EB Issue 15, 01.13.2011 by Sport Stars Magazine

Livermore, San Lorenzo soccer rise up. Pg. 16

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LIBERTY’S JESSE BALDAZO EYES A CROWN PG. 18 DE LA SALLE SEEKS THREE-PEAT PG. 19 WRESTLING’S BEST: NAMING NAMES PG. 20

JANUARY 13, 2011

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SportStars names the top athletes of the fall season

victor rodriquez and san lorenzo on the rise. page 16 Bob Larson Bob Larson

monte vista’s maggie steffens. Page 28 First Pitch ................................................. 4 Game Day: Games you have to see ... 5 Get Mental ............................................... 6 Health Watch .......................................... 7 Locker Room ...................................... 8-9 SportStar of the Week ........................10 Wally’s World ........................................11 Behind the Clipboard ..........................12 Club Scene .............................................14 Training Time .........................................25 Tee2Green .............................................26 Twenty-four7 .........................................34 Impulse ...................................................37 Photo Finish...........................................38

Bob Larson

Concord’s ricky lloyd. Page 30

ON THE COVER Liberty High wrestler Jesse Baldazo (top) eyes a state title at 145 pounds. Page 18 Photo by Bob Larson (LarsonPic@aol.com)

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Bishop o’Dowd heads south to find way back up. pages 22

Jon Jay Chavez part of loaded De La Salle lineup. page 19 Jonathan Hawthorne

January 13, 2011

SportStars™

SportStars takes a most excellent step toward world domination M

Think we don’t know about you? Think any moons ago, before any of toagain. day’s current high school athletes were born, an impressive work of I attended and played sports at Red Bluff movie magic was created. High and had parents who each coached A landmark movie of my childhood, “Bill within the Northern Section. I attended and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”, starring Kecollege at Humboldt State and worked for anu Reeves bearing a striking resemblance the Eureka Times-Standard covering the to Concord High quarterback Ricky Lloyd. northern-most high schools of the North (To our new non-East Bay readers, it’s true. Coast Section. As a nine-year high school Do a Google image search for “Ricky Lloyd sports writer for the Contra Costa Times, I Concord.” And then, if you’re unfamiliar traveled to all points of Northern California with Reeves’ character of Ted “Theodore” covering playoff and state championship Logan, then image search for that, too. It’s events. We also have a number of key concreepy.) tributors who have done the same, some for Anyway, back to the reason I’m refermuch longer than I have. encing this piece of cinema gold. There’s We know about you. And we’re going to a character in the movie named “Ox”. His find stories in your areas. Furthermore, the role is minimal. In fact, only serious Bill & more you show interest in us and provide Ted connoisseurs would likely know the us feedback and story ideas, the close your character by name. His one line, however, is area could be to getting your own specific most memorable. edition. So let us know what you think. While delivering a history report, this Good or bad. less-than-studious individual provided the Now, to our loyal readers East Bay readfollowing words of wisdom. ers: You’ll see some slight changes. Remem“Everything is different, but the same ... ber what Ox said, “Everything is different, things are more moderner than before ... but the same.” bigger, and yet smaller ... it’s computers ... So for fun, let’s play a game I like to call, San Dimas High School football rules!” “New. Not new.” Why am I sharing it? Two reasons: I New — Some areas like Locker Room, figured it was my one chance to use the and our sport-specific sections like “Red non-word “morderner” in my column, Zone” for football and “In the Paint” for AND — more importantly — Ox’s words basketball, will now be more widely fohelp describe some of the changes here at cused. That means our basketball rankings SportStars. Changes that are beginning with and notes will cover all Northern California this issue. teams. And you may see some fresh new Our goal of world domination is taking voices in the Locker Room. its first step this month as we begin circulatNot new — Our goal to highlight the ing issues throughout Northern Californames and faces of Contra Costa County nia. It’s an exciting venture, but one that and Alameda County athletes. Our Sportinvolved a lot of considerations. Stars of the Week page will remain East The first consideration, and perhaps the Bay-only in your edition, and we will conChace@ most important, was how do we expand to tinue to have two to three East Bay-focused SportStarsMag.com cover new areas of the state and still stay features each week. true to our mission of providing in-depth New — Wally’s World, featuring the wit (925) 566-8503 local coverage to our original region of and whims of Mike Wolcott, is on a new Contra Costa County and the greater East page now. Bay? We know, because our loyal readers tell Not new — He’s still wearing the same us — constantly, that the fact our focus is so light green slacks that you swear you’ve seen local is our most attractive feature. him in each time you run into him at games. We don’t want to lose that. Therefore, New — An addition of a new feature SportStars will now have two editions: An called Club Scene, where we are hoping to East Bay edition, which will be devoted to put highlights of teen athletes competing in the region we’ve been circulating in for the non-high school-sanctioned athletics. This past six months, and a Northern California is an item that will run in both editions, edition which will attempt to highlight differand open to all. So, if you’re coaching or ent areas of the North State each week. coordinating a community league or club team, email us Of course, we will share some content between the two edi- about your competitions and successes and we’ll get it into tions, because we do have regular items, and occasional stothe magazine. ries, which we feel can be enjoyed by all. Besides, high school Not new — We’re still aimed at bringing you the best phosports and teen athletics are the same everywhere, right? tography, coverage and design that you’ve grown accustomed To our new readers throughout Northern California: to. Hang with us. You won’t be disappointed. ✪

FIRST PITCH Chace Bryson Editor

SportStars™

January 13, 2011

PHoNE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 EDiToRiAl Editor@SportStarsMag.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsMag.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Erik Stordahl, Mike Wolcott, Jim Mannion, Mitch Stephens, Dave DeLong, Gary Xavier, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallum Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne CREATiVE DEPARTMENT Art@SportStarsMag.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsMag.com PUbliSHER/PRESiDENT Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsMag.com ADVERTiSiNG & CAlENDAR/ClASSiFiED SAlES Sales@SportStarsMag.com Account Executives Mike Wolcott Ext. 109 • MikeW@SportStarsMag.com; Patrick McCormick Ext. 102 • Patrick@SportStarsMag.com; Erik Stordahl • ErikS@Sport StarsMag.com (Special Sections, Calendar, Marketplace sales) READER RESoURCES/ADMiNiSTRATioN Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsMag.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • DiSTRibUTioN/DEliVERY Mags@SportStarsMag.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsMag.com iNFoRMATioN TECHNoloGY John Bonilla CFo Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsMag.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsMag.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 CoMMUNiTY SPoRTSTARS™ MAGAZiNE A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA • 94521 info@SportStarsMag.com www.SportStarsMag.com

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YOUR TICKET TO BAY AREA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #1, January 2011 Whole No. 15 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.

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game day

BOYS BASKETBALL

Jan. 17 — Martin luther king Classic, Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, 10 a.m. De La Salle’s multi-game showcase has slowly grown into the premier midJanuary event for boys basketball in Northern California. This year’s schedule includes five boys games (and one girls game) featuring a slew of Northern California’s top-ranked teams. Monte Vista and San Leandro open things up at 10:15 while Benny Battle (pictured) and the host Spartans close the night against SheldonSacramento. For more detail on the matchups, turn to page 23.

Bob Larson

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Jan. 22 — Campolindo Shootout, Campolindo HS, Moraga, all day One day. Seven highprofile girls basketball games from teams from four different sections (Central Coast, North Coast, Sac-Joaquin and San Francisco). The highlights, however, will be a 5 p.m. game between Dougherty Valley-San Ramon and Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, followed by a 6:30 showdown between Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland and a Berkeley team led by Brittany Boyd (pictured, left). Find more about this and the equally-intriguing Common Good Classic (also featuring Berkeley), on page 24.

Bob Larson

WRESTLING

Bob Larson

Jan. 29 — The Clash Wresting Tournament College of Marin, Kentﬁeld, all day Twenty-four teams will head just north of the Golden Gate Bridge to compete in one of the North Bay’s biggest wrestling tournaments of the season. Among the teams confirmed are Granada-Livermore, McNair-Stockton, Davis and LincolnStockton. Luke Hudson (pictured) and the Antioch Panthers are also in the field, returning to defend their title from a year ago. For a list of more upcoming wrestling tournaments, turn to page 20.

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January 13, 2011

SportStars™

April fools ON New Year’s Day

ou wake up one morning in January and you are determined this is the year you will work harder, be better prepared and commit more to your sport. You start working out, maybe even eating better. You start to organize times to practice and train and you are highly motivated, as you begin a new year, full of hope and limitless possibilities. You wake up earlier or stay up later, carving out more time to train. One day, something throws a wrench in your schedule and you do not accomplish what you wanted to do. Sure enough, another day like this occurs and your frustration builds because your plan for the day and the reality of your day do not mesh. Days and weeks go by, inconsistency increases along with external responsibilities and the internal struggle rages in your mind, knowing that you wanted to work so hard and accomplish so much, yet by April 1st, there is a realization that you just did not get it done. Life has a funny way of interfering with our best intentions and plans for improvement. Over time, the multiple demands that studentathletes face create obstacles for goal attainment, especially when goals are set with the best intentions but are established incorrectly. A New Year’s resolution is simply another term for a goal, housed under the context of a different word, a “resolution.” If goals or resolutions are set up incorrectly, individuals and teams are unknowingly setting themselves up for failure, while thinking they are working diligently and with the best intentions. Despite the attention placed on setting New Year’s resolutions, most people are never taught how to establish goals in a realistic fashion. The “carrot” is extended to you in the

form of what the outcome and end result will be, without discussing the commitment, hard work and the struggles endured to accomplish what we want. One of the most important jobs of a sport psychology professional is to teach athletes, coaches and parents the correct ways to establish, maintain and adjust personal goals on both the small and large scale. The first common mistake athletes make is not spending enough time thinking about what they truly want from participating in their sport. Instead, many athletes blurt out goals without much thought about personal ownership and the short and long-term aspects of what they are trying to accomplish. To establish effective goals, an athlete must first ask themselves some pretty difficult, honest and direct questions. Why do I participate in my sport? What do I want from my sport? Where do I want to be in two, three or five years? If we cannot address these fundamental and basic questions, how can we truly set purposeful, specific and meaningful goals. Before setting goals or making resolutions, it is first important to take inventory of yourself and be objective about where you currently are in your development, compared to where you want to be. Identify your current strengths and weaknesses in the technical, physical and mental aspects of your sport and your position. It is much easier to set realistic goals if you first have an objective understanding of your own ability compared to the ability level you would like to achieve. It is natural to compare your ability to the ability of others, yet the challenge becomes comparing your current ability to your past and future ability. Goal setting, done correctly, is all about controllability. Set goals that are challenging, not too easy or too difficult. Be specific about the smaller steps that add up to the end result and focus on improving each step within the process. Developing a sense of accomplishment, on a daily basis, is an important motivator to continue working on areas of your game that you consider weak or in need of improvement. Most importantly, commitment to learning is critical throughout this process. Improvement does not occur without mistakes, frustration and set-backs. You have the choice to decide if you will judge these situations as good or bad or if you will view them as learning experiences to grow from. Athletes who learn how to blend short-term experience with a long-term perspective will stay more emotionally level and will understand that mistakes are opportunities to learn more about themselves, their performance and their reactions in critical moments. The reality of goal setting is that it is an everyday process. It is an unfair and unrealistic expectation to wake up one day and radically change everything you have been doing. What makes January 1st any different from any other day? The real question to ask yourself is: When is your January? ✪

Get Mental

Doug Gardner

Dr. Doug Gardner is a Sport Psychology Professional who spent six years (1998-2003) as the Sport Psychology Consultant for the Boston Red Sox. He is the owner of the ThinkSport Consulting Services, which has locations in Northern and Southern California. You can find more of his “Get Mental” columns at www.SportStarsMag.com. Contact Dr. Gardner by email at dg@ thinksport.com.

