SPORTS

AVAC tennis coach is a wrestling fan of Olympics-bound brother

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

Corinna Guerrero is the tennis lessons coordinator at Almaden Valley Athletic Club who lives outside the court in so many ways, not the least of which is her studies at San Jose University where she is working on a masters degree in Biblical languages.

Another preoccupation is her faithful support of her brother’s wrestling career, which ascended to a new level when Eric Guererro, 27, last month earned a berth

on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. He will compete for the gold at the Athens Games in Greece Aug. 22-29.

Corinna, 22, was there when her brother won the U.S. Trials competition at 132 pounds in Indianapolis last month.

She also was there when her brother lost in the Olympic Trials final at Dallas in 2000. The loss, she was the “the worst moment I’ve ever felt.“ In contrast, Eric’s winning two straight matches in Dallas for his first Olympic invitation, was “overwhelming, definitely a great moment of pride for my entire family.”

Corinna and Eric have no other siblings, but they have 24 cousins due largely to the fact that their father, Sebastian, is one of 10 children, including five boys, all of whom were wrestlers.

To be a wrestling champion, notes Corinna, one must have “an impeccable sense of balance. The body has to rotate in multiple axis.” Tennis, too, she notes, is all about balance, but of course without the close proximity of the combatants. Corinna is a former No. 1 singles and doubles player at independence High.

Her brother, Corinna, points out, “is a man of peace. He has a good nature and is very gentle, especially now that he is a father. But when he steps on the mat he’s all business.”

Eric Guerrero, a three-time CIF state high school champion out of Independence High, now is located in Stillwater, Okl. where he is an assistant coach for his other alma mater, Oklahoma State University, for which he won three NCAA championships. He also is a four-time U.S. Open wrestling titlist.

The Guerrero family is selling T-shirts to raise funds to send Eric’s wife, Milia, and their daughter, Kaitlyn, to Athens, Greece to watch Eric compete in the Olympics (ironically, the next competition for the U.S. Olympians will be in the Titan Games, to be held in Athens, Ga., June 19-20). The shirts are printed with the word “bellator” (Latin for Guerrero, which means warrior in Spanish), and the quote “We walk by faith, and not by sight,” from the Bible. The shirts are priced from $20 to $25.

For purchasing information e-mail Corinna at cori_vette@hotmail.com.

For more information on USA Wrestling, log on at www.themat.com.

Leland’s Woodruff clutches a promising future

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

First Team All-League Leland pitcher Kyle Woodruff is leaving high school with a season to remember behind him, and it won’t be the end. The Houston Astros drafted the 6-foot-1 four-year varsity starter on June 8.

Woodruff’s mother, Joyce, had been listening to the draft on the Internet, and when her son’s name was announced in the 35th round to Houston, she was ecstatic.

“It’s still so new to me, but this has been his lifelong dream and it’s always been what he’s wanted. He lives and sleeps baseball, that’s all there is to him,” she says.

Woodruff, considered a “draft and follow,” is prepared for the commitment and determination the road to success will entail. “I’m really motivated to play. I have to continue working hard. There’s nothing else that can really stop me. If I have the tools to go and the love for it, I will eventually make it,” says Woodruff.

He has been a pitcher in the Almaden Little League from the time he was 4. “We would go to Giants games and he would tell us, ‘You are going to see me playing there one day’ and it’s just the neatest thing that it’s possible for him now,” says Joyce.

Woodruff ended his season at Leland with a record of 10-2. He is currently playing for two summer league invitation-only teams. “I’m playing constantly, a game every day or every other day,” he says.

Woodruff will be a “draft and follow” or draft, follow and evaluate (DFE) player. Which means he will attend and play at a junior college for one year, and the Astros will follow his progress throughout that year. The club maintains exclusive signing rights to Woodruff until a week before the following draft. “I’m not sure about a junior college right now, I haven’t even talked to my parents about it or anything,” he says.

Before anything, Woodruff will be going to the 28th Annual Sunbelt Classic All-Star tournament in Norman, Okla. on June 21. He is one of 20 players selected from California to represent the state; other states competing include Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Maryland and Ohio. The players live with volunteer host families for the duration of the tournament.

Woodruff has had support from his parents throughout his career. “I’ve always been a team mom and his father was a golf pro, so he certainly knows the ups and downs of professional sports. His brother Brian has been a huge fan of his, and kept his spirits lifted over the years.”

