NorCal Issue 150, July 2018 by Sport Stars Magazine

NORCAL EDITION JULY 2018 VOL. 9 ISSUE 150

SAC-JOAQUIN EDITION JULY 2018 VOL. 9 ISSUE 150

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Editor Chace Bryson welcomes you to Issue 150 of SportStars

The Yearbook Issue kicks off with the Fall, plus football & volleyball ranks

The Yearbook Issue continues with Winter, plus boys & girls hoop, team wrestlings ranks

NorCal volleyball takes on the nation and more than holds its own

The Yearbook Issue rolls into Spring sports, and baseball & softball rankings

Pg. 28 42

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Football star Gabriel Cordero made his choice, and chose the Marines

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

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too early for football coverage. Watch for plenty of preseason content showing up beginning the week of July 23

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All-State Baseball teams are being announced through mid-July. Find out if your favorite players made the cut.

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150

C E L E B R AT I N G

ne hundred and fifty. That’s not a number I could’ve fathomed back in May of 2010 when I was planning SportStars Magazine No. 1. But here we are. And it’s pretty freaking cool. Issue #150 comes as we head into our ninth year — which means we’ve now had our fifth graduating class of athletes whose entire prep career has occurred during the SportStars Era. And that’s also quite cool. It’s fitting that our milestone issue falls on our annual Yearbook issue. This is always a favorite of ours to produce, as it’s a celebration of so many of the great moments that we were able to cover during the school year. Here were a few of my favorite moments. It was a year full of teams and programs claiming their first section, NorCal and state titles. I was particularly happy to see Pittsburg football finally raise a championship plaque after winning the CIF Div. I NorCal Regional over Granite Bay. The Pirates have been roadblocked by De La Salle-Concord for years at the section level — and were defeated again this year — but still get a regional berth as the North Coast Section Open Division runner-up. I wasn’t able to witness Pittsburg’s big moment, but I was in attendance when Liberty-Brentwood’s storied football program finally earned its first NCS title with a dominant shutout of bitter rival Freedom-Oakley. The Lions are definitely a program on the rise, and their Bay Valley Athletic League battle with Pittsburg might have must-see status come Oct. 19. Among my favorite winter season stories was writing about Concord’s Bamberger family and its unique situation on the first night of the NCS Championships. Daughter Ali played for Carondelet-Concord in the NCS Div. II basketball final immediately prior to her dad, Eric, coaching the Clayton Valley-Concord boys team in its first NCS finals appearances. Ali won her game, but dad came up just short in the Div. I showdown with Heritage-Brentwood (which won ITS first banner that night!). I also thoroughly enjoyed watching Sheldon-Sacramento boys basketball put a legitimate scare into a heavily favored, NBA-pedigree-led Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth in the CIF Open Division State Championship game. Sierra Canyon eventually prevailed, but seeing Scottie Pippen and Kenyon Martin fidget nervously at courtside during the first three quarters built up some NorCal pride. From the spring, I’ll remember St Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda’s softball team not entirely realizing it had won the NCS Div. IV title; nor that Pilots freshman pitcher Caroline Evans had thrown a no-hitter in the game. First thing I’m looking forward to for 2018-19: Folsom at De La Salle football on Aug. 17. Isn’t everybody? Enjoy our celebration of the 2017-18 high school sporting year. ✪

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 Clay Kallam, Tim Rudd, Mark Tennis, James G. Kane, Harold Abend, Jill Daniels, Anthony Trucks, Erika Westhoff, Ike Dodson, Steven Wilson Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography James K. Leash, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans III, Samuel Stringer, Jim Johnson, Dennis Lee, Dave Lawicka 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 PO Box 741, Clayton, CA 94517 info@SportStarsMag.com www.SportStarsMag.com

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YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #9, July 2018 Whole No. 150 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, PO Box 741, Clayton, CA 94517. SportStars™© 2010-2014 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Receive FREE Digital Subscription in your inbox. Subscribe at SportStarsMag.com. To receive sample issues, please send $3 per copy, or $8 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, doublespaced 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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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

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FINAL FALL NORCAL TOP 20s FOOTBALL 1. De La Salle-Concord

