July 29, 2005

Evergreen Sports

South comes back to beat North 18-16 at Wedemeyer All-Star game

Several Evergreen-area players represent South

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Down 16-6, the South scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take an 18-16 comeback win against the North at the 31st Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game on July 20.

South quarterback Steven Walraven of Evergreen Valley High School looks to throw the ball while keeping his eye on North linebacker Marc Robinson of Homestead during the 31st Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game at San Jose City College on July 20. Photo by Dan Miranda

It was the fourth straight win for the South Silicon Valley team against North Silicon Valley team and the sixth win in the past seven years. The game was in dedication to Charlie Wedemeyer, who is living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“First of all, nobody gave us a chance,” said Pioneer head coach Mark Krail, who served as head coach for the South squad at the game, which was played at San Jose City College. “Everybody thought this was the North’s year to stop the South, and so we played on that a little bit.

“Our guys just played a great game,” continued Krail. “It was 100 percent team effort. I told them yesterday, ‘You’re not an all-star team, you’re a team.’ There were 45 guys who believed in each other, and you know, that carried us.”

After the North team scored on an 86-yard punt return from St. Francis’ Ekahi Casino with 2:42 left in the third quarter, the South started to come back, beginning with a drive that started from the South 26. Yerba Buena quarterback David Andrade completed two quick passes before Santa Teresa running back Marlon Rosales torched the North defense with a 46-yard run, placing the offense at the North 19.

After a 12-yard run from Oak Grove’s Burton Iosefa placed the offense at the North 7, the South kept the ball on the ground, pounding the North defense three straight times on runs before Iosefa scored on a 4-yard run on third-and-goal with 10:37 left in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 16-12.

Later in the fourth quarter, the South offense took the field again with 7:26 left and promptly drove the ball into North territory. On fourth-and-12 at the North 42, Branham quarterback T.J. DeStefano tossed a lateral to Rosales, who found the outstretched arms of teammate Terrence Critchlow of Piedmont Hills at the North 8 for a fresh set of downs.

The South offense then took to the ground again, running the ball three times, setting up a fourth-and-inches situation, which saw running back Steven Pinon take the ball and dash into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the South an 18-16 lead with 2:12 left.

Defensive lineman Alex Senegal III of Silver Creek high school gets into a three-point stance before the start of a play during the 31st Annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Classic at San Jose City College on July 20. Senegal will head to San Jose City College to play football in the fall. Photo by Dan Miranda

“We all had goosebumps on the sideline,” said Evergreen Valley quarterback Steven Walraven of the game-winning touchdown. “We just had that extra burst of energy that the other team didn’t have.”

Walraven, the lone Evergreen Valley representative at the game, was one of six Evergreen area players invited to participate in the game. He said he was honored to be selected to play, but was also regretful that some of his Cougar teammates didn’t get the nod as well.

He recalled the moment he found out about his selection to the South team. “I got called into the office by the principal, and I thought I did something wrong,” Walraven said. “I was scared and I didn’t want to go. He looked real mad and then he told me I got selected, so a big relief came off my shoulders. I thought I was in trouble or something.”

Walraven, who will play football at De Anza College in the fall, completed his only pass in the game, a 16-yard toss to Live Oak’s Shaun Standridge, at the start of the third quarter.

Among the other Evergreen-area high school graduates were Mt. Pleasant’s Hasaan Jackson and Mark Tavares, as well as Raymond Romero and Alex Senegal III of Silver Creek and Marc Fuentes of Overfelt.

Senegal, who played on the defensive line for the South, will head to play for San Jose City College in the fall. Senegal said he was happy to be able to play high school football one more time before embarking on his college career.

“It was good,” Senegal said. “It was nice to put it on one more time and step out in front of the fans, because for most people, they don’t get to play college ball or anything. Some people just stop. For me, it felt good playing one more time … It was an honor.”

Evergreen student participates in USA National Volleyball Junior Olympics

It all began last November, at the beginning of the volleyball season, when the Jumpstart Kaepa Power 14-1 Volleyball Club Team set an aggressive goal to make it to the Junior Olympics.

Amanda Pinon is the only Evergreen resident on the Jumpstart Kaepa Power 14-1 Volleyball Club Team.

As a front middle blocker for the team, Evergreen resident Amanda Pinon helped win a regional Northern California Volleyball Association League tournament held at the San Jose Convention Center in May.

With this victory, Jumpstart Kaepa earned a rare opportunity to participate in the USA National Volleyball Junior Olympics in Salt Lake City in early July.

Ranked sixth in the Gold Division out of 86 teams in the NCVA, Jumpstart Kaepa placed 42nd out of 128 teams in their division at the Junior Olympics competition.

