June 15, 2006

SPORTS

Mix of new and old as Leland football prepares for 2006 season

Chargers look for success in the Santa Teresa Division
with several returning starters and a batch of newcomers

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

While their classmates eagerly await the end of the school year, members of the Leland football team were busy doing what they know best—playing football.

Quarterback Ricky Battipede will come in and compete with incumbent quarterback Garrett Avilla for playing time during the 2006 football season. Battipede helped guide the 2005 frosh/soph football team to a division title.

The Chargers have kicked off their 2006 football campaign in early-bird fashion, participating in non-contact football drills during spring practices over the past two weeks, ending with the final practice before the end of the school year on June 9.

The 2006 season will bring about several changes for the Chargers, not just on the roster, but in other aspects of the team as well. For starters, Leland finished the 2005 season at 3-7 overall, and 2-5 in Mt. Hamilton Division play, prompting the Blossom Valley Athletic League to drop the team into the Santa Teresa Division for the 2006 season, much to Head Coach Jason Tenner’s chagrin. Regardless of the decision, Tenner said he’s focused on putting the best team on the field.

“Our goal, whether we’re in Mt. Hamilton or Santa Teresa is to compete week in and week out, and play good, quality football,” Tenner said. “I think that’s the direction we’re moving in. We’re going to be playing good football this year against some good teams. We’ll take the field and we’ll let the chips fall where they may. I’m pretty confident that we’re going to have a good season this year.”

In addition, Tenner said he learned a thing or two in his first year at the helm of Leland’s program, while reaching a few goals along the way.

“We accomplished a lot of things that I wanted to in my first year,” Tenner said. “Obviously, I put my stamp on the program. The kids know what to expect from me, they know what they’re going to get from me, and they know what I want them to do. The varsity team improved on its previous record, from 2-8 to 3-7. … We’re starting to develop some confidence. The knowledge of the game is improving and everyone is moving in the right way.”

One constant for the Chargers will be Tenner’s commitment to running the ball on offense. To that end, Tenner said he will continue to employ a variation of the wing-T offense he installed last season, albeit with the added twist of using the option on occasion as another weapon in the overall offensive scheme.

“We’re shifting more towards the option mixed in with the fly,” said Tenner. “We’re trying to utilize the good high school athlete and make sure that no matter what type of athletic ability we have, we can still compete with everybody on our schedule.”

The 2006 roster will see the return of quarterback Garrett Avilla, who started a handful of games last season as a junior. Avilla will be in competition for the starting quarterback job with Ricky Battipede, last season’s starting quarterback for the Leland frosh/soph team, which won a division championship. Also in the mix at the position is Zeyad Zaky, the backup quarterback for the frosh/soph team last season.

In addition, the team will see the return of running backs Lance Gemette and Adam Ondi, a duo that combined for more than 1,000 yards rushing last season. Joining those two runners on offense will be Kevin Krail, a running back/wide receiver (commonly referred to as a z-back), as well as receivers Billy Oesterreich and Nate Jones. Above all, Tenner cited the return of most of his starting offensive line as reason for optimism on the offensive end of the ball.

Mostly, Tenner reiterated that he’s pleased to see the program on the right track, with a plan in mind for the future of the program. That includes not only harnessing his players’ physical abilities, but also teaching them all aspects of the game, including the mental part of the game.

“We started off last year, in taking over the program, with a two- to three-year plan,” Tenner said. “First and foremost, we wanted to get the kids in the weight room and improve upon that, in making us stronger and faster. That was the goal of our winter workouts, in the off-season program. Get the bodies right. Now we’re working on the minds.”

Sports Briefs

There’s still time to sign up for Leland Junior Spirit Camp
The Leland Spirit Squad is hosting its annual Junior Spirit Camp June 19-23 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The fee is $125. The camp will offer cheers, dances and games for children entering K-8 in the fall of 2006. All campers will be invited to perform at a Leland High School football game. Please contact lelandjsc@gmail.com.

Almaden United U15 boys’ class 3 soccer team looks for players
Almaden United, a class 3 U14/U15 boys’ soccer team, needs players for the spring and fall. Date of birth should be between 8/1/91 and 7/31/92. Call Coach Joe Escobedo at (408) 972-8906 or Manager Patty O'Malley (408) 927-5978 for more information.

