Sac-Joaquin Issue 160, February 2019 by Sport Stars Magazine

SAC-JOAQUIN EDITION FEBRUARY 2019 VOL. 10 ISSUE 160

Another Classic

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MLK Monday

etting out from behind the desk at SportStars HQ and taking in a game is always the best part of this job. Getting to watch the marquee match-ups on Martin Luther King Day is always a prime day that’s circled on the calendar. Covering MLK showcase events has been a favorite of mine since the first one I covered back in the 2002-03 season when a Leon Powe-led Oakland Tech team edged out a gritty and extremely-talented De La Salle at Saint Mary’s College. This year, I was excited early on by the opportunity to see SportStars’ No. 1-ranked boys and girls teams on the same day. On the girls side, that meant seeing No. 1 Archbishop Mitty-San Jose in a nonleague matinee at then-No. 4 Carondelet High. It also meant getting to see Haley Jones, who commands attention the same way Powe did. This MLK Day was my first time to see Jones in person this season. She did not disappoint. She had 21 points in the first half and finished with 28 to go with eight rebounds, four assists and six steals. My favorite part might have been watching her give time and autographs to more than a few young girls and boys in the wake of the Monarchs’ 80-58 victory. It reminded me of another selfless high school star I saw do that once, former Antioch High running back Najee Harris. From Carondelet, I motored up the hill to the same gymnasium at which I first saw Powe play. It was another No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup in our rankings at the time: undefeated No. 1 Salesian-Richmond against redhot challenger Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland. Down two starters due to injuries, Salesian didn’t grab its first lead of the game until there was less than three minutes to play. The Pride won by eight. Salesian coach Bill Mellis, whose teams I’ve covered for more than 15 years, clearly has something special with this group. After wins over Clark-Las Vegas on Jan. 26 and St. Patrick-St. Vincent on Jan. 29, Salesian was one win away from closing out a perfect 26-0 regular season. Even Mellis marvels a little bit. “The best teams on all levels still lose games,” Mellis said after the Pride’s MLK win. “I thought we’d be having a great year, but not necessarily undefeated. There’s plenty of games we played really well and still could’ve lost. Lot of those games could’ve gone either way, so for all of them to go our way is a little bit surprising.” I can’t say for certain that we’ll get to see these two teams again during the CIF Open Championship games at Golden 1 Arena on March 9. But I sure enjoyed them on Jan. 21, and I’m confident they’d represent NorCal quite well. ✪

ALL ACCESS See what’s in this issue quarterback Kaiden Bennet Liberty’s Sione 12 Folsom’s 10 Mr.-Do-Everything, headlined a powerhouse offense to be Vaki, is the SportStars NorCal Football Player Of The Year

La Salle’s Henry To’oto’o is our 14 De Defensive Player Of The Year

our Offensive Player Of The Year

boys soccer aims to 18 Woodcreek’s close the season out in style

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YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #10, February 2019 Whole No. 160 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, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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gavin wilburn

WESTON RANCH-STOCKTON - BASKETBALL - JUNIOR One week after dropping 19 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 66-60 road win over NorCal-ranked Grant-Sacramento on Jan. 19, Wilburn came up with another big game to help the Cougars fend off a serious upset bid from Manteca. Playing a Saturday afternoon matinee on it home floor, Weston Ranch outlasted Manteca 78-76 as Wilburn tied for team-high with 23 points while also posting team-highs of nine rebounds and four assists. The 6-foot-3 wing is averaging just shy of 12 points through the Cougars’ first 22 games and is the team-leader in both rebounds (8 per game) and assists (3.2 per game). Weston Ranch improved to 21-1 with the victory.

