Sac-Joaquin Issue 165, June 2019 by Sport Stars Magazine

SAC-JOAQUIN EDITION JUNE 2019 VOL. 10 ISSUE 165

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MULTIPLICATION

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he week this SportStars issue released coincided with the final week of the high school sporting year. Which is always a time of year when we have our rearview glasses on as we prepare to consider our end-of-year honors and lists We just completed our annual collaborative effort with the Sacramento River Cats, producing the 10th All-City Team celebrating the athletes of the Greater Sacramento region and the outer edges of the Sac-Joaquin Section. In building that list, it was hard not to notice the number of elite multi-sport athletes from 2018-19. Monterey Trail-Elk Grove’s Zach Larrier — who the River Cats named their overall male athlete of the year by awarding him the Art Savage Award — was just one example of the multi-sport stardom. He quarterbacked a 12-1 football team, contributed in 23 basketball games and then ran the state’s fastest time in the 400 meters. Readers of the Sac-Joaquin issue can read more about him on Page 10. Larrier wasn’t the only two- and three-sport standouts we came across. There was also Burbank-Sacramento’s Levelle Bailey (football, basketball) and Folsom’s DeShawn Lynch (football, basketball). For the girls, Davis lacrosse star Alex Agnew was also a key player for the Blue Devils basketball team. It went on and and on. As we begin preparing notes for our exclusive Bay Area 75 honors (due out this July), the trend has continued. Perhaps no school produces more multi-sport athletes than CampolindoMoraga, and two come to mind immediately: Lucas Allen (football, soccer and baseball) and Grant Harper (football, baseball). Not far from the Campo campus is Acalanes-Lafayette, home of Kaylee Pond — a Diablo Athletic League Most Valuable Player in both basketball and softball. Competition to crack the list is going to be tough this year for sure. But all these two- and three-sport standouts got us thinking about some of our favorite multi-sport athletes during the SportStars Magazine Era. Here’s just a few we remember fondly: Marquel Johnson of St. Patrick-St. Vincent High in Vallejo: He was our No. 1 athlete of 2016-17 after nearly propelling three different Bruins teams (football, basketball and baseball) to NCS titles. Niamey Harris of Mission-S.F.: He was the 2016 AAA Football Player of the Year and the heart-and-soul of the Bears’ CIF State Championship-winning hoops team four months later. Drew Anderson of Miramonte-Orinda: He finished No. 1 in the Bay Area 75 for the 2013-14 school year after throwing for more than 4,000 yards in football, averaging a doubledouble of 21 points and 10 rebounds during basketball season, and then hitting over .400 in 16 baseball games. Megan Reid or Miramonte-Orinda: The Matadors 2014 grad gets special recognition for playing two sports in the SAME SEASON, basketball and soccer. Could a multi-sport talent unseat defending Bay Area 75 No. 1, Haley Jones of Mitty-San Jose basketball? Join us this summer to find out. ✪

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YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #10, June 2019 Whole No. 165 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, PO Box 741, Clayton, CA 94517. SportStars™© 20102014 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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Jordyn Hutchins WOODLAND CHRISTIAN - SOFTBALL - JUNIOR The Stanford-committed slugger delivered a 3-for-3 performance with a pair of doubles in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinal game on May 17. She scored two runs and also drove in a pair of runs — including the decisive run in a 4-3 win over Ripon Christian. The win improved the Div. VI defending champions to 22-31 and advanced them to the championship on May 21. Hutchins was batting .568 through the end of the regular season. She had eight home runs and 18 of her 25 hits went for extra bases.

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Opening Up Opportunity

erhaps the biggest name for Bay Area football on the national recruiting circuit this spring would be quarterback Jay Butterfield from Liberty-Brentwood. In his second year starting for the Lions last fall, Butterfield threw for nearly 3,300 yards and 43 touchdowns in helping the team win the CIF Division 1-A state title. He’s also got the size, at nearly 6-foot-6, that college coaches love. In early May, Butterfield announced a verbal commitment to Oregon. He became the latest top Bay Area recruit to head out of California, following in the path of other recent blue-chippers like linebacker Henry To’oto’o of De La Salle (Tennessee) and running back Najee Harris of Antioch (Alabama). At least Butterfield didn’t jump ship completely out of the Pac-12 Conference, however, which is what happened two days before he committed to Oregon. That’s when California’s No. 1 quarterback recruit and perhaps the top Class of 2020 recruit in the nation, St. John Bosco-Bellflower’s D.J. Uiagalelei, announced for Clemson. So what would someone say if on the ensuing weekend following both major commitments it was possible to see Butterfield and Uiagalelei unloading passes almost side-byside to some of the best wide receiver prospects in the nation? They were doing just that at El Cerrito High’s field on May 11 at the Northern California regional camp of a national tour known as The Opening. Presented by Nike, The Opening at El Cerrito also was a place where many top players from well-known programs from outside of Northern California such as St. John Bosco, Mater Dei-Santa Ana, Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas and St. Louis-Honolulu all gathered for a chance to earn an invited trip to Dallas to be part of Nike’s The Opening, a national football camp. The quarterbacks also need to go to at least one regional camp so they can get an invite to the Elite 11 camp, which really is where a lot of top quarterbacks from each graduating class begin to develop lifelong friendships that they will carry for what they hope are long NFL careers. Since yours truly was part of the planning for the very early Nike camps and has known many of the camp directors and coaches for many years, going to this event has become a must-stop on the yearly high school sports calendar. The 2018 camp had to be missed since it was held earlier in the year in March in the middle of the CIF basketball state playoffs, but it was moved back to May this year. Both Butterfield and Uiagalelei were ripping balls effectively throughout all of the drills and one-on-ones. The MVP of the quarterbacks, however, was Ethan Garbers of Corona del Mar-Newport Beach (who has committed to Washington). The running backs were an elite group as well, but the