“He just can’t get enough, he’s always been very dedicated. I know he has a lot of hard work ahead of him though. He’s always played ahead of himself, I think he’s prepared to work, he knows that it won’t be easy,” says Joyce.

Blue Jays dominate Almaden Valley Little League majors

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

The Blue Jays made their mark on the Almaden Valley Little League majors in the South Division. Coming out of the championship tournament played June 5 and 6 in first place, and champions of their division.

In the championship game against the number-two seeded Yankees, the Jays fell behind early and faced the third inning clutching a 0-2 deficit. According to Jays’ Head Coach Tarun Patel, their bats came alive and the Jays scored their only five runs on five hits. Offensive powerhouses were J.D. Correa, Matt Aita and Kavin Patel who had consecutive RBI singles while Will Cobb and Larry Howard contributed a base hit each.

The Jays survived the Yankees comeback threat throughout the next three innings, stifled by Correa’s pitching backed by a solid defense with Cobb at third base, Nick Giotta at shortstop and Alex Ramos at second base.
Codie O’Connell, Gabriel Chavez and Sean Buchanan, who each had two hits, led the Yankees offensive attack.

In advancing through the tournament to the championship game, the Jays eked out two victories—a 4-3 win over the Royals and a 2-1 triumph over the Braves. The latter game was highlighted by diving catch made by right fielder Matt Dielman, which robbed Vinny Gemette’s fifth homerun of the season, and sent the three possible RBIs back to the dugout.

“We have some talented players, but the one thing that stands out on this team is the chemistry. Since the beginning of the season, the kids have bought into the team concept we emphasized. Everyone is really supportive of each other and everyone contributed in one way or another,” says Patel.

The Blue Jays will advance to the single-elimination District 12 Tournament of Champions this Sunday against Quito Little League, played at Willow Glen Little League.

Pioneer’s ‘most inspirational’
Sean Lopes blazes new trails as state track 800-meter medalist

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

A new world unfolded around Sean Lopes as be became a Pioneer High School track and field team of one inspired warrior in his quest for the California Interscholastic Federation State Championship in the 800-meter run last weekend as Hughes Stadium in Sacramento.

His Mustang track and field teammates and coaches were behind him as he became the first Pioneer athlete in the 44-year history of the school to qualify for the state finals.

But by the time he got to the starting line, Lopes’ support group had multiplied to include his fellow Central Coast Section competitors and even his future teammates at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“I was pretty cool,” he said.

That he was able to break his own school record, clocking 1:53.66 en route to a sixth-place finish—claiming the last medal-winning berth on the podium—brought his stellar high school career to triumphant conclusion.

Particularly pleasing to him was that he was not considered among the Central Coast Section favorites in San Jose’s metropolitan daily. Only seven boys and seven girls (including two distaff champions) from the 115 CCS schools medaled in the state championships.

While Lopes was soaring in Sacramento, Valley Christian High 1600-meter runner Evelyn Wing of Almaden Valley and Pioneer discus thrower Rolando Gomez, both juniors, undoubtedly found their state meet participation something less than fulfilling. Gomez had a best throw of 160-11 in state meet prelims on Friday that was more than four feet short of the toss he make to place third in the CCS six days earlier. He did not advance to the state final, finishing 17th out of 28 throwers.

Wing, who earned a state meet invitation for the second straight year, also was off-song, missing a state final qualifying spot by one place, finishing 10th in the Friday prelim with a time of 5:01.58. At CCS the previous week, Wing was timed in 4:56.24, placing third. A year earlier at CCS, she placed fourth with a 4:59.34 effort.

With the 6-foot, 160-pound Lopes, age 17, at the top of his game, who could blame him for considering a run at the Golden West Invitational competition at Sacramento State this weekend? It is easy to get the feeling this student-athlete wants to take on all challenges. He was a protagonist on the Pioneer cross country and soccer teams. He was Homecoming king, student body vice president, and on the night after the CCS Finals, he co-promoted a charity fashion show at Pioneer titled “Young, Bad and Beautiful,” wherein he modeled his own line of clothing called “Lunatik.” He is a lifetime member of the National Honor Society, sporting a 3.75 grade point average headed for architectural studies at Cal Poly.