11-2

2. Folsom

16-0

3. Serra-San Mateo

13-2

4. Pittsburg

9-3

5. St. Francis-Mountain View

11-4

6. St. Mary’s-Stockton

11-3

7. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills

11-2

8. Granite Bay

12-3

9. Marin Catholic-Kentfield

12-1

10. Manteca

12-3

11. Oakdale

12-2

12. Valley Christian-San Jose

9-3

13. Central Catholic-Modesto

10-2

14. Clayton Valley-Concord

8-3

15. San Ramon Valley-Danville

9-2

16. Half Moon Bay

14-1

17. Liberty-Brentwood

11-2

18. Milpitas

13-1

19. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

9-3

20. McClymonds-Oakland

14-0

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

LEFT TO RIGHT: Acalanes-Lafayette junior lineman Ariel Viscarra flies the team colors following a thrilling win over Campolindo-Moraga; Granite Bay golfer Sienna Lyford studies the line for her putt at the CIF NorCal Tournament; Branson-Ross sophomore hitter Sophie Swett rises for a kill. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

37-5

2. Marin Catholic-Kentfield

32-5

3. St. Ignatius-S.F.

34-10

4. Monte Vista-Danville

34-3

5. James Logan-Union City

40-5

6. Turlock

34-9

7. Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F.

25-13

8. Carlmont-Belmont

33-5

9. Menlo School-Atherton

29-6

10. St. Francis-Mountain View

22-14

11. Ponderosa-Shingle Springs

34-5

12. St. Francis-Sacramento

33-9

13. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove

25-12

14. Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton

29-9

15. Branson-Ross

25-7

16. Notred Dame-Belmont

32-15

17. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

28-8

18. Valley Christian-San Jose

21-14

19. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills

23-9

20. Lowell-S.F.

29-10

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Ponderosa-Shingle Springs girls volleyball celebrates a big point in a league showdown at Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove; Whitney-Rocklin reshman Jessica Becker (right) pushes past senior Elle Knorzer of cross-town rival Rocklin in the SJS Div. II race of the Subsection Meet; Miramonte-Orinda water polo standout Katrina Drake gets defensive. 12

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A Granite Bay ball boy gets fired up during the national anthem while standing next to Cal-bound lineman Will Craig; Alhambra-Martinez quarterback and Boston Marathon Bombing survivor, Aaron Hern, during a SportStars photo shoot; St. Francis-Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carly Simpson (5) and Alexis Edwards celebrate a point 14

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS LEFT TO RIGHT: Manteca’s Carter Williams hurdles a Valley ChristianSan Jose defender; Pittsburg football coach Vic Galli gets the Gatorade shower to punctuate a CIF regional title; Buchanan-Clovis senior Sydney Fox high-fives a young fan after taking second in the Bronco Invitational cross country hosted by Bella Vista-Fair Oaks.

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Fun Things To Do While Attending Or Hosting An Event In Concord

oncord is the hub for many different sporting events and tournaments, ranging from racket sports such as tennis and pickleball to field sports including football and soccer. While visiting there are plenty of options to fill your time between, before or after games with activities, recreation, leisure and fun. Take a break from the tourney buzz and visit one of Concord’s recreational spots. Cool off in the heat at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, the newly upgraded water park. Float down the lazy river, relax in one of the park’s shaded cabanas or slide down one of their thrilling attractions like The Big Kahuna! Keep the game vibes going and challenge your team to Laser Tag at Q-Zar. Suit up in super hightech laser sensor vests and take over your opponent’s headquarters to win the game. For a more low-key activity, hang out at Round 1 at the Sunvalley Shopping Center. Bowl, play arcade games, eat and enjoy various other activities all in one place. If gaming isn’t your thing, the Veranda shopping center or downtown Todos Santos Plaza are the places for you. The Veranda has everything you need to fulfill your spare time. Shop at one of their many stores, including Sephora, TJ Maxx and Cost Plus World Market. Kick back, relax and enjoy a movie at the Luxe Cinema Imax Theatre showcasing a full food menu and bar. The Veranda also has many dining options to fit everyone’s needs. Enjoy a burger at Super Duper Burgers and Next Level Burger. Fresh seafood can be found at EMC Seafood and Raw Bar and Mikuni Sushi. Make your own personal pizza with as many toppings as you can think of at MOD Pizza. Your grocery needs can also be fulfilled at Whole Foods 365, where they have ready-made food along with everything you could need for the tournament. Be sure to take a stroll in Downtown Concord and visit Todos Santos Plaza. Located in the heart of downtown, Todos Santos Plaza has a variety of different cuisines to keep your taste buds happy. The Old Spaghetti Factory is the perfect place for a team dinner and will prepare athletes for their big games with pasta and pizza! For a classic lunch or dinner spot, visit E.J. Phair for delicious wraps, burgers, salads and more. Beat the heat with some tasty dessert treats from Cream, Loard’s Ice Cream or Baskin-Robbins. Concord is the perfect place to host your next tournament, but it doesn’t have to stop there. For more Concord attraction options, see VisitConcord.com. ✪ — Serena DeChristofaro for Visit Concord.