“Ed and Theresa Mattson, who are the owners and coaches of the Jumpstart Kaepa team, did an exceptional job preparing the girls to compete at the highest level, which is required to play against the best teams in the United States,” said Yolanda Pinon, Amanda’s mom.

“The girls maintained their competitiveness and team spirit throughout the tournament,” she continued. “Most of the games were so exciting—going three matches and ending in a win or loss by the two-point spread. It was a great experience for the girls, and for some girls, a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

Amanda, who just graduated from Chaboya Middle School, will be attending Evergreen Valley High School in the fall and hopes to play volleyball for EVHS. She began playing volleyball at the age of 12, when she was one of two seventh graders who made Chaboya's volleyball team. Chaboya's volleyball team was league champion that year.

“The rewards are great when you work hard and dedicate 100 percent to accomplish your goals,” concluded Amanda.

For more information about Jumpstart Kaepa, go to the Web site:www.jumpstartvolleyball.com.

Evergreen Junior All-Stars take second in tournament

The Evergreen Little League Junior All-Stars took second place in the District 59 All-Star Tournament, finishing with three wins and two loses.

This annual tournament brings together one team of the strongest players from each of the leagues in District 59—including Alum Rock, Berryessa, East Hills, Eastridge, Evergreen, Milpitas North, Milpitas South, North Valley, Oak Grove, Oak Ridge and Spartan—with the top team advancing to the Sectional All-Star Tournament.

Evergreen’s team was comprised of 12 players from the four-team junior division, ages 13 and 14, that concluded regular season play in June.

The Evergreen Junior All-Stars dominated Alum Rock 17-5 in their first game. Mark Milioto II pitched the first two innings. Cole Nicholson took over for the rest of the game, pitching four strong innings and allowing just two earned runs to clinch the win.

Caesar Garcia led the offensive assault by collecting four hits and five RBIs in five at-bats. Making significant offensive contributions as well were Alejandro Madrid—who earned two hits and two RBIs, scoring twice in five at-bats—and Scott Moser, who walked three times, had two RBIs and scored three runs.

It was pitcher Cole Nicholson’s effort that impressed manager Mark Milioto the most in that first game of the All-Stars Tournament. “He really took advantage of the opportunity to help our team; he shut down a very good team and gave us a chance to win the game. It was a clutch performance by Cole,” Milioto said.

Next, the Evergreen Junior All-Stars beat Milpitas South in their second game. Travis Ruffin pitched five innings and regular season teammate, Madrid, pitched two innings, allowing only one earned run and five hits.

Caesar Garcia continued to lead the team offensively with two hits and one RBI in four at-bats. Jordan Adkins added two hits and one RBI in two at-bats to help Evergreen win 5-1.

2005 Evergreen Junior All-Stars (From left) Front Row: Nick Pula, Mark Milioto II, Alejandro Madrid, Caesar Garcia, Ben Walker and Jordan Adkins. Back Row: Manager Mark Milioto, Cole Nicholson, Josh Boro, Travis Ruffin, Taylor Crawford, Norm Tang, Scott Moser, Coach Henry Madrid and Coach Bruce Ruffin.

Game three was a shot to play for the championship. The Evergreen Junior All-Stars faced the only other remaining unbeaten team, Oak Grove, in this double elimination tournament. Milioto turned in an outstanding effort, throwing a one hitter in six innings as Evergreen beat Oak Grove 7-4.

Only two Oak Grove batters managed to get on base during the first five innings of the game. Evergreen demonstrated a balanced offensive effort with seven players each collecting one hit. Nick Pula was the only Evergreen player with two hits.

The Evergreen Junior All-Stars then faced Milpitas South for the championship. This was the same Milpitas South team that Evergreen had beaten two weeks earlier. Yet this time, Evergreen’s team wasn’t up to the challenge, losing 12-1, for the first loss in the tournament.

The Evergreen and Milpitas teams faced off again the following day, and again, Evergreen couldn’t muster the offensive strength demonstrated during earlier games in the tournament. The Evergreen Junior All-Stars managed just four hits, two by Caesar Garcia, in their fifth and last game of the tournament, resulting in an 8-2 loss.
Manager Milioto was still pleased with the overall performance by the team in the tournament.

“We were beaten by two quality pitchers on the Milpitas team,” Milioto said. “They shut us down two days in a row and deserve the credit for being able to do so. Of course our players are disappointed, but they worked hard, which is what coaches Bruce Ruffin, Henry Madrid and I expected from them as all-stars. They represented the Evergreen Little League well. They had a positive attitude, demonstrated good sportsmanship and never gave up.”

