Coach, give me the ball,’ and it was like ‘All right, let’s go. Let’s see what you’ve got.’”

While Mixon delivered the game of his young career, the defense still had to make it stand up in the end. After Nenwon Gbilia’s 20-yard field goal put the Falcons up 30-29 with under four minutes to play, the defense forced a three-andout. The offense then strung together a 12-play drive that ran the clock out.

The Falcons will need to win their next four games to match the 7-0 start produced by the 2008 juggernaut. Their games on Sept. 23 (Golden Valley-Merced) and Sept. 30 (College Park-Pleasant Hill) are both games in which they should be favored. However, looming on Oct. 14 will be a BVAL-opener at home against Pittsburg — the league’s unquestioned alpha dog over the past decade. Freedom hasn’t beaten the Pirates since 2007.

But Hartwig isn’t sizing up Pittsburg just yet.

“We’re still trying to find out who we are right now, I think,” the coach said. “But we have to be encouraged with what we’ve seen.”

Cisneros said there’s already a noticeable difference between this year’s team and the one that went 5-6 after a first-round playoff exit a year ago.

“We’re finishing,” he said. “When the time of need comes in the fourth quarter, we do what we need to win the game.

Everybody does. It’s all teamwork.” ✪

September 22, 2011

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Red Zone

Trojans refuse to be satisfied after slaying another giant

By Jim McCue | Contributor The Sept. 17 showdown between GrantSacramento and Lincoln-Stockton showdown at Alex Spanos Stadium had the feel of a heavyweight fight.

After Lincoln upended Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove at the Battle at the Capital back two weeks prior, the Trojans knew that the entire Sac-Joaquin Section would be anticipating their marquee matchup with one of the region’s most storied and successful programs in Grant.

Lincoln-Stockton

While the Pacers entered the game looking more like a hobbled middleweight, the resulting 56-20 beating that the Trojans placed on Grant still had much of the area viewing Lincoln as the current king of the section hill.

And why not? The defeat of Grant was the second time this season that the Trojans have knocked off the No. 2-ranked team in the SportStars’ NorCal 20.

Still, after the game — which saw the Trojans trailing the depleted Pacers 20-14 at halftime — Lincoln head coach Brian Gray was not interested in any fictitious titles.

“We haven’t won a championship,” Gray stated. “Until then, we have not proven anything.”

What the Trojans (4-0) did prove was that they are a strong contender for a real Section title. With a bullying offensive line and a thunder-and-lightning rushing duo, Lincoln is certainly for real and a force to be reckoned with in Division I. “That’s a very good team, but they’re not a 56-20 better team,” Grant coach Mike Alberghini said.

“That’s not making excuses because we just got beat. They ran well and ran tough, and their line dominated us, especially in the last quarter.”

In a sloppy first half, neither team appeared to be legitimate contenders for any title — fictitious or otherwise. With eight starters out with injuries, including senior quarterback Terry Shine (hand) and senior All-American athlete Shaq Thompson (thigh), Grant looked every bit the part of a young and inexperienced team.

Junior quarterback Isaiah Rios was pressed into action just two days after gain-

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Red Zone ing eligibility to play and less than 24 hours after Alberghini found out that Rios, not Thompson, would be under center against the Trojans. Seeing his first action at the varsity level and first live game action since his freshman year, Rios had a very shaky start and struggled to grasp the offense he was forced into leading.

On the other side of the ball, the Trojans saw a majority of passes falling incomplete or being intercepted and two failed long snaps on punt attempts that kept the defense on the field for much of the first half. Despite a pair of rushing touchdowns from junior Justin Davis — the Trojans’ lightning feature back to complimentary thunder rusher JoJo Bones — Lincoln found itself down 20-14 at the intermission.

Rios found his groove late in the second quarter, hitting Lychauan Jones for two touchdown passes in a 1:05 span, and it appeared as if the Pacers’ pride and reputation may be enough to fend off the host Trojans. But Gray reminded his team that they had their own pride and reputation to uphold.

“There was no panic at halftime,” Gray said. “We just talked about settling down and playing one good half of Lincoln football.”