Almaden United U12 girls’ soccer team needs players
The Almaden United, a girls’ under 12, strong class 3 team applying for class 1 in the fall season, is looking for players for the spring and fall '06 seasons. Date of birth should be between Aug. 1, 1994 and July 31, 1996. Contact Jeff Pine at pine@apple.com or (408) 391-7542 for more information.

Sports officials needed for high school sports
FERMAR Corporation, which contracts with high schools in Santa Clara County, is recruiting officials for high school athletics. Officials are needed for fall season sports such as football, volleyball and field hockey.

Men and women are encouraged to apply. No experience is necessary, as FERMAR will provide training through classes, clinics and tests. All training materials are provided.

Officials are paid $32-$61 per game, depending on the sport and level of competition. Additional opportunities to officiate youth and adult sports are also available.

Interested parties are encouraged to call FERMAR at (408) 567-1700.

DeAnza Force 92G Black needs players
DeAnza Force 92G Black is looking for highly skilled players for the NorCal premier spring league and fall season. If interested, please contact Head Coach David Blutrich by e-mailing davidblue7@aol.com.

Cheer coaches needed for South Valley Pop Warner
Cheer coaches are needed for South Valley Pop Warner. If you're interested in joining a team of outstanding coaches, call Tiana Zarate at (408) 464-3285 or Teresa Smith at (408) 603-8280, or go to http://www.stpopwarner.org/

Central Valley Edge class 3, U18 girls’ team seeks players
Central Valley Edge class 3, U18 girls’ soccer team, is looking for players born after July 31, 1988 for the upcoming fall season. Contact Coach Ary Afsari at afsari@comcast.net or call (408) 507-7008 for more detailed information.

Almaden Valley’s all-star cheer team, Cheer Divas, host cheerleading signups
The Cheer Divas program has a few spots available for the 2006-2007 season. Practices are held at Almaden Valley Gymnastics.  For more information call 408-370-DIVA or visit www.CheerDivas.com.

The ‘sirious’ business of baseball

Leland baseball coach Anthony Siri looks to make
baseball his life’s work with Sirious Baseball

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

For Anthony Siri, baseball is not only a passion, it’s a business.

And when it comes to the game he loves, Siri knows what he’s talking about. That’s because relies on a wealth of knowledge he obtained after playing baseball at West Valley College and San Jose City College as well as two seasons pitching for the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in the NCAA Division I ranks.

These days, Siri, 31, is not only taking over the Leland baseball program as its head coach next season, he’s also established his own baseball academy, named Sirious Baseball, in the Bay Area.

For Siri, starting his baseball academy was done with one simple goal—applying what he learned during his playing days and instilling that knowledge in younger players.

“I think what was most important to me was to be around the game,” said Siri, who spent the 2006 season serving as co-head coach of the Leland varsity baseball team with longtime coach Scot Gillis. “… It was something I felt I could offer as a service to players of all ages.”

To that end, Siri has gone to great lengths to ensure that his baseball academy is more than simply running the average baseball drills. Siri offers a wide array of services for players of all ages and abilities in not just pitching, but hitting and fielding as well. Siri spent the first two years of his college playing career as an infielder before being converted to a pitcher at the urging of San Jose State University assistant baseball coach Doug Thurman.

While Siri’s academy offers instruction in hitting, pitching, fielding, and base running, it also offers other services, such as film sessions to break down swings, fielding and pitching motions, flexibility and conditioning, speed and agility drills, and throwing regimens to develop arm strength through the use of arm bands and proper throwing techniques. Siri offers these services with the help of Ross Headley, the academy’s director of fitness and skills instructor.

In addition, Siri also offers glove repair services and holds several baseball camps throughout the year. Siri currently as instructional partnerships with Saratoga Little League and Union Little League.

Siri said the greatest satisfaction in his job is seeing the young players he instructs thrive.

“It’s about teaching kids and giving them the tools to get better … seeing kids adapt to your philosophies and seeing them succeed,” said Siri, who started his academy in February of 2005.

And making baseball his full-time job is something Siri is certainly reaching for, having recently secured a building in Campbell to use as a year-round facility for his academy. Siri, who plans to open the training facility in August, said the building will be equipped with batting cages, drill stations, film study areas and bullpens for his clients.

