NorCal Issue 138, Sept. 2017 by Sport Stars Magazine

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SEPTEMBER 2017 NORCAL EDITION VOL. 8 ISSUE 138

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Cal-Hi Sports’ California State Football Top 20 Rankings

Mitty VB has a rich state title history. It’s ready to write another chapter

First girls volleyball rankings of the season make their debut

in the magazine

James Logan VB was great last year and is ready to prove it will be again

Anthony Bradley opens eyes as Sac High’s killer wide receiver

STRONG AS OAK 31

Oak Ridge is accustomed to being a force to be reckoned with. Emily Gillingham, above, and Madison Shields lead the charge. Pg. 20

EXCLUSIVE: NorCal Football Top 20 Rankings

Get fit with our Level Up experts — no excuses, just results

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

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Kyle Campiotti and the red-hot Manteca Buffaloes will be featured in the Sept. 21 SportStars Extra.

Mission Hills-San Marcos has With girls volleyball in full started strong behind QB swing, catch new NorCal Top Jack Tuttle. Will they crack the 20 rankings every Wednesday. next State Top 20? New ranks every Tuesday. Subscribe to our Digital Edition at SportStarsMag.com Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

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Kaiden Bennett FOLSOM - FOOTBALL - JUNIOR The Bulldogs quarterback opened the season displaying efficiency and versatility to lead Folsom to the top of the Sac-Joaquin Section ranks. Bennett is stepping up to earn mention as the next outstanding QB in a long line of recent signal callers under head coach Kris Richardson. In his first three varsity starts at the position, he has led the Bulldogs to victories over highly regarded programs from near and far. In Folsom’s opener, Bennett was limited to just eight passes, but he connected on seven of them for 206 yards, including three for touchdowns as the Bulldogs raced past Idaho power Coeur d’Alene 56-33. After that, he showed his explosiveness as a passer and rusher (in the mold of former Folsom star QB Dano Graves) in wins over Jesuit-Carmichael and Oakdale. In those games against SJS foes, Bennett threw for 593 yards and 10 TDs while rushing for 203 yards and a pair of scores. For the season, he has thrown for more TDs (13) than anyone in the section and is second in the SJS with 1,039 total yards.

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NETGAINS

e’ve been talking a lot about partnerships in this space over the last several months. Some of which have been more fruitful than others. There’s only two partnerships we’ve forged over the last seven years which I felt were no-brainers at the time. The first was joining forces with Mark Tennis at Cal-Hi Sports. The second is the one I’m announcing here right now. SportStars and SportStarsMag.com will be the media sponsor and primary content provider of the Northern California Volleyball Association. As this is our in-season 2017 Girls Volleyball Preview, it seemed as though there was no time better to make the announcement. The NCVA is the governing body and overseer of all club volleyball in the Northern California region. It’s a non-profit organization recognized as a region of USA Volleyball for Northern California and Northern Nevada. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Over the coming months, we’ll be working with the NCVA to broadcast a variety of topics surrounding club volleyball. Among them are: CLUB TRYOUTS: If one plans to play club volleyball at any level, that person will have to take part in the tryouts Nov. 4-5. For more information on tryouts in your region, contact NCVA.com or email vball@ncva.com. ADULT SCREENING/ATHLETE SAFEGUARDS: The NCVA is at the forefront of child safety, requiring

any adult participating in the Junior program (coaches, officials and staff) to obtain mandatory coaching certification, officials training, background screenings and USAOC SafeSport training, and ways they can make this process even more widespread. AN EXPANDING LIST OF VENUES: The NCVA hosts many tournaments every year at high school gyms, sports centers and convention centers. The Far Westerns National Qualifier is the organization’s largest event, which is held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center — an arena that includes 90 courts under one roof. RECRUITING COMBINES: Championship Combines works with NCVA to create opportunities for high school and club-age players to showcase their skills in front of college volleyball coaches. The NCVA hosts two such events: the Boys Combine in September and the Girls Combine in January 2018. More information can be found by visiting www.ncva.com/combine. NOT JUST CLUBS: The NCVA acknowledges a recent National Federation State High School Federation survey finding that girls volleyball is still the No. 1 team sport in participation numbers. Eventually the NCVA would love to provide a convention center-style event that high school teams could participate in. Those are a few of the topics you’ll be reading about in the coming months, thanks to our friends at NCVA. We’re looking forward to it, and hope you are too. ✪

JOIN OUR TEAM PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 EDITORIAL Editor@SportStarsMag.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsMag.com Assistant Editor Mike Wood Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Dave Kiefer, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn, Mark Tennis, James G. Kane, Harold Abend, Jill Daniels, Anthony Trucks, Erika Westhoff Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography James K. Leash, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans III, Samuel Stringer, Jim Johnson, Dennis Lee Interns Joshua Howser, Krishna Gomatam Marketing/Events Ryan Arter CREATIVE DEPARTMENT Art@SportStarsMag.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsMag.com PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsMag.com ADVERTISING Sales@SportStarsMag.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsMag.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com READER RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATION Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Info@SportStarsMag.com INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsMag.com 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 CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #8, September 2017 Whole No. 138 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.

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Forfeit Philosophy When Not Playing Is The Right Call

t usually doesn’t take long for forfeits to rear their ugly head each football season and we had two very different ones in Northern California to start 2017. One of them, in fact, could be called “a good one.” That forfeit was the one that Brookside Christian-Stockton offered up and was accepted by Milpitas for a scheduled game on Sept. 8 between the Knights and Trojans. It seemed as if Brookside was going to be in trouble playing Milpitas this season after the opening week when it lost 80-46 to Rio Vista while Milpitas, considered one of the Top 10 teams in the Bay Area this season, won its first game 62-0 over American-Fremont. Then in the team’s second game, Brookside Christian lost 70-0 to Fremont-Oakland and a “couple of key linemen were injured,” according to athletic director Ron Ayers. “For the safety of the others still playing, we had to forfeit and Milpitas agreed.” The game had initially been scheduled when former head coach Jordan McGowan was at Brookside and had openly talked about trying to build up a program to compete at the highest levels. After McGowan’s departure last spring, several players expected to be standouts on this year’s team at Brookside — especially quarterback Quincy Glasper and junior linebacker Jalen Williams — transferred out as well. That left new head coach Mike Huber and those still around in more of a rebuilding mode. What made matters more tricky for Milpitas is that its scheduled game the previous weekend at Dublin was cancelled due to severe heat and poor air quality. Head coach Kelly King really didn’t want to have his team without a game for two weeks, but it didn’t take long for Berkeley to emerge as a possible opponent. The Yellowjackets were supposed to be on their bye week, but also had their game the previous weekend cancelled and also didn’t want to be off for two weeks. It all basically worked out for all parties involved with the Brookside Christian forfeit, but the forfeit that Terra Nova-Pacifica took for its first game against Gunderson-San Jose was

