August 17, 2006

SPORTS

And now the hard work begins

Leland, Pioneer football teams kick off 2006-07
season with weeklong two-a-day practices

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

Weeklong two-a-day practices for the Leland and Pioneer football teams signaled the start of the 2006-07 season when both teams took their respective fields on Aug. 14.

Pioneer head coach Mark Krail directs his varsity team halfway through the first session of two-a-day football practices on Aug. 14.

For Leland, the start of two-a-day practices marked the beginning of a season in which head coach Jason Tenner is not only looking to improve the play on the field, but to also improve the mindset of his players overall.

To that end, frequent summer practices and weightlifting sessions were designed to get his players in premium shape, while also building team camaraderie and morale. With those ideas still in mind, it’s also time to grind and prepare for the start of the season, according to Tenner.

“You want to peak at the right time, and I think as a program, we’ve been working out and doing some things, like evaluating kids all summer long,” said Tenner, who will enter his second season at the helm of the Chargers’ football program. “We’re trying to teach them how to have fun and enjoy each other and build a little camaraderie. Now, you put the helmet and shoulder pads on. The school year and football games are rapidly approaching. It’s time to go to work, so to speak.”

Tenner said his goal for the team is to improve each time they step out onto the field this season, whether in practice or in games. And while talent goes a long way in determining a team’s season outlook, it’s also about how the team feels about itself as a group, Tenner added.

“More importantly, it’s just the attitude of the kids,” said Tenner. “If they expect to win, we’ll win games. If they do what it takes and expect more out of themselves, we’ll be fine. I think they’re primed and ready, and it’s up to the coaches to help them get themselves in a position to go.”

That attitude, said Tenner, hasn’t always been there in past seasons.

“We’re talented enough to compete with everybody on our schedule, and I think we have been in years past,” said Tenner. “For whatever reason, there have been psychological barriers that have been holding us back. Once the kids understand what the coaches already know, that we can play with and beat everybody on our schedule, then we will start to do that consistently, year in and year out.”

Leland varsity head coach Jason Tenner counts off more than a hundred up-down exercises during the first day of two-a-day practices on Aug. 14. Photos by Jeff Frazee

With the start of the 2006-07 season brings new challenges for Tenner and his Chargers. After playing in the Mt. Hamilton Division last season, the Chargers now find themselves in the Santa Teresa Division as the result of a tough 3-7 overall record and a 2-5 league record. While a new league filled with new teams brings about an added element of the unknown, Tenner said he’s not overly concerned.

“We were in the Santa Teresa (Division) three years ago, in 2003, so we know some of the teams in there and I know the coaches,” said Tenner. “…Football’s football. There are a lot of good football teams in Santa Teresa, so we’ve got to scout a little more. We obviously don’t know as many of the (Santa Teresa) coaches’ tendencies as well as some of the other (Mt. Hamilton) coaches. Sometimes that helps you, and sometimes it doesn’t. It just boils down to whose kids are ready to go on that Friday afternoon or Friday night.”

The Leland Chargers kick off their 2006-07 season on Friday, Sept. 1, on the road versus Santa Clara High School at 3:15 p.m.

Mustangs ready to stampede into 2006-07
Like its cross-town rival in Leland, the Pioneer football team and coaching staff is plugging away during two-a-day practices for the start of the 2006-07 season.

“It’s fun to get back out here and get the pads on,” said Mustangs head coach Mark Krail. “Like spring training in baseball, there’s a lot of optimism in the air and a lot to look forward to. I think we all know how tough our schedule is and the work that lies ahead. There’s that constant pressure on us, but we’re working hard.”

After finishing the 2005-06 as Mt. Hamilton Division co-champions with Oak Grove, the Mustangs are looking to claim the coveted title solely in 2006-07—a goal that Krail sets his sights on each year.

“Our goal No. 1 is to win a league championship,” said Krail. “Last year we got close. We had one loss in league (6-1 in league, 9-1 overall), which was a nice record … when you finish 9-1 that’s a good year and something you want to build on. Certainly our goals are that high again for this coming season.”

While the team will be busy trying to fulfill their goals, immediate attention will be drawn to the competition between players for several starting spots. Despite some returning starters from last year on the roster, Krail said any position is still open and looking to be filled by the start of the season.

Pioneer wide receivers go through pass-catching drills during the first day of two-a-day practices.