The advancements in baseball instruction Siri will be offering in his new academy are far better than anything he has as a budding baseball star, he said.

“We really didn’t have this in high school,” said Siri, who starred at Leland as a player. “We didn’t have the facilities and the ability to do things like break down your swing on film.”

Although his baseball academy has kept Siri plenty busy, he’s also squarely focused on another task—taking over the Leland baseball program. Siri will be taking over for Gillis, who as been at the helm of the program for better than 10 years. Siri, who previously spent time as the assistant baseball coach for the Westmont varsity team before joining the Leland coaching ranks in 2006, said taking over the program for Gillis is both exciting and humbling at the same time.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” he said. “With Gillis, I really have some big shoes to fill. For him to ask me to be the next head coach was quite an honor … It just worked out great.”

Above all else, Siri credited his wife, Valerie, with being constantly supportive in allowing him to follow his goal of making baseball his everyday business.

“I have a wonderful wife in Valerie who supports me with all of my decisions and believes in me,” he said.

And in regard to family, Siri and his wife will soon see the addition to their clan with the birth of the couple’s first child later this month.

For more information about Anthony Siri’s baseball academy, Sirious Baseball, visit the academy’s Web site at www.siriousbaseball.com

2006 San Jose Grand Prix unveils track changes

Last year’s winner Sebastien Bourdais sees
better race ahead with track improvements

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

San Jose Grand Prix officials unveiled new on-track changes for the 2006 race event at a press conference on June 9 at the McEnery Convention Center.

Sebastien Bourdais speaks to the media during a press conference announcing track improvements for the upcoming 2006 San Jose Grand Prix.

The changes, some dramatic while others subtler, promise to provide a better driving experience for drivers of the Champ Car Series, the officials said.

Among the biggest changes to the 2006 track, which races through the downtown streets of San Jose, was the widening of turn No. 2, formerly turn No. 4, as well as the widening of the circuit at turn No. 6, along Park Avenue, at the corner of Market Street and Balbach Street. No specific measurements of the widening at those areas were given.

In addition, the 2006 Grand Prix will see the track and pit lane swap sides of the street along Almaden Boulevard, allowing spectators in the Gold grandstands to be closer to the track.

Other changes include lengthening the runoff at the hairpin turn along Almaden Boulevard for better passing opportunities.

On hand for the media event was 2005 San Jose Grand Prix winner Sebastien Bourdais, who said the on-track changes should improve passing opportunities for drivers this year after last year’s track was roundly criticized by several drivers of the Champ Car Series for being too narrow.

“You’re going to probably have the best passing opportunities of the whole series with a top speed of around 175 or 180 miles per hour going into the hairpin,” Bourdais said of the track changes. “So, you’re going to probably see a lot of kamikaze moves going right into the inside. … Leading the race might actually be a little difficult or stressful going into the last few laps, but I think it’s going to be great.”

More subtle changes are also in the plans for the 2006 Grand Prix. Among the biggest obstacles for drivers in the 2005 event were VTA Light Rail tracks that crossed the track, resulting in several cars bottoming out throughout practice runs leading up to the race.

Grand Prix officials said improvements have been made in that area, with street resurfacing, placing the road flush to the curb at the track crossings along Almaden Boulevard and Market Street. While those changes should bring about better driving conditions, Bourdais said, negotiating the tracks during the event will still be a challenge at times.

“The only question that’s still in the air is the railroad tracks,” Bourdais said. “ … I guess until we go over it with the cars we won’t really know, but all I can say is all the best efforts have been done to really make this track a great success.”

With the on-track changes came the presentation of some off-track differences as well for the 2006 event, which supports the Canary Foundation. This year’s Grand Prix will see wider pedestrian crossover bridges, officials said, while adding a third bridge along Balbach Street. Track crossings will be added for 2006 as well. All told, officials said capacity for the bridges should be doubled from the 2005 event.

“This year we want to have as many people, or more (at the Grand Prix), but we wanted to fix up some of the issues that caused some of those congestion problems,” said San Jose Grand Prix President Dale Jantzen of doubling the pedestrian bridge capacity and adding a third bridge to the mix for this year. “...We’re expecting improvements in that.”

Additionally, the Gold grandstands will be elevated for the 2006 event, while other grandstands will see changes as well, such as the consolidation of two Silver grandstands into one, and the placement of another Silver grandstand closer to the track.