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more of a mess. That one came about when Terra Nova players and those from Moreau Catholic-Hayward got into a scuffle during a preseason scrimmage one week before season openers. Players from both teams came off the sideline area to get involved, according to newspaper reports. If that fight had taken place during a regular-season game, then the consequences for both schools would have been the same — a likely forfeit of the next game with that many players having to sit out a one-game suspension. But in this case it was at a scrimmage, and since Terra Nova is part of the CIF Central Coast Section while Moreau Catholic is part of the CIF North Coast Section, different rules applied. In the CCS, it doesn’t matter in its bylaws if ejections occur in a scrimmage. But in the NCS, a scrimmage does not apply. Terra Nova officials could have perhaps not taken a forfeit by sitting out one half of the team against Gunderson and then the other half the following week, but principal Megan Carey decided to take the forfeit after meeting with CCS commissioner Duane Morgan and league commissioner Terry Stogner. “She made her decision based on she was at the game,” Morgan told the San Jose Mercury News. “She saw what went on. She, bottom line, stood up and did the appropriate thing and forfeited the game. Every section has a little bit different nuance. Our board says whenever you are going to compete against another team, you have to follow the rules.” There are also rules about how forfeits are handled in the Cal-Hi Sports state record book. They essentially don’t count. Only on-the-field results count, but with an asterisk added to explain the forfeits. After its win on the field against Berkeley on Sept. 9, for example, Milpitas was listed at 2-0 with an asterisk and not 3-0. Handling forfeits in that fashion is just the way the record book was set up many, many years ago by Cal-Hi Sports founder Nelson Tennis. Doing it any other way would require going through all of the many state record lists and changing all of them to reflect forfeit wins and losses. TyRee Bracy of Milpitas Many may not agree with how we report on forfeits, but one thing’s for sure: It’s the same for every school in the state and nuances from each CIF section don’t matter at all. ✪ 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 at @CalHiSports

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PRESEASON CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL STATE TOP 20

Demitrius Flowers of St. John Bosco (After games of Saturday, Sept. 9) 1. (1) — Mater Dei-Santa Ana 3-0 Levi’s Stadium-bound Monarchs already have broken Las Vegas Bishop Gorman’s 55-game win streak and may head to Santa Clara on Sept. 23 with national No. 1 ranking. They do have a tough game on Sept. 16 vs. Bergen Catholic (N.J.). 2. (2) — St. John Bosco-Bellflower 2-1 The Braves’ loss was in overtime to national-powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They just beat previous No. 6 Chaminade 31-17. 3. (3) — Centennial-Corona 2-1 Top QB Tanner McKee only played parts of the first quarter in the Huskies’ 40-20 loss to IMG Academy of Florida before going out with an ankle injury. IMG also is getting No. 1 national consideration along with Mater Dei. 4. (4) — De La Salle-Concord 3-0 A 31-7 win over St. Francis-Mountain View matched up the top two teams in Bay Area rankings at the time. DLS also has a national win vs. St. John’s (Washington DC) and has trip to play Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas on the schedule. 5. (5) — Mission Viejo 3-0 Prior to matchup on Sept. 15 at No. 6 Long Beach Poly, the Diablos were figuring out how to operate without top running back Jamari Farrell, who suffered a broken leg against La Habra. 6. (7) ▲ Long Beach Poly 2-0 QB Matt Corral has made some huge throws for TDs in wins against Los Alamitos and Narbonne. Corral has committed to Florida. 7. (11) ▲ Folsom 3-0 Huge wins over Jesuit-Carmichael and Oakdale combined with St. Mary’s-Stockton taking a loss to Central Catholic pushes the Bulldogs up to No. 2 in NorCal behind De La Salle. 8. (8) — Narbonne-Harbor City 2-1 Dermontti Peoples came up big for the Gauchos (just like he did in earlier win vs. Serra-Gardena) by returning an interception 95 yards in a 34-15 win against Palos Verdes. 9. (9) — Rancho Cucamonga 2-0 The Cougars entered their third game at Bishop Amat-La Puente having won 13 of their last 14 games overall. 10. (12) ▲ Calabasas 2-0 Sophomore QB Jaden Casey has been outstanding thus far as replacement for graduated standout Tristan Gebbia. Calabasas is top-ranked team according to L.A. Daily News.

11. (6) ▼ Chaminade-West Hills 2-1 Before an 82-yard pick six, the Eagles were in a 0-0 tie with St. John Bosco in the second quarter of their game last week. They eventually lost 31-17. 12. (14)

▲

Lutheran-Orange

3-0

This is first of four Trinity League teams slotted in the 12, 13, 14 and 15 positions all in a row. OLu is highest of the four based on its win over Cathedral Catholic-San Diego. 13. (15) ▲ Santa Margarita-Rancho SM 3-0 The Eagles have lopsided wins over Downey, Loyola-L.A. and Alemany-Mission Hills. Downey and Loyola have both had strong wins themselves. 14. (19) ▲ JSerra-San Juan Capistrano 3-0 Matt Robinson connected on 16 of 32 passes for 304 yards and five TDs as the Lions beat Bishop Amat-La Puente 59-35. 15. (20) ▲ Servite-Anaheim 3-0 Servite’s three wins are against Norco, American Fork (Utah) and Roosevelt-Eastvale. Roosevelt was a highly ranked team by the Riverside Press-Enterprise. 16. (16) – Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 3-0 The Trojans haven’t moved since the preseason, mainly because they only won by one point in a game played at Vacaville. Their third win was 46-8 vs. Burbank-Sacramento. 17. (17)

—

San Clemente

3-0

With the last two Triton QBs now at USC (Sam Darnold & Jack Sears), there’s been pressure for the next one, Brandon Costello, to perform. So far so good after a 45-7 romp past Fullerton. 18. (18) — Valencia 2-0 Moises Haynes has been a beast for the Vikings so far, including 16 carries for 216 yards and two TDs in a 56-14 win against Chaparral-Scottsdale (Ariz.). 19. (22) ▲ Serra-Gardena 1-2 The Cavs’ two losses are to Narbonne-Harbor City and Punahou (Hawaii). They just beat Dorsey-L.A. 44-7, which was a 2016 finalist in the CIF L.A. City Section D1 playoffs. 20. (13) ▼ St. Francis-Mountain View 2-1 Lancer defense only gave one scoring drive to De La Salle that was longer than 50 yards and before playing the Spartans had outscored first two opponents 75-6. DROPPED OUT: No. 10 St. Mary’s-Stockton.

