SPORTS

All-Star ruggers PITCH championships in San Jose

Carrying promotional signs for the upcoming USA National All-Star 7-Aside Rugby Championships in San Jose are (from left) Mose Timoteo, Karl Thompson, Todd Clever, Shaun Paga and Jovesa Naivalu. All but Thompson already have represented the USA in international rugby as Eagles, and are expected to be in the lineup for the defending-champion Pacific Coast Grizzlies when the All-Star competition is staged at Watson Bowl in San Jose Aug. 28-29.

Clever, a graduate of Santa Teresa High in San Jose, is a three-time All-American at the University of Nevada Reno and currently is with the All-American team on a tour of Canada. Naivalu, a member of the

San Jose Seahawks, is a two-time California State High School hurdle champion out of Fremont High in Sunnyvale and was on the 2000 Fiji Olympic team. He led the scoring for the USA Eagles in World Cup Rugby 7s qualifying in a tournament (won by the U.S.) held recently in the Cayman Islands.

The USA All-Star 7s competition, a territorial event featuring eight men’s teams and eight women ‘s teams, is being touted as “the most dashing game on the planet.” Forty 14-minute games of fire and fury will be held in 12 hours over two days. Watson Bowl is located on the West side of Highway 101 at Taylor and 23rd streets. General admission is $5 per day or $7.50 for two days. For more information visit www.sjrugby.org, www.usarugby.org, e-mail events@sjrugby.org, or call 408 267-7117.

—By Karl Laucher

Prize list grows for Specialized Friday Night series at San Jose’s Hellyer Park Velodrome

With six nights of track cycling remaining in the Specialized Friday Night Breaking Away series (SFNBA), San Jose’s Hellyer Park Velodrome has announced that proceeds from the successful Northern California Track Championships, held last month, will be added to the SFNBA season Omnium prize list.

Specialized, based in nearby Morgan Hill, will reward the winners of the SFNBA’s season-long Pro/Elite Omnium and Sprint Series with its S-Works Langster track frame set, named for Specialized’s International Bicycle Buyer Don Langley, a frequent Hellyer competitor.

In addition, a total of over $1200 in cash will be awarded to riders ranked second through eighth in the Pro/Elite Omnium and second through fourth in the Sprint Series.

Furthermore, up to $100 will be awarded for each remaining SFNBA at which there are enough female competitors to run a separate women’s program. Merchandise prizes will go to the season leaders in the Cat 3 and Cat 4 groups.

Ageless track veteran Bob Muzzy (Morgan Stanly/Specialized) is the current leader of the SFNBA Pro/Elite Omnium, while 2003 U.S. National Sprint Champion Stephen Alfred (Family Cycling Center) sits atop the Sprint Series rankings.

The Specialized Friday Night Breaking Away series, held every Friday night through Sept. 10 beginning at 7:20 p.m., is free for spectators.

For more information about racing and non-competitive programs at the Hellyer Park Velodrome, please visit www.ridethetrack.com.

The Hellyer Park Velodrome
Administered by the Northern California Velodrome Association on behalf of the County of Santa Clara’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Hellyer Park Velodrome in San Jose is the Bay Area’s only bicycle racing track, and the only such facility on the West Coast between Los Angeles and Portland. The Hellyer Park Velodrome offers beginner programs for aspiring cyclists of all ages, including special programming for children, teens and women.

During the spring and summer, the Velodrome also hosts training races on Wednesday nights and elite racing on Friday nights. Visit www.ridethetrack.com for schedules and event information.

AVAC hosts world-class tennis athletes
USTA National Hardcourt Female Tennis Championships come to Almaden for 20th—and running

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer 

It’s not everyday that tennis hub Almaden Valley Athletic Club fills with lady stars of tomorrow in the USTA National Hardcourt Female Tennis Championships—it is, however, every August, and for this week only, each day. What began Aug. 8, as the annual ‘it’ predominantly amateur competition, has heated to a boil since, pitting champion upon champion with the winner ultimately gaining a berth in the U.S. Open. And for the 20th year running, Almaden’s AVAC is playing host. 

“For 20 years AVAC has been honored to host the USTA National Championships,” said AVAC owner Joe Shank. “The tournament has set the standard for junior tennis around the country as top-ranked girls have come from all over the world to compete for a wildcard into the U.S .Open.” 

