NorCal Issue 154, October 2018

NORCAL EDITION OCTOBER 2018 VOL. 9 ISSUE 154

Surviving The

SIDELINE C oaching is hard. Seriously hard.

The hardest parts have very little do with wins and losses — but of course this is how the overwhelming majority of coaches are evaluated. Coaching is about connecting. It’s about building trust. And about teaching.

In my 15-plus seasons of writing about Bay Area high school sports, I’ve built strong relationships with many coaches. Putting the microphone down and simply talking ball — or everyday life — has accounted for some of the most rewarding moments in my career.

Coaching is also about survival. Sometimes in too literal a sense.

Jim McCue’s package of stories in this issue about coaches who have endured severe medical trauma — and then returned to the sidelines — is a reminder of what so many high school coaches go through. And how easily they can be at risk to the rigors of stress, anxiety and worse.

I’ve been close to a handful of coaches who have suffered health scares over the years. Each situation was unique, but there was one constant. They were all heavily dedicated to the job — which is really just their side job, right? (for far too little a stipend) — and to their athletes.

A reminder: Even the state’s most celebrated high school coach regardless of sport, former De La Salle football head coach Bob Ladouceur, was temporarily sidelined with a heart attack during his tenure. His program was in the midst of setting a national-record winning streak at the time, too. The grind eventually takes a toll on every coach.

That’s why I urge you to not only read McCue’s stories, but to mark Nov. 4 on your calendar.

That’s the date of National Coach Appreciation Day. Players, parents and administrators: Please take the time to thank your coaches — each of them, from freshmen to varsity. And don’t forget about the coaches who guided you before you reached high school either.

And to the coaches who read us, here’s a thanks from me and the extended family of SportStars freelance writers and photographers. You constantly thank us for our coverage, but it’s often a lot easier for us to accomplish due to your own efforts.

However, please remember that you can only inspire and teach young athletes when you’re healthy.

Take care of yourselves, and we’ll continue to take care of you and your programs. ✪

JOIN OUR TEAM PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 EDITORIAL Editor@SportStarsMag.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsMag.com Assistant Editor Mike Wood Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Clay Kallam, Tim Rudd, Mark Tennis, James G. Kane, Harold Abend, Jill Daniels, Anthony Trucks, Erika Westhoff, Ike Dodson, Steven Wilson Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography James K. Leash, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans III, Samuel Stringer, Jim Johnson, Dennis Lee, Dave Lawicka Interns Joshua Howser, Krishna Gomatam Marketing/Events Ryan Arter CREATIVE DEPARTMENT Art@SportStarsMag.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsMag.com PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsMag.com ADVERTISING Sales@SportStarsMag.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsMag.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com READER RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATION Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Info@SportStarsMag.com INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsMag.com COMMUNITY SPORTSTARS™ MAGAZINE A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC PO Box 741, Clayton, CA 94517 info@SportStarsMag.com www.SportStarsMag.com

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With the North Coast Section proposing a hoops open division, Clay Kallam suggests a possible regional playoff domino effect

Catch new state football and volleyball rankings each week. See the top 10 for free, or subscribe for more in-depth offerings.

ALL ACCESS See what’s in this issue Parker is the only senior for Capra is the third, and last, 12 Sterling 24 Joey Alhambra volleyball, but has lifted the brother to dominate the line for Placer entire program to a new level

is a tough profession, and 18 Coaching coaches need to remember to take care of themselves as well

football. The family legacy has left an immense impact on the program

Rayna Stanziano is proving 32 Concord’s to be an elite distance runner

YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #9, October 2018 Whole No. 154 is published by Caliente!

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Tennyson Football photo

Ja’kobe harris TENNYSON-HAYWARD - FOOTBALL - SENIOR In his first game of 2018, Harris set his school’s record for touchdowns in a game with six — on just 10 carries. His prolific season has continued from there. On Sept. 28, Harris helped Tennyson defeat Alameda 27-22 by scoring three times and posting over 250 yards from scrimmage. He rushed 12 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns while also catching four passes for 71 yards and a score. Through six games, Harris had 791 rushing yards and 104 receiving yards. He’d reached the end zone 20 times, including a 68-yard punt return for a score. He also threw a 55-yard TD pass in a win over Oakland Tech. Tennyson was 5-1 overall and 1-0 in West Alameda County-Shoreline play through Sept. 28.

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What’s In A Nickname?

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very once in a while, in an effort to attract perhaps more casual fans to the CalHiSports.com website, we engage in what we like to call the nickname game.

This is an exercise in going over some of the most unique, most appropriate and favorite high school nicknames (or mascot names if you prefer) in California. This last time we did it, just before the start of the current football season, we decided to list our top 20 favorite school nicknames in the state and then follow it up by letting many of the schools on that list engage in a series of Twitter polls to determine a fan favorite.

Schools from Northern California that were on our Top 20 for the state were: 1. Vintage Crushers 4. Chester Volcanoes 6. Lincoln Fighting Zebras 10. Hollister Haybalers 12. Bret Harte Bullfrogs 13. Live Oak Acorns 16. Stagg Delta Kings 20. Bellarmine Bells For a school to be on this list, the mascot name had to be one-of-a-kind in California.