No wonder he was a much-heralded participant in Pioneer’s recent Senior Awards program where he received the Most Inspirational Student Award, among others.

Lopes’ mother, Connie, was hard-pressed to characterize his most outstanding quality. “He’s so self-motivated it’s unbelievable,” she said.

Among Lopes’ other admirers are Pioneer Track Assistant Coach Jim Polanco. “He’s a very dedicated runner, “ Polanco said. “The first day of practice he said wanted to achieve big things, not just league titles. He set his goals very high.”

Added Pioneer Head Coach Mark Krail, regarding Lopes’ medal-winning performance at the state championships: “I’m not surprised; when the level of competition rose, so did he.”

Get in the swim at the Y
Lessons offered all
summer at South Valley YMCA

The South Valley Family YMCA, located at 5632 Santa Teresa Blvd. in San Jose, is offering summer weekday and Saturday group swim lessons through June 14 for infants, children, and adults.

The lessons are offered morning, afternoon, evening and on Saturday mornings with a variety of swim levels available. The sessions last two weeks or five Saturdays. Cost depends on the session. All classes are taught by certified swim instruction.

“The health benefits of swimming are enormous,” says aquatic director Courtney Lang. “Swimming provides lifelong fitness from swim instruction, water exercise, lap swimming, swim team, water fitness and rehabilitation.”

For Registration information call (408) 226-9622.

BREAKING AWAY RIDERS HAVE A BLAST

The first of 12 weeks of cannonball cycling racing at seemingly breakneck speeds in the Friday Night Breaking Away series got underway last week at the Hellyer Park Velodrome in central San Jose with U.S. Cycle Federation Elite Sprint champion Stephen Alfred taking his place at the head of the pack in the duel sprint competition.

Among the entries is a small, but enthusiastic, contingent of women riders including the LaFleur sisters from Union City and National Match Sprint silver medalist Lori Nock of Los Altos. The sisters are Michelle, 13, Kimberly, 16, and Kelly, 14. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Alfred, 36, was born in Trinidad and Tobago, but Santa Cruz is his home base for launching attacks on national and world sprint championships, which include the 2001 and 2002 Masters World Sprint Championships claimed in Manchester, England. He will be racing at the San Jose oval until mid July when he begins another campaign for national and international honors.

Asked what people unfamiliar with velodrome racing ought to know about the sport, Alfred said, “it’s not scary as it looks,” even though the top riders can hit speeds over 40 mph, riding fixed-gear bikes without breaks in tight packs. “From the outside, it can look intimidating, but I’ve had no broken bones—lots of crashes, but no broken bones.”

A less serious version of Friday Night velodrome racing is held on Wednesday nights at the Hellyer Park facility where the youth lessons and recreation riding also are available throughout the week. For more information on racing, call 408 247-2902. For all velodrome cycling activities (including racing results) log on at www.ridethetrack.com.

—By Karl Laucher

Seven scholar-athletes awarded Shirley Hemeon Memorial Scholarships

By Rosse Hemeon
Special to the Times

Seven high school graduating student-athletes were honored recently with scholarships at the Almaden Swim and Racquet Club. Jer Macedo, club manager and head swim coach at the club, presided over the Memorial Day function at the club facility. The memorial scholarships were provided by the Hemeon family in memory of Shirley Hemeon who died of breast cancer April 20, 1998.

Michelle Del Rio was this year’s winner of the largest scholarship which was a $1000 scholarship.

Michelle Del Rio graduated from Mitty High School and has chosen to attend New York University. Michelle was an outstanding swimmer and water polo player at Mitty. And she was team captain of the Almaden Swim & Racquet Club swim team. She made the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout her four years and was a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation.

Six other students were runners-up and received $500 Savings Bonds.

Nicole Atkin, a graduate of Leland High School, will be attending Northern Arizona University. She was captain of the varsity swim team at Leland High School and the Almaden Swim & Racquet Club. She was selected to be a member of the United States Sports Tours USA International swimming tour to Australia. Nicole is two time 100 yard backstroke league champion, most valuable swimmer and most outstanding swimmer.

Nickolai Beene, a Leland graduate, is going to the California State Maritime Academy. Nickolai swam for Leland High School and the Almaden Swim & Racquet Club. He was a member of Leland’s water polo team where he was first team all league, most valuable player and team captain. Nickolai attended Colorado Outward Bound in river rafting and was active in Boy Scouts of America, troop 294. He is a certified scuba diver and avid abalone diver.

