Time Out with Jack Pridy (2015 Napa High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Jack Pridy: The thing I have enjoyed the most would have to be the involvement I've had with my community and all the bonds I have created with my friends throughout my sports career.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Pridy: My plans as of now are to continue playing baseball until I cannot play anymore, whether that be at the collegiate level or beyond, I will always be involved with baseball in some way. After my baseball career is over, I plan on becoming a member of law enforcement (police/sheriff)

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Pridy: I will be striving towards a Criminal Justice major to aid in my post-baseball career as I mentioned previously.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Napa High?

Pridy: My favorite class would have to be U.S. History

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Pridy: My most influential person would have to be my dad, because everything I have done successfully in life is thanks to him. He has guided me to reach my greatest potential on and off the field.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet.

Pridy: One person I would have to meet would be Babe Ruth because he is an American icon. He played the game before everything was about statistics and looks, and was the best at it.

Time Machine: 2002 football Napa at Vallejo

Sometimes you don’t remember games because they came down to the last possession. Instead, you remember them more for what transpired in the coming years as it pertained to the teams involved.

The 2002 high school football matchup between the Napa Indians and Vallejo Apaches had that feel in a game that Napa won 28-14. The game was not even that close. I remember going into the game thinking that idea.

Setting the scene: This is the third oldest high school football rivalry in the state of California, which is significant considering the fact that there have been stretches of time that the two schools did not play each other.

Both teams were 2-1 entering the game but going in, one had the feeling that Napa had more momentum. The Indians lost 25-24 to Las Lomas in its season opener before rebounding with wins over Buhach Colony and Rodriguez, both 69-13 scores. Granted, both were first year varsity programs with no seniors but considering Napa’s struggles in recent years, such games were signs that the Indians were ready for big things.

Vallejo started the season with wins over Atwater (21-14) and Sacramento (47-13) but lost 30-20 at Vacaville the following week.

Napa entered the 2002 season in a four-year slump, going 12-24-4 over the course of 1998-2001. The Indians went 3-7 in 2001 but finished 3-2 after an 0-5 start. From 1986-2001, Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo were the most consistently strong teams in the Monticello Empire League.

Vallejo went 10-2 in 2001, winning a share of the MEL title with Fairfield. Before the 2002 season, however, the Apaches’ football program was dealt two severe blows. The first of which was quarterback DeMarcus Nelson opting to forgo his junior season of football after having signed a full-ride basketball scholarship to Duke University. The second blow came when wide receiver/defensive back Warner West was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons. Nonetheless, as consistent as Vallejo had been, the program had the “next man up” mentality.

The Apaches had the recent advantage over Napa, including a more-decisive-than-it-appeared 49-23 win at Memorial Stadium in 2001. Though the regular season would have six more games after this one, Napa could go a long way toward returning to relevance with a win over Vallejo.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: The Napa running back tandem of Buddy Connor and Iori Osawa combined for 102 yards rushing and the Indians forced four Vallejo turnovers in handing the Apaches a loss. The Indians jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead and it was curtains for Vallejo.

Napa opened the scoring early in the game after Ademir Cacique intercepted Vallejo quarterback Sean Thomas for a 39-yard return. Napa’s Joe LeMasters rushed in from seven yards out to give the Indians a 7-0 edge.

Napa widened the advantage to 14-0 after Matt Shimel's 52-yard punt return set up Osawa's 4-yard scoring run. On Vallejo's next possession, Ryan Beeman recovered a fumble and returned it to the Napa 31-yard line. Seven plays later, Osawa had another 4-yard scoring scamper for a 21-0 lead with 9:55 left in the half.

The Indians kept the pressure on as Connor executed a fake punt that resulted in the team's final touchdown before halftime. Connors received the punt snap, faked a pass and then handed off to Cacique who went untouched for a 34-yard score.

Vallejo scored two second half touchdowns to make the final score appear more respectable but the Apaches were never in the game.