SportStars™

January 13, 2011

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Are you hip to the hip strain?

hen people think of sports injuries, the discussion usually circulates around knee and ankle sprains, or lately, concussions. But as a certified athletic trainer working at one of the local high schools here in the East Bay; I am seeing more athletes with complaints of hip pain. It could possibly be a muscle strain (pulled muscle), a bruise or something else entirely. Sports place a high demand on our bodies. When it comes to the hip area, injuries can come from sprinting, kicking a ball, or any type of activity that involves trunk rotation (like twisting for instance). This may cause a sudden onset of pain or gradually build up to what we call an overuse injury. The three main type of injuries that athletes, coaches and parents should be aware of are muscle strain, hip labral tear and apophysitis. A muscle strain is an indirect injury caused by excessive stress or force on the muscle rather than direct trauma to the muscle. There are typically three degrees that a strain can fall under: 1st degree — Is considered mild. There is little tissue disruption with no loss of strength or motion. 2nd degree — Has some tissue damage and strength and motion are compromised. 3rd degree — Complete disruption of the muscle with visible damage (bruising, swelling), loss of function and motion A hip labral tear involves the ring of soft tissue that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. Athletes who participate in sports such as soccer, football, golf and ballet are at a higher risk of developing a hip labral tear. Signs and symptoms: hip pain, locking, clicking, catching sensation, stiffness and limited range of motion. Causes: Repetitive motions such as sudden twisting or pivoting are common in golf and softball and can lead to wear and tear; degenerative changes can increase friction inside the hip joint (osteoarthritis); structural abnormalities — some people are born with hip problems that can accelerate wear and tear of their joint; injury to or dislocation of the hip joint which can occur during car accidents or from playing contact sports such as hockey. Apophysitis is an injury to the growth plates of the bones in your hip. These growth plates are where tendons attach to the bones. It does not affect how tall you are. During growth spurts, bones usually grow first followed by ligaments and tendons. This may cause pain because of decreased flexibility. This injury usually occurs as a result of repetitive back or hip movements; otherwise known as an overuse injury. However, it can also be caused by a sudden twisting or cutting movement. Symptoms: pain over hip, more pain during or after playing a sport, pain is generally relieved by the activity, typically there is no swelling in the hip area, may cause immediate pain and limping where it is hard to put your full weight down as you try to walk. With any of these injuries you may need to consult your family physician who may refer you to a doctor who special-

izes in sports medicine or hip disorders. At this point, the physician will perform a physical exam, look at your history and possibly order an x-ray or an MRI to help determine exactly what is going on inside your hip joint region. It is usually necessary to rest or decrease your activity so that you are not having pain. Stretching and doing specific strengthening exercises for your abdominals (core) are very important. Prevention is a key element especially for muscle strains. Several factors include proper warm up, dynamic and passive stretching, muscle strength, getting enough rest, staying hydrated and eating healthy meals.

Last but certainly not least, one of the missing pieces in injury prevention is fatigue. Fatigue alters proper movement patterns, decreases sound technique and increases the risk of injury. ✪ Kelli Adams is a physical therapist assistant for the staff of Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility in also in Walnut Creek. If you have questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsMag.com. To view Kelli’s references for this article, view it online at www.SportStarsMag.com.

Health Watch Kelli Adams

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January 13, 2011

SportStars™

HE SAID WHAT?!?

“We blitzed more than usual.” Terry Eidson, the defensive coordinator for the De La Salle High football team, expressing what he felt was the key for the Concord school winning the 2010 Massey Virtual National Championship game against South Panola-Batesville (Miss.).The virtual national championship begins as a 64-team bracket of elite high school teams from across the nation.The bracket is then played off using the Massey computer ratings system — yes, the same one that’s included in the BCS formula.According to the ratings, the Spartans defeated South Panola 24-10.The full brackets can be viewed at www.highschoolsports.net.

Bob Larson

It’s another edition of Chatter, where we respond to the emails or Facebook comments from our readers. Join the conversation whenever you feel like it by emailing us at editor@sportstarsmag.com or posting to our Facebook page — after you ofﬁcially “Like us,” of course. ■ First, let me say how much I enjoy SportsStars. You had a great article in the Dec. 23 issue (“Wally’s World”) on De La Salle vs. Servite. I, too, have always questioned the “ rumors “ about DLS and recruiting. Of course they are unfounded and not a shred of proof exists. To question their success completely negates the hours, days, weeks and months of conditioning and training the players and coaches dedicate themselves too. It makes me angry. When this era is over we will never see the likes of it again. Bob Ladouceur is an icon, not just a coaching icon, but a true legend. Too bad so many people don’t appreciate what is right in front of them -- E-mail, Dec. 23 SPORTSTARS: Thanks for your compliments! You were also among several readers who asked the question, “Why doesn’t every private school in the Bay Area win 151 games in a row? They play by the same rules as De La Salle.” We haven’t heard an answer to that one yet.

SportStars™

January 13, 2011

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Sup

Most likely wrestler soundbites Wrestlers are, by and large, a taciturn bunch. Need a particularly pithy quote to tie up a story you’re writing or for some resolution or clarity on a mat-based controversy? Find a coach. Find a referee. Find someone at the snack-shack. Because chances are you won’t ﬁnd what you’re looking for from Jonathan Hawthorne the wrestler in question. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hill’s Brandon Buriani (blue) and Chico’s Efren Rodriguez. It’s not that they aren’t bright or dedicated (we would, in fact, argue that high school wrestlers are the most dedicated and disciplined of all prep athletes -nobody else has to train hard in the weight room and the gym, then go home and train hard at the dinner table. We’re just sayin...). It’s just that, for the most part, they don’t have a whole lot to say. A loquacious wrestler like a Nikko Triggas or a Robbie Smith (or if your area wrestling knowledge goes way back, a Casey Strand), only comes along once every so often. Most grapplers tend to let the wrestling speak for itself. With that in mind, here are the top 5 (generic, stereotypical) quotes from a wrestler after a match: 1. “Yup.” 2. “Nope.” 3. *No words, just a nod or shake of the head, or a noncommittal shoulder-shrug* 4. “He shot a single, but I sprawled and circled and caught an ankle. He managed to belly, but I cross-faced him hard and was able to turn him for 5.” (Editor’ s note: If that made any sense to you, you probably are or were a wrestler. If not, well, nyah nyah nyah.) 5. “I’m hungry.”

RANDOM ACTS OF FACTNESS

Not unlike the Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk attack jet that sits airborne in their school’s parking lot, the Encinal Jets continued to soar above their competition this past football season. When the Alameda school knocked off Marin Catholic-Kentfield 20-15 in the North Coast Section Division III semifinals last month, it reached the NCS finals for a third straight year. A big factor in Encinal’s success has been the homegrown coaching staff — head coach Joe Tenorio and assistants Nick Loy, Hugo Guerrero, Barry Ford and Donovan Brown are each former Jets themselves, and Guerrero and Tenorio were members of Encinal’s championship team in 1994.

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January 13, 2011

SportStars™

of the week

Zach Corby northgate . basketball . senior

Barry Crosthwaite/contributed

nominate your star at editor@sportstarsmag.com

SportStars™

January 13, 2011

Sometimes, a coach doesn’t have to create a master game plan in order to win. In fact the game plan could be just “Give the ball to this guy” and a resounding victory is sure to follow. That’s no slight against the Northgate boys basketball coach Steve Mitchell, especially since he’s got sharpshooter Zach Corby on his team. Indeed, the guard knows how to take over a game. One example would be the quarterfinal game of the Windsor Tournament on Dec. 28 against Maria Carillo. He torched the nets by draining 10 3-pointers en route to a 32-point performance in a Bronco 78-49 blowout. Northgate went on to defeat Windsor in the championship game, 67-53. Cordy was named Tournament MVP. He kept his hot shooting going into league play where on Jan. 7 he torched the nets for 39 points in a 72-58 win over Berean Christian. He sunk only three 3-pointers in that performance, but he did go 14-for-14 from the foul line. SportStars: What’s it like being on fire? Zach Corby: Every single time you shoot, you don’t feel you can miss. I just get in a zone... I don’t know how to describe it. SportStars: How do you prepare for double teams? ZC: Every team we play, they will try to safeguard me; they try not to let me catch the ball, so I run off screens. SportStars: You fractured two vertebrae over the summer. What happened? ZC: it just started hurting. I was out from May up until tryouts in November. It took me a couple weeks to shake off the rust. SportStars: What’s this season’s goal? ZC: Our goal is to go 12-0 in league and win NCS. My teammates and I think that’s possible. ZACH’S QUiCk HiTS Most 3’s you’ve made in a row: 42 Number of 3’s you shoot daily: Few hundred in the offseason New Years resolution: Don’t believe in it. Favorite 3-point shooter: J.J. Redick. — Erik Stordahl

honorable mention

kiara harewood The senior provided a gamehigh 21 points as Acalanes battled,

but eventually lost, 50-49 to Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco on Jan. 8. Despite the loss, the Dons are 10-4. One night earlier, Harewood posted a double-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds in a loss to Campolindo.

elisama padilla Clayton Valley’s super-sophomore delivered a hat trick and even added an assist as the Eagles romped to a 6-2 nonleague win over Freedom on Jan. 8. The Eagles improved to 7-1-3 with the win. Three games into the Diablo Valley Athletic League schedule, Clayton Valley was alone in first place.

chairese culberson The senior post player does a good deal of the dirty work for the state-ranked Berkeley girls basketball team. On Jan. 8 she provided six points and nine assists as the Yellow Jackets improved to 10-1 on the season with a 75-50 win over Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento.

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Backyard announcers suddenly have some big name competition

t’s Greg Papa’s voice, all right. But instead of screaming his customary “Touchdown, Rrrrrrraiders!” he’s calling the action for the Benicia Panthers. For those out of the loop, that’s a Bay Area football team filled with some pretty talented 12-year-olds. “The center, number 55, LOGAN NONIES!, with the pancake block on the middle linebacker to spring his teammate, Trey White, on a spectacular 58-yard touchdown run!” Papa bellows, with the same trademark, over-the-top enthusiasm he’d show on a Darren McFadden touchdown run. Moments later, another call: “Logan is incredible! Twelve years old, 5-feet, 120 pounds on defense – collapsing the pocket, forcing the pick and it’s a PANTHER CONVOY to the end zone! And guess who is leading the way — number 55, LOGAN NONIES!” Oh, but the story doesn’t end there. Like any broadcasting legend, Papa knows more about the athlete than just what is seen on the field. “Nonies, who, by the way, is also a star baseball player and buddies with the Giant great from the past, Jeffrey ‘Hac-Man’ Leonard …” At this point, I studied the video on www. callmyplay.com to see if Nonies was imitating Leonard’s “one-flap down” while leading the blocking charge near the end zone, but saw no sign of it. I watched the video four or five times and I couldn’t help but think “Man … how cool would that be, to be a kid and have a big-time announcer calling your name on a video?” And the answer is: Very. In a creative mix of sports and new-age media, some entrepreneurial folks have started a business called “Call My Play” where professional announcers — including some pretty big names — will take a video featuring a young athlete, add the play-byplay (for a very reasonable fee) and send it your way for a lifetime of viewing and listening pleasure. You even get to choose the announcer. There are five “professional” announcer options, including Kate Scott, who handles the Cal Bears postgame shows. And then there are the “premium” announcer options, featuring longtime Sharks play-by-play man Randy Hahn as well as Papa, as big of a name as exists in today’s Bay Area sports broadcasting world. It’s largely the brainchild of Washington’s Josh Beil, whose uncle, longtime Bay Area sports announcer Larry Beil, served as a consultant on the project. “It was just brainstorming in 2009 about where sports and technology are meeting,”

WALLY’S WORLD Mike Wolcott MikeW@ SportStarsMag.com (925) 566-8500 Ext. 109

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Josh Beil said, “and we came up with the idea.” The first step was trying the idea on some focus groups — “Some fanatical parents we knew personally,” Beil said — and people loved the concept. The timing has been perfect. Call My Play fits in neatly with another trend, one the Wall Street Journal recently referred to as “MeTailing” — where people can buy custommade posters, or NFL jerseys, featuring themselves as the star. “This is just another level, a fully customized broadcast about the kids and their performance,” Beil said. Once the video is sent to Call My Play, and the broadcaster adds the audio, customers receive a link to the raw file. There is also an option to have the file posted on youtube, Facebook and www.weplay.com. While the initial idea was to target parents and their kids in sports, Beil said they’ve already gone into other areas, such as an announcer adding words to a video clip of a baby’s first steps. (And yes, the call of the baby’s steps really does feature the words “He could ... go ... all ... the ... way .... to mommy!”) While the young athletes are an obvious first market, Beil said there’s really no age limits on what people can submit. “We’ll call anything people want to be called,” he said, “even the 45-year-old softball player.” My mind flashed back to my youth. In those days, we had to provide the play-byplay ourselves, or at least inside our own heads. Given the chance, who would have called my most famous Little League highlight? I decided it would have to be Harry Caray, and sadly, it would have gone like this: “Wolcott, number 2 for the Paskenta Braves, digs in at the plate and takes a strike. Oh, he doesn’t like the call! Holy Cow, he’s getting into it with the umpire! He’s still glaring at the umpire and – WATCH OUT! – here comes the next pitch! He turns his head late and the pitch HITS HIM RIGHT IN THE FACE! Oh, Crimany! Right on the ‘ol nose! “Wolcott’s nose is a bloody mess! Tough day at the plate for 4-foot-11, 95-pound Mike Wolcott, who is being carried back to the dugout by his manager. And here comes Larry Vance in as a pinch-runner.” What can I say? I was no Logan Nonies, that’s for sure. ✪ To submit a video of your athlete for a professional broadcaster’s touch, go to www.callmyplay.com. To see the video of the baby’s first steps, go to www.youtube.com and type in “callmyplay” (one word).