The 2006 Grand Prix will also see the return of Bourdais, the 2005 San Jose Grand Prix winner and two-time defending champion of the Champ Car World Series. Bourdais, driving for the Newman/Haas Racing team, is off to a rousing start in 2006, winning his first four starts this season to lead the Champ Car point standings. In total, the 27-year-old Bourdais has 20 career wins in 49 starts in Champ Car, while reaching the podium 28 times since 2003.

The 2006 San Jose Grand Prix will be held July 28-30.

For more information or to purchase tickets call (408) 277-6290 or visit www.sanjosegrand prix.com

Pioneer’s pipeline

Mustangs Souza and D’Antonio latest in line of Menlo College recruits

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The talent pipeline extending from Pioneer High School’s football program to Menlo College is flowing again.

Pioneer Head Football Coach Mark Krail said Mustang seniors Shaun Souza and Nick D’Antonio are the latest Pioneer protégés who opted to become Menlo College Oaks, as means to extend their football careers into a four-year program.

Pioneer has dredged a pipeline over the past decade, regularly hustling talent from Blossom Hill Road to NCAA Division III Menlo, where several Mustangs have enjoyed ample success in college.

Krail and Menlo Coach Mark Kaanapu agreed that the relationship ensued after two-time Menlo All-American Nate Jackson, who graduated from Pioneer in 1997 and is currently listed as an active player on the Denver Broncos’ roster, paved the way, catching a school record 261 passes and 43 touchdowns in three years as an Oak.

“I have known Coach Krail for several years now,” said Kaanapu. “He does an outstanding job there at Pioneer; one of our best players ever, Nate Jackson, went to Pioneer and played there. We always keep an eye on Pioneer kids.”

This season’s crop was especially strong in the eyes of Kaanapu.

Running back Souza and cornerback/running back D’Antonio caught Kaanapu’s attention when he attended the Mustangs’ homecoming game versus Branham High last season.

“I was especially impressed with the overall body work of both kids,” said Kaanapu. “When I watched them play live against Branham High, I knew Shaun could run, but the question was, could he catch?”

Kaanapu received his answer late in the third quarter of that game when Souza snagged a 27-yard pass over his left shoulder and scampered down the sideline for a touchdown.

“Shaun sees the whole field,” said Kaanapu. “When he gets the ball, there is no wasted motion. The most important thing that we ask the running backs to do is catch the ball out of the backfield. It’s like a long handoff.”

D’Antonio meanwhile, logged two scores of his own in the game, the more impressive coming just 20 seconds before halftime, when he took a short screen pass 56 yards for a touchdown.

“Krail was yelling at me to duck out of bounds, but I saw a cut back lane and hit it,” said D’Antonio, who also starred on defense, shutting out his opponent from his cornerback position that day.

“We hope that both players can come in and compete immediately,” said Kaanapu. “I told Shaun that we want him to come in and compete for a spot on the traveling squad. He was our top recruit at running back this season.”

Kaanapu said D’antonio is also expected to vie for playing time as a freshman, based on his size and physical play at corner.

“Nick understands how to play space and he is very coachable,” said Kaanapu. “The thing with Nick was that he demonstrated a definitive competitiveness at football camps we saw him at.”

D’Antonio and Souza selected Menlo following stellar senior seasons, in which they led Pioneer to the Mount Hamilton Division crown and a berth in the top CCS open division.

Pioneer, in fact, traveled deeper into the playoffs than they had this millennium, beating Wilcox 24-6 in the opening round, before finally falling to state elite Valley Christian 38-13 in the semifinals.

A standout Honorable Mention All-CCS running back, Souza was a three-year starter, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his final two seasons.

“Shaun was our go-to guy,” said Krail. “He carried the load on offense and took the reigns as a leader.”

Krail said Souza displayed a freakish level of tenacity, when the Mustangs faced elimination versus Wilcox.

Mount Hamilton Division Utility Player of the Year D’Antonio, meanwhile, snagged four interceptions and contributed 31 tackles on defense, while rushing for 643 yards in his senior campaign.

Krail said Souza and D’Antonio were major players in the scrappy Mustangs’ moves this season and he also suspects both will likely contribute immediately at Menlo.