What it meant: The Apaches came back to win their next three games to go 5-2 but late season losses to Fairfield (21-13) and Davis (16-13) knocked Vallejo out of the playoff picture. The Apaches finished the season with a 29-0 win over Hogan.

In 2003, the MEL was realigned and Vallejo moved to the Solano County Athletic Conference. Though the Apaches would go 8-4 the following season and reach the second round of the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. II playoffs, that loss to the Indians coupled with the aforementioned loss to Vacaville the previous week was the first sign that Vallejo was developing cracks in its armor.

Conversely, this win proved to be more of a psychological hurdle for Napa but this was still considered a high profile game for the Indians, it led to big things.

Napa went 8-3 that season including a 9-7 win over Vintage. That win marked the Indians first win over the Crushers since 1996. Vintage having the edge over Napa in football seems like prehistoric times now as since since 2002, the Indians have won 12 of the last 13 head-to-head matchups. Napa would return to the playoffs for the first time since 1997, losing to Woodland 21-20.

Suffice it to say, since 2002, Napa and Vallejo’s programs have gone in opposite directions. The Indians have gone 106-34-2 since 2003 with six MEL titles, 12 playoff wins and a SJS D-I title. The worst season Napa had was 5-6 in 2009.

On the other hand, Vallejo has gone 29-80 since 2003 and has had just one, non-losing season (5-5 in 2003).

Napa and Vallejo also put its long-standing head-to-head rivalry on hold as the two teams did not play in 2014 and are not likely to play each other any time soon. Between 2003-2013, Napa had outscored the Apaches 490-149 and 187-26 from 2010-2013.

Time Out with John Prudenti (1989 Justin-Siena High graduate)

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life? John Prudenti: Athletic enjoyment is something that changes as you get older. We get older. Things don't work the same. If you don't keep at it it makes it more difficult - but to answer this question: competing is just simple fun. Being able to compete throughout life has been tricky, but always good. Competition has never been about winning in my life: it is all about always getting a good sweat out of it and able to still compete...  now, after ACL surgery (in 2007) things are just not the same. But I still like to be as athletic as I can.  The one thing that really is unfortunate is that organized sports are harder and harder to find as you age. D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school? Prudenti: Trying to keep busy. To really answer this question is a beast. Basically I have been living a single and semi-nomadic life. Most of my time has been spent working in restaurants, with 8 1/2 years as a tech designer for women's lingerie - that ended in July 2003.  Now I am in a mid-life crisis and want to find a career that is not in a restaurant.  I am over it. D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High? Prudenti: Chemistry with Phil Amormino. D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin-Siena High? Prudenti: Of course it was the 300IH 1989 State Finals. Either that or beating Ripon Christian 2-1 in '89 during pre-season. I was in goal because we needed a keeper. D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics? Prudenti: I believe I have regressed.  Ever since I blew out my knee in 2003 things have gotten progressively worse.  I have become more reclusive. D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people? Prudenti: Mom. D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet. Prudenti: Sun Tsu - a Chinese General who wrote The Art of War.  He was a bad ass.

Time Out with Kristin Jacka (1998 Justin-Siena High graduate)

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Kristin Jacka: There were so many things I loved about competing in sports throughout my life but to me what stands out the most was that amazing feeling I had right after the game and a big win. Softball is a year round sport here in California so you're working hard all year in practice, both as a team and individually to prepare for the regular season. When all of that hard work pays off and you're winning games and championships and then able to share that feeling of sheer joy and accomplishment with your teammates, there is no better feeling. I was fortunate enough to be a part of some really great teams and had some amazing coaches, especially my head coach and pitching coach for four years Mr. John O'Connor, so I experienced that feeling a lot.

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?

Jacka: It's been quite an adventurous journey for me since I've graduated high school. Right after I graduated I attended school in Kansas and played a couple years of junior college softball both there and back home in Napa. After my playing days and school days were over, that's where my love for travel began. I moved to a few different cities throughout the country and then got a job as a Flight Attendant. I was a Flight Attendant for 10 years before taking some time off to settle back in Napa Valley and try out the wine industry. I was hired to help launch a brand new tasting room in downtown Napa. It was a great experience and a nice change for me. However, I then realized I belonged back in the sky and decided to go back to flying. I'm with a new airline now and will be based on the East Coast starting next month.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Justin-Siena High?