“We talked this morning (Aug. 14), day one, about open competition,” said Krail. “There are no (taken) spots. Yes, there are returners who played last year, but those spots are open as well. This is the time of year when you earn that spot or you lose that spot. Competition is a good thing. It’s either going to make the guys in there better, or you’re going to win a spot by competing. That’s a healthy situation.”

Although the team will feature some new faces, as it does every year, Krail added another twist for his team this season in scheduling a top West Catholic Athletic League opponent in Archbishop Mitty to open the season on Sept. 1 at home at 7:30 p.m. The idea behind the game, said Krail, is to give his players a challenge right from the start, with the hope that it will make the team prepared to face top-flight competition in league play later on in the season.

“We really look at it as a game to get out of the gates,” Krail said of facing Mitty to open the non-league season. “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be physical and they are going to be well-coached. It’s going to be a super challenge for us right out of the get-go. It’s the type of game that will hopefully set our season in motion toward the other nine opponents, which are also going to be very good.”

Mitty won’t be the only tough school on the schedule in non-league play, however. The Mustangs will also face top CCS contender Aragon on the road Sept. 16 at 2 p.m., before starting league play Sept. 30 at home versus Leigh at 1:30 p.m.

For more information about Leland football, go to www.lelandfootball.com. For more information about Pioneer football, go to http://phsathletics.olinesports.com.

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 Middle School needs 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.

San Jose Strikkers 18U girls fast-pitch softball traveling team tryouts
The San Jose Strikkers, an 18U girls’ fast-pitch softball team based in San Jose, is holding fall ball tryouts Aug. 13 and 27 at Oak Grove High School. Pitchers and catchers begin at 9 a.m. and all other position players begin at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, contact Frank King at (408) 406-8191 or Richard Fangonilo at (408) 274-9301, or e-mail fgking25@aol.com or rfangonilo@sjm.com.

For additional information, got to the team Web site http://www.eteamz.com/sanjosestrikkers18u.

Almaden National Junior Basketball signups
Almaden National Junior Basketball (NJB) signups will be starting Aug. 15. Boys and girls grades one through eight are eligible. The 11-game season starts Dec. 3. For details and signups, e-mail almadenjb@homestead.net or call Ken Keiser (408) 592-4190 with questions.

Central Coast Volleyball Club tryouts
Central Coast Volleyball Club (CCVC) is holding tryouts for boys age 14-18 on Aug. 26 from 2-6 p.m. at Leland High School.

For more information about tryouts, call (408) 391-3201 or e-mail ccvclub@hotmail.com. For additional information about CCVC, go to www.ccvclub.com.

Sirious Baseball hopes to hit home run at grand opening Saturday, Aug. 26
Sirious Baseball is pleased to announce its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 26. Come down and check it out! There will be free hitting cage use from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and new indoor bullpens for all those pitchers out there to enjoy. Enjoy a hot dog and a drink on Sirious Baseball as well and talk with the Sirious staff members about lessons, camps and all the other exciting things going on at Sirious Baseball. The new facility is located at 599 E. McGlincy Ln. in Campbell. For more information, call (408) 626-7899.

Leland girls’ water polo ready to make a splash this fall

Chargers return seven seniors for fall season; team looks to advance deep into CCS playoffs

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

After a successful 2005-06 season in which the Leland girls’ water polo team went undefeated in league play, the 2006-07 season will see the Chargers looking for more of the same, and beyond.

Leland standout Courtney Monsees, right, figures heavily into the success of the 2006-07 Chargers, according to head coach Eric Rise. Monsees, said Rise, is a lock to register at least 50 points offensively and 100 steals defensively. Photo by Diego Abeloos

Despite a 23-6 overall record last season, the 2005-06 Mt. Hamilton Division champion Chargers were bounced from CCS playoff competition in the first round, dropping an 11-9 loss to Burlingame that initially had Leland ahead 7-2 at halftime. While the sting of that loss still reverberates from time to time with head coach Eric Rise, the outlook for the 2006-07 season is much brighter, he said.

“It looks really good,” said Rise, who will have seven seniors returning to the team this season. “This is kind of the year we’ve been shooting for, since I got here and since we got this group of seniors as freshmen.”

