SPORTS

Pioneer football looks strong despite losses in 2004 graduation

Schultz, McCarthy and Gomez to lead the way

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The Wing-T and Mustang football is all about running. Here three players warm-up with short sprints before practice Tuesday.

Any naysayers left considering their own gain from Pioneer’s loss may be in for a disparaging revelation come 2004 Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division, football play. Despite losing three college-bound offensive lineman and a playmaking, master of improvisation at quarterback—Jared Koblis—not to mention, arguably, the finest back in the section—Jeremy Landucci—Pioneer High School talent and inspired coaching vow, once again, to vie for an MHAL championship in 2004.

Since 1997, no gouge in personnel has levied too great a gap for the Mustangs, who have compiled an unprecedented string of winning seasons and playoff appearances—all for a program formerly thought of as second best.

“We’ve been working very hard this summer,” said Pioneer Head Coach Mark Krail, who since assuming the reins nearly a decade ago has assembled a proud Mustang tradition, based on hard work and tough running. “It’s been really great. Everybody gets along; there’s a real camaraderie between players and coaches alike. I look forward to coming to practice everyday.”

The lifecycle of secondary education has apparently exempted the Mustangs’ running game in particular. With Second-Team All C.C.S. Landucci and 2003 First Team All-MHAL fullback/linebacker Sinan Dumulagol departed for college, Pioneer will dig into an unusually deep well of runners. Returning halfbacks Andrew Schultz and Shaun Souza will assume the majority of ball carrying duties, while senior Danny Ventura will lead the charge at fullback, blowing open holes and igniting the Mustangs’ famed, and historic, Wing-T offensive assault.

“It’s funny, but we are actually deeper at running back than we ever have been,” said Krail after practice Tuesday.
In 2003 Schultz rushed for nearly 700 yards serving in a limited role behind Landucci, still garnering All-MHAL First Team honors as a junior.

On defense, the Mustangs return senior hit men Rolando Gomez and Colin McCarthy. Gomez, who is touted as a top-notch West Coast recruit, will continue his efforts to impress scouts nationally, playing even larger than his 6-foot 4-inch, 260-pound frame actually is. Gomez has received attention to play from various contenders including U.S.C. and Oklahoma, as either a tight end or outside linebacker.

Meanwhile, McCarthy has made headlines for himself as a Second Team All-MHAL middle linebacker in 2003, and on the track as the league champion in the 100 meters. Scouts have taken notice of his efforts, as well, with various Ivy League programs and the University of San Diego showing interest.

“He’s smart, aggressive and a team leader,” said Krail, of McCarthy. McCarthy showed the commitment and dedication encouraged by coaches in the off-season, improving his discipline in the weight room. The 6-foot, 195-pound linebacker currently bench presses nearly 300 pounds.

Said McCarthy of the Mustang program: “Coach Krail makes us hit the weights pretty hard. We have great coaches and it’s a good program. Everyone’s pretty devoted. I think we’ll do well this season.”

The only question mark remaining for Mustang faithful lies at the quarterback position, where Koblis’ departure to Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill defaults responsibility into the untested hands of sophomore Chris Foley.

Koblis led the Mustangs to an 8-2 finish in 2003, yet Krail believes firmly in the younger counterpart Foley. “I feel real good about his future,” said Krail. “He’ll be learning on the job, but that means he’ll grow up faster into his potential. He’s a raw athlete.”

Foley started on the Mustangs’ junior varsity last season, leading them to a 6-4 winning record.

Pioneer opens the season versus Gunderson High School on Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The game, to be held at P.A.L. Stadium due to the ongoing construction converting San Jose Unified School District fields from natural grass to field turf, has a history dating back approximately 20 years to the early 70s. The winner holds cross-town bragging rights and “the Bell.”

For more information regarding Pioneer football or the MHAL visit www.bval.org.

Storm rolls into the Tri-Valley

It is August and tournament season for soccer teams in Almaden. This past weekend, the Almaden Storm Soccer club stormed into the Tri-Valley area to kick off the tournament season in great fashion.

On a hot weekend that saw temperatures exceed 100 degrees, the U14 Boys Storm team was seeded in a tough flight. Their first match was against very experienced team from Union City. With the temperatures soaring, the Storm pulled off a 3-1 victory. The afternoon match had the boys slated to play against San Ramon. “San Ramon was seeded very high in their tournament, the heat was tuff and the kids had to play in their black (visitors) uniforms which made it tougher” stated Mike Reickerd, coach of the Storm. It was a tough match in which San Ramon pulled off a 1-0 victory.

Sunday proved to be just as hot, The Storm played an undefeated Sacramento team. It was a tough match that sent the storm down with a 2-1 loss, but the one goal scored and San Ramon getting upset sent the team to the consolation finals. The Storm prevailed against Lamorinda FC, 3-2 to claim third place. Team members include Ajay Vyas, Cody Reickerd, Eric Bratcher, Aaron Starov, Will Vaughan, Jack Schwietzer, Jack Penner, Nikhil Patel, Taylor Jung, Nick Klevay, Keith Volden, Sean Afshar, Kian Ansari, Jason Reynolds, Matt Hurko and Mo Neouchy.

