SPORTS

Pioneer, Leland wrestle issues to the ground

Mustangs handle varsity, defeated by Chargers in junior varsity action

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leland coach Dan Lloyd teaches 250-pound freshman Scott Etter proper etiquette in wrestling—respect experience.

Pioneer issued Leland wrestlers a terse welcome, winning 45-18, in Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division, action Thurs, Jan. 13.

Yet, it was the score on junior varsity that really twisted moods.

Pioneer Coach Mike Medlock and onlookers noted that Leland intentionally avoided confrontation, wrestling a full squad on junior varsity while just three athletes were competing in 14 varsity weight classes.

As a result, it was the Chargers who controlled speed on junior varsity, taking down the Mustangs, 51-12.

The match piqued concerns beyond win-loss records. With wrestling in particular, a performance may affect participants on emotional levels as a result of isolated physical confrontation.

Critics maintain that the affects last for a lifetime—positive or negative.

High schoolers’ that suffer defeat may react either confrontationally, returning with magnified determination, or in a method perceived less positively, perhaps quitting, harboring harsh feelings directed at the group for example. Winners or losers can become either arrogant or misled in their assessment of their own capabilities.

Perhaps extrapolated these feelings materialize in the form of anger or feelings of inadequacy.

Wrestling is unparalleled by other sports in this manner. Despite positive residuals including work ethic, determination and team work, wrestlers are indeed more likely to quit or not return for second years according to Lloyd and Medlock.

The coaches have learned that wrestling psychology is difficult to overcome when working to build successful programs.

In a somewhat unprecedented decision and in an attempt to build strong bonds between students and a sport that he credits to a large degree for his success as an athlete, (Lloyd spent seven years with the New York Giants) coach and as a human being, Charger lead coach Dan Lloyd has strayed from the typical high school ideal.

Lloyd maintains that wrestlers respond better to success than failure.

General practice expects schools to field a varsity lineup. However, league bylaws permit the alternative. Wrestling and track are unique in that participants do not remain classified under either varsity or junior varsity standing.

The determination is made on a weekly basis. An athlete is either varsity or junior varsity for seven days at a time, but is free to move up or down as appropriate and necessary.

Taking bylaw parameters into consideration and given limited resources and inexperience Lloyd has opted to wrestle the majority of his team on junior varsity. He intends for the kids to build stronger bonds with the sport—aiming for a winning tradition in the long run.

However, to the dismay of conventional high school wrestling fans, Thursday’s match was a disappointment. The meeting resulted in 13 forfeits, seven on account of Leland, three for Pioneer, while the remaining three matches were undecided due to double forfeits.

“That kind of blew me away,” said Medlock following the match. “It’s always been more of a benefit in the long run to give an underclassman the spot on varsity if he’s the best guy. If they are willing to be there and wrestle, they’ll pay the price and come out ahead in the end.”

“It’s a question of highs and lows,” replied Lloyd. “We just don’t have a lot of guys out right now. We only have two seniors and our other kids haven’t wrestled two years. It’s all perception, but I’m just not interested in rushing it. We’ve had three great wins in the lower league and they’ve enjoyed it. The kids are having success.”

The sole match carried out pit Leland senior Ryan Herz versus Pioneer sophomore Nick Kelsi—a brilliant contest, according to both sides. Herz, a league qualifier in 2003-2004 is expected to carry that momentum into the CCS meet this season. Yet, the seasoned 145-pounder fell behind in points early. However, in the third period, a powerful takedown landed Herz ahead by one point. With seconds left, Kelsi returned the favor winning finally by a score of 8-7.

“That was a great match for Nick,” said Medlock. “He was injured most of last year, so this is his first full year out for us. He showed what he has though. He got down to the basics and stayed in control.”

As a result of Thursday’s match Pioneer moved to a 2-1 position and remains in the hunt for a league title. The Mustang’s sole loss came at the hands of Del Mar High School, who defeated a minimal Mustang showing, following disciplinary measures taken by Coach Medlock earlier this season.

“It’s a team sport and our ultimate goal is to win the division,” said Medlock, “but if you miss practice, you don’t wrestle. Now we have a loss and it’s going to be a tough road. I think we can still pull it out. If we keep continuing the way we are, we’ll see when it comes to that.”

