SPORTS

Wakeboarding performer, instructor
Almaden's Brodie Chaboya flips in his own niche

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

He thrust and parried with the traditional menu of kids sports in Almaden Valley: football, baseball, soccer, and enjoyed four years as a wrestler for Leland High School (class of 1998). But through family holidays, Brodie Chaboya became a dynamo competitor on his own terms. He's been water skiing since age 12, and for the last nine years he's been a member of the elite acrobatic culture known as wakeboarding.

Chaboya, 24, finished as one of the top three contortionists in the 2002 Sacramento River Wake Boarding semi-pro series. He was just as talented in 2003, but the competition rose like the tide when a flood of prize money was put on the table. Nevertheless, Chaboya says “I found my niche” when it comes to athletic participation.

Now a senior at Cal-State Sacramento, majoring in marketing and management, Chaboya may have found a place for himself in the business world as well. He teaches wakeboarding at the Launch Wakeboarding School at Folsom Lake and also is available for personal lessons virtually anywhere in Northern California.

“I love being on water doing my own thing, doing what I want to do as a form of self expression,” he says. “It's a really good feeling out on water, hanging out with friends. I couldn't have any more fun, I don't think.”

Brodie's father, Brad, a former San Jose State University football player who became a longtime rugby player, is pleased that his son has his own high wire act. “He's very good in the air, [he has] a very good air sense,” Brad notes.

Brodie said his best trick is a “crow/mode,” which is a flip while doing a 360-degree spin. We suggest you do not try that at home.

Calero Reservoir in San Jose is among aquatic venues frequented during his formative years, but the Chaboya family has traveled frequently to the San Joaquin Delta at Discovery Bay. Snow boarding also is part of the repertoire, with surfing most recently added to the agenda.

Fellow amphibians interested in lessons at Launch Wakeboard School can get information at www.launchwakeboarding.com. For private lessons from Chaboya, call (916) 802-5189. For more information on wakeboard events log on to www.westsidenconnection.net.

Sports Roundup

The Leland girls softball team beat Westmont 2-1 on Tuesday and is currently tied for first place in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division with a record of 5-2. The girls are 15-4 overall, which marks the end of the first half of league play.

"I'm very pleased with where we are," says Head Coach Joe Gron. "Ever since the beginning of the league, [the team's] been playing phenomenal.  Everyone steps up individually at different times, and you need that. You can't depend on one or two to carry you the whole way."

In their past 11 games, the Lady Chargers have a record of 10-1.  "They're playing great.  I ask them to give 100 percent and that's what the do time and time again.  They're fun to watch. These girls have their way of making things fun, there are a lot of characters on the team," says Gron. 

Liz Perez was 3-4 in the game and Ashley Adams was 2-4 with 2 RBI against Westmont.  The girls are pumped up to get revenge against Oak Grove at home on Thursday after their last encounter ended in a 0-5 loss. 

The Pioneer girls softball team beat Santa Teresa High School on Tuesday. Their 1-0 victory improves their record to 4-3 in the BVAL Santa Teresa division and secures a fourth place rank according to their league record.  They are really only one game behind, as three teams are tied for first place with a record of 5-2. 

"I'm very happy with where we are right now.  We've won five games in a row, three league games in a row.  We've improved so much. I would consider this to be a permanent improvement," says head coach Brian Thompson. 

Pitcher Andrea Castillo pitched a complete game shutout, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out five. 

Senior shortstop Emily Carcione had two hits against Santa Teresa. "She's hitting really well, she's had about two hits in every game lately. She and Castillo are the major team leaders right now," says Thompson. "The whole team is playing great defense." 

Pioneer plays Westmont away on Thursday.

The Leland boys baseball team beat Leigh High School on Tuesday 5-2 and are currently tied for first place in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division with a league record of 6-1.

Head Coach Scott Gillis says, “We played a solid game all around. Our approach at the plate was far more disciplined than in the previous three games. We drew seven walks as a result.”

Gillis mentioned a timely three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning from sophomore Danny Dyer. Senior pitcher Kyle Woodruff pitched seven innings and struck out eight batters. Woodruff has a record of 6-1 on the season and is a solid component in the team's success. The guys play Leigh again on Thursday. “Thursday's game is very important. Westmont lost to Willow Glen, so a win can give us sole possession of first place in the league,” says Gillis.

