NorCal Issue 128, February 2017

FREE

FEBRUARY 2017

NORCAL EDITION

VOL. 8 ISSUE 128

access

ALL

10

Cal-Hi Sports’ California Boys & Girls Top 10 Basketball Rankings

11 20

in the magazine

Woodcreek 26

Woodcreek’s Jordan Brown, a 6-foor-11 super-recruit, has made NorCal very aware of the threat posed by the Timberwolves. Pg. 16

Monte Vista’s Nate Landman named our top defender

Our All-NorCal Football Defense is revealed.

Who made the cut?

22

Warrior

The Golden State is dominating the NBA. No, not the Warriors.

Dublin boys basketball is an underrated program no more

EXCLUSIVE: NorCal Boys Basketball Top 20 Rankings

26 32

EXCLUSIVE: NorCal Girls Hoops Top 20; Fairbrook on fire!

in the network

a look at the biggest stories from the Cal-Hi SportStars Network

4

SportStarsOnline.com

CalHiSports.com

SportStarsOnline.com

Wrestling Postseason Previews & Coverage

New State Boys And Girls Basketball Rankings Each Monday & Tuesday

Soccer Postseason Coverage Throughout February

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Hannah Jump PINEWOOD-LOS ALTOS HILLS - BASKETBALL - SOPHOMORE Jump played a key role in keeping the Panthers’ lengthy winning streak alive during a tough three-games-in-seven-days stretch that bridged January and February. Pinewood, which entered this week at No. 4 in SportStars NorCal Top 20, knocked off SportStars’ then-No. 7 Salesian-Richmond 66-54 on Jan. 28, then No. 14 Eastside College Prep-East Palo Alto 53-37 on Jan. 31 and a tough Menlo School-Atherton 81-49 on Feb. 3. In the three games combined, Jump scored 52 points to go with 20 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and just three turnovers. The win over Menlo School extended Pinewood’s streak to 15 games and left it at 19-2 overall. Jump leads the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game while adding 4.6 rebounds a contest. The Panthers are likely ticketed for the CIF Open Division where they were runners-up to Miramonte-Orinda a season ago.

honorable mention JAMES AKINJO: The Salesian-Richmond junior guard scored 16 of his 20 points across two overtimes, including a game-winning layup at the buzzer, as the Pride defeated Bishop O’Dowd 73-71 on Jan. 28. Akinjo also had eight rebounds and two steals in the win.

JULIA CURTIS: The Blue Devils senior soccer captain scored twice to rally Davis to a 2-1 victory over rival St. Francis-Sacramento on Feb. 2 — a win that just about sewed up a third straight Delta League title. The Santa Clara-bound captain delivered a 30-yard strike for the game-winner that extended the Davis’ unbeaten streak to 37 games dating back to last season.

JacketBack Embroidery Official Patch Supplier of SportStars Magazine

Got Send your nominations to: Next? Editor@SportStarsOnline.com or tweet us using #SSOTW

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

Like us on Facebook

SportStars™

5

SUPERjust SUPER

D

id anyone truly believe that Tom Brady WASN’T going to drive the Patriots 91 yards for that game-tying touchdown and conversion?

Listen, I suffer from Brady Fatigue just as much as the next average football fan. But in times like that moment on Super Bowl Sunday, I’d be lying if there wasn’t a sliver of pure sports fan in me that wanted to see him lead that drive. Simply for the drama.

Then he did it, albeit with a HUGE assist from Woodside High graduate Julian Edelman, and then I went back to foolishly rooting for a Falcons team which was clearly in ruins. New England steamrolled to the overtime victory and subjected all of us — especially those of us in the Bay Area — to the Brady vs. Joe Montana as Greatest of All Time Debate. Again.

Montana was my first football hero and I’m not sure I would ever admit to anyone being greater than he was, especially in the biggest moments of the biggest games. But by now I can admit that Brady is his equal. (Even if Montana NEVER threw an interception in a Super Bowl, or lost one for that matter. We’ve all heard the arguments.)

At the very least, I don’t think any one would argue against Brady — a Serra-San Mateo grad — as the greatest California native to play quarterback in the NFL. That’s a done deal unless Aaron Rodgers (Pleasant Valley-Chico) can orchestrate a dynastic run with the Packers over the next five or six years, assuming he can stay healthy throughout.

And while we’re talking about the success of California natives in the Super Bowl, it was quite a first-half thrill to see Atlanta Falcons rookie tight end Austin Hooper haul in the first ever Super Bowl touchdown by a De La Salle-Concord grad.

Hooper also became the first football player to go from the pages of SportStars to Super Bowl end zone.

I remember the first time I noticed Hooper on the football field — it wasn’t as an offensive player. It was Oct. 28, 2011, and the Spartans were hosting a San Ramon Valley-Danville team led by quarterback Zach Kline. De La Salle won the game 40-3 and Kline had a miserable night thanks to a certain junior defensive end. Hooper sacked the Wolves star QB four times on the night for a net loss of 21 yards.

There were few East Bay football fans who didn’t know of Hooper after that night. He went on to star on both sides of the ball for a pair of CIF Open Division State Championship teams at De La Salle, and then turned his full attention to tight end at Stanford. We were there on his signing day. Be sure to check out our Facebook page (facebook.com/SportStars) as we’ll be re-posting our video interview with him.

So that was our favorite moment of the Super Bowl. And it makes us wonder who of the 100-plus NorCal players who signed letters of intent on Feb. 1 (see our list on Page 9), will be the next to make us proud. ✪

JOIN OUR TEAM PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 EDITORIAL Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Dave Kiefer, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans, III Marketing/Events Ryan Arter CREATIVE DEPARTMENT Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com ADVERTISING Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsOnline.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com Central Valley, World Events: Anthony Grigsby • Area Director anthony.grigsby@worldeventssports.com Darin Wissner • JustAGameEvents@gmail.com READER RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATION Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Info@SportStarsOnline.com DISTRIBUTION/DELIVERY Phillip Walton • Mags@SportStarsOnline.com INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com COMMUNITY SPORTSTARS™ MAGAZINE A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA 94521 • info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

Caliente!

LLC

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER IN USA

YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #8, February 2017 Whole No. 128 is published by Caliente!

Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521.

SportStars™© 2010-2014 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 16 issues, U.S. 3rd class $35 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 per copy, or $6 total for bulk. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

Read Me. Recycle Me. 6

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

TOP 5 SUPER BOWL LI ALTERNATIVE FACTS The big game has come and gone. All that’s left is to clean up in the aftermath. And maybe make sure that the lying liars who lie, also known as the media, are delivering to you, dear citizens, all of the pertinent facts. Or reasonable facsimiles thereof. As the case may be. Here are the top five alternative facts about Super Bowl LI(ar!).

1. The Atlanta Falcons did not choke. #DoctorHeimlichWhiteCourtesyTelephone 2. Julian Edelman sucks at catching stuff. #SeriouslyWhatsWithTheRedRubberGloves?

3. The halftime show wasn’t an elaborate ploy to ‘disappear’ an outspoken Trump critic. #WhereInTheWorldIsLadyGaga?

4. The Patriots executed the single most improbable comeback victory in history. #TellItToHilllary 5. Tom Brady is the Greatest Of All Time. He’s obviously greater than Joe Montana because 5/7 is greater than 4/4. Shut up. It just is. #AlternativeMath — Bill ‘alt-Clinton -Gates -ly Dee Williams -the Kid -Murray -becomes-a-law -NOT-Belichick’ Kolb

Bob Andres/TNS via ZUMA Wire

8

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

WHERE ARE THEY GOING? For the first time, our February issue released after National Signing Day for football recruits. Thus, we finally have the opportunity to print our compiled list of NorCal football talent moving onto the next level. If you can find a more comprehensive NorCal list, we’d like to see it. Check it out!