Several folks responded on social media that the Yuba City Honkers should have been on it. That’s not actually unique, however. Tulelake, way up in Modoc County, is also the Honkers. We also were looking for the nickname to reflect an aspect of that school’s community, which is why we like Vintage so much since we all know those wine grapes in Napa all need to get crushed.

In the Twitter polls, our own support for the Crushers to be the best didn’t help that much. The Crushers didn’t even get to the final four poll. That one ended up being between the Bakersfield Drillers, Lincoln Fighting Zebras, Hollister Haybalers and Moorpark Musketeers. Perhaps because popular Sacramento area TV sports personality Jim Crandell of the FOX 40 Final Quarter got involved, Lincoln won the final poll with more than 40 percent.

Even with that extra push, Lincoln’s fans are indeed loyal to their unique nickname and the school community relishes every aspect of the Fighting Zebras. They sit in a student rooting section called “The Zoo” and to see their mascot continually strike a boxing pose and deliver jabs as if “fighting” all imaginary foes is always funny and clever.

We also like to delve into the nickname/mascot story once in a while because there are always new schools being built or those with Indian-themed nicknames that have to change. Why stick to the boring and normal names when so many unique possibilities exist?

Napa High, the archrival of Vintage, recently had a series of votes among its students to decide which new mascot name it would have instead of being the Indians. The eventual winner unfortunately to us was the Grizzlies. A great name for any school in California, but hardly unique. We were mentioning Grizzlies in the State Top 20 for football almost every week last season because of the Central High Grizzlies in Fresno and the Mission Hills Grizzlies of San Marcos (in the San Diego area). There are a few others, too. Napa High could have been the Bold, a combination of the school’s blue and gold colors, but also similar to a school being called the Pride. Uniqueness lost out, however, to the norm.

For those at any upcoming new schools, you’d be surprised that some nicknames still are unused by any California high schools. The list includes 49ers, Sea Lions, Seals and Zephyrs (which would be good for schools that are in windy places). Just be creative, and please, no more Eagles, Warriors, Titans or Patriots. ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @CalHiSports

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Behind the Clipboard by Clay Kallam

Choose Caution Over Contact So we’ve played three games, and we haven’t done as well as we’d hoped. We’ve missed a lot of tackles — and I’ve missed some too — and the coaches are all over us because of it. But we don’t get to practice tackling very much because of all the concern about football injuries. It doesn’t seem fair to me that we should get yelled at when we can’t practice enough, and it also seems like we’re more likely to get hurt tackling if we don’t practice tackling.

They need to change the rules.

— D.K., Elk Grove

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hat’s a tough one, and though it’s most prominent in football, it’s really a problem in almost every sport. Take basketball — the more you play, the more likely you are to tear an ACL. Or volleyball — you practice the same swing, over and over again, and your shoulder starts to break down. Even golf, with its repetitive swing, can lead to back or wrist problems.

Football, though, adds the element you mentioned: If you don’t practice tackling, your chances of doing it wrong go up, and when you do it wrong, you’re more likely to get hurt. Of course, you’re also more likely to let a ball carrier loose, and that tends to get your coaches upset, which is seldom a good thing.

But I do have to say that your coaches, and all football coaches, need to be understanding about the whole contact-in-practice issue, and how it should shape their expectations. Coaches, very probably, grew up practicing with lots of hitting, lots of tackling and lots of hard contact — and they got better in those aspects of the game because of that. It’s hard for them to really understand how different the experience is for kids who don’t get as much contact, and aren’t as used to, say, bringing down a running back in the open field.

Hopefully, they’ll begin to make that adjustment in their expectations over time, but in the present, they’re going to be upset. They’re probably upset they can’t have more contact in practice, too, but those days are gone forever — and for good reason.

If you blow out an ACL, the odds are very good that, after sur-

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gery, your knee will be functional.

You’ll probably even be able to play basketball again. If you have shoulder problems from swimming too many yards or taking too many sets, therapy and rest can generally get you back to normal.

But if you damage your brain, as repeated minor contact can do, there’s no going back. Studies show that 10 percent of high school football players suffer some kind of brain damage, and though that’s comforting on one level, for those 10 percent, it’s life-changing. (And if there are 30 kids on your team, that means three will leave high school with brains that don’t work as well as they should. So quick, come up with three names of teammates — what if it’s those three? Is potentially crippling them mentally worth more contact in practice?)

The bottom line is this: Kids’ brains are more important than missed tackles, and even the coaches who are yelling at you know it. It’s just something everyone has to figure out how to live with. ✪ Clay Kallam has been an assistant athletic director and has coached numerous sports at a handful of high schools throughout the Bay Area. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at claykallam@gmail.com.

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O

ne may be the loneliest number, but being the only senior on the Alhambra High girls volleyball roster has made Sterling Parker reach new levels even she thought weren’t possible.

