Leland Sports Roundup
Compiled by Leland Athletic Director Chris Hansen

Girls Water Polo

The girls won the Independence tournament on Sept. 27. The team played
great. They beat Gunn, Independence, Newark Memorial and Mt. Pleasant.
They won the championship game by a score of 9-5. Goalie Danielle Gold
was awesome recording 46 blocks and only allowing 12 goals the entire
tournament. Nine different players scored goals for the chargers in the
tournament. Courtney Monsees-9, Danielle Rutgers-4, Melanie Shehbaz-4,
Briana Barnette-3, Rebecca Pele-2, Lucy Engelter-2, Lindsey Dreyer-1, Tina
Revels-1, and Casey Armstrong-1. The girls are currently 11-2 overall.

Girls Volleyball

The girls opened League play last week with Independence and Mt.
Pleasant. The chargers defeated Independence 25-11, 25-17, 25-19. The
girls also turned in an outstanding performance against Mt. Pleasant
beating them in four games. Setter Christy Gillick had 46 assists and middle
hitter Briana Scala had 24 kills to lead the chargers past Mt. Pleasant.

Boys Water Polo

The boys won the Harbor Invitational on Sept. 27. This is the first
championship tournament finish for the chargers since Coach Mike Monsees
has been at the helm. The chargers defeated San Lorenzo Valley, Santa
Cruz, Fairfield and Harbor. Eric Burriss helped lead the chargers past
Fairfield in the semi finals scoring seven goals. The chargers defeated host
Harbor in the finals by a score of 13-6 with Nick Beene scoring six of those
goals for the team. The team is now 9-3 overall.

Cross Country

The cross country team competed in the Ram Invitational at Westmoor HS.
In a field of over 200 runners the top finishers for out boys team were
Alex Ramone who finished fifth and Ken Elkabany with a finish of 18th. The
top finisher for the girls team was sophomore Katie Buckley who took
42nd. Congratulations to all who ran in this race.

The week ahead:

Fri., Oct. 3:
Football at Overfelt, 7 p.m.

Sat., Oct 4:
Cross Country at the Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay...1 p.m.

Tues., Oct 7:
Volleyball at Willow Glen......JV 5 p.m....Varsity 6 p.m.
Field Hockey at Monta Vista.....Varsity 3 p.m...JV 4:30 p.m.
Tennis at Prospect...................3:15 p.m.

Wed., Oct 8:
Girls Water Polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Independence......4 p.m.
Boys Water Polo vs. Pioneer at Willow Glen ........4 p.m.

Thur., Oct 9:
Volleyball vs. Piedmont Hills at Leland.....JV 5 p.m.....Varsity 6 p.m.
Field Hockey vs. Saratoga at Leland..........Varsity 3 p.m...JV 4:30 p.m.
Tennis vs. Santa Teresa at Leland............3:15 p.m.
Frosh/Soph Football at Overfelt...........3:30 p.m.

Fri., Oct 10:
Varsity Football at Overfelt..........7 p.m.

Pioneer Sports Roundup
Compiled by Pioneer High School Athletic Director Mark Krall

Girls water polo report from Coach Gordy Smith

We have just finished a tough week of games with close losses to Piedmont Hills and Santa
Teresa. Then over the weekend we had a sudden death loss to San Lorenzo Valley and a big win
over Evergreen Valley HS. The Pioneer girls are led by returning seniors Jessica Carlson,
Elizabeth Hoyt, Stefanie Cuaron and Helina Valle, as well as junior Akalin Abulkhanou. The
remainder of the team is very young, with major contributions coming from sophomores Katie
Lopiccolo, Rebecca Wallworth, Whitney Feezor, Becky Pies, April Ham and freshman Taylor
Feezor. This is a very young team with a great future and we are working hard every game to be
better than the previous game.

Girls volleyball report from Coach Michelle Ritter

This season holds a lot of promise for our team. However, we have had a rocky start. The varsity
team is 2-4 overall and 1-1 in league play. We lost a hard fought game to Gunderson on
Wednesday but won against San Jose High on Tuesday in three straight games. Emily Carcione,
Jackie Ho and Ali Walters are my kill leaders for the varsity team and I am very optimistic about
my defense this year as well. JV is doing well - 3-3 overall and 1-1 in league. This is a young
team, with 12 new players total and only four players returning. This is a great group of athletes
and I expect many wins from them.
This week we have only one game against Lincoln and it looks like it will be a hard one. Lincoln
was defeated by Gunderson so we will have our work cut out for us. I look to my seniors to lead
the varsity team to victory!