Adhering to the team mantra, ‘attitude determines altitude,’ Pioneer’s Brian Watts, Twan Nguyen and Stephen Giorgianni have competed fiercely, most recently each placing in the Lawrence Miller Tournament in Alhambra, CA, over the weekend.

Leland wrestlers Ryan Hong and Ryan Herz have borne the greater share of varsity work for the Chargers, with Freshman Scott Etter making occasional appearances as well.

The Chargers’ undefeated junior varsity team has flourished with an influx of young talent including freshmen phenoms Matt Dixon, Kabir Grewal, Dustin Ghormley, Christian Cruz, Jeff Sommer, Mitch Truan and heavyweight Etter.

At practice Thursday, a sparse turnout found Lloyd facing burgeoning Etter on the mat. Several times during the interview Etter attacked Lloyd in stealth. In turn, he lay helpless, squirming under former CCS Champion Lloyd, while the coach continued answering questions.

And in that Etter is a coach’s dream—because he kept coming back.

“Why do I like wrestling?” asked Etter following the workout. “It’s like Apple Jack’s. I just do.”

“Wrestling is one of the toughest sports to succeed in,” finished Medlock. “First you have to have the numbers.

Then, you have to have good kids that are willing to practice. It’s a challenge for kids at first. You don’t get a lot of the recognition that you’ll get in other team sports. But you get what you put in. Wrestling teaches sheer determination and leaves you with the sense that nothing is ever going to be hard, once you’ve wrestled. Nothing is impossible or out of reach. You can always fight.”

High School Sports Schedule Jan. 21 - Jan. 27

Leland High School
Friday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Independence, 5:45 p.m.
Friday – Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Independence, 7:30 p.m.
Friday – JV girls’ basketball at Pioneer, 5:15 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ basketball at Pioneer, 7 p.m.
Friday – JV girls’ soccer vs. Prospect, 3:15 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ soccer vs. Prospect, 3:15 p.m.
Friday – JV wrestling tournament at Overfelt, all day long

Saturday – Varsity wrestling tournament at Overfelt, all day long

Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Gunderson, 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Gunderson, 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer at Overfelt, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity boys’ soccer at Overfelt, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – JV girls’ basketball vs. Westmont, 5:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ basketball vs. Westmont, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ soccer at Santa Teresa, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ soccer vs. Santa Teresa, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer vs. Mt. Pleasant, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday - Varsity boys’ soccer vs. Mt. Pleasant, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Wrestling vs. San Jose, 6:30 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Varsity girls’ soccer vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.
Friday – JV girls’ soccer vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.
Friday – JV girls’ basketball vs. Leland, 5:15 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ basketball vs. Leland, 7 p.m.
Friday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Santa Teresa, 5:45 p.m.
Friday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Santa Teresa, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday – Varsity boys’ soccer vs. Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer vs. Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Piedmont Hills, 5:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Piedmont Hills, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ basketball at Piedmont Hills, 5:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ basketball at Piedmont Hills, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – JV girls’ soccer at Prospect, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ soccer at Prospect, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Wrestling vs. Prospect, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer at Independence, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity boys’ soccer at Independence, 3:15 p.m.

Chargers hang on for 55-51 win over Del Mar

Leland’s Jackie George scores game-high 29 points in win

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Leland center Jackie George scored 29 points, including 20 in the first half, to lead the Chargers to a 55-51 win over the Del Mar Dons in girls’ basketball action on Jan. 14.

The win kept the Chargers at the top of the Mt. Hamilton Division standings at 3-0 (8-6 overall), while the Dons dropped to 1-3 in league play and 6-11 overall.

“We came in with a lot of motivation into this game,” George said. “It did get scary toward the end … but we just rallied together and we knew what we needed to do at the end.”

Leading 53-37 in the fourth quarter, the Chargers were caught flat on their heels on defense, allowing the Dons’ to get back into the game with a 14-2 run. During the run, Del Mar got scoring contributions from Nadia Walton and Corinne Sublette, with both players scoring six points each. The Chargers shot the ball poorly from the line during that stretch, going 0-for-4 in a five-minute span. The Chargers eventually hung on for the win, getting two points during the Dons’ run on a George lay-up.

“Our guards struggled,” said Leland Head Coach Wade Nakamura, whose guards combined for 22 points in the game, including 16 by Kristen Yoshioka. “That’s what we’re vulnerable to because they’re young still. As much experience as they have, they still lack experience. They struggled tonight.”

