July 31, 2008

SPORTS

Fast times for cabana clubs

Swimming is more than just setting times

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

As is often the case with team sports, there’s much more to the Almaden Cabana Club swim teams than broken records and championship titles.

Almaden Gators coaches celebrate their Champs victory. From the left are Ryan Bole, Jason Martin, Marisa Lorion, and Kat Musco. Photo by Pam Bole

This doesn’t mean, of course, that undefeated teams like this year’s Almaden Gators and Almaden Dolphins shouldn’t celebrate their victories for their respective leagues, but they, and the other four local teams comprised of Almaden residents, have learned far more than competence in the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly during their three-month season.

Almaden residents have two choices in cabana club leagues. The Valley Cabana Swim League represents the Montevideo Piranhas, Almaden Gators, Oaktree Sharks and three teams outside of Almaden’s borders. The Cabana Club Swim League has three Almaden teams within its boundaries—the Crossgate Gators, Shadow Brook Sharks and Almaden Dolphins, as well as three additional teams beyond the realm of the 95120 zip code.

Gators undefeated
The Almaden Gators, who practice and race at Almaden Country Club, celebrated an exciting season placing first at the Champs swim meet held at Valley Christian High School July 19-21 while breaking eight team records and five league records. The victories were particularly sweet this year because it marked the first time in more than 10 years that the Gators finished a regular season undefeated, and marked their first Champs victory since 1996.

Fans of the Crossgates Gators crowd cheer on their team at the Champs swim meet. Photo by Marybeth Torpey

The Almaden Dolphins had a similarly outstanding season in the Cabana Club Swim League taking first place in their tournament at Lynbrook High School, while also boasting a 5-0 record in their the dual meets. Head coach Liz Fenwick was particularly excited to see some 30 kids try out for the under-6 team this year.

“To see so many of those kids make it across the pool by the time the season started was one of my favorite memories of this season.” When these same children finished third in the freestyle relay when seeded sixth out of six teams, Fenwick declared, “I don’t know how those kids did it. I think they all had jet fuel for breakfast.”

Swimmers, parents, coaches and league commissioners, agree though that it’s clear the real learning had even more to do with life lessons than swimming prowess.

Almaden Dolphin’s spirit captain, Skip Harsany is surrounded by coaches and swimmers (from left): Aaron Huang, Anna Chope, coach Spencer Pollard, Andie Harsany, Jenna Mayo, Kelsey Chope, coach Kyle Newkirk, Hayley Ipsaro, coach Liz Fenwick, coach Kyle Newkirk and Christian Newkirk. Photo by Ric Chope

Building communities
Jeanette Soe, a six-year league representative of the Valley Cabana Swim League and mother to two Oaktree Sharks swimmers, loves the fact that the cabana club brings neighbors together. “We get to know a lot of other parents through our volunteer work and our kids build up their sense of confidence through swimming,” said Soe. “In fact, when some swimmers start out swimming, they can’t make it across the pool. Within the three-month season, though, they are able to cross the pool in all four strokes. Some of them like it so much that they wind up trying out for year-around swim teams.”

“It is also very special to many of the kids that Jan Whitlach, a retired teacher from Los Alamitos, and her husband Bob come out to cheer on her former students. It gives us all a real sense of community,” she added.

Soe’s son Nick swims year round and was one of only three Oaktree first-place highpoint winners at Champs, winning the boys overall 11-12 age group. “Oaktree is different from year-round swimming because you do it for fun. I get to swim with my friends from school and make other friends at the pool, and we all hang out after practice,” said Nick Soe.

Oaktree swimmers (9-10 girls) are, from left, Sandra Soe, Jordyn Penner, Alicia Pine and Natalie Thiel. Photo by Jeanette Soe

Almaden Gators parent Josie Freeman likes the way cabana club swimming allows boys and girls and children of different ages to practice together. Freeman appreciates that the coaches are graduates of local high schools and there’s a big buddy program in which the older kids mentor younger children. “It really brings people together when we have our weekly potluck barbecues, go on outings to places like Raging Waters or volunteer to time races and fill out ribbons,” said Freeman.

Wendy Walker, this year’s league commissioner for the cabana league and a constant supporter of the Crossgates’ Gators, is passionate about cabana swimming and the sense of community it brings the whole family. “This is what they mean when they say it takes a village to raise a child. Once you’re a part of the cabana club community, you know you will always be taken care of. Ours is a network of families that will be there with whatever you need, whenever you need it. That’s what I love about this group.”

Shadow Brook’s head coach Kyle Kikuta is flanked by Leslie Hatcher, left, and Maddy Newton, right, with Alyssa Johnson in the foreground. Photo by Rachel Hatcher

Shows support after coach collapses
The swimming community got the chance to prove its unity just 10 days ago when the head coach of the Shadow Brook Sharks collapsed at Champs during the ritual of the coaches’ swim at the tournament’s end. Kyle Kikuta, a 22-year-old who grew up swimming for the Pinehurst Piranhas in the same league he now coaches, went into cardiac arrest. According to the medical response team, Kikuta is alive only because of the trained medical personnel on hand at the event.