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MVP nod went to Class of 2022 Raleek Brown from Edison-Stockton. Brown displayed phenomenal quickness, moves and feet, but he may not have the size to be a running back in college and may eventually become a slot receiver. “No, I didn’t expect to be MVP, but I expected to be one of them,” said Brown, who gets some coaching at Edison from former NFL receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who also was an MVP at an earlier NorCal Nike camp along with Lincoln-Stockton’s Brandin Cooks. “I feel I am representing the city out here and am glad at keeping it going (MVPs).” Going to one of these camps, however, is more about putting marks next to names on a roster of players who may not be such well-known prospects. Even with a change in format that allows evaluators much more time to look at players from different positions, it’s still impossible to see everyone. Regardless, here’s some players from SportStars’ coverage area who were definitely noticed at the El Cerrito gathering: DB Kavir Bains (Valley Christian-San Jose); TE Brock Bowers (Napa); DL Evan Branch-Haynes (Sacred Heart-SF); WR Grant Daley (De La Salle-Concord); OL Andres Dewerk (Los Gatos); RB/WR Shamar Garrett (De La Salle-Concord); DB Jalen Henderson (De Anza-El Sobrante); OL Mark Hutchison (Pittsburg); OL Gerad Lichtenhan (Davis); DE Mason Mastrov (Campolindo-Moraga); RB Isaiah McElvane (Valley Christian-San Jose); DB Trey Paster (Buhach ColonyAtwater); WR Savon Ponce (Rio Americano-Sacramento); OL Frank Poso (Branham-San Jose); DL Jamar Sekona (Marin Catholic-Kentfield); QB Daniel Susac (Jesuit-Carmichael) and OL Isaiah Tupou (Grant-Sacramento). Sure, camps like these in which the players are running around in shorts is not even in the same ballpark as being in pads and helmets and being in a real game. But they do have value when you can check out the next quarterback coming up the pipeline at a school like Folsom (Jake Reithmeier was there for the Bulldogs), and when one school has several players that look good at different positions it can be a preview of what might happen for the ensuing season. If we had to pick one team that falls into that category, it would be Valley Christian-San Jose. The Warriors should be plenty motivated to have a big season, too, after the heartbreaking manner in which they lost to St. Francis-Mountain View in last year’s CCS finals. See what we mean about how an event like the The Opening gets the juices flowing for the next football season? Happens to me every year. ✪ 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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Monterey Trail Senior Zach Larrier Has Blazing Fast Speed, And The Tri-Sport Athlete Is Poised To Garner More Hardware Story by Steve Wilson | Photos by James K. Leash Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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verything in Zach Larrier’s life is fast. From the gridiron to the track, the classroom to his life at home; there are times when it’s all a blur. In the fall, his alarm is set early for football conditioning. In the winter, he’s moved on to basketball season and he’s working on his jumper at night. In the spring, he’s setting records on the track. Due to his work habits, Larrier is no stranger to speed. “Zach is extraordinary,” Monterey Trail-Elk Grove football coach T.J. Ewing said. “He raised the bar for us and was one of the most complete young men we’ve ever had in our school’s history. His work ethic, persistence, consistency and commitment are unparalleled. He embodies everything you need from all student-athletes.” Larrier showcased his track speed this April at the Arcadia Invitational in Los Angeles as he became the state’s leader in the 400-meter race. After clocking in at 47.1 on the same track in last year’s race and taking home first place, Larrier sped up this season to claim a California-best 46.49, yet he couldn’t manage to beat Justin Robinson of Hazelwood West-Hazelwood (Missouri). Robinson ran a 46.22. Regardless of his positioning, Larrier entered the state championships ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 400, according to MileSplit.

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“My goal is to hit 45 at some point this year,” Larrier said after that record-setting race. “I was able to knock seventenths off my time since competing in this race last year, so I definitely think it’s possible.” His track coach, Robbie Longan, said that 45-second mark has been on their minds and a goal for them for a while now. He also knows Larrier is a serious contender to finish the year as a state champion, with a good chance to finish on top in more than one event. “Zach defines what hard work and effort mean, and how the everyday effort translates to great feats on the track,” Longan said. “Being a three-sport athlete, Zach doesn’t get as much time on the track early in the season, so he has been grinding every day to hit these times at very competitive meets.” Larrier helped Monterey Trail claim the Sac-Joaquin Section championship banner in Div. II as he took home first place in the 400 relay, the 1600 relay, the 200 (21.78) and the 400 (46.7). The three-sport athlete’s accomplishments are starting to pile up, and just in time. He will enter the 101st CIF State Track and Field Championships on May 24-25 at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. But for Larrier, life in the classroom is just as fast. Courses at Monterey Trail last just nine weeks. That’s less Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