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February 2019

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QUICK! GET TO REDDING FOR ELITE 7-ON-7 BATTLE Being a middle school or high school football player nowadays means more than just showing up for tryouts come summer. Over the last decade, many players train with conditioning companies or high school coaches in the off-season. The evidence of how well the training is going is often tested in the arena of 7-on-7 football during the winter/spring season. Just what it sounds like, 7-on-7 is seven offensive players (really six players because the center position is a non-receiver) against seven defensive players in a non-contact/one-hand-touch football game. Quick 6 Football events have been one of the most sought after 7-on-7 football tournaments in California in recent years. Many teams sign up with the hopes of being the last man standing at the end of the day to hoist a gorgeous trophy as well as receiving medals and custom Dri-Fit shirts. More importantly, the champions have bragging rights against other teams which feature players they more than likely will face in padded competition in the fall. Quick 6 Football was established in 2012 out of Elk Grove. The organization’s goal was to create a competitive 7-on-7 football tournament that would give the players and coaches an atmosphere built on integrity and sportsmanship. There were a total of six teams at the inaugural Quick 6 tournament in Elk Grove, registered from Santa Rosa, San Jose, Fresno and the Sacramento area. Things escalated quickly as Quick 6 now hosts four to five different high school-aged events averaging 12 to 16 teams per tournament, and two middle school-aged events for ages 11-14. On Sunday, March 24, Quick 6 will host its first event up north. The Air To The Throne 7-on-7 Challenge will take place at the California Soccer Park in Redding. There is excitement about this high school division tournament because it gives teams up North, as well as Oregon, Nevada and Utah, a chance to play in a competitive event closer to home. Quick 6 is also working to help bring teams outside of Redding to support a city that was impacted by fires in 2018. A Quick 6 day consists of three pool play games. The object of pool play is to score as many points as possible in each game to accumulate a high

Upcoming Quick 6 7-on-7 event s TH

E AIR CONNEC TION — Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Grand Terrace High School in Riverside , CA. DIMES vs. DEFE NSE — Sunday, March 10, 2019 at Mt. Di ablo High School in Concord, CA. AIR-TO-THE-THR ONE — Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Califo rnia Soccer Park in Redding, CA. The Middle Scho ol division has tw o dates scheduled for Sunday, Februa ry 17 in Sacramento an d Sunday, March 3 in Petaluma. Visit w ww.Quick6.org fo r more details.

score. Wins and losses do not factor. Following a lunch time intermission, the competition heats up as the single elimination games begin and it’s “Win or go home!” Many players who have competed in Quick 6 events have gone on to huge success like Najee Harris of the University of Alabama and Taron Johnson who is now in the NFL as a Buffalo Bill. The Quick 6 high school tournaments give teams a chance to qualify for the Golden Great 7-ON-7 Championship held at the City of College of San Francisco. The top four teams from each event are automatically invited. The first event of the year for the High School Division was the 7th Annual Under The Lights 7-on-7 on January 27 in Sacramento. DB-SELECT of Sacramento took the top prize with Dream Chasers Legends, Game-Fit and 916 Boys rounding out the top four.

Behind the Clipboard by Clay Kallam

BALANCE ON THE COURTS Our freshman boys basketball team would beat our girls varsity by 20 — at least. But the girls get better practice times and more publicity than our boys varsity even though they couldn’t even get the ball across half-court against us. It’s not fair — we’re so much better but we’re treated worse. E.G., Oakland

ou know I coach girls basketball, right? OK, I’m a little biased, I admit, but the whole boy/girl thing is an issue, and the question is legitimate – and it boils down to this: Just like the varsity team gets preference over the JVs because the varsity is better, shouldn’t the boys get preference over the girls because they’re better? Obviously, there’s enormous importance to give girls an equal opportunity to succeed, whether it be in STEM classes or in athletics. So giving girls an equal shot at good practice times is important. But do the boys really deserve better treatment because they’re bigger, stronger and faster? This question really hits home when the boys team is really good, and the girls are really bad, which may be the case at your school. But it’s important to remember that things change over time, and I’m willing to bet there was a season when your boys team, relatively speaking, was much worse than the girls. So that year, should the girls have gotten preferential treatment? I can hear the answer: Even the worst boys team would beat the best girls team, so that doesn’t matter. At one level, maybe so. But at the high school level, it’s a lot different than in the pros — and not just because of the money. First, athletics is an extracurricular activity, like drama or music, that has an educational component and an educational value. It’s part of the school’s tool kit to engage and teach young people how to live as adults. From that perspective, the