Girls tennis report from Coach Julie Szarlacki

Our tennis team is tied for first place with Piedmont Hills in the Santa Teresa division, we are
currently 5-1. We were in second place until we beat the first place team last week (Piedmont
Hills). A couple of girls that are doing a fantastic job are the No. 2 singles player, Misa Tanaka
(junior, currently 6-0) and the No. 11 doubles team Marieke Stulp (Senior) and Giana Flores
(freshman) who enjoy coming from behind and beating their opponent in the third set. We have a
young team made up of a great bunch of girls. This
week we play Willow Glen at Pioneer on Tuesday and we're at Branham on Thursday.

Freshman football report from Coach Greg Savage

The Pioneer Mustangs had their first ever freshman football game on Saturday. We played a
freshman team from Lincoln. It was an exciting game and the Mustangs came away with a hard
fought 22-14 victory. Pioneer started off the scoring with a short touchdown run by Scott Lowry
following a turnover by Lincoln deep in their own territory. Kyle Burchfiel added the extra point.
The Mustangs followed that score with a
touchdown pass from Chris Foley to Burchfiel. Foley then ran in a two-point conversion after a
bad snap on the extra point to make the score 15-0. It seemed that the Mustangs would run away
from the Lincoln Lions. However, the Lions scored toward the end of the first half on two long
touchdown runs.
The second half turned out to be a defensive battle. The lone score came when Adam Bowers
recovered a fumble in the Lincoln end zone. Burchfiel added the extra point to make the score
22-15. Lincoln had one last chance to score, driving past the Mustang 20-yard line but the
defense held on the last play of the game.
Good games were played by many players. On offense Darby Estrada, Karl Gurney, and Jared
Silva all ran the ball well. On the defensive side, Jordan Barnes, Adam Bowers, Russell Marone
and Sean Lobschar had good games.

PIONEER FOOTBALL STALWARTS DEFEND BELL FOR HOMECOMING
Undefeated and untied at 3-0, the Pioneer High School football team is the owner of the neighborhood rivalry bell which goes to the winner of the Pioneer-Gunderson High School game each year. Taking time out from practice to show off the bell are junior center Patrick Walsh, junior linebacker Collin McCarthy, junior quarterback Jared Koblis and senior linebacker Ray Marcil. The bell will be up for grabs again on Saturday when the Mustangs hold homecoming festivities and open Blossom Valley Athletic League/Mount Hamilton Division action at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Said Head Mustang Coach Mark Krail: "This is a big deal because it is homecoming and we're playing for the bell. Gunderson is getting better defensively each week. We know they will be prepared to play."

Almaden bicycle racer Scott Lewis category-bound for Winter Series
By Karl Laucher
Sports Editor

Bicycle racer Scott Lewis of Almaden would like to start a class of his own, but that would mean he would have to add another metaphorical brick to his heavy personal agenda. So, yes, he will be happy to perform in the upcoming San Jose Bike Club's Winter Series as a middle of the pack Category 5 (slowest division) rider.
Lewis, age 47, is the father of twin teenage daughters and director of marketing for Xilinx Corporation. The cycling division he would like to create is "Over 40 Employed Full Time Job with Kids." It ain't going to happen.
He took up cycle racing about four years ago when he realized that as an avid golfer he was getting older and not fitter. He says that cycling "is a great way to stay in shape and feed the competitive bug." Just as important to him are the social aspects of the sport which, in the San Jose Bike Club, means no talking business.
Racing against men and women half his age, some with actual time to train (Lewis says he does about 100 practice miles a week), is a true measure of one's comparative fitness, but Lewis said he was never tested in a race as much as when he was in a tour he took this year called the Climb to Kaiser, a journey of 150 miles including a climb of 13,500 feet in Sequoia National Park. He said the ordeal forced upon him a new level of physical and mental awakening. He still can feel the burn.
The SJBC's Winter Series is an 11-event competition held between Oct. 12 and Feb. 22, and includes road races, team and individual time trials, and criteriums. For more information call 920-1771 or go online to www.teamsanjose.org.