Notable alumni include 1991 Champion Lindsay Davenport (currently ranked #4 in the world), 1990 Champion Lisa Raymond (currently ranked #27), 1989 Champion Jennifer Capriati (currently ranked #6) and, most recently, 1998 and 1999 Champion Laura Granville (currently ranked #54). 

However, the USTA’s class of 2004 constitutes a new and diverse range in both talent and experience. Players hailing from as far as Massachusetts and Florida celebrate manifest destiny stepping onto the courts at AVAC, while many locals will vie for the title as well. 

“The tournament has been innovative from the start, providing many amenities, unique awards and helpful lectures—all benefiting the players in a well-orchestrated week of play,” continued Shank. 

One such program is the USTA’s annual college forum, where coaches from around the country come to speak with the players in close setting. On Saturday, Aug 7, approximately 50 college-level coaches provided student athletes the opportunity to learn about different schools’ sports programs and scholarship opportunities. In attendance were coaches from Ohio State University, University of Indiana, West Point and Yale, amongst others. The meet and greet, question/answer session also allows coaches the opportunity to meet potential recruits before viewing their skills on the court during tournament play. 

Favorites include Florida’s Kyrsty Marcio, currently ranked #48 internationally, Inna Agababian and Elizabeth Plotkin of San Francisco, currently ranked #82 internationally and Massachusetts’ Mary Gambale, who is currently ranked #56 internationally. 

Locals Jennifer Lu, Carmen Serementa and Tiffany Lee of Cupertino, Robin Guier of Alamo, and Carmen Serementa of San Jose also hope to rush destiny securing an early visit to the U.S. Open. Each is currently ranked in the top 200 nationally.

Yet, players’ paints just start the picture. Behind scenes, more than 150 volunteers have contributed countless hours of work and support in arranging the event. The tournament, whose proceeds go to the San Jose chapter of After-School All-Stars, has apparently raised more than $33,000, donated toward the charity over the last five years to provide free tennis lessons for San Jose youths. Sponsors include AVAC, KICU-TV Channel 36, Pruneyard Inn, Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club, Togo’s Eatery, Pacific Diversified Company Inc., Tennis Anywhere, Wilson Racquet Sports, Bloomster’s, Norman Family Foundation, Malibu Grill, Inside Tennis, AVIS, American Airlines, Noah’s Bagels and San Jose’s Vice Mayor Pat Dando. 

“We’re honored to celebrate our 20-year association with the USTA National Championships,” finished AVAC owner Shank, whose club has maintained the title of host thanks, in part, to resort-style facilities including a 1,500 square-foot ChildCare center. AVAC also hosts numerous tennis programs on 11 lighted courts year round. 

Play runs daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., scheduled to continue through the finals on Sunday, Aug. 15. Admission is free and open to the public.

Hoop dreams

Dreams come true for Almaden father and son at fantasy camp

Almaden’s Mike Janes and his son just returned from a trip back East to fulfill a lifelong dream: they attended the Duke Basketball Fantasy Camp.

Six national collegiate players of the year—Johnny Dawkins, Danny Ferry (San Antonio Spurs front office), Grant Hill (Orlando Magic), Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Shane Battier (Memphis Grizzlies) and Jason Williams—headlined a group of former Blue Devils to act as coaches at the second annual K Academy held July 29-Aug. 1 in Durham, N.C. The 2004 basketball fantasy camp also marked the return of 19 former Duke players to serve as team coaches.

Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski oversaw the festivities with insights into the most successful basketball program in college basketball over the past 20 years. “It was especially great with Coach K staying at Duke and turning down the Laker’s huge offer,” said Janes.

The academy offered team-building techniques and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the ultimate Duke basketball fan. Every camper spent four days in historic Cameron where they went from opening day tryouts to Sunday’s championship tournament. Along the way, the campers played games on Coach K Court in Cameron and learned the inside scoop on Duke’s three-time national championship program.

Along for the trip was Mike’s wife Bobbi and daughter Randi. “We had a great time in Durham,” said Mike. “I was on “team Battier” and we won the championship in the “Final Four” last day tournament.”

“But the best part,” said Mike, “was I didn’t get hurt!”

Almaden’s Mike Janes and his son Dave pose with Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski at the 2004 Duke Basketball Fantasy Camp. Photo by Darby Nichols