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Boys Final NorCal Basketball Top 20 1. Sheldon-Sacramento

29-6

2. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

27-6

3. Folsom

26-6

4. Salesian-Richmond

30-2

5. Modesto Christian

29-4

6. Bellarmine-San Jose

24-4

7. Capital Christian-Sacramento

22-9

8. Las Lomas-Walnut Creek

31-4

9. Palo Alto

26-4

10. Heritage-Brentwood

29-3

11. Dublin

26-6

12. Clayton Valley-Concord

26-4

13. Pleasant Valley-Chico

32-2

14. Alameda

28-6

15. St. Mary’s-Stockton

26-9

16. Menlo School-Atherton

25-4

17. St. Ignatius-S.F.

18-10

18. St. Francis-Mountain View

19-8

19. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

13-17

20. Berkeley

23-7

Girls Final NorCal Basketball Top 20

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa’s Keely Roy reacts to her NorCal championshipwinning goal; Grant-Sacramento’s Wesley Jones catches some air during a preseason photo shoot for SportStars; McDonald’s All-American McKenzie Forbes of Folsom takes the court for the SJS Div. I championship; Vacaville wrestler Cole Chapman (left) goes head-to-head with his opponent. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

1. Pinewood-Los Altos Hills

27-2

2. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

29-1

3. St. Mary’s-Stockton

27-3

4. West Campus-Sacramento

28-7

5. Salesian-Richmond

27-6

6. Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F.

15-15

7. Folsom

27-5

8. St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda

28-5

9. Carondelet-Concord

22-8

10. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

19-11

11. Miramonte-Orinda

28-6

12. Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa

27-6

13. Pleasant Valley-Chico

25-4

14. Heritage-Brentwood

23-8

15. Eastside College Prep-E. Palo Alto

21-7

16. Presentation-San Jose

23-6

17. San Ramon Valley-Danville

27-6

8. Edison-Stockton

23-8

19. Dublin

25-6

20. Woodside Priory

17-15

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FINAL NORCAL TOP 20 1. Gilroy 2. Oakdale 3. Vacaville 4. Del Oro-Loomis 5. De La Salle-Concord 6. Pitman-Turlock

8. Turlock 9. Elk Grove 10. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 11. Folsom 12. Liberty-Brentwood 13. Bellarmine Prep-SJ

14. J. Logan-Union City 15. Everett Alvarez-Salinas 16. Sutter 17. Windsor 18. Silver Creek-San Jose 19. Fremont-Sunnyvale 20. Del Campo-Fair Oaks

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Rio Linda’s Joel Rodriguez is congratulated by teammates following a goal against River City; Sheldon’s Xavion Brown soars in for a dunk during the CIF Open DIv. final; De La Salle-Concord wrestler Peyton Omania reacts to winning the 145-pound state title; Monte Vista-Danville’s Rachel Anderson receives a pass in the NorCal Div. I final. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Sheldon-Sacramento’s All-State guard Dale Currie drives to the basket during the SJS Div. I championship; Roseville forwards Hailey Linarez (6) and Shannon Young watch helplessly as River City-West Sacramento’s Karia Leal makes a save during the SJS Div. II final; Pinewood-Los Altos Hills celebrates its stunning NorCal Open Div. championship win over national No. 1 Archbishop Mitty-San Jose.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Salesian-Richmond’s Joshua Jefferson is contested by Modesto Christian’s Aaron Murphy during the MLK Classic at Saint Mary’s College; Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa’s All-NorCal guard Maiya Flores shoots a jumper during the West Coast Jamboree, two months removed from her family losing their house in the North Bay Wildfires. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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We present the Top 20 athletes from our sixth annual Bay Area 75 — SportStars’ countdown of the top 75 Bay Area athletes from the 2016-17 school year. The only criteria used were that the athletes must be from one of the nine Bay Area counties, and must have played in a sport which culminated in a sanctioned section title or reached a national-level of success (i.e., won a national championship or been appointed to youth national team). All sports fans know rankings are opinion and certainly subjective. They also spark debate and conversation, which is why we l ove them. Let the 2018 #BayArea75 debate begin. —Chace Bryson, Editor