Jacka: My favorite class was definitely English with Mr. (Bob) Morrish. I had him for both Junior and Senior year. I loved English and he was one of my favorite teachers as well. Mr. Morrish made his classes so fun and entertaining. He had a big personality, would act out Shakespeare and he  always had the best stories. I remember he also had a big beer mug on his desk and would sometimes ask myself or other students to go fill it up with coffee or water. His class was one that I really looked forward to everyday and I have so many great memories from his class.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Justin-Siena High?

Jacka: Wow, I have so many I could say here but the one that comes to mind first would definitely have to be pitching as a freshman in my first varsity softball game. There were a only few games left in the regular season before the playoffs so Mr.O brought myself and a couple other players from JV up to Varsity to add players to the roster for playoffs and help the team out. I started and I ended up pitching a perfect game/shutout but more importantly we got the win. I'll never forget that feeling. I was beyond thrilled to be playing alongside girls I had respected and admired on and off the field, players like Casey Cortese and Megan Healy, along with many more. To get to experience that with that caliber of players was just the best feeling ever. I felt so much more confident after that. I was fortunate to have veteran players who showed me what being a great teammate and leader meant. That game set the stage for the following years of my high school playing career to come.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?  

Jacka: I feel that I've grown so much since high school just through my travels and experiences alone. Also with all the lessons I've learned along the way and I trace very much of that to athletics. Especially now as I'm getting older, I realize that things that are important to you and worth having don't come easy and they don't just fall in your lap. You have to be dedicated, driven and work hard for what you want and towards accomplishing your goals. Whether it's your dream job, maintaining strong relationships or just your overall personal happiness. You have to go after it and make it happen yourself. It's like with sports, you don't win games or achieve success without long days or nights of practice, being motivated and driven so you have to apply that to your adult and everyday life as well. I now realize the connection of that more than ever before.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Jacka: Coming from a big family I feel very fortunate to have many positive and supportive people in my life. Each of my family members has been so influential to me and each one in a special and different way. My parents have always been a huge reason for my accomplishments, past and present, as well as my siblings. They are all my number one fans and support system. My dad truly is the hardest worker I know and he has had that work ethic since he was a kid. Although working long hours at a physical job, he still found time to coach our different teams growing up and take us down to the school or the backyard and throw with us and hit with us. He is also one of the most well rounded and fun people I know. He has always done so much to provide the best life possible for us all and I am so grateful. My mom does it all and has always been there for me as well. She worked full time and still managed to never miss any of mine or my siblings games, have dinner on the table every night and help out with school projects. I don't know how she did it all. I am so appreciative of that. She has also taught me to be strong and to never give up. My siblings many accomplishments, especially now, in both their personal and professional lives, helps motivate me and drive me to become a better person every day. I also have extended family members I'm close to who are highly positive influences in my life. Wherever I am or whatever I'm doing I always think about how much they all mean to me and how they affect my everyday life.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet.

Jacka: I would have to say Derek Jeter. He's a legend, not only in baseball but in sports itself. The way he competed and carried himself with class and respect on and off the field like he did is pretty amazing and very admirable. Plus he's pretty cute too.

Time Out with Jack Preston (2015 St. Helena High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Jack Preston: Athletics have been huge for me in developing my relationships and character. I am very competitive, so having people along side me competing for the same thing has allowed me to develop some very close friendships.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Preston: I plan to attend either Tulane or USC.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Preston: I am undecided at this point, but I am interested in business and neuroscience. I find business intriguing because I think it has a lot to offer a person with my skill set, and neuroscience because I have always been fascinated by the mind.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at St. Helena High?