Hosting Diablo Athletic League foe Acalanes-Lafayette on a cool Thursday night in Martinez, a back-and-forth battle had built a playoff-like intensity. Down two sets to one, the Bulldogs would rely heavily on their co-captain.

But not entirely in the way you might think. She knew she couldn’t do it all herself.

“I trust you” and “We got this” were constant phrases being yelled out by Parker as she attempted to will her team to victory.

Set four was a slugfest with both teams struggling to take control. It wasn’t until Parker broke the 13-13 tie with an emphatic kill that came crashing to the floorboards with max velocity that Alhambra finally was able to build some distance on the scoreboard.

The Bulldogs won the set 25-18 to force a decisive fifth set.

The final set played out very similar to the fourth — Parker and crew were able to turn hustle plays into points with continuous kills and aces. The Bulldogs won the final set 15-9, pushing their record to 19-3 on the season and a 1-1 mark in league play.

Parker finished the match with 28 kills, five digs and three blocks.

“It’s a huge advantage having a player/assistant coach on the floor,” Alhambra coach Willie Marchesano said. “She’s a great extension of the coaching staff in games and at practice.”

Parker may be a great floor general, but her stats show she is a player through and through. After the Sept. 20 match, she led the Bulldogs with 273 kills, ranking ninth overall in California. She also boasted 138 digs and 33 aces with eight matches remaining in the regular season. She’d already surpassed her dig total from last year and was on pace to have more blocks and aces.

Parker may be the clear leader of this team, but she insists she wouldn’t be where she is as a player without her teammates and coaches pushing her to a new level each day. She asserts that coach Marchesano was the first person to believe in her skills on the court.

It’s easy to assume as an outsider that the game comes easily for Parker — she will attest it hasn’t always been that way.

Believe it or not, Parker didn’t start playing volleyball until her last year of middle school. Her original loves were dance and softball. After eight years of doing both concurrently, she took a year off from playing competitive sports.

After the time away, she received an ultimatum from her parents that it was time to get back in the mix. Reluctant and somewhat forced, Parker settled for volleyball — determined not to mold to the stereotypes and play basketball just because her 6-foot, 2-inch frame says she should.

It wasn’t love at first spike.

“I hated playing volleyball at first,” she said.

“This sport did not come easy to me.”

Story by Jesse Gomez Things began to click at the beginning of her Photos by Jean-Paul Toshiro freshman year — this is the time she recalls truly starting to love the game.

“This is when I knew I wanted to be great,” Parker said. “I committed myself to my craft and started putting in real work inside the gym.”

The hard work and dedication started to pay off quickly for her.

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She has played varsity all four years. The Bulldogs reached the North Coast Section playoffs in her first season, an accomplishment they hadn’t reached in more than 30 years. Last season, they reached the finals. Now a senior, Parker is hoping to lead the Bulldogs to a fourth straight playoff appearance and second trip to the finals.

Regardless of how similar this season seemed to the previous three, Parker states the dynamic is vastly different.

After returning just three varsity players from the 2017 season, these young Bulldogs had to learn together what it meant to play at the highest level.

“I had to change my mentality this season,” Parker said. “It was a different role for me at first, going from one of many to the big sister of the group.”

As expected, growing pains were felt. However, Parker explained being there for the younger girls when needed and providing player-on-player coaching has been a rewarding experience.

The coaching staff insists this group has what it takes to be great. “Having girls that still have room to improve only makes us more dangerous than the teams with a bunch of seniors,” Marchesano said.

Parker vows that youth will not deter the lofty goals the entire staff has for the rest of the season. Ending the 2017 season with a NCS championship game defeat has made the group hungrier than ever.

“I want to leave a legacy at Alhambra,” said Parker. “I want the girls after me to understand that it’s not about wearing a jersey, it’s about getting better every day and being a part of something special.”

With countless awards, stats and a 4.0 grade point average, it’s safe to say Parker will have no problems leaving a lasting impact when her Bulldog career comes to an end.

At that point, Parker will begin preparing for her freshman year at Colorado University. She has orally committed to a full athletic scholarship and plans to officially sign in November — shortly after her final visit on Oct. 26. All signs point to Parker excelling at the next level.

“She will do great in college. She has amazing people skills.” Parker’s teammate and fellow outside hitter Michaela Rezentes said. “She gives the team hope that the next level is attainable if we work hard like she does.”

Parker plans to study psychology at Colorado so she can continue to help people later in life. She credits the desire to help people from her parents.

Her father, Warren Parker, a longtime insurance salesman, left his job of 15 years to become a student counselor at Dublin High.

“It was so inspiring to watch my father do what he loves, regardless of a paycheck or a title,” she said, expressing that her parents have instilled the desire in her to do what makes her happy — while helping as many people as possible along the way.

She’s got the helping part down. Perhaps her last act for the Bulldogs will be helping them raise a championship banner. ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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POWER hungry Several Elite NCVA Clubs Prepare For Another Season Of Boys Power League

NCVC’s Ian Smith rises for a kill.