FIRST55

Athletes No. 75-21 were revealed online from July 5-8. See all of their capsules at SportStarsMag.com/BA75-2018

75. Charles Alberty (McClymonds-Oakland)

Football

47. Sydney Shepherd (Monte Vista-Danville)

Soccer

74. Izzy Mandema (St. Francis-Mountain View)

Water Polo

46. Emmily Patneaud (Newark Memorial)

Wrestling, Volleyball

73. Alexis Bishop (San Marin-Novato)

Softball, Basketball

45. Cal Liebowitz (San Ramon Valley-Danville)

Water Polo, Rugby

72. Rylee Bowen (Sonoma Academy-Santa Rosa)

Cross Country, Track

44. Daniel Kim (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose)

Golf

71. Alex Williams (Redwood Christian-San Lorenzo)

Baseball, Basketball

43. Jake Wojcik (Bellarmine-San Jose)

Basketball

70. Miles Owens (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland)

Football, Basketball, Track

42. Tatiana Toleafoa (James Logan-Union City)

Volleyball

69. Nina Flynn (Leland-San Jose)

Water Polo

41. Nicole May (Foothill-Pleasanton)

Softball, Volleyball

68. Alton Julian (Valley Christian-San Jose)

Football, Basketball

67. Ashley Yeah (Los Gatos)

Tennis

40. Vanessa Strong (Freedom-Oakley)

Softball

66. Tommy Barnds (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton)

Lacrosse

39. Patrick Wicklander (Valley Christian-San Jose)

Baseball

65. Jonah Cooper (Foothill-Pleasanton)

Swimming

38. Joseph Barnes (Gilroy)

Football, Wrestling

64. Andrew Churukian (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton)

Water Polo

37. Sabrina Iqbal (Pioneer-San Jose)

Golf

63. Nicole Liddle (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose)

Volleyball

36. Angel Jackson (Salesian-Richmond)

Basketball

62. Darrell Page (St. Francis-Mountain View)

Football

35. Peyton Omania (De La Salle-Concord)

Wrestling

61. Nick Cirelli (De La Salle-Concord)

Baseball, Football

34. Vince Mossotti (Campolindo-Moraga)

Football, Baseball

60. Kate McCarthy (Drake-San Anselmo)

Water Polo

33. Grace Tehaney (Miramonte-Orinda)

Water Polo

59. Charlie Rudy (Novato)

Lacrosse

32. Kamrin Caoili (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose)

Volleyball

58. Haley Van Dyke (Campolindo-Moraga)

Basketball

31. Dino Kahaulelio (Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa)

Football, Basketball, Baseball

57. David Woodruff (St. Ignatius-S.F.)

Football, Soccer

30. Joshua Seward (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose)

Baseball

56. Hailey Smith (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose)

Soccer

29. Max Glasser (Marin Catholic-Kentfield)

Track, Soccer

55. Logan Johnson (St. Francis-Mountain View)

Basketball

28. Brett Hansen (Foothill-Pleasanton)

Baseball

54. Bubba Gomez (Fremont Christian)

Baseball, Basketball, Soccer

27. Hannah Jump (Pinewood-Los Altos Hills)

Basketball

53. Gillian Wagner (Redwood-Larkspur)

Cross Country

26. Zoie Hartman (Monte Vista-Danville)

Swimming

52. Riley Ramsey (Marin Catholic-Kentfield)

Volleyball

25. Nico Aguilar (Gilroy)

Wrestling

51. Malcom Clemons (St. Mary’s-Berkeley)

Track

24. Spencer Petras (Marin Catholic-Kentfield)

Football

50. Jason Gomez (Westmont-San Jose)

Track, Cross Country

23. Nye Day (Branson-Ross)

Soccer, Lacrosse

49. Isiah Kendrick (Serra-San Mateo)

Football

22. Daniel Heimuli (Menlo-Atherton-Atherton)

Football, Baseball

48. Elijah Hardy (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland)

Basketball

21. Kali Hatcher (St. Mary’s-Berkeley)

Track

QUINN WOODHEAD | DrakeSan Anselmo, Sr. (Water Polo, Basketball) Stanford-bound center defender was the Pirates’ top scorer and defender en route to NCS and NorCal water polo titles. He was named 1st Team All-NCS and a 1st Team CAHI All-American (KaiSports.org). In hoops, he was a key role player for a squad that finished 19-11 overall.