Preston: My favorite class at SHHS would definitely be biodiesel with Mr. O'Connor. However, I have also had a lot of fun taking AP Psychology with Mrs. Rios this year. Mr. O and Mrs. Rios are both great teachers.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Preston: Anything I have ever achieved in my life is a result of outstanding parenting.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet.

Preston: I would love to meet Abraham Lincoln. I have always admired that how he was able to lead with both his mind and his heart.

Time Out with Elia Rubio (2015 St. Helena High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Elia Rubio: My participation in cross country, soccer, and basketball have allowed me to express myself outside the classroom. I’ve enjoyed watching both myself and my teammates improve during practices and games.Throughout my involvement, I’ve also had the opportunity to form bonds with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise if it weren’t for sports. Sports have taught me various skills, as well as allowed me to acquire both confidence and a sense of ambition.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Rubio: I hope to attend a four year university of my choice. As of now, I am unsure of what university I will attend given that I have yet to hear back from other schools. I applied to both both private and public universities, instate and out of state. So far, I have been accepted to eight universities. I also hope to continue playing basketball by joining and intramural team.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Rubio: As of now, I hope to major in general health sciences or biology to potentially pursue a career in medicine. Ideally I would like to become a physician assistant and then possibly continue on to medical school to become a doctor. Science is an ever evolving field with different branches and is the main reason as to why I am drawn to the subject. My ability to speak to languages would also allow me to aid those who have limited communication due to the language barrier.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at St. Helena High?

Rubio: My favorite class at St. Helena High School is AVID. I’ve been enrolled in this college preparatory class since freshman year. This course has guided me through the application process for both college and scholarships. I’ve benefited greatly from this program, because I will be the first in my family to attend college.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Rubio: Though I am inspired by many, my father has been a primary influence in my life. Other than his audacity to come to the United States at a young age, his resilience from his long term back injury have had a lasting impact on me. He’s taught me to persist even when times are difficult, as well as inspired me to further my education.  

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet.

Rubio: A historical figure that I would like to meet is Frida Kahlo. Other than being a prominent Mexican female, and world-renown artist, Frida was her own person. Her audacity, independence and courage are but few of the traits that I hope to one day acquire.

Time Out with Daniel Murphree (2003 Vintage High graduate)

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Daniel Murphree: I enjoyed the training such as running in Westwood Hills and traveling to different cities.

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?

Murphree: I graduated from UC Davis with  an art degree, also,  while in college I also learned some remodel construction and have been working on homes ever since. Other than that, just enjoying life, I make furniture out of reclaimed materials, making a table right now, I just turned 30.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Vintage High?

Murphree: My favorite class at Vintage High, would be  English 12 taught by Sushanna Ellington, search for meaning. It was an eye opening class, and Art taught by Christine Golik, and Economics with coach Mike Flohr.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Vintage High?

Murphree: That  would have to be at the state tournament my senior year. I found myself down 6-1 in the quarterfinals about halfway through the match. I had a light-bulb go off in my head, telling me that I had to get to work. So I put my 8-mile face on, and ended up winning 12-10.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?

Murphree: I feel that I have grown a lot, personally, since high school. I can trace some of that growth to athletics; more accurately, I can trace, the motivation and the drive to want to change, to athletics. I have had a lot of great mentors and teachers, too, so I think, athletics is one of many things.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Murphree: My Aunt Terry, she taught me how to poach an egg, without vinegar. All my family is very influential in their own way, and I have learned many things from everyone.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet.

Murphree: Urban Meyer

Time machine: 2006 Calistoga-North Hills Christian football

Sometimes motivation can be a powerful tool and sometimes even when things look most bleak, good stories come. To appreciate the 2006 Calistoga High football team, you first have to understand the peaks and valleys between 1999-2005.

Like many high school football programs, Calistoga has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows. The 2005 season would qualify with the latter. The Wildcats played just four games on the field that season which began with the excitement of the return of Dan Conner as head coach. Conner replaced John Antonio after just two seasons and had coached the Wildcats in two others stints (1974-1977; 1996-2000). Calistoga won the 1999 CIF North Coast Section Class B title in 1999.