The Chargers got off to a rocky start in the contest, trailing 15-13 in the first quarter, despite getting 11 points from George during the eight-minute period. A key player for the Dons was Kellene Condie, who scored seven of her game-total 17 points in the first quarter, including a three-pointer from the top of the arc to tie the game at 13.

“The girl is just really coming along,” said Del Mar Head Coach Reggie Synegal of Condie. “She’s a basketball rat.

She always wants to be in the gym and she always wants to see what’s going on. She always wants to work on what she can do to improve the team.”

Del Mar built a five-point lead in the opening minute of the second quarter on another three-pointer from Condie, holding at least a one-point advantage for the first three minutes of the quarter. The Chargers, down 20-19, took the lead on a Yoshioka three-pointer from the left wing with 4:54 left in the first half.

Later in the second quarter, with the game tied 24-24, the Chargers made their first significant offensive run at the Dons, putting together an 8-3 run to take a 32-27 lead. During that stretch, George contributed five points, hitting one of two free throws with 3:42 left before sinking a lay-up and a jumper in the key to end the run.

Condie ended the run by sinking a free throw with 48 seconds left, cutting the Chargers’ lead to 32-28 at the half.

“She always comes to play and that’s what we need her to do,” Yoshioka said of George. “If she’s getting single coverage she dominates every time. If she starts getting double-teamed, it’s hard for her and she kicks it out and everyone steps up.”

Still clinging to the lead at 34-31 in the third quarter, the Chargers made another offensive run at the Dons, starting a 10-2 run at 5:35 on a lay-up from George, who later hit a jumper in the key with 3:14 left. Leland guards Yoshioka and Mika Yanai hit key baskets on the run as well, with both players sinking three-pointers from the right wing to take a 44-33 lead in the quarter. Walton ended the scoring drought for Del Mar by sinking a free throw with 12.9 seconds left in the third quarter, but the Chargers quickly answered back, getting a lay-up and a free throw from George to complete a three-point play with 5.4 seconds to go, giving Leland a 47-34 lead.

The Chargers got their second win in Mt. Hamilton Division play earlier in the week with a 49-33 win over Oak Grove on Jan. 12. George again led the team in scoring, dropping in 22 points and snagging eight rebounds in the victory.

Sports Briefs

Almaden Venom Boys Under-9 Class 3 Comp Soccer Tryouts
The Almaden Venom, an U-9 Boys Class 3 Comp soccer team in AVYSL, will be holding tryouts for boys born between 8/1/96 and 7/31/97 on January 15 and January 22 from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Los Alamitos Elementary School for the upcoming 2005 Summer/Fall season. Interested players must provide a copy of their birth certificate at check-in, which begins at 10:30 a.m. For more information, please contact Tim Mackin at (408) 997-1046 or Dave Ballard at (408) 268-1305.

Almaden Valley Girls Class-1 Tryouts
Almaden Valley Girls Class-1 will be holding their tryouts on Jan 15, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Jan 22, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Almaden Elementary School, 1295 Dentwood Dr. If interested contact Monica Geraghty at 927-6252 or e-mail 4mon@sbcglobal.net.

Almaden Boys U9 Class-3 Tryouts
Almaden Boys U-9 Class-3 will be holding tryouts on Jan 16, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan 23, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Almaden Elementary School, 1295 Dentwood Dr, San Jose 95118.  Birth dates between 8/1/1996 to 7/31/1997.  If interested contact Tom Geraghty at (408) 927-6252 or e-mail 4mon@sbcglobal.net.

Almaden Strikers Boys U10 Class-3 Tryouts
Almaden Strikers, a Boys U10 Class-3 teams in Almaden, will be holding tryouts on Jan. 29, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Feb 5, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Almaden Elementary School, 1295 Dentwood Dr. Birth dates between 8/1/1995 to 7/31/1996. For questions, contact Lela Huenergardt at 997-8903 or e-mail coachlela2004@yahoo.com.

U15 Almaden Phoenix tryouts Jan. 29 and Jan. 30
U15 girls comp team - called the Almaden Phoenix - tryouts will be at Pioneer High School on Saturday Jan. 29 and Sunday Jan. 30 at 3:00 p.m. both days. For more information, call Kent Grave, head coach, 408-455-2196.