The Trojans more than settled down, outscoring the Pacers 42-0 after the break while compiling 311 yards to their opponents’ 77 yards in the second half. Lincoln started an inspired third quarter with quick scoring drives of 80 and 53 yards sandwiched around a fumbled snap on Grant’s lone offensive play of the period to that point. Lincoln capped their 28-point outburst in the third quarter with an 88-yard Davis touchdown run and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown by Christian Valeros.

By the time the final quarter started, the Trojans clearly had the upper hand as the Pacers appeared down for the count.

Davis, who finished with 259 yards and four touchdowns, yielded to Bones, who grounded out 68 of his 86 rushing yards in the final quarter.

When the final seconds mercifully ticked away, Lincoln displayed the confident swagger of the section’s new top team while Grant displayed the frustration and disbelief of a beaten champion.

As the latest section front-runner, Lincoln understands that the bulls-eye will be squarely on their backs as the rest of the teams on their schedule line up to take a shot at them.

The first team to get that shot will be St. Mary’s-Stockton — another former champion licking its wounds after a 35-0 loss to De La Salle-Concord dropped it to 1-2 on the season. The

We haven’t won a championship.

Until then, we have not proven anything.”

— Lincoln head coach Brian Gray

James K. Leash

left: Lincoln-Stockton wide receiver Devan Barkley (2) goes up for a pass against Isaiah Taylor during the Trojans’ 56-20 win over Grant-Sacramento on Sept. 17. ABOVE: Junior running back Justin Davis (22) rushed for 259 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Grant. The big game upped his season totals to 700 yards and 10 touchdowns through four games.

Rams will travel across town to Alex Spanos Stadium with city bragging rights taking a slight backseat to section superiority.

Lincoln will ignore St. Mary’s record as Gray and the Trojans are more interested in avenging a 28-25 loss to the Rams that dropped them to 1-3 a year ago. A victory over their rivals is the kind of real accomplishment that the team would be happy to hang its helmets on.

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“We’ve been waiting for this game for a year now,” Gray said of the crosstown clash. “We want a chunk of the boys in green this year.” ✪

September 22, 2011

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Red Zone

Numbers Game Senior RB shines in Deer Valley’s near-colossal upset of Folsom 95 We clean out the ol’ notebook from the FolsomDeer Valley epic see-saw battle on Sept. 16.

Total points scored in the 49-46 Folsom victory

34 58 5 21 18

Points scored by Deer Valley RB Matt Smith (five TDs, two 2-pt. conversions) Plays that each teams’ offense ran from scrimmage (excluding penalties)

Folsom wide receiver J’Juan Muldrow caught the pass as he was falling across the goal line, and Deer Valley-Antioch coach Rich Woods naturally dropped to his knees as if he’d been sucker punched in the gut.

Muldrow’s touchdown — on a 4th-and-15 Tanner Trosin pass from the Deer Valley 39-yard line — gave Folsom a 4946 lead with 1:35 left on the clock. It was indeed a gut-punch play to a Wolverines team which few expected to play well in the Sept. 16 matchup against the defending California Interscholastic Federation Division II state bowl champions.

Designed rushing attempts among Folsom’s 58 plays

Yards between Deer Valley’s Deon Pruitt and the Folsom goal line (and game-winning score) when the WR was finally tackled to end the game Yards per completion for Folsom QB Tanner Trosin, who set a NorCal single-game record with 597 yards through the air

1:34

4

Minutes and seconds of actual game time that it took Folsom to drive 75 yards on seven plays and score the game-winning TD

Combined number of punts

“We told the team before the game that there were just 52 people who think we’re going to beat (Folsom) — 48 guys and four coaches,” Woods said by phone the following Monday. “We said, ‘Nobody out there thinks you have a chance except us, because of our week of practice and how we prepared.’ They were intense. They listened. They played that way. It just says a lot about the guys that we have.”

One of those guys was Matt Smith, a senior running back who had a performance that is likely to put him in the school record books.