Once the pool deck was cleared and Kikuta was en route to the hospital, concerned parents and children immediately rallied around his family. After seeing the many posters and cards created by children and adults alike and receiving donations toward gift cards for restaurants to keep the family nourished during the crisis and its aftermath, Walker is warmed, but not surprised, by this outpouring of support. She expected nothing less of her community.

Montevideo Piranhas swimmer Stephanie Lindt competes in the freestyle in the dual meet against the Almaden Gators. Photo by Steve Lindt

Just nine days after the seizure and subsequent surgery to implant a defibrillator inside his chest, Kikuta is home. He’s been amazed by the many visitors stopping by to visit, deliver cookies and show support. “My friend said it best, ‘If you didn’t know how many people care about you, you know it now,’” said Kikuta.

This is the type of lesson that may start with the desire to master a swim stroke, but winds up being so very much more than a personal best time when people come together to give their collective best.

Top swimmers from Almaden cabana clubs

Almaden Gators 2008 Champs winner for the Valley Cabana Swim League:

First place winners
Congratulations to the following swimmers for placing first in the following individual events:

Nina Flynn: 25 Freestyle, 25 Butterfly
Avalon Gook: 25 Butterfly
Kyle Arnold: 25 Breaststroke
Lauren Green: 25 Butterfly
Christopher Green: 25 Freestyle, 100 IM
Katie Peck: 50 Freestyle
Kelsey Lange: 50 Freestyle, 100 IM
Brendan Ergas: 50 Freestyle
Shanna Flynn: 100 Freestyle, 50 Breaststroke

Triple crown winners
48 swimmers improved in all three of three individual events.  Congratulations to the following swimmers:

Alicia DeSouza, Jacob Odisho, Abigail Allen, Ashley Chhabra, Avalon Gook, Lilly Gregg, Maya Tersigni, Kyle Arnold, Austin Billings, Skyler Gregg, Landon Keller, Luke Macchiarella, Nicholas Tharenos, Jackson Burrill, Christopher Green, Jonathon Laughlin, Caitlin Caselli, Sarah Dunn, Taylor Gilley, Carley Madsen, Christina Tobias, Megan Wesolowski, Cooper Burrill, Timothy Geraghty, Jon Lynn, Josh Lynn, Kelsey Lange, Michaelyn Laughlin, Stephanie Maniglia, Emma Roth, Nika Shamshirian, Madison Smith, Matthew Bucter, Brendan Ergas, Colleen Bole, Meghan Bucter, Georgina Dunn, Shanna Flynn, Erin Hallagan, Marisa Lorion, Megan Madsen, Jennifer Scheaffer, Danny Abel, Matthew Abel, Ryan Bole, Michael LaVelle, Michael Medeiros, Taylor Peck. 

Almaden Dolphin 2008 Champs winner for the Cabana Club Swim League

Medley relay winners
Girls 9-10 100-yard - Kelsey Chope, Amanda Rios, Angela Huang, Alice Wu
Girls 11-12 200-yard - Heather Keighley, Michelle Williams, Donna Moazeni, Marissa Easton
Boys 11-12 200-yard - Ross McFayden, Lewis vanDiggelen, Aaron Huang, Michael Prazak
Girls 13-14 200-yard - Alison Griffeth, Jamie Nolan, Amanda Griffeth, Samantha Ettinger
Boys 13-14 200-yard - Jason Habash, Scott Keighley, Collin Pollard, Jacob Ley
Mens 15-18 200-yard - Evan Camacho, Shayan Moazeni, Spencer Pollard, Joshua Li

Individual event winners
Girls 9-10 25-yard Butterfly - Amanda Rios
Girls 11-12 50-yard Backstroke - Heather Keighley
Boys 11-12 50-yard Backstroke - Lewis vanDiggelen
Girls 13-14 50-yard Backstroke - Alison Griffeth
Boys 13-14 50-yard Backstroke - Jason Habash
Boys 13-14 50-yard Breaststroke - Jeffery Meng
Girls 6 & under 25-yard Freestyle - Sela Wein
Boys 7-8 25-yard Freestyle - J.P. Raimondi
Girls 9-10 25-yard Freestyle - Alice Wu
Boys 13-14 50-yard Freestyle - Scott Keighley

Freestyle relay winners
Girls 9-10 100-yard - Kelsey Chope, Amanda Rios, Angela Huang, Alice Wu
Boys 11-12 200-yard - Ross McFayden, Lewis vanDiggelen, Aaron Huang, Michael Prazak
Girls 13-14 200-yard - Alison Griffeth, Jamie Nolan, Taylor Rottjakob, Samantha Ettinger
Boys 13-14 200-yard - Jason Habash, Scott Keighley, Collin Pollard, Jacob Ley

Wedemeyer game proves exciting; time runs out on South team

The South’s Nevin Gardiner sheds Brian Hwang’s tackle. Photos by Joe Proudman

By Joe Proudman
Staff Writer

It was everything a high school all-star football game should be—hard hits, trick plays, a close score and a family affair. And the 34th Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game did not disappoint.