If the Northern California Volleyball Association’s Boys Power League Qualifiers on Sept. 15-16 and Sept. 22-23 were any indication, club volleyball fans should prepare for more of what they saw in 2017.

Which is a lot of Mountain View Volleyball Club, Northern California Volleyball Club and Bay To Bay Volleyball Club.

Those three clubs dominated the top three power divisions a year ago, holding 17 of the top 21 spots. Each club placed two teams inside the top 7 of the Boys 17/18 point standings (MVVC 18 Red won it all). They had five teams with the top 7 of the boys 15/16 point standings (MVVC 16 Red finished up top). The clubs then had six more teams in the top 7 of the 13/14 points standings — MVVC 14 Red won it all while Bay To Bay placed teams in second, fourth, sixth and seventh.

It’s these three clubs’ Power League heading into 2018, and the rest are just trying to find cracks in the armor.

NCVC 18-1 Asics entered the 17/18 qualifying tournament as the No. 1 seed, and swept its way to a 7-0 weekend. The team, which is led by Elk Grove High star hitter Ian Smith (616 kills as a junior for the Thundering Herd), went 7-0 and dropped just two sets. It will be the division’s top seed to open Power League Weekend No. 1 on Oct. 7.

Other top seeds heading into the first weekend of league include No. 2 Bay to Bay 18-2 and No. 3 MVVC 18 Red. Bay to Bay 18-1, which includes many of the players who led last year’s Bay To Bay 17-1 team to the USA Volleyball Junior Nationals 17 Open title, will begin Power League as the No. 8 seed. It went 6-1 at the qualifier with its only loss coming to Bay To Bay 18-2.

In the 15/16 Division, MVVC owns the top three seeds to begin league. MVVC 15 Red owns the top seed followed by MVVC 16 Red and MVVC 16 Black. NCVC 16-1 Asics holds the No. 4 position and Bay To Bay 15-1 opens at No. 5. Interestingly, none of these five squads entered the qualifying weekend as the top seed. That belonged to Fresno Volleyball Club 16 Red. It will begin league as the No. 7 seed.

MVVC 14 Red was the qualifying tournament’s top seed, and remains the top seed heading into the first weekend of league. MVVC 14 Black is No. 2, NCVC 14-1 Asics is No. 3 while Bay To Bay 13-1 and Bay To Bay 14-2 round out the top 5.

Power League breaks down to four league tournament weekend ons Oct. 7, Oct. 21, Nov. 17 and Dec. 1. Regional championships take place Dec. 15-16. For schedules and point standings visit NCVA.com. ✪

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Oak Ridge Girls Volleyball Works Toward Normalcy After Tumultuous Summer & Preseason Oak Ridge coach Trevin Morgan 18

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N

o drama. No easy task for a high school team, but that’s the mantra for the Oak Ridge High girls volleyball team of El Dorado Hills.

Just over a month into the schedule and the Trojans

feel drama-free despite a summer and preseason that was anything but.

“We are all connected,” said senior middle blocker Natalia Andrus. “There is no divide among us because we had to come together at the beginning of the year.

It’s not easy with a team of high school girls, but we Story by Jim McCue Photos by James K. Leash

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really have no drama.”

After three years and three Sierra Foothill League titles, former head coach Patrick Sanders stepped down at the end of the 2017 season and seven seniors

October 2018

graduated from the team.

A new coach was named, but never officially took the position. Suddenly one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s top programs was all but leader-less as the school year wound down. In stepped Trevin Morgan, who applied for the job and was hired before summer began.

Then summer break came and brought real-life drama with it.

On July 17, Morgan went into cardiac arrest at his workplace and had no heartbeat or breathing for seven full minutes, according to those who witnessed his scary episode and the doctors who cared for him.

“I don’t remember any of it,” Morgan said at a recent practice. “I was told that I fell and hit my head on the corner of my desk and was out.”

Due to swelling on the brain, Morgan was put into a medically-induced coma, and his family was told to prepare for the worst.

With school out, Morgan’s life-threatening situation took some time to reach the players and public.

“I was scrolling through Facebook and found out,” said senior outside hitter and team captain Gracie Rowland. “I panicked and thought ‘We’re not going to have a team.’”

The prospect of both Morgan’s life and the Oak Ridge 2018 girls volleyball season ending before the school year started was very real, and difficult for the players to take in.

“Obviously we were worried about Trevin, but I was like, ‘Now we don’t have a coach and our season, my senior season, is ruined.’”

Fortunately, Morgan came out of the induced coma after seven days with relatively no complications. No brain damage occurred, paving the way for recovery.

Almost immediately, he turned his attention to the program and his first high school coaching stint after 10 years coaching on the club volleyball circuit with Gold Cal Jrs.. Because he knew all the challenges the Trojans were facing with the

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Regan Hoppe

new-coach transition, the coach was anxious to help his players.

“They have had a harder road than I have, so to speak,” he said. “They have had basically three coaching changes in the last six months, and they were facing a completely lost season.”

