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The Number One Source
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December 11, 2003
Joe Ciesinski, a junior at Archbishop Mitty High School and an Almaden Valley resident, was selected to the Western Catholic Athletic League’s (WCAL) 1st team in football and also selected as Junior of the Year. Ciesinski is a defensive back and kicking specialist for the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs varsity football team. He was elected co-captain of the team for the 2003 season. The WCAL is one of the most competitive leagues in area high school football and includes teams such as Bellarmine College Prep, St. Francis High School and Valley Christian High School. All those schools, along with Archbishop Mitty, advanced to the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs this season. In a stirring win on Nov. 15 over St. Ignatius High School that clinched a playoff berth, Joe Ciesinski had one interception, six tackles and a kickoff return for a touchdown. In the Monarchs’ double overtime CCS playoff loss on Nov. 22 to Aragon High School of San Mateo, Ciesinski kicked 3 PATs, one field goal and intercepted two passes. The Archbishop Mitty Monarchs finished the 2003 season with a 6-5 record, notching important victories over Bellarmine College Prep and Junipero Serra High School. Joe Ciesinski lives with his parents Mary Helen and Michael Ciesinski and his sister, Mary, in Almaden Valley
Leland boys basketball team is learning on the floor By Justin Petersen Despite a discouraging 1-4 start, Leland High School boys’ basketball Coach Dave Frandsen remains optimistic about his team’s prospects for the 2003-2004 season. “We are better than our record indicates,” explains a knowledgeable Coach Frandsen, who has returned to head the Chargers after a six-year hiatus and coaching stint with perennial junior college powerhouse West Valley. Frandsen hopes to reinstall the heart and discipline he brought to the Chargers during the late ‘80s and ‘90s when Leland’s basketball program grew into a MHAL and CCS championship contender. “We opened up against Leigh, Palo Alto, and Piedmont Hills. Those teams will all finish in the top 10 of the CCS,” says Frandsen. “We’re still very young, but with our schedule, we are really forcing ourselves to grow up quick,” says Frandsen. The Chargers will grow more this week playing in the Independence Fukishimi Tournament, hosted by Independence High School. Leland will compete against several tough teams, including A-league contenders Santa Teresa, in addition to STAL rival, Independence. On paper, Leland returns two legitimate starters. However, the players’ alleged experience is misleading. Senior Doug Proudfoot, who has averaged 10 points and eight rebounds through the first five contests, is really playing in his first varsity season. “Proudfoot missed all of last season with a broken wrist,” explains Frandsen. “He’s very talented, but he is still adjusting to this level of basketball.” Point guard James Kogura also returns to Leland’s starting lineup, however, the 5-7 speedster is only a sophomore. Kogura played varsity as a freshman and will be prematurely asked to perform beyond his years. Youngsters David Farsai and Dannie Hamouie must mature quickly as well. Farsai, a sophomore sharpshooter, has been the Chargers’ leading scorer this season, averaging 12 points per game, while Hamouie, a junior, has yet to make his impact sidelined with a sprained ankle since the first game. “It will be a big help when Hamouie returns,” says Frandsen. “We are going to depend on both of those young guys (Hamouie and Farsai) for consistent scoring.” Last week the Chargers played three games in the Westmont Invitational. After losing to a tough Piedmont Hills High School team, regarded by many to be the best team in the CCS, Leland bounced back beating Prospect, 50-41 setting up a showdown with host Westmont High School—a pride fight for the consolation championship. After falling behind early, the Chargers battled back. Despite going to the locker room down by 18, Leland battled back in the second half, outscoring Westmont 20-15. Kogura and 5-foot 10 senior guard Joe Tang sparked the team with quick hands on defense, stealing the ball from the Westmont ball handlers. Proudfoot and Farsai responded to the inspired play of their teammates, shooting well from the outside and making strong moves to the basket. However, the late comeback could not surpass Westmont’s early dominance. Westmont took the consolation crown, winning 44-31. “These kids never give up,” says Frandsen. “When
we get our offense together, with all five guys involved and all
them healthy we are going to be real fun to watch.”
