SPORTS

Leigh prepared for title run
Rejuvenated Longhorns vow redemption after injury-plagued 2003

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leigh’s Brian Wendt bursts into a passing route at practice on Tuesday. Wendt, a First Team All-MHAL player in 2003, returns for his senior season this year with high hopes.

This is it for football and the Longhorns of Leigh High School. After limping through the promising, yet unfulfilled 2003 that witnessed the fall and resurrection of several invaluable juniors—including Second Team All-CCS Quarterback Kiel Trudeau—the returning Longhorn seniors and fourth year coach Shawn Thomas aim to mend the misunderstanding. Leigh is reputedly physically primed, mentally prepared for a return to the upper echelon of Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division competition and possibly a league championship.

“We have some potential,” said the modest Thomas of his Longhorns, who return several First Team All-Leaguers, in addition to playmaker Trudeau. “We had high expectations last year too, but when I felt [that way] they all got injured.”

In backbreaking fashion, Leigh lost “every key player between three to six weeks during the course of the season,” said Thomas. Still, the Longhorns finished 4-6 narrowly missing the CCS playoffs. After a quick start in ’03, fate came down to a failed two-point attempt versus Silver Creek High School and a flailing haymaker versus perennial powerhouse Oak Grove High School without Trudeau in the last week of the season.

“It actually came down to the two-point conversion versus Silver Creek [High School],” explained Thomas. Without Trudeau, the Longhorns, who averaged approximately 30 points per game, were limited to six on the Eagles’ clock.

In 2004, however, Leigh and Oak Grove will meet again on different terms. And word around the league is that Leigh will challenge Oak Grove as a top contender for the MHAL crown.

This year the Longhorns will again rely on an aggressive passing attack and vintage hard-nosed defense.

Senior wide receiver Matt Hoffman figures to be the Longhorns’ most prominent deep passing threat. Injured the entirety of his junior year, Hoffman has rehabilitated his knee and returns expecting to vie for MHAL Most Outstanding Receiver status.

Senior TE/LB Brian Wendt is athletic and physical. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches, 210 pounds, Wendt has received interest from several universities and should see more. This summer, he received the Reno Passing League’s MVP award, honorably uncharacteristic of a TE/LB.

“He’s a great athlete,” said Thomas of Wendt, who also stars on Longhorn baseball and basketball squads. In Reno, Wendt scored 31 touchdowns and recorded two interceptions, edging out his own mate, Trudeau, who made it all possible lofting each touchdown ball.

Trudeau, in fact, returns to the lineup after missing the final three games in 2003. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior is regarded for excellent touch and a tight spiral.

“He actually reminds me a lot of Jeff Garcia,” said Thomas, who played with the Cleveland Browns starter at San Jose State in the early 90s. “He’s not your prototypical quarterback but he’s a playmaker.”

Trudeau has received attention from several universities including Cal-Poly, San Diego State and U.C. Davis, among others.

Other standouts include senior FB Jon Brown, senior DB Andy Holloway and senior OL/DL Steve Lowe.

Despite deep talent in skill positions, Leigh graduates Tom Bingham, who led the CCS in receiving last season, and Eric Shlies, a First Team All-CCS selection on the offensive line, will be sorely missed. The departure of Schlies especially aches, leaving the Longhorns with only Lowe returning to the o-line.

As a result, the Longhorns will start three sophomores.

“In years past we’ve always had biggest team around,” said Thomas. “This year we are smaller but more aggressive.”

The Longhorns open with a game against Saratoga High School on Sept. 10.

For more information regarding MHAL football, visit www.bval.org.

Leland looks to make presence felt in return to MHAL
Good players, little depth poses questions for Chargers in 2004

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

After rolling to nine victories and just one loss last season, the Leland High School football program has been granted its wish of reinstatement into the Blossom Valley Athletic League, Mount Hamilton Division—arguably the toughest group of public schools assembled into one pool. Now the task is to stay there.

“It will certainly be tougher moving up into the A-league,” said Leland Head Coach Kelly Edwards. “We don’t want to make any predictions as to how many games we’ll win or any of that. We just want to take one game at a time and try to keep them close.”

Despite losing several key seniors to graduation—including CCS rushing leader Mike Day, UCLA-bound Scott Glicksberg, and quarterback Joe Hurley—what appears to be a year billed for Leland’s rebuilding holds more promise than pundit coaches around the league care to admit.