The seven seniors returning to the squad represents the highest total of upperclassmen Rise has had in his four years as girls’ varsity head coach. To that end, Rise said he’s looking for ample senior leadership this season out of the group, something they’ve already started to deliver on when practices for the season began Aug. 14.

“In the past, I’ve been a lot more of the coach (and) leader, and this year, the players have taken that on a little bit,” said Rise. “…They’re stepping it up even today. You can see the seniors pushing our runs, pushing everybody. They want to win, so they know that they have to lead the way.”

Among the group of returning players are Courtney Monsees, Elena SantaMaria and Christy Stibbe, three players who have received All-League honors by the BVAL for three straight seasons. Stibbe also received Mt. Hamilton MVP honors in 2005-06, while SantaMaria received Junior of the Year Honors. In addition, freshman standout Courtney Gold, another returning player, received Freshman of the Year honors last season, while Rise himself picked up Coach of the Year honors.

To complement that all-star list, senior standout goalie Allison Mossing returns to the fold as well, having received First-Team All-League honors last year as well.

Monsees, meanwhile, will start the 2006-07 season healthy, after spending the first handful of game last year on the sidelines following wrist surgery. Having Monsees for the entire year this season will help greatly, Rise said, who added that Monsees is a lock to contribute 50 points offensively and 100 steals defensively this season.

“She’s the fastest girl in the section, so she automatically brings that speed presence,” Rise said of Monsees. “She’s got a great shot. She’s been playing with her dad (Leland boys’ water polo coach Mike Monsees) since she was 10 or 11 years old. She adds a lot to our team.”

With a veritable all-star cast in the pool at Leland this fall, Rise said winning the league simply won’t be good enough this year.

“This is the first group that has really had the expectation to win CCS,” Rise said. “…This group really has the expectations that going to CCS finals is really what we want. Winning the league isn’t the goal so much anymore. We don’t want to be knocked out in the first round. That’s happened three years in a row.”

With that said, Rise added that he’s confident in his players’ abilities heading into the season. Throughout the summer, Rise coached several of his players on the Los Gatos Aquatics club water polo team, which wrapped up its summer season just two weeks prior to the start of Leland water polo practices. The result: a mid-season conditioned team that’s ready to go when the bell rings for the start of the team’s season.

“We’re looking in pretty good shape already,” Rise said. “We’re not quite in the shape we were at the end of last year, but we’ve got a lot of work still ahead of us if we want to do some damage this year.”

Young acrobatic gymnasts prove age doesn’t matter

Almaden’s Kyle Bloom and Madeline Bones named to the Junior Olympic
National Team after competing in national championships

By Margo Consul
Times Intern

Most people know gymnastics from watching the Olym-pics, but not many have heard of acrobatic gymnastics.

“Acrobatic gymnastics is [performed] with partners,” explained Nancy Davis, recreational director at Aerial Tumbling and Acro-Gymnastics in San Jose. “It’s a combination of dance tumbling and gymnastics skills that you would recognize [from the Olympics].”

Kyle Bloom and Madeline Bones perform at the Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships in July.

ATA participated in the acrobatic gymnastics national championships for its11th consecutive year July 23-27. This year, 650 gymnasts competed at the national championships in Kansas City, Mo. Out of the 26 athletes representing ATA at the championships, ATA walked away with four gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals. But there were two athletes from ATA that shocked competitors at the championships.

Kyle Bloom and Madeline Bones have been partners for two years and went to the national championships this year expecting some tough competition. Kyle, 14, and a freshman at Leland High School, and Madeline, 10, a fifth grader at St. Timothy’s, had no competitors in their age division.

Despite the lack of competition, Kyle and Madeline’s combined scores surpassed the 15-16 and 17-and-older level-nine age groups.

“At first I thought, OK, we have no competitors. I guess this will be cool because we will get first no matter what happens,” Madeline said. But, that didn’t satisfy the pair. “It’s a good thing that we are at such a good level at such a young age. Its cool, but we also want competitors to show what we can really do,” Kyle said.

Their outstanding performances did not go unnoticed as they were chosen to be part of the Junior Olympic National Team. Only the top groups in levels eight to 10 can be named to the team. “It’s a way to identify developing athletes and to encourage them to continue in the sport,” Davis said. “It gives them some clout.”

