November 19, 2004

Evergreen Sports

Evergreen Valley lands firstever football WVAL leaguechampionship

Cougar football lays foundation of tradition

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

(From left) EVHS Running back Javier Martinez scored 13 touchdowns in six league games. EVHS Jake Manzano is reputedly one of the top defensive lineman in league, and EVHS Quarterback Steve Walraven could often be found throwing the ball at 6:30 a.m. before school in preparation for this season. Photo by Jeffrey Lo.

Age gave ground to beauty this season as the new kid on the block, Evergreen Valley High School, wore down a tired league of aging stones in the Blossom Valley Athletic League, West Valley Division. On Nov. 11, Evergreen Valley High School secured the fledgling football program’s first league championship making true on Coach Dee Quinet’s prophecy that the Cougars would become champions within four years.

Amassing 41 points to James Lick High School’s seven, the burgeoning hitters from Evergreen sprinted to the podium’s peak following the lead of eight historic seniors, solidifying an undefeated season in the WVAL. The victory assured an automatic berth in the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs.

Evergreen (7-3, 6-0) will face Woodside High School (10-0, 7-0) in the first round on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Woodside.

Four short years ago, Quinet, who forged a reputable career instilling a separate winning tradition to what has become A-league contender Piedmont Hills High School, stated his pledge to win a league championship. According to Quinet, there lay one stipulation; kids buy into the program. Apparently the audience—at that time a gathering of eight green eighth graders, anxious to build a program from scratch in the newly built high school—bought what Quinet was telling.
“It’s a great group of kids,” said Quinet of his newly crowned champions. “We’ve kept virtually all of that same group from eighth grade. They have a lot of character. Many of these kids have actually built themselves into top players in the league through hard work and determination.”

According to Quinet, a nucleus of Cougars led by standout quarterback Steven Walraven participated in grueling off-season workouts in preparation for 2004. “We started off at pictures with a group of 60 kids,” said Quinet. Only about 30 of those stuck around—for the championship.

“Steve would be out here throwing the ball at 6:30 in the morning,” explained Quinet, “last spring, out here before school. The kids all just worked ridiculously hard.”

It was not clear to what degree a strong work ethic would pay off early. Evergreen opened the season winning two of five games versus several oversized A-league opponents. However, once leveraged versus schools of the same size and standing, the Cougars overwhelmingly reaped the benefits of sacrifice, ripping off five consecutive victories to close the season and secure the league championship.

“I think our preseason schedule really toughened us up heading into league,” said Quinet. “Playing Piedmont and Menlo prepared us better. After winning the opener versus Irvington High School—who was supposed to be pretty good—you worry about the kids thinking they are better than they really are.”

The theory proved worthy and Evergreen Valley kept a level head throughout the season—enough so to blast their opponents by an average score of 38-12 in league.

Other Cougar standouts include sophomore wide receiver Larry Lacotti, who at 5-feet 9-inches and 140 pounds possesses great hands and a knack in finding the open spot. Sophomore running back Javier Martinez, another standout, scored 13 touchdowns in six league games. Additional kudos go to the entire offensive line and to Jake Manzano, reputedly one of the top defensive lineman in league.

Silver Creek boys varsity soccer team sets sight on league championship

Seven cross country runners from Evergreen School District's Chaboya, LeyVa and Quimby Oak Middle Schools placed in the top five in their respective races at the Santa Clara County East Side Junior High Coaches Association regional finals meet held at Alum Rock Park Oct. 13.

The Chaboya eighth grade girls cross country took first place as a team, repeating the first place standing they earned as seventh graders last year. In this year's regional finals, the seventh grade girls team from Quimby Oak took second place as a team.

Combining all the race results by school, Brownell from Gilroy took first place, but Evergreen School District took the next top spots, with Quimby Oak earning second place and Chaboya taking third place.

The Evergreen contenders were among 20 schools from Milpitas to Gilroy that brought their strongest runners to the meet to compete in six races: C Class boys and girls, seventh grade boys and girls and eighth grade boys and girls. Between 125 and 140 runners competed in each race.

Silver Creek boys varsity soccer team
sets sight on league championship

By Charlotte Simpliciano
Times Intern

“Nothing less than a league championship is success for us,” says Coach Anthony Barajas of the Silver Creek varsity boys soccer team. With spirits high and their energy up, his team went on a “Red Lobster” run, where they hustle from Silver Creek field to the Red Lobster restaurant and back in under15 minutes.