Petite Power

Adversity strengthens the bond Alan and Bonnie Aerts share in powerlifting

By Jeff Frazee
Times Staff

Although Alan and Bonnie Aerts are known locally for lavish Christmas décor on their Monte Sereno home, they’re quickly making names for themselves in another arena – powerlifting.

Bonnie Aerts recently set a California and an American record for bench press in the United States Powerlifting Federation.

As part of her training, Bonnie never knows how much weight she is lifting. She trusts her husband to keep track of her weights and her abilities, and it paid off as she set two records in her first competition on May 20 at Evergreen Valley High School. Bonnie broke the previous bench press record in her age group and weight category, besting the 1985 mark of 159.5 pounds.

The United States Powerlifting Federation, in which the couple competes, was established in 1968. "It's the oldest and one of the most stringent," powerlifting organizations, Alan said.

The USPF oversees three competitions: squat, bench press and dead lift. Alan admitted that he generally laughs inside when people brag to him about how much they can bench press, because following the USPF guidelines will knock 100 pounds off the amount you lift in the gym. Each lifter is allowed three one-minute lifts. The best of those three lifts is the registered score for the day.

Bonnie and Alan are also physically at opposite ends of the spectrum. Alan's muscular frame weighs nearly 300 pounds. By all appearances, it's no surprise that he is a power lifter. Bonnie, meanwhile, is fit, although she admits, "I'm a bodybuilder, not a powerlifter."

As Alan was preparing for competition, he told Bonnie, "Look at some of these records. You're strong. You can do this." Bonnie agreed to one competition, just to say she did it.

"I wanted out," said Bonnie, after seeing the large women she would be competing with. "Sometimes you don't know how to bow out gracefully, and I couldn't figure out how to get out of it."

Weighing in at just 114 pounds, Bonnie said she felt the added stress of being the first woman to compete. Soon after, however, her fears were laid to rest.

On her second lift, Bonnie broke the American record for Masters 114.5 pound bench press held by Karin Reagan since 1985.

"I don't even know these people,” she said. “You would think they were your competition, but they were all cheering for me."

The Aert's Monte Sereno home, famous locally for its lavish holiday decorations, which ended in 2004 by city ordinance, includes private his and hers gyms.

"I have a trainer, but he is the one who really watches over me," Bonnie said of Alan. "Our whole day is based around our training at night."

"This is high intensity…for two hours, just working on our bench press," added Alan. "She is technical in training. I'm just a brut."

It takes much more than time and money to keep the couple on top of their game. An average week includes 10 doctor visits for Alan, who has a rare blood disorder that thickens his blood, preventing flow to his small arteries. In addition, Alan said he suffers from brittle platelets in the blood.

"I have two things that make each other worse, and they are both incurable," he said.

Bonnie takes Alan for regular treatments at Stanford that keep him alive, but there is no long-term solution. Eventually, Alan said he will suffer a stroke or a heart attack.

“There’s no way your heart can pump sludge forever,” he said.

Still, health problems haven’t stopped the couple from enjoying their time together, whether it’s powerlifting, or any other type of activity they share. That includes Alan’s visits to the hospital for MRI exams and other procedures. Bonnie always is faithfully by his side.

"In the doctor’s office they try to keep you apart. No, we're not going to be separated," said Alan. "We say if we've got one day, one month or one year, we're going to spend it together."

With regret, Alan added, "It's much harder on the spouse. You feel sorry for them. They have to go through it, and they don't have the disease."

In the way the Aerts constantly finish each other's thoughts, they resemble a couple 10 years older than they are.

After spending the first 20 years of their marriage apart while Alan built their company, Custom Vending Systems, Bonnie said, "Basically, we're together all the time. We love being together."

Bonnie, who suffers from Graves disease, a thyroid disorder, said it is competing with these difficulties that make the couple’s wins that much sweeter.

“With all these problems, we're good to work together,” she said. “We understand each other. Without these problems, [our awards] would be nothing."

On Aug. 5, the Aerts will be competing on Muscle Beach in Venice, Calif. Alan stands poised to overtake the American bench press record of 507 pounds. Referring to her bench press record, Bonnie simply said, "I want another one."

Alan, in keeping with the couple’s rule not to tell Bonnie how much she is lifting, simply said that she has already lifted more than her winning weight during practices.

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