Elizabeth Hoyt graduated from Pioneer High School and will attend University of California, Irvine. Elizabeth was on the Pioneer High School and Almaden Swim & Racquet Club swim teams. She also played water polo at Pioneer where she was varsity captain, and she received the scholar-athlete award. Elizabeth served on the Associated Student Body at Pioneer and she was founder and president of the school’s violin ensemble. She was vice president of the National Honor Society and member of the California Scholarship Federation. She has been active in many community service functions through her church, lending her musical talent in local charity affairs.

Tami Reyda, a graduate of Leland, is a world traveler, lending her voice through concerts in Europe and here in the United States. She was on the swim team at Leland High School and the Almaden Swim & Racquet Club.This straight A student tutored other students in several disciplines. She is a National Commendation recipient and Governor’s Scholar. She received the Bank of America math department award and is a Watson Scholar.

Allison Shimamoto graduated from Leigh High School and is headed up to University of Puget Sound. She was on the swim team at Leigh High School and was captain of the Almaden Swim & Racquet Club team. She was on the Principal’s Honor Roll for four years, was a science fair award winner and a member of the marching band. She is a Golden State Honor Student and has been a swim coach at Belwood. And she is on the current coaching stall at ASRC.

Andrew Song graduated from Bellarmine Prep and is headed to New York University. He was on the swim team at Almaden and at Bellarmine where he played water polo. He is also a soccer player. He was named most valuable swimmer at ASRC. He has been active in his church, is founder and president of the Korean Student Association and vice president of the Asian Society. He was named Junior Statesman of America.

The Almaden Swim and Racquet Club Student-Athlete Scholarship is an annual award. Katrina Hearn was the winner last year and is studying at University of San Diego. Gordon Ho is at UC San Diego and won the award in 2002. The winner in 2001 was John Humphrey who is at Duke University. Katherine Whitman, winner in 2000, graduated from UC Berkeley last week.

Long time members of the Almaden Valley will remember the fun and joy Shirley brought until her death at the age of 66. The Hemeon family thanks these young people for participating in this fifth memorial scholarship.

After rough start, AAA White Sox change luck, take championship

By Scott McLaughlin
Special to the Times

After starting the AAA season off 1-6 (including two losses after leading games by 10 or more runs), the AAA White Sox decided they needed to do something dramatic to change their luck. With the consent of the parents, the team gathered after the next practice, chanted “Hey, Ho, Shoeless Joe, The Curse Has Got To Go” and the coaches burned their old banner. “We had tried the standard stuff—slurpies, pizza parties, wrist bands and lots of positive encouragement,” said Coach Mike Reickerd (the brainchild of the burning). “But we needed something more.”

Thereafter, the White Sox play sparkled. Behind the standout pitching of Dylan Bell and Timmy McLaughlin, the strong hitting of Tommy Fickett, Johnny Earl, Kyle Reickerd, Mark Syn, Jared Ferguson and Matty McLaughlin and great overall play of Chad Morris, Jake Neumann, Joey Reinhart and Keegan Anzalone, the White Sox won nine of their next 11 games to finish the regular season in second place with a record of 10-8.

The Sox entered the Almaden North Division double elimination playoffs seeded second. Their hot streak continued in the playoff, winning their first two games by scores of 8-4 and 9-6. Last Saturday, the Sox played the powerful Giants for the championship. Great fielding and pitching by both teams dominated the game early. For the Sox, and as usual, Bell and Timmy McLaughlin pitched great. The combo struck out eight, walked three, and allowed only three runs over six innings. A great defensive play by Fickett behind the plate and by Matty McLaughlin at second base helped the Sox preserve an early lead. Reickerd’s two-out two-run single in the fourth inning put the Sox up 7-2. Key hits by Syn and Earl, and great base running by Ferguson paced the Sox to a 9-3 victory and the Championship.

The Sox will represent Almaden in the District 12 AAA Tournament of Champions, along with the winner of the Almaden South Division, hosted by Union Little League. That tournament starts Saturday, June 12. The Sox are coached by Manager Scott McLaughlin, and coaches Mike Reickerd, Tom Fickett and Dave Ferguson.