“We’re not as deep as last year,” continued Edwards, whose Chargers brought home the Santa Teresa Athletic League crown in 2003. “But all of our returners are very good. Last year’s juniors look ready to step up.”

In 2004, the Chargers will turn to RB/LB Kirk Andre to continue the tear he began last November in Leland’s lone playoff contest. In that game, versus North Salinas High School, Andre ripped the Vikings for more than 200 yards rushing as a substitute in place of the injured Day. Andre is also a two-time All-League selection on the defensive side, making appearances at both linebacker and defensive back.

Kyle Jones will serve as the team’s quarterback, getting the ball to Andre and senior WR/DB Arthur King.

According to Edwards, Jones is a solid replacement for All-Leaguer Hurley, bringing a different facet into the Charger offense. “He can really run,” said Edwards of Jones. “We put in a whole option package for him to take advantage.”

King is likely Leland’s finest college prospect, bringing size, speed and heart to the field. In the off-season King has received attention from the likes of U.C. Berkeley and the University of Washington among others.

Anchoring the line will be senior Gabe Castaneda. At 6 feet, 3 inches, the 305-pound Castaneda is lightning in the trenches, both strong and fast. “He moves very well,” said Edwards, of the three-sport athlete. Castaneda saw significant action on both the Chargers basketball and baseball teams in addition to his role as an All-League performer in football.

Along with Castaneda, the Chargers return seniors Alex Gregerick and Blake Ferris to a line voted MVP of the team for Leland in 2003. “They’re the heart and soul of the team,” said Defensive Backs coach John Galante of the two returners and line in general.

Aside King, Ferris and Ferris appear to be division I prospects.

Sophomore Lance Gemette will start at free safety for the Chargers, marking a player to follow this year and in two to follow. “It’s tough to come up and play as a sophomore,” added Galante. “It’s a tribute to what kind of a kid Lance is.” Gemette will also see time in the offensive backfield, serving as Andre’s primary backup.

“I think we have a lot of good skill guys,” summed Edwards. “But at this point, we’re just hoping to stay alive in the A-league. Our goal is to stay in games and see what happens. You never know whose going to get the turnovers.”

An unaccounted edge may go to Leland’s coaching staff that has displayed a youthful vitality in collaboration with playing and coaching experience from various arenas nationally. The latest additions include former Foothill College Coach Bob Gustavson and Menlo College Defensive Backfield standout Tim Foley. Gustavson and Foley will assist coaches Heath Clark, Galante and Jason Tennor in defensive responsibilities.

The Chargers open at Mount Pleasant High School on Friday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, Leland travels to James Lick High School for a scrimmage at 3:30 p.m.

For more information regarding Leland Football visit www.lelandathletics.com.

Almaden 13-year-old competes in Junior Olympic volleyball tournament

Almaden’s Erik Anderson, 13, and his teammates on the Bay to Bay Volleyball Club’s 14’s team, traveled to Austin, Texas in July to compete in the Junior Olympic Boys’ Volleyball Tournament. The team was ranked second in the Northern California region and went to Austin to compete with top-ranking teams from all over the United States and Puerto Rico. They won the flight 2 ranking.

The boys competed well against some of the top teams in the country, but were unable to move into medal contention. During the third day of play, they secured a spot in the Flight 2 bracket. The final day of competition consisted of single-elimination matches; matches were two out of three games.

The team played tough with excellent blocking by middles Luke Rosener and Brian McEuen and hitting by outside hitters Bryan Lin, Ricky Bose and Mike Hutchins. Outstanding passes by defensive specialists Erik Anderson and JJ Maglione combined with the consistent efforts of setter/outside hitter Jared Mammen played a significant part in the team’s victories. Strong performances by outside hitters Jay Henderson and Robert Giusti also played important roles in the team’s success.

After winning the first match in the Flight 2 playoffs, the Bay to Bay team had to face two teams that they had lost to in recent tournaments. The first was Apex Volleyball Club, also from San Jose. The boys played tough and emerged victorious, beating Apex in two games. The championship match for Flight 2 against Nike Laguna Beach was another quick victory for the Bay to Bay team. This match was also decided in only two games with Erik Anderson scoring the match winning point.

Bay to Bay’s 15-year-old team earned a bronze medal at the Junior Olympic tournament, which is the first medal earned by the three-year-old volleyball club.

Information about Bay to Bay Volleyball Club can be found at www.baytobayvolleyballclub.org.