Jalen McKenzie (Clayton Valley-Concord), USC Sean McKeogh (Marin Catholic-Kentfield), Harvard Jack McNally (Menlo School-Atherton), Occidental Evan Michalet (Folsom), San Jose State Jordan Mims (Menlo-Atherton-Atherton), Fresno State

Jerrell Alberty (McClymonds-Oakland), San Jose State

Ashton Morgan (Pleasant Valley-Chico), UNLV

Nick Amoah (Davis), UC Davis

DeAndre Morgan (Concord), UC Davis

Truman Andrus (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills), UC Davis

Ariel Ngata (Folsom), Washington

Popo Aumavae (St. Mary’s-Stockton), Oregon

Cole Norgaard (St. Mary’s-Stockton), Washington

Aaron Banks (El Cerrito), Notre Dame

Leki Nunn (Serra-San Mateo), San Jose State

Nicolas Berry (Turlock), Sterling

Sebastian Olver (Marin Catholic-Kentfield), Colorado

Joey Berzins (Campolindo-Moraga), UC Davis

Devon King (De Anza-Richmond), UC Davis

Avery Bilenski (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), Humboldt State

Dylan Korte (Casa Grande-Petaluma), Idaho

Dakota Bill (McKinleyville), Humboldt State

Erik Krommenhoek (Monte Vista-Danville), USC

DaRon Bland (Central Catholic-Modesto), Sacramento State

Gabriel Quezada (Central Valley-Ceres), Humboldt State

Montell Bland (Central Catholic-Modesto), UC Davis

Kyle Reid (Los Gatos), Cal Poly-SLO

Bryce Brand (Clayton Valley-Concord), Maryland

Freedom-Oakley’s Kyle Harmon, left, and Ronnie Rivers

Calvin Brownholtz (Jesuit-Carmichael), UTEP

Jamar Hardy (Deer Valley-Antioch), San Jose State

Cassius Reynolds (Vacaville), Azusa Pacific

Marcus Bustos (Heritage-Brentwood), Southern Oregon

Kyle Harmon (Freedom-Oakley), Cal

Jack Rice (St. Bernard’s-Eureka), Sacramento State

Nick Calzaretta (Redwood-Larkspur), College of Idaho

Najee Harris (Antioch), Alabama

Antonio Richardson (Orestimba), Humboldt State

Josh Cooper (Downey-Modesto), Sacramento State

Peyton Henry (Monte Vista-Danville), Washington

Ronnie Rivers (Freedom-Oakley), Fresno State

Alex Cook (Sheldon-Sacramento), Washington

Robert Hernandez (Palma-Salinas), Hastings

Killian Rosko (Sonora), Sacramento State

Damon Cole (El Cerrito), Boise State

Richard Hernandez (Palma-Salinas), Hastings

Paul Scott (McClymonds-Oakland), Hawaii

Dewey Cotton (St. Mary’s-Stockton), Sacramento State

Tariq Hollandsworth (Sacramento), UNLV

Nate Shepherd (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), UC Davis

Trajon Cotton (Inderkum-Sacramento), Oregon State

Robert Holt (Monterey Trail-Elk Grove), Portland State

Stone Smartt (Del Oro-Loomis), Northern Arizona

Drew Dalman (Palma-Salinas), Stanford

Ravontae Holt (Sheldon-Sacramento), Wyoming

Drake Stallworth (Folsom), Hawaii

Camrion Davis (Del Oro-Loomis), Claremont McKenna

Logan Hungrige (Sutter), UC Davis

Cameron Stone (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills), Harvard

Elijah Dotson (Antelope), Sacramento State

Fabian Hunkin (North Salinas), UC Davis

Josh Takahara (Homestead-Cupertino), Azusa Pacific

Isaiah Dunn (Antioch), Oregon State

Mason Hurst (Del Oro-Loomis), Cal Poly

Montaz Thompson (Pittsburg), Sacramento State

Jalen Dural (Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa), Southern Oregon

Alex Hutchinson (McClymonds-Oakland), Sacramento State

Rico Tolefree (De Anza-Richmond), San Jose State

Josh Falo (Inderkum-Sacramento), USC

Jullen Ison (Moreau Catholic-Hayward), Northern Colorado

Syrus Tuitele (Pleasant Valley-Chico), Fresno State

Tali Finefeuiaki (Wilcox-Santa Clara), Sacramento State

Jordan Jackson (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), Holy Cross

Orlando Umana (Grant-Sacramento), Utah

Tucker Fisk (Davis), Stanford

Jimmy Jaggers (Roseville), UCLA

Zion Vogt (Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa), Humboldt State

Akil Francisco (Encinal-Alameda), Hawaii

Malik Jeter (Seaside), Sacramento State

Tyler Vander Waal (Christian Brothers-Sacramento), Wyoming

Ryan Gatoloai (Inderkum-Sacramento), Wyoming

Conner Johnson (Ceres), Southern Oregon

Alijah Vera-Tucker (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), USC

Ulonzo Gilliam (Merced), UC Davis

DJ Johnson (Burbank-Sacramento), Miami

Tre White (De La Salle-Concord), San Jose State

Je’Quari Godfrey (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), USC

Weston Jones (Capital Christian-Sacramento), Army

Aidan Willard (Justin-Siena-Napa), Oregon State

Calvin Grover (Downey-Modesto), Sacramento State

Victor Jones (Inderkum-Sacramento), Wyoming

Wade Willet (De La Salle-Concord), Cal Poly

Addison Gumbs (Stellar Prep-Hayward), Oklahoma

Nate Landman (Monte Vista-Danville), Colorado

Bennett Williams (St. Francis-Mountain View), Illinois

Cyrus Habibi-Likio (St. Francis-Mountain View), Oregon

Isaiah Lewis (Granite Bay), Colorado

Justin Williams (Brookside Christian-Stockton), Azusa Pacific

Isaiah Hodgins (Berean Christian-Walnut Creek), Oregon State

Josaiah Maama (King’s Academy-Sunnyvale), Hawaii

DJ Wright (Pittsburg), San Diego

Jake Haener (Monte Vista-Danville), Washington

Chris Martinez (Pitman-Turlock), San Diego State

Joseph Yanes (Modesto Christian), Sterling

Cooper Hagmaier (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), San Diego

Emilio Martinez (Palma-Salinas), University of San Diego

Nick Zell (Heritage-Brentwood), South Dakota School of Mines

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Gavin Reinwald (Elk Grove), Cal

February 2017

SportStars™

9

The NBA’S

G

GOLDEN GLOW

olden State, and this doesn’t have anything to do with the Warriors.

Players from California are currently dominating in the NBA like perhaps never before. And while most of those superstars are from south of the Tehachapis, there is at least one from Northern California and there are other grads from NorCal schools making key contributions on many teams.

Three of the Californians are legitimate MVP candidates heading toward the All-Star break.

Russell Westbrook, who is from Leuzinger-Lawndale, is leading the league in scoring for the Oklahoma City Thunder at more than 30 points per game and is also trying to average a triple-double.

James Harden of the Houston Rockets, who helped lead Artesia-Lakewood to a CIF state title during his senior season there, isn’t far behind his former OKC teammate in scoring (nearly 29 ppg). He’s also been leading a team with a better record than OKC and has been among the league leaders in assists as well.

From a scoring standpoint, Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs is “only” getting around 25 ppg, but the former Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball State Player of the Year from M.L. King-Riverside is leading one of the league’s top three teams. And if anybody saw him score 41 when the Spurs beat the defending NBA-champion Cleveland Cavaliers in late January, it was obvious his MVP credentials are as strong as any other.

Two others from California actually are scoring at a higher clip than Kawhi Leonard, including Oakland High’s own Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers. Lillard, who was not highly recruited as a prep player and went to Weber State, is averaging 26 ppg and has become one of the NBA’s best point guards. Lillard was chosen to the elite 30-player Cal-Hi Sports All-State team despite that lack of recruitment, and his ascent into NBA stardom has to be an inspiration to any high school player who’s not getting much attention from colleges.

The other high scorer from California averaging north of 26 ppg. — actually closer to 28 this season — is DeMar 10

SportStars™

February 2017

Aaron Gordon of Archbishop Mitty circa 2013.

Gordon currently plays for Orlando, averaging 11.3 points per game and 4.6 rebounds.

DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors. He’s from Compton High and hopes to lead Toronto to this year’s Eastern Conference finals.

That’s a great list already, but that’s not all. Three other top 30 scorers in the NBA from California — all who’ve been over 20 ppg for most of the season — are Paul George (Knight-Palmdale) of the Indiana Pacers, Klay Thompson (Rancho SM-Santa Margarita) of the Warriors and Brook Lopez (San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno) of the Brooklyn Nets.

Thompson’s scoring is down a little from last season due to the arrival of Kevin Durant to the Warriors, but his status as one of the game’s elite shooters hasn’t diminished.

After Lillard and Lopez (we count Fresno as being part of Northern California for Cal-Hi Sports), there are even more NBA players from NorCal schools who have made big contributions this seasons, including recent Mr. Basketball State Player of the Year Aaron Gordon (Archbishop MittySubscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

San Jose) for the Orlando Magic, who became well-known to many in last year’s slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend.

There is also Tyler Johnson (St. Francis-Mountain View) of the Miami Heat, Ryan Anderson (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills) of the Houston Rockets, Matt Barnes (Del Campo-Fair Oaks) of the Sacramento Kings, Marquess Chriss (Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove) of the Phoenix Suns and Jeremy Lin (Palo Alto) of the Brooklyn Nets. Both Anderson and Lin led two of the most memorable CIF state championship upsets when Oak Ridge and Palo Alto each beat SoCal titan Mater DeiSanta Ana for Div. II crowns in consecutive years, 2005 and 2006. ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

TOP 10 STATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Bishop Montgomery’s Gianni Hunt

Sacred Heart’s Ilmar’i Thomas

Through games of Saturday, Feb. 4 BOYS 1. (1) — Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth 23-1 Marvelous Marvin Bagley, just a junior, soared for 43 points when Trailblazers blitzed Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas at this year’s Nike Extravaganza.

Through games of Saturday, Feb. 4 GIRLS 1. (1) — Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 18-2 Easy late-January win over No. 5 Carondelet, and an 82-62 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral-SF to open February, cements top ranking in state. Head-to-head win over Clovis West sure helps too.