Sign up for ELL Fall Ball 2005

In-person registration is Aug. 27

Evergreen youth, ages 5 to 16 as of 04/30/06, are invited to continue to play baseball after the regular season ends in Evergreen Little League’s Fall Ball 2005.

Games will be played on Saturday or on Sunday afternoons for a season that runs from Sept. 3 to Nov. 19. A $60 fee provides a T-shirt and hat, Little League insurance, a place to play, friends to play baseball with and an opportunity to play other District 59 leagues.

Players may register online at www.ell-baseball.com until Sept. 1 or in person on Aug. 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Round Table Pizza on White and Aborn roads.

Teams will be determined by player agent, based on how many from each age group register. No draft—bring a friend, sign up your whole team, partial team or as an individual.

If you’re interested in managing or coaching a team, contact Scott Karstetter at president@ell-baseball.com or (408) 238-9220.

EASY Hoops begins Sept. 9; open to youth, grades 6-9

Evergreen Area Sports for Youth, EASY Hoops, begins Friday, Sept. 9, for all local interested boys and girls entering sixth through ninth grades.

Registration forms will be available in the front office of Chaboya Middle School, 3276 Cortona Dr., in San Jose on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

There will be two coed divisions—a sixth-seventh grade division and an eighth-ninth grade division—with six teams per division and no more than 10 players on each team. Sign-ups will continue until the 120 available slots are full. In this “fun-petitive” league, everyone plays equal time in Chaboya’s gym.

Last year, Allen Ventura and John Franza, physical education teachers and coaches at Chaboya, took over the recreational basketball program when the financially strapped City of San Jose Parks and Recreation Dept. could no longer fund it. The successful transition resulted in a program that filled up very quickly, with students on a waiting list.

EASY Hoops runs from Sept. 9 through Dec. 2. This includes an evaluation day on Sept. 9, and a championship night for all teams on Dec. 2.

The cost is $110 per player, and fees pay for a game jersey, referees and medals for all players and trophies for first and second place team members.

“The league is designed for those who may want to get ready for their school or club basketball team and for students who just love basketball and competition,” Ventura said.

“We need volunteer coaches for all 12 teams,” he added. “The volunteer coaches determine how often their teams practice. Some coaches practice an hour before their game, and others practice during the week.” For more information or to register, call either Ventura at (408) 410-3570 or Franza at (408) 605-1513 direct or Chaboya's locker room at (408) 270-6939 on or after Aug. 24. You can also e-mail Ventura at fourvees@pacbell.net.

Evergreen strong man dedicated to bodybuilding

Promotes 25th Annual San Jose Bodybuilding Fitness and
Figure Championships and Expo Aug. 6

By Ken Lotich
Times Intern

Love is a strong word. It’s also the last name of one of the strongest men ever to reside in Evergreen.

Although Paul Love no longer lifts—his previous feats of a 700-pound squat, a 685-pound deadlift and a bench press of 385 pounds—will remain forever engraved in powerlifting history.

Paul Love poses next to a picture of himself where he won Mr. Masters America in Atlanta in 1980. Love will present the 25th Annual San Jose Bodybuilding Fitness and Figure Championships and Expo on Saturday, Aug. 6 at the McEnery Convention Center, located at 408 Almaden Blvd. Photo by Ken Lotich

Love, who will turn 66 on Saturday, has been promoting bodybuilding in Santa Clara County for more than 25 years and was inducted into the California Powerlifting Hall of Fame in March.

He will present the 25th Annual San Jose Bodybuilding Fitness and Figure Championships and Expo on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the McEnery Convention Center, located at 408 Almaden Blvd. in downtown San Jose.

The Man
Love initially attended Colorado State on a football scholarship. After he left school early to pursue his powerlifting career, he ran into five-time Mr. Universe, Bill Pearl, who offered him some words of advice.

“He told me if I was serious about bodybuilding, I needed to come out to California,” Love said. He came to San Jose in 1966 and ultimately graduated from San Jose State University in 1973.

When Love arrived in the Golden State, he said he got serious about lifting. Love would go on to garner the titles of Mr. Santa Clara, Mr. California and Mr. Masters America.

Despite his numerous feats, Love said bodybuilding has always been a hobby for him. Love’s true passion was in his former profession as a supervisor for the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall.

“It was probably the best job I’ve ever had,” said Love said, noting that the job was rewarding because he was able to help kids.

Meeting Arnold
Love’s travels have garnered him lots of titles, as well as memories. One event, nearly 30 years ago, involved meeting a bodybuilder who Love said, “always wore thongs and shorts.”