Pioneer sports schedule this week: Thursday 12/11 Friday 12/12 Tuesday 12/16 Wednesday 12/17 Thursday 12/18 Friday 12/19
Pioneer High School’s senior running Jeremy Landucci and Head Coach Mark Krail are among the most honored of Mustangs in post-season football selections for Blossom Valley Athletic League’s premier Mount Hamilton Division. Landucci was named Most Outstanding offensive player while Krail
earned Coach of the Year recognition for leading the team to a runner-up
finish in the Mt. Hamilton race and a semi-final berth in the Central
Coast Section Division IV playoffs, finishing 9-3 overall. Krail’s Coach of the Year accolade comes the first year the honor has been included with all-conference selections. Pioneer competes in a conference where many schools are double the student population of Pioneer. Other first-team all-star selections for Pioneer are senior linebacker/running back Sinan Dumlugal, junior linebacker/tight end Rolando Gomez, junior running back Andrew Schulz and junior offensive lineman Jory Wilson. Second team selections are senior lineman Jeff Terry, junior linebacker Collin McCarthy, junior quarterback Jarod Koblis and junior lineman Steve Matos.
Leland boys soccer hopes for a three-pete in Homestead Cup By Dennis Jamison The Leland boys’ varsity soccer team made a strong statement to the rest of the field in the opening game of the Homestead Cup by crushing Saratoga 7-0. Speed and good ball control with a balanced attack led the Chargers to chalk up an easy initial win in this year’s holiday tournament. Leland jumped out to an early lead in its game last Saturday night at the Evergreen Valley College field. They scored an opening goal within the first few minutes of the match and never looked back. Their second score came from a rebound off the post from a header and, despite heavy jostling for the ball in front of the Saratoga goal, senior David Dally caught the Saratoga defenders flat footed as he buried a quick shot to the net. From the early going it was easy to recognize the inexperience of the Saratoga team. The Bear’s attack was not well organized and they wasted their main opportunity of the first half with a weak-footed effort to shoot on goal after a great deal of effort to work the ball into the Leland penalty box. On the other hand, Leland maintained the ball on the Saratoga side of the field by good ball control both individually and as a team. The Saratoga defenders had their hands full with the Charger attack and were merely able to clear the ball by blasting it away from their net or by booting it up field to the Leland defense. Despite a couple of good saves by the Saratoga goalkeeper, the score at the half was 3-0. It was somewhat of a mismatch with Coach Dave Gold and his Chargers looking for a three-pete as tournament champions this year. Leland has won the tournament in the past two seasons and Coach Gold felt confident that “Leland is the team to beat” for anyone who has hopes of stopping them. He did disclose that four of his best players were not available for this game. However, it did not seem to be of any consequence. According to first year Head Coach Paul Tracey, the Saratoga team is made up of three starting seniors and two juniors with the bulk of the team being sophomores, including the goalkeeper. David Dally, in his first game with the Chargers this season, came away with a hat trick as he offered a brilliant performance. One of his three goals came from a penalty kick he was awarded after being taken down inside the penalty box as he was making a strong run on goal from the left side. Coach Gold was pleased with his team’s domination and commended his players for “putting on a clinic” for the inexperienced Saratoga team. In the second game, Leland was pitted against a Lincoln team, which had tied Aptos 1-1, in its opener. In the midst of heavy winds, the teams played a strong contest at Evergreen College. Lincoln scored first off a mistake by Leland’s sweeper Sean Conners, who seemingly tripped over the ball and lost possession to a hungry Lincoln forward who blew the ball into the net. Leland’s Alain Styczinski quickly answered with a goal at the other end and the score remained tied at 1 through much of the first half. After Leland tied it up, the wind seemed to choose sides by working defense for Lincoln as a strong gust blew down the unsecured goal their team was defending. It temporarily thwarted Leland’s attack, but the referees issued no cards for what appeared to be flagrant disrespect of the game. A foul on one of the Lincoln defenders for taking Martin Stacey down from behind brought a free direct kick just outside of the box. David Dally took the shot and, fighting against the wind, was able to direct the ball through the Lincoln wall past the surprised goalkeeper. In the second half it was all Leland. The wind died down and it seemed it also left the sails of the Lincoln players. Dally started off the half with a goal to ice the game and Alain Stycznski put in another one just for good measure. Leland carries its two wins in the tournament to their third game
on Saturday against Aptos. This Friday, Dec. 12, Leland will face
its toughest league opponent in an away game at Overfelt, which
is undefeated (7-0) so far this season. It should be a good matchup,
as Overfelt will likely prove to be a worthy challenge to the Chargers.