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NICK YORKE | Archbishop MittySan Jose, So. (Baseball, Football) He was a SportStars’ 1st Team All-NorCal selection and the WCAL Player of the Year after hitting .494 with 30 runs scored. Twenty of his 39 hits went for extra bases, including 18 doubles. He also played both ways as a WR/DB on the JV football team.

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MEGAN EDELMAN | Monte Vista-Danville, So. (Soccer) The UCLA-commit powered the offense of the 25-1-1 NCS and NorCal champs. She led the Mustangs with 21 goals and added 10 assists. Her 21st goal was the decider in a 1-0 NorCal finals win over Mitty.

DANIELLE WILLIAMS | Amador Valley-Pleasanton, Sr. (Softball) The Cal-Hi Sports’ Ms State Softball finalist closed her four-year Dons career with an 11-strikeout, four-hit shutout in the NCS final. She went 23-4 with a 0.55 ERA and 389 strikeouts in 2018. She also batted .426 with seven homers. She now heads to Northwestern.

LIAM ANDERSON | Redwood-Larkspur, Jr. (Cross Country, Track)

An incredible junior year included a Div. III state cross country title (in the fastest time for any Bay Area runner at the meet), NCS titles in the 1600 and 3200 meters, a state title in the 1600 and 5th-place state finish in the 3200.

ALEXEI SANCOV | Northgate-Walnut Creek, Sr. (Swimming) A nationally-ranked recruit when he committed to USC last summer, he proved it with a monster 2018 that included three NCS records (100, 200 and 500 freestyles) and a defense of his 200 freestyle state title (in a meet record time)

CATE DESLER | Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton, Sr. (Volleyball) She was the MaxPreps State Player of the Year for Div. II after leading the state with 725 kills. The Tufts Universitybound hitter also had 71 aces and 70 blocks in leading the Gators to a NorCal title.

MIRANDA HECKMAN | Granada-Livermore, Jr. (Swimming) The nationally-ranked swimming recruit and Texas-commit won her second straight state title in the 200 freestyle and third straight state crown in the 500 freestyle.

JEVON HOLLAND | Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, Sr. (Football) An All-State and All-NorCal two-way talent, the Oregon-signee intercepted five passes on defense and rolled up over 1,600 yards as a kick-returner and receiver.

HENRY TO’OTO’O | De La Salle-Concord, Jr. (Football) The SportStars’ NorCal Defensive Player of the Year will head into his senior season ranked by Rivals.com as one of the top three inside linebacker recruits in the country. His offers include the reigning national champs, Alabama.

ASHLEY TRIERWEILER | Carlmont-Belmont, Jr. (Softball, Basketball) Earned 1st Team All-League honors starting for a 20-8 basketball team. In softball, she was the PAL-Bay League’s Player of the Year and a SportStars All-NorCal selection after batting .600 with team highs in hits (54) and runs (33).

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ALEC RITCH | Branson-Ross, Sr. (Baseball, Football, Basketball) Was do-everything QB for the school’s 8-man football team (accounting for nine TDs and 68 of 74 points in a win over Calistoga). He was an All-MCAL honorable mention for the NCS Div. V basketball champs, and 1st-Team AllMCAL for NCS Div. V baseball champs. He hit .397 with 23 runs, 14 RBI and went 7-6 with three saves and a 1.87 ERA. July 2018

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JAMES AKINJO | SalesianRichmond, Sr. (Basketball)

HAYLEE NELSON | Newark Memorial-Newark, Sr. (Volleyball, Basketball, Softball)

Our NorCal Boys Basketball Player of the Year and a 1stTeam All-State selection, the Georgetown-bound Akinjo finished the year averaging 20.7 points and 5.2 assists per game for a Pride team which won 30 games.

Headed to San Jose State for volleyball, she ranked third in NorCal with 573 kills and added 120 blocks and 259 digs. Was leading scorer (23.6 points/ game) for a hoops team that was 24-6, and then hit .435 with 20 runs, 20 RBI for NCS quarterfinalist softball team.

ROBBY ROWELL | Acalanes-Lafayette, Sr. (Football, Basketball) The Cal-bound QB was a Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State Grid-Hoop selection after passing for 2,724 yards and 41 TDs, rushing for 539 yards and five TDs, and then earning all-league honors in leading the basketball team to the NorCal Div. II playoffs.