2. (2) — Chino Hills 25-1 Huskies now have a loss to Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) team that Sierra Canyon has beaten. The result also snapped their win streak at 60 games, putting them No. 3 on all-time Cal-Hi Sports state list behind Compton (66) and McClymonds-Oakland (65).

3. (3) — Bishop Montgomery-Torrance 22-2 Head coach Doug Mitchell’s squad has been playing very well in recent weeks, not even close to how it looked season-opening loss to Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland.

4. (4) — Mater Dei-Santa Ana 26-1 Recent addition of 7-foot transfer center Bol Bol (Manute Bol’s son) likely pushes the Monarchs closer to the top two in the state — and further apart from everybody else.

2. (2) — Clovis West-Fresno 24-2 Head coach Craig Campbell’s team was off-kilter when it lost to Centennial-Las Vegas in January, but appears to be back to form.

3. (3) — Long Beach Poly-Long Beach 18-3 Always deep and always intense, Jackrabbits won surprisingly easy 82-56 result over previous state-No. 12 Windward-Los Angeles.

4. (4) — Mission Hills-San Marcos 22-2 Bofh of the Grizzlies’ losses are to WCAL teams Mitty and Sacred Heart Cathedral. The SHC loss was in OT and they have enough other quality wins to overcome that.

5. (5) — Woodcreek-Roseville 21-2 If there’s a NorCal Player of the Year vote taken right now, Jordan Brown of the Timberwolves would be an easy winner.

5. (5) — Carondelet-Concord 18-4 After their loss to Mitty, the Cougars bounced back to beat rugged Salesian-Richmond 62-54. Their win over a healthier version of St. Mary’s-Stockton also still looks good.

6. (6) — Birmingham-Lake Balboa 22-3 Devante Dourtive had 34 points and his younger brother Devonaire had 26 when the Patriots routed Taft-Woodland Hills to virtually wrap up the L.A. City Section’s top seed.

6. (6) — Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 18-3 Dragons were No. 9 in the last issue of SportStars and have moved up due to the injury struggles at St. Mary’s-Stockton, plus other teams dropping.

7. (7) — Alemany-Mission Hills 22-3 Juniors D.J. McDonald (a guard) and Fred Odhiambo (a 6-foot-7 forward) have helped the Warriors emerge as the likely No. 5 seed in the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

7. (7) — Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth 19-3 Head coach Alicia Komaki’s girls lost their last game when Long Beach State-bound standout Alexis Griggsby was out with an injury.

8. (8) — Roosevelt-Eastvale 16-6 Mustangs have beaten league rival Centennial-Corona three times and one of their top two players — point guard Jemarl Baker — is committed to Cal.

8. (8 — Alemany-Mission Hills 20-5 Just knocked off defending Open Division state champ Chaminade-West Hills for the second time in Mission League action.

9. (12) ▲ Sheldon-Sacramento 22-2 If not for a bad loss to San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno, the Huskies would be much higher in the state, possibly right behind or even slightly ahead of Woodcreek.

10. (13) ▲ Santa Margarita-Rancho SM 19-5 Just retired number of Warriors’ Klay Thompson, Eagles move up this week after beating previous No. 9 Fairfax-Los Angeles.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

9. (9) — Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa 18-3 The Cards had a bad loss to O’Dowd, but came back to beat St. Mary’s-Stockton when that team still had Ariel Johnson playing.

Newman also has two wins over Sacred Heart Cathedral.

10. (12) ▲ Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. 12-7 Despite their record, the Irish have a win over No. 4 Mission Hills and have close losses to top teams (although last week’s to No. 1 Mitty was by 20 points).

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

11

play them

T

STRINGS

op youth tennis players from throughout Northern California are getting ready for the annual Johnson Ranch Junior Singles Championships taking place over President’s Day Weekend. Placer Valley Tourism will join forces with Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville to once again host this three-day event on Feb. 18-20.

Girls and boys ages 12 to 18 will be competing in this United States Tennis Association sanctioned event, and the competition promises to be fierce. This tournament traditionally brings in a very advanced level of play.

Cris Bacharach, Tournament Director and Johnson Ranch Racquet Club Head Tennis Pro, explained that many of these players are quite serious and often travel with their coach to the tournament.

“Last year we had 253 competitors,” Bacharach said. “Which means quite a few kids had to be turned away as only the best 32 applicants for each age division are accepted.”

Matches start early Saturday morning and continue well into the evenings on both Saturday and Sunday. The NorCal champions in each age division will be decided in the final match-ups that take place on Monday, Feb. 20.

Mark your calendar and come down to the courts at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club located at 2600 Eureka Rd in Roseville to see these junior tennis athletes take their swing at becoming NorCal champions. ✪ — All copy and photos provided by Placer Valley Tourism

12

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Roseville Hosts Fledgling High-Level For Younger Swimmers

T

he South Western Age Group Regional swim meet is splashing into the Roseville Aquatics Complex on March 16-19 when California Capital Aquatics and Placer Valley Tourism host this exciting swimming event.

“This is only the second year this event has ever been held, and Clovis Swim Club hosted the inaugural event in 2016,” Executive Director for Sierra Nevada Swimming Denna Culpepper said.

She explained that the concept of this meet was a collaborative effort of two local swim committees, SNS and Central California Swimming, who joined forces to provide a higher level meet for the 14-and-under age groups.

“SWAGR was created as a bridge for those swimmers who were much faster than the standards of a Junior Olympics meet, and may not be fast enough to be competitive for the standards of a Far Western Championship,” CCA Meet Director Alex Ongaco elaborated said.

More than 400 swimmers are expected to participate, all of whom had to qualify by meeting a certain time standard in each event. Swimmers will be coming from as far as Arizona for this competition and records will undoubtedly be broken.

There are three local stand-out swimmers from CCA that were invited to attend the Sierra Nevada Swimming Age Group Elite Camp based on exceptional performance. All three will compete at SWAGR and are expected to do well.

Matthew Ng, 11, is ranked No. 7 in the nation for his age group by USA Swimming in the 200-meter butterfly. He will be setting his sights on a first-place finish. Bianca Ignacio, who is the 10-and-under SNS record-holder for the 500-yard freestyle, is another swimmer to watch. Matthew Crouch holds the 2016 SWAGR meet record for the 500-yard freestyle (12-year-old boys division) and is actively preparing to ensure he is at the top of the leader board this March.

The RAC is located at 3051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd in Roseville, so make sure to check out these sensational youth swimmers. ✪

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

13

Seeking A SHARED STAGE I play on the girls basketball team, and we always play at a different place than the boys. If they’re at home, we are on the road, and what that means is that almost no students ever see us play. Even if we’re playing in our gym, most of the students will go to see the boys somewhere else. We’re varsity athletes just like the boys, and this doesn’t seem right. It would make so much more sense if we played on the same nights in the same gym as the boys. That way students could support both teams at the same time.

—A. W., Livermore

W

hat you say makes perfect sense, and most of the resistance to that extremely logical idea comes from the boys coaching staffs.

They claim they want to see their junior varsity teams play, and if the girls and boys varsities are playing at the same site, they won’t get to see the boys JVs play.

This is, of course, nonsense. The boys coaches have plenty of opportunities to see the junior varsity play during preseason — and since they’ve gone through summer basketball, conditioning, open gyms and tryouts, the varsity coaches know full well what’s happening at the JV level. On top of that, they are usually so focused on their own game, that they barely pay attention to the junior varsity game, and in fact, often go in to talk to the varsity team right after halftime of the JV game. They’re also usually not there for the tipoff at the JV game, which they would be if they thought it was so important to see every minute of those younger players who they are already completely familiar with.

Oddly, though, some girls coaches believe it’s better for the girls program to be on its own, and create its own identity. That’s a nice theory, but in practice, after 40 some years of Title IX, the students still faithfully follow the boys wherever they go, and pretty much ignore the girls — even when the girls are very good and the boys are mediocre.

The ideal solution would be to have the girls varsity precede the boys var-

14

SportStars™

February 2017

sity at the same site. This gives almost equal treatment to both teams, while at the same time conceding the reality that the fans are mainly going to come see the boys. (If the girls play after the boys, as is done in the Diablo Athletic League half the season, thanks to a lawsuit, the stands often empty after the boys game, and coaches wind up having to shoo parents, students and other fans off the court so the girls can warm up.)

So what about the JVs? There are a couple of options. To make scheduling as simple as possible, the two JV teams, boys and girls, could play at the opposite site, and the freshman boys (there are very few freshmen girls teams left) could open for the two varsity games. Or just play the two varsity games together, or alternate the JVs prior to the varsity games, or whatever solution seems best for that particular league.