The Trojans got help from a member of their volleyball family to keep the program afloat while Morgan’s situation was sorted out. Melanie DeMure, an Oak Ridge graduate and former boys and girls volleyball coach at the El Dorado Hills school, stepped up to “save the season,” according to Morgan.

DeMure, who is also the club director and owner of Gold Cal Jrs., offered to take on the head coaching role until Morgan was ready to return.

“Melanie is the real hero,” Morgan said. “She basically said that she would do whatever needed to be done, so that I could remain coach when I came back.

“Without her, they didn’t have a program.”

DeMure handled administrative duties and ran tryouts (sharing video of the tryouts with Morgan to review) while Morgan built strength and lost patience with not being able to do anything.

Morgan eventually convinced medical staff to allow him to return to his team.

— Oak Ridge coach He was allowed to assume his coaching Trevin Morgan duties one day before the team’s first scrimmages.

After losses to Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove, St. Francis-Sacramento and Ponderosa-Shingle Springs — all top 5 area teams — the Trojans could have easily crumbled. Instead, the roster, which features just four seniors, came together to move forward.

“After we lost the first three games, I think we all understood that it was not how our season was going to go,” said junior setter Regan Hoppe. “I knew that league would start soon and it would be a whole different story.”

Now, with the team and coach settled in with an 11-6 overall mark and 3-2 Sierra Foothill League record through Sept. 27, the Trojans can look ahead to the challenge of qualifying for the postseason and making an extended playoff run: Drama that is welcomed by the players and coach. ✪

“They have had a harder road than I have, so to speak.

They have had basically three coaching changes in the last six months, and they were facing a completely lost season.”

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Phil Walton photo

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TOO SOON? Why It Shouldn’t Always Be About Getting Back On The Court

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revin Morgan was cleared to return to coaching just more than two months after his heart stopped for seven minutes. The Oak Ridge High girls volleyball took a chance to introduce his sense of humor. “On the third day back, I said, ‘You’re killing me’ in response to a play, and they all looked at me in horror,” he said with a laugh. “I looked at them and asked, ‘Too soon?’”

For Morgan, it was not soon enough as the 47-year-old was eager for a return from the moment he was able to communicate clearly with family and doctors. Having accepted the job as the new coach just a couple of months before going into cardiac arrest on July 17, he wanted to meet his team and get started. “I was going stir crazy,” Morgan said.

So far, the return to the sideline has been good for Morgan, who views coaching as the best therapy since tests on his heart and brain have revealed no firm answers as to why his heart stopped in July.

“Coaching is not stressful to me. It is something that I love doing. I needed to get back to this, and the doctors allowing me to do this was a blessing,”he said.

To this point, the story has a happy ending, but not all coaching health scares yield positive results.

On January 8, 2017, Valley Christian-San Jose boys basketball coach Mark DeLuca had a heart attack midway through his first season with the Warriors. Eager to return to his team as it entered the stretch run, DeLuca fainted on the bench during a Central Coast Section playoff game and doctors ordered he sit out the rest of the school year.

DeLuca had seen former Berkeley High coach, and good friend, Mike Gragnani die from a massive heart attack in 2011, and has read of other tragic ends to fellow coaches’ lives. For DeLuca, who led Valley Christian to a CCS title last season, health and well-being must be the first priority for coaches following similar medical scares.

“Any coach suffering a heart attack should be extremely careful about coming back too soon like I did,” he said. “This game almost killed me once, and I’m not intending to let it happen again. Now, I make sure to set aside time for my physical health by eating right, walking and doing bleacher work. ” Leading young athletes can be stressful and dangerous if coaches do not practice what they preach. “We talk to players all the time about prioritizing things in their life like balancing athletics with school and family,” DeLuca said. “But sometimes we forget to do it ourselves.” ✪ — Jim McCue

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Placer senior Joey Capra

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Joey Capra squares off with a teammate during preseason drills.

Legends linger a little longer in Auburn, home to the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race, California’s longest-lasting prep basketball tournament and a 45-ton concrete statue of the prospector whose gold discovery led to the town’s founding in 1888.

Seven years ago the town struck gold again, when parents Janine and Joey Capra Sr. rolled into town with a new job and a new community for their three young boys to embrace. The brothers, who grew up snowboarding the slopes of Truckee, needed a new activity to help acclimate to life in the foothills — and football became the new way of life for the Capra family. The rest isn’t history, but it will be.

Linemen Johnny, Jacob and Joey Capra helped bolster a dynasty at Placer High and have aided in five league championships, two section title appearances, an SJS and NorCal title (2017) and 57 wins over the last six seasons. This isn’t counting the unbeaten start to the 2018 campaign that Joey is enjoying at right tackle this year.

Football has given back to the Capra family. Each brother committed to Pac-12 football scholarships. Johnny (Utah junior) was first to depart. He was slated to start on the Utes offensive line this year, before a torn shoulder labrum spoiled his 2018 campaign. Jacob (Oregon sophomore) earned a start against UCLA last season and is fighting for playing time this year.

Joey (Placer senior) has built a reputation as one of NorCal’s premier athletes. He verbally committed to accept a scholarship from Arizona State in July, but decommitted from ASU to nab an offer from his dream school, Oregon, the same month.