The varsity boys soccer team has been practicing throughout the summer and competing in local tournaments, but now the players are ready for bigger and better things. “It’ll be nice to get out to other tournaments,” Barajas says.

“If you want to get better, keep practicing.”

Practicing is what they’ve been doing since April, when they formed a club to further prepare themselves in their pursuit for their league championship. Both the team and the coaching staff have put in a lot of time. Along with Coach Barajas, Adolfo Laguna and Marcos Esparza have been working hard this past summer to get their soccer team up to the next level.

Joseph Loredo and Raul Romero, captains of the team, share their coach’s ambition. These captains plan to lead their team to the top.

“Beware this year, because we’re coming,” Loredo warns. “We plan to come back undefeated,” adds Romero, who plays soccer year round. A part of the Latino College Preparatory Academy (LPCA), Loredo gets the opportunity to play other teams outside San Jose.

Driven to expose his players to other soccer teams, Barajas is pushing to get them out of San Jose for more tournaments. The team is looking forward to two important tournaments; one in Hawaii, where for three days they’ll meet teams from across the nation, and the other in Fresno, which is the largest soccer tournament in California.

These tournaments are huge opportunities for the players. For some of them, it will be the only time they’ll travel far from home.

The team is invited at a time when trips outside of the district are closely scrutinized. Fortunately for them, they’ve already gained support from Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas and former Prinicipal Ana Lomas to travel outside the district.

They’ve put in the practice, now they need the money for fees and transportation. Money to get the team to those tournaments is just a bump in a road, not a roadblock, according to Barajas. In addition to support from the Silver Creek Booster Club, the team has raised a lot on its own through carwashes, candy sales and gift books.

They’re also planning to invite other high schools to a tournament held at Silver Creek to alleviate costs. Unfortunately, it still won’t be enough.

“We’re definitely going, even if I have to pay the entry fee out of my own pocket,” said Barajas, who feels that his team has put in the effort, and that they deserve this chance.

If you’d like to support Silver Creek’s varsity boys soccer team, contact Coach Anthony Barajas at (408) 347-5600.

Evergreen Little League Baseball/Softball Sign-up for the 2005 season

Evergreen Little League (ELL) is accepting registration for new and returning players for all divisions from now until Jan. 15. All players can register in person on:
- Saturday, Dec. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Starbucks, Yerba Buena and San Felipe
- Sunday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Roundtable Pizza, White and Aborn
- Saturday, Dec. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Starbucks, Yerba Buena and San Felipe
- Sunday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Roundtable Pizza, White and Aborn
- Saturday, Jan. 8 and 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at Chaboya Middle School

Fees increase by $20 after Jan. 15, so register early. Registration after that date will be held:
- Saturday, Jan. 22 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chaboya Middle School
- Saturday, Feb. 12, and 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at Quimby Oak Middle School
- Saturday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Quimby Oak Middle School

New players must bring proof of residence and an original birth certificate or passport. Returning players may register by mail or in person. See the Web site http://ell-baseball.com for registration forms.

Fees for players registered before Jan. 17 are $60 for age 5-6; $70 for age 7-12; and $80 for age 13-16. All fees go up $20 after Jan. 15.

The Evergreen Little League is also looking for volunteer umpires. ELL offers hands-on training as well as classroom training if you want to learn how to umpire or just want to brush up on your skills and knowledge of the rules. Call (408) 534-1727 or playeragent@ell-baseball.com.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a team this year can contact our sponsorship representative sponsor@ellbaseball.com. Visit our Web site at http://ell-baseball.com for updates, details about try-outs for minor and major divisions, as well as preseason clinics.

Mt. Pleasant boys water polo team
Perfect 8-0 record for the season

By Christine Caneda
Special to the Times

Finishing the season with a perfect record of 8-0, the Mt. Pleasant boys’ water polo team made it to the top of the Mount Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

The team’s performance met their expectations and paved the way for a Central Coast Section (CSS) bid.

“We knew we’d do well,” said junior John Floesch. “Our team consists of talented players, so winning at the top of our league was expected.”

Although winning was already anticipated, their last game sealed their flawless record. On Oct. 27, the Mt. Pleasant Cardinals made their way to Independence High School, where they played all of their league games, and slipped into their Speedos for the last league game—their rears decorated with the words “Kiss my Cardinal.”