Conner would soon discover that “what was” is not always “what is.” Conner always had a rule that if a kid would miss practice for any reason, he had to first let him know. The 2005 season was full of weeks like that in addition to academic ineligibility and even when games were played on the field, it was not a good representation. The poor on-the-field representation included things like post-possession penalties that revealed lack of self-control.

Frustrated with the constant issues, Conner want to cancel the rest of the season. That led to strife between Conner and the Calistoga administration (specifically principle Kevin Eisenberg and to a lesser degree, athletic director Frank DiFede). The latter would make the argument that Conner only had the authority to cancel individual games but not an entire season. Conner resigned and Joe Russo took over as head coach the rest of the season. The Wildcats would only play one game, which was a 27-20 win over Laytonville.

Throughout the entire offseason, there were questions as to whether or not Calistoga High would have a football team in 2006. Assistant coach Shawn Garrity, who was a teacher at Calistoga High, oversaw the offseason program between opening the weight-room and organizing team fundraisers that included a car wash. Garrity even oversaw spring practice.

Calistoga, however, would reach into its past by hiring 1962 CHS graduate Mike Ervin in June 2006. Ervin had coached in various locations both at the college and high school levels including but not limited to Mendocino College, Sonoma State University, Cardinal Newman, Anderson Valley, Analy and Reid High in Sparks, NV.

Ervin would inherit a talented but mostly unproven senior class that included Ziggy Gutierrez, Andrew Watkins, Alex Cedarquist, Alex Lynch and Russ Rider. There were also talented juniors in the mix such as B.J. Schlieder, Jesus Cachu and Bryant Rubio. Ervin would bring in the shotgun veer and a 4-2-5 defense. He would also bring in assistant coaches Jesse Atkinson and Aaron Debacker, both of whom played for Ervin at Analy. That staff also included Calistoga High graduates Julio Ambriz and Jake Blakeley.

The question is, how soon could Ervin get the players to buy into his way of coaching? The first answer to that question would come on Week 1 against North Hills Christian (Vallejo), coached by former Calistoga and St. Helena coach Richard Eaton.

I remember vividly going into that game and season saying that “if Calistoga went 2-8 and didn’t have to forfeit games to academic ineligibility and would get rid of discipline issues the season would be a success.” I also remembered asking, how would the Wildcats do the first time they faced adversity since they were prone to crumbling in times of crisis the previous few seasons before?

Thumbnail sketch of the game: The Wildcats produced 343 yards on the ground with a mixture of Cachu, Gutierrez and Sandro Villasenor. Gutierrez also had an efficient passing game in completing 7-of-12 throws for 68 yards, including a 16-yard scoring strike to Cachu on the game’s opening series. Unlike the previous season, when Calistoga faced adversity, it kept its poise. Defensively, the Wildcats also handled themselves while facing a unique challenge against an Eagles team that threw more passes than a gigolo at a nightclub.

Leading 17-8, the Wildcats appeared to salt the game away midway through the fourth quarter but Gutierrez’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Cedarquist was nullified because of an ineligible man downfield.

Calistoga later turned the ball over on downs but North Hills struck quickly as Darrin Farias scored on a 1-yard sneak with 3:53 left in the game and hit Dallas Hamilton for the two-point conversion, making it 17-16.

Cachu then capped the scoring with a 19-yard run with 56 seconds left in the contest and the Wildcat defense held as cornerback Ricky Mendoza broke up Farias’ last-gasp pass toward the end zone.

What it meant: The Wildcats would lose four of their next five games though against the most difficult part of their schedule that included games against Berean Christian, Vacaville Christian, Mendocino and Tomales to fall to 2-4. The Wildcats then bounced back with three straight wins beating Laytonville (42-12), Round Valley (36-0) and Potter Valley (39-22). Calistoga then finished the regular season with a gut-wrenching 34-27 loss to Anderson Valley.

However, the Wildcats’ 5-5 record was enough to get them into the NCS Class B playoffs. The season ended with a whimper in a 48-0 loss to St. Bernard (Eureka) but anyone who viewed that season plus the previous one knew that 2006 was a resounding success.