Almaden's Aly Wagner on a roll in World Cup

She grew up near the Almaden Country Club, but golf was just a small ball sport compared to the life USA Soccer World Cup player Aly Wagner has experienced since her mother, Vicky, began coaching her early two decades ago. Aly became the Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year for Presentation High School and the Hermann Trophy National Collegiate Player of the Year for Santa Clara University before being drafted by the Boston Breakers of the now-defunct Women's Soccer League. Wagner, age 22, despite numerous knee surgeries, has found a home at midfield for the USA National Team, which is seeking a second consecutive Women's World Cup triumph having defeated Sweden, Nigeria and North Korea in pool play last month. USA Coach April Heinricks calls Aly "the best final passer in the world," adding "she can shred a defense singlehandedly." Adds teammate Brandi Chastain: "A player like Aly comes along perhaps only once in 10 years." The USA women faced Norway in a semi-final on Wednesday. Look for the USA and Aly to go all the way. --By Karl Laucher

Almaden Times Classic reaches a milestone birthday
Founder Kate Chimenti thrilled with decade-old event's success
By Karl Laucher
Sports Editor

It was the brainstorm of Kate Chimenti, an avid runner who wanted to do something for the community, particularly the Almaden Valley Counseling Service. Ten years later, the Almaden Times Classic 10k and 2-mile event seems to have a life of its own.
"I am delighted that it has become a success and that it speaks to community interest," said Chimenti, who promises to be at race central--the start/finish line at Leland High School--when the 10th annual Classic footrace, trot and walk are presented on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Chimenti said it wasn't easy convincing the Almaden Counseling Service's Auxilary Board that a footrace was a positive force for conflict resolution and other human challenges, not the least of which is funding.
"They (the AVCS Auxiliary) were ladies in dresses," said Chimenti. "They didn't know what a 10K was."
Chimenti, the race director for the first few years, since has moved from Almaden Valley to Los Gatos. She still is active in sports as a triathlete and cyclist, but limits her running since having had heart surgery followed by a stroke four years ago. She has since run a marathon, but her mileage on foot has been tapered as she focuses on other endeavors.
The Almaden Times Classic has been hard pressed to match the number of entries the race lured in its formative years--more than 500. The field seems to have settled in at about 400 entries in recent years.

Meanwhile, the demand for intervention by the Almaden Valley Counseling Service is escalating with each year. Headed by Executive Director Rocki Kramer, the AVCS has eight consulting supervisors and 23 interns who last year provided counseling to 324 adult clients and 332 children at school. Its budget this year is expected to be about five percent to $220,000. WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS SAYING HERE?!
"We have a record number of referrals, so we really need the financial support," Kramer said.

Race organizers and sponsors desire to make the event rewarding for all participants with a plethora of gift certificates, novelty item and nutritional delectables, including the omnipresent buffet of fruits and pastries.
Entries fees are $20 for adults and $12 for children (under age 12) who register by Oct. 7. The fee thereafter, including race day, is $25 and $15, respectively. A family plan (for four people) is $45 or $55 on race day. For more information call 997-0200 or register online at www.active.com.

'Run for Fun' Oct. 12 at Vasona Park

October is best known for Halloween, but you wouldn't know that after talking to Dr. Dave Hoewisch, D.C. of the Santa Clara Chiropractic Society.

"October is a great month to be outside with your family exercising, being active and having fun! What we do here is bring people of the community together to celebrate life and well being. "

What Hoewisch is referring to is the "Chiropractic 10K Challenge," an event designed for the entire family. It is a 10K run, 5K run/walk, 1K kids run for fun. Now in its third year, the event takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Vasona Park in Los Gatos.

The run/walk attracts competitors of all skill levels from the conditioned athlete to new moms sporting the latest technology in baby strollers. The real fun begins after the run/walk has ended and the participants are treated to a wonderful outlay of food, massages and health screenings. To keep the kids entertained there is an assortment of carnival games and activities.

All proceeds are put back into the community in the form of educational programs for local schools. This year's event will be on Sunday Oct.12 at Vasona Park. Registration opens at 8 a.m. For further information you can go to www.californiachiro.com or www.onyourmarkevents.com.