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SENDING

Sierra Sand

Placer Valley Tourism is thrilled to announce that the construction of four new sand volleyball courts is fully underway at Sierra College in Rocklin and will be ready for use this month. Sierra College received $44,000 from PVT to help fund this exciting project, which was allocated from PVT’s $850,000 special projects budget for 2017. Sierra College Associate Dean and Assistant Athletic Director Rachel Johnson explained that adding these four beach-style volleyball courts to their campus allows the college to offer new classes, host intercollegiate sand volleyball tournaments and bring new community events onto the campus. “We are really excited about the addition of the sand volleyball courts and we could not have done this without the support of our President Willy Duncan, our Facilities Directors Laura Doty and Colin Irwin and, of course, Placer Valley Tourism,” stated Johnson. “Everyone worked tirelessly to come up with a plan and to make that plan happen.” Donna Dotti, PVT’s Director of Sales, echoed Johnson’s excitement, “We are delighted to support Sierra College’s effort to expand sand volleyball in the area; not only will these courts allow for some great college competition, but will also enable Placer Valley Tourism to attract event organizers to host their competitions here as well.” Sierra College will be the first community college in the Sacramento region to have an on-campus sand volleyball facility. The campus is located at 5100 Sierra College Blvd. in Rocklin and the new courts are located adjacent to the home side of the football field. Come check them out! ✪ — All Copy & Photos Provided By Placer Valley Tourism

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Wild Wild

WEST

Women’s West Coast TOC Wrestling Returns To Rocklin The Women’s West Coast Tournament of Champions is returning for the third installment on Dec. 15-16 and this year is going to be the biggest one yet! This incredible all-female wrestling tournament will once again take place at Hardwood Palace in Rocklin with a high school and college division. Placer Valley Tourism is thrilled to be partnering with Sacramento Area Wrestling Association and Cliff Keen Wrestling, who once again will be the title sponsor, for this exciting event. The tournament will kick off on Friday, Dec. 15 with the college women wrestlers hitting the mats for their duals. The high school varsity and junior varsity wrestlers will start their competitions that same day. The college open round will take place on Saturday, Dec. 16 and the high school athletes will wrap up their final matches to see who is crowned champion of the WWCTOC. The WWCTOC is the only all-female tournament in the nation to feature both college and high school wrestlers. That alone makes it a truly unique event; however they take it a step further with the College Showcase. Coaches will have the opportunity to observe, interact and recruit top female high school wrestlers from the West Coast and the wrestlers will be able to meet with college coaches to gain first-hand insight to many different college wrestling programs and the recruiting process. Already 11 colleges from throughout the country and Canada are confirmed. PVT is excited to welcome back Simon Fraser University, Eastern Oregon University, Menlo College, Grays Harbor Community College, Warner Pacific College and Southwestern Oregon Community College, all whom attended the WWCTOC last year. Bacone College from Oklahoma, Emmanuel College from Georgia, Ottawa University from Kansas and the University of the Fraser Valley from Canada will be participating in the tournament this year and we look forward to adding more to this remarkable list. Several standout high school wrestlers are already confirmed, including Jessica Sanchez from Tulare Union High School, who was recently named the 127-pound Cadet National Champion. The competition is guaranteed to be fierce and the WWCTOC offers an outstanding opportunity for female wrestling teams to take their competition to the next level. Don’t delay, go to www.wwctoc.com to get your team signed up today! ✪

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Behind the Clipboard by Clay Kallam

Miss It To Make It? Our quarterback is a senior, and he’s a good guy, but last year, he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in our playoff game. We’ve got a junior transfer from a small school who has a better arm, but his team wasn’t very good, and he didn’t play against many good teams. Some of the guys think we should stick with the senior, and others want to go with the better arm. What do you think? — R.M., San Jose

bviously, that’s a hard question to answer without knowing a lot more about your team and the two quarterbacks, and but even if I did, there’s no way to know what the right choice is. All the coach can do is make the best decision he can, and hope it works out. Still, that kind of situation happens in a lot of sports, and there are a couple of variables that people sometimes overlook. Yes, the physical talent is important, but so is the mental side. Let’s start with this: The senior, the one who had the bad playoff game, had to deal with the loss and the way he played. Some guys have that happen and lose confidence, and never really bounce back. Others, though, figure out a way to use a game like that as a lesson and get better. So has that senior responded by working harder and being more of a leader? If so, then that’s a major positive. The other thing to remember is that experience doesn’t mean a thing until you have it. The senior has played in a big game, and probably more than one if you made the playoffs. The new quarterback has never been in that kind of a situation, and it takes more than talent to shine when the lights are

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brightest. I always tell young basketball players “You have to miss it to make it. Not very many people make their first 3-pointer in a game; not many make their first left-handed layup. But until you miss one (or two or five), you won’t be ready to make one. You have to figure out how to make it work, physically and mentally, and usually that means you have to screw it up a couple times.” Your senior has already missed one; the junior hasn’t even tried one. Now it could be that the junior steps into the spotlight, never blinks and leads the team to a fourth-quarter comeback. Or he could struggle under the kind of pressure he’s never felt before and make some mistakes he wouldn’t make the next time he was in that situation. One other thing: Juniors, in whatever sport, are well aware they have one more year; seniors know this is the end — and that difference gives seniors a sense of urgency and a kind of grit that very few underclassmen can possess. Again, you can’t be aware of it until you’re in the middle of it, but if I want to win one playoff game, I want as many seniors as possible out there because I know that they know there’s no tomorrow. Still, no matter how you analyze it, you can never know what the right decision was, especially if you lose. Could the other guy have done better? Maybe — or maybe not. To finish with a classic cliché, that’s why we play the games. ✪

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

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Monarchs Primed I To Add To State Title Lore Story By James G. Kane | Photos By Doug Stringer 14

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t doesn’t take long. Only a few moments into the conversation, and Archbishop Mitty-San Jose coach Bret Almazan-Cezar recognizes what’s ahead. The name of another legendary team and the still legendary coach are never far away. His program could write its own chapter on that subject, so he jumps right in. “I see,” he says, “where this is going.” This is where most coaches might steer the dialogue in another direction. Not this one. Almazan-Cezar says he’s flattered that the volleyball program he’s overseen since 2000 is mentioned in the same breath with one so fabled it became a movie. “I get the De La Salle metaphor,” Almazan-Cezar says of the Concord high school that won a national record 151 consecu-

tive games and its famed coach, Bob Ladouceur. “To be honest, what else can you be but flattered?,” he asks. “I mean, you see what they do.” Each year, more and more people are noticing what the Monarchs do. Which is, simply, stand tall, smile and accept congratulations after winning the final game in the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs. Mitty has won five straight state championships, an unprecedented feat in girls volleyball, topping the standard of four (most recently accomplished by Branson-Ross in Division V from 2009-2012). The Monarchs’ 2016 title, a sweep of SoCal powerhouse Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita, gave the school its first Open Division championship. The first four Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Pictured above from left, Julia Devine, Makaela Tanaka, Lauren Haniger, Kamrin Caoili and Nicole Liddle.