After sharing the running back duties a year ago, Smith entered the year as the team’s No. 1 ball carrier and had faced mixed results. He had a strong season-debut (225 yards) in a loss to Foothill-Palo Cedro, and then managed just 89 yards (on 21 carries) in 15-0 defeat of Washington-Fremont on Sept. 9.

But there was no doubting his big-play ability against Folsom.

Smith carried the ball 23 times for 231 yards and five touchdowns. He also scored two two-point conversions,

Butch Noble/SportStars file

Deer Valley running back Matt Smith (20) had a career night in the Wolverines’ shootout loss to Folsom. The senior ended up scoring 34 of his team’s 46 points.

one on a run and one on a pass from quarterback Nsimba Walker. His effort was even more impressive by the fact that Deer Valley’s heavily-recruited offensive lineman, Tavita Taito, sat out the game with an undisclosed knee injury sustained in the Washington game. “(Matt) ran with a lot of confidence,” Woods said. “During the week, we’d actually downgraded him to No. 2 and had him on the scout offense, and he was great. He was a different kid. It kind of forced our hand to feature him, because all the sudden he was running like a freight train.”

Woods said he had to check the record books but he felt pretty confident that the five rushing touchdowns in a game was a school record.

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Red Zone TRIAL BY FIRE A 56-20 score is nothing new to the Grant Pacers. But being on the losing end of that score — as they found themselves in Stockton on Sept. 17 — is unfamiliar to head coach Mike Alberghini and generations of Pacers players and supporters.

Grant’s starting offensive backfield was equally unfamiliar when the Pacers took to the Alex Spanos Stadium field on the campus of Lincoln-Stockton. Just one week after senior quarterback Terry Shine was sidelined with a broken throwing hand and two days after gaining athletic eligibility, junior Isaiah Rios was thrust into the spotlight that shines on one of the area’s premier football programs. Rios last suited up as a freshman and had never played in a varsity high school game before being asked to step under center and lead a depleted offense into action.

During the week leading up to the marquee showdown with Lincoln, senior standout Shaq Thompson was taking the majority of snaps in preparing to line up under center.

Alberghini was among the masses who were ready to place the offensive load on the broad and capable shoulders of Thompson and lead the team with his arm and legs.

Instead, Alberghini’s plans were suddenly changed around 4:30 PM on Friday night, less than 24 hours from the scheduled 3 PM kickoff in Stockton. The Pacers’ coach received a call that Thompson would be unavailable the next day due to a lingering deep thigh bruise that he suffered in the team’s 24-23 Week 2 loss to Poly (Long Beach).

Without a true Plan B, Alberghini was forced to run his offense with the inexperienced Rios under center.

“We were hoping to bring him along slowly, but he might be our quarterback now. Not just for this week, but for the next two years,” Alberghini said of Rios. “It’s going to be a learning experience, and (the quarterback position) comes down to decision-making when it’s all done.”

While a shaky start was briefly overshadowed by glimpses of brilliance, Rios connected with Lychauan Jones for a pair of scoring strikes in a 1:05 span in the second quarter to give Grant a 20-14 halftime lead, the lack of experience and cohesion were glaringly evident in the second half. Rios put the ball on the turf five times and lost two fumbles while having his lone interception returned 80 yards for a touchdown.

The Pacers have a week off to recover from injuries and the rare 36-point loss, but it might not be known until Grant travels to Merced on Sept. 30 if more familiar faces will be occupying the Pacers backfield.

ELECTRIFYING Here in the East Bay, we get our share of natural disasters: Earthquakes, wildfires. That being said, it’s not often we get to witness something as exciting (and potentially lethal) as actual electricity arcing across the sky, much less have it interrupt our sporting events.

But on Friday, Sept. 9, that’s exactly what happened.

Scores of games throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties were suspended and rescheduled thanks to a nearly 40-minute long lightning show that intermittently painted the sky above Mt. Diablo in brilliant blues, whites and purples.

At most games, the coaches and officials elected to play another day (or, in the case of American-Fremont at Granada-Livermore — where the host Matadors led 28-0

Records through Sept. 17 Rank (Last Wk.) School James K. Leash

It was a rough initiation to varsity football for GrantSacramento QB Isaiah Rios. Injuries forced the junior into his first action since his freshman year.