The Pioneer frosh/soph baseball team is 6-2 in the BVAL Santa Teresa division, and 11-2 overall. The team is tied with Piedmont Hills for second place in the league, both teams just one game away from first place Branham.

Sophomore catcher Eddie Hsieh is hitting over .500, sophomore shortstop Steven Muirhead is hitting .430 in the leadoff spot. Freshman third baseman/pitcher Chris Foley is also proving an offensive force, hitting over .400 and also comes through as a closer for the team.

“We play really good defense,” says Head Coach Mike Sparrer. “That's one thing that we preach to the kids on a daily basis, that they seize every opportunity for an out. We are also very aggressive on the bases. We don't hit for power, but we get guys on base, put the ball in play and run the bases aggressively. We put a lot of runs on the board that way.”

Leland volleyball beelines for league championship
Suffers minor setback in loss to Oak Grove

By Justin Petersen
Staff writer

The volleyball race for the championship of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division, took a turn for the close on April 20 after Oak Grove High School eked out a victory over the visiting Chargers of Leland High school. Leland's loss moves their record to 17-7 and into a tie with O.G. for first place. However, according to the Leland faithful, it's still their race.

“Oak Grove's win gives them the tie-breaker on us,” said third year Leland Coach Jason Hilbert. “But this league is sort of cut in half. The top four teams have a realistic chance at the championship and the bottom five are less competitive. Fortunately for us, Oak Grove has to play each of the tough teams again, while Willow Glen is the only team of the top four left on our schedule.”

The top four teams include Oak Grove and Leland, in addition to Willow Glen High School and Branham High School.

Next up for the Chargers are the Mustangs of Pioneer High School on April 22 at Leland. Then the Chargers hope to redeem themselves after falling to Oak Grove 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 10-15.

Versus Oak Grove, Leland jumped out to a quick victory behind the play of senior captain Noah Hall. Hall and junior Sam Lee, who led the Chargers on the night with 15 kills, made their presence felt alternating spikes deep into the court versus the Eagles. However, after dropping the second game and amassing a 16-5 lead in the third, Leland allowed Oak Grove to storm back, losing the third game, and invaluable momentum.

In the end Oak Grove won the 15-point tiebreaker securing the victory, joining Leland in first place of the Mount Hamilton Division.

“We just didn't play that well tonight,” explained Hilbert. “But we're still OK. If the season ended today, we still have a piece of the championship.”

Sports Schedules

Leland High School

Thursday 4/22

Baseball @ Leigh 3:30
JV baseball vs. Leigh 3:30
Softball @ Oak Grove 3:30
JV softball vs. Oak Grove 3:30
Boys tennis @ Oak Grove 3:15
Track & Field @ Oak Grove 3:30
Boys volleyball vs. Pioneer 6/7p.m.
Badminton vs. Silver Creek 3:00

Friday 4/23

Girls lacrosse @ Woodside 3:30
Boys swimming vs. Branham 3:00
Girls swimming vs. Branham 3:00

Saturday 4/24

Girls lacrosse @ St. Ignatius 11:30a.m.
Track and field @ Pacific Grove 9:00
Varsity boys volleyball @ SCU all day

Monday 4/26

Golf vs. Westmont @ San Jose Muni 2:45
Boys lacrosse @ Woodside 4/5:30 (V, JV)

Tuesday 4/27

Baseball vs. Santa Teresa 3:30
JV baseball @ Santa Teresa 3:30

Pioneer High School

Thursday 4/22

Badminton vs. James Lick 3:30
Softball @ Westmont 3:30
JV softball vs. Westmont 3:30
Boys tennis @ Del Mar 3:15
Track & Field @ Gunderson 3:30
Boys volleyball @ Leland 6/7

Friday 4/23

Swimming and diving @ Independence 3:00
Baseball vs. Branham 3:30
JV baseball @ Branham 3:30

Monday 4/26

Golf vs. Lincoln TBA

Tuesday 4/27

Badminton @ Lincoln 3:30
Softball @ Independence 3:30
JV softball vs. Westmont 3:30
Boys tennis vs. Prospect 3:15
Boys volleyball vs. Branham 5/6