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came in Division II against Martin Luther King-Riverside (2012), Santiago-Corona (2013), South Torrance (2014) and Valley Christian-Sun Valley (2015). The Monarchs won 15 of 17 sets in the five victories. Almazan-Cezar has been the head coach for all of them — just as he was when the Monarchs carted home Division II state titles in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009. “It’s an amazing experience to be a part of this program,” senior outside hitter Julia Devine says. “People only talk about the winning, and that’s great. But it’s the whole experience.” The experience goes well beyond the court. The Monarchs are a talented bunch, and their status as a private institution does their opponents no favors. Often a player who may be the most talented at another school works her way up the Archbishop Mitty ladder. No surprise here, but the Monarchs are loaded again. Devine, bound for USC where she’ll play beach volleyball next season, led the team through Sept. 8 with 38 digs and 53 points produced by the team on her serve. Senior Kamrin Caoili (16.3 ace percentage), a four-year starter bound for Santa Clara, is one of the team’s best servers, but she’s even more devastating on the front line where she puts away 53.3 percent of her kill attempts. That mark and her .438 hitting percentage are team bests. Caoili might dominate more of the statistical categories if not for senior Nicole Liddle, the Dartmouth-bound “smart one” of the bunch, Almazan-Cezar says. Liddle leads the Monarchs with 79 kills and averages 3.6 per set. Senior middle blocker Moriah Scott has produced 25 blocks and averages 3.1 per match. Junior Kyahana Robinson has 19 blocks and a 47.2 kill percentage, both marks second on the Monarchs. They all benefit from setter Makaela Tanaka and her precise passes. Through Sept. 8, she had already tallied 244 assists,

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and averaging 10.2 per set. So yeah, the Monarchs are loaded. So loaded that they should be able to overcome the loss of Candice Denny, who had a .600 hitting percentage to pace everybody at the state tournament, then headed off to Arizona. Nevertheless, to call the program’s mission solely about talent and wins and losses would be a mistake. For one, the Monarchs do lose occasionally. Just as they did twice on a Labor Day weekend trip to Southern California. Mater Dei-Santa Ana and Torrey Pines-San Diego — always among the best in the state — both beat Mitty in four sets, part of a 6-3 start leading into their WCAL opener against Saint Francis-Mountain View on Sept. 19. “That was one of the best experiences for this team,” Devine says. “We all got a chance to see the super-high level of intensity, focus and execution we’ll have to have. It teaches us that the way we were playing might be fine to beat the teams in our league, maybe, but we are striving for something much greater than that.” Or put another way, it’s a culture thing. That’s the other word you hear when it comes to the dynastic program from that other sport. The thing about culture is that sometimes it simply builds upon itself. Like anything in life, such a special thing requires care. The Monarchs often take retreats together, where veterans mix with newcomers. “It’s like ‘Welcome to the family.’ We usually do something right after tryouts,” Tanaka says. “That way the team can start finding out who we are, how our personalities mix, backgrounds, everything.” Tanaka uses herself as an example. She is a three-year starter for the Monarchs, one of the best in the state at her position, and off to Fordham University next season. But she described herself as timid amid her entry into the

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Monarchs’ program and said she never had experienced the intensity that such an endeavor brings. Not so much anymore. The player Almazan-Cezar describes as the powerhouse’s point guard is often the coolest one when the heat is on. That’s not a maturity level achieved easily. Nor is it one that happens overnight. “You do want to develop a culture that becomes more important, even than the sport that you’re playing,” AlmazanCezar says. “In our case, we’re dealing with young women who are training to get better at every aspect of their lives every single day, not just get better at their sport. That’s enough of a task in itself. “But what happens is that as it grows, it becomes who you are. Like our kids. If you ask them who our rivals are, they won’t have an answer. If you ask them what their goals are, they all will answer that it’s to be better than we were yesterday. Yes, it’s cliché. It sounds like a trite statement. But that is all our mind-set is. We’re trying to get better. If we do that, the girls all believe they’ll be in the final match of the year.” Maybe it’s a cliché. Maybe it’s simply plain truth. Back to Tanaka, the setter who is a master at understanding charts that pinpoint where the defense is weakest. She’s even more adept at delivering passes at the most optimum place in the air to give the outside hitters a chance to hit those spaces. Her best quality, perhaps, is she reminds the team to exhale. “We focus a lot on breathing, and making sure we’re activated and present in the moments when you might try to be nervous or fearful,” Tanaka says. “We call it the thermostat. You’re not getting too down when something is going wrong. You’re not getting too high when things are going great. That’s something we practice just as much as anything else we do.” While practice may not make everything perfect, the Monarchs are usually closer to it on the court than anyone else. ✪

Xceleration Volleyball Club’s Family-First Approach Gets Major Upgrade

im Ross knows it sounds corny. Yet, the club partner and former director of Xceleration Volleyball Club — a mainstay in the East Bay for more than a decade now — says it anyway. “We’re a club who cares,” he says. It goes a little bit beyond that though. “When people think about Xceleration, I want them to think we’re not a big global club,” Ross continued. “We’re a local-based club that simply wants to help girls in our region who want to play and improve at volleyball.” And if that’s the mission statement, then it’s mission accomplished so far. Ross and fellow club partner Andy Schroeder found their way to Xceleration approximately 12 years ago after Schroeder coached Ross’s daughter Kelsey as a 13-year-old. Kelsey Ross is now 26. Schroeder is now the club’s coaching development director and is beginning his 10th season co-coaching the club’s highest level team, 18 Blue, with Jeremy Swann. The duo is the Bay Area’s longest tenured club coaches for the 18s level. “We discovered early on that we had the same beliefs and philosophies,” Jim Ross said of Schroeder. “It’s never a question of ‘Is there an end result in this for me?’ It’s always about the girls. I wouldn’t be with any club that had any other philosophy than our own.” For the 2018 season, the club will take its biggest step forward to date as its entire operation finally moves under just one roof. The Xceleration Sports Facility will open in Martinez on December 1. After several years of being spread across three separate practice spaces in Concord, Pleasant Hill and Alameda, the club will be taking over one half of the massive NorCal Courts complex in Martinez. The conversion to a full volleyball facility includes three brand new all-purpose courts installed by Rhino Courts. It will also include team rooms, offices and an area for parents to relax during practices. The luxury of the entire club being centrally located is the biggest plus, however. “This creates the consistency and continuity we needed,” Schroeder said. “It accentuates the family atmosphere of everyone under one roof.” Swann, who also works with younger players at the club and will co-coach a 12s team with his wife Gayle this season, loves the benefit of having the younger players being at the same facility as the oldest. “In the past, we were always on just one court and we’d be spread out all over the place,” Swann said. “(The younger kids) were never really able to see the older kids play, practice and scrimmage. That can be an eye-popping experience. ... Seeing what it takes to get to the next level is important for them.” There’s been plenty of success at those upper levels over the years. Shroeder and Swann have qualified teams for USA Volleyball Junior Nationals as well as the AAU National Championships. But perhaps what Schroeder and Swann are even more proud of is how many of their players leave them to play at the next level. And that’s almost 100 percent the work of Ross, who works as the club’s college recruitment director. He’s helped build a database of more than 400 college coaches and programs who are aware of Xceleration and its players. “We’re not here to get them scholarships, but we’re here to present them with options,” Ross said. “Whether it’s volleyball or academic, we just want them to have options. If they work with us, they’re going to have options.” Schroeder said: “Every single kid who has come through our program and played through 18s and has wanted to play college ball, they’ve played college ball. They’re not all getting paid to play, but they’ve found a home to further their student-athlete career.” And now Xceleration has it’s home. And it’s ready to bring in new family members to care about. For more information on Xceleration Volleyball Club, visit xcelerationvbc.com. ✪ — Chace Bryson

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OFF THE TOP

Madison Shields

Our Top 10 NorCal girls volleyball teams as of Sept. 9. To view our entire NorCal Top 20, visit SPORTSTARS.COM/RANKINGS