WRESTLERS KEEP THE FAITH AT PIONEER Although it suffered some pre-season losses in personnel, the Pioneer High School wrestling program is ready for action behind its three worthy seniors (from left) Armando Apolinar, Nick Esposito and Jeff Terry. Behind the team leaders are Head Coach Mike Medlock (left) and Assistant Coach Grant Murdock. Medlock reports that the team lost one senior, who quit saying his heart isn’t in it, and another, who transferred out of school. So much for the Mustangs tying to win a team championship for the first time in 35 years. Nevertheless, the coaching staff is heartened by a solid turnout of freshmen and sophomores who will have to fill many of the 14 weight categories. Another good omen was that six Mustangs from the frosh-soph ranks placed in the top four in the recent Harbor High Junior Varsity Tournament in Santa Cruz. They are Steve Giorgiani, Brian Watts, Tuan Nguyen, Daniel Northern, Nick Kelsey and Eric Kawminski. The Mustangs opened Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division action Wednesday visiting James Lick High School, and will participate in the Coast Classic Tournament Friday and Saturday in Scotts Valley. The first home match of the season will be a neighborhood battle with Branham High School on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. --By Karl Laucher Leland soccer team begins quest for third straight Christmas
Cup crown Leland, also the two-time defending Blossom Valley Athletic League
champion, will start with a match against Saratoga High School at
Evergreen Valley College, Saturday, Dec. 6 at 5:15 p.m. Round two
for the Chargers is scheduled against Lincoln High School, also
at Evergreen Valley, Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 3:15 p.m. The Chargers will
be led onto the field by senior captain Sean Connors, who recently
finished a season as a productive widereceiver/place kicker for
Leland’s BVAL Santa Teresa champion football team. “We lost some of our best players from last year,” says Leland Coach Dave Gold. “We’re going to depend on youth more than we would like, but this is going to be a very exciting team.” --By Karl Laucher Almaden Valley Girls Softball League registration to be held in January The Almaden Valley Girls Softball League will hold registration for its upcoming season, which runs from late February to May, in January. Registration will be held at Graystone Elementary School on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Wednesday Jan. 14 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. First-time applicants must bring a copy of their birth certificate. The Almaden Valley Girl's Softball League ensures that the players are in a fun, positive environment while learning and expanding their softball skills, which promotes a sense of belonging for everyone. They aim to emphasize teamwork and the sense of individual success that contribute to team sports. More information on the league and registration can be found at www.avgsl.org or by calling (408) 808-1405. HIGH HOPES ON THE PIONEER PITCH Head Coach Jef Farro says the plan is “to return to championship form.” The Mustangs reached the top of the game in 2002 when they won the Blossom Valley Athletic League title en route to the Central Coast Section Division II championship, but fell below the .500 mark in the win-loss column last season. Von Stockhausen, a second team All-Mount Hamilton League selection last season, said he agrees “121 percent—21 being his game jersey number—” with the optimism voiced by Coach Farro. “We’re working well together,” von Stockhausen reports. “We’ve been playing together for many years (including youth club soccer).” The Mustangs, however, got off to a seemingly unflattering start, losing to Bellarmine, Live Oak and Valley Christian before defeating Los Gatos in the first two weeks of action. “You got to play the best to be the best,” explained Farro, a former Pioneer and West Valley College soccer player who now works as a swing shift paramedic. Pioneer will participate in the Homestead Christmas Tournament, opening against Homestead at Evergreen Valley College Saturday at 7 p.m. The annual Alumni Game is scheduled for Dec. 31. --By Karl Laucher
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Joe
Ciesinski of Almaden Valley is WCAL’s Junior of the Year in
football