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TIERRA ROBINSON-JONES | Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, Sr. (Track) The Texas A&M-bound sprinter closed out her prep career with state gold medals in both the 200 and 400 meters. She’s just the fourth girl to accomplish the 200-400 double in the 100year history of the CIF state meet.

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JOHN TORCHIO | Camtpolindo-Moraga, Sr. (Football, Basketball, Baseball) The Wisconsin-bound walk-on was arguably NorCal’s best all-around football player in 2017. He passed for 3,314 yards, rushed for 761, accounted for 50 TDs, amassed 98 tackles and seven interceptions on defense, and also punted. He started for a 21-win hoops team before playing a supporting role on a baseball team which reached the NCS finals.

TARIQ BRACY | Milpitas, Sr. (Football)

SportStars’ NorCal Player of the Year made massive impacts on both sides of the ball, rushing for 2,042 yards and scoring 31 total TDs, including three interception returns for scores. The Notre Dame-bound talent came up biggest when it counted most: He rushed for a TD, caught a TD pass, and returned a punt for a score in a thrilling 45-41 CIF State Bowl Championship win. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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ANTONIO ANDRADE | Gilroy, Sr. (Football, Wrestling) Andrade was named SportStars’ NorCal Wrestler of the Year after a 6-0 run through the 195-pound CIF State Championships bracket that included four pins along the way. Prior to that, he helped lead Gilroy football to a perfect

chart toppers The first six athletes to finish as No. 1 in our Bay Area 75 rankings. YEAR ATHLETE

SCHOOL

SPORT(S)

lineman. He had four sacks and two fumble recoveries in the CCS final. He’s

’12-’13

Aaron Gordon

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

Basketball

headed to wrestle at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M with hopes of transferring

’13-’14

Drew Anderson

Miramonte-Orinda

Football, Basketball, Baseball

to national-power Oklahoma State.

’14-’15

Ivan Rabb

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

Basketball

’15-16

Najee Harris

Antioch

Football

’16-’17

Marquel Johnson

St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo

Football, Basketball, Baseball

’17-’18

Haley Jones

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

Basketball

13-0 season and CCS Div. V championship as a first team all-league defensive

Johnson

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Harris

HALEY JONES | Archbishop Mitty, Jr. (Basketball)

Jones becomes the first girl to top this list, and she does so as a slam dunk choice. Which is funny because that may be the one thing she CAN’T do on a basketball court. (Or maybe she can? We’re not going to rule it out). Jones earned State, NorCal and regional player of the year honors from Gatorade, SportStars, Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, respectively. She was also a 1st Team All-State selection by Cal-Hi Sports and one of four finalists for their Ms. State Basketball award. As a junior, she averaged 21.8 points, 10 rebounds and 4.1 assists. She shot 64 percent from the field and 46 percent from behind the arc. Jones was recently named to the USA Basketball U17 FIBA World Cup team; she’ll wear national team colors in Belarus from July 21-29. Finally, she’ll enter the 2018-19 school year as ESPNW. com’s No. 1 ranked senior wing in the country, and No. 2 ranked prospect overall. ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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Several clubs belonging to the Northern California Volleyball Association went wheels up in late June and landed in Detroit to battle it out in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships. The most successful of those turned out to be the ASICS 14-1 team of the Northern California Volleyball Club from the Greater Sacramento region (pictured above left). They went 9-2 overall in the Motor City, reaching the 14 National Division final before narrowly missing out on gold medals. The 14-1 ASICS team — comprised of Allison Corgiat, Jordyn Deter, Gillian Hurley, Jade Light, Kylie Mulvaney, Emma Nelson, Lilian Patock, Gabriella Perez, Georgia Remmers, Savannah Risley, Jayhlin Swain and McKenna Towne — went 7-1 in pool play to earn a spot in the eightteam Gold Bracket. In its bracket opener, it won its first set 25-16 over NKYVC Tsunami (Ohio) but was unable to finish the sweep after NKYVC won the second set 25-18. NCVC advanced to the semifinals with a 17-15 third-set victory. NCVC topped Metro Volleyball (Washington, D.C.) 25-20, 25-18 in the semifinals to set up a championship match with the Vegas Aces 14 Under Armour. The Aces took the first set 21-25 and then NCVC forced a third and final set with a 25-21 second-set victory. The Aces clinched gold with a 15-13 win.