1. St. Ignatius-S.F. (14-1) — Enter second week of Sept. as No. 2 in the state.

2. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (6-3) — Deep, talented squad is built for the long haul. 3. Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. (6-1) — Only loss in first seven matches was to St. Ignatius. 4. Carlmont-Belmont (7-1) — Already has a win over Mitty; loss was to Sacred Heart. 5. Marin Catholic-Kentfield (2-0) — Schedule ramps up with Durango Classic (Vegas). 6. Turlock (8-3) — Only team to top St. Ignatius through Sept. 9. 7. James Logan-Union City (1-0) — Tatiana Toleafoa returns after leading state with 635 kills. 8. Menlo School-Atherton (11-3) — Selina Xu leads defending CIF Div. V state champs. 9. St. Francis-Mountain View (5-2) — Mollie Eberton averaging 4.6 kills/set through seven matches. 10. Tracy (15-4) — May have most balanced offense in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

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Senior Libero Leads Mighty Oak Ridge

adison Shields could dig her way to China. The savvy senior libero on the Oak Ridge High-El Dorado Hills volleyball team is one of the top defensive specialists in the Sac-Joaquin Section and was a big reason why the Trojans went 37-9 a year ago. In 2016, her heroic digs in the back row lifted Oak Ridge to an undefeated Sierra Foothill League championship, a semifinal appearance in the SJS Division I playoffs and 3-1 push through the California Interscholastic Federation Div. 1 State Volleyball Championships. “Madison reads the game better than any player I have ever coached,” Oak Ridge coach Patrick Sanders said. “There are times in practice when coaches are hitting balls and we think we have her fooled, but she goes and still digs balls that no one else in the gym could ever get close to.

“With her, everything seems to wind up in the air.” Shields, 5 feet, 5 inches a year ago, grew 2 inches in the offseason and will take a volleyball scholarship to Pepperdine University next fall. “If she were 6 inches taller, she would be an All-American athlete,” Sanders said. “She has incredible work ethic and plays unbelievable defense. “ The Trojans were NorCal Div. I runner-ups behind Menlo-Atherton last year, ending seventh in the SportStars NorCal Top 20 and 28th in the CalHiSports.com state rankings. This is a new-look squad in 2017. The team graduated SFL co-MVP Kassie McGill and fellow all-leaguers Jenna Miller and Cam Collie. McGill is now a right-side hitter for UC Riverside while Miller sets for Sonoma State. Collie is already No. 3 in kills for Hawaii Pacific after

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eight collegiate matches. The three were enormous leaders on one of the deepest rosters in school history, a squad that enjoyed its best season since 2008 (41-4). Overall, Oak Ridge is 371-127 since 2004. “We had 17 girls on our varsity team last year, which is a huge number,” Sanders said. “Many of our starters this year gained some valuable experience last year playing behind Kassie, Jenna and Cam. “While we haven’t quite settled on a particular lineup yet, we expect contributions from all 13 girls but, in particular, our seniors.” The seniors: Shields, Emily Gillingham (outside hitter), Grace Wegmann (setter), Madison Hurst (opposite hitter), Maddie LaMont (outside hitter) and Emily Fagundes (defensive specialist).

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Gillingham was a fellow all-league pick and, along with Shields, represents the bulk of Oak Ridge’s experience on the varsity court. The two have enjoyed a 72-12 campaign for Sanders. “After graduating eight seniors, it’s important to maintain some continuity,” Sanders said. “(Shields and Gillingham) have been contributing members of our varsity team the last two years and have experienced tremendous success in our program. “It’s their turn to be senior leaders and set the tone for practice. Their work ethic and expectations of others will be a big factor in our success this year.” This won’t be an all-senior showcase. Hitter Gracie Rowland, a star of the Northern California Volleyball Club, will make a big impact at some point this season. The three-year

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varsity junior was the only freshman on Sanders’ 2015 varsity squad and made major contributions to last year’s run deep into the state playoffs. She was listed among 20 “Names 2 Watch” in the first SportStars edition of the fall, but rolled her ankle in the Trojans’ season-opening loss to fellow NorCal runner-up, St. FrancisSacramento, Aug. 30. The Troubadours are positioned atop SJS power rankings this season. “(Rowland) is working her way back from injury,” Sanders said. “We expect big things from her as she continues to grow and refine her game. “Whether she plays outside hitter or opposite for us, we expect her to be a force offensively.” While Rowland, Gillingham, Hurst and LaMont hunt for kills at the edge, and lanky blockers Tate Duane and Natalia Andrus patrol the net, the brawn of Oak Ridge’s lineup will come from the back row. “While we’re not the most physically imposing team, we definitely pride ourselves on defense,” Sanders said. “We definitely play our best when we’re serving tough and winning the serve/receive game within the game. “I hope our defense continues to improve and become something we’re known for. Nobody likes to play teams that dig everything and make it difficult to get kills.” Sanders trusts that the offense responsible for just 56 points against St. Francis will get rolling as the season progresses. It hasn’t been a problem in recent history. The Trojans have won 191 of their last 234 sets. “Offensively, we continue to grow as many of the girls haven’t played much together,” Sanders said. “As our setters and hitters become more comfortable with each other, I expect to see continued improvement in this area.” Sanders was the SFL Coach of the Year in 2016. The Trojans lost only five sets on an undefeated run against section stalwarts like Del Oro-Loomis, Rocklin and Granite Bay. The SFL’s big four, including Oak Ridge, won 106 matches last year. All four teams reached the state playoffs last year and Granite Bay and Rocklin played each other in the Div. II section championships in 2015. Granite Bay is just four years removed from a state championship season that landed the Grizzlies third on MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings. “The SFL is one of the toughest leagues in the section, if not the toughest, on an annual basis,” Sanders said. “I’d expect this year to continue that tradition.” Rocklin, Granite Bay and Del Oro return three starters apiece from 2016. “While we’ve had some success in the SFL the last few years, the league title always seems to go through Rocklin,” Sanders said. “Coach Dave Muscarella does a fantastic job with his girls there. While he wouldn’t say it, they’ve been first or second in league every year for the last 13 years. “I’ve heard that Granite Bay and Del Oro both have amazing teams as well.” The Trojans host elite state talent Sept. 30 at the Christine Craft Memorial Varsity Tourney, and wrap up the first half of SFL play Oct. 2 against visiting Rocklin. By then, coach Sanders hopes his offense will catch up with his hard-digging defense, even if it’s in China. “We’re excited about this group of girls and hope this season will be a positive memory for them for years to come,” Sanders said. “They’re a great group and a ton of fun to coach.” ✪ — Story By Ike Dodson | Photos By James K. Leash

he open road has a different feel to it when scenic views accompany your ride around every turn, climb and descent. In Redding – the sunniest city in California – you can forget congested roads and crowded streets when you cruise the countryside and open spaces. Sweeping vistas and rolling foothills fill your peripherals when you ride in the heart of Northern California. Already known for its world-class fishing, the Sundial Bridge and water recreation on lakes and rivers, Redding is quickly becoming a cyclist’s paradise. The Sacramento River National Recreation Trail stretches 17.4 miles from the internationally-acclaimed Sundial Bridge to Shasta Dam, alongside a historic abandoned railway. Paved pedestrian trails fan out from either end of the bridge and wind their way up hills, through botanical gardens, along the water and through downtown. It’s the crown jewel of Redding’s trails, which the San Francisco Chronicle called the “gem of the U.S. trail system.” The areas surrounding Shasta Lake and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area also offer abundant unpaved trails that are popular with single-track bicyclists, and the nearby mountains present endless opportunities for great trail experiences and challenges. On Oct. 21, roll out with your comrades at sunrise in Redding for the annual Wildcat GranFondo – a 15 to 123-mile race, climbing anywhere from 500 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Riders of all ages and skill levels ranging from beginner to recreational and elite tour the gorgeous backroads east of Redding. The GranFondo has its roots in Italy and loosely translates to “big ride.” Cyclists ride together as a community for the camaraderie, scenic views, personal achievement and a chance to win prizes. Pump up those tires, grab your helmet and ride in Redding! ✪ — Story and photos contributed by Visit Redding

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James Logan Girls Volleyball Is Ready To Prove It Was No One-Year Wonder Story By Mike Wood | Photos By Berry Evans III Pictured above rom left, Juliana Viado, Alexandria Gloria, Tatiana Toleafoa and Maxine Tuazon.