level of achievement is less important — much less important — than the process of learning. So looking at it that way, the time spent in practice is equally important for boys or girls, and so is the experience gained from playing interscholastic sports. Just because the boys can win more games and score 70 points, and the girls lose most of them and struggle to get to 30, doesn’t mean that the girls aren’t getting just as much from their participation as the boys. I could also argue that interscholastic sports are more valuable for girls than boys, because it exposes girls to competitive situations that are less familiar to them than to boys — and life after school is full of competitive situations, from trying to make a sale to standing up for yourself in a relationship. Boys, in general, start competing on the playground in elementary school while girls, in general, tend to shy away from that kind of aggression. So sports, then, is an opportunity for girls to fill in the gaps in their education, just as boys can use time spent in class to learn how to function in group activities and apply themselves academically. As for publicity, look at it this way: The worst junior college team would likely beat your varsity boys by 20 or more, but the next time you see a headline about JC basketball this year will likely be the first. In the end, all you can do is take care of your own business, and get the most out of your own basketball experience — all this other stuff really doesn’t matter once you take the court. ✪ Clay Kallam has been an assistant athletic director and has coached numerous sports at a handful of high schools throughout the Bay Area. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at claykallam@gmail.com.

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February 2019

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SportStars NorCal Player of the Year

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Sione Vaki, Liberty-Brentwood

ione Vaki simply wasn’t going to be denied his chance to make a difference for his teammates. After a regular season in which he was one of the East Bay’s most explosive offensive weapons — he scored at least one touchdown in each of his first 11 games — Vaki spent his final three games serving as Liberty-Brentwood’s most valuable defensive player. All the way down to the team’s final tackle of the season. With the Lions clinging to a 19-17 lead over Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth in the CIF Division 1-A State Bowl Championship game, the Trailblazers were driving to take the lead with less than four minutes to go. On a 4th-down-and-4 from the Liberty 37-yard line, Sierra Canyon handed the ball to junior running back Brendon Gamble. Vaki crashed down from his safety position and stuffed Gamble for no gain. It was his 14th tackle of the game. Liberty took over and converted a pair of first downs to run out the clock and win the program’s first CIF bowl title. In a historic season in which the Lions also won a league title for the first time since 1985, Vaki’s efforts on both sides of the ball made him SportStars’ choice for NorCal Player of the Year. “Such a humble kid. A blessing to coach,” Liberty coach Ryan Partridge said in a late January conversation with the magazine. “Extremely hard working. It’s always, ‘Yes, Coach.’ There’s never once been an argument. His teammates love him, every single one of my coaches loves him, the teachers and administration on campus love him.” Liberty quarterback Jay Butterfield marveled at Vaki’s work ethic during a late October interview. “He works harder than anyone else,” said Butterfield, who connected with Vaki for 20 of his 43 touchdown passes in 2018. “He comes out to the field and tries to perfect his craft every day. That’s just what makes him who he is.” Vaki’s overall season stats included 70 receptions for 1,394 yards and the 20 touchdowns. He also had a rushing TD, a kick return TD and an interception return for a score. Vaki finished second on the Lions defense with 97 tackles and added four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Those defensive numbers really spiked in the postseason, when he delivered 56 tackles over a four-game stretch. “We put him single-high and he cleans up anything that goes wrong,” Partridge said. “He had nothing below 10 tackles (per game) down the stretch. He was unbelievable on defense. On the offensive side of the ball, they definitely tried to take him out of the game, doubling him, taking angles on him and even tripling him sometimes.” Vaki is a member of the Mormon faith. He will serve his mission prior to playing college football, but that hasn’t stunted his recruitment. Utah, Tennessee, Washington State and USC are all programs hoping to earn a commitment from him this February. He’ll certainly get Partridge’s endorsement. “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime-type player and person.” ✪ — Chace Bryson

The People’s Player of the Year

Jean-Paul Toshiro/photo

TATUO MARTINSON, OL/DL, DEL ORO-LOOMIS From Jan. 11-25, we hosted a fan vote at SportStarsMag.com for our first annual People’s Player Of The Year Award. We identified eight nominees: Kaiden Bennett (QB, Folsom), Austin Jones (RB/DB, Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), Tatuo Martinson (OL/DL, Del Oro-Loomis), Paul M. Rosa (RB/DB, Wilcox-Santa Clara), D’Marcus Ross (RB/DB, Capital Christian-Sacramento), Cameron Skattebo (RB/LB, Rio Linda), Henry To’oto’o (LB/RB, De La Salle-Concord) and Sione Vaki (WR/DB, Liberty-Brentwood). Over 17,500 votes were cast and Martinson received 7,336. And he needed just about every one to defeat Rosa, who wound up just 235 votes back. Martinson is no doubt deserving of the honor. The senior hybrid defender was equally stout against the run and the pass. Martinson recorded 71 tackles, Ike Dodson/photo including 20 for loss, had six sacks, an interception, fumble recovery and a eye-popping five blocked field goals. On offense, he helped pave the way for a rushing attack that averaged nearly seven yards per carry for an Eagles team which went 13-2 and reached the CIF 2-AA State Bowl final.