But what’s best for varsity athletes, regardless of gender, is to play the girls and boys at the same site on the same nights. That maximizes attendance, maximizes administrative control, and maximizes the spirit of Title IX, which aims to offer the same experience to both male and female athletes at the high school level. ✪ Clay Kallam has been an assistant athletic director and coached multiple sports and a handful of high schools throughout the Bay Area. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at clayk@fullcourt.com

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

16

SportStarsâ„¢

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

With 6-Foot-11 Super-Recruit

Jordan Brown Leading The Way, Woodcreek Is Putting The Rest Of NorCal On Blast

A

fter an earlier-than-wanted exit from the 2016 Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, the Woodcreek boys basketball team set a goal to return stronger and make some noise in the 2017 postseason. So far, the offseason work fueled by lingering disappointment has helped the Roseville-based Timberwolves make their presence known as a legitimate contender for section, NorCal, and state supremacy.

Entering Februrary, the team had already surpassed last season’s win total and had yet to lose to a Northern California opponent en route to a 21-2 overall record and 8-0 mark in the Sierra Foothill League. Woodcreek has outscored its SFL foes by an average score of 71-36, allowing just two league opponents to score more than 34 points in 32 minutes of action.

Woodcreek’s only two losses are to Southern California-powers Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood and Chino Hills. The Timberwolves gave the latter — the defending CIF State Open Division champions — a run for their money before falling, 108-93. The Huskies have not lost since 2015 and are widely considered one of the top three teams in the nation.

“I think that we gave them their best game,” said Woodcreek junior center Jordan Brown. “We have competed well with top competition, and want to play that way against every team that we play.”

Brown has been the leading reason Woodcreek is getting the attention it is throughout California and around the country. At 6-foot-11, the third-year varsity star is an imposing presence the moment that he walks into the gym and onto the court. Brown is the highest-regarded recruit from the Sacramento area in years and one of the most sought-after big men in the country.

“Jordan is a standout in the classroom, on campus and on the court,” Woodcreek coach Paul Hayes said. “He is humble and a hard worker. His maturity on the floor is unbelievable. He gets a lot of physical contact and just plays through it.”

Through 21 games, Brown is averaging 26.3 points, 15.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. He has rarely played a full game as the Timberwolves have won most of their games handily this season, making his potential somewhat mind-boggling for the postseason, his senior year, and beyond.

“My strength has always been my post work,” Brown said. “I am always working on my footwork and have been working to extend my game and face people up away from the basket.”

Brown’s accomplishments include playing on the 2015 U16 National Team that won a gold medal at the FIBA America’s Championship, but the junior big man is focused exclusively on getting Woodcreek noticed for its accomplishments on the basketball court.

“I try not to think much about the recruiting and individual attention,” Brown said. “My focus is on the team and what I need to do to help us win.”

While Brown has done plenty, he is by no means a one-man show. The Timberwolves returned four starters from

“Jordan is a standout in the classroom, on campus and on the court.

He is humble and a hard worker.”

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

17

a 20-9 team that posted a 10-2 mark in the SFL and gained valuable experience together. Senior point guard Tyrell Roberts leads the team in assists and steals, and is scoring 13.6 points per game while quarterbacking the Timberwolves’ offense. Senior wing Jackson Hughes is averaging 10.7 points per game and is the team’s top outside shooting threat. Junior Chris Cagle is a 6-foot-6 forward that complements Brown in the frontcourt on both ends of the floor.

In addition to the experience, the Timberwolves have more depth than a year ago. Brown and Cagle are supported in the post by Truman Sharp and Kyle Kern, and Naequan Parker and Brendan Covello provide extra talent at the small forward position. Junior guard Delis Boggs-Smith rounds out the bench as another long-range shooter who has hit better than half of his three-point attempts.

In his third year on the varsity, Brown has emerged as a team leader beyond the stat sheet. Hayes has seen his big man go from a shy freshman to an engaging student-athlete who now welcomes more attention and responsibility. Brown no longer feels the need to yield to upperclassmen with more experience and is embracing his new role.

“Through the years, I have been building my way and getting more comfortable with my role as a leader,” said Brown, who is also a member of Woodcreek’s Student Government Association this year. “I have adapted to my leadership role and try to get everyone involved in the game and at practice.”

“Jordan puts in a lot of time outside of practice, and the other guys notice that and follow his lead,” Hayes said. “You can’t help but work hard or you will be left behind.”

The Timberwolves are leaving opponents behind, and the

numbers indicate that defense is winning games and may be the key to winning championships for Woodcreek. Only Chino Hills has scored more than 66 points in a game against them this season, and they held 17 or their first 23 opponents to 50 or fewer points.

“Our success starts on the defensive end,” Hayes said. “We do a lot of preparation studying film. Assistant coach Joe Mazzuca designs our defensive game plans, and the kids are buying in.”

Woodcreek held only one opponent to less than 40 points during the 2015-16 season, but have done so 11 times through 23 games, including a stretch of five consecutive SFL contests to close out January. On Jan. 20, the Timberwolves held twotime defending league champion Folsom to 34 points in a somewhat surprising 69-34 rout of the Bulldogs.

Brown battled through early foul trouble to finish with a game-high 22 points, but it was the team’s depth that shined.

Hughes scored 17 points and Roberts tallied 15 as the Timberwolves got the attention of area teams and experts attempting to determine the teams to beware of in March. Hayes and Brown both pointed to the absence of Folsom guard Jayce McCain as a factor in a game that was closer than the score indicated. And neither lent credence to the Folsom victory as any kind of statement.

“We know that we have to take it one game at a time because we had some losses last year that might have been the result of overlooking someone,” Brown said. “Every game we play is a statement game.”

And the area and state are aware of the statements Brown and the Timberwolves are making. ✪

story by jim mccue photos by doug guler

18

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

NET RUSH Rancho Cordova Front And Center As Girls Club Volleyball Hits Full Swing

W

hen the CIF Girls Volleyball State Championships concluded in early December, it essentially marked the beginning of a new season — the girls club season. And club volleyball in NorCal occurs as part of the Northern California Volleyball Association.

With the arrival of 2017, the much-respected NCVA began its 34th year of providing high-level volleyball com-

petition for Northern California from Bakersfield to the Oregon border as well as Northern Nevada.

NCVA strives to deliver competition opportunities for every athlete, regardless of age or background. It offers its high-caliber Power League for age groups 12 through 18. The Power League consists of a two-day qualifier event and a two-day regional championship as well as three league tournament days in between. The Power League is designed to feed teams to the top levels of the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships each summer.

In addition, the NCVA features a Premier League (for age groups 11 to 17/18) that includes a one-day qualifier, four league tournaments and two-day regional championship. The organization also produces non-league options, a variety of special tournaments, and one of just 10 Junior Nationals qualifying events nationwide. That Far Western National Qualifier is held annually over two weekends at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

The NCVA is extremely active in the Rancho Cordova region, utilizing the 73,000 Square-Foot, nine-court Rancho Cordova Sports and Events Center as a site for league tournaments as well as the upcoming Spring Classic Tournament on March 4-5.

The Spring Classic is spread among six NorCal sites, and Rancho Cordova will be home to the 16-year-old age group. Prior to the tournament’s arrival, the Events Center will be the host site to various divisions of the Premier League Tournament #2 taking place on Feb. 25-26.

For more information on the Spring Classic, or to see schedules, standings and results from any of the various leagues, be sure to visit NCVA.com.

The Rancho Cordova Sports and Events Center is located at 2561 Mercantile Dr. in Rancho Cordova. For more information on the facility and its numerous events schedule, visit rcsportscenter.com. ✪

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

19

During a summer workout in June, Monte Vista’s Washington-bound quarterback Jake Haener needed to give his arm a rest and Nate Landman immediately ran over from the line of receivers.

As Landman fired rockets and bragged light-heartedly about his “gun,” Mustangs coach Craig Bergman could only smile and brush off Haener’s suggestion that Landman be his backup.

As it turned out, it didn’t matter where Bergman played the 6-foot-3, 212-pound senior — Landman was going to excel regardless. He played about every meaningful snap of Monte Vista’s 12-1 season, making major impacts on both sides of the ball.

“He’s the best football player we’ve ever had,” longtime Mustangs assistant coach Chris Babcock said. “He was a complete force on defense.”

Landman was an early commitment to Colorado, and he made the Buffaloes look awfully smart. His defensive numbers included more than 150 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He did this as the captain for a defense which allowed seven points or less in six of its 13 games, and was a major factor in the Mustangs winning the North Coast Section Div. I title — the program’s first NCS championship since 2002.

For all these accomplishments, Landman is the 2016 SportStars NorCal Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the fourth winner of the award, joining Boss Tagaloa (De La Salle-Concord, 2015), Ben Burr-Kirven (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton, 2014), and Adarius Pickett (El Cerrito, 2013).

His efforts for Monte Vista didn’t stop there, however. Landman also caught seven touchdown passes and finished just shy of 600 receiving yards. And yes, he threw two passes for 116 yards. Both went for touchdowns. Which means Haener is constantly reminded who had the better passing rating.

“All the time,” Landman said with a laugh.

Despite new Cal coach Justin Wilcox’s strong late effort to lure him away, Landman stayed true to his initial oral commitment to Colorado. He’ll join a Buffaloes team which went 10-4 and played in the Pac-12 Championship game.