“When I met Arnold Schwarzenegger in Venice, he and another guy were remodeling houses,” Love said.
When Schwarzenegger threw his name in the hat during the 2003 California recall election, Love said he knew Schwarzenegger would have a good shot at winning.

“Even though I’m a Democrat, I voted for him,” Love said. “It was surprising though. Back in the day, he didn’t really show any interest to go into politics—he was all about bodybuilding.”

Although Schwarzenegger has traded his flip-flops and trunks for a suit, Love said he still keeps in touch with the governor. He said he is trying to get Schwarzenegger to make an appearance at one of his future shows.

Bodybuilding promotion
After Love clinched his Mr. Masters America title in 1980, he decided to get into promotions. He joined the National Physique Committee, where he was appointed as a regional chairman.

Love said in his time as a promoter, he has seen the sport of bodybuilding gain a negative connotation, which Love said is not fair to the sport.

“I don’t think bodybuilding gets exposed in the right light,” Love said. “Whenever you hear about it in the press, it’s usually in a negative light.”

Although there has been an abundance of professional sports steroid scandals lately, Love said this controversy has been plaguing the bodybuilding industry for decades.

Love said he has never taken steroids. He said he made this decision because of the dangers steroids pose, as well as wanting to be a good role model for his children.

Steroids will always be around, in every sport, Love said. He said users are only hurting themselves.

“The reality of bodybuilding is that it’s a lot of work,” Love said. “It takes a lot of self-discipline. One has to be willing to put the time in to work out, diet and be aware of what they need to do to get stronger.”

When Love was in competition, he said he stuck to a strict diet, that didn’t include cigarettes or alcohol.

To this day, Love still eats healthy—however, don’t be surprised if you see him at a fast food joint every now and then.

“My granddaughter and I play tennis every week,” Love said. “We’ll play for two-and-a-half hours sometimes. Right after we’re done, she’ll ask me to take her to McDonalds.”

Expectations for Aug. 6 Expo
Love estimates 125 to 150 competitors on hand this year at the 25th Annual San Jose Bodybuilding Fitness and Figure Championships and Expo on Saturday, Aug. 6 at the McEnery Convention Center, located at 408 Almaden Blvd.

A few of the guest posers include seven-time Mr. Olympia, Ron Coleman and Curtis McGovert, 2003 Mr. California.

Doors will be open to the public at 10 a.m., and the pre-judging portion of the event begins at 10:30 a.m. Admission ranges from $20 to $35. More information is available online at www.paulloveproductions.com.

Former Mt. Pleasant athlete shines in collegiate track and field

Corey White becomes Junior National Javelin Champ in first year at University of Redlands

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Just one year removed from the familiar surrounding of Mt. Pleasant High School, Evergreen resident Corey White is making a name for himself in track and field.

That’s because White, who just finished his freshman year at the University of Redlands in Southern California, became the Junior National Javelin Champion at the USA Junior Track and Field Championships in Carson in late June. But perhaps even more impressive is that White only took up the javelin event this year after spending his high school career focused on discus and shotput.

Corey White, a 2004 Mt. Pleasant graduate, is making a name for himself in track and field as a javelin thrower for the University of Redlands. White was named the Junior National Javelin Champion after throwing a distance of 221 feet, 4 inches at the USA Junior Track and Field Championships in Carson in late June. Photo courtesy www.dyestatcal.com

“I really don’t know where it came from,” said White of his javelin-throwing abilities. “I guess having a strong arm definitely helps, but working out more with the technique is what really made the strength in my arm go toward that.”

White said he initially became interested in javelin competition during his high school career at Mt. Pleasant. Although the event wasn’t, and still isn’t, a part of high school track and field competition in the Central Coast Section, the idea of being a javelin thrower stuck with White when he began his first track and field season for the University of Redlands Bulldogs.

“I thought about throwing javelin, the discus and the hammer,” White said of his plans upon entering his collegiate career. “I tried the hammer and I didn’t like it and then I tried the javelin and it kind of took. I started liking it a little bit. Coach [Mt. Pleasant Coach Steve Nelson] originally thought I’d be good at it because he knew I had a pretty good arm, as far as throwing a football and stuff like that. He recommended that I try it when I got down [to University of Redlands] and I did.”

White’s decision to try javelin is one he now doesn’t regret, in large part because of his early success in the event. From his earliest stages in the javelin, White averaged more than 160 feet on throws in practice.

During the Bulldogs’ first meet of the season, White exceeded all expectations, throwing a distance of 188 feet. From that point on, White said he had made continual progress throughout the regular season, particularly in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, where he threw a distance of more than 199 feet and took first place in the event.