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Kaiden Bennett, Folsom

o player was more potent in 2018 than Folsom High’s Kaiden Bennett. In his second year as the varsity starter, the dual-threat signal caller accounted for 75 touchdowns — second most in all of California — and completed a career-best 73 percent of his passes while posting for more than 4,000 yards in the air and 568 yards on the ground. Although he accounted for more rushing yards in his career than any other Folsom quarterback (2,137), he proved he could sling it with the best of them, too. He leaves the school as the second-leading passer all-time (11,049 yards) behind Jake Browning (16,775). Much of that success came in 2018. Bennett had his best season in the pocket as he threw for 62 touchdowns and had just five interceptions in 301 attempts. His 19.2 yards-per-completion topped his junior season mark of 16.8 and his 148.3 quarterback rating was 18 points higher in that same span. But beyond the stats and accolades, Bennett was most satisfied with his team’s final outcome as they claimed their second-straight state bowl championship. “I felt like I played a big part on one of, if not the best team in school history with our backto-back state championships,” Bennett said. “So I feel like that was a big accomplishment for me and that I left my mark on Folsom.” Bennett threw for 261 yards and two TDs and added 137 yards and a third score on the ground against Cathedral Catholic-San Diego in the CIF D1-AA State Bowl. His big night led to postgame recognition as he became the first player in CIF State history to earn MVP honors in two-straight state bowl games. “There were a lot of people that doubted us, and didn’t think we were as good as we knew we were,” Bennett acknowledged. “But I feel like at the end of the season people knew what type of team we were and what kind of players we had.” Bennett is one of a handful of Division I-bound players from this year’s Bulldogs’ squad as he joins the Boise State football program and continues his gridiron career at the next level. But Bennett is one of the few players whose journey is already underway. “I’m actually already here,” Bennett said in a phone interview from campus. “It’s a big jump, but I feel like it’s the right jump and the right decision for me.” A three-star recruit according to 247sports, Bennett had offers from 11 schools but signed with the Broncos just a few days after claiming his second state championship ring. The transition to Idaho takes Bennett back to his roots. Originally from Reno, Nevada, the young quarterback is used to snowy conditions and cold winters. Now he’s preparing for his future, training with his new team and getting set to play against a new level of competition. “I’m not focused on the roster or anything like that – I just want to see myself getting better,” he admitted. “That’s all I’m really concerned with right now – getting reps and preparing for spring practices.” ✪ — Steven Wilson

SportStars All-NorCal Offense STARTERS QB — Kaiden Bennett, Folsom, Sr. RB — Austin Jones, Bishop O’DowdOakland, Sr. RB — Cam Skattebo, Rio Linda, Jr. WR — Joe Ngata, Folsom, Sr. WR — Sione Vaki, Liberty, Sr. TE — Connor Barbato, Rancho Cotate, Sr. OL — Joey Capra, Placer-Auburn, Sr. OL — Justin Scrempos, Milpitas, Sr. OL — Zac Welch, Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, Sr. OL — Zack Gieg, Valley Christian-San Jose, Sr. OL — Gunnar Rask, De La Salle-Concord, Sr. David Gerson/photo

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RESERVES QB — Jay Butterfield, Liberty-Brentwood, Jr. QB — Jackon Pavitt, Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa, Jr. RB — Daniyel Ngata, Folsom, Jr. RB — Jarmar Julien, McClymonds-Oakland, Sr. RB — Isaiah Newell, Las Lomas-Walnut Creek, Jr. RB — Tyerell Sturges-Cofer, Liberty, Sr. RB — Fresh Ison, Moreau Catholic-Hayward, Jr. WR — Jamir Shepard, Palo Alto, Jr. WR — Caleb Cooley, Pleasant Valley-Chico, Sr. WR — Elijah Badger, Folsom, Jr. WR — Jake Green, Colfax, Sr. OL — Frank Poso, Branham-San Jose, Jr. OL — George Becker, Gridley, Sr. OL — Isaac Duenas, Alisal-Salinas, Sr. K — Ronan Donnelly, Sacred Heart PrepAtherton, Jr.