He did throw two TD passes, but spent much of his day scrambling from the Lincoln defense.

when the excitement began — simply calling it a game and moving on to the next opponent). Not so in the case of Antioch at Clayton Valley-Concord. Both coaches, Antioch’s John Lucido and Clayton Valley’s Herc Pardi, decided to stick it out. That meant that, after 40 minutes of nature’s light show, plus the requisite 30-minute wait from last flash to first snap (not to mention the fact that the 7 p.m. game didn’t kick off until 7:25), the Panthers and Eagles waded through an hour and a half of extra time before — get this — going to OVERTIME. Of course.

The Panthers pulled out a 29-23 win on a dart of a touchdown pass from Troy Amate to Linsey Crofitt just as the clock struck 11:30 p.m. — four-and-a-half hours after the scheduled start time.

“I have never seen that,” Pardi said. “In all my thirty-something years coaching football in this area, I have never seen a game delayed by lightning.”

Lucido was similarly discombobulated by the events of the evening. “That was the weirdest football game I’ve ever been a part of,” Lucido said. “It was fun, but it was weird.”

UNDER LIGHTS NEAR YOU Here are our picks for the games you should go see over the next three weeks.

Week 5 (Sept. 23-24) — If you can’t fly to Florida to watch the national spotlight matchup between De La Salle-Concord and St. Thomas Aquinas-Ft. Lauderdale (FL), then DVR the game’s telecast on ESPN2 and take a drive to Salinas to catch the showdown between Palma-Salinas (No. 11 in the SportStars NorCal 20) vs. No. 13 Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa.

Week 6 (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) — Another matchup of current NorCal 20 teams as No. 10 Pittsburg hosts No. 15 Granite Bay. Week 7 (Oct. 7-8) — San Jose City College plays host to a critical West Catholic Athletic League showdown between No. 2 Bellarmine Prep-San Jose and No. 14 Valley ChristianSan Jose. ✪ —SportStars staff and contributors

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Record

1. (1)

De La Salle-Concord.........................2-0

2. (3)

Bellarmine-San Jose.........................1-1

3. (4)

Buhach Colony-Atwater....................4-0

4. (9)

Lincoln-Stockton................................4-0

5. (5)

Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove................3-1

6. (11)

California-San Ramon.......................3-0

7. (2)

Grant-Sacramento.............................2-2

8. (10)

Folsom...............................................3-1

9. (14)

Del Oro-Loomis.................................3-1

10. (12) Pittsburg.............................................3-0 11. (16) Palma-Salinas....................................2-0 12. (17) Foothill-Palo Cedro............................4-0 13. (18) Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa.........3-0 14. (6)

Valley Christian-San Jose.................1-1

15. (8)

Granite Bay........................................3-1

16. (7)

Palo Alto.............................................1-1

17. (19) Serra-San Mateo...............................3-0 18. (20) Nevada Union-Grass Valley..............4-0 19. (NR) Escalon..............................................3-0 20. (NR) Marin Catholic-Kentfield....................3-0 Top 20 Facts-Figures-Fallout ■ DROPPED OUT: No. 13 Oak Grove-San Jose (2-1), No. 15 St. Mary’s-Stockton (1-2) ■ BIGGEST MOVER: Six different teams jumped up five spots in the rankings. Palo Alto suffered the biggest drop, falling nine spots after its loss to Mitty-San Jose.

■ TOTAL TEAMS STILL RANKED FROM PRESEASON TOP 20: 16 ■ KNOCKING AT THE DOOR: James LoganUnion City (3-0), Los Gatos (2-0), Vacaville (2-1).

■ SMALL SCHOOL TOP 5 (500 enrollment cutoff): 1. Central Catholic-Modesto (3-1), 2. Le Grand (3-0), 3. Salesian-Richmond (3-0), 4. Rio Vista (4-0), 5. Hoopa Valley-Hoopa (3-0).

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impulse Welcome to Impulse. Your one-stop shop for all the latest and greatest in gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by staff writer Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with what’s currently hot on the market. This week we saddle up for a ride to Levi’s as we tour the jean makers based in SF and discover what they’ve got goin’ on. For more info on cool deals, like getting free shipping, hit up www.levis.com.