January 13, 2011

SportStars™

Getting recruited? Here’s one question to be sure to ask

hen SportStars asked me to do an introduction to the “ask the coach” column, it made me think about when I first started to coach, and why. When? In college, I was in charge of the intramural teams I played on. Why? Because I wasn’t very good, and it gave the other guys a reason to keep me around. Eventually, I worked my way into coaching at the high

school level, and I started out coaching girls’ softball in 1977 at Monte Vista High School. Over the years, I’ve switched to basketball (it’s always warm in the gym, and the field maintenance is a lot easier), and I’ve helped out at too many schools to mention. I even dabbled in coaching JV football, but for the most part, I’ve always coached girls. But coaching is coaching, and high school is high school,

and though there are obvious differences between coaching girls and boys, the fundamental issues are always the same. To keep coaching, having a winning record over time is pretty much a necessity, so just being nice won’t get it done. Then again, just winning doesn’t guarantee much either, as we all know about very successful coaches — in terms of winning and losing — who didn’t stick around long. If nothing else, I’ve stuck around. Over the years, I’ve learned a few things (with a lot more to go). And since it’s often more difficult than it should be for players or parents to talk to their own coaches, hopefully this column will serve as an alternate way to try and understand why coaches make the kind of decisions they make – and how famiTo submit a lies can make their relationship question for Behind with coaches the best it can be. the Clipboard, email On top of that, there are Coach Kallam always concerns about playing at clayk@ in college, and what it takes to fullcourt.com. get a scholarship, and how to approach that whole process. Today’s topic deals with that aspect of the athletic equation …

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

Got a question for the coach?

What question do parents not know enough to ask college coaches? J. L., Martinez The inexperienced family asks about academics and campus life and all the questions coaches have scripts memorized for. The more sophisticated get right down to it and ask what number their child is on the coaches’ list of recruits. But only a very few think to ask this one: How long is your contract? The NCAA has this fiction that athletes choose their schools because of the schools, when we all know it’s the coach. A particular coach with a particular system will recruit a particular player who fits that system – but if the coach moves on, that particular player might not fit any more. “So when does the head coach’s contract run out?” should be asked of every school. If it’s less than two years, that high school athlete better really, really like the campus because he or she could be playing for a brand new coach who has absolutely no allegiance to — and likely no interest in — the old coach’s recruits. By the same token, a very successful coach is quite likely to get a better job, and sooner rather than later. Since the NCAA allows coaches and administrators to transfer without penalty (unlike the athletes who generate the income), the players can’t go along, so that’s another scenario in which the athlete gets pretty much cut adrift. ✪ 12

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club scene

Heritage Soccer Club U12 Pride bring home NorCal State Cup Crow Canyon swimmer dazzles in Dubai

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While high school soccer is currently in full swing, the club scene is preparing for liftoff. Tryouts are right around the corner and it won’t be long until the soccer moms with their mini vans and orange slices are front and center. Club soccer can certainly be a competitive environment for players of all ages, and a daunting one for those who aren’t as skilled as their seasoned counterparts. But Heritage Soccer Club has offered up a free winter academy to all comers which will be held at College Park High School. Occurring throughout the month of January at College Park High School, the winter academy will teach players all the basics and skills necessary to elevate their game and, perhaps, crack one of Heritage’s rosters. One of those teams, the girls U12 Pride, just took home the NorCal State Cup on Dec. 18 when they shut out the Walnut Creek Fury 3-0 in the final. Led by their coach Breanna Lisle, the

Welcome to the club Club Scene is the new home for news, scores, highlights and information for club teams, youth leagues, camps and training opportunities across Northern California. If you’d like to have your team, league or camp in Club Scene, send an email to editor@ SportStarsMag.com. Pride dominated the game from start to finish. Ashlynn Bilich scored the first goal assisted by Claire Cimino and the Pride didn’t look back. Delaney McKee and Sabine Silva added a goal each in the second half and Pride goalkeeper Caroline King halted all shots on goal. One could argue the Pride would’ve been happy with just being in the final. After all they trailed Diablo FC 98 3-0 with 20 minutes left in the semifinal match before they mounted a furious comeback scoring four goals in 15 minutes. They held on for the 4-3 win and a ticket to the final against the Fury.

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club scene “These girls have worked so hard,” said coach Lisle. “I’m so proud of each one, and how far they’ve come on and off the field as a team. It’s been such a great team to coach because they all get along so well and really do play for each other.” By being on a club team like the Pride, players are able to gain notoriety at national tournaments which can lead them to college scholarships.

JOBL gears up for 2011 With the dawn of another year comes the genesis to another season of America’s favorite pastime. But before aspiring players can attempt to crack the all-star squad in July, they first have to try out for a team in January. One such league in these parts is the Junior Optimist Baseball/Softball League, better known as JOBL. Established as the Optimist Club of Concord in 1963, JOBL offers something for everyone ages 4-18, whether it’s a recreation league for beginners or a traveling team for experienced high schoolers. What makes JOBL different from other leagues is their willingness to accommodate its players. “We always try to offer the players what they want,” explains JOBL president Pattie Behmlander. “If they want a travel team, they’ve got it. If they want a rec team, they’ve got it.” Another intriguing aspect of JOBL is how they prepare its players for real baseball. As players get older, they’ll experience an increase in difficulty which will prepare them for the high school ranks down the road.

“Every age group we make it closer to straight baseball,” says Behmlander. “We let most of our kids pitch, except for five- and six-year olds.” For players 10 years or older, they can qualify for a traveling squad and play teams all over the country during the summer. Not a bad vacation. It certainly beats mowing lawns week after week for chump change. Finally, JOBL is the ideal league for high school baseball and softball players alike wanting to scratch that competitive itch year round. Starting this season, players can stay on a travel team for the entire year without taking a break.

CYC gymnasts excel in state meet Nicole With was named All-Around Champion in the 13+ age division at the NorCal Gymnastics Level 4 State Meet on Dec. 4 and 5 in Rancho Cordova. She also placed second in the Floor and Beam competitions. “This is a great feat for (Nicole),” says coach Aussie Ramos. “This time last year she was on our Pre-team — this is her first year competing and she took first at state. We are so proud of her.” Also, Isabella Vargas took home first-place honors in the uneven bars and beam at the Level 6 State Meet held in Redwood City on Nov. 20 and 21. “These were her two hardest events at the beginning of the season,” explains coach Michelle Horn. “She has worked really hard on this event and came through at the state meet.” Both With and Vargas train at the Community Youth Center in Concord.

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White places in international waters Sophomore swimming phenom Madison White (Carondelet-Concord) placed seventh in the 200 M Backstroke at the 2010 Short Course Meter World Championships in Dubai on Dec. 19. White squared off against the top swimmers in the world as 120 countries were represented in India for this premier swimming event. Swimming for her club team, the Crow Canyon Sharks, White was only one of two Americans competing in this event. White also competed in the 50 M Backstroke and won one of her heats but ended up not placing. White will continue swimming for the Sharks until it’s time for her to help Carondelet defend its NCS championship which they won in May 2010.

Chase hoop dreams at the Hoop House Didn’t make the varsity basketball team this year? Well, you can start preparing for next November today. If you want to get serious about hoops training, and you live in the greater Bay Area, then the Hoop House might be worth looking into. The Hoop House, located in San Ramon, is the creation of Randy Duck, a former Cal-Berkeley standout who went on to play professionally overseas. It’s a state of the art basketball facility open to the public. Among the many things the Hoop House offers are private fundamental training sessions, semi-private sessions (two players), group sessions (three or more), full-on team training, gym rental and even just regular open gym hours. Further explore the Hoop House at www.thehoophouse.com. — Erik Stordahl

January 13, 2011

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Reversing Field San Lorenzo and Livermore have risen from relative obscurity to become contenders By MATT SMiTH | Contributor

Fans of the East Bay high school soccer community are used to hearing the same names when it comes to talking about the top teams in Division I and Division II. De La Salle-Concord, Richmond, San Ramon Valley-Danville, Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland and Acalanes-Lafayette, among a few others. Those are names one seems to hear year-in and year-out when talking about the contenders. But the 2010-2011 season is featuring a shift, with a pair of non-traditional contenders rising up in both divisions. The Livermore and San Lorenzo High soccer programs don’t have a long, illustrious history of league and section titles, but all of that could be changing. Both teams are rising to the top of their respective league, as well as East Bay rankings. More importantly, they are being considered top contenders when the North Coast Section playoffs roll around. It takes a lot to get a program going in the right direction. One of the most important things is getting the kids to buy into the team-first philosophy, as well as supporting one another, no matter what happens. “We try to put away the individual work and focus on working as a team,” first-year San Lorenzo head coach Ruben Machado said. “I just reinforced that working as a team will work, and so far everyone has been ready to work hard and to listen, and to apply it on the field. No matter if we win or lose, we still work as a team and they support each other on and off the field.” The Rebels don’t have a lot of NCS history, advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in school history just last year. But this year 16

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ing them flexibility with their practice schedule if they need to study, or get help with homework. Foscalina uses grades as motivation as well, and has to deal with Livermore’s trimester system, which could cost him a kid for the entire season if his grades do not meet the standard. “It is a tool that I use with them,” Foscalina said. “Because they do have to make grades at the end of the school year and in November to be eligible for the whole season. I use that as an incentive.” Despite losing for the first time, a 3-1 road loss to Hayward, the Rebels are still a favorite to reach the NCS finals in Division II. The team took a mature perspective at the loss.