“I need to get faster, and definitely stronger,” Landman said, looking ahead to his collegiate pursuits. “I’m hoping to get in there and learn the material fast, and once I do that, I’ll see what I can do on the field.” ✪ — Chace Bryson

20

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Tuli Letuligasenoa

Josh Falo

DL — TUCKER FISK

LB — CHRISTIAN WISEMAN

Davis | Sr. | 6-4, 255 Fisk led the Blue Devils to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time since 2007 with outstanding play on both sides of the ball. The Stanford signee was dominant on defense with 73 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a pair of blocked field goals. He also contributed 39 catches for 439 yards and 4 TDs as one of the area’s best tight ends.

Menlo-Atherton-Atherton | Sr. | 6-4, 230 The Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division Defensive Player of the Year finished his season with 171 tackles, 27.7 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. The Bears finished 13-2 and won CCS and NorCal Regional titles.

DL – DJ JOHNSON Burbank-Sacramento | Sr. | 6-5, 240 The Miami-bound DE’s combination of size and speed resulted in 85 tackles, including 31 tackles for loss and 15 sacks for the Titans. Johnson also caused five fumbles, recovered three fumbles and blocked a field goal. He finished his high school career with 38.5 sacks in three varsity seasons.

DL — TULI LETULIGASENOA De La Salle-Concord | Jr. | 6-2, 3-5 He was the anchor to the Spartans defensive front and led the CIF Open Div. runners-up in sacks.

He’ll enter his senior year as one of the Bay Area’s top recruits. His current list of offers include USC, UCLA, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Cal.

LB – JOSH FALO Inderkum-Natomas | Sr. | 6-5, 220 A highly-sought after TE, Falo turned in a stellar defensive season, recording 39 tackles, including 30 solo tackles, and three sacks despite opposing offenses running away from him and doubleand triple-teaming him. On offense, the USC-signee hauled in 21 catches for 410 yards and 8 TDs. He was the Sac Bee’s Metro Defensive Player of the Year.

LB — NATE LANDMAN

22

Bennett Williams

DB – TRAJON COTTON Inderkum-Natomas | Sr. | 6-1, 185 The multi-purpose athlete ultimately signed with Oregon State for his work in the defensive backfield. Cotton had 63 tackles, five interceptions and three fumble recoveries to help the Tigers to an 11th straight 10-win season. At QB, he threw for 1,595 yards and accounted for 23 TDs.

DB — JE’QUARI GODFREY Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland | Sr. | 6-2, 180 Has the size of a safety, but the skills of a cornerback. The West Alameda Athletic Conference Foothill Division Defensive Player of the Year had three interceptions and one fumble recovery for the CIF Div. V-AA State Bowl champs. Godfrey de-committed from Cal in late January and eventually signed with USC.

DB — TRE WHITE De La Salle-Concord | Sr. | 6-0, 175 White was the leader for the Spartans’ secondary and led the NCS Open Div. champions in interceptions. White also handled kick and punt returns. De La Salle finished 11-2 on the season. He signed to San Jose State.

DB — BENNETT WILLIAMS

Monte Vista-Danville | Sr. | 6-3, 212 Our NorCal Defensive Player of the Year was the ultimate playmaker for the NCS Div I champs.

The Colorado-signee averaged approximately 12 tackles per game with 32 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Offensively, he had 577 receiving yards and seven TDs. He also was 2 of 2 as a passer for 116 yards and two TDs.

St. Francis-Mountain View | Sr. | 6-1, 195 Williams will play for former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith at the University of Illinois next fall following an extremely prolific career with the Lancers. As a senior, Williams notched six interceptions (giving him 15 over two seasons) and added 49 tackles along with one blocked punt. He also caught 24 passes for 541 yards and five TDs for 10-2 St. Francis.

LB – ARIEL NGATA

ATH/ALL-PURPOSE — TARIQ BRACY

Folsom | Sr. | 6-4, 210 The Washington-bound speed rusher recorded 65 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and seven QB hurries while constantly being blocked by two or three opponents. His defensive prowess helped the Bulldogs reach a seventh consecutive SJS final.

Milpitas | Jr. | 6-0, 170 We’re pretty convinced Bracy could play any position but lineman after the feats he pulled off in 2016. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in both rushing (1,177 with 11 TDs) and receiving (1,036 with 13 TDs). Defensively, he posted 46 tackles and five interceptions.

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

LB/DE — Addison Gumbs | Stellar Prep-Hayward | Sr. | 6-2, 220 | Oklahoma-commit was major pocket disruptor.

DL — Ronald Phelps | Lincoln-SF | Sr. | 6-0, 285 | City Player of the Year had 124 tackles and 14.5 sacks.

DL — Ryan Robinson | Kennedy-Richmond | Sr. | 6-2, 220 | Eye-popping 23 sacks for upstart Eagles.

DL — Heikoti Vaisima | Clayton Valley-Concord | 6-2, 265 | 66 tackles to go with 7.5 sacks.

LB — Jake Bellecci | Elk Grove | Sr. | 6-1, 225 | 84 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 INT to cap a stellar four-year varsity career.

LB — Kyle Harmon | Freedom-Oakley | Sr. | 6-1, 220 | Cal-bound tackle machine finished with 146 for the Eagles; also had 4.5 sacks, four INT. LB — Trey Slade | Sutter | Sr. | 6-0, 200 | Closed 13-1 season with 82 tackles, six sacks, three INT and three fumble recoveries.

DB — Cameron Stone | Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills | Sr. | 6-0, 185 | Trojans’ ball-hawk had eight INTs, including 3 in the playoffs, and added 58 tackles for SJS D-1 semifinalist.

ATH — Montell Bland | Central Catholic-Modesto | Sr. | 6-1, 210 | Four-year star RB/LB had 774 rushing yards and 14 TDs to go along with 68 tackles, three sacks and one INT. ATH — Camrion Davis | Del Oro-Loomis | Sr. | 5-9, 195 | RB/LB shined in two state finals with two rushing TDs in 2015 and a pair of INTs in 2016; he rushed for 1,038 yards and 12 TDs and had 39 tackles and 3 INTs as a senior.

ATH — Lawrence Hardy | Grant-Sacramento | Sr. | 5-9, 165 | Speedy WR/DB scored five different ways while accounting for 1,415 all-purpose yards, 73 tackles and five INTs. ATH — Leki Nunn | Serra-San Mateo | Sr. | 5-11, 180 | Dual-threat QB had over 3,100 total yards (1,055 rush; 1,972 pass) and 39 total TDs. ATH — John Torchio | Campolindo-Moraga | Sr. | 6-2, 185 | Led CIF State Bowl Champs with seven INTs (one pick-6), six forced fumbles and one recovery. Also, 664 yards receiving and seven TDs.

Revealed In Issue #127, view now at SportStarsOnline.com

STARTERS

RESERVES

QB - Jake Dunniway, St. Mary’s-Stockton, Sr. RB - Najee Harris, Antioch, Sr. (Co-Offensive Player of the Year) RB - Ronnie Rivers, Freedom-Oakley, Sr. (CoOffensive Player of the Year) WR - Curtrell Haywood, Stagg-Stockton, Sr. WR - Mason Hurst, Del Oro-Loomis, Sr.(Player of the Year) TE - Erik Krommenhoek, Monte Vista-Danville, Sr. OL - Aaron Banks, El Cerrito, Sr. OL - Orlando Umana, Grant-Sacramento, Sr. OL - Popo Aumauvae, St. Mary’s-Stockton, Sr. OL - Kyle McCreery, Valley Christian-San Jose, Sr. OL - Alijah Vera-Tucker, Bishop O’DowdOakland, Sr. K - Peyton Henry, Monte Vista-Danville, Sr.

QB - Jake Haener, Monte Vista-Danville, Sr. QB - Jack Newman, Analy-Sebastopol, Sr. RB - Dusty Frampton, St. Mary’s-Stockton, Jr. RB - Kairee Robinson, De La Salle, Sr. RB - Elijah Dotson, Antelope, Sr. RB - Jordan Mims, Menlo-Atherton, Sr. WR - Isaiah Hodgins, Berean ChristianWalnut Creek, Sr. WR - Baylei Coston, Freedom-Oakley, Sr. WR - Drake Stallworth, Folsom, Sr..

TE - Jimmy Jaggers, Roseville, Sr. OL - Cole Norgaard, St. Mary’s-Stockton, Sr. OL - Drew Dalman, Palma-Salinas, Sr.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

23

24

SportStarsâ„¢

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

How To Play; How To Score; And What’s A Scrum?

L

ast month, we discussed the history of the sport of rugby, the very basics on what the sport is and where it is played.

This month, we explain HOW you actually play the game and what some of the laws of the game are.

STARTING THE GAME — Just as in American football, rugby begins with a kickoff to the opponent from midfield. Provided that the ball travels beyond the 10-meter line, any player from either team may gain possession of the ball.