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Joey Sr. doesn’t have a great explanation for the football pedigree. At 6 feet, 2 inches and 5-11, respectively, Joey Sr. and Janine are in the shadows of their sons, and neither played competitive sports.

Keeping the boys well-fed sure helped.

“I’m not sure how big the bills have been, but grocery trips require massive amounts of food,” Joey Sr. said with a laugh. “It’s still pretty expensive, but after Johnny and Jacob went to college they took nutrition a lot more seriously.”

Three Pac-12-caliber offensive linemen will also do wonders for your ability to sustain a drive.

“This is a rare and unique situation,” Placer football coach Joey Montoya admitted. “You are lucky to get one Div. I athlete, let alone three brothers in a row. All three have been monsters on the field and top-notch citizens off the field.”

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Jacob, left, and Johnny after a game at Oregon.

Left to right, Johnny, Joey and Jacob Capra

Joey’s off-the-field game is on-point.

The 4.0 GPA student is polite and friendly, humbly promotes himself via Twitter and mastered the recruiting game by watching his brothers do it. It helps that the Capras were mentored by the parents of Hillmen alumni Eddie Vanderdoes (Oakland Raiders) and Stone Sander (Sacramento State alum).

It was “Big Eddy” who really opened the families’ eyes for what a small-town player could achieve on the national stage. Vanderdoes was one of the top recruits in the state, and became an instant star at UCLA. When he left for NCAA stardom in 2013, the Capras intentionally walked in his footsteps.

All three boys became mainstays of the Linemen Win Games Off-Season Technical Program at American River College. LWG alumni include Raiders rookie starting tackle Kolton Miller (Roseville) and a host of other collegiate and pro talent.

Joey said he improves his games every weekend by going over his game film with his older brothers. “They will always tell me what I need to do to become a better football player,” Joey said. “They always tell me to get lower, have fast feet and angle to the (linebacker).”

The tutelage, combined with Joey’s physical attributes (6-4, 280 pounds) and strength (he bench presses 300, squats 430), make life easy for the backs that trudge behind Placer’s double Wing-T offense.

Through the first five games of 2018, Placer averaged an incredible 562 yards per game and amassed more than 2,350 yards rushing. A backfield with elite Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

“This is a rare and unique situation.

You are lucky to get one Div. I athlete, let alone three brothers in a row. All three have been monsters on the field and top-notch citizens off the field.”

— Placer football coach Joey Montoya

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runners like Hans Grassmann, Marshall Chapman and Brad Bishop certainly helps, and three-year varsity quarterback Michael Stuck has mastered Montoya’s offense.

“It’s a great combination of talent mixed in with grit and competitive attitudes at the highest level,” Montoya said.

Placer football also has outrageous community support.

Past and present Hillmen line the bleachers of LeFebvre Stadium, legendary cross country coach Randall Fee reliably greets visitors at the north end of the field and onlookers are treated to a neighborhood spectacle that showcases the work of athletic director Mark Lee, leadership teacher Mike Sabins, cheer coach Kristine Lee and famed music director Dave Lawrensen.

It’s the same environment Joey was raised in, and dreamed of playing in since the fifth grade.

“It’s amazing to be a part of this football community with a small-town vibe,” Joey said. “It’s great to play under the Friday night lights and see your neighbors and your family in the stands, where everyone knows each other.”

Joey was a waterboy for Johnny’s teams, and a ballboy for Jacob’s. He took his rightful place on the Hillmen line as a sophomore, and settled for runner-up Sac-Joaquin Section status when Manteca ousted the Hillmen 50-28 in 2016.

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“It’s amazing to be a part of this football community with a small-town vibe,” Joey said. “It’s great to play under the Friday night lights and see your neighbors and your family in the stands, where everyone knows each other.”

— Joey Capra

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From left, Joey, Johnny and Jacob at Johnny’s graduation this past spring.

A year later Joey’s team was section and NorCal champions, and runner-up in the Division 4-AA CIF bowl game. His encore season could be even better, as Placer approaches the 2018 postseason with enormous potential.

Joey said the program isn’t distracted by those expectations.

“Coach Montoya talks about avoiding the noise,” Joey said. “It’s always on to next week and then the next week, and the team we are about to beat.”

Every week also brings a new adventure for the Capra parents. Joey Sr. and Janine will typically catch Joey’s game on Friday and drive through the night to arrive at Johnny’s or Jacob’s game. They may catch a few hours of sleep on the road, but it’s been a whirlwind since the first brother began to pick up recruitment momentum in 2013.

Truckee’s snowy slopes must feel like a past life.

“Janine and I are so thankful to the Hillmen football program and coach Montoya in particular.” Joey Sr. said. “This community has been really supportive and encouraging. We have been very fortunate to have this happen to our family.

“When you hear people talk about ‘never in a million years’ they are talking about this, the football family life we didn’t see coming.”