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ast year was not a fluke. It’s an oft-heard battle cry as a high school team ventures into a new season after a sky-high year of accomplishments, records and the somewhat unfamiliar spotlight that comes with plenty of success. That phrase is motivation for the James Logan High girls volleyball team. The Union City team recorded the most wins in program history a year ago with a 37-5 record, was awarded the No. 1 seed to the North Coast Section Division I playoffs, and earned a win in the CIF NorCal playoffs. Now it’s a year later. The Colts have higher aspirations, along with a fresh mindset. It’s not just to make the playoffs — it’s to win in the playoffs, keep winning and keep going. “My goal ever since I started, has been to create a winning culture and championship mentality,” said Matt Guzman, in his fifth year as Logan’s coach. “Being ranked No. 1 was a big accomplishment. Last year we didn’t know we could go that far. This year we know we’re one of the better teams in North Coast and in NorCal.” Teams that expect to win exude confidence, something Guzman has worked to instill in his players. Getting the buy-in didn’t happen overnight. Expectations began to change as Logan won its first two NCS games in both 2015 and 2016, something it hadn’t accomplished since 1994. Things definitely clicked during the 2016 season. “Our confidence really grew with all the wins last year,” said outside hitter Tatiana Toleafoa, the Colts’ lone senior and its veteran on-court leader. “Confidence has played a real key role in where we are now.” A big part of that confidence was built on the forceful play of Toleafoa, whose 635 kills last season was tops in the state, according to stats reported to MaxPreps. Possessing a vertical jump of over 30 inches, Toleafoa is a force on the court. Toleafoa embarks on her fourth and final varsity season having the attention of recruiters. She plans to take an official visit to San Jose State and also has interest from UC Riverside and USF. Having played the sport since fourth grade, she demonstrates improvement each year, her coach said. “Her IQ level is very high,” Guzman said. “What makes her special is she can break down the defense and see the holes. She can then put the ball down with power or tip it in.” Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

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Another key component of the Colts’ success is middle blocker Taumafa Tuinauvai. The 5-foot-9 junior had a breakthrough performance in last year’s 26-28, 25-21, 27-25, 25-20 loss to Monte Vista in the CIF NorCal quarterfinals, collecting 20 kills out of 24 swings. “I expect her and Tatiana to be the majority of our offense,” Guzman said. “We look for them to carry our team.” That’s a responsibility that’s not lost on Toleafoa. “The up and coming varsity players look up to us to play hard and carry the team,” Toleafoa said “We really, really get along as we have the same goals in mind. We work well personally and as a team.” Another important element of that teamwork comes at setter, where sophomore Ruby Santos, all of 5-foot-0, is one of the better players at that spot in the area, Guzman said. “She’s a really good player, and is one of the reasons why we’re able to hit around middle blocks,” he said. “Her chemistry with Tatiana and Taumafa is very strong.” One element of transition this year is at libero, where graduated star Lynda Nguyen has left big shoes to fill. Stepping into the vital role is sophomore Abigail Viado, who backed up Nguyen last season in addition to being a solid defensive specialist. “She is a very good player herself and possibly could be better than Lynda,” Guzman said. “And she’s been able to carry our defense.” Early returns for this season are good. The Colts got things underway officially on Sept. 8 with a 25-18, 25-12, 25-21 sweep of Foothill-Pleasanton, a fellow NCS Division I semi-

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Tatiana Toleafoa

finalist a year ago. That confidence also showed itself well-founded with an impressive scrimmage outing at the Queen’s Court Invitational last month in Anaheim, which included the Colts holding their own against teams like Southern Section power Mira Costa-Manhattan Beach. Though stringing together playoff wins is a newer concept to this crop of players, the history books show Logan has won some NCS championships, back before any of its players, or even its coach, were born. The Colts collected two sets of back-to-back titles, in 1987-88 and 1991-92, under its legend-

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ary coach, the late Al Roderigues. The campus’s small gym is named after Roderigues, who also coached as an assistant at Stanford and Cal State East Bay. While these Colts have grown in stature in the NCS and NorCal, in reality they are a very small team. Their two tallest players are 5-foot-9 and at the other end of the spectrum, there are two who are 5-foot-0. “We’re probably one of the shortest teams in the NCS, or in the state,” Guzman said. Guzman certainly has a strong Logan foundation. He graduated from the school in 2011 after playing on back-to-back NCS playoff teams. He has been coaching the Colts boys team for five years. Four years ago, he founded UC Elite (UC stands for Union City) in an effort to have a quality, affordable club volleyball option for local players. “Matt is a great coach for us to play for,” Toleafoa said. “He definitely brings us Colt pride, and he’s at a young age so that we are easily able to relate to him. And he knows what to expect from us.” There are tests during this year’s playoff quest. There’s the Christine Craft Tournament at Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills on Sept. 30. “They only invite the top four teams from each section, so we were lucky enough to be invited,” Guzman said. Then there is the Stockton Classic on Oct. 24, featuring the heaviest of hitters, notably five-time state champion Archbishop Mitty-San Jose. It’s about being immersed in winning and learning what it takes to succeed. “For me its about the culture,” Guzman said. “I want us to have a championship pedigree.” ✪

Taumafa Tuinauvai

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Records are through Sept. 9

Sac High Receiver Quickly Making An Imprint e’s built like A.J. Green. He’s fast like Odell Beckham Jr. He’s even been compared to Julio Jones. But Sacramento High’s Anthony Bradley could make an NFL name for himself if he stays on his recent upward trajectory. The Dragons’ slot receiver has the speed, toughness and vision to make defenses pay every time he touches the ball. And for Sac High, that’s going to be a lot this year. “He’s usually always open,” senior quarterback Derek Shelton said with a smile. “He works hard to get open and make big plays, so I have a lot of trust in him.” In his team’s season opener this fall, Bradley showed he’s ready for a breakout offensive season after tallying 484 yards and six scores in 2016. Against Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, the Dragons’ speedster burned defensive backs for four scores and 225 yards as his team earned a big win, 47-21, and opened eyes in the process. “I’ve never met anyone who’s been able to match up with me,” stated Bradley, who also plays a big role on the Dragons’ defense at cornerback. Bradley is one of the leaders for a Sacramento program that’s been impressive in recent seasons. He brings an attitude to the team, which carries him through grueling practices. He never backs down from an incoming hit. Rather, he delivers the blow most times and keeps on trucking down the field. His style can be abrasive, but it’s exactly what you need to win in this section. “We get into skirmishes every so often,” Bradley admitted. “I mean, every time we put the pads on, we’re hitting. And tempers flare — it’s just like a game. It gets a little chippy, but we’re all family. We know that if you’re not going to hit then there’s really no reason to play football.”