Hennessy’s 28 helps Leigh to 63-43 win over Pioneer

Pioneer’s Weaver scores 11 off the bench in first game as a Mustang

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

The Pioneer Mustangs lost their first Mt. Hamilton Division game last week, dropping a 63-43 decision to the Leigh Longhorns in boys’ basketball action on Jan. 12.

Leigh center Shane Hennessy dominated the game on offense, leading all scorers with 28 points and 12 rebounds, including 16 points in the first half.

“We just didn’t come out and play with the intensity and aggressiveness that we needed to,” Pioneer Head Coach Joe Berticevich said. “… We knew they were going to come out and play really hard and aggressive and we just didn’t match that.”

For Pioneer (8-9, 2-1), newcomer Craig Weaver, a transfer student from Manteca, led the Mustangs on offense, scoring 11 points off the bench.

With a 29-24 score favoring Leigh (6-8, 1-2) at halftime, Hennessy and his teammates went to work on offense to open up the third quarter by going on a 9-0 run through five minutes of play. Hennessy, sitting on 16 points at the half, chipped in six points during the run, and held Pioneer’s offense in check down in the low post. The run stretched a small five-point lead for the Longhorns into a 14-point advantage at 38-24.

“Great hands; soft hands,” Leigh Head Coach Roger Smith said of Hennessy. “He finished well every time. He’s the one who won the game for us.”

The Mustangs, held scoreless throughout the first six minutes of play in the second half, finally got on the board with 1:56 remaining in the third quarter when forward Mike Kaufmann sunk one of two free throws. Pioneer managed only two more points for the remainder of the third quarter, getting a tip-in from Robbie Nelson with 48 seconds left, while the Longhorns continued to build on their lead, finishing the quarter with a three-pointer from Tarek Monsour and getting another two points from Hennessy on a lay-up for a 43-27 lead.

“You just can’t do that,” Berticevich said of Pioneer’s scoring drought in the third quarter. “They’re not even pressing us. They were just falling back into a zone (defense) and we couldn’t score.”

The Mustangs managed to make one small run at the Longhorns in the fourth quarter, putting together a modest 8-2 scoring stretch that cut a 51-31 lead to 53-39. But the Longhorns closed out the game on a 10-4 scoring advantage, with Leigh’s Blake McFarland chipping in four points during the stretch.

“We just didn’t come out to play the whole tonight,” said Pioneer guard Mark Bundlie. “They were quicker and they were on every loose ball. We just weren’t ready. Their intensity was way more than us.”

What ended as a blowout loss began as a tightly contested game for both squads. Leigh went up early in the first quarter 9-4, getting five points from Hennessy, before the Mustangs went on a small 6-0 run to take their only lead of the night at 10-9. Leigh ended the quarter with a one-point lead at 13-12.

Leigh continued to cling to a one-point advantage for much of the second quarter, with the Mustangs receiving significant points from Weaver, who scored five off the bench in the quarter.

“He’s very intense,” said Berticevich of Weaver. “When he was out (of the game) we were a little stagnant. But he plays hard and down the road he’s going to definitely contribute and help us out.”

Up 20-19 with 3:25 left, the Longhorns went on a 9-2 run in a two-and-a-half minute span, getting seven of those points from Hennessy, to take a 29-21 lead. The Mustangs cut that lead to five in the closing moments of the first half when Bundlie hoisted up a three-point attempt from half court, sinking the shot as time expired.

“This was a big win for us,” Smith said. “We’re obviously the underdogs, we haven’t been playing well this year and we stepped up tonight.”

High School Scoreboard

Jan. 11
Leland boys’ soccer 2-0 win vs. Santa Teresa
Pioneer boys’ soccer 3-1 loss at Mt. Pleasant

Jan. 12
Leland boys’ basketball 60-52 loss at Overfelt
Pioneer girls’ soccer 3-0 win vs. Branham

Jan. 14
Leland boys’ basketball 48-45 loss vs. Evergreen
Leland girls’ soccer 1-1 tie vs. Pioneer

Leland shuts out rival Pioneer

Chargers shoot around Mustangs’ defense in 4-0 win

By Carl Ponzio
Times Intern

Leland Head Coach David Gold had strong feelings that the Chargers would walk into their Jan. 13 match at Pioneer and leave the field with nothing less than a tie.

“I told my boys before the game that this game would go one of two ways,” explained Gold. “I said ‘It’s gonna be 0-0, 1-0 game or we’re going to blow them out, three or four, zip.’”