“The speed is there for me to play at the next level, so that’s great. Some guys worry about that — if the speed is there for them — but I don’t worry about that.” time than the collegiate semester (13-15 weeks) and quarter systems (10 weeks) he’ll be enrolled in next fall. Just four days after he potentially competes in a state final, he’ll need to complete a few finals on campus. “You have to learn at a fast pace, especially for a math class or a Spanish class, you don’t get a lot of time for studying,” Larrier pointed out. “But it’s something I’m used to.” Larrier was a state qualifier in track and field last year as a junior and came close to earning first place in a handful of events. In fact, he battled through a 104-degree temperature at the state meet and still managed to complete all of his events. Nothing was going to stop him from racing that day. “Of course (I raced), it’s the state meet,” he admitted. “I actually only missed the finals by three, or four-tenths of a second. I was that close.” Unfortunately, Larrier’s luck took a turn for the worse. He tore his hamstring muscle in his second-to-last race of the day — the 200 meter dash. “It was a rough day,” he confessed. “I didn’t know it was a tear in my hamstring until later. I thought it was just a strain, so I ran the four-by-four later that day. It was rough, but I still knew it was my junior year. It would have been much worse if it was my senior year.” Without getting too upset over the results, Larrier focused on his comeback. He put his all into his rehabilitation regimen and found himself back to full health less than two months later, just in time for football season. “I was still going to football practice every day at 7 a.m.,” Larrier said. “I didn’t really take it easy. Instead, I pushed (my hamstring) as far as I could without re-injuring it. I actually think it helped, being out on it, running — as long as I didn’t sprint, full-go, it was helping.” Roughly three weeks before the 2018-19 football season began, Larrier said he was back to full strength. That became evident to other teams very quickly. The senior quarterback exploded for a record-setting year as he led the Mustangs to a 12-1 campaign, losing only to the back-to-back state champions from Folsom High in the first round of the Div. I playoffs. Even that game was close at halftime (21-13), before the Bulldogs scored 42 points in the third quarter. “I think it was a great way to go out, I mean, we lost to one of the best teams ever in the state of California,” Larrier explained. “They’ve got to be the best team ever to come out of the section and win back-to-back state championships … We kind of knew this year was going to be a good one because we had a lot of older, experienced guys.” As a leader on the team, Larrier played both ways for the Mustangs, passing for 1,426 yards and 18 touchdowns, and rushing for another 990 yards and 16 scores. He earned Delta League Offensive Player of the Year honors, and was a SportStars Magazine All-NorCal pick. He also had 21 tackles and three interceptions on defense. His stellar season opened the gates to collegiate offers from Oregon State, Cal, Air Force, Washington State, Army and BYU. After taking official visits Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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to a handful of schools, only one destination felt right — Air Force. “It was the best fit for me,” Larrier admitted. “I get to play quarterback, which is great, and when I took my visit, it just felt right. I took visits to all of my other top choices and it just didn’t feel the same.” One of the determining factors in his decision was the offensive system. Air Force runs a version of the option and triple option, which is similar to the veer offense Ewing runs at Monterey Trail. “The speed is there for me to play at the next level, so that’s great,” Larrier said. “Some guys worry about that — if the speed is there for them — but I don’t worry about that.” The rigors of football conditioning have helped Larrier’s mindset at track meets. He knows there’s quite a bit of down time on race days between events, whereas gridiron games are 48 minutes of quick burst plays with a few short breaks. Larrier’s multi-sport training has benefited him in track, allowing him to give each race his all – a one-chance mentality to be the best. “Football helped me a lot in terms of my mental toughness,” Larrier explained. “The thing you feel in the last 100 of the 400 (meter dash) is like no other race — that’s what makes it one of the hardest races in all of track and field.” Pushing through the last stretch of any race, Larrier knows how hard to push his body and just what it will take to finish. He said his football coaches have helped in that area as well. “We have one of the best weight lifting programs in the state for our football team, in my opinion,” Larrier added. “So doing that over the last four years of my life, you could see it — like when you look at me and you look at other track athletes, you can see the difference because of the training I’m doing in the offseason. “People think track is all genetics. But it’s really not. You have to work hard, keep training and keep conditioning your body, especially with the 400. It’s a lot. I would say most of it (comes down to) toughness.” In late June, Larrier will pack up his toughness and his belongings and move to Colorado to join his new team. But this commitment includes more than just football. He’ll be required to enlist in the Air Force for five years following his playing days. Before he leaves, Larrier has a few more goals he’d like to accomplish, specifically a state title. And with his determination, you can bet he’ll wrap that up quickly. “I could write a book about how his drive and commitment to the grind are helping him achieve his goals,” Longan stated, “academically and athletically. Zach is a phenomenal person.” ✪ 14

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Behind the Clipboard by Clay Kallam

TRANSFER Tribulations I love to watch Cal women’s basketball because I see so much I can apply to my own game, but it was sad to hear that Kianna Smith was transferring to Penn State. I really liked watching her play — she could shoot, she could pass, she could defend — but now she’s gone. I heard somewhere, though, that she has to sit out a year before she can play again. Why is that? It doesn’t seem fair. E.A., Berkeley

ell, it doesn’t seem fair because it isn’t fair. Coaches and administrators don’t have to sit out a year when they transfer, so why should players? That’s a question the NCAA really doesn’t want to answer, especially since some players transfer and can play the next year, while others can’t. What’s the difference? Usually, it comes down to money. I’m not talking about graduate transfers, who are athletes who have graduated from their present school and still have eligibility left. They can transfer and play immediately, which is great. In this case, what the money buys is a lawyer, and what the lawyer does is threaten to sue. The NCAA does not like to be sued. The NCAA is going to think long and hard about fighting a transfer request in court because of the money involved. And of course, should the court rule against the NCAA, then it threatens to erase all of the transfer rules for all athletes. But back to Kianna Smith. If her family (or a Penn State booster) is willing to pony up a few thousand dollars to threaten a lawsuit, then the NCAA might just roll over. Or if Smith has a family member or friend who’s a lawyer, or Penn State can figure out a way to get that legal representation, the chances of Smith being eligible next year go way up. Yes, that’s just another case of the rich getting richer. But really, there’s a larger question: Why are there rules about transferring in the first place?

As mentioned, coaches and administrators can move to a job they like better than the one they have without any penalty, so why are students the ones who are told they must stick it out even though they’re unhappy? The answer, of course, comes down to one thing: The NCAA and the colleges have devised a system that works almost entirely to their own benefit. The athletes who put their bodies on the line have no input on rules and restrictions imposed on them. Note that intercollegiate sports are a multi-billion dollar industry that benefits colleges enormously (don’t believe the reports that athletic departments lose money for a second) — if they weren’t an overall positive for colleges, then you’d see schools dropping out of Div. I sports. Instead, more jump in every year, and unless every college administrator in the United States is stupid, the reason they jump in is because it benefits the college. Any major industry wants to control the labor force, and college athletics is a major industry. So the reason Kianna Smith can’t play at Penn State next year — unless she lawyers up — is that the NCAA and the colleges don’t want to give their labor force the freedom to move around because it makes it more difficult on NCAA member schools. Oh, well, freedom of movement is OK if those employees are coaches or administrators, in which case that group of adults can do what they want. ✪