The Dragons made a change at leadership this offseason, but the move hasn’t slowed them down. Joe McCray takes over the head coaching duties for Justin Reber, who went 18-6 in his two seasons atop the program. The new coach is more soft-spoken that his predecessor, but he’s familiar with the kids and he’s setting his team up for success down the road. “I’ve been here the last four years, so all the guys know me,” McCray said. “The transition has been fairly smooth, it’s just a lot of background stuff that we’ve been working on — making sure they’re disciplined and working on their character. I mean, these guys are good. Football is second nature to them, so we’re making sure they become better men.” McCray began at Sac High as the freshman head coach before becoming the junior varsity coach the following year. Last season, he moved up again and coached under Reber as the varsity team’s defensive coordinator. That’s where he’ll make most of his impact this year as well. The team will keep the same defensive scheme, but they added Kimbe Drayton as offensive coordinator. The team attacks defenses from the spread, sometimes with four- and five-wideout formations — an ideal offense for Bradley and the team’s strong-armed quarterback who threw for 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. “I don’t think anyone has worked with what we have here at Sac High — it’s a coach’s dream come true,” McCray said. “Beyond Anthony in the slot, we’ve got a lot of athletic, footballsmart players. Derek is back, we’ve got two talented backs. You really can’t ask for more.” Last year, Sacramento lost its opener, 35-7, at state-ranked JSerra-San Juan Capistrano despite amassing nearly 500 yards

1. (1)

—

De La Salle-Concord

3-0

2. (8)

▲

Folsom

3-0

3. (3)

—

St. Francis-Mountian View

2-1

4. (4)

—

Oak Ridge-El Dorado HIlls

3-0

5. (5)

—

Pittsburg

1-1

6. (2)

▼

St. Mary’s-Stockton

2-1

7. (7)

—

Milpitas

2-0

8. (11)

▲

Manteca

3-0

9. (9)

—

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

2-0

10. (10) —

Freedom-Oakley

3-0

11. (6)

Serra-San Mateo

1-2

12. (12) —

San Ramon Valley-Danville

2-0

13. (13) —

Valley Christian-San Jose

2-1

14. (14) —

Marin Catholic-Kentfield

2-0

15. (18) ▲

Sacramento

2-0

16. (NR) ▲

Central Catholic-Modesto

2-0

17. (15) ▼

Bellarmine-San Jose

2-1

18. (NR) ▲

Granite Bay

3-0

19. (20) ▲

Antioch

3-0

20. (17) ▼

Oakdale

2-1

▼

DROPPED OUT: No. 16 Capital Christian-Sacramento and No. 19 California-San Ramon THE NEXT FIVE: 21. California-San Ramon (2-0), 22. Del Oro-Loomis (2-1), 23. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (2-1), 24. Inderkum-Sacramento (3-0) and 25. Half Moon Bay (3-0). BIGGEST MOVER: Folsom was easily the biggest mover. Its road 45-29 road win at then-No. 17 Oakdale completed a strong three-game run to open the season. With former No. 2 St. Mary’s-Stockton losing, that spot opened up. Moving No. 3 St. Francis up following a loss (even if to No. 1 DLS) didn’t seem right. However, the Lancers showed well in the loss and didn’t deserve to drop either. No. 16 Central Catholic leads the new entries after taking down St. Mary’sStockton 20-7. TEAMS REMAINING FROM PRESEASON TOP 20: 15

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“I would love to play offense (at the next level), but I also really enjoy hitting people. So it’s kind of like my heart says offense, but my brain is saying defense.” — Anthony Bradley of offense. But that didn’t stop the Dragons from bouncing back with a pivotal upset over the No. 1 team in the region in their third game of the season. Sacramento knocked off Folsom at home, 32-27, on Sept. 16 and stopped the Bulldogs’ impressive regular-season winning streak at 48 games. Bradley had two interceptions in that game and returned one for a touchdown. He added 76 yards and a score through the air as well. That’s when his stock started to soar. He has interest from Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada and an offer from San Jose State. “I would love to play offense (at the next level), but I also really enjoy hitting people,” Bradley admitted. “So it’s kind of like my heart says offense, but my brain is saying defense. Really, wherever the coach wants me, that’s where I’ll play.” Despite much success in 2016 — a 10-2 record and a second-straight Metro League championship — the Dragons’ season ended abruptly as they dropped a heartbreaking game to runner-up Inderkum-Sacramento in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II playoffs, 35-33. “I think about that (Inderkum) game every day,” the Dragons two-way star Jamie Cousey acknowledged. “What we could have done better in the first half — not letting them score — because they were up 26-0 at halftime. It should have never gotten to that point.” But that loss left the team with a humongous chip on its shoulders entering 2017. “It left a sour taste in my mouth,” Shelton added. “We should have won that game. It should have been a blowout.” McCray says that’s one of the things the team is working on — they want to start the way they finish the game: strong. After having just four starting seniors on the squad last year, the Dragons return a deep and experienced core. They’ll rely on Cousey and junior Javon Felton to replace the talented Tariq Hollandsworth, who rushed for 1,569 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. Hollandsworth recorded two games with more than 250 yards rushing, including a 271-yard, three-touchdown performance in the 2016 playoffs against StaggStockton. He’s now playing for UNLV. Quarterback Derek Shelton “Tariq is hard to replace — his work ethic and class are second to none,” McCray confessed. “But Jamie and Javon, who are the running backs now, have a different running style but they bring a flash to the game.” McCray and Co. know they won’t match Hollandsworth’s production with a single player. But they’re hoping Bradley becomes a big-time weapon and their offense starts to run through him. If that happens, then the section may soon witness its next NFL star being born. ✪ — Story By Steven Wilson | Photos By Dave Lawicka 32