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Henry To’oto’o, De La Salle

enry To’oto’o spent 12 games of 2018 cementing his stature as Northern California’s best linebacker — for the second year in a row. His standing as one of De La SalleConcord’s all-time best defensive talents was a given. In his 13th game, he took it a step further. If one could imagine the storied program’s history as a giant quilt, To’oto’o’s final game as a Spartan would’ve earned its own square. All for a game in which he managed just six tackles in a 35-21 loss to Mater Dei-Santa Ana in the CIF Open Division State Bowl Championship game. He played the game on a broken foot. An injury that was barely 24 hours old. “It never occurred to him that he wasn’t going to play,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said in a late January interview. “We had a lot of young guys playing in that game, and he showed a lot of them what it means to be a Spartan. “That will always stick with me. He kind of displayed himself as the alpha dog. Grit and determination and toughness. Those aren’t easy qualities for a young athlete to exhibit, and it was on full display for all those guys.” None of it was an act. To’oto’o spent the better part of the past three seasons becoming the rock of the De La Salle defense. As a senior, especially, he not only represented the physicality of the Spartans’ defense, but served as its emotional core as well. He’s the first player to win the SportStars Defensive Player of the Year Award in consecutive seasons. “He was always smiling. Always competing,” Alumbaugh said. “It was a unique mix. There are a lot of players who like being out there with their guys. And there are players who also just like hitting. You don’t always get both in the same guy.” Following his lead, the De La Salle defense was easily NorCal’s best. Prior to surrendering a season-high 35 points to Mater Dei, the Spartans had allowed opponents to eclipse 20 just twice in their previous 12 games. Folsom and Liberty-Brentwood, the two NorCal teams which won CIF Division 1-AA and 1-A State Bowl championships one week after De La Salle’s loss, combined to score just seven points against De La Salle in 2018. Division 1-AA champ Folsom was shut out 14-0 in a Week Zero blockbuster in Concord. Liberty was a 42-7 victim in the NCS Open Division championship after the Spartans defense forced five turnovers. To’oto’o finished his senior season with 76 tackles (17 for loss), 42 solo tackles, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. He also rushed for more than 500 yards and scored five touchdowns. He entered February as the nation’s No. 1 uncommited defensive recruit. Alabama and Tennessee are considered the top contenders for his services. “I love the kid,” Alumbaugh said. “I’m gonna miss him and miss coaching him. He was simply one of those kids who was fun to coach. He loved his teammates and he loved his coaches.” Those teammates and coaches who stay behind will be sure To’oto’o’s legacy is sewn into the fabric of De La Salle football. ✪ — Chace Bryson

SportStars All-NorCal Defense

Berry Evans III/photo

DL — Noa Ngalu, Menlo-Atherton-Atherotn, Sr. DL — Isaiah Foskey, De La Salle-Concord, Sr. DL — Jacob Bandes, Pittsburg, Sr. LB — Henry To’oto’o, De La Salle, Sr. LB — Daniel Heimuli, Menlo-Atherton, Sr. LB — Joshua Pakola, St. Francis-Mountain View, Sr. LB — Tristan Sinclair, San Ramon ValleyDanville, Sr. DB — Amir Wallace, De La Salle, Sr. AP — D’Marcus Ross, Capital ChristianSacramento, Sr. AP — Shamar Garrett, De La Salle, Sr. AP — Evan Williams, St. Francis-Mountain View, Sr.

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RESERVES DL — Dejon Benton, Pittsburg, Sr. DL — Sione Liku, Oakland, Sr. DL — Garrett Fountain, Turlock, Sr. DL — Tatuo Martinston, Del Oro-Loomis, Sr. DL — Jamar Sekona, Marin CatholicKentfield, Jr. LB — Tyce Mullins, Eureka, Sr. LB — Nicky Einess, Liberty-Brentwood, Sr. LB — Laiatu Latu, Jesuit-Carmichael, Sr. DB — Daniel Roanhorse, Freedom-Oakley, Sr. DB — Lovelace Rufus, Moreau CatholicHayward, Sr. DB — Johnny Serrano, Rio Linda, Jr. AP — Paul M. Rosa, Wilcox-Santa Clara, Jr. AP — Bailey Sulzer, West Valley-Cottonwood, Sr. AP — Zach Larrier, Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, Sr. AP — Giles Jackson, Freedom, Sr.

