SPORTS

Annual Broncothon raises $20,000 toward school activities
Bret Harte athletics, drama benefit

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Approximately 250 Broncos went running, jumping and rolling across campus Friday, June 11. The students, certainly distracted by the fun and games, worked diligently, raising more than $20,000 honoring Bret Harte Middle School’s sixth annual Broncothon. The event nurtures students’ competitive nature while raising money to support Bronco sporting teams, along with athletic facilities and academic luxuries.

The annual Broncothon is the school’s unique method of fund-raising. All proceeds go toward the Bronco Booster Club, which supports Bret Harte’s extensive athletic and academic programs. The Booster Club sponsors Bronco basketball, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse, volleyball, track, softball, tennis, flag football, band, robotics, spirit, dance and drama.

“Kids participate by raising sponsorship of at least $15,” explained Broncothon Committee chair Karen Fredrick. Students meeting the $15 minimum then choose one event to compete in. This year options included basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, flag football, computer activities, art, skateboarding, roller-blading, war ball and swimming.

“The afternoon was a huge success,” continued Fredrick. “Some schools have walkathons to raise money. That’s a great idea—but not for middle schoolers. We want to keep this afternoon fun for the kids and offer events they really like.”

It worked. Many kids conveyed an especially strong enthusiasm for war ball—a modified version of dodge ball—peppering one another with cantaloupe-sized rubber handballs. Skateboarding was also a hit. Several students demonstrated truly California-esque talent maneuvering boards by foot, scaling poles and clearing concrete embankments.

However, the coup detat came at the expense of teachers and administrators, namely Assistant Principal Addison Jones. The retiring Jones, a beloved mentor to both students and staff, went out with a splash weathering the resounding truth of the dunk tank.

“We promised the students a dunk tank if we hit $17,000,” said Fredrick. “Mr. Jones and our principal, Mr. McCloskey, put themselves forward for this one.” Easily exceeding the original $17,000 mark, Broncothon masterminds have upped the ante. On June 16, a Bret Harte staff member was scheduled for a duct taping to the flagpole, high above the quad.

“It’s great to show the kids that teachers and staff like to have fun and have senses of humor,” summed up Fredrick.

Bronco staff has an entire committee to thank. Joan Friessnig, Sheryl Hydorn, Julie Herbert, Lynn Hillebrecht and Polly Silverman collaborated with Bret Harte staff Sylvia Orlowicz and Jones himself in arranging the 2004 Broncothon.

YMCA of Santa Clara Valley urges swimming pool safety

Summertime means swimming time and the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley urges everyone to be especially alert and vigilant to swimming pool safety this summer, whether you have a swimming pool in your own backyard or travel elsewhere to swim.

According to the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission, 85 percent of the children who drown each year do so at their own or a friend's swimming pool.

Tips outlined by aquatic directors of the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley and reminders from a variety of water safety experts today include:

- Enroll in an aquatic program where swim lessons for infants through adults emphasize becoming comfortable in the water.
- Supervise children at all times while they are in or within 100 feet of water.
- When visiting a friend's or a public swimming pool, an adult should supervise at all times. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on pool safety notes 69 percent of accidents occur while one or both parents are responsible for supervision. Most of the victims of drowning were being supervised by one or both parents when the swimming pool accident occurred.
- Fence around your pool in compliance with the County of Santa Clara Environmental Resources Agency and local city ordinance Swimming Pool Requirements (as many pools may have been installed prior to these requirements, it is important people are aware of safety factors such as these).
- Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching
- Door alarms should be installed as required by local ordinances.
- In the water, set boundaries
- Constantly check that all faces are above water and accounted for.
- Never turn your back on a child while he or she is in the water.
- Do not allow children in water to go deeper than the supervising adult.

The YMCA of Santa Clara Valley offers summer swim lessons for all ages infant through adult at seven locations throughout Santa Clara Valley. They are located in downtown San Jose, East San Jose, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, South San Jose, Saratoga and Boulder Creek. For registration information telephone (408) 298-3888.

Almaden falls in semifinals

Pitcher Timmy McLaughlin came in for relief in the fourth inning to keep the White Sox close in their comeback attempt in the semifinals of the AAA Tournament of Champions. The final score was Lincoln Glen, 4, Almaden, 2. McLaughlin struck out eight batters in three innings, while giving up three hits and one run.

The White Sox tore through their first two games, pummeling Cambrian Park 9-4 and Los Gatos National 11-1. Head Coach Scott McLaughlin says, “We were happy to be there. Once we won our first two games we started getting really excited. Regardless, it was a phenomenal year for Almaden Little League.”

Two of the top four teams in the district came out of Almaden. “Which is good considering there are 10 leagues,” says McLaughlin.

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.