At the same tournament the U11 Boys Storm team was entering their first tournament ever. “I was just wanting the boys to have fun and enjoy their first tournament and play well,” stated Reickerd. Little did he know the Storm came to win. The Storm beat two very strong Danville teams 3-0 and 6-0 on Saturday. “We came out of Saturday seated second,” said Reickerd. “And we had to play the number-one slated team from Hayward that had scored 18 goals in 2 games. What a tough draw.”

The boys showed up Sunday morning ready to battle. They took an early lead 1-0 lead on a goal by Kyle Reickerd. Hayward answered back to tie the score 1-1 at halftime. The second half saw a tough match played with Hayward scoring two goals to win 3-1. “It was hot, we were in black and Hayward scored some unstoppable goals,” stated Coach Scott Mclaughlin.

The Storm finished second and had to face Hayward again in the afternoon for the final. “The team was not nervous nor intimidated by the loss,” according to Reickerd. “They wanted revenge!” And revenge they got.

Excellent goal keeping by Stephen “Tank” Tanquary, a leak-proof defense by David Rosas, Johnny Earl, Brandon Potts, Garrett Heinen and Connor Jauch proved too much for Hayward high scoring front line.

The midfield, which was led, by Timmy Mclaughlin, Kevin Pacheco, Brandon Nall, Brad Kuh, Besnick Madzar and Matty Brass carried the game, winning virtually every free ball and stopping every assault Hayward could muster.

The forwards – led by Kyle Reickerd and Roberto Mendoza—were making deep runs and feeding balls off to their wingers resulting in two goals by Aurash Bani-Taba to win the final 2-0 and take home the first place honors.

The U9 Boys Storm team rolled into Dublin for the Shamrock Jamboree. “This was the kids very first games together—not so much as a scrimmage. We did not know what to expect,” stated Coach Scott Mclaughlin. What they did not expect was the team to score 16 goals and only allow two.

The U9 Boys Storm finished in first place with a record of 4-0, beating teams from Danville, Newark and So. San Francisco. The team was lead by top scorers Matty Mohs, Tyler Reickerd, Armon Bani-Taba, and Matty Mclaughlin, and Travis McCurdy. The midfield was led by Tyler Nall, Travis McCurdy and Kavian Kavianpour, and carried every game with their exceptional speed and sharp passing.

It was the defense that that played stellar. “Offense sell tickets; defense wins games,” Reickerd said. The defense played flawless. Miles Trudeau, Eric Beauchamp, Tyler Reynolds and Colin Kuh allowed only two goals and 10 shots on goal in four games. The goal keeping was like a brick wall with Tyler Reynolds and Daniel Raley shared times in the nets, which resulted in a tournament, best .5 GAA.

NJB Youth Basketball League accepting registration Sept. 1

Almaden NJB Youth Basketball League is accepting registration for its winter program. Open to both boys and girls in third through eighth grade. Online registration will begin on Sept. 1. For more details, please visit the Web site at www.almadennjb.homestead.com or call Greg at (408) 997-2971.

Saturday & Sunday at Watson Bowl

Former Times editor grinds away as host to USA All-Star Rugby Championships

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

Some of you might know me as the hyperactive former editor of the Almaden Times and executive editor and contributing writer for the Times newspaper group for nearly a decade.

While I enjoyed a 45-year career as a journalist, I always felt I was born to play football; I didn’t realize until I was age 30 that it was rugby football that stimulated my hackles.

Like many decrepit old geezers, I got to thinking I was pretty good as a young gridiron football player, who was a starter on three championship teams. Of course, that is the absolute beauty of being a participant: it is easy to find satisfaction in the execution of small tasks while the real heroes are grinding bones to make their meals.

Nevertheless, despite a serious knee injury as a San Jose City College Jaguar in 1961, I later was to discover rugby as my saving grace. Now having participated more than 30 years as a recreational rugger, I know the difference between a wannabe like myself and a real thoroughbred.

That is why, as current president of the San Jose Seahawks Rugby Club, I invite you to see some of the greatest athletes in America this weekend in the USA National All-Star 7-Aside Championships at Watson Bowl In San Jose.

These powerful human beings, representing eight territorial all-star men’s and women’s teams from around the country, would be world renown if rugby were in the Olympics, which it hasn’t been since the USA won the gold medal in 1920 and ’24.

So, you can see what I call the “the most dashing game on the planet” at “family prices.” General admission is $5 or $7.50 for two days; there are discounts for students and children under age 6 are admitted free.

Seven-aside rugby is the abbreviated form of traditional 15-aside rugby. At the All-Star level, the speed has to be of mock quality and the tackling has to be searing. A missed tackle leaves a gapping hole. The stress on all systems is such that the games are just 14 minutes in duration.

If I were young again, and my knee reconstituted, I would love to dash and crash in this tournament. Those were the days, my friend.

Next best, of course, is being on the sidelines and watching the sound and the fury.

There will 40 knock-down-play-on games staged in 12 hours over the two days. Action will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Watson Bowl is located between Jackson and Taylor streets between Highway 101 and 23rd Street. For more information see www.sjrugby.org, www.usarugby.org or call (408) 267-7117.