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Other strong junior national performances from NorCal teams included Encore 12 Navy of Redwood City and Club Solano 12 Maroon of Fairfield tying for 5th place in in the 12 American Division. Absolute Black 17-1 (Absolute VBC of San Rafael), which includes Marin Catholic-Kentfield standout Isabella Bergmark (right), went 7-2 overall in the 17 National Division. The team’s run at a title ended in the opening round of the Silver Bracket. The USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships took place July 2-9 in Phoenix. Bay To Bay Volleyball Club of San Jose had a great week as three teams notched Top 5 finishes in Open Division play, including the 17 Open champion. Bay To Bay 17-1 went 9-2 and came from behind to win the championship match over Ultimate B17 Gold (Illinois) 15-25, 25-22, 15-13. Bay To Bay 15-1 did everything BUT win the 15 Open Division. The team went 10-1 and dropped just three sets. Two of those sets were in the Gold Bracket final against Team Rockstar 15-1 (SoCal). Bay To Bay 14-1 went 7-2 and tied for fifth in the 14 Open. In the 16 Open Div., Mountain View Volleyball Club’s 16 Red tied for fifth; Pleasant Hill’s Pac Rim Academy saw it’s 16-1 Orange finish 13th. Results from all junior national championships can be found by visiting USAVolleyball.org. ✪

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

BASEBALL 1. Valley Christian-San Jose

29-3-1

2. De La Salle-Concord

28-4

3. Los Gatos

23-9

4. Serra-San Mateo

23-9

5. Bellarmine-San Jose

25-8

6. St. Francis-Mountain View

24-8

7. Foothill-Pleasanton

23-6

8. Vacaville

26-8

9. Elk Grove

19-7-2

10. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

22-8

11. Davis

19-12

12. Jesuit-Carmichael

21-11

13. Alameda

28-2-1

14. Franklin-Elk Grove

23-8

15. St. Mary’s-Stockton

21-7-1

16. Heritage-Brentwood

20-7

17. Palo Alto

22-7

18. Del Campo-Fair Oaks

26-6-1

19. Berkeley

22-5

20. Winters

30-1 SOFTBALL

1. Amador Valley-Pleasanton

23-5-1

2. Foothill-Pleasanton

24-4

3. Benicia

28-3-1

4. Freedom-Oakley

21-2

5. Tracy

25-5

6. St. Francis-Mountain View

23-6

7. Sheldon-Sacramento

25-5

8. Heritage-Brentwood

17-4

9. Watsonville

23-4

10. Vanden-Fairfield

21-6-1

11. Oakdale

23-3

12. St. Mary’s-Stockton

19-7

13. Valley Christian-San Jose

19-7

14. Del Campo-Fair Oaks

20-3

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Vacaville high

15. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

19-8

jumper CJ Toler clears the bar during

16. Carlmont-Belmont

23-2

the SJS Masters meet; Oak Ridge-El

17. Carondelet-Concord

20-8

Dorado Hills twins Maddy, right, and

18. Bella Vista-Fair Oaks

20-10-1

Elena Denner, congratulate Davis’ Fiona

19. Elk Grove

21-8-2

O’Keeffe after the three battled in the

20. San Marin-Novato

23-1

SJS Masters 1,600 meters; De La Salle infielder Taison Corio fires to first base during the NCS final; Benicia senior Grace French delivers a pitch.

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

LEFT TO RIGHT: Berkeley shortstop Caleb Millikan prepares to field a ground ball; The Vacaville baseball dugout erupts as Hunter Dorraugh scores the winning run in the SJS Div. I championship.

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

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2017-18 THE YEAR IN PICS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Anna Lair of Bella VistaFair Oaks slides safely into home against Bear River-Grass Valley; JesuitCarmichael teammates embrace following a goal against rival Davis; San Ramon Valley-Danville’s Jacob Swierstra celebrates the Wolves’ NCS lacrosse title.