WATER<LESS JEANS

THE COMMUTER SERIES

Say hello to the new ‘It’ jeans. The newest in new. Why are these jeans so hot? Let us count the ways…

Water<Less = Green — These jeans have saved 172 million liters of water since they’ve existed. It reduces the amount of water used in making these jeans, meaning you’re gonna look like a real environmentally-friendly dude. Just think of all the girls who will ooh and aah over a bro who’s all about saving the environment. Not much else to consider but we’ll keep going …

Fashionable — They come in Skinny, Taper, Straight, Boot Cut and Relaxed … Basically, any style you can think of.

Someday, there WILL be post-game press conferences after every high school game. Now, do you wanna show up wearing baggy sweat pants and your sweat-laden jersey?

We didn’t think so. Shower up and put on a nice shirt and a pair of Water<Less jeans and you’ll probably get more questions about your clothes than you will about the game. They come in a plethora of colors and purposes. It’s hard not to pick up at least a few pair for different occasions (school, work, weekend).

Affordable — Last we checked, you can find a pair of these for only $48. Now that’s a steal! Consider that these will last for a good while, a wise investment for any mom who wants to make sure her kids’ clothes get plenty of mileage.

After all, who wants to make repeated trips back to the mall? Because they’re so durable, it couldn’t hurt to open the wallet a little more and get a couple pair with a little extra pizazz. Because if there’s anything we at SportStars have learned in the fashion world, it’s pizazz = primo.

For those of you without a car (like yours truly), chances are you’ll need a bike to go to and fro work, friends’ places, hangout spots, the big game, you get the idea. Then it makes sense to wear jeans that were meant specifically for riding.

The Commuter series is your ticket to ride in comfort and style.

Utility Waistband — No place to store your U-Lock? No matter! With The Commuter jeans, the elastic utility waistband gives a home for your precious metal security guard. It also has a higher back rise for more coverage.

Stretch Mobility — Jeans are annoying when it comes to riding. The fabric can be too tight and rigid to allow for a comfortable stroll in the park, or biking in a hurry during rush hour.

The Commuter Series has stretch mobility so whether you’re pedaling uphill in the sweltering heat or navigating through a torrential downpour, you’ll feel like a million bucks.

3M Reflectivity — There’s enough brightness on the interior cuff of these jeans that it provides the visibility of 500 candles. Literally, Seriously, there’s no way we could make that up. Remember, we’re sports folk. What do we look like? Nano-techy scientists?

Speaking of nano…

Nanonspehere Technology & Sanitized Brand Technology — It’s too much to type out those previous two titles again (they don’t pay us enough), so we’ll just call them “cool jean things” for now. The fabric on these jeans are water resistant, dirt repellant, durable, protective and odor-defending. Seriously, who spends this much time manufacturing jeans? They’ve just about thought of everything. Now, if only they found a way to make these jeans come with a built-in robot who will do your homework, laundry and chores all in a nanosecond. Some day. … Until then, grab a pair of The Commuter Series and enjoy the ride!

OTHER THINGS! What’s crazy is that we haven’t even scratched the surface on everything Levi’s has to offer. Don’t forget that Levi’s has more than just jeans. They’re loaded with jackets, dressier pants, cords, sweaters, outdoorsy clothes, belts (hang on, fingers need rest from typing), suspenders, tote bags, messenger bags, wallets and scarves. We’re sure you’re saving up for a new car or house, but we won’t blame you if you end up blowing all your nest egg on a shopping spree at the Levi’s store.

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camps + clinics BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Golden Era Baseball Based in the East Bay, we offer several instructional-based programs as well as 9U thru 18U Club Teams. We are currently taking signups for our Spring Hitting Classes. Please see our website for full details: www.GoldenEraBaseball.com The Pitching Center We develop baseball players to their full potential. The Pitching Center has grown to become the Total Player Center (TPC), a full-service baseball and softball training academy. Age- and skill-specific programs are available for students ages 8 – High School. Info: 925-416-1600, thepitchingcenter. com SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides individual and team instruction in baseball, softball, lacrosse. Highly trained professionals provide accelerated and advanced skills

clinics. Prepare to Perform! Info: 925459-2880.