They looked forward to their last game against Leland, the school that Coach Andy McKay had considered to be the biggest threat from their league.

By the end of the first quarter, the Cardinals were leading by one point, 2-1. They continued to pull away, and by the end of the third quarter, they were leading 10-4. In the last quarter, Leland attempted to pull off a comeback but fell short, and the Cardinals won the game.

Ryan Floersch scored six goals, Steven Dena scored three, and Carlos Saldivar and Alex Nguyen each scored one goal. The Cards won the game with a score of 11-9, giving them the bragging rights to an 8-0 record.

There were times, however, when their spotless record was in jeopardy.

On Oct. 5, the boys faced Pioneer. By the fourth quarter, Mt. Pleasant was trailing 9-11. However, the Cardinals pulled it together and tied up the score 11-11 with only 4:35 left on the clock. At the end of the game, Mt. Pleasant won with a score of 15-11. Ryan Floersch, John Floersch, Nguyen and Saldivar all made goals.

Two days later, Mt. Pleasant played Leland for the first time. Despite their expectations of facing a very tough Leland, the Cards won 11-4. Ryan Floersch led the goals once again, and his brother John Floersch, Saldivar and Andy Ma also scored.

The Cardinals faced Piedmont with Dena back on their roster. Dena had been unable to play earlier in the season because of grades, but despite the absence, still scored three goals. Ryan Floersch, John Floersch and Nguyen also scored three goals. Tushar Kumar and Kyle Bush each scored one goal.

Mt. Pleasant made it to CCS as the top qualifier from their league, but lost in the first round to Live Oak.

Mt. Pleasant High School

Underdog JV girls volleyball team snags ‘A’ division league championship

By Stephanie Foo
Times Intern

We’ve all seen them on the Family Network. The story where the chubby little hockey players beat the big guys. Or, how about that one where the rookie dodge ball players kill the major leaguers? Now, Mt. Pleasant has its own underdog story; the story of its JV girls’ volleyball team.

With only one player on the team taller than 5-foot 5-inches, it seemed unlikely that they would have come as far as they have; league champions in the top Mt. Hamilton “A” Division with a record of 17-0 and 14-0 in the league.

The team beat almost all of their opponents in two sets, as well. They only took their games to three sets three times; twice against Westmont and once against Branham.

Sophomore Lucy Nguyen, one of two team captains, was thrilled when they took home the prize. “I felt great. It was the best feeling ever. Knowing that you’re league champs and knowing that you worked so hard to achieve your goals … you feel like that no matter what, you’ll come up on top.”

Their coach, Annie Williams, couldn’t agree more or be any happier. “This is the greatest coaching experience I’ve ever had in my four years of coaching here, and I’ve coached seven teams throughout my life,” she says.

Williams has played for Mt. Pleasant and DeAnza College and coaches at City Beach, a prestigious club in the area. She also created her own club for the girls to play. “I think [the club] has made them really good. The team bonded so much from being together … most of us were together 10 months out of the year.”

Though they practiced often, her girls’ height disadvantage forced them to play the game a little differently since they were not tall enough to attack the ball. But the team adapted well to the changes they had to make.

“We have to rely on our defense and waiting for other teams to make mistakes,” Williams says. “We don’t really put the ball away, but I’m starting to see that change, and I definitely think that our attacking will improve next year.”

Good thing their defense is so reliable. “It’s our greatest strength,” says team co-captain sophomore Berna Thongsavath. “It helps us throughout the entire game.”

Their one tall player, however, makes up for their loss. Standing at 5-foot 10-inches, freshman Puneet Khataria averages 15 kills a game, which is a large amount when you consider that the team beat most of their opponents in only two sets.

“She dominates,” smiles Williams. “She’s a crowd-pleaser; she’s like our Michael Jordan. She’s going to be phenomenal by her senior year.”

But Khataria isn’t what the team considers their secret weapon. “Team chemistry … that’s the thing that holds us together. Friendship and communication, everyone bonds together so well,” says Nguyen.

“They never go in with big heads,” Williams adds. “They always go in ready to fight. They don’t take anything for granted. And they just have fun. I think that’s what a lot of sports teams forget … is that playing is about having fun and you usually win when you have fun. That’s our greatest strength.”

Though the girls are undoubtedly proud of their league win, it’s not their only accomplishment.

“It’s not just about volleyball,” Williams says.“ It’s about building a family and building relationships and memories.

Now, we’re just like a big family. Our real team secret is love.”