You don’t always have to prospect for gold to find it. ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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S A q L P S SIERRA SHOOTOUT SHINES ON

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The biggest high school water polo tournament in the West, the Sierra Shootout/Chuck McCollum Invitational, just wrapped and once again was a huge success. With a 20-plus year history this tournament has grown to where they now utilize five pools in Placer Valley including the Sierra College Aquatic Complex and Del Oro-Loomis, Whitney-Rocklin, Rocklin and Oakmont-Roseville high schools over the course of two weekends.

On Sept. 7-8 the boys teams competed in four different brackets with 64 total teams participating. WoodcreekRoseville took first place in the most competitive bracket with Christian Brothers-Sacramento securing second place.

The girls teams hit the pools for their games on Sept. 14-15 and also had 64 teams competing. It was a fight for first place between Miramonte-Orinda and Buchanan-Clovis. Miramonte claimed the first-place spot. Granite Bay snagged a well-earned third-place finish and Woodcreek finished strong in fifth place.

Scott Decker, Sierra College Aquatics Director, always looks forward to this annual event. “We love hosting the Sierra Shootout/Chuck McCollum Water Polo Invitational every year. It’s a great fundraiser for our aquatics program and fun to see future collegiate athletes compete in such a big and competitive tournament!” ✪ — All copy and photos provided by Placer Valley Tourism 30

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H S A AND

E R q SC O

n Oct. 12-14 California Capital Aquatics will host its long-running, Halloween-themed Spooktacular Swim Meet in Roseville at the recently renovated Roseville Aquatics Complex. Placer Valley Tourism, the City of Roseville and CCA all contributed to the funding for these improvements.

The RAC renovations included pool replastering, resurfacing of the main pool deck, a state-of-the-art LED scoreboard and starting blocks. PVT is thrilled to be teaming up with CCA again to bring this event back to the RAC and show the 750 swimmers competing all the enhancements and upgrades.

“The coaches in the area love the upgrades to an already amazing facility at the Roseville Aquatics Complex,” commented Justin Brosseau, CCA head coach. “It is a FAST pool and word is out how many records were broken both at the Sierra Nevada Swimming Bill Rose Classic and the Western Zone Age Group Championships this past summer; the best swimmers in the area want more chances to compete at this facility!”

Speaking of best swimmers, CCA is expecting the youngest superman of swimming, Clark Kent Apuada, representing the Monterey County Aquatic Team from Salinas, is expected to compete at the Spooktacular this year. Apuada, just 10, has received national attention for breaking Michael Phelps’ age-group record in the 100-meter butterfly at the Far Western Championships that were held on July 29 in Moraga. Apuada is no stranger to the RAC as he competed in the Western Zones this August. CCA is excited to have a swimmer of his caliber heightening the level of competition for all the athletes at the meet.

Mark your calendars for Friday, Oct. 12 through Sunday, Oct. 14, and come on down to the RAC at 3051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd. in Roseville to see some spooky, fast swimming. There is no fee for spectators and a snack bar will be on-site with food and beverages available to purchase. ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, like us on Facebook!

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R

ayna Stanziano reflects the tranquil nature of Concord High’s cross country team, appreciating more subtle aspects of competition and sport, rather than the trophies and banners that larger programs collect like Halloween candy.

These days, however, the senior is quite a name in the sport. This fall she has impressive wins at the Ed Sias Invitational and the De La Salle/Carondelet Nike Invitational. Her remarkable start is on the heels of a stellar spring in which she won a North Coast Section track and field championship in the girls 800 meters and then took third in the state in that event.

She’s generated quite a buzz around the modest little program that doesn’t even have a tent for big meets — another stark contrast to the established programs with huge contingents and banners.

Stanziano, in her shy, quiet manner, puts her imagination to work while competing. At the Nike Invitational on Sept. 15 at Concord’s Newhall Park, she was so far out in front of the pack in the varsity girls race, she opted to conjure up an opponent to chase during her wire-to-wire win.

“I was just kind of imagining that I was racing with my teammate, Logan Jacobs,” Stanziano said. “He is a sophomore, and we train together every day. For tempo runs, I am trying to catch him. So I imagine he is ahead of me and I am running towards him.”

Stanziano completed the 3.02-mile course in 18 minutes, 7.3 seconds — 14 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. On Sept. 8, she won the Ed Sias Invita34

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tional 2-mile varsity small-school girls race in 11:36.2, a mark that was 35 seconds faster than the winning time in the girls large-school race, and her best time by 40 seconds on the Hidden Valley Park course in Martinez.

Once again, it was strength in small numbers.

“Seeing all these huge schools, their varsity teams, it’s really nice to know we have somebody who can stay with them,” said Hannah Jenevein, her teammate and best friend. “Somebody who is very competitive. And that they are scared of, kind of.”

As for Nike, Stanziano wanted to break 18 minutes, and her time would have been 17:59 factored onto the meet’s typical 3.0-mile course.

“It was a little bit longer because they wanted to avoid the gopher holes,” she said. “We are used to running on the grass over there. The geese are always over there. We have to avoid the geese when we practice. I love it when the baby ducks come out.”