All American Softball Girls of all ages welcome. Check into our six-week softball improvement program for all ages. Info: 916-374-1907, www. softballschool.com.

BASKETBALL Bladium Triple Threat Academy Alameda’s Bladium Sports & Fitness Club hosts multiple hoops camps for ages 6-12. Designed for players of ALL skill levels. Registration: AlamedaSales@bladium. com, 510-814-4999; www. bladium.com.

CHEER CheerGyms.com We offer the best clinics in California!

Customize your clinic to fit your needs from basic stunting techniques or working on twist cradles out of one leg stunts, we take your team to the next level! Info: 866-685-7615, www.

CheerGyms.com East Bay Sports Academy Recreational, competitive athletes benefit from training with the best coaches. Our

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10,000 sq. foot facility is clean and bright with the newest equipment.

Info: 925 680-9999, www.EastBay SportsAcademy.com.

EQUESTRIAN Kelly Maddox Riding Academy Develop new friendships with other horse-crazy kids. Weekly activities include learning horse colors, markings and breeds; arts and crafts; a farrier demonstration and human horse show; bareback riding and more! Info: 925-575- 4818, www.KellyMaddoxTraining.com Franklin Canyon Stables Based in Martinez, we provide two covered arenas and easy access to trails. Beginning riders or experienced equestrians, we have a place for you. Instruction in horsemanship on the ground and in the saddle while having fun. Info: 925- 228-1801; http://www.kimshorsetraining.com/franklin_canyon.html

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camps + clinics Castle Rock Arabians Activities for tweens and teenagers, where we build team spirit through various team activities on horseback.

Visit the ranch by appointment. Info: 925-9333701, www. castlerockarabians. com FITNESS Aspire Pilates Dramatically increase core strength, power, flexibility, balance, focus and joint stability, while preventing injury. Aspire prides itself on helping propel athletes to the next level by addressing muscular imbalances, helping athletes increase body awareness, correct faulty body mechanics, and access untapped strength. Info: 925.680.4400, www. AspirePilatesCenter.com.

Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/ Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the IYCA, Fit- 2-The-Core Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting young athletes back on the field post-rehabilitation, and continuing the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court. Info: 925- 639-0907.

Transform FX At Transform FX Fitness, we believe that parents can take better care of their kids when they take care of their own health and fitness. This is the reason we have designed our adult fitness bootcamp workouts to fit your busy lifestyle. Each bootcamp workout is carefully designed to help you burn fat and increase your cardiovascular endurance in less time. Call us at 925-2898042 or visit us online at www. transformfxfitness.com.

Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness We offer over 70 group classes per week. Members also enjoy

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our heated pool, sauna, spa, and steam-room.

Massage, skincare and chiropractic services are available. Call us today for your free week pass!

Info: 925-932-6400, www.wcsf.net ENRICHMENT Dianne Adair Programs We offer a wide variety of enrichment programs for your child, during the school year and throughout summer.

Activities include: Home work help, 4th & Up Club, art and crafts, science, sports, and games. Info: www. dianneadair.org.

E.Nopi and Palm Academy Concentration is on early literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, social understanding, physical coordination, creativity, cooperation and self control. Programs serve children from infancy to preschool, kindergarten, and through 12th grade. Students learn at their own pace. Locations: Fremont, 510-979-9794; Newark (E.Nopi), 510-793-6674; Pleasanton, 925461-6284.

FUZE Fit For A Kid FUZE is a privately-held, DOJcertified youth-only health club and curricula modeled after the principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance. FUZE enhances athletic development, socialization and self-esteem. Info: 888-FIT 4 A KID; www. fuzefit.com GOLF Dave DeLong Junior Golf Camp This camp is for advanced and beginning junior golfers. Camps are designed for golfers 7-15.