The pair plans to keep competing, despite the fact that they will not have many competitors their age until they reach the 15-16 age group. “We work well together,” Kyle said. “We like to compete and it’s a lot of fun,” added Madeline.

Annual tournament up for grabs

Albanese is tops in final USTA Championship at AVAC

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The Almaden Valley Athletic Club hosted a memorable USTA girls’ 18s national championship field in the 14th and final year that the club will house the tournament.

Champion Lauren Albanese clutches her prize after vicotry Saturday. Photo courtesy of www.ustagirls.org

According to co-tournament director Jenn Pitzen, AVAC has relinquished the rights to the event, which has lured numerous future stars prior to celebrity and success, including world champion Lindsey Davenport, to the south San Jose courts throughout the tournament’s 21-year history.

“It was the smoothest operation ever this year,” said Pitzen. “We were happy for that.”

Pitzen explained that she and co-director Andrea Norman learned that this was to be AVAC’s final year as host just two weeks ago. “They’ve given 21 years of national tournaments, and they just decided to put more energy into fitness and the swim school.”

Pitzen and Norman hope to maintain the tournament in San Jose, however. The duo, who founded the nonprofit organization National Tennis Championships in 1999, has arranged as many as 180 volunteers annually to promote and produce the USTA’s crowning event.

Pitzen said that while AVAC has been respected and appreciated as a central hub, other clubs such as Courtside in Los Gatos may take the reins to ensure that the event continues in the South Bay.

Courtside
Meanwhile, on the court, Pitzen said that a balanced field also left hope for new beginnings. While last year’s champion Mary Gambali was ousted in early rounds, two top contenders enjoyed career weeks.

Fifth-seed Lauren Albanese downed third seed Ashley Weinhold in straight sets to capture the singles’ championship and an automatic bid at the 2006 U.S. Open. She continued her mid-summer’s terror, capping a remarkable season that included a month long hiatus and appearances in two professional finals.

“There were maybe 154 girls and any one of them could have taken it,” recalled Pitzen.

Pitzen said that the finals match was defined by long rallies. “They had some battles, long power strokes from the baseline. There were three or four outside runners and they both managed to come back with the ball.”

Yet, it was Albanese who rose to the occasion, elaborating on the successful summer.

Ranked number 55 in the USTA, 16-year-old Albanese entered the tournament fresh from her first professional circuit victory in which she secured $10,000 prize money in Wichita, Kan. During the July tournament she flustered the elder 17-year-old Weinhold, after nimbly navigating the court, never dropping a game in seven straight sets during the championship week.

“I improved every match,” commented Albanese, who represented her district in Coral Springs, Fla., for the fourth time in as many years. “I had never played [Weinhold] before and I didn’t really get to see her play during the tournament. I only saw [written] results.” Albanese said that she entered the match sans game plan.

“I knew she liked to slice the backhand, but that’s it,” she continued. “I just tried to make a lot of my first serves, move her around some and keep her guessing—take away her rhythm.”

The strategy paid off. Albanese controlled the championship match from the get go. She accelerated following early pressure placed by Weinhold, who ultimately succumbed 6-0, 6-3.

“The USTA Championship tournament is always a high-level tournament,” said Weinhold. “[Albanese] played well. She didn’t give me any free points.”

While Albanese walked away winner, director Pitzen felt that the championship was any girl’s match, even for some who never made it there. “Any of 15 girls could have won the championship,” she said.

“We saw a lot more angles this year. A lot of girls strategize three and four shots out. The strategies are becoming more aggressive; girls are learning the game better.”

Doubles draw
Weinhold moonlighted in doubles action; however, luck was no kinder. She and partner Sanaz Marand fell to sisters Lindsay and Mallory Burdette of Jackson, Ga., in four tight sets 6-3, 3-6, and 6-4.

They twosomes were tops in a field of 96 doubles’ teams.

While defeat stings, Weinhold left undaunted. She said that her next play date will be in New York and at the U.S. Open. She will attempt to qualify in an at-large berth in both events, and she will do so without partner Marand, who is headed to college and University of North Carolina next month.

“I’ve been playing a lot of pro tournaments lately, getting my ranking up,” said Weinhold. “I will be playing at the U.S. open qualifiers for women. Obviously, it is going to be tough. I’ll be probably the lowest-ranked payer, but I think I have a good shot with preparation. If not, I will be playing doubles at the Junior U.S. Open.”

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