February 2019

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SportStars NorCal Coach of the Year Ryan Partridge, Liberty-Brentwood

David Graham/photo

n just two seasons at the helm of the Liberty High football team, history is starting to make a habit of following head coach Ryan Partridge at nearly every turn. After leading the Lions to their first North Coast Section title in 2017, Partridge moved the team’s goals one step higher in 2018. Expectations from the outside rose, but so did the feeling that if everything went according to plan, the month of December might offer another opportunity to rewrite the Liberty record books. When that opportunity did arrive, Partridge and the Lions didn’t shrink from the challenge. A trip to Cerritos College in Norwalk offered its share of obstacles, both on the field and off, but Liberty kept right on going to cap an unforgettable season with a 19-17 victory over Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth in the CIF Division 1-A State Bowl title game. For all the talent on the field, and Liberty certainly didn’t lack in that department, a culture of unselfishness made all the difference as Partridge guided his squad through a month-long hiatus due to devastating wildfires in Northern California, the NCS Open Division playoffs and a CIF NorCal road victory over Valley Christian-San Jose. “The number one thing with this team, I’ve never seen it in my life, is the lack of egos,” Partridge said. “We had some big time football players and everyone was about the team. There was not one kid on this team, not one coach on this team that was ego-centric. We set the goal as a state championship early in the summer and that was the focus.” To take the final step in Southern California, Partridge had to lean less on his typical preparation methods and more on the resolve of his team. As Liberty’s athletic director, the secondyear coach was charged not only with game planning but also with the logistical challenge of making sure his team had hotel rooms, busses and food along the way. Sticking to a script that had worked time and time again proved critical. Once the first half nerves subsided, Liberty got to work and Tyerell Sturges-Cofer’s 11-yard touchdown run, his third trip to paydirt of the evening, provided the eventual winning points. The Lions earned their first bowl title despite the absence of leading tackler Nicky Einess, out due to injury, and a Sierra Canyon defense that limited a potent Liberty passing attack to just 117 yards through the air. “We thought we had a solid game plan and we were definitely going to do what we do on offense and on defense,” Partridge said. “But Sierra Canyon just did a great job of confusing us and sending some pressures we’d never seen from them before. “The bottom line is the kids kept believing the whole entire time, persevered through and made some big plays.” ✪ — Ben Enos

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Gilroy, Vacaville Wrestling Poised For Big Postseasons It’s not a perfect science, but sometimes it feels like rocket science. This week, 37 scoresheets from the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Dual Championships were scrutinized, alongside 154 combined brackets from 11 tournaments at Mission San JoseFremont, Gilroy, Mission Oak-tulare, Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa, Pitman-Turlock, Overfelt-San Jose, Eureka, Rodriguez-Fairfield, Albany, Corning and Morro Bay. Finishes, weight changes and head-to-head results shifted 156 wrestlers into new spots on our rankings, and 25 wrestlers cracked the lists after missing designation two weeks ago. Following are the newest team rankings. Visit SportStarsMag. com to see our 14 weight class rankings. Rankings through matches on Jan. 27. Previous rank in parenthesis Gabe Martinez, Oakdale 1. (1) Gilroy (13 ranked, 152 power points) The Mustangs didn’t have their full THE SYSTEM lineup at the last elite tournament Our team rankings are calculated by the cumulaof the regular season (MidCals), tive “power points” of each ranked wrestler from but still scored 247.5 points in our weight-by-weight Top 15s — viewable on the fourth place, behind only Tuttle Wrestling page of SportStarsMag.com — with 15 (Oklahoma), Buchanan-Clovis and points awarded to the top wrestler in each weight Poway. Eleven of Gilroy’s 13 ranked and one point given to the wrestler at No. 15. wrestlers competed, and nine Only one wrestler can earn “power points” in each placed in the top five. bracket, but we will rank multiple wrestlers from 2. (2) Vacaville (12-109) the same team, if necessary. Freshmen Ethan Birch (138) and Eric Almarinez (113) debut in the top 15 of their weight class after dominating performances at the SJS Duals. The Bulldogs won Division I in a landslide by outpointing Edison-Stockton, Folsom and Elk Grove by a combined 180-30 margin. Almarinez beat Folsom’s Daniel Lopez (No. 7 at 106) 21-6 while Birch edged Kendall Frank of Elk Grove (No. 9 at 138) 8-7. 3. (4) Oakdale (9-91) Oakdale is tougher as a unit with Henry Porter at 132, and looked tough at the SJS duals, beating Pitman-Turlock 47-23 in the Div. II finale. The Mustangs will look to bring a high-scoring squad to Masters to challenge Vacaville, now the section’s heavy favorite. Oakdale has five wrestlers ranked in the top three of Northern California in their weight classes. Gilroy is the only team with more. 4. (3) De La Salle-Concord (10-86) Big gains by wrestlers in key weight classes shifted a few Spartans down the ranks, but De La Salle still maintains a solid position in our top five. De La Salle has nine ranked wrestlers, seven of them listed in the top eight. Senior Kyle Parco, No. 1 at 132 pounds, has never won a state medal. 5. (5) Del Oro-Loomis (6-76) The Golden Eagles were bested by Pitman in SJS Duals, but are much better in tournament format. The squad welcomes back previously injured freshman standout Damion Elliott, who jumped into the No. 9 spot at 113 pounds. THE NEXT 10 6. (6) Pitman-Turlock (5-54) 7. (7) Franklin-Elk Grove (5-48) 8. (8) Sutter (5-42) 9. (10) Turlock (4-39) 10. (9) Folsom (4-38) 11. (11) Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (3-32)