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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San Luis Obispo’s 805 Elite Volleyball Club Earns Its First Bid To Junior Nationals

ith a home base in San Luis Obispo, the 805 Elite Volleyball Club has always found itself a bit in limbo. The club is too south to be a consistent presence in the Northern California Volleyball Association, and a bit too north for a steady dose of Southern California Volleyball Association play. Whether 805 is playing as a member of NCVA (which it does with its nine girls teams), or SCVA (where its three boys team compete), the club is now firmly on the map. That’s thanks to the 805 Elite 17-Black girls team — which recently punched the 9-year-old club’s first ticket to Junior Nationals. The 17-Black team went 7-2 over nine USA Division matches at the NCVA Far Western Qualifier in Reno from April 26-28. It was good enough for third-place and an extreme amount of euphoria. “They were very excited,” 17-Black coach Chip Blaney said. “For a lot of the girls, it’s been a goal since they were little. Since they started playing club volleyball in this area as 12- and 13-year olds. It was something a good majority had been chasing for a long time.” The oldest girls team within 805 Elite’s program is truly a regional all-star team. It became so after another area club was forced to disband at the end of last year and 805 picked up some of the displaced talent. Six different high schools are represented among the 12 girls — all current juniors along with one sophomore. “That’s really one of the cool things about this group,” club director and recently named head coach of Cal Poly Women’s Volleyball Caroline Walters said. “It really is a collection of the best kids from our area.”

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Tamara Wright

The team features four players from Arroyo Grande High: Defensive specialist Grace Devaney, middle hitter Taylor MacCuish, hitter Whitney Thompson and hitter Makenna Wolfe. There are three from Mission Prep-San Luis Obispo: Middle blocker Olivia Goodwin, setter Elaina Bosshardt and defensive specialist Brooke Fledderman. San Luis Obispo High has two players: Setter Dylan Van Rooyen and middle blocker, Kayla Craft. There’s also Phoebe Corgiat, a hitter from Paso Robles High; Jahnine Ricafrente, a libero from RighettiSanta Maria; And Mackenzie Wright, a versatile utility player from Atascadero. The team has qualified for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships July 2-5 in Indianapolis. “The biggest key for them is going to be focusing on the things they’ve done well this season,” Blaney said. “This won’t be the typical level of competition that we see. But, if they can stay focused and play their game, they’ll surprise themselves — and others — with how well they can play.” ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD COVER STORY

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CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD COVER STORY

mphibious Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills junior Ben Dillard has an insatiable thirst for high-speed races inside 25-meter pools. The lanky, shaggy-haired USC-commit set a CIF State Championship meet record in the 100-meter breaststroke during CIF prelims on May 10 at Clovis West-Fresno. A day later, he broke his own record by winning the finals, and set the new gold standard at 52.74 seconds — a full second and a half faster than the runner-up. In swimming, that’s an eternity. “I just remember diving off, and for the first 50 meters, I couldn’t even feel my body,” Dillard recalled. “I was just in the moment. “The next 50 started to hurt, and the last 25, I just held my body line and maintained my speed in the water.” Dillard, a year-round swimmer since he was 12, loves the outdoor pool.

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He chases the gleam of the sun and the thrill of racing on and under water. He thrives when his teammates and rivals push him to his limits. “I just like to race a lot,” Dillard said. “That’s why I come to the pool every day. I like to get away from everything here.” At state, Dillard also ended runner-up in the 200 individual medley in 1:46.14 and anchored a 400 freestyle relay (with Colby Mefford, Evan McCormick and Kyle Garcia) that won the finals with another CIF meet record, in 2:59.77. Dillard, Mefford, McCormick and Jonathan Chu were also runners-up in the 200 medley relay in 1:29.80, losing by only two-hundredths of a second. It was also the difference in a team championship, as Oak Ridge boys (174 points) ended just three points shy of state champion San Ramon ValleyDanville (177). “I have a group of swimmers who are just phenomenal,” Oak Ridge coach

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Tim McCormick said. “We just have a group of athletes who swam against each other in this area for a long period of time.” Coach McCormick credited the career-best marks at state to a training method that stretched grueling training throughout the season and didn’t taper until after the Sac-Joaquin Section championships, which the Oak Ridge boys won. Rostering a superstar in relays and individual races didn’t hurt either. Dillard has now reached the finals of seven CIF events in two seasons, and boasts four state championships and two second-place finishes. “I think the success at state is because of my teammates and coaches, because they got me there and they hyped me up,” Dillard explained. I get really excited when my team is cheering me on in the background.” Dillard said he is also aided by the support of a swim family. His parents, Ernie and Tracy Dillard, champion the rigors of a year-round swim lifestyle. Ernie is president of Ben’s swim club, the Sierra Marlins. Ben’s older brother Ethan, once a CIF champion for Oak Ridge, is a redshirt sophomore swimmer for the University of Utah. Coach McCormick has watched both boys work through his programs. He is also on the staff for Marlins head coach Rob Collins. Coaches highlight Ben’s attention to detail during training and his focus to accomplish the small things that transform good swimmers into great swimmers. But it’s not something you will hear Ben say. “Ben is very humble,” Coach McCormick said. “You wouldn’t know about any of the things he has accomplished, because he never talks about his success. I think that makes him an amazing person. “He will also give you the shirt off his back.” That is, when he’s wearing one. It’s a year-round sport after all, and Ben has a full year of prep competition left. In 2021, Ben could face Ethan in the Pac-12 Championships. Ethan was 21st of 24 finals

“I just like to race a lot. That’s why I come to the pool every day. I like to get away from everything here.”

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CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD COVER STORY qualifiers this year in the 100 breaststroke. Ben’s CIF finals record would have been good enough for eighth in the same meet. That fast-time pedigree is why Dillard’s impact on the USC swim program should be immediate. The reigning 100 breaststroke Pac-12 champion, USC senior Carsten Vissering, completed his final year of eligibility this season. The five-time All-American and USC record holder in the event (50.30) was also runner-up in the NCAA Championships. “I’m just super excited to get to USC and be a Trojan (again),” Ben said. “I just have to keep trying to get better. I want to make it to the NCAA Championships and score points for my team.” Ben also mentioned aspirations to perform well at the United States Olympic Trials. Representing Team USA at the Games is his ultimate goal. It’s what’s kept him laser-focused on the pool and year-round practices with the Sierra Marlins. He plays a little basketball — he is 6- foot-3 after all — and enjoys music, but he doesn’t let it invade his routine. Before heats you can usually find Ben quietly getting his mind right, waiting to explode off the starting platform. The race is over in a flash, but Ben’s drive never ends. ✪