Her fondness for animals is a bonus in her running endeavors. There are many chances to appreciate the smaller things in life.

“My favorite street to run on is probably Myrtle Drive (in Concord), because it’s really quiet there and they have goats,” she said. “They have a little day care with goats on that street.”

At Nike, Concord was inconspicuous, gathering at picnic tables. Stanziano is used to the school’s obscurity in cross country, but turns that into a positive.

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“I think after four years I am pretty much used to it,” she said. “I kind of like being the underdog, because I just focus on my individual accomplishments, while being part of a close-knit family.”

Stanziano is part of a girls varsity squad that often competes with just five runners. Jenevein appreciates what Stanziano has done for the school and their team.

Again, it’s the small things.

“We’re not used to winning huge titles,” Jenevein said of Stanziano, whom she has known since kindergarten. “And so, we are so proud of her because she has made Concord a name in the record books. She’s made it on the news and our school’s name is out there. And it feels really good to be part of something like that. At practice we push her, too, so it’s good to know we’ve helped her be as successful as she is.”

Stanziano is coached by her mother Lanette, who ran at Del Mar High in San Jose and at Cal before being sidetracked by stress fractures and other injuries.

Given her mother’s experiences, Rayna is careful to manage herself to stay free from injuries.

Rayna’s first love was swimming, starting at age 5. She began running in middle school, where she set records in the mile and half-mile. And she began watching older brother Evan, coached by her mother on Concord High’s swim team, keenly observing team camaraderie from the outside.

Once in high school, she began with cross country and swimming, added track and field and learned to juggle two spring sports.

In cross country, she made the state meet each of her previous three seasons and showed improvement: 206th as a freshman, 29th as a sophomore and 11th last year in Division III. Her breakthrough came in track and field last spring, with a stunning victory in the NCS 800 championship race, with a personal-record time of 2:10.06 to defeat 36

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two-time defending state champion Alyssa Brewer of California-San Ramon, and then taking third in the state.

“That was a surreal experience,” she said. “I am excited to see where I can go with it. Because my mentality is a lot different. Rather than being afraid going into races, I feel excited, and that it’s going to be fun.”

There is a serenity in cross country that makes it easier to be relaxed while competing at a high level.

“That is one thing I prefer about cross country,” she said. “In cross country, in the middle of the race, where there is no one cheering, it’s just really peaceful.”

Quietness and peacefulness appeal to Stanziano in other ways, including her college choice. An aspiring writer and editor, she is deciding what is next, and small is key to her.

“I am looking into Saint Mary’s right now,” she said. “I really like the environment there. I just like how it’s a small serene little campus. Which is what I am looking for.

I want it to be quiet and peaceful. I am not really into the big city scenes.”

She has gained interest from Cal and UCLA, along with Northern Arizona, Davis and UC San Diego, Lanette Stanziano said.

“She feels that even though she is a very good student and very conscientious, and has got straight As and does really well, she just knows that kind of environment is not for her,” Lanette said. “She has told me, ‘Mom I don’t want to have to get on a plane to come home.’”

Right now, she trains, runs and studies, setting goals for big things come November and a fitting finale at the state meet in Fresno.

“I have been looking at the times from last year’s state meet and trying to figure out where I could possibly place this year. I want to go around 17:30 and I am hoping I can get in the top five with that time,” she said. “The biggest part is I just want to enjoy it. I don’t want it to go by too fast.” ✪

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BEATING MIDSEASON

MENTAL GRIND get mental: erika westhoff It’s mid-season. You are grinding through five-plus days per week of practice and games. You’re getting physically exhausted, and mentally you may be slipping into negative thinking as you try to keep up with all the sport and academic demands. Here’s a list of very common mid-season mental struggles: ›› Finding balance between school, sport, and social life ›› Feeling tired and sore from daily practice ›› Feeling the mid-season “blahs” = lazy work ethic ›› Frustrated with wanting more playing time ›› Managing injuries that have cropped up earlier in the season ›› Frustrated with a difficult team environment (teammates, coaches and/or parents) Sound familiar? There are many strategies that can help you successfully work through the mid-season grind. Remember, your physical and mental game go hand-in-hand, if your struggling mentally, it’s tough to dominate physically.

Try these mental training strategies to help you (and your team) get through your season successfully: ›› Check your self-talk — If you’re thinking too much about being tired, sore or frustrated, you need to change it up and get out of your head. Focus on the simple instructions, one drill at a time. (e.g., “dig!” “accelerate” “look, pass”) ›› Refocus your attention — When you think too much, your attention is stuck inside your body. Get your head and eyes up and pay extra attention to the external game (the ball, the setter, see a route around through the defense). ›› Build your game confidence all week long — Start your week by setting your health goals (sleep, diet, hydration), practice goals (“play with intensity” “talk on defense”), game goals (“complete 80 percent of passes.”).

Mental toughness is a must have resource to get through the mid-season mental grind. Always remember, a strong mental day allows you to physically dominate on game day. ✪ Erika Westhoff is a certified mental trainer and owner of Excellence in Sports Performance in Pleasanton.

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