“I was surprised because I thought they would be down, but they were okay because they knew that losing is okay and that it is part of learning,” Machado said. “When you’re on the top, every team wants to beat you, and this loss will help us improve and to keep going.” The Cowboys, on the other hand, are certainly a contender in Division I, and are still getting to know one another, which will only make them more dangerous. “When it comes to playing as a team, we’re getting better,” Foscalina said. “Whether we win league or not, I think we’re a legitimate threat to win the NCS title. I don’t think there is anyone more talented than we are.” ✪

Butch Noble

lEFT: Behind the play of Carlos Gonzalez (10), among others, the San Lorenzo boys soccer team didn’t suffer its first defeat until Jan. 4. The Rebels are looking to reach the NCS semifinals for the first time this year (CREDIT: Bob Larson). AboVE: Everardo Naranjo helps make up a very balanced Livermore squad. All four of the Cowboys first four losses this season were decided by one goal. the team enters the week atop the Hayward Area Athletic League and ranked in the top five among all soccer teams in the East Bay. “At the beginning, we set up goals, and they were just goals,” Machado said. “But now that we keep moving forward they keep realizing that it’s possible. It’s inspired them to keep working. They see that the program is going well and the unity from the team is keeping them to together.” And sometimes you just have talent. San Lorenzo certainly has that with guys like Victor Cuevas, Victor Rodriguez and Carlos Gonzalez, among others. Livermore, on the other hand, had a talented team that became supremely-talented when it got a rush of players who play Academy. “The bottom line is we have 11 guys on the field that can absolutely play soccer,” Livermore coach Mike Foscalina said. “We have 10 or 11 Division-I players. We really are that talented. And since the Academy guys came back, we’ve gotten a lot better and we’re going to be tough to beat. We’ve improved immensely.” Livermore entered the week as a top 10 team in the East Bay, right in the middle of a logjam in the East Bay Athletic League — the area’s toughest league. The Cowboys have lost only twice since having their full roster. And all four of their losses have been one-goal

defeats to teams currently ranked among the top five in the region. But for Foscalina, the moment he realized he had a special team came before the cavalry came to solidify the roster. It came in a 1-0 loss to a great team, in a game where the Cowboys had a late goal called off that would have given them a 1-0 lead. “When we played Newark Memorial in the consolation finals of the Winter Soccer Classic, we didn’t have our Academy guys yet,” Foscalina said. “I looked at that game and I knew we were gonna be alright. That was the light bulb moment.” Perhaps the biggest key to schools like San Lorenzo and Livermore doesn’t have to do with kids buying in, or having the most talent. It has to do with keeping the kids on the field as a result of them succeeding in the classroom. Grades have been known to decimate teams as the regular season ends and the playoffs near, but when a school is having its first taste of success in many years —or ever — it can motivate players to do better in the classroom than they have done before. Soccer gives them that something to strive for. “That is something good,” Machado said. “Because it’s something that they love, so it’s inspiring them to keep up with the grades.” Machado encourages his players by allow-

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January 13, 2011

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Bob Larson

After being slowed by a shoulder injury, Liberty wrestling standout Jesse Baldazo (top) is more driven than ever to reach a state final at 145 pounds.

No holding back By bill kolb | Contributor

Jesse Baldazo doesn’t expend a lot of energy on wasted speech or false movement. Off the wrestling mat, Baldazo conserves his words like there might be a major shortage pending. On the mat, the Liberty High School senior is pretty economical of motion, too. From the moment he strides purposefully from the corner to take his place in the center circle, he shows few signs that he is about to engage in any sort of strenuous activity. But once the match starts, he is a flurry of snake-like quick strikes and powerful holds. Off the mat, the Lions’ laconic 145-pounder will just look at you with big, friendly eyes and a pleasant half-smirking smile, nodding his way through questions and shrugging off compliments. On the mat, the visage shifts. Those friendly eyes don’t look quite so friendly when they’re staring you down across the mat; piercing and just a little bit scary is probably a better description. The smile is gone, too, transformed into a thin, tight-lipped line on Baldazo’s grim, all-business face. That ‘all-business’ bit is something a little different for 18

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Baldazo. Despite turning in a highly successful junior-year campaign that saw him win a North Coast Section title at 140 pounds before placing eighth at the California Interscholastic Federation tournament in Bakersfield in March, then take home second at the Cadet/Junior National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota in July, Baldazo hasn’t always shown the fire one might expect from the kind of competitor bent on winning a state title. “He has always been serious (about wrestling),” Liberty coach Greg Chappel said of Baldazo. “But this year, since Fargo, you can tell he wants to win it (a state title). It’s good to see — some passion.” Chappel said that Baldazo sustained a severe shoulder strain while battling his way to No. 2 in the country in GrecoRoman at the nationals in Fargo, but that something seemed to snap into place for Baldazo in the process, and that the intensity and enthusiasm he has shown since has taken Baldazo to another level. “He’s doing really well,” Chappel said. “He hurt his shoulder really bad (in Fargo). When I saw how he winced, I was really concerned. But he started back up rolling around in September. (In early December) I had him in a tournament and he

After a runner-up finish at Cadet/Junior Nationals, Liberty-Brentwood senior Jesse Baldazo has found a new gear wrestled all 152s and 160s and he throttled everybody. He’s unbelievably strong. He doesn’t look overly huge, but he’s got a vice grip. My assistant coaches who work out with him come back and tell me, ‘Coach, he’s got a grown-man’s grip.’ Once he gets a hold, they can’t get away. … He’s my shining star. He can really place this year.” Baldazo said that, because of the shoulder injury, he couldn’t wrestle freestyle, just Greco, in Fargo, and that it had him frustrated and a little concerned. “That was a big deal,” he said. But since the shoulder has rounded into shape and he is no longer feeling any adverse effects from the injury, the boost placing second has given him has him believing he has a legitimate shot at making some serious noise at State come March. “I want to do it big,” he said. “It’s my last year. … My confidence is higher since placing second (at Nationals). Something clicked. I can’t really explain it. … I know now that, if I put in more work I can accomplish more at State. All the extra work I did for Nationals transformed into success. That makes me want to work even harder.” And it’s not as though Baldazo has been some sort of slouch. He enters the season ranked No. 4 in the state at 145 Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsMag.com

by thecaliforniawrestler.com for some very good reasons. He placed No. 7 in the NCS at 145 pounds in 2009 after having advanced to the CIF tournament as a sophomore in 2008 when he finished No. 4 at 140 pounds and helped the Lions to the NCS overall and East Bay Division I team dual championships. Then he put it all together last year, romping through the NCS field at 140 pounds with two pins (including one in the championship match against Dublin’s Nate Vincent), a technical fall and a major decision. Still. Placing eighth in the state means that a wrestler has to have lost his last two matches in the tournament. And that didn’t sit all that well with Baldazo. “It made me feel good to place (at State),” Baldazo said. “But to lose that last match, it made me want to do better next year.” The ‘better-next-year’ theme could apply to the entire Liberty squad. Since winning the NCS title in 2008, the Lions have taken a back-seat to former Bay Valley Athletic League rival De La Salle. The Spartans have been dominant within the section for the past two seasons, winning two-straight overall and team dual titles. Liberty was fifth overall in the NCS in 2010 after placing second in 2009. The Lions won NCS East Bay Division II team dual titles both years. With the Spartans off to the East Bay Athletic League, Liberty’s major league rivals remain Antioch and Freedom. “The league is good this year,” Chappel said. “We already lost to Antioch by three points, and Freedom beat Antioch. I think Freedom is the team to beat. I’m excited.” A handful of standouts, along with a solid top-to-bottom lineup, give Chappel good reason for that excitement. Sophomore Austin Solari, who placed No. 2 in NCS at 103 as a freshman last season, returns to the lineup and will likely move up to 112 pounds. He was an honorable mention in the state rankings at 112 entering the season. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger,” Chappel said of Solari, who has been wrestling at 119 early in the season. “He’s a tough kid and he’s putting some things together.” Junior Jake Thompson is, in Chappel’s estimation, the “kid who has come on the most,” since last season. “He spent a lot of time getting better during the summer,” Chappel said of Thompson, who will wrestle either at 119 or 125. “He’s maturing and things are really starting to click.” Junior Xavier Johnson is in just his third year of competitive wrestling, but Chappel sees him as the guy on the roster who could be the biggest surprise. “He’s so athletic and has such a great wrestling body,” Chappel said. “He’s cocky and really smart. My biggest problem is I can’t get him to slow down. … He’s got a good chance to make state. He can go to the next level. He has a big upside.” Johnson, who placed seventh in NCS at 125 last season, will probably bump up to 130s this season. Senior Nico Serrano, who was sixth in NCS at 130 in 2010 and fifth at 130 in 2009, entered the season ranked No. 19 in the state at 135 by thecaliforniawrestler.com. “De La Salle is the cream of the crop, obviously,” Chappel said. “They are the team to beat. College Park should be back this year. But we’re right there.” ✪

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De La Salle faces extra large expectations By bill kolb | Contributor

The De La Salle High School wrestling team is the big green elephant in the room. Seems like nobody — not even the Spartans’ own head coach — really wants to talk about just how good the Green Machine can be this year. Sure, in sports circles, De La Salle is known first and foremost (and rightfully) as a football school. Still, coach Mark Halvorson and his grapplers have a little something cooking on the Concord campus as well. “We’re missing three or four guys from last year,” Halvorson said. “And football just ended, so we have to get those guys back out. … You never know. It’s so early. Hopefully everybody stays healthy.” The Spartans have won back-to-back overall North Coast Section championships to go alongside their NCS East Bay Division I team dual titles in 2009 and 2010. Those team dual titles mean that the Spartans have won team dual titles in four straight seasons. They won the NCS East Bay Div. II team dual championships in 2007 and 2008 before bumping up to Div. I. “There is no power team in the section other than De La Salle,” thecaliforniawrestler.com editor Al Fontes said. “I don’t see them being beat. They have the best chance to finish in the top 10 at state.” In fact, thecaliforniawrestler.com slotted the Spartans No. 7 in the state in its preseason rankings. And, considering the talent that returns from a team that placed No. 8 at the California Interscholastic Federation championship tournament in 2010, there is certainly a good chance the Spartans could even crack the top 5. Returning North Coast Section champions and state placers Luke Sheridan and Joe Moita lead the charge for the Spartans. Sheridan, a senior who was No. 3 in the state at 171 pounds in 2010, won a national championship in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Cadet and Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships in Fargo, ND, in July. He is ranked No. 2 in the state at 189 by thecaliforniawrestler.com, trailing two-time defending state champion

Jonathan Hawthorne

Just a freshman, Jon Jay Chavez (behind) is already making some noise for the Spartans at 125 pounds.

Morgan McIntosh from Calvary Chapel. Moita, a junior, won a Greco-Roman national championship at 103 in 2009, and placed fourth in the state in 2010. He entered the season ranked No. 3 in the state at 112, but might bump up in weight. Junior Alex Abono was second in the NCS at 130 last season and entered the season ranked No. 5 in the state. Newcomer Jon Jay Chavez could make some real noise at 125. The freshman was ranked 11th in the state in the preseason, and has drawn rave reviews from local coaches. “He is very, very talented,” Liberty coach Greg Chappel said. “He could beat Moita. He already beat the kid who placed second at State last year. He’s just yoked. He’s tougher than … He’s tough.” Then there are guys like junior Joey Ramirez, who was eighth in the section at 119. Or senior Dylan Wynn, who was third in the NCS at 285 last season. Or junior Justin Walker, who is ranked No. 4 in the state at 215 entering the season after placing 5th in the section at 189 as a freshman in 2009. And… well. You get the picture. If anyone not wearing green singlets and hooded sweatshirts hoists the overall NCS trophy this year, it will be an upset of elephant-sized proportions. ✪

January 13, 2011

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Nor Cal Wres 103 1 Nahshon Garrett, Chico (defending state champion, bottom left), Garrett Fortado, Oakdale (8th), Lee Corbin, Mission San Jose-Fremont (CIF qualifier), Austin Solari, Liberty-Brentwood (CIF qualifier), Artemio Flores, James Logan-Union City (CIF qualifier), Leif Dominguez, Gilroy (CIF qualifier)

By BILL KOLB | Contributor

It’s been 23 years since a team from the North Coast Section has won a California Interscholastic Federation wrestling championship. It is so long ago that Jason Verduzco, Pat Sweeney and Casey Rhyan led Antioch to their dominating 1988 state title at the Spanos Center in Stockton that one begins to wonder if it ever really happened, or if the Panthers’ brazen audacity was merely a figment of the imagination. Worse still, it has been 19 years since a team from the section even cracked the top five (College Park was fourth in 1993). And though it’s been just four years since Sac-Joaquin Section power Vacaville managed to put a notch in the NorCal’s belt with a team title in 2007, the notion of the North rising up and somehow snatching a team title away from Southern, San Diego and Central section stalwarts like Calvary Chapel, Poway, Bakersfield and Clovis remains little more than laughable. All of which is to say that if you’re waiting for some local or even Northernhalf-of-the state squad to take home the heavy hardware from this year’s tournament at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, well, keep waiting. Bakersfield and Selma, from the Central, are the runaway favorites for the team title this year, with Clovis (Central) and Calvary Chapel (Southern) ranked No. 4 and 5, respectively, by thecaliforniawrestler.com entering the season. Sure, scrappy Oakdale (Sac-Joaquin) slips into the rankings at No. 3. The point is, for NorCal kids, glory at The ‘Bank will come in individually wrapped portions. That being said, there are a host of grapplers from the NCS and throughout Northern California who have legitimate shots at making deep runs come late March. At right is a weight-by-weight list of northern wrestlers to keep an eye on in the coming months (with 2010 state placing and accolades in parentheses).