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! N E T G N HA SportStars And The Sacramento River Cats Successfully Celebrate 10 Years Of All-City Athletes

ouble figures! SportStars and the River Cats reached ed that milestone on May 12 when they work tes from the together to honor more than 600 athle r reaches of the oute the to n Greater Sacramento regio Sac-Joaquin Section. y Field was The Mother’s Day morning event at Rale large part to a a success once again. That was due in biggest of which number of participating sponsors, the Also helping rd. Gua was the California Army National U.S. Air Force, to make it such a great event were the erch.com, FitPro Go sports recovery drink, WeNeedM ornia VolleyStrapemup Sports and the Northern Calif ball Association. presented As part of the ceremony, the River Cats honors. Montheir male and female athlete of the year Zach Larrier was terey Trail-Elk Grove three-sports star s High girls Davi rd. the winner of the Art Savage Awa U-17 Women’s soccer phenom — and member of the V Award. national team — Maya Doms, won the g.com from sMa tStar Spor at d In a fan vote conducte basketball and ball foot May 4-10, Burbank-Sacramento the Art for ce star, Levelle Bailey, was the popular choi volleyball star Savage. St. Francis-Sacramento junior . Alexa Edwards won the V Award fan vote ity tradition All-C an n Finally, Strapemup Sports bega all player, footb by presenting Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills Of The Year Zac Welch, the Marvel A. Smith Lineman r of throwing out Award. Welch was also given the hono r Cats game. Rive the the ceremonial first pitch prior to whole new a SportStars looks forward to beginning decade of All-City Honors in 2020. ✪

Zach Larrier

Maya Doms

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June 2019

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June 2019

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June 2019

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Elk Grove’s Ian Smith

Story by Jim McCue Photos by James K. Leash 26

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n the 10 years that the Sac-Joaquin Section has held championships for boys volleyball, Granite Bay has won six of the 10 Division I titles, including the 2019 SJS Division I Championship. The Grizzlies have more section crowns than any other program, and lead an elite club of four schools that have won multiple championships. And club volleyball has been a major reason that. Granite Bay has twice as many section titles as the next most prolific program (Whitney-Rocklin won three consecutive section championships from 2013-2015). The Grizzlies, who improved their record to 32-2 with a 3-1 victory over Elk Grove in the Div. I final, has a roster full of athletes who play club volleyball year-round, primarily for the Northern California Volleyball Club. Granite Bay head coach Winston Prather leads the NCVC Boys Club and is the assistant coach for the 18-1 ASICS team that features Grizzlies’ seniors J.T. Demure and Kevin Daria. Several other Grizzlies’ starters are on NCVC rosters, and the Granite Bay bench is usually littered with NCVC bags and gear. “We are fortunate to have so many players with club experience,” Prather said. “We have three seniors and four sophomores that play a lot, and they all know each other from club.” While the experience and talent that comes with a club-heavy roster is advantageous, Prather understands the group still must play with team goals rather than individual goals. “We have really good players, but we don’t have any attitudes or egos,” the coach said. “Right away, this group learned to play as a team and play for each other.” Prather pointed to Granite Bay’s first tournament of the season, the Battle of the Bay that featured some of the top programs in both the region and state. The Grizzlies won their division with outstanding team play where every individual bought into winning over stats. That carried over through the season as Granite Bay lost only to Central Section powerhouse Clovis North-Fresno after dropping its season-opening match to Nevada Union-Grass Valley. The Grizzlies rolled through the strong Sierra Foothill League, compiling a perfect 10-0 league mark while losing just one set along the way. In fact, Granite Bay had a stretch in which it won 77 of 80 sets. In the section final, Granite Bay dropped the first set to No. 2 seed and Delta League champion Elk Grove. Slow starts and uncharacteristic errors plagued both teams under the championship spotlight, but the Grizzlies regained their form and finished off the Thundering Herd by winning the next three sets. “In the first set, our passing was not as good as it usually is, but I knew that it would come around,” Prather said reflecting on the title match. “By the end of the second set, we were passing real well and that opens up our offense.” Demure, a senior outside hitter heading to Concordia-Irvine, led the Grizzlies with 13 kills in the SJS final and finished the season with a team-high 319 kills. Senior Daniel Patterson added 11 kills in the final while sophomore Grayson Kling tallied 10 kills and 19 assists in the victory that gave the Grizzlies their sixth SJS Championship. On the other side of the net, Elk Grove senior outside hitter Ian Smith — and NCVC star in his own right — led the Herd with 24 kills. Junior middle blocker Joseph Solomon stepped up with a season-high 13 kills and added 13 digs in defeat. “I think that when we came into the section final against Granite Bay, a lot of people had already written us off,” Elk Grove head coach Jill Smith said.

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Granite Bay’s JT Demure

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“We are a relatively green team, with just a couple of club guys and no feeder programs. But we are an intense team.” Ian Smith led the early charge to give the Herd a one-set advantage, but Prather and Granite Bay knew exactly what they had to do to win. “We know Ian well and understood that we weren’t going to be able to stop him,” Prather said. “We did a lot of film study to prepare potential blocking formations for all of their rotations, and were able to execute what we needed to do.” The section championship win earned Granite Bay a berth in the CIF State Division I Playoffs—a stacked field featuring many of California and the nation’s top teams. “I told the guys at the first practice after the brackets were announced, ‘Welcome to the cream of the crop,’” Prather said. “But we want to play with the best.” The Grizzlies season ended in the first round. After being seeded fifth, they were forced to take a long bus ride to face upstart Clovis. The Cougars, who entered the NorCal match with an identical 32 victories (but with 15 losses compared to the Grizzlies’ 2), protected their home court and prevailed 3-1. Meanwhile, Elk Grove was dealt a bit of a surprise when the NorCal brackets were announced. The Thundering Herd were placed in Division III and seeded No. 2, where they knew that they could host two home matches. “It was a big surprise,” Jill Smith said of being placed in the lowest division. “I’m not sure how that came to be, but we are happy with the way the shuffle worked.” Elk Grove immediately took advantage of the placement by opening the tournament with a 3-1 win over Lincoln-S.F.. The Herd followed that with a 3-0 defeat of Valley Christian-San Jose in the semifinals. “I think that we are all aware of how good we can be,” Ian Smith said prior to the start of the regional tournament. In the final, Elk Grove found itself trailing Bentley-Lafayette two sets to one after a 25-16 defeat in Game 3. That’s when the Herd relied on what it had learned from past adversity. It stormed back with 25-16 and 15-4 wins to claim the NorCal crown. “We just need to understand that everything is the same — from the height of the net to the size of the court,” Jill Smith said in anticipation of the NorCal playoffs, which would mark the final matches of her tenure leading the Thundering Herd. “It’s just a different title for the matches.” ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