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Walnut Creek’s Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Thrives Upon The Family History Of Owner Rocco Biale For almost a century the Biale Family has been in the food, spirit and hospitality business in the San Francisco Bay Area. After arriving from Italy, my grandparents, Giovanni and Virginia Biale opened Biale’s Meat Market in 1922 on Connecticut Street in the Italian neighborhood of San Francisco’s Potrero Hill District. In fact, to this day, BIALE is still tiled in the entry way in front of the old butcher shop. Their three sons, Giacomo (Jack), Mario (my father) and Rudy all worked at the family butcher shop. Jack stayed in the butcher business his entire life. Mario and Rudy went on to open many restaurants, bars and clubs in San Francisco as well as Hawaii. Not to be forgotten in our family’s food history is my wife Jacquie Biale (nee Corrieo). Jacquie worked for her mother Maria Elena, who owned and operated the very popular Maria Elena’s Mexican Restaurant in Concord for almost twenty years . Our family opened Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria here in Walnut Creek in 1999, and in keeping with family tradition, all three of our grown children now work here at Rocco’s. Dante, our oldest, is usually behind the bar or at the front desk. Dominic can be found in the kitchen, working the pasta station with great pride, and Nina, our youngest, is busy in the dining room serving your favorite dishes. Each have signature dishes named for them. Rocco’s takes great pride in being a true, family-owned and operated restaurant. A tradition that is sadly leaving our cultural landscape. The shopping center at Ygnacio and Oak Grove in Walnut Creek recently underwent a major facelift. Make it an occasion and come by to see Rocco’s new digs — and enjoy the traditional Italian food that is synonymous with Rocco’s. Rocco’s has been especially supportive of high school and youth sports with fundraising and team party promotions. Standard fare at the restaurant is a steady stream of old Italian movies, including the iconic Godfather trilogy. Our entire family & staff hope you enjoy your next visit to Rocco’s as we try to keep a 95- year tradition going. ARRIVEDERCI A PRESTO DA ROCCO!

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An athlete’s core, pelvis and hips are the centerpiece of his or her athletic development and the key to becoming a better athlete. Hips have a ton of movement and are surrounded by big muscles: glutes, quads and hamstrings — incredible power producers that need to be able to produce and resist force in all planes of motion. For kids to become the best athletes possible, they need to train mobility, stability and strength around their hips. Let’s look at each of these qualities in depth Step #1 – Improve Mobility Getting more mobility from their hips is an effective way to improve their speed, strength, and power. Foam rolling the major muscle groups around the hips gets these muscle groups to relax a bit, improving their mobility and range of motion in multiple planes of motion, allowing them to more effectively load their hip muscles. Step #2 – Improve Stability The next step is to improve their pelvic alignment, focusing on improving stability and control over their pelvis in multiple planes of motion. If their hips are out of alignment, unable to stabilize in the sagittal plane (forward and back), the frontal plane (side to side) or the transverse plane (rotational,) they’re not going to be able to stabilize their hips effectively. To create an offensive opportunity or closing space in shutting down an offensive opportunity. Stability in multiple planes is the name of the game in being fast and explosive, especially when running or coming in and out of cuts. This is why stability in all planes of motion is important -– if they can’t control the various joints in their body in multiple planes of motion, they’re not going to be as strong or explosive as they should be. And, it could even predispose them to injury! So how do we fix this? In the weight room! This is an ideal time to incorporate stability in all planes of motion in their weekly program.

Step #3 -– Strength and Power The goal of strength and power training is simple — to get STRONGER and more POWERFUL. The best athletes use the gym to get stronger, and they more often than not are the fastest and most dominating athletes on the field or court of play. They… ›› Clean in multiple planes of motion ›› Squat while resisting multiple planes of motion ›› Deadlift while resisting multiple planes of motion ›› Push and pull in multiple planes of motion I put a ton of emphasis on developing strength in multiple planes of motion with my athletes, while focusing on developing a strong and stable core, which helps to properly align the pelvis, as well as improving mobility, stability and strength in all planes of motion required to be a dominant athlete. The fact is that young athletes are not powerlifters; they’re not Olympic lifters. They play in an environment that requires them to reduce and produce strength quickly (power) in multiple planes of motions. Their environment demands they create and resist forces in every plane to optimally accelerate and decelerate forward, backward, side to side, rotationally and on one leg. This is the functionality required by most athletes and needs to be the crux of every athlete who is serious about being the most dominant athlete in the game! Mobility, stability and strength in multiple planes of motion — your athlete really needs it all. If their goal is to become the best athlete possible, then you need to maximize your functional development on all three fronts. ✪

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HIP training time: tim rudd

SportStars™

September 2017

Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

fight theFEA get mental: erika westhoff Fear takes many forms in sport performance. The most common forms of fear are perfectionism, fear of mistakes, and especially fear of what others think. You must commit to working through fear in order to leverage all the hard work you’re doing on the field, in the gym and even at home. Here are several proven strategies on how you can take control of your fear and build confidence to sustain you through the season and beyond. 1. Prepare — Preparation is your No. 1 strategy for building confidence and overcoming fear. Tracking your preparation with a spreadsheet is an excellent way to keep you on track with your preparation. Make a list of everything you need to do to daily and weekly and create a column for each day of week. Take a minute or two to track your progress daily. Imagine how you will feel walking out on the field (course, court) having 100 percent commitment to your daily and weekly training tasks. Just do it! 2. Imagine feeling confident in your mind and body — Recall a time when you felt genuinely confident and bring back as many details as possible. Focus on how your body feels when you’re playing your best. Feel the readiness and excitement (vs. extreme nervousness). Focus on the calm feeling in your mind and positive emotions. This is the state that great athletes create to allow their bodies to just play. 3. Manage the voice in your head — We all have that voice. Keep your voice simple and present. If you drift into the future, worry and fear will take over. If you drift into the past, you’ll feel frustrated and disappointed. Get back to your task, your game strategy, the technical skill that will help you perform your best. Come up with a few simple reminders to stay on track. 4. Journal — Make it a habit to record three successes from each training session or compe-

SportStars™

September 2017

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AR FACTOR tition. Know what’s going well and leverage it. Only focusing on what you need to fix or do better will chip away at your confidence and reinforce that you’re not good enough. Leveraging strengths is low hanging fruit for building confidence. Grab it and consume as much as possible. I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again. … Your mental game is what allows you to leverage your technical and physical skills under pressure. It’s time to build and leverage your mental toolbox to create confident and consistent performance. ✪ Erika Westhoff is a CEO and certified mental trainer at EW Performance in Pleasanton.

RESISTANCE!

We’re finally into football season! If you’re like me, you pretty much set your year around this season. I literally attach memories and life events to games and scores. Sad, I know, but football is in my blood. Having played in the NFL it kind of just naturally happens. With this season starting, something is happening for those players out there banging around. They’re waking up after games and practices with sore necks and shoulders. Not to mention that some athletes sadly suffer injuries such as concussions. The hard part is preventing this from happening. You can’t mimic the impact that happens on that football field in a weight room, but you can prepare the neck to handle the blows. Most people don’t understand exactly how to do that. When I was growing up, I didn’t understand how myself. My college coach showed me though. You see the neck is a grouping of a bunch of muscles that are oriented at weird angles and can be incredibly hard to target. Here’s how you do it: You can get a head harness and add a weight plate but I’ve always been fond of the partner strengthening. The way you do this is by getting a towel and placing it in your hand. You’ll then place your covered hand in six different positions completing 10 reps for each positions movement. Start by placing your hand on the forehead and resisting your partner’s head motion as they bring their head from neutral to chin on chest. Then resist the same motion but opposite with your hand on the back of their head. Then the side of their head as they bring their ear to each shoulder. Finally the side of their face/chin as they twist their head right and then left. This targets six different directions and helps to build and strengthen the neck to ward off injury and prevent soreness from repeat impact. ✪ Anthony Trucks is an IYCA-certified trainer who covers strength training for SportStars.

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September 2017

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September 2017

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