GET OUT TO THE MATS! Key tournament dates and sites for the remainder of the season. Sites are high schools, unless otherwise noted.

■ 1/14-15: Five Counties Tournament, Fountain Valley; Battle for the Belt, Temecula Valley-Temecula. ■ 1/15: Clayton Valley Invitational, Clayton Valley-Concord

■ 1/29: The Clash Wrestling Tournament, College of Marin, Kentﬁeld

■ 2/4-5: Mission San Jose Invitational, Mission San Jose-Fremont ■ 2/5: Sac-Joaquin Section Duals Championships, Lincoln-Stockton

■ 2/12: North Coast Section Duals Championships, Castro Valley (East

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Bay), Maria Carillo-Santa Rosa (Redwood Empire) ■ 2/18-19: SJS Divisionals, various high school sites ■ 2/25-26: Central Coast Section Championships, Independence-San Jose; Northern Section Championships, Redding Civic Center; NCS Championships, Newark MemorialNewark; SJS Masters Championships, Stockton Arena. ■ 2/26: San Francisco All-City Championships, Washington-SF ■ 3/4-5: CIF State Championships, Rabobank Arena, Bakersﬁeld

112

119 125

Jonathan Hawthorne

Joey Moita, De La Salle (4th), Martin Ramirez, Elk Grove (5th), Hermilio Esquivel, Orland (6th), Blake Borges, El Molino-Forestville (CIF qualifier), Ty Stevenson, McKinleyville (CIF qualifier), Andres Torres, Windsor (CIF qualifier), Brian Sergi, College Park-Pleasant Hill (CIF qualifier), Kaleb Obien, Independence-San Jose (CIF qualifier)

Nahshon Garrett, Chico (defending state champion), Garrett Fortado, Oakdale (8th), Lee Corbin, Mission San Jose-Fremont (CIF qualifier), Austin Solari, Liberty-Brentwood (CIF qualifier), Artemio Flores, James Logan-Union City (CIF qualifier), Leif Dominguez, Gilroy (CIF qualifier)

Willie Fox, Gilroy (returning National champion) Cody Tow, Union Mine-El Dorado (3-time state medallist), Jorge Barajas, St. Francis (CIF qualifier), Aaron Pen Krueger, Albany (CIF qualifier), Efren Rodriguez, Chico (CIF qualifier

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Sup

estling preview 171 130 189 135 140 145 152 215 275 160

Shane Tate, Oakdale (3rd 2010, 5th 2009), Alex Abono, De La Salle (CIF qualifier), Zach Wiley, Freedom (CIF qualifier), Anthony Linares, Oak Grove (CIF qualifier)

David Ferry, Oakdale (defending state champ), Nick Cano, St. Francis-Mountain View (3rd) Blake Kastl, Gilroy (6th), Andrew Perez, Pitman-Turlock (8th)

Roman Ermolov, Terra Linda-San Rafael (CIF qualifier), Ross Longnecker, Chico (CIF qualifier), Adam Busch, Castro Valley (CIF qualifier), Cody Linton, Winters (CIF qualifier)

Luke Sheridan, De La Salle (3rd, below on top), Logan Kellogg, San Lorenzo Valley-Felton (CIF qualiﬁer), Danny Chaid, Bellarmine-San Jose (CIF qualiﬁer)

Travis Arreguin, Healdsburg (CIF qualifier), Chase Boontjer, Foothill-Palo Cedro (CIF qualifier), Nate Vincent, Dublin (CIF qualifier), Adam Hendrickson, Healdsburg (7th), Austin Branum, Del Oro-Loomis (CIF qualifier)

Victor Pereira, Newark Memorial (5th), Jesse Baldazo, Liberty (8th), Robin Callas, Nevada UnionGrass Valley (CIF qualiﬁer)

Jonathan Hawthorne

Jim Wilson, McNair-Stockton (4th), Trent Noon, Oakdale (7th), Dillon Reid, Red Bluff (8th), Ian Messaros, Cupertino (CIF qualiﬁer), Stefan Weidemann, Gunn-San Jose (CIF qualiﬁer)

Vincent Waldhauser, Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (2nd), Jared Stine, Willows (CIF qualiﬁer), Brett Schuman, Orland (2009 CIF qualiﬁer)

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Will Laster, Ukiah (CIF qualiﬁer), Scott Brasil, Mt. Pleasant-San Jose (CIF qualiﬁer)

Gavin Andrews, Granite Bay (5th), Orry Elor, College Park (8th), Dylan Wynn, De La Salle (CIF qualiﬁer, right)

January January13, 13,2010 2011

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in the paint

Successful trip south has Dragons building resume, confidence By CHACE bRYSoN | Editor As the Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland boys basketball team spent its last week of December competing in the National Division of the prestigious Torrey Pines Holiday Classic, the Dragons learned something about themselves. They were who they thought they were.

inside look: bishop o’dowd This idea isn’t born from cockiness by the defending California Interscholastic Federation Division III Northern regional champions, but rather confidence. And returning home with wins in three of four games — their only loss coming by six points to the state’s No.1-ranked team Long Beach Poly in the championship game — has only made that confidence swell. “We knew the kind of team we were going into (the tournament),” Dragons coach Doug Vierra said . “So it was nice to go there and see us execute.” Fueled by its junior tandem of Brandon Ashley and Richard longrus Jr., Bishop O’Dowd opened with a 76-50 win over Franklin-Seattle, and then reached the semifinals by grinding out a 61-54 win over Centennial-Corona. Vierra pointed to Longrus’ defense as a big key to victory against Centennial — which entered the game ranked among the state’s Top 10 teams. “(Longrus) guarded a guy who scored 35 points the night before and held him to two,” Vierra said. “I don’t think enough people realize just how difficult that is.” Defensively, the entire team came up big in a 57-54 win over St. Edward-Lakewood (Ohio). Because St. Edward

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January 13, 2011

Bob Larson

Brandon Ashley (23) drives to the basket in a league game against Mt. Eden-Hayward. The 6-8 junior is a major reason the Dragons have compiled an 11-2 record over the first six weeks of the season. relied heavily on the 3-point shot, the Dragons were forced to change their base defense. Essentially implementing a new scheme over a meeting and walk-through, Bishop O’Dowd managed to make it work.

“That was the hardest game to prepare for. Even harder than Long Beach Poly,” Vierra said. “Poly is more talented, but they didn’t cause scheme issues for us like St. Edward. That was a real rewarding win.” Long Beach Poly prevailed in the championship game 48-42, but the Dragons still came home feeling awfully good about things. Bishop O’Dowd returned to roll through its first three Hayward Area Athletic League games, and remains CalHiSports. com’s top-ranked Northern California team in the state. So, as it turns out, the Dragons are also who the rest of California thought they were. “The kids like the high ranking more than I do,” Vierra said. “I’m not super-comfortable with a high early-season ranking because all you can do is stay the same or go down, but the kids like it and that’s the main thing.” However, the on-court tests are far from over for Ashley, Longrus and company. To be fair, they aren’t even guaranteed to win the HAAL. Castro Valley, another state-ranked team boasting a trio of Division-1 recruits, will get a pair of shots at the Dragons. The first one comes on Jan. 26 at Chabot College. And even before that, Bishop O’Dowd faces Sacramento at the Martin Luther King Classic showcase on Jan. 17 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley — a rematch of last year’s Div. III Northern regional championship. Bishop O’Dowd won that game 57-50, but Sacramento star Josiah Turner is back and

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in the paint has Sacramento eager for revenge. Vierra knows it will take more than Ashley and Longrus to get back to the state final this season, which is why he’s encouraged by how much the supporting cast has contributed to this point. Among those whose play he mentioned were T.J. king, Kendall Jackson, Anders Haas, T.J. Daniels and Brenden Royal. “We’re deep,” the coach said. “We have eight or nine guys who are all contributing. ... We’re happy right now, but we know we can still improve.”

MLK Classic The 14th annual playing of De La Salle’s marquee one-day event, might feature its best lineup yet. Five boys games are on the docket for the Jan. 17 showcase at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. Seven of the 10 teams are ranked among SportStars’ NorCal Top 15. Here’s a quick glance at each matchup. For ticket information, go to www.dlshs.org. ■ Monte Vista-Danville vs. San Leandro, 10:15 a.m.: San Leandro finished the first week of January with a record of 7-4, and played SportStars’ No. 1 Mitty-San Jose to just a nine-point loss on Dec. 11. Monte Vista hasn’t faired quite as well, but typically plays some of its best basketball at this event. ■ St. Mary’s-Berkeley vs. No. 11 Newark Memorial-Newark, 1:45 p.m.: The Panthers of St. Mary’s are in a transition year after reaching the Division IV state final last season, but still had nine wins by Jan. 8. Newark Memorial reached the Div. I state final a year ago, and recently knocked off SportStars’ No. 7 Granite Bay 64-62. ■ No. 3 Castro Valley vs. No. 4 Salesian-Richmond, 3:30 p.m.: This may turn out to be the game of the day. Castro Valley’s trio of Roderick Bobbitt, Juan Anderson and Chris Read have the Trojans in high gear. Meanwhile, Salesian has a decent chance to enter the matchup with an unblemished mark of 15-0. ■ No. 5 Sacramento vs. No. 2 Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, 5:15 p.m.: This is a rematch of last season’s Div. III NorCal

No. California Boys Top 15 Records are through Jan. 8. Teams from the Central Section are not considered. Rank, Team ............................Record 1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose .....11-1 2. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland ........11-2 3. Castro Valley ............................12-1 4. Salesian-Richmond .................12-0 5. Sacramento................................9-3 6. De La Salle-Concord ...............10-2 7. Granite Bay ..............................15-2 8. Jesuit-Carmichael ....................11-5 9. Oakland ......................................8-5 10. San Ramon Valley-Danville ..13-1 11. Newark Memorial-Newark ......9-5 12. Berkeley ...................................9-3 13. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills....15-0 14. Analy-Sebastopol...................12-3 15. Sheldon-Sacramento ..............9-6 championship, which Bishop O’Dowd won 57-50. Sacramento is led by Josiah Turner, who committed to the Univ. of Arizona in September. Meanwhile the tall tandem of Brandon Ashley (6-8) and Richard Longrus Jr. (6-6) has Bishop O’Dowed poised for another state run. ■ No. 15 Sheldon-Sacramento vs. No. 6 De La Salle, 7 p.m.: The host Spartans closed out the first week of January by handing SportStars’ No. 10 San Ramon ValleyDanville its first loss of the season, 53-42. De La Salle’s trademark pressure defense will focus on stopping Sheldon’s Darius Nelson, the younger brother of former Duke star and brief Golden State Warriors guard, DeMarcus Nelson. ✪

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St. Mary’s Panthers lurk in the Albany, er, Berkeley shadows It’s hard to slip under the radar when you play for a state championship, but St. Mary’s of Berkeley (or is it Albany?) has done just that.

girls basketball

Bob Larson

Cody Sims and St. Mary’s are 10-3 despite a grueling schedule.

