July 27, 2006

SPORTS

Back to basics

Pioneer football coaching staff and players spend the weekend teaching
Almaden youngsters about football at Mustang Football Camp

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

For more than 50 of Almaden’s young athletes, this past weekend was not spent in a swimming pool, trying to endure the sweltering heat.

Pioneer’s Jordan Barnes shows two Mustang Football campers proper stretching techniques on July 22. Photos by Diego Abeloos

Instead, they were on the football field, learning the basics of the game, and then some, from a host of Pioneer coaches and players at the 2006 Mustang Football Camp.

The three-day camp, which ran from July 21 through July 23, offered the young players ages 7-13 a chance to showcase their skills and improve as players for the upcoming fall season. Several of the players at the camp are players for the Almaden Pop Warner Football program.

“We take seriously the first impression kids have in sports,” said Pioneer head coach Mark Krail. “If this is their first impression, we want it to be a fun time for them and something they look back on and get excited about. …I think in our society, kids are moving away from athletics because of lots of distractions, and in some instances, over-coaching by adults. So we’re out here to have fun and teach them some techniques and get them excited about being out here and running around.”

For the coaching staff and players at Pioneer, the camp was born three years ago as a way to give back and connect to the local community. All of the coaches volunteered their free time for the camp, while players got valuable community service hours needed for school.

“We decided that we wanted to do something for the community and get them excited about football,” said Krail. “They’re not all Pop Warner kids, but the majority of them are. They’re getting ready for their season so this is kind of a little jumpstart for their Pop Warner season.”

Throughout the three-day camp, participating campers were put through several drills emphasizing the basics on both offense and defense. Each player also had the chance to work out at their chosen positions, both defensively and offensively, with position-specific players and coaches looking on and offering advice on how to play the game the right way.

Pioneer’s Matt Montelongo (right, with sunglasses) looks on as a Mustang Football Camp participant gets ready to catch a pass during wide receiver drills on July 22.

“It’s a real fundamental-based camp,” said Krail. “We spend individual time with each kid. They essentially pick an offensive position and a defensive position and we provide baseline instruction for these kids. Obviously you have to target the experience level of each kid. You have some who have never played football before and some have played two or three years. You kind of cater to the needs of the kid.”

Krail said many of the young players taking part in the camp also look up to his high school players as role models for how to play the game.

“We all remember when we were the little guy looking up to the varsity players and what it meant to us,” said Krail. “It’s a win-win. Our guys actually love running around with the little guys and having fun with them as well.”

And while the camp offered the youngsters a chance to play ball, it also allows the Pioneer players helping out as coaches to learn a sense of responsibility, said Krail.

“They enjoy working with the kids and it kind of puts them in a responsibility type role, and that’s good for them,” Krail said. “…They don’t have to be out here, or that type of thing, but once they are out here, they’re expected to behave in a certain way and carry themselves in a certain way. That’s all part of life’s lessons.”

Sports Briefs

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/

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.

Bret Harte seeks a dance coach
Bret Harte Middle School is looking for a coach to lead its after-school dance team.  Responsibilities will include overseeing try-outs, uniform selection, practices, performances, and competitions. 

This position will be under the direction of the school administration and Bret Harte Booster. For more information, call Don McCloskey or Julie Herbert at (408) 535-6270.

AVYSL members have kickin’ time at UK Soccer Camp

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Aiming at keeping their soccer skills honed through the summer, as well as having a lot of fun, local children recently took advantage of soccer camps provided by Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League.

Through games and scrimmages, AVYSL camps, including UK International Soccer Camp strived to offer ‘the best possible soccer experience.’ The UK Camp also offered goalkeeper and striker clinics.

At soccer camp, students learned how to make better passes and moves like chesting and heading the ball. In games like Gladiators, in which players tried to steal balls from other players inside a circle, they practiced dribbling, defensive and offensive moves.

For more information on soccer camp, please call (888) UKSOCCA or visit http://www.uksocca.com.

Almaden Little Leaguers advances to sectional championships
after 12-9 win over Lincoln Glen

Parents, coaches and players had plenty of reason to celebrate on July 18 when Almaden won 12-9 over Lincoln Glen in the championship game for the District 12 Little League title.

The night before, Almaden upset heavily favored Saratoga 9-8 to get into the championship game.

Almaden now advances to the sectional championships on their quest to reach the Little League World Series.

Several local players compete in Wedemeyer game

Players from Leland, Pioneer, Leigh and Branham take part in event and look ahead to the future

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

For the local players taking part in the 32nd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game, the event meant one last hurrah in high school football and a look into the future.

Leland was represented well at the game, with three players—Melis Barota, Michael Dally and Travis Delamore—taking part in the event.

But for those three players, the game also had something extra, as their head coach at Leland, Jason Tenner, patrolled the sidelines as the South’s head coach. The all-star game was the final football game for all three players’ careers.

Branham’s Duce Ferrante gets off a throw in the pocket during play at the 32nd Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game. Ferrante will head to San Jose City College, site of the Wedemeyer game, in the fall to continue playing football. Photo by Jeff Frazee

Barota said he wanted to help win the game for Tenner, especially in light of a tough 2005-06 season for the Leland Chargers.

“We were trying to pay him back, like we were still fighting for him,” said Barota, who will attend De Anza College in the fall.

“They’re great kids and I love them,” said Tenner. “I’ll keep in contact with them for the rest of my life. I hope they come back and say hello. We enjoyed having them.”

Still, none of the three players will go on to play college football, they said. While Delamore will join Barota at De Anza, Dally will head to San Diego State University to study either engineering or architecture.

Dally said the experience of playing one last high school football game is something he will always remember.