12. (13) Elk Grove (4-31) T13. (12) Liberty-Brentwood (4-27) T13. (NR) St. Francis-Mountain View (3-27) 15. (NR) Calaveras (26) ✪

— Ike Dodson

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February 2019

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BEST FOR LAST With Josh Gaeckle Leading The Way, Woodcreek’s 14 Seniors Seek To Close Timberwolves Careers In Championship Style

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February 2019

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February 2019

SportStars™

Story by Steven Wilson Photos by James K. Leash

Josh Gaeckle

“Without a doubt. We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the heart and when we work together as a team, I think we have the ability to beat anyone.” 20

SportStars™

February 2019

osh Gaeckle knows this is his last chance. He’ll also tell you this is his best chance. The Woodcreek-Roseville senior, who led the Timberwolves’ soccer program to a 12-2 record heading into the last week of January, knows his high school career is coming to a close. But he’s confident this could be their year. “Without a doubt,” Gaeckle said following a 2-1 road victory over league-leading Bella Vista-Fair Oaks on Jan. 23. “We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the heart and when we work together as a team, I think we have the ability to beat anyone.” With three years of varsity experience, Gaeckle says this is the most talented team he’s been a part of at Woodcreek and he’s making plans to take this group one step further than last year — all the way to the section finals. “That would mean the world to me,” he admitted. “That’s the ultimate goal.” Gaeckle has scored a team-high 19 goals this season and has led the Timberwolves to their best start since the 2013-14 season. He’s proved to be a dominant force in the newly aligned Capital Valley Conference and leads the league in goals and total points. The upperclassman credits his teammates for that. “The boys have my back all the time and are always playing good balls my way,” Gaeckle explained. “They put me in good positions to score, and I think it brings a big lift to my team when they find me and I’m able to put them away.” Gaeckle is one of 14 seniors and one of 22 players on the Woodcreek team this year — one of their largest teams in recent memory. And that kind of depth has contributed to their sustained success. “I think this is the strongest team I’ve coached since I joined the program,” third-year coach Shaun Hilton said. The Timberwolves have reached the playoffs in each of the past two seasons under Hilton and should do it again in 2019. They finished 16-6-3 last year and reached the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals before falling