Overshadowed by Berkeley High’s talent and eligibility drama (first brittany boyd, now khristina Hunter), Bishop O’Dowd’s run of elite players and Piedmont’s tradition (you might remember the Paris twins), the Panthers have just steadily chugged along in Division IV, improving every year in Nate Fripp’s six years in charge. Last year, they went 31-4 and went to Bakersfield to play a veteran Harvard-Westlake team for the California title, eventually losing 58-44. “People say you have to lose in order to win,” says Fripp, “but I’d rather just win.” He does concede, though, that it’s a process. “When we lost to Modesto Christian in

January 13, 2011

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in the paint the NorCal finals (in 2009), it was a learning experience.” Fripp also tries to teach his team during the season, and this year has already played SportStars’ No. 1 Carondelet-Concord, No. 3 Berkeley, No. 4 Presentation-San Jose, No. 9 Mitty-San Jose and No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd plus solid programs such as Branson-Ross, Moreau Catholic-Hayward, St. Ignatius-San Francisco, Hanford and The Bishop’s SchoolSan Diego. As if that weren’t enough, Fripp has two more major challenges ahead: No. 2 St. Mary’s-Stockton on MLK Day at Haas Pavilion and No. 11, and defending Division V state champion, Pinewood-Los Altos Hills at the Campolindo Shootout Jan. 22. At 9-3 right now, with a win over league rival Piedmont already in the bank, the Panthers seem on track for another deep run into postseason, but Fripp isn’t taking anything for granted. “It’s still a work in progress,” he says, though he concedes he has a lot of weapons. “It’s my most talented team, but I won’t say it’s my best team.” To be Fripp’s best team most likely means getting close to last year’s 31 wins, and capping the season with a state championship — which means we won’t know for sure where this year’s group stands until the Div. IV title game March 27. But given Fripp’s six-year record, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see St. Mary’s celebrating at Arco Arena. ◆◆◆ And speaking of big games in the next two weeks, the Martin Luther King Day events and the Campolindo Shootout offer plenty of intriguing matchups. The fourth annual Common Good Classic mixes boys and girls (which sometimes works against the girls’ games, as fans tend to leave when the boys do) on Saturday, Jan. 15 and Monday, Jan. 17. Saturday’s highlight will be No. 8 Sacramento vs. St. Francis-Sacramento at 6 p.m., and at 6 p.m. Monday, Del Oro-Loomis will try to knock off No. 3 Berkeley. The Campolindo Shootout, now in its 13th season (though it has been held at Acalanes as well), has a trio of big games after four appetizers during the day. No. 6 Dougherty Valley will play No. 9 Mitty at 5 p.m. in a potential preview of a Div. II NorCal playoff; No. 3 Berkeley will take on No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd at 6:30 p.m.; and No. 5 St. Mary’s of Albany (or is it Berkeley?) will go against No. 11 Pinewood at 8 p.m. ◆◆◆ OK, so where is St. Mary’s exactly? Supposedly, the campus is actually partly in Berkeley and partly in Albany, and so can be claimed by either city. For whatever reason, most of the time people say the school is in Berkeley, but the mailing address is Albany. Maybe the school should take a page out of the California university system’s book and just become St. Mary’s-East Bay …

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January 13, 2011

No. California Girls Top 15 Records are through Jan. 8. Teams from the Central Section are not considered. Rank, Team............................Record 1. Carondelet ................................11-2 2. St. Mary’s-Stockton ..................5-2 3. Berkeley ....................................9-1 4. St. Mary’s-Berkeley ..................10-3 5. Dougherty Valley-San Ramon .13-2 6. Lincoln-Stockton .......................11-0 7. St. Ignatius-San Francisco ......12-2 8. Sacramento ..............................10-3 9. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose ......8-4 10. Presentation-San Jose ..........10-3 11. Deer Valley-Antioch ................6-5 12. Pinewood-Los Altos Hills .......10-3 13. Eastside Coll. Prep-Palo Alto.. 8-6 14. Vanden-Travis AFB ................12-4 15. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland .......7-6

◆◆◆ The first candidate for upset of the year is St. Francis of Mountain View knocking off Mitty 51-48. Not only was it a surprise that the Lancers, who have lost to Gunn-San Jose, Lowell-San Francisco and Albany by an average margin of 10 points each, beat the Monarchs, they did so in San Jose. Ashley Hill, a great player at Novato and a college stalwart at Santa Clara, coaxed a tremendous effort out of her undersized team against the WCAL powerhouse (only one player taller than 5-9), though Mitty was without 6-4 senior post Vanessa Leo. ◆◆◆ Despite an unimpressive 7-6 record, and a couple of 30-point losses, Bishop O’Dowd is still in the top 15 – which leads to the obvious question: Why are the Dragons still hanging around? When it comes to rankings, we always look at the losses first, and O’Dowd’s are, well, impressive. The Dragons got thumped by Pennsylvania’s Mt. Lebanon at the Nike TOC in Phoenix, and also lost to Memphis Central and SoCal power Santa Monica there. Other defeats have come at the hands of Mitty, Long Beach Poly and St. Mary’s of Albany (or is it Berkeley?) – and O’Dowd looks poised to resume its dominance of the Hayward Area Athletic League, and North Coast Section Division III, despite all those defeats. The talent is there, no question, and presumably that very difficult preseason schedule will pay off in February and March. — Clay Kallam

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Submitted photo

The gluteus and hip-ﬂexor exercise is an example of a proper warm up element.

Precision and detail is the key to an effective active warm-up

any times, when coach or trainers implement a warmup before a practice, workout or game, it usually consists of stretching, some jumping jacks and then jogging. Even those who do implement more effective strategies, such as activation and mobility, still miss the big picture by not understanding or focusing on the quality or reasoning of the exercises performed in the warm-up. When it comes to an effective warm-up, it must focus on developing single strength, dynamic flexibility, getting more proprioceptive input throughout the joints of the body, all while… ■ Raising core temperature and blood flow. ■ Elongating the muscles actively. ■ Activation of proprioceptors (sensors that provide information about joint angle, muscle length, and tension, which is integrated to give information about the position of the limb in space), stabilizers (local muscles that help to stabilize a joint) and the Central Nervous System (composed of the brain and spinal cord, serving as the main “processing center” that controls all the workings of your body). ■ Engraining proper motor patterns. In other words, the exercises in the warm-up will look like strength exercises or movement patterns seen in sport or training, which in fact they are. The key to the most effective warm-up exercises is activation of one muscle while simultaneously elongating another. So there has to be a focus on quality, or the effectiveness of the exercises will be a non-factor in injury prevention, single-leg strength and mobility.

If the exercises in the warmup are performed with poor quality, coaches and trainers will engrain faulty movement patterns in their athletes, resulting in a more injury-prone young athletes. The exercises in the warmup must be done with a really specific purpose of targeting muscles to strengthen, while stretching an opposing muscle. When this is done correctly your young athletes will turn on and strengthen muscles and proprioceptors that help support stability in the knees, lower back as well as mobility in the ankles, hips and upper back. Sport is multidirectional and young athletes need to have proper mobility and strength. The exercises in the warm-up should also be performed in the following three planes of movement. Saggital plane: This is front to back, think walking or running forward and you’re in this plane. Frontal plane: This is side to side movement, think of any kind of lateral movement such as shuﬄing. Transverse plane: This is referred to as the rotational plane, opening the hips to a 90 degree angle. Think of an athlete who has to open up their hips to react to an opponent that is running by them. An effective dynamic warm-up will result in a more injury resistant young athlete as well as a stronger, faster and more powerful performance during a game, practice.

Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA

Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). You can contact him with questions or feedback at tim@fit2thecore.com.

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tee2green

High school golfers: Break’s over. Start honing your game It is that time of the year where players need to start thinking about their upcoming season of high school golf. Most local high schools will be under way with tryouts in about a month. Often times, getting back into the swing of things will take some time and effort before players are truly ready to compete. The first thing player’s need to do to is to get out and practice soon. Many times, waiting too long can put you behind the eight ball from the get-go.

notes from the pros If you work with a pro, that’s usually a starting point. The pro can help prepare a golfer much quicker than if they try and go at it alone. If you can begin the process by chipping and putting first before attempting to get your swing back on track, your scoring will come back sooner than if you do this in reverse. Time is not on your side if you are pressing to get your game back in a hurry. I believe taking a break is necessary to recharge your batteries, gain perspective, set new goals and then approach the season fresh with a positive attitude. Now the season is still a few months away, but not if you are going through tryouts. Your season depends on you making the team, so tryouts are like a tournament and should be viewed as such. Once you begin with the short game, then try to regain some feel for your swing and perhaps get out onto the course to see how things really are. Assess your game and decide what needs the most attention and then begin the process of tackling the weak link to your scoring first. For example, if your round of nine holes includes too many putts, then begin to work on that area first. The most important thing is to get out there and go to work. The course is wet, the air is cold, but a determined player will fair far better then someone who might prefer the couch in early January.

Dave De Long

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tee2green Junior golf: Structure or no structure? You’ve heard me write about the quality of junior events and their impact on a junior players development before, but I never mentioned why. I believe junior events should be administered as professionally as any amateur or professional sporting event. While the billion dollar stadiums may not be there, the small details you add bring a unique feel to your events, and an aura of continuity. The whole purpose of my article today revolves around this word: structure. Youth development of the past would have us believe that structure is the key to sustaining positive academic and athletic results with a child. However with education movements, which advocate that it is the limitless imagination of children that should guide their desires and passion, this throws all organized sport out the window. Now, when we focus this on golf, it is pretty clear when someone is going to enjoy this game or not. Should we just make programs available to those players who feel should enjoy the game? I believe a properly well-managed junior golf program is an essential piece to the development of a child and their ability to negotiate life after the program. These programs are what give a player the spark for the game. When you decide to take your son or daughter to a junior program, make sure the program has a focused goal. Imagination without purpose is just random thoughts in time. Make sure the program has a way to give your child a scoreboard

for progress. Whether it’s through competition or daily contests, the program must give a player a chance to see how good they are and where they can improve. Your first red ﬂag should be if the program has the players jumping around and playing tag or duck-duck-goose. While I am sure someone could argue the merits of duck-duck-goose and it’s impact on the golf swing, it is not the key to progressing your son or daughter more. Now, if a program has a level system and allows the players to determine what part of their game they need to work on, then you might have a structure that is inclusive. Before you start your child in competitive events, make sure they are coming from a carefully structured program thy allows the players to still make some choices. This will guarantee their passion for the game and also ensure their lifelong participation.

Gary Xavier

Notes From The Pros is a regular feature compiled by Gary Xavier (former sports administrator of the Northern California PGA Junior Golf program) and Dave DeLong (PGA professional and director of instruction at Boundary Oak GC). Contact them at the following addresses: ddelongolf@aol.com or gary.xavier@gmail.com.

Follow STAR for all your tough choices, not just golf The First Tee makes sure that you don’t use only the ‘what’ they teach in the golf program, but also in everyday life. One of the concepts they stress this with is STAR. STAR stands for Stop, Think, Anticipate, Respond. On the golf course, this can be used to get ready for your next shot or hole, but it has many more applications in the everyday life. Whether to end an argument or to make a decision, it can come in handy. I use this technique when I have to choose between two decisions. But by following STAR, a decision can come into view easier. STOP: Take yourself away from the situation, make sure you are not caught up in the moment. THINK: Make sure you look at each decision equally and understand what each entails. ANTICIPATE: What will happen if you make one decision over the other? Will there be consequences, either good or bad? RESPOND: Make the right choice based on what you

first tee, firsthand have come to realize in the earlier steps. The decision you make will be well thought out and you will feel better because you had taken the time to think about it. STAR is extremely helpful to have by your side, as are many other First Tee concepts. The more you use them, the more you will see the benefits of them.

Eddie Estrada

Eddie Estrada is a senior at De La Salle High. He has been a member of The First Tee Contra Costa for six years. Contact him at eddieestrad@gmail.com.

ncga junior rankings Following are the Top 10 boys and girls points

T5 Nicolo Galletti (Clayton) ............................ 60

Briana Mao (Folsom) .............................. 355

Jan. 7. For up-to-date rankings, visit www.ncga.