MOVING OR ADVANCING THE BALL — Rugby, like soccer, is continuous. There is no blocking in rugby. The person with the ball leads the attack. There are only three ways to move the ball in rugby: a player may carry (run), pass or kick the ball. When a player is tackled or the ball hits the ground, play is not stopped unless there is some sort of infraction or the ball is considered dead or buried in a ruck or maul (explained later).

Running: When running the ball, players may continue to run until they are tackled, step out of bounds or run beyond the goal line. Players run the ball to advance toward the opponent’s goal line.

Passing: The ball may be passed to any player. However, it may only be passed laterally or backward, never forward. Players pass the ball to an open teammate to keep it in play and further advance it.

Kicking: Any player may kick the ball forward at any time. Once the ball is kicked, players of either team, regardless of whether or not the ball hits the ground, may gain possession. Players typically kick the ball to a teammate in an effort to advance it or to the opposing team to obtain relief from poor field position.

SCORING — There are four ways for a team to score points in rugby: Try: Five points are awarded to a team for touching the ball down in the other team’s in-goal area. This is much like a touchdown in American football but requires the ball actually be grounded.

Conversion: Following a try, two points are awarded for a successful kick through the goal posts. The attempt is taken on a line, at least 10 meters from the try line, straight out from the point where the ball was touched down. This is like an extra point in American football, but often at an extreme angle to the goalposts.

Penalty Kick: Following a major law violation, the attacking team, if in range, has the option to “kick for points.” Three points are awarded for a successful penalty kick. The kick must be from the point of the penalty or anywhere on a line straight behind that point. The ball is considered live and can be played if the kick fails.

Drop Goal: Three points are awarded for a successful drop kick. A drop kick may be taken from anywhere on the field during play. A drop goal is similar to a field goal in football; however, in rugby the kick is made during the course of normal play.

The ball is alive if the kick fails.

RESTARTING PLAY — There are three methods of restarting play following a stoppage caused by either the ball going out of bounds or because of an infraction of the laws.

Line-Out: If the ball goes out of bounds, it is restarted with a line-out. Except for a penalty kick out of bounds, the team that kicks or runs the ball out of bounds turns over the possession to the other team. Both teams form a line perpendicular to the touchline and one-meter (three feet) apart from one another. A team taking possession calls a play and throws the ball in the air in a straight line between the two lines. Players of each team may be supported in the air by their teammates to gain possession of the ball. This is similar to a jump ball in basketball.

Scrum: This method is used to restart the game after the referee has whistled a minor law violation. A bound group of players from each team (the forward pack) form a “tunnel” with the opposition. The offensive team’s Scrumhalf puts the ball into the tunnel by rolling it in where the Hooker tries to drag the ball back (hook it) with his foot to his teammates, while each team pushes forward to try and gain an advantage. The ball works its way back through the forwards and then the Scrumhalf retrieves the ball and generally passes it to the backline.

Penalty Play: After a major violation called by the referee, a team can be awarded a penalty kick. The offending team must retreat 10 meters. The awarded team can quickly tap the ball through the mark set by the referee and run it, or they can kick the ball directly out and be awarded the line-out where the ball crosses the sideline.

TACKLES, RUCKS AND MAULS — A player tackled to the ground must make the ball available immediately so play can continue. Supporting players from both teams converge over the ball on the ground, binding with each other in an attempt to push the opposing players backwards in a manner similar to a scrum. This situation is known as a ruck. The ball may not be picked up by any player, until the it emerges out of the back of the ruck. A maul is formed with a similar gathering of players, except the player in possession of the ball is simply held up, and not tackled. The maul ends when the ball emerges.

If you have any questions in the meantime, or would like more information on how to get involved yourself; contact Mark Carney at mcarney@rugbynorcal.org or visit www.rugbynorcal.org ✪

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

25

Records are through Feb. 4 1. (1)

—

Sheldon-Sacramento

22-2

2. (2)

—

Woodcreek-Roseville

21-2

3. (3)

—

Salesian-Richmond

21-3

4. (4)

—

St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda

22-1

5. (5)

—

De La Salle-Concord

19-4

6. (8)

▲

Oakland Tech

20-3

7. (10)

▲

Bellarmine-San Jose

19-1

8. (7)

▼

Capital Christian-Sacramento

15-7

9. (9)

—

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

14-8

10. (6)

▼

Dublin

19-3

11. (11)

—

St. Ignatius-S.F.

18-2

12. (12)

—

Vanden-Fairfield

21-2

13. (13)

—

St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo

19-4

14. (16)

▲

Burbank-Sacramento

21-2

15. (18)

▲

Mission-S.F.

22-1

16. (NR) ▲

Moreau Catholic-Hayward

13-9

17. (15)

▼

James Logan-Union City

18-5

18. (17)

▼

Heritage-Brentwood

19-3

19. (20)

▲

Modesto Christian

18-6

Manteca

19-5

20. (NR) ▲

dublin’s tim falls 26

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

S

omething special is brewing in Dublin. Tim Falls, Steven Houston and the Dublin High boys basketball team have been on a tear this season, building up a 19-2 record through Jan. 30 and challenging for supremacy in the East Bay Athletic League.

Coach Tom Costello said he started to think his team might be really good during the summer.

“In this day and age, you get five guys on the floor who get a role and accept that role, it‘s pretty special,” Costello said. “I started seeing evidence of that in summertime when they were playing together. I was thinking they were pretty good. There’s some defense going on and guys are committing to defending. This group of guys really makes me want to get up in the morning and work hard for them and go to practice.”

Houston, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, agreed.

“When we saw our ability to press and really play defense, when we were doing that in practice and in preseason we knew we had a chance to win EBAL,” he said.

The Gaels recently saw a 15-game winning streak snapped in a game at De La Salle. Their only previous loss came to Woodcreek-Roseville, one of the top teams in the state.

Costello noted that Dublin is 42-6 in the last two years, “so it’s not like we’re sneaking up on people. We’ve been doing pretty well.”

Offensively, the Gaels whip the ball around, passing, cutting and running the ball. They have height and quickness, and when the offense is working, it‘s a beautiful thing to watch. On defense, they love to press, creating turnovers and tempo.

Falls, a 6-2 senior guard, said it‘s all about team chemistry.

“We’ve been bonding the whole year,” he said. “I think that will help in tight situations when we’re down by six and we need to cut the lead when there‘s two minutes (left to play).”

It also helps to have some talent.

“Timmy is a playmaker,” Houston said. “He gets us all involved in this offense, (which is) set up so he can play the 1, 2 or 3.”

Said Costello of Falls, who is committed to Montana, “Tim has become a real floor leader for us. He’s very, very unselfish. He’s doing a lot of things for us on both ends of the floor.”

Falls is not alone. Costello praised Houston as a “Do-it-all inside guy.

He’ll take the other team’s best offensive guy. He does all that dirty work that doesn’t show up.”

They’re currently joined in the starting lineup by Conner Jackson, Jared

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

27

Smart and Jack Nielsen.

Jackson, a 6-2 junior guard, is a “playmaker,” according to Costello. “High-energy, causes a lot of disruption defensively.

He‘s hard to guard because he‘s an inside-outside guy.”

Smart, a 5-9 senior guard, also played on the Gaels football team.

“He knows his role,” Costello said. “His job is to get the ball to our playmakers, hit the open shot and take the opportunity to drive. Defensively, that football background he has really helps.”

Nielsen, a 6-7 junior center, has “come a long way offensiely,” Costello said. “He‘s really shaped up his game. He‘s really worked real hard in the offseason and he‘s tough to guard.”

Lurking in the near future is 6-1 freshman guard Robby Beasley, who has been out since December 17 when he broke his wrist against Heritage-Brentwood in the final of the Don Nelson Classic at Dublin. Beasley got his cast off on Jan. 24 and should be back on the floor soon.

Even in the loss to De La Salle, Dublin showed plenty of grit.

The host Spartans are a defending California Interscholastic Federation Open Division finalist. They love to slow the game down, and throughout the first quarter both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket. The soundtrack early on was each team’s fans taking turns counting down the shot clock.

Eventually, De La Salle got going while the Gaels continued to struggle, scoring just six points each in the first and second quarters. Falls was 0-for-7 shooting from the field at halftime and Dublin trailed 21-12. The Spartans extended the lead to 3119 in the third quarter, a monumental deficit against a team that limits possessions as well as De La Salle does.

However, the Gaels started chipping away. Cole McMahon, off the bench, buried a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for his only basket of the night to cut it to 35-29. In the fourth quarter, Dublin kept inching closer. Finally, in the final minute, Smart

conner jackson

steven houston

28

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

passed to Houston for a layup to cut the lead to 46-44. Despite their struggles, the Gaels had a shot.

It was not to be. A nifty sequence by De La Salle led to a Justin Pratt dagger 3-pointer and an eventual 51-45 Dublin loss.

The teams will likely meet again in the EBAL playoffs, the North Coast Section playoffs and maybe even in the CIF playoffs.