BE VOCAL about your stress get mental: erika westhoff

n my 20 years as a mental skills coach, there’s no doubt that stress is a bigger part of young athletes lives today — more than ever before. So much so, it’s showing up in very serious ways in the body. One of the most detrimental ways stress shows up in the body is through a disorder I see more and more, Vocal Cord Dysfunction. VCD can be terrifying for an athlete. Essentially, while at full effort the body becomes over stimulated from physical, mental and environmental stress. As a result, the body attempts to shut down by closing the vocal cords, not allowing air to move into the lungs and forcing the athlete to stop. While Vocal Cord Dysfunction is a complicated disorder studied in clinics around the country, there’s no doubt stress plays a big part in how VCD episodes develop. I see a lot of athletes with this condition. Many of them have similar symptoms and often fit a personality profile referred to in research as “stress-prone,” or more commonly as “Type A.” These are athletes who are often talented, very hard working and push themselves — both in sports and in the classroom. A great example of an athlete with this condition is Rick. Rick was a runner. A very good runner. He had an outstanding freshman year with his high school cross country and track teams. Then, during summer training prior to his sophomore year, something started to go terribly wrong. Rick felt his throat tighten and eventually close up halfway through races and tougher training runs. He was forced to stop, no matter how badly he wanted to keep going. But strangely enough, once he stopped, he could catch his breath and pick up the pace once again. After this happened a few times, Rick became fearful it would happen again. Often, it did. Therefore he began to hold back. The combination of anxious feelings about possibly having to stop and frustration that his times were steadily increasing made for a very difficult summer of training. Rick and his mom did their homework and were able find a Vocal Cord Dysfunction clinic to get a clear diagnosis and breathing techniques, both key areas to help athletes learn to manage VCD. The last step was a referral from the clinic to me, to teach Rick how to manage his stress and avoid VCD episodes altogether. We began by teaching Rick all the mental training fundamentals — the same skills I teach athletes who come in to simply add to their training toolbox. We put extra emphasis on all relaxation and stress management skills ›› Progressive relaxation ›› Meditation ›› Breathing ›› Imagery ›› Self-talk strategies We also ensured Rick had a solid plan of how to integrate these skills into his pre-race routines. Rick needed a good sense of control over what stressed him and how he responded to that stress. Once this control was established, Rick was able to start pushing his runs once again. Cross country season proved to be the perfect experimental time for him to really nail down his race preparation and race management. As the season progressed, he was able to focus more and more on race strategy and pushing himself. Rick was running some of his best races going into the postseason, where he finished in the top 15 of his state as a sophomore. Rick’s confidence was sky high and he was excited about the upcoming track season. While Vocal Cord Dysfunction is never cured, Rick now has it well controlled. The keys to controlling VCD are three-fold: 1) Diagnosis from a medical doctor (is it asthma or is it VCD?), 2) breathing techniques from a skilled speech therapist or pathologist, and 3) mental skills training with a sport psychology professional who has experience working with VCD. With all three pieces of the puzzle in place, the success rate for athletes with VCD is excellent. ✪ Erika Westhoff is a CEO and certified mental trainer at EW Performance in Pleasanton.

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See hundreds of more camps like these at SportStarsMag.com/Camps BADMINTON East Bay Badminton Spring Camp Elite. Intermediate. Beginner? It doesn’t matter. If you are interested in badminton, come to our spring camps! We have age groupings from 19 and under to adult classes. Badminton is a sport for the masses Info: 510.655.8989 or info@eastbaybadminton.com BASEBALL Bentley School Summer Baseball Camp Bentley School Summer Sports Camps are an opportunity for rising 5th-12th graders to develop skills and interest in a variety of sports. All camps are coed and offer instruction and coaching Monday-Friday for each session. Info: rrafeh@bentleyschool.net Branham Bruins Baseball Camps Varsity baseball coach Tony Pianto runs this camp for boys and girls ages 5-14. Camp is excellent for all skill levels. Opportunity to participate in age and skill appropriate drills and scrimmages. Two June sessions. 9am-1pm. Info: baseball.branhamsportscamps.com/ summer-camps.cfm; aepianto@yahoo.com City of Walnut Creek Baseball Camp Camp Age: 8-13 offers a fully staffed and supervised camp. Summer Camps: Registration opened Feb. 28. For more information: walnutcreekrec.org or call (925) 943-5858 De La Salle Youth Baseball Camp Offers four sessions for incoming 4th-9th graders. Emphasize proper techniques for running, stealing, throwing, receiving, hitting, bunting, pitching, catching, outfield and infield. Staff will analyze the camper in real game situations and scenarios. Info: dlshs.org/athletics/ camps-clinics; summercamps@dlshs.org or call 925.288.8100 ext. 7090 Golden Era Spring Baseball Academies Choose between our Hitting, Pitching or Infield Academies. Golden Era is also home to the Oakland Immortals Club team. Info: (925) 339-1078; goldenerabaseballclub.com/springacademy-2018 Headfirst Baseball Academy & Camps Headfirst camps are known throughout NorCal for player development. Players will learn the correct mechanics of each position. Info: Coach Michael, MJi0209@aol.com; Coach Mario, Mario74iglesias@aol.com Moreau Catholic Baseball Camps Provides customized program tailored to individuals. Begin in weight room or on the field working on strength training or agility, then work on defensive and offensive work on the baseball field. Open to grades 2-9. Info: 510.881.4300; OSailors@moreaucatholic.org Nike Baseball Camps Offer athletes a variety of youth baseball camp options. Depending on the camp and its unique schedule, our campers can spend the entire week at one of our many locations