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CORPSST 42

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TRENGTH

Why Elite Football Star Gabriel Cordero Chose The Marines Over Football

“He is just a great leader, a great kid and one of those guys that really flourished during camp. I’m also just so proud of him for enlisting in the Marine Corps and serving our country.” — Lions Club South coach Frank Marques of Hilmar Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

espite the braces that he sheepishly revealed with wide grins, Gabriel Cordero was a man amongst boys during back-to-back all-star weekends this summer. The 18-year-old Turlock High graduate, who amassed 26 sacks on the Turlock football team last fall, was arguably the best player on the field during two games featuring elite casts in late June. Maybe it’s because unlike his peers, he isn’t pursuing the glory of a collegiate football career. Despite the eager recruitment of college football coaches, Cordero, who set the school record in the discus, harassed quarterbacks at a near-criminal level last fall and runs a blistering 4.4-second 40-yard dash, will serve his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. The 6-foot, 185-pound linebacker and Central California Conference Defensive MVP enlisted in the Marines well before he took the field in the 45th annual Lions All-Star Football Classic at Tracy High June 16 and the 33rd annual North-South Rotary Bob Green All-Star Classic a week later. Irik Dobbins, an all-star at rival Buhach ColonyAtwater who next will play for the Fresno City College football team, played against Cordero in September, and alongside him twice last month. He saw a completely different player. “He was in our quarterback’s face the whole game, and he’s a talker — it’s his way of getting hyped — so it was a long night when we played Turlock last year,” Dobbins admitted. “I knew he would carry that same energy onto the field in all-star games, but I was surprised to see him carry it even more. “He was a vocal leader and he was the dude who made the big play or got the defense rolling.” During the Lions Club game, Cordero broke into the backfield for two quarterback sacks, nabbed nine tackles and two fourth-down stops. He even scored the first offensive touchdown on a 12-yard sweep. He was an easy pick for Defensive Player of the Game. “He is just a great leader, a great kid and one of those

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guys that really flourished during camp,” Lions Club South coach Frank Marques of Hilmar said. “I’m also just so proud of him for enlisting in the Marine Corps and serving our country.” Cordero’s decision didn’t shock anyone. He has long stated his intention to join the Armed Forces, where elite competition will really begin. “I am anxious to see how the experience behind me compares to others, because I want to stand out,” Cordero said. “When officers see me kicking butt, I think it will help me get promoted and get through the ranks. I want to score higher on physical tests, mental tests than anyone else, and I think my athleticism is going to help me.” “We have seen in Marine Corps physical fitness tests what you have already seen on the football field and in track and field,” Marine Corps Recruiter Staff Sgt. Jose Moreira said. “(Cordero) has an ability to feed off competition. If he knows the best time for a sprint workout, he is going to beat it by 30 seconds. If I tell him who has the most pull-up reps, he is going to go for the highest score — if he doesn’t get it, he is going to come back for it the next day. “Even in team dodgeball, he would want to know who the best player was. He would watch video on other kids if he could.” Moreira said the Marine Corps often recruits athletes, but they sometimes lack maturity or decision-making skills. He expects Cordero to bolster the expectations of new recruits. “The Marine Corps bases new policies and physical fitness requirements on guys like this, who set the bar and prove what people in his age bracket can do,” Moreira said. “It’s what makes the Marine Corps tougher, harder for years to come, and that’s what makes recruitment so special. “One day I will take this uniform off, and I will be glad to know guys like him have got it from here.” Cordero’s drive is unmistakable. 44

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It’s what excites his Marine Corps recruiter and provides relief to family and friends who have supported his decision for years. They are a big part of his process. “It’s hard work, but when you join the Marines, it’s about much more than yourself,” Cordero said. “I am serving my country, and also I know my family is safe, and I am actually involved in that.” Cordero has three older brothers and one older sister. His parents are Turlock residents Ana Maria Cordero and Carlos Cordero. He plans to help the family when he finishes his time in the Marines. “I love football, but I don’t really have any money, and I was getting injured a lot,” Cordero said. “I needed something I could fall back on, and the Marines became the perfect way to go.” Cordero said he has one reported concussion, but estimates he sustained four during his career. He didn’t hold back in full-contact games this June, but was glad he didn’t pick up his fifth in an all-star uniform. He expects to be healthy when he begins a 13-week Marine Corps boot camp Oct. 9. Cordero said he will return home briefly before getting his shipment date and deployment information. He signed a four-year commitment with the Marines, and anticipates a bevy of job opportunities when he finishes his service. “I am thinking I will be a combat engineer, out in the field working on pipelines, building bases, diffusing bombs, or an aviation electrician, working on mounted aircraft,” Cordero said. “And it’s not only the health benefits and the job opportunities when you get out. It’s the reputation and the hard work that comes with it.” Cordero thanked his coaches at Turlock and the all-star games for their leadership. His coaches all saw the same trait in him, and so have the Marines. All that’s left to practice is the “Oorah!” ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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