Patrick Grimes (Palo Alto)......................... 53

Betty Chen (Castro Valley) ..................... 200

Tim Byrne (San Carlos) ............................ 45

leaders for the 2010-11 NCGA season, as of org/juniors.

boYS

Rank Player (hometown)........................ Points 1

Jonathan Garrick (Atherton) ................... 100

T5 Kraig McLeod (Pebble Beach) ................. 60 8

Tharusyan Pillay (San Jose) .................... 50

10 Roshan Chekuri (Pleasanton) .................. 40 GiRlS

T2 Eric Ash (Loomis) ...................................... 75

Rank Player (hometown)........................ Points

T2 Thomas Crowther (Sacramento) ............. 75 Shotaro Ban (San Jose) ........................... 62

Grace Na (Alameda)............................... 900

Hannah Suh (San Jose) ......................... 430

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4 6 7 8 9

Paige Lee (Folsom) ................................ 245 Casie Cathrea (Livermore) ..................... 190 Ashley Noda (Roseville) ......................... 125 Tiffany Lim (San Jose) ............................ 100 Shawnee Martinez (Modesto) .................. 80

T10 Alicia Binneboese (Carmel Valley) ........... 75 T10 Annie Bowlsby (Monterey) ....................... 75 T10 Michelle Xie (Palo Alto) ............................. 75

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Maggie Steffens

runners-up

SportStars girls athlete of the fall monte vista • water polo

By CHACE bRYSoN | Editor

Maggie Steffens wears a lot of hats. She’s a daughter. A sister. A student. An athlete. However, the hat she’s most known for is called a cap. And in 2010 she wore two of them. One read MV for Monte Vista. And one read USA. In November, she retired the MV cap as the Danville school’s career leader in goals, assists and steals. She also finished as a four-time North Coast Section champion after leading the Mustangs to a 26-1 record this fall. Her ability to be head-and-shoulders above everybody else in her sport was enough for her to earn the inaugural SportStars’ Girls Athlete of the Fall Award, voted on by staff and contributors to the magazine. “My best memory (of Monte Vista) will probably be gaining the experience with all those teammates and all those girls,” said Steffens, who won the award in a narrow vote over other finalists, Carrie Verdon (cross country) and Mary Vaccaro (volleyball), both of Campolindo. That experience, and an unquestioned natural talent for the sport, resulted in her sporting the USA cap last summer for the women’s senior national team. It will also lead to her wearing a Stanford cap next fall, as well. However, as excited as she is about joining the Cardinal. It’s putting that USA cap back on — perhaps in London during the Summer of 2012 —that continues to drive her. “I can envision myself (in London), but it’s kind of just in my own mind,” Steffens said. “It’s a lot of work to get there, and there are a lot of great girls on that team. With hard work and motivation and discipline, hopefully I can get there. But it’s definitely going to be a long road...(But) you get a taste of something, you just want it so much more. I want to make that team.” Don’t count her out.

Carrie Verdon (Campolindo) The most dominant East Bay cross country athlete of 2010, male of female. The junior won an individual state title by winning the CIF Division III race, which also helped pace the Cougars to the Division III state title. She also set the new Division III state record for the Woodward Park Course in Fresno, a trend she started by winning her section and league championship races in record times.

THE STEFFENS FILE ■ 2010 stats (MV only): 91 goals / 57 assists / 103 steals ■ Approximate yearly hours spent on water polo: 1,248 ■ Post water polo career goal: “I’m not really sure yet. That’s what I’m using college for ... Hopefully I’ll get a hunger for something. I have some interests, but I’m still not sure yet.” ■ Biggest Inﬂuence: “My family. My dad, especially. Even though he’s tough, he’s great. My three siblings, all of which played water polo. I really look up to them a lot, and they’ve been my inspiration to do well.” ■ Favorite thing about water polo: “The competitiveness. And the fact that I love the game and it’s fun ... It’s just my passion.” ■ Favorite quote: “Nothing will work unless you do.” — John Wooden

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January 13, 2011

Mary Vaccaro (Campolindo) She was the x-factor for a Cougars volleyball team which was pretty close to unbeatable on its way to the East Bay’s first state championship volleyball title since 2006. She posted 471 kills and was the emotional leader for the Cougars. She had 20 kills and 17 digs in the state final.

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ricky lloyd

runners-up

SportStars boys athlete of the fall concord • football

By CHACE bRYSoN | Editor

Ricky Lloyd tells a story that’s hard to believe. Though he swears it’s absolutely true. As the story goes, he was a freshman quarterback for the Concord High junior varsity football team. His team trailed with two minutes to go and he needed to lead it the length of the field for a victory. “I threw an interception at the end of the drive,” Lloyd said. “After the game, I was on the sideline crying I was so upset.” That’s when varsity coach Brian Hamilton came up to him. “He told me it was OK to make that mistake now, because when you’re a senior you’re going to face a similar scenario and you’re going to lead us to an NCS championship.” As it turned out, that’s exactly what happened. Lloyd led a two and a half minute NCS championship-winning drive, capped by his 26-yard touchdown pass to Sitani Malupo with 16 seconds left in the game. The 40-37 victory over Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park brought an end to a storybook season for Lloyd — one that saw him become the most prolific single-season passer in Northern California history with 4,451 yards. His dominance at the position, while leading Concord to its first section title, led to SportStars’ staff and contributors making him a unanimous choice as the SportStars Male Athlete of the Fall. His story of Hamilton’s prophecy would be good enough on its own, but there’s one final touch he adds — that, again, he swears is true. “My favorite memory from that championship game was when I was about to jog out on the field before that final drive,” said Lloyd, who will take his talents to Southern Mississippi in the fall. “I turned around and gave (Hamilton) a wink. I wanted him to know, ‘I got this.’” THE lloYD FilE ■ 2010 stats: 4,451 passing yards, 52 TD passes, 305 rushing yards, 9 TD runs ■ On being one of 7 finalists for the Mr. State Football Award: “It blew me away. I didn’t think I’d ever be nominated for something that huge.” ■ Post football career goal: “I’ve been thinking about doing something in psychology, or possibly graphic arts. Those are two pretty different career paths, so we’ll see what happens when I get to college.” ■ Biggest Inﬂuence: “So many to name. My dad and family first and foremost...My quarterback coach John Bell, who would text me the morning after games to check up on me. And (Concord head coach) Brian Hamilton. He’s unbelievable. I wouldn’t be here without him.” ■ Favorite thing about playing QB: “Just being in control. ... Being the second coach out there, and being able to make things happen.” ■ Favorite motto: “I will not be denied.”

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January 13, 2011

Dylan Wynn (De La Salle) The Oregon State-bound lineman was a key fixture on both the offensive and defensive line for the state champions. On offense, he helped pave the way for running back Lucas Dunne’s record-setting 40 TD season and an overall rushing attack that chewed up more than 300 yards/game. On defense, he ranked third on the team in tackles (50) and first in sacks (12).

Bryan Snyder (Las Lomas) Snyder scored more goals than any other player in the East Bay this year as he led the Knights to their first NCS title. He finished the season with 121 goals and closes out his career as Las Lomas’ all-time goals leader with 412. He had six of Las Lomas’ 13 goals in the championship game against Alhambra. He also finished the year with 71 steals and 41 assists.

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Boys coach of the fall

BRIAN HAMILTON, CONCORD FOOTBALL: Hard to go in a different direction here. How can you ignore the history Hamilton made by leading the Minutemen to a 13-1 record and the program’s first North Coast Section title? He’ll tell you it was all Ricky Lloyd, but don’t be fooled. He spent the majority of the season with a 24-man roster, and always found a way to put each kid in position to succeed. That includes the TD pass that won the NCS championship with 16 seconds to go — caught by a player who hadn’t even started the game on offense.

SCOTT BISHOP, CAMPOLINDO VOLLEYBALL: He was given a gift in August when talented senior Mary Vaccaro expressed her interest to return to the squad after two years off. But it wasn’t just that easy. The group still needed to meld together, and Bishop has proven to be a master at such things. In the end, he was forced to go to the state title match with Vaccaro at only half-strength due to a hip injury. He pulled just enough strings to make it all work. The Cougars beat two-time defending state champion Cathedral Catholic-San Diego in five sets.

PLAYS OF THE

FALL

■ 1. TiTlE Roll: Alameda golfer Grace Na needed to sink a lengthy putt for birdie on the 18th hole of the CIF/ WSCGA state championship tournament at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga. When she rolled it from about 25-feet, she closed out an even-par round of 74. She also secured medalist honors, and an individual state title. ■ 2. SITANI’S TIP-TOE: Even Sitani Malupo wasn’t sure he’d stayed in bounds after hauling in quarterback Ricky Lloyd’s 15-yard ﬂoater toward the sideline. He caught the ball, planted and sprinted another 11 yards to the end zone, scoring the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left in the NCS Division II championship football game. ■ 3. DEVIN DELIVERS (ABOVE): WIth the momentum hanging in the balance of a nationally-televised bout between two nationally-ranked football teams, De La Salle needed a big play to turn a swelling tide from visiting Bishop GormanLas Vegas. Devin Williams delivered by out-leaping Gaels’ receiver Ryan Smith for a third quarter interception. The Spartans would cash-in the turnover with a scoring drive and go on to a 28-14 victory. ■ 4. SWING DIG: Just a few points into the fifth set of the CIF Div. III state final, Taylor Milton, the mega-talented hitter of Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, tried to send a definitive message with her cross-court kill attempt. Only there was one problem, it was within Sophie Smith’s reach. The Campolindo libero handled the hit cleanly, and the ensuing rally resulted in a Campolindo point. The Cougars never looked back. ■ 5. THE AMAZING SARMENTA: California receiver John Sarmenta made the catch of the year when he kept both toes in bounds while falling backward out of the back of the end zone late in the fourth quarter against De La Salle on Nov. 12. Not only was the catch of highlight-reel quality, it came at a key moment of the game, bringing the Grizzlies within six points with a little less than three minutes remaining. De La Salle eventually won 31-17.

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Final football Coaches Poll TEAM RECoRD PTS 1. De La Salle (10) ........14-0.............. 100 2. California....................12-2................ 87 3. Concord .....................13-1................ 79 4. Encinal .......................12-2................ 49 5. McClymonds..............12-0................ 47 6. Heritage ....................... 9-3................ 39 7. San Ramon Valley....... 7-6................ 38 T8. Monte Vista ............... 8-4................ 32 T8. Granada .................... 8-5................ 32 10. Pinole Valley .........11-1-1................ 20 others receiving votes: Miramonte (11-2), Bishop O’Dowd (10-2), Berkeley (8-4), Northgate (9-3).

Boys rising star ■ CHARLIE WISER, MIRAMONTE WATER Polo: Like the Matadors, who have won five of the last six NCS Division I championships, needed any more up-and-coming talent. But with this sophomore, they’ve definitely got it. Wiser played a key role in leading Miramonte to a 21-6 record and a runner-up finish in the NCS Div. I finals.

Girls rising star ■ SOPHIE HARTLEY, GRANADA CROSS CoUNTRY: Just a freshman, Hartley put herself at the front of the pack when it comes to the East Bay’s next wave of dominant distance runners. She was the EBAL champion, then finished second in the NCS Division I race to help the Matadors take the team title. She then clocked a Top 20 finish (16th) in the Division I state championship race.

SportStars Best of the fall top coaches, plays and more

5 TOP

Girls coach of the fall

Biggest Upset ■ College Park football knocking off Foothill: For the second consecutive season, College Park picked up a first-round NCS playoff victory by winning as a double-digit seed on the road against a heavily-favored East Bay Athletic League opponent. With a 4-6 record and a No. 13 seed, College Park went to No. 4 Foothill and won 21-13.