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nationwide. Info: 1-800-NIKE-CAMP Performance Pitching With Matt Jarvis Performance Pitching offers structured methods of training designed specifically to the develop core skills players need. We have more than 25 years of experience in private instruction. We teach you the fundamentals of the game, how to improve your play, and a passion for baseball. Info: info@performancepitching.net; (877) 797-6174 Salesian Red & Gold Baseball Camp One week camp for 4th-8th graders includes offensive, defensive and mental drills. Includes position-specific and team defensive skill competitions, offensive skill competitions and team competitions. Also includes ways to improve the mental approach with former college baseball guest speakers. July 8-12. Cost: $175. Info: salesian.com/athletics/sportscamps St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS Camps A camp that provides the opportunity to learn new techniques, improve individual abilities, make new friends and have fun! Develop skills and reach a new level of play and selfconfidence. All areas of the game are covered. Campers grouped by age and skill level. Info: 707-644-4425; m.delgado@spsv.org TPC Baseball & Softball Camps Spring-winter camps feature skills, drills and competitions in all major areas (hitting, pitching, throwing, fielding). Players will have blast while improving their skills with our TPC staff and often guest appearances from former and current professional baseball players. Info: 925-416-1600 info@thepitchingcenter.com,” BASKETBALL De La Salle Basketball Camp Five sessions aimed at teaching shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding, defense, footwork, 1-on-1 moves and big man moves will all be covered. Our camps stress having proper attitude, teamwork and listening skills. . Coed camp is open to K-incoming 9th graders. Info: dlshs.org/athletics/camps-clinics; summercamps@dlshs.org or call 925.288.8100 x7090 Nike Basketball Camps Offering day and overnight camps all over the country. Enjoy the ultimate basketball camp experience at some of our nation’s most beautiful college campuses. Or get better each day with one of our high-level coaches at a location closer to you. Info: 1-800-NIKE-CAMP Moreau Catholic Frank Knight Camp Improve your skills with Coach Frank Knight III, who coached the Mariner Team to the 2017 and 2019 NCS Championships. Campers may attend 1 or 2 sessions. Open to boys and girls, entering grades 2-9. Info: fknight@moreaucatholic.org; 510.881.4300 Moreau Catholic Girls Basketball Camps Coach Jose Alvarez teaches skills needed both on and off the court, using our progressional

See hundreds of more camps like these at SportStarsMag.com/Camps curriculum and focusing on the whole player. Open to girls, grades 3- 8. Focus on respect, teamwork and responsibility. Info: JAlvarez@ moreaucatholic.org. (510) 881-4300 Modesto Magic Basketball Association If you are a girl ages 4-17, we can take your game to the next level. We offer leagues, camps, clinics, tournaments, private lessons and AAU traveling teams. Open to all skill levels. Info: Stan Silva, 209-765-5107; ssilva1920@aol.com Salesian Basketball Camps For 4th-8th graders, led by Salesian boys basketball coach and former California Coach of the Year, Bill Mellis. We provide outstanding instruction, including individual fundamentals and building confidence through drills and team play for boys and girls. Session I: June 24—28; Session II: July 8—12; Session III: July 15—19, 2019. Cost: $175.00 per session. Info: salesian.com/athletics/sportscamps Salesian Girls Half-Day Skills Clinic For 4th-8th grade girls to improve fundamentals. Staff expected to include Dustin Hirashima, Bernard Brown, Justin Reid, Greg Ginsburg, Alana Horton, Isabell Ampon, Richard Rincon, Justin Rollolazo, Sam Sims & guest coaches and members of the Pride varsity team. Info: salesian.com/athletics/sportscamps St. Patrick-St. Vincent Intro To Basketball Great introduction for boys and girls. The focus is on fun and fundamentals. Campers work with smaller basketballs and lowered rims which help ensure proper form. Campers participate in offensive and defensive drills and station work, followed by team games. Info: 707-644-4425; m.delgado@spsv.org St. Patrick-St. Vincent Girls Camp Campers participate in offensive and defensive drills and station work, followed by games. Additionally, players are provided preparation for summer leagues and tournaments. Info: 707-644-4425; m.delgado@spsv.org St. Patrick-St. Vincent Boys Camp Campers participate in offensive and defensive drills and station work, followed by games. Additionally, players are provided preparation for summer leagues and tournaments. Info: 707-644-4425; m.delgado@spsv.org Bentley School Summer Boys Camp The complete skills camp covers a wide range of skills from ball handling, passing, shooting, and defensive principles. Rising 6th-9th graders will play small games and have competitions. Info: (925) 283-2101 ext. 3241 rrafeh@ bentleyschool.net City of Walnut Creek Basketball Camp Age: 8-13, fully staffed and supervised camp. Learn fundamentals of basketball and let you show off your skills in games. Info: walnutcreekrec.org or call (925) 943-5858