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to Bella Vista. Another early league loss at home to the Broncos back in December gave the late January rematch a little more meaning. And thanks to a two-goal effort from Gaeckle, the Timberwolves earned a little payback. “As he’s demonstrated this year, (Josh) can take your team on his shoulders and do things that are spectacular,” Hilton stated. “Even his attitude is phenomenal. He stubbornly wants to keep improving and help our team win.” Entering his senior season, Gaeckle worked hard to improve every facet of his game, such as producing with his non-dominant right foot and finishing in the air. He’s also expanded his explosiveness with his left foot as evidenced by his near-third goal in the January match against Bella Vista. He smashed a kick from 35 yards out on a set piece, but a tremendous save from the Broncos’ goalkeeper kept him from adding to his season total. Josh gets some of his athleticism from his father, Chris, who was a pro baseball player and saw action in 121 games in the minor league farm system for the Boston Red Sox in the 1980s. “I think his dad was a catcher and you’ve seen it in Josh over the last two years — his legs have really filled out,” Hilton pointed out. “And the amount he plays certainly helps (with his conditioning), so yeah, he’s built well for his position.” As the most dominant player on his team and someone who doubles up in the offseason with Placer United’s 00-01 NPL club team, many would expect high-level collegiate interest. But not so. Gaeckle has interest from Cal State East Bay, Dominican University and University of Hawaii-Hilo. But he and his coach hope more offers will pour in as the playoffs begin. “He’s hopefully going to be playing in college somewhere – Div. I or Div. II, anywhere. Teams would be stupid not to pick him up,” Hilton added. “I know he’s capable of it.” Gaeckle isn’t the only standout for Woodcreek this year. Fellow senior Kyle Prusia has 12 goals and five assists, while Jake Headington and Tyler McMaster have three goals apiece. “We have a great offensive team,” coach Hilton stated. “And we’ve purposefully played that way this year. “We normally blast right past the midfield.” Hilton’s aggressive offensive approach has resulted in eye-popping numbers, but his defense can get overmatched at times. In fact, the team has only one shutout all year — a 2-0 victory over Inderkum-Sacramento on Jan. 25. Although they’ve outscored opponents by 31 goals, the Timberwolves have allowed 18 goals in 14 games. That includes 12 goals in eight league contests. “We didn’t have a single shutout for our first ten or twelve games, but we can be more of a defensive team when we want to be,” Hilton said. “(Against Bella Vista) and because of our loss to them earlier in the year, we did switch to more of a traditional approach with an extra central midfielder.” Despite the strategy shift on the pitch, great production off counter-attacks helped the Timberwolves maintain their torrid offensive pace this year and still earn a 2-1 victory over the Broncos. And Woodcreek will need more impressive outings like that if they want to bring home some postseason hardware. “It’s going to take some good bounces, but I certainly believe we can compete with any team — Division I or Division II,” Hilton admitted. “We’re not necessarily the best structured team 11-aside, but we have some things other teams don’t have in terms of offensive talent and experience.” In order to win league this season, the Timberwolves need Roseville to beat Bella Vista in their final matchup of the regular season and they need to finish with a better goal differential than both squads. Regardless of their CVC standing, Hilton believes this team can go deep in the postseason. “If we keep up this pace, we’ll definitely make the playoffs, but I’d like to see us get a high seed,” Hilton added. “I’m confident the boys can do it. We just have to play our game and we’ll be fine.” ✪

Kyle Prusia

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February 2019

SportStars™

training

TIRED Wondering If You Need To Drag Your Fatigued Self To The Gym? Let Your Goals Be Your Guide powered by trucks: Anthony trucks Have you ever felt that feeling where you KNOW you need to go to the gym and train, but your body just doesn’t feel like moving? Yeah, me too. In fact, I get that feeling more times throughout a month than I’d like nowadays. The big question that we all have to answer in that moment is, “What should I do?” Well the answer is both simple and complicated. Why? Because it depends on your goal and the reason why you’re training. When you train tired you put yourself at a little more of an increased risk, not to mention that you may not get the most out of your workout if you’re unable to perform at the level you need or want to. If your goal is to be an elite level athlete like I was in the NFL, then you will need to learn to prime your system and “turn on” even when you’re tired — because working when tired is an opportunity to get an edge on your competition. When they’re sleeping, you can still be working. On the flip side, if you’re just looking to be healthy then you may not have an immediate need to push through the fatigue and tired. Overall, the goal should be to avoid injury at all cost so you will want to look into taking time to recover properly so you don’t put yourself at risk. It’s not going to kill you to take a day off and get a moment to rest. When you do, you may in fact come back stronger than before. Make sure you listen to and take care of the one tool you can’t replace by giving it rest when needed. ✪ Anthony Trucks is an IYCA-certified trainer who covers weight training for SportStars.

SportStars™

February 2019

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