January 13, 2011

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January 13, 2011

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2010

A LOOK BACK

From August through December, the athletes of the fall treated all of us to several memorable moments. Our photographers were there for quite a few of them. We searched the archives for a some of the images we liked, but just hadn’t had a chance to print yet. Enjoy our one final look at the images of Fall 2010. FAR LEFT: Sunset fades to moonrise on an early-September night in Concord as Amador Valley-Pleasanton quarterback Patrick Gibbons hands off to his running back. BOTTOM: Vincent Marquez (61) of St. Mary’s-Stockton looks to protect quarterback Mitch Walding from a bull-rushing Dylan Wynn (67) of De La Salle-Concord. MIDDLE LEFT: The Campolindo-Moraga girls cross country huddles in celebration with coach Chuck Woolridge moments after winning the CIF Division III state championship. MIDDLE RIGHT: Clayton Valley-Concord golfer Domenic Mazza made history as the youngest person to qualify for the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships and ﬁnishing second. TOP RIGHT: Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park quarterback Poueu Peleti-Gore hovers over center in the North Coast Section Division II ﬁnal against Concord. ABOVE LEFT: Foothill-Pleasanton runners Nicole Torquato (#1138) and Hannah Bieszczat (1108) take a turn at the Ed Sias Invitational in Martinez. ABOVE RIGHT: The Campolindo-Moraga volleyball team enjoys the moments after winning the CIF Div. III state title. Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Photos by: Bob Larson, Butch Noble, Spencer Allen and Dave DeLong January 13, 2011

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Livermore health fair to hit on many topics Looking for a good all-in-one opportunity to learn about sports medicine and good health practices? Check out the Valleycare Sports Medicine Health Fair in Livermore on Saturday, Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Among the topics: ■ Shoulder and elbow injuries in youth baseball ■ What to have in a first aid kit ■ The latest information on concussions ■ Exercise session ■ Pilates and yoga demos ■ Integrating fitness and nutrition into your life ■ Chair massages, body fat analysis, giveaways, rafﬂe prizes and more. The event will be held at Lifestyle Rx, located at 1119 E. Stanley Boulevard, Livermore. For more information, contact Trish Da Silva, 925-454-6347. — SportStars

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January 13, 2011

twenty-four7 bASEbAll Through Jan. 15: Antioch — Antioch Little League’s Spring 2011 Season Registration. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 15. At Golf N Games. 925-431-8478, www. antiochlittleleague.com. Through Jan 15: Concord — Junior Optimist Baseball/ Softball League registration. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 15 @ the JOBL complex. Ages 4-18. 925827-1088, www.eteamz.com/jobl. Jan. 16: Concord — Clayton Valley Little League Online Registration Closes. All day event. Visit www.cvll.org. Jan. 22: Concord — Clayton Valley Little League 8-9-Year-

Old Tryouts. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. @ Clayton Valley High School. Visit www.cvll.org. Jan. 23: Concord — Clayton Valley Little League 10-YearOld Tryouts. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. @ Clayton Valley High School. Visit www.cvll.org. Jan. 29: Concord — Clayton Valley Little League 11- and 12-Year-Old Tryouts. 9 a.m.3 p.m. @ Clayton Valley High School. Visit www.cvll.org. Feb. 5: Concord — Clayton Valley Little League Makeup Tryouts. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. @ Clayton Valley High School. Visit www.cvll.org. Feb. 7: Concord — Clayton

Valley Little League Draft. 5-9 p.m. @ TBD. Visit www.cvll.org. Feb. 22: Concord — Clayton Valley Little League Parent Night Majors Baseball & Peanuts. 6-7 p.m. @ TBD. Visit www.cvll.org. BOWLING Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 11: Concord — Special Recreation Disco Bowl. Ages 16+ at Clayton Valley Bowl. Info: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. weekdays, 925-671-3404, www. cityofconcord.org. Registration: www.concordreg.org; by fax or at drop-off sites. Jan. 22: Brentwood — 11th Annual Harvest Park Hurricane’s Crab Feed. 6 p.m. no host cocktails; 7 p.m. dinner, @ the Veteran’s Hall. All proceeds to benefit the Harvest Park Hurricanes Youth Program. 925-516-1221, http:// harvestparkbowl.com. CHEER Ongoing: Walnut Creek — WCYF Marauders Cheer. Open for registration in various divisions. Art Thoms, thoms3@ ifn.net, 925-786-0721; www. wcyfmarauders.com. CoMMUNiTY EVENT Jan. 18: Walnut Creek — SF Marathon Training Program Registration. 6-8:30 p.m. @ Sports Basement. SF Marathon staff will be available to answer training questions. Direct questions to nstark@ sportsbasement.com. 925-9416100, www.sportsbasement.com. Jan. 22: Livermore — ValleyCare Sports Medicine Health Fair. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. @ LifeStyleRX. Free. 925-454-

6342, www.valleycare.com. Jan. 25: Walnut Creek — Bear Valley & Sports Basement Rail Jam. 5:30-8:30 p.m. @ Sports Basement. 925-941-6100, www. sportsbasement.com. CYCliNG Through Dec. 26: Walnut Creek — Mountain Bike Group Ride. Meet at 8 a.m. Sundays at Sports Basement. 925-941-6100, www. sportsbasement.com. EQUESTRiAN Jan. 17: Walnut Creek — Martin Luther King Holiday Camp. Riding lessons 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 925-937-7661, htrails@astound.net; www. castlerockarabian.com. ongoing: Martinez — Horse Vaulting Program. Gymnastics on Horseback at Franklin Canyon Stables. Reservations: Kim, 925-876-8269; www. kimshorsetraining.com. Ongong: Walnut Creek — learn to Ride! Group lessons at discounted prices available. 925937-7661, htrails@astound.net; www.castlerockarabian.com. FiTNESS Through Feb. 7: Walnut Creek — Body Sculpting Boot Camp Series. 6-7 p.m. Mondays @ Sports Basement. 925-941-6100, Toni at alum@sportsbasement. com; www.sportsbasement.com. Jan. 12: Walnut Creek — Sports Nutrition Tips with Hammer’s Steve Born. 6:308:15 p.m. @ Sports Basement. Direct questions to nstark@ sportsbasement.com. 925-9416100, www.sportsbasement.com. Feb. 16, March 16 or April 13: Concord — CPR Skills for

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twenty-four7 Adults, Children and Infants. 13+. Info: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. weekdays, 925-6713404, www.cityofconcord.org. Registration: www.concordreg. org; by fax or at drop-off sites. ongoing: Concord — Sports Performance. At East Bay Sports Academy. For ages 10+. Schedules and fees: 925-680-9999, info@ eastbaysportsacademy.com; www.eastbaysportsacademy. com. Pleasant Hill — Tae Kwon Do, Fitness Kickboxing, Kickboxing, Yoga, Birthday Parties. Ongoing at Fitness Innovations & Tae Kwon Do in County Square Shopping Center. 925-685-8338, chooseFIT@aol. com; www.choosefit.net. Walnut Creek — Youth training program. Ongoing at Forma. 925-262-1339, www.formagym. com. Concord — AIRobics. Classes at Sky High Sports. First come, first served. 925-682-5867, http:// CON.jumpskyhigh.com. Martinez — Sports, Fitness & Recreation. Ongoing for ages 6-18 @ Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diablo Valley. 925-370-6838, www.bgcdv.org. Brentwood — Treading Trends LVL 1-3. 9-10 a.m. Tues., at In-Shape Health Club. Fees and registration: 925-602-5600, www. inshapeclubs.com. Antioch — Public Skating. For

TEXT ‘SWA G BAG’ TO 87365

all ages at Paradise Skate. 925779-0204, www.paradiseskate. com. Concord — Group Cycling LVL 1-3, Mix It Up LVL 2-3, both at In-Shape Health Club. Fees and registration: 925-602-5600, www. inshapeclubs.com. FooTbAll Ongoing: Walnut Creek — WCYF Marauders. Open for

registration in the Midget division. Art Thoms, thoms3@ifn.net, 925786-0721; www.wcyfmarauders. com. Jan. 28-30: Oakley — Runnin’ Deep Flag Football. At Freedom Basin. Ages 6-16; 5 on 5, 7 on 7. Contact Coach Mike Weisenberg, 925-625-2222, DiabloFootball@hotmail.com; www.DiabloFootball.com.

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High-profile football coaches clinic returns to the East Bay By CHACE bRYSoN | Editor

The coaches spoke, and Sean Connors listened. Connors, an assistant coach for the Diablo Valley College football team, was constantly hearing colleagues harp about how they wished a quality coaches conference could be held locally. So Connors and Concord High defensive coordinator, Randy Coddington, decided to put in a bid to host and direct a Nike Coach of the Year Clinic in the Bay Area. They got the bid, and last March, they brought a premier coaches clinic back to Northern California for the first time since 1986. “We felt that no matter how much work it was going to be it

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January 13, 2011

Steve Sarkisian

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was going to be worth it,” Connors said. “We just felt there was something lacking for coaches here.” The first conference was a big success, drawing high school coaches from 14 different states. “It was the largest of any Nike coaches clinic in the country, and the largest first-year clinic in the history of the Nike clinics,” Connors said. “That just speaks to how important football is to high school coaches in this region of the country.” Now Connors and Coddington are getting ready to do it all over again, hosting the 2011 Nike Coach of the Year Football Clinic at the Concord Hilton from February 17-19. Among the high-profile coaches expected to speak at the event are Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, TCU’s Gary Patterson, Fresno State’s Pat Hill, San Diego State’s Brady Hoke and Washington’s Steve Sarkisian. Also part of the program will be acknowledging as many as eight of the 10 coaches who took their high school teams to the California Interscholastic Federation state championship bowl games in 2010. “It’s been a lot or work, but we’ve been able to connect with a lot of high school coaches up and down California,” Connors said. “Giving them an opportunity to learn from the best minds in the game has really made it worth it. We’re excited.” For more information on the clinic, visit http://www.nikecoyfootball.com/Northern-California.aspx

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IMPULSE Find out what’s next

It really does a body good

, protein and healthy fats, Muscle Milk bottle of Muscle Milk. Packed to the gills with carbs to build your stamina. After a tough workout, get refreshed with a cold Take it before a workout to get stronger or after ge Joes who just want to stay lean and mean. cts. produ cool is perfect for athletes who are training or Avera other lemilk.com to learn more or check out Hit up Muscle Milk on the interwebs: www.musc

Say “Hi” to your new trainer by pressing “Play”

It’s candy that’s good for you! We promise! When you’re prepping for a workout and you need a quick boost of energy, you probably go with a protein shake or protein bar. Fair enough. But what if we told you that you could get that same boost from eating candy AND it’s good for you? Now that we’ve got your attention, let us inform you about Sport Beans. This savory invention from Jelly Belly packs enough punch to keep you working out for hours. Each serving contains roughly the same amount of caffeine you’d get from a half cup of coffee – the perfect amount to kick you into overdrive in the fourth quarter or the homestretch of the triathlon. Go to www.jellybelly.com to scan all Jelly Belly products.

Big-O goes NorCal

Now you can train to become a better athlete and not even leave the house. With Coach My Video, all you have to do is send in a video exhibiting your skills and you’ll get a video mailed back to you from an expert in your sport analyzing your mechanics, form, footwork, you name it. They’ll go frame by frame and give you pointers along the way. We think it’s pretty cool and worth the investment. Check out www.coachmyvideo.com for more.

Attention, everyone, we have an announcement to make. Give us a second to find the trumpet. Ah, there we go. Drumroll please... SportStars Magazine now can be found in any Big-O Tires location in all of Northern California! It’s not hard finding people who are as pumped as we are when it comes to youth sports, and Big-O is no exception. Their passion for teen sports in the community is matched only by their drive to servicing customers with the best deals around. Hit up our website: www. SportStarsMag.com and look for the Big-O Tires banner ad on our homepage.

The “Best Dad Ever” iPhone app Dads: Now you have no excuse to miss your kid’s big game. Let My Future Star Baseball do the work for you. All you have to do is input the time of your youngster’s game then you’ll get virtual reminders from this snazzy iPhone app leading up to the big event. Piece of cake. If you still forget about the game after all those reminders, a big hammer will come out and smack you upside the head. Okay, that last part’s probably not true. My Future Star Baseball has other cool features like stat tracking, note taking and social media connection so you can brag and post highlights of the game directly to Facebook and Twitter. Available as an app on the iPhone for just $0.99, download the My Future Star Baseball app today and pick up that Father of the Year trophy while you’re at it. For more info, check out www.sportfuturestars.com — Erik Stordahl

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photo finish

Jose Tapia, fifth from right, is hounded in celebration by his Hayward High teammates after scoring on a second-half penalty kick that put the Farmers up 3-0 during their Hayward Area Athletic League match on Jan. 4. Hayward won the match 3-1, handing visiting San Lorenzo its first loss of the season. It was Tapiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lone goal of the contest. PHOTO BY BOB LARSON (LARSONPIC@AOL.COM)

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