Cal Basketball Camp For Girls Our camps provide instruction for players of all skill levels, as each camp is designed to emphasize individual improvement, fundamental skills, teamwork, sportsmanship and enjoyment. Info: 1-800-GO-BEARS FOOTBALL City of Walnut Creek Flag Football Camp Age: 8-13 offers a fully staffed and supervised flag football camp. In this fun and recreational, non-contact version of football the skill development and games will allow kids the opportunity to explore football. Info: walnutcreekrec. org or call (925) 943-5858 Jesse Sapolu Men In The Trenches Academy We are one of the premier camps in the nation dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of playing the offensive and defensive lines. MITT gives young athletes the opportunity to learn all the nuances about the Offensive and Defensive Line while getting to compete against other top linemen in the country. Camps are open for all players grades 5th-12th in various cities. Info: mittnorcal.com California Football Academy Camps Contact and non-contact camps available for ages 6-14 during and June. The camps take place in Oakley. CFA offers flag football leagues and tournaments also. Oakley, Concord and San Ramon. Info and registration: see our website or call 925-625-2222; email californiafootballacademy@hotmail.com DLS’s Bob Ladouceur Championship Camp Learn sound, fundamental offensive and defensive techniques for pre-high school player. Demonstration, individual drills teach basic skills to both beginning, experienced players. Warm-up, physical conditioning, skills drills and review. Full contact is not a priority. June 17-20. Info: dlshs.org/athletics/camps-clinics; summercamps@dlshs.org or 925.288.8100 x7090 St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS Football Camp California State Champion Coach Lane Hawkins and his experienced staff provide skill development in a fun and competitive environment. Campers grouped by age and experience. Campers will participate in skill drill followed by 7 on 7 flag football games. Info: 707-644-4425; m.delgado@spsv.org Campolindo Cougar Camps Full Gear Camp We develop fundamentals and techniques for tackle football. Quantity of contact based on appropriate skill level or readiness. Grades 4-8. Camp staffed by full complement of experienced coaches and certified trainer. Info: (925) 280-3950 X 5163; kmacy@acalanes.k12.ca.us Moreau Catholic Football Camps One of the unique Moreau Catholic Football traditions is attending this 6-9th grade Summer Camp. This non-contact camp is a great way to learn fundamentals of football. Info: rgatrell@moreaucatholic.org; 510-881-4333

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See hundreds of more camps like these at SportStarsMag.com/Camps SOCCER Berean Christian Girls Camp For girls, 4th-8th grade, hosted by Berean Christian coach Breanna Burtt, girl’s varsity players & college players. Fundamentals, shortsided work, and full field scrimmages. June 1012, 9am-12pm. Info: bereansummercamps@ gmail.com; 925-945-6464 De La Salle Soccer Camp Terrific opportunity for boys and girls who look to excel. Athletes can expect to participate in competitive drills, skill development exercises and daily competitions between campers. June 10-13, 8:30am-12:30 pm. Open to incoming 6th-9th graders. Info: www.dlshs.org/ athletics/camps-clinics;summercamps@dlshs. org or 925.288.8100 x7090 De La Salle Academy/Advanced Training Open to ALL elite players 8th-12th grade. Focus is on technique, increasing tactical awareness and position specific functional training. Premier-Gold level players preferred as camp is designed for an advanced level of training/competition. July 29-Aug. 1, 8:30-10:30am. Info: www.dlshs.org/athletics/ camps-clinics;summercamps@dlshs.org or 925.288.8100 x7090 City of Walnut Creek Soccer Camp Ages: 8-13 offers a fully staffed and supervised camp. The beautiful game has never looked better than through the fun and challenging skill development and games that assist the experienced player to improve, as well as teach the basics to the new player. Info: www. walnutcreekrec.org or call (925) 943-5858 East Bay Sports Lil’ Kickers Lil’ Kickers is a national, non-competitive child development program for boys and girls ages 18 months to 12. Your children will not only learn the fundamentals of soccer, but have fun and create new friendships in the process. Info: chris@sanramonsports.com. 925-831-9050 Menlo School Boys Soccer Camps The Menlo School boys soccer camp develops players’ fundamental technical skills, allowing them to better enjoy the game. These skills will be developed through a series of progressive drills, then applied to game situations. Players will benefit from the Menlo soccer program’s fun team-building environment. Open to grades 8-12, all levels. Info: www.menloschool. org/athletics/camps-and-clinics.php; info@ menloschool.org; 650.330.2000 Walnut Creek Surf Development Days/Skills Clinics Summer Camps and Clinics for players entering 1st-8th grades. We offer camps and clinics at Arbolado. Each fun week will include new objectives to improve the technical and tactical skills of all players. Camps are run by WCSC Professional Training Staff and are fun and engaging. Info: wcsc_info@wcsc.org

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St. Francis Catholic High School Camps Led by Maryclaire Robinson, St. Francis Varsity head coach. Provides opportunity to become familiar with the St. Francis program and train in individual techniques and striking and tactical awareness. All elements emphasized: warm-up, trapping, dribbling, passing, shooting, small-sided games and stretching. Info: www.stfrancishs.org/sports-camps; summer@stfrancishs.org; (916) 737-5050 Olympus Soccer Summer Training Program Programs offered are for ages 8-12 and 13+. Drills, skills and complete understanding of the game are taught by experienced coaches. Info: 530-567-5200, polito.olympus@gmail. com or miguelsandoval.olympus@gmail.com Nike Soccer Camps For soccer enthusiast looking to improve skills, work hard and have fun! Offering coed, girls, and boys only programs at fantastic soccer venues with a safe, healthy and fun learning environment for all ability levels. Info: 1-800-NIKE-CAMP Diablo Futbol Club Camps & Clinics Diablo FC is committed to instilling passion and enjoyment in a positive, safe, competitive environment. Our comprehensive program and professional staff train players in the mental, physical, technical and tactical aspects of soccer in order to reach their individual potential and compete at the highest level of play. Info: www.diablofc.org; 925-7988-GOAL Bladium Soccer Camps Fun and challenging skill-intensive games structured to improve fundamental soccer skills and knowledge. Designed for all players ages 7-10 who want to improve their fundamental soccer skills and knowledge in preparation for the Bladium West Ham United International Academy’s more advanced training. Info 510814-4999 x111 or AlamedaSA@Bladium.com Heritage Summer Clinics & Player I.D. Camp Heritage is a Pleasant Hill/Martinez based competitive soccer club. Players 8-18 can try out and compete at the highest levels. We are always looking for qualified boys and girls to play on our competitive teams. Tryouts happening in May. Clinics and I.D. Camps during the summer. Find us on Facebook, Instagram or www.HeritageSC.com. Info: info@ HeritageSC.com Moreau Catholic Coed Soccer Camps Our youth summer day camps are designed for players of all levels who want to learn and improve their fundamental skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Small-sided games to encourage personal involvement and enhance the understanding of team concepts; technical and ball mastery skills sessions; shooting drills, and much more! Info: ABaillou@moreaucatholic.org or CoachDanielVazquez@gmail.com ✪

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