Leland took to the field with Gold’s confidence in mind and showed why they are the reigning league champions.

The Chargers’ constant attack left little room for Pioneer to put points on the board. However, the Mustangs would not go quietly.

Keeping the game close until the second half, the Mustangs defense proved that they were no pushovers, yet Leland’s unrelenting attack fatigued the Mustangs after 40 minutes of play.

As soon as the whistle blew, the Chargers took control of the game. Keeping the ball on Pioneer’s side of the field for the majority of the first half, the Chargers took six shots at the Mustang’s goal. After taking three shots, Leland’s Ryan Villalpando found the net on his fourth shot in the latter end of half.

“Steven (Beitashour) put it through for me and the defender was coming across, I just cut it back and they were going the opposite way and I poked it in,” Villalpando said of his goal.

Pioneer knew the threat that Villalpando presented. Three of the Mustangs took turns trying to guard the one-man wrecking crew as the game progressed. Horacio Garcia started the first half guarding Villalpando, but was soon replaced by sophomore Serafin Arreguin. Stepping up after Villalpando put the Chargers ahead 1-0 was freshman Marcus Gomez. Gomez was able to stick to Villalpando tightly for the remainder of the game.

Leland dominated the half, but the Mustangs defense held strong, only giving up one goal. The Pioneer offense was able to take a couple of shots at the Chargers’ goal, but couldn’t come up with the tying goal.

However, the Mustangs came out very strong in early minutes of the second half. Keeping the ball on the Chargers side of the field for the first six minutes of play, the Mustangs played strong, but were unable to capitalize on their position.

“The coach got up at half time and he’s going to get them fired up,” said Gold. “…We weathered the storm for the first few minutes and that was all they had in them, and we started to dictate the game again.”

As the half continued the Charges began to extend their lead. Beitashour found himself “in the right place at the right time” and came up with the second goal of the game for Leland. Shortly after Pioneer’s Juan Flores missed the Leland goal wide left, the Chargers came up with their third goal on the head of senior Roheet Sen.

Pioneer continued the half missing back-to-back shots by Flavio Huato and Brian Velez. As the end of the game neared, Josh Dollahite put the nail in the coffin, scoring Leland’s fourth and final goal. The Chargers now stand at 11-4-3 overall and 5-1-1 in league.

“It was a tough loss, but I’m proud of them,” explained Pioneer Head Coach Pedro Fuentez. “….Leland is a very good team and I told them that. If it’s any game we want to lose, it’s to Leland.”

Pioneer girls build character

Mustang loss to visiting Leigh marks 0-2 start

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Winter clouds have blanketed Pioneer all over the basketball court in 2005. However, according to girls’ coach Blaine Hashimoto, in opposition of offensive woes and youthful growing pains, there is relief in the perception that the Mustangs are building for the future.

“It’s been frustrating,” he said. “We’re making correctable mistakes. We’re young and I tell the girls that if they stick this one out, they can expect good things to happen in the future. Our team goal is to stay positive. We’re going to take our lumps, but we can still establish something.”

The Mustangs’ roster houses an unorthodox six sophomores flanked by one junior and three seniors this season.
Following a 59-29 loss to Leigh High School at home Wednesday, Jan. 12, the Mustangs’ record fell to 6-11, 0-3 in the Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division.

The MHAL pool is a rung up for Pioneer from the Santa Teresa Division, which they cruised by last season. The Mustangs went undefeated, flourishing behind the poised leadership of three all-league seniors, Gina Biviano, Shawn Killin and Brenae Perkins. But they’re gone now, now relegated to campus legend due to graduation and extended careers in college.

Biviano attends Chapman University in Los Angeles, while Perkins and Killin don the red, white and blue of Foothill Junior College.

Hashimoto and company knew they were headed for troubled waters when lone returning all-league performer, point guard Camille Brown, opted to focus her future on track and tennis. She approached Hashimoto in the fall, explaining her intentions, wishing the Lady Mustangs luck without her.

When budding reservist Stephanie Morales followed suit the torrential dissemination was complete. The team formerly known as the STAL Champion was almost entirely disassembled due to graduation and divided interests.
The ball rolled to returning sophomore Stephanie Tsukiji and junior Renee Cummings. Tsukiji addressed the point guard dilemma. She relinquished shooting responsibilities she had undertaken as a freshman, opting to pass and set up plays rather than tally points.