“I told them, win or lose, this is the middle game of a threegame week,” Costello said afterwards. “And it sucks. You have one day to prepare. And I understand it’s competitiveness, you want to beat these guys. They’re the top team on the other side and I get it. But, win or lose, we play Cal on Saturday.

The Gaels responded by boat racing California-San Ramon, 86-48.

Costello is in his 11th year coaching Dublin. The Amador Valley graduate also coached Tennyson for six years. Last year’s team went 23-4 but lost to Liberty-Brentwood in the opening round of the NCS Division I playoffs, 60-59. This year, thanks to realignment, they moved up into the EBAL, one of the toughest leagues in Northern California. Some questioned whether the Gaels might be in over their heads. They have shown not only that they belong but that they can win the league.

“I think we’re on the path,” Falls said. “I just think those little plays that we need, like help-side bluffing and get-back on that corner three — those are the things we need to improve on. I think if we improve on that little stuff, we‘ll be perfect.”

With the playoffs looming, the Gaels keep working. Including their coach, who kept talking about how hard he wanted to work for his players.

“I‘m fired up to get up in the morning to watch film,” Costello said. “They‘re just fun to coach. They‘re so darn competitive.”

He summed it up the simplest way possible.

“I just love my team,” he said. ✪

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

W

ith four NCAA-sized lighted fields over 22 acres, Redding Soccer Park has built a reputation as one of NorCal’s top destinations for youth and adult soccer teams alike.

The family-oriented venue sits at the top of the Sacramento Valley, and is an all-weather soccer complex that allows for events and tournaments year-round. The park was built to offer much more than just four playing surfaces. The goal is to offer a full experience.

That experience is noticeable immediately upon entering. Guests are treated to paved walkways, elevated seating around the fields, a full-service restaurant and over 2,000 square feet of covered seating, equipped with ceiling fans and misters for the hot summer and fall climate. The covered seating area provides views of all four fields. There is also a large play structure for younger attendees that includes climbing walls, slides, ladders and more.

As one may expect, the park has a heavy spring planned.

The SoccerKraze Tournament is an adult tournament that will take place on March 4-5. The tournament is capped at 32 teams and entry will be based on a first-come, firstserve basis. Available divisions include: Open, Co-ed Over 30 and Co-ed Over 40. Entry Fee for all teams is $400.

Each team in the tournament plays a minimum of three preliminary games, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. The number of teams per division is determined by the tournament committee, depending upon the number of qualified teams accepted per division.

On April 1-2, the park plays host to the first of two weekends belonging to The Border Classic — a tournament-style league for boys and girls ages U9, U10, U11, U12, U13 and U14 — built on partnerships with California Youth Soccer Association Districts 5 and 9, along with Oregon Youth Soccer. The teams can return for more play on May 6-7.

The Park officially rolls into summer with its annual party, Celebrate Soccer, on May 20. This year’s event includes an appearance by the U.S. National Women’s Team’s Megan Rapinoe, a Redding native and graduate of Foothill High of Palo Cedro. The festivities will also include a car giveaway. A Kia Sedona valued at $28,000 will be raffled off at $10 per ticket.

Information on the event and how to purchase a raffle ticket can be found at ReddingSoccerPark.com. One can also find information and registration links for both SoccerKraze and The Border Classic at the site as well. ✪

30

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStarsâ„¢

31

BARRAGE! Fairbrook’s 3-Point Shooting Prowess Sets New Mark

It was no surprise to see St. Francis-Sacramento senior Janae Fairbrook filling the basket with shots from beyond the arc in a recent victory over Delta League foe Grant-Sacramento. As a junior, she made a school-record 82 3-pointers as the Troubadours advanced all the way to the CIF State Basketball Championships, and had made 179 triples in 81 varsity games through January.

But, when all of her baskets were counted at the end of St. Francis’s 87-31 win over the Pacers, Fairbrook had set a new school record with 11 3-pointers for a career-high 41 points — despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter. The sharp-shooting guard had accounted for 36 of the Troubadours’ 60 first-half points when she first realized that she was having an historic night from beyond the arc. Danielle Viglione, a 1993 graduate of Del Campo-Fair Oaks, owns the state and NorCal records for 3’s in a game with 14.

“I had no idea how many points I had during the game, and didn’t know how many 3s that I had made,” said Fairbrook, who

made 10 consecutive 3-pointers before the intermission. “When we were leaving the floor at halftime, some of the cheering section were holding up 10 fingers to me and cheering, so I guessed then that I had made that many.”

She had 22 points after one quarter and made five straight from distance to end the period. She then added four more long shots in the second quarter to extend her shooting streak to 10 consecutive triples. For the game, she made 11-of-16 shots from beyond the arc to raise her long-range shooting percentage to 42 percent for the season.

“It is all a function of the practice she puts into the game,” St. Francis coach Vic Pitton said. “She got the shots in the context of our offense. I have never seen anyone so hot to make 10 3’s in a row to start the game. I normally would sub but I was not going to pull her out until she missed.”

Eventually Fairbrook missed a long jumper and played sparingly in the second half while cheering her teammates on from

“I have never seen anyone so hot to make 10 3’s in a row to start the game. I normally would sub but I was not going to pull her out until she missed.”

32

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Records are through Feb. 4

St. Francis-Sacramento’s Janae Fairbrook is such a good 3-point shooter that her team can only watch in amazement.

— St. Francis-Sacramento coach Vic Pitton the bench for the entire fourth.

Her season started with back-to-back solid shooting efforts in which she was a combined 10-for-20 from long range, but Fairbrook slumped from beyond the arc with a 3-for-23 stretch that included a 1-for-9 effort in the Troubadours’ lone league loss to Elk Grove on Dec. 30.

Since the double-digit triples against Grant, Fairbrook has remained hot, making 9-of-18 3’s in the next two games.

“It’s definitely a confidence builder,” Fairbrook said of her record performance. “But each day and game is different.”

Pitton was impressed, but not surprised.

“It was a very special performance,” the coach said. “But when we see it every day in practice, it is not unthinkable that she would do it, and she will do it again.”

1. (1)

—

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

18-2

2. (2)

—

Carondelet-Concord

18-4

3. (3)

—

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

18-3

4. (4)

—

Pinewood-Los Altos Hills

19-2

5. (5)

—

Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa

21-3

6. (6)

—

St. Mary’s-Stockton

14-7

7. (8)

▲

Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F.

12-7

8. (7)

▼

Salesian-Richmond

16-8

9. (10)

▼

McClatchy-Sacramento

20-3

10. (12)

▲

Heritage-Brentwood

18-4

11. (9)

▼

Miramonte-Orinda

18-3

12. (11)

▲

Menlo-Atherton-Atherton

20-1

13. (13)

—

Folsom

21-3

14. (14)

—

Eastside College Prep-E. Palo Alto

15-6

15. (15)

—

Lincoln-Stockton

18-6

16. (18)

▲

Vanden-Fairfield

19-5

17. (NR) ▲

Campolindo-Moraga

17-5

18. (16)

▼

Modesto Christian

19-4

19. (17)

▼

James Logan-Union City

18-4

20. (20)

—

West Campus-Sacramento

17-3

OPEN DISCUSSION Can a team with seven losses wind up in the NorCal Open playoffs?

No one really knows how the new statewide committee will operate, but St. Mary’s-Stockton would be a real test for any selection process. As of Feb. 4, the Rams have seven losses and Aquira DeCosta, one of the best players in the country, is hurt. But DeCosta is expected to return for postseason, and it’s quite possible that with her in the lineup, St. Mary’s will win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title.

If that happens, is St. Mary’s an Open team? Or are seven losses simply too many? Salesian-Richmond, a team with eight losses as of Feb. 4, could beat Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland and win the North Coast Section Div. III title. If so, the Pride will have two wins over O’Dowd plus a win over Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa. Is that an Open resume?

Another question is how many berths the Sac-Joaquin Section will get in the Open. Presumably, the Division I champion would go straight to the Open, but Folsom — which has lost only when guard McKenzie Forbes has been out due to injury — does not meet the criteria for the Open division. So if Folsom wins the Division I title, beating St. Mary’s in the final for the Rams’ eighth defeat, and sevenloss Sacramento (ranked 95th in the state by the MaxPreps.com computer) wins Division II, who represents Sac-Joaquin? Anyone?

If only one Sac-Joaquin team advances, then either Central Coast or North Coast will have to send four teams; if none, then the top four from each section will move on, seriously cutting into the chances of either of those sections claiming a state title.

In short, it’s going to be a very interesting Sunday when the new committee sits down to sort all this out – and there are going to be some unhappy people no matter what the decisions are. ✪ — Jim McCue & Clay Kallam

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

33

join the MOVEMENT health watch: jessica medros

Since the early 1920s Pilates has been used as rehabilitative exercise. The following principles are the basis of Pilates for functional movement and optimal performance.

1. Alignment and base of support take precedence.

Alignment is the relationship between body parts and body regions in all planes of motion. It requires self-awareness and proprioception, or the ability to know where the joints are in space. Regulate the base of support, including all weight-bearing structures, such as the feet in standing, the sit bones in sitting, and so on.