Wednesday 4/28

Boys tennis league team finals begin

SPORTS BRIEFS

Citywide youth track meet
On Sunday, May 23, the city of San Jose Police Amateur Athletic Foundation will sponsor a track meet open to boys and girls born between 1990 and 1995. Track events include the 50-, 100-, 200-, 400-, 800- and 1600-meter runs and the 4X100. Field events include the standing long jump and softball throw. The event will take place at Evergreen Valley High School, beginning at 10 a.m. Registration is 8-9:30 a.m. and is free. Call Kathy Carrillo for information at (408) 369-3900, or e-mail at Kathy.Carrillo@sanjoseca.gov .

Strykers don't quit—advance to State Cup championship

What a great season this is for the De Anza Strykers! The Strykers lost to the Mustang Fury in last year's State Cup championship game in overtime, and also lost to them three times this season. Since that time, the Strykers lost a few players. The team, which includes many players from Almaden, has pulled together the past month to form a cohesive unit playing with all their heart.

The Strykers played the semi-final game in Morgan Hill on April 19. They got on the board first about seven minutes into the game. Stephanie Righetti won a corner kick, Bianca Springer and Courtney Cook conspired to do a short corner. Courtney touched the ball to Bianca who dribbled toward the goal. She passed to it Courtney, who lofted the ball in front of the goal, where Jenna Brehmer headed the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

From there on it was one tough soccer game. Stephanie Righetti, Karina Cavanna and Courtney Cook played valiantly in midfield, winning balls and distributing. Nicole Santo, Tiffi Gummow and Kelsey Poulsen played a strong defensive game. The team effectively blunted the Mustang attack the entire game.

And on the back line stood Bianca Henniger—and nothing got past her. She came out sliding for through-balls again and again, and sent Fury and Stryker players tumbling if they were in the way. Twice she punched away crosses. She made several diving saves. For the sixth time out of six games this State Cup, the Strykers did not concede a goal.

The Stryker offense also worked hard the entire game. Jenna Brehmer, Bianca Springer, Sophie Sequiera, Sam Jafari, Sarah Pitzen, Shannon Righetti and Stephanie Dodds created several good opportunities.

One player from each team had to be carried from the field. Karina Cavanna hurt a hip flexer in the first half, and could not return. Shortly after, Stephanie Dodds' noggin collided with a Fury player. Hopefully both players will have swift recoveries.

The Fury won two corner kicks in the closing minutes, but could not get the ball into the goal. After a seeming eternity, the whistle blew and the Strykers had moved into the championship match with a 1-0 victory over the defending State Cup champs. As you can imagine, the pacing and nail biting ended with a lot of happy tears and hugs.

The De Anza Strykers did an impressive job, pulling it together and wanting that win for multiple reasons. They are now onto the State Cup championship for the second year in a row. The State Cup game will be played May 1 at 10 a.m. in Livermore.

ACTION APLENTY AT VELODROME
Richard Todd of South San Jose is one of the regular performers at the Hellyer Park Velodrome, where he last fall won the Northern California Nevada Distract Championship in the age 30-34 division. The speeds are such at the Wednesday Night racing program that Todd, now age 35, is not ranked in the top 10 in the elite competition, but he nevertheless plans to compete in the Manchester Games World Track Championships in England on Sept. 12. Todd, who works in corporate sales, noted that velodrome racing in San Jose not only is convenient, but inexpensive relative to road racing. Wednesday night participation costs $10 compared to about $30 for a road race. Also: “A road race can be 100 miles long and all of the action is in the last five miles,” he said. “But on the track, it's like the last five miles of that road race. It's ready, set, go, with all of the action from the beginning.” Cycling at the velodrome will get more serious in June when the Friday night racing program begins, but the current Wednesday night action is free to the public, beginning at 7:30. Other programs offered at the velodrome include Junior Development (2 p.m.-dusk on Tuesdays), Saturday Beginner Instruction (8:30 a.m.) and Youth Development/Racing on Sundays (2-5 p.m.). For more information on Youth Development, call (408) 353-4719. For more information on all velodrome programs log on at www.ridethetrack.com.

— By Karl Laucher