“Stephanie’s done a good job making the transition,” said Hashimoto. “She’s struggled with a sprained thumb in terms of shooting, but she’s hit some big shots for us as well. She’s really been a leader setting everything up on the floor.”

Cummings has posted up, taking Killin’s spot in the center position. Pioneer staffers feel her athleticism is impressive despite a somewhat undersized stature.

In addition, a successful 2003-2004 junior varsity team offered up its stars toward the rebuilding effort on varsity. Stephanie Mattern, Emily Mather and Michelle Rebozzi are all seeing significant playing time having joined Tsukiji as underclassmen on varsity.

“We don’t really have a go-to player,” said Hashimoto. “Several girls have shown skills in spurts coming in different games.”

Highlights include a school record set by Mattern, who nailed five three pointers in a 51-35 victory over Monta Vista during the Glenn Ventura Classic.

“We started out pretty good in the preseason,” said Hashimoto. “But it’s been one of those seasons where you live by the three and you die by the three. And lately our shooting percentages have been down.”
Versus the Longhorns, Pioneer struggled early. Leigh jumped out to a significant lead behind the dominant play of 2003-2004 MHAL Sophomore of the Year Laura McClellan.

The Mustangs did what they could, attempting to unsettle McClellan. The Leigh star appeared briefly staggered as a result of swarming Mustangs attacking on defense and taking the ball to her on offense. McClellan picked up three fouls, sending her to the bench early in the game; however, Leigh’s alternate firepower including guard Natalie Nurn-berg extended their lead.

“That was our goal,” said Hashi-moto. “We tried to get them in foul trouble early. And we did. But they were just too athletic for us. We knew what we were up against.”

A late spurt closed the game within 25 points. Cummings implemented several rocket-powered overhand passes spanning the length of the court and igniting Pioneer’s offensive sets. However, the efforts to set up offense were somewhat negated by errant shots and an insurmountable lead.

“We were better prepared this time,” said Hashimoto. “We’re trying to play to our strengths, get girls in position and exploit the best that they offer us. We know we’ll do the best we can.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s going as we expected” said Rebozzi. “We’ve had some team issues, but we’re working them out. I think it will go better next week.”

Next up for the Mustangs is versus Leland at home Friday, Jan. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“It’s been a challenge for both the team and the coaches,” finished Tsukiji. “We lost a lot of experienced players.

But it’s still fun. I think we’re in the process of rebuilding our basketball program. Maybe in the future we’ll be pretty good. I hope we start winning, but I look forward to the rest of the season no matter what.”

Almaden Fury wins league again

Tryouts for 2005 to begin

By George Karabatsos
Almaden Fury coach

The Girls U-14 Almaden Fury won the Class III Delgado playing league for the second year in a row, going undefeated and allowing only four goals the entire season. The team was led in scoring by Emily Trudeau, Andrea Tobias, Oly Mangin, Jennifer Clift and Shelby Brehmer.

The Fury had many other successes throughout the year as well. They won the Almaden Fall Classic with outstanding defense and goal keeping. HJ Brehmer had four shutouts and was supported by Stephanie Kellett, Laura Roberts, Anisha Sampat, Alannah Zurovski and Shinal Patel.

District II Cup was another Fury victory as the team played flawlessly en route to a four- games-to-none sweep of some of the top class III U-14 teams in the area. The Fury relied upon its midfield strength and striker play with tremendous performances by Allyson Druhan, Jenna Todd, Anna Bettisworth , Christina Muncy, Chelsey West and Katie McLaughlin.

The Fury was busy off the field this year too. Conducting fund-raising activities, river rafting and bring a little Christmas spirit to Almaden Valley in a Christmas caroling evening that brought a lot of smiles to neighborhood faces. All in all, it was a great season and we accomplished the preseason goals that we set for ourselves at kickoff Kamp.

Next up, the girls will be packing their bags, flip-flops and puka shells to go to the Hawaii Cup in July on the island of Maui. It should be great soccer and even more fun. The team will be moving to Class I this year and tryouts will be held by coaches Jolene Keel, Jim Kellett and George Karabatsos.

Share your news

Do you have a sports story to share? Contact the sports department at 494-7000 x 217 or by e-mail at diego@timesmediainc.com or fax to Almaden Times Sports at 494-7078.