Camps include a 4 to 1 ratio of students to teachers where safety is the top priority as well as player development and enjoyment. Boundary Oak Course, Walnut Creek. Info: 925997-3683; www. delonggolf.com Coach Rick Golf Learn to play on the course,

where it matters with Coach Rick!

Golfers of all ages can sign up for clinics offered by Coach Rick starting now. Info: 510 917-6442 • www. ThePersonalGolfCoach. com The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development program for boys and girls 7-18.

Participants learn about golf and life skills and values inherent to the game, rules and etiquette.

Fall camps at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Info: www. thefirstteecontracosta.org; angela@thefirstteecontracosta.org or 925-686-6262 x0.

The First Tee-Oakland The First Tee of Oakland has delivered The First Tee Life Skills Experience to over 262 participants.

Each receive a min. 12 hours of instruction over an 8-week period. Instruction is at three Oakland courses: Metropolitan Golf Links, Lake Chabot GC and Montclair GC. Info: 510-3522002; www. thefirstteeoakland. org.

The First Tee-San Jose The First Tee of San Jose develops youth through the game of golf throughout Silicon Valley. Participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals. We welcome participants ranging from second to twelfth grade. Scholarships available.

Info: 408-288-2973; www. thefirstteesanjose.org.

The First Tee-Tri-Valley The First Tee of the Tri-Valley offers seasonal The First Tee Life Skills Experience Classes and. Info: 925.462.7201, www. TheFirstTeeTriValley.org LACROSSE Atherton Lacrosse

Our lacrosse camps are designed for boys and girls ages 5-14, who are beginner or intermediate players.

Our group of coaches and staff are leaders in the lacrosse community. Info: 888- 526-3330, www.

AthertonLacrosse.com.

SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides Individual and team instruction in baseball, softball and lacrosse. Highly trained professionals provide accelerated and advanced skills clinics. Prepare to Preform! Info: 925-459-2880.

MARTIAL ARTS United States Karate Systems 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 MOTORSPORTS Keigwins@theTrack We conduct motorcycle schools and practice events (“track days”) at famous racetracks in the West for experienced motorcyclists looking to improve skills and build confidence. Riders provide their own motorcycles and protective gear. Keigwins@theTrack takes care of everything else. Info: www. keigwin.com or 650-949-5609.

UmiGo You’ll learn passing techniques, cornering techniques, throttle & breaking techniques, advance seat position, kart operation, kart control, real racing and improving your lap times. Racers need to be at least 10 years old and at least four feet, 10 inches tall. Two- and four-day camps are available. Info: www. umigoracing.com.

OUTDOOR SPORTS Bear Valley Mountain Bear Valley has six camps with multiple sessions including: Soccer, Archery, Tennis, Climbing,

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camps + clinics Cycling and Day Camp.

Camps offer outdoor rec programs for the whole family; overnight resident skill camps and day camps, too. Age groups and activities vary by camp. Info: www.bearvalley.com University of Surfing Instructor Matt Cole offers lessons/ camps in Pacifica. 650-359-1425, mattcolesurfs@ hotmail.com; http:// universityofsurfing.com/ index.html.

SOCCER Heritage Soccer Club A Pleasant Hill/Martinez based competitive soccer club welcomes players ages 8-18. Learn new skills and hone existing ones from top flight coaching staff with years of experience spanning the high school and college ranks.Info: www.heritagesc.com.

SWIMMING-DIVING Walnut Creek Swim Club WCSC is a recreational team sponsored by the City of Walnut Creek celebrating its 50th anniversary. Led by the experience of coach Brad Hoy, the staff is the finest in the area.

WCSC believes in finding the healthy balance between competition and family fun. Info: 925766-5664 Sherman Swim School We are a Lafayette swimming and diving school celebrating our 50th year. Our yearround schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain, and improve their swim skills with little interruption. Info: 925-283-2100, www.

ShermanSwim.com California Sports Center Among the many camps offered by San Jose’s Cal Sports Center includes its Swim Summer Camps at Sunnyvale Swim Center on the campus of Fremont High. The camps are held from either 9 a.m.-noon, or 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for ages 6-14. Info: 408-732-2257, www.