In his last high school football game, Leland standout Kevin Krail finally had a chance to play for his dad, Pioneer Coach Mark Krail. It was a long time coming for the two, and even though the South lost to the North 21-19 at Spartan Stadium, the meaning of this game didn’t lose any of its magic.

“I loved every second of it,” the younger Krail said of his father. “It’s exciting and fun playing for him.”

Ricky Battipede looks for an open man in the end zone, as the South tries to convert a two-point play.
Nevin Gardiner of the South squad reaches for the end zone, with North’s Karl Winkleman and Daunte Mills trying to make the stop. Photo by Joe Proudman

It wasn’t the first time the two had met on the same field this year. Last September, both Krails took to the gridiron at Leland High School, but on opposite sides. The Chargers, and the younger Krail, won that early season meeting. This time around they both lined up on the South side.

“It was great,” Mark said of coaching Kevin. “I was very very proud of him. It was a real pleasure, I hadn’t had the opportunity to do that yet.”

Kevin said that he had been looking forward to being coached by his dad, “since I was a ball boy for him when I was 10.”

The game started out with tough defense on both sides, and some hard hitting from the North. After a South punt late in the first quarter, the North fumbled on its own 33-yard line, with the South first and goal on the 7-yard line to start the second quarter.

Tough defense from the North and penalties would force a fourth and goal for the South on the 19-yard line. Leland’s Ricky Battipede, who was the quarterback for that series, also handled the kicking duties and set up for a 27-yard field goal. But unknown to Battipede, the South would gamble and pay off as they faked the field goal and went for pay dirt.

“I didn’t even know about that,” Battipede said of the fake field goal.

The South would score again before the half, with a 3-yard run by AJ Ellis of Andrew Hill, set up by a Kevin Krail reception. They went for two, due to a blocked point-after-touchdown earlier, but the pass intended for Willow Glen tight end Charlie Findeisen was knocked down.

Leland’s football South All Stars Nate Jones, Rick Battipede and Kevin Krail are together after the loss to the North. Below: Leland’s Kevin Krail looks for running room against the North. Photos by Kevin Jones

With just under three minutes in the half, the North squad started on the 40-yard line and didn’t stop till they got seven on the board. Things got tight, when the North was faced with 17 seconds left in the half and third and five on the 17 yard line. But Los Altos High quarterback Danny Young sent a perfect pass to Palo Alto’s Mike Scott at the front pylon to get the North on the board before the break.

Things just didn’t go South’s way in the second half. They fumbled the opening kickoff, though held the North to a field goal, which went wide left. On their next possession, the South would gamble again on special teams, but a fake punt attempted on their side of the field proved costly.

After failing to convert, the North only needed to play to score, with a big 30-yard pass to the four-yard line and the touchdown run by Kenny Jackson of Archbishop Mitty. The North would take a 14-12 lead and never lose it.
At the end of three, Coach Krail could see his boys needed a talk so he pulled the team together and said, “lets go get them.”

But his words weren’t enough as North’s Havelock Glen Pomele of Milpitas scored on a 36-yard touchdown run to start the quarter and cushioned their lead 21-12 after the extra point.

The South squad would scare the North one more time before the end of the game, with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Ashokkumar Arjun of Yerba Buena to David Henderson of Valley Christian.

Time would run out for the South though and the North prevailed 21-19 to win the game.

Macedo named Olympic swim coach for Trinidad and Tobago

Matthew Macedo, a longtime swimmer from Almaden Swim and Racquet Club, Leland High School and UC Berkeley, is en route to Beijing as coach of the 2008 Trinidad and Tobago Swim Team. For the past year, Macedo has been coaching at The Race Club in the Florida Keys. Eleven Race Club athletes from various countries made 2008 Olympic swim teams.

Macedo began his swimming career at Almaden SRC just before his 4th birthday. He competed at the highest levels in Age Group and Senior Swimming. He was named most valuable swimmer at Leland High School three years in a row and went on to an outstanding career at UC Berkeley where he was a 20-time All American. He was Pacific Swimming’s senior swimmer of the year in 1999 and rookie of the meet at his first national championships in 2000. At the 2000 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, he placed sixth in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free, coming very close to making that Olympic team. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 2003.

Sports Briefs

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