“It was a really good experience for me,” said Dally. “I got to play with my friends and everything, and I got to play one last game because I’m not going off to play in college.”

Pioneer meanwhile, had the largest representation of local Almaden schools with four players in Shaun Souza, Nick D’Antonio, C.J. Miller and J.J. Goulden. All four will move on the play college football, with Miller headed to De Anza College and Goulden moving on to play football at Gavilan College. Souza and D’Antonio, meanwhile, are both headed to Menlo College in the fall.

“I’m excited to see what it is like to play college ball and I’m excited just to play football again,” said Souza.

“It’s going to be fun to have a fellow teammate who I’ve played with for four years,” D’Antonio added of going to Menlo College with Souza. “…To go with someone you know who is your good friend makes it so much better.”

For Miller, the game was an eye-opening experience he will never forget, and an event where he built friendships with players he once called opponents on the field.

“This is probably the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of,” said Miller. “I met a bunch of new friends who are a bunch of great guys. I’ll never forget this experience. I’m very grateful I got to experience this.”

Leigh’s lone representative at the game—and the only local player to play on the North side—was senior tight end/defensive end Blake McFarland, a three-sport athlete at the high school in football, basketball and baseball. McFarland, who will head to West Valley College this fall to play both football and baseball, said the end of the game, a 7-3 win for the North, brought about mixed emotions.

“I’m pretty much sad and happy, because I’m going to be playing next year, but this is the last time with high school players,” McFarland said. “It’s going to be a lot different, but this is a really good game and I was honored to play in it.”

For Branham’s Duce Ferrante, playing in the game was a tiring experience, in part because of his left knee, which has a partially torn ACL that will be operated on later this summer. Ferrante, who will head to San Jose City College to play quarterback in the fall, said he is considering redshirting his freshman year to give his knee the proper time it needs to heal.

“My legs gave out,” said Ferrante. “Being tired took my mental focus away. My eyes were slow, just the little things like keeping up with the speed of the game. It’s not just like one person’s fast, everyone’s fast. …But I’m not down on it at all, it was a great experience.”

Almaden annual Ladies’ 9-Hole Club Tournament features mai tais and macaws

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Mai tais and macaws made for a marvelous party at the Almaden Country Club July 13, after the Ladies’ 9-Hole Golf Club logged its annual self-titled tournament and headed for the clubhouse.

Club captain Chris La Monico said 50 ladies in all joined forces for the challenge, which pit the 9-Hole Club with one another and friends that they enlisted for the day, and who wished to swing a round at Almaden. Challengers arrived from rival clubs, including Saratoga and Stanford, to take cuts and enjoy the Almaden island-themed event.

According to La Monico, the golf was good, and the social side was even better this year.

“We have been losing members because of age and members moving away,” said La Monico. “So I said let’s do something really special for our gals this year.”

Almaden hosts the Lady 9s Club weekly—Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. through the summer, and at 9 a.m. during the year, for approximately two-and-a-half hours of weekly golfing. The tournament event, however, always adds a splash of color at the country club.

“The group came into existence when the club did in the late 60s,” said La Monico. “I got involved in 1974. It’s just a neat way to learn the game. I would say it’s more social than competitive, but the juices will flow sometimes.”

Those with golfing interests aren’t required to begin with nine holes. While it is La Monico’s aim to grow the ladies’ 9-hole group specifically, Almaden Club Pro Tom Good founded a slow-rolling alternative, featuring two-hole play, and the opportunity to grow the game for club members who wish to slowly submerge themselves in the golfing life.

Both accomplish relative tasks—luring recreational golfers out to the club more often.

“That’s another way of growing the game and getting more ladies who are members to get out and have fun with us,” La Monico said of Good’s efforts. “We have gotten a couple of ladies from that group to come out for our group.”

Just a portion of ladies’ 9-hole members pursue an improved golf game at the storied club. Yet, Good and his son Tim, an assistant pro, are readily available to offer helpful tips, when the group meets each week.

“It’s a good place for the beginners to start and get a feel of the game,” said Good. “There is not a whole lot of interest to use our help, but we do give them pointers here and there. We give them as much help as possible when they ask for it.”

Good said that many of the more experienced ladies’ 9-holers don’t ask. Several have honed their skills for 30 years, while playing on the championship Almaden course.

“The course sets us apart,” said La Monico.

Almaden, in fact, has hosted Seniors’ player tournaments, LPGA events, as well as several state amateur rounds. Years ago, Almaden was a national stop on what is now known as the NIKE tour, too, formerly called Nation Wide.

“It’s truly an outstanding course,” said La Monico. “It is not a hilly course, and it’s relatively flat. That makes it user friendly. They can make it as tough as they want by growing the rough or making the pin placements good, but they don’t do it for 9-hole.”

At the tournament this year, a foursome team game score of 60 secured the championship for players Snider, Berge, Garappolo, and Hanley. Second was the Kaufman, Arnold, Dow and Nakamura team, who edged out Gifford, Bernal, and Cano in a tiebreaker. Both runner-up groups finished in 61 strokes.

Another highlight was a pirate that La Monico hired, who operated birds. The “Bird Man,” Jeff Byrd, snapped still shots with each foursome who participated and planted his iridescent Macaws on the winners’ shoulders.

“The pirate was a surprise; I didn’t tell anybody,” said La Monico. “It was Mai Tai heaven up there. We gave out gift certificates. We made sure that everyone had a really good time. The Macaws just set it off.”

The fiery birds thrilled guests for the evening, but long-term friendship is the real treat, according to La Monico.

“The good thing is camaraderie,” she said. “Whether it’s broken bra straps, fingers that ache, or a gimpy ankle, we have our fun. This was one of the better [tournament events] in many, many years.”

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