CalSportsCenter.com TENNIS Summer Tennis at Valley Vista ClubSport Valley Vista has successfully hosted tennis camps in Walnut Creek for more than 30 years, with expert instruction. Info: 925-9344050, www.clubsports. com VOLLEYBALL Pacific Rim Volleyball We offer several skill-based camps and clinics,

including setting camp, hitting camp and an all-skills camp.

Campers will be evaluated and placed in a group that challenges their level of play.

Registration for beach volleyball is going on now as well. Info: www. pacificrimvolleyball.com U.S. Youth Volleyball League USYVL hosts series of Summer camps in several Northern and Southern California locations. We’re the leader in developing, maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. With an emphasis on positive reinforcement, we seek to build confidence and selfesteem in each child. Info: 1-888-988-7985 or www.USYVL.org.

MULTI-SPORT City of Concord Skyhawks Sports Skyhawks Sports and the City of Concord have teamed up to provide safe, fun and skillfocused sports camps this summer for ages 4-12. Camps range from soccer to lacrosse to our popular multi-sport camp where kids sample three different sports (Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball) in one camp. Info: www. concordreg.org or (925) 671-3404.

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Choose your favorite categories or advertisers for special offers and killer deals, then mail or fax it to us! Or drop it off at SportStars HQ! ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒

Apparel Automotive Camps & Clinics Endurance/Outdoor/ Adventure Events Fun/Entertainment Fundraising Golf/Tennis Gyms/Health Clubs Health & Nutrition Home Improvement Martial Arts Restaurants Sporting Goods Teams/Clubs/Leagues Travel & Leisure

❒❒ A A A Northern California,

❒❒ Fit 2 The Core............................................ 13

Nevada & Utah......................................... 10 ❒❒ Heavenly Greens...................................... 40 ❒❒ Aabco Printing........................................ 31 ❒❒ Accurate Impressions............................... 18 ❒❒ Army National Guard Recruiter................. 27 ❒❒ Aspire Pilates Center................................ 15

❒❒ Home Team Sports Photography.............. 35 ❒❒ Kaiser Permanente..................................... 7 ❒❒ Kinders B B Q............................................ 13

❒❒ Back Forty B B Q....................................... 26 ❒❒ Mc Coveys................................................ 28 ❒❒ Bay Area Golf Show.................................. 14 ❒❒ Mountain Mike’s Pizza.............................. 16 ❒❒ Big 5 Sporting Goods................................. 3 ❒❒ Rocco’s Pizza............................................. 36 ❒❒ Big O Tires.................................................. 2 ❒❒ Bob Larson Sports Action Photography.... 15 ❒❒ Cheer Gyms................................................ 6 ❒❒ City Beach Sports Club............................. 35

❒❒ Rockin Jump............................................. 23 ❒❒ Simply Selling Shirts................................ 37 ❒❒ Sports Stars Magazine.............................. 34

❒❒ Club Sport Renaisssance .......................... 29 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Contra Costa..................... 15 ❒❒ Community Youth Center......................... 26 ❒❒ The Mt. Diablo Memory Center - Sport ❒❒ Crowne Plaza........................................... 35 ❒❒ Diablo Car Wash & Detail Center............... 35 ❒❒ Diablo Rock Gym...................................... 36 ❒❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards......................... 36 ❒❒ E Teamsponsor........................................... 5

Concussion Program................................. 32 ❒❒ Tpc / The Pitching Center.......................... 15 ❒❒ Tri Valley Tri Club...................................... 39 ❒❒ Usks Concord............................................ 15

❒❒ East Bay Sports Academy......................... 19 ❒❒ Velocity Sports Performance.................... 36 ❒❒ Excellence In Sport Performance.............. 31 ❒❒ Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness.................. 17

Name____________________________________ Phone___________________________________ E-mail___________________________________ Address__________________________________ City_____________________________________ State__________________________ Zip _______

Prizes subject to change. Entries must be received by the 25th.

September 22, 2011

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Members of the Campolindo High girls water polo team fire each other up prior to the Acalanes Invitational finals match on Sept. 10.

PHOTO BY: Jonathan Hawthorne

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.

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