2. Emphasize stability before mobility.

In each exercise, there are specific body parts that act as the foundation (the core), and others that move in a choreographed manner (the limbs). The foundational muscles in Pilates are the anticipatory and deep, stabilizing muscles of the core. An exception is when a young athlete has joint restrictions or stiffness.

Structural limitations may also result from a past injury or surgery.

In these cases, it is important to increase mobility and stability.

3. Breath is continuous.

Breathing guides and facilitates movement. For example, exhalation facilitates lumbar stability and co-contraction of the pelvic floor muscles with the lower abdominals. Inhalation facilitates thoracic expansion and overhead arm motions.

4. Every exercise has axial elongation (the scoop).

Pilates teaches axial elongation, or good posture with a

34

SportStars™

February 2017

neutral spine. It is the opposite of compression and forms the foundation of many exercises.

5. Mastery equates motor control.

Motor control refers to the relative force of muscle contraction required to perform a movement. It’s the ability to sequence movement, anticipate and modulate how much muscles contract according to the relative load, time movement of body segments, control directional changes in motion and develop patterns of coordination. The result is a more efficient movement pattern and the least amount of stress to the body. Learning motor control in Pilates provides a motor map that can be referred to and applied to functional activities throughout daily life.

So What’s The Scoop?

The scoop is a benchmark of Pilates. It is the ability to maintain the abdominal contraction (without constricting the breath) while simultaneously enacting multiple muscular cocontractions. This concert of movements produces a dynamic connection between the core, the pectoral girdle (‘the secondary powerhouse’) and pelvic girdle (‘the primary powerhouse’) and hence, between the upper and lower extremities. In other words, full-body commitment is achieved in Pilates.

We Squat in Pilates?

Yes! An inability to correctly execute the squat will result in a perpetuation of faulty motor patterns and compensations. It is

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

common for young athletes with tight hamstrings to tuck during the squat. To avoid this, reduce the range of motion and insist on deeply drawing the abdominal muscles in and up (scoop!).

The squat has high rehabilitative value. For example, not only does it teach to avoid knee valgus (knock knees), but it also moves the knee joint through a functional range of motion, into flexion on the down-phase (135°) and into extension on the up-phase (0°). Full knee extension is required to properly load the lower extremity. The reason for this is the gravity-line. Proper standing alignment ensures the body’s center of mass falls slightly in front of the knee, so the extensor torque of the hamstrings relieves the work of the quadriceps and muscle equilibrium is established between the anterior and posterior quadrants of the thigh. Achieving full knee extension in standing is essential to developing normal stride lengths, optimally dissipating compression loads, and preventing quadriceps atrophy and patellofemoral syndrome.

Where Can I Find Pilates?

Join me in Oakland every Monday evening from 7-8pm for Pilates mat classes! You will learn therapeutic techniques, functional movements such as good posture and the squat, and have fun. Parents who accompany young athletes are welcome to join.

See you there! ✪ Jessica Medros is a physical therapist specializing in pilates for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and its Sports Medicine For Young Athletes division.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Equipped For

BATTLE

Strength Training Requires A Commitment To Attacking Both Physical And Mental Challenges

weight training: anthony trucks

Firstly, thanks for taking the time to read these articles. I love writing them and helping you get better.

Ahroo ahroo!! I was recently featured on the Spartan Race podcast, and the creator of the Spartan Race did a full article about me for Inc. Magazine and it was amazing. See, I run the races as well. They’re a challenge, and part of the fun is preparing for them in two areas: Mentally and physically.

If you haven’t run one yet, then know it’s a battle. Both in preparation and in racing. You have to be equipped for the battle, like Spartans used to be. That equipment comes from the weight room.

I’m about to re-open my gym in Antioch and ironically I’m on the search for equipment that will equip people for the battles they will fight. The battle in competition against others, and the battle against themselves in their own mind. If you want to win both, you have to sweat in practice so you won’t bleed in battle. I mean that literally.

This is the time of the year that weight rooms are packed with people sometimes fighting the same battle they’ve fought for years. The battle that seems un-winnable at times. There’s something special about the weight room because it builds both muscle and minds when you find your limits and crush them.

Here’s my advice: You’re already fighting these battles, but you’re fighting them without any weapons. Step into that weight room with one mindset. To push the weights, and push yourself, so you can push your limitations.

You do that, and you’ll step out of there fully equipped to take on the daily battles of your life. ✪ Anthony Trucks is an IYCA-certified trainer who covers weight training for SportStars.

36

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Angst Over

ANXIETY

get mental: erika carlson

We’ve all been there. Feeling tight. Jittery. Nauseous.

Overwhelmed. Lack of control of your muscles. Confidence is nowhere to be found. Pre-game nerves.

Getting nervous is nothing new. It’s a function that’s embedded in our DNA and is designed to keep us alert and safe from potential danger. I often tell excessively nervous young athletes that if it were a different time in history, all that anxiety could be put to good use as a look out for the family cave or castle.

The highly anxious person was ready for battle at any moment.

But today, our nerves don’t always have such an obvious benefit.

Today’s “threats” tend to be those to our egos, situations where we may be perceived as not good enough. We tend to fear mistakes and failure. To be clear, I am in no way making light of this.

The fear that we feel is as strong as our ancestors’. The context is different, but the fear is real. Let’s break it down to examine what’s going on when nerves strike before a game or a key moment.

WE ANTICIPATE A SITUATION — The fear center of our brain sends messages which trigger our adrenal glands. Adrenal glands send a burst of adrenaline racing through our body. This causes the following symptoms: ›› Jitters (combination of increased heart rate, muscle tension) ›› Shallow breathing ›› Tightness ›› Excessive thinking about what might happen ›› Feel sick to our stomach ›› We feel helplessly stuck in our nerves, unable to shake the feeling, which causes more worry, and so the problem builds on itself. Stress levels are very high. ›› Performance suffers and we often find ourselves performing significantly worse in games, than in practices.

What can you do to get in control? A few simple strategies can make a big difference in your pre-game nerves: BE PREPARED — There’s no better source of confidence than being fit, technically sound and properly fueled. This will help you anticipate the game differently. Rather than fear what might happen, you can feel excited about the opportunity to compete.

BREATHE — This is the fastest, easiest and most reliable way to stay present, fight the adrenaline rush, lower your heart rate and feel a sense of control. Long slow breaths force you to slow down. Breathe early and often to get and stay in control.

EMBRACE YOUR NERVES — Feeling nervous is OK. What you’re feeling is your brain and body preparing for battle. The battle just happens to be in your sport. Adrenaline acts like rocket fuel for your muscles to allow you to spring into action. This is your moment, use that to fuel your game. Use it as an advantage.

Simple solutions can go a long way to manage nerves. Focus on these strategies, and remember, like any new skill it will take a lot of quality reps to hold up under pressure. ✪ Erika Carlson is a CEO and certified mental trainer at Mental Training, Inc. in Pleasanton.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

February 2017

SportStars™

37

the

BUZZ on caffiene nutrition: jill daniels

Triple venti, half-sweet, non-fat caramel Macchiato.

Tall, half-caff, soy latte at 120 degrees.

Non-fat Frappuccino with extra whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Over the years, we have become a very caffeinated society, with dozens of different drink options available to fit anyone’s taste buds. Many athletes have experienced benefits from ingesting caffeine before a workout.

Caffeine has been shown to improve endurance, help athletes train harder and increase concentration levels. Besides coffee, tea and soda, caffeine is found in chocolate, energy drinks, and energy gels. Guarana, yerba mate, guayusa, and kola nut are ingredients, typically found in energy drinks, that also contain caffeine.

Every athlete responds differently to caffeine. It could leave someone feeling energized and ready to go, or it could leave them feeling jittery and nauseated. With that said, it’s important to not experiment with it on competition day.

If you find yourself relying on caffeine to keep you energized throughout the day, there may be something missing in your fuel and hydration plan. Make sure you are eating adequate calories at breakfast and throughout the day, along with keeping your body hydrated all day including during practice and training sessions. You may also simply need more sleep!

Caffeine is regulated by several agencies and associations in the sports world. The NCAA and the International Olympic Committee have established maximum limits to help athletes avoid misuse of caffeine for competition. The Mayo Clinic has also established healthy limits for daily use. They state that up to 400 mg/day is safe for most healthy adults, 100 mg/day is the upper limit for adolescents and no caffeine is recommended for children. Keep these levels in mind as you’re making decisions on how to take the best care of your body.

Even though caffeine has been proven to improve performance, it’s best to focus on the basics of a good nutrition and training plan first. Make sure your diet is providing adequate fuel and nutrients on a consistent basis. Work hard as you listen to your coaches and trainers to be well prepared for competition. Get to bed on time and get extra sleep on weekends as you need it. These habits can make a big difference in improving your sports performance, and you won’t even need caffeine! ✪ Maximize your athletic performance by seeking out personalized advice from Nutrition Coach Jill Daniels, MS, RD, CSSD, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. www.JillDanielsRD.com

38

SportStars™

February 2017

Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!