At the Claremont Classic in May, White continued to increase the distances on his throws, tossing the javelin 214 feet and 10 inches at the event, before going on to the USA Junior Track and Field Championships and taking the title of champion with a throw of 221 feet, 4 inches.

“More or less, I was just getting the technique down,” White said of his progress at javelin throughout the season, which, he added, has similar elements in the discus throwing technique. “I just continued to jump by 10 feet or so at every meet as far as personal records.”

White’s career at Mt. Pleasant saw him take on several sports throughout four years, most notably in track and field as well as football, which White also plays at the University of Redlands. White dabbled in other sports during his time at Mt. Pleasant, including wrestling, baseball and basketball.

Nelson said White’s experience with several sports has helped him adjust to competing in the javelin.

“Corey sprinted, long-jumped and threw the shotput and discus in high school,” Nelson said. “He’s got good speed for a big guy. But the javelin is a lot like the football or softball throw and Corey can do this well. Being a versatile athlete has helped him in the javelin.”

For now, White said javelin has taken the place of discus as his No. 1 event in track and field. White said he hopes to continue his progress in the javelin, but he also has other things on his mind the fall season approaches—namely, football.

Despite his success in track and field, White said he still hopes to make an impact on the Bulldogs’ football program and is working feverishly to get himself ready for the start of football camps in late August.

“It’s a whole different level of competition,” White said of football. “It’s a whole different type of competition. You look into the eyes of the person you’re playing against while you’re playing against them. Track is an individual sport. You have no reason to worry about your team or your team members. It’s just you, and everybody goes up one at a time. It’s really not very personal.”

Yet still, Nelson believes White’s future in javelin is a bright one,

especially since he has three more years to improve before leaving college.

“The sky’s the limit for Corey,” Nelson said. “Right now, Corey sees himself as a football player who throws the javelin. I think a lot of his development will depend on how much he decides that he wants to get out of it. Usually guys that reach the higher levels in track and field become passionate about what they do. This is new to Corey, and we’ll see how much the great exposure this year starts those engines of passion turning.”

White, representing the United States, joins 600 track and field athletes ages 19 and under in the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships July 28-31 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. If you’re interested in the results not available before this issue of the Times went to print, go to www.panamswindsor.ca/en/index.php.

Creekside Cudas swim team wins dual meet, league finals

The Creekside Cudas, a local Evergreen cabana swim team, recently earned the titles of Dual Meet Champions and League Finals Champions for 2005. 

After 30 years of eluding the title, in 2003 the Creekside Cudas won the Dual Meet Championship as well as the Finals Championship. Last year, the team missed the mark by six points.

On July 16, the Cudas swam against the Almaden Dolphins, Shadowbrook Sharks, Pinehurst Piranhas, Santa Teresa Sea Otters and Crossgate Gators. 

“It was the hottest day of the year, and the Cudas were swimming their hearts out,” said Grace Soto, co-parent representative of the Cudas.

“All the hard work paid off and the Creekside Cudas once again swam off with the title of Finals Champions,” she added, noting that this year, they won by six points. That means the four Cuda seniors who will be graduating from the team—Laura Firchow, Kristin Gause, Krystal Nevoli, and Chanel Roland—will leave as champs. 

“The goal of recreation cabana swimming is to build swimming skills and to have fun,” said Head Coach Leslie Schafer, whose staff includes three assistant coaches—Paul Santos, Kim Boyer, and Laura Firchow—and intern coach Kirstin Gause. All five coaches are Cuda alumni.

“Our success on Creekside is due to the fact that all our parents and coaches focus on this goal and work together to ensure that every swimmer has a positive experience,” she continued. “Whether we lose by six points or win by six points, every swimmer leaves the season with fond memories.” 

Kerstin Claunch, who will be entering as a sophomore this year at Evergreen Valley High School, sums up the Cudas’ attitude well.

“When the awards ceremony rolls around at the end of each season, I have begun to dread going, because that means an end to another great season—but definitely not an end to all the memories that I have—they will always stay in my heart and there will always be room for many, many more to come,” Claunch said.

The Cudas are a team built on loyalty, according to Schafer. Not only are the coaches alums, but several parents who were once Cuda swimmers now have their own children on the team, including  Joe Foster, Izumi Berk-Foster, Mike Bocca, Paul Kilkenny, Angela Smith and Gary Firchow. 

“You know something is right when you return as a Cuda parent,” Soto said. 

“We would like to thank all the families and friends who have helped support our team, as well as the many local vendors and attractions,” said Grace Soto, who after three years as a co-parent representative along with Kristy Heath, will pass the torch on to new parent representatives, JoEllen Firchow and Diane Walker.