Calistoga would go 6-4 in 2007 but the next three seasons the talent dried up and many of the assistants that Ervin had enjoyed good chemistry with, notably Atkinson and Debacker were unable to continue coaching. The next three seasons, Calistoga went a combined 13-19. Ervin resigned after the 2010 season.  

Time Out with Erica Crean (St. Helena High 2015 senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Erica Crean: The thing I have enjoyed most about competing in athletics is being able to play with my friends, meeting new people, as well as competing. I've been fortunate enough to have played on some really good softball and volleyball teams where I have met a bunch of great people that I still know and talk to today.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Crean: My plan after high school is to go to college. I haven't decided on a college yet since I'm still waiting to hear back from some.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Crean: I am planning on majoring in Nursing. This major intrigues me because I have always wanted to be in the medical field and ever since I was little I would always make my brothers let me take care of their scratches, splinters, cuts ,etc.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at St. Helena High?

Crean: My favorite class would have to be Anatomy with Mr. (Chris) O'Connor. I am currently taking it this year and it has been a lot of fun. We dissect many things including a sheep's brain and eye, and a cat which is our biggest lab in the class. It has definitely given me a head start for college.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Crean: My parents are probably the most influential people within my family. My dad has always pushed me to do better in sports and has turned me into the player I am today. My mother, on the other hand, has just always been there for me through everything and has supported me through school, sports, clubs sports, anything I can think of. She has ultimately taught me to be just as loving and caring as she is.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet.

Crean: A historical figure that I would most likely meet would be Katharine Hepburn who was an actress in the 1940s. She was athletic and assertive which are some characteristics I believe we share. I also really admire how she shunned Hollywood publicity and refused to conform to society's expectation of women.

Time Out with Kelsey (Jacka) Hunsaker -- 2002 Vintage High graduate

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Kelsey Hunsaker: I loved that no matter what was going on in your life, sports was always an escape for me. I was able to forget what was going on in school whether it was studying for a test, or writing a long paper. I was able to be in the moment and focus on competing and bettering myself everyday to reach whatever goal I wanted to obtain.  

D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school?  

Hunsaker: Since high school I followed my dream of being a teacher. I attended San Diego State and Chico State for my bachelor degree in liberal studies. I furthered my education at UC Davis to earn a teaching credential and Masters in Education with the emphasis in reading. However, my two years at Chico State definitely made the biggest impact in my life because that is where I met my amazing husband, Chris which now led us to our beautiful baby girl, Colbie.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Vintage High?

Hunsaker: My favorite class was US History with Mr. (Dan) King as my teacher. Not only was he my teacher, but my basketball coach as well. Mr. King made learning so much fun.  He is one of the major factors on why I became a teacher. Learning history can be very stuffy at times where you are only getting facts from a textbook, but Mr. King made our learning come alive by actually having us reinact the history to make it more relevant for all of his students.

D’Adamo: What  was your favorite athletic moment at Vintage High?

Hunsaker: My favorite athletic moment had to be playing against Justin-Siena in a basketball tournament. It was the championship game of the tournament during my junior year. I was always played shooting guard; however, my coach, Mr. King moved me to point guard to try and take control of the game. I very rarely played that position, and never felt confident at that position. I could see that Mr. King had a lot of confidence in me in that moment, and that gave me the assurance that I would make a big impact for my team. I ended up having key steals, assists, and clutch free throws during the final minutes to help win the game.

D’Adamo: How much do you feel you have grown personally since graduating from high school and how much of that do you trace to athletics?

Hunsaker: I have grown tremendously from high school and have attributed a large portion of that to athletics. I live my life simple but to the point. A great quote that drives me on a daily basis is "the difference between good and great is a little extra effort." The beauty of those words,  are that they can be applied to every aspect of my life. Whether a big term paper or studying for my next big interview, effort is what elevates you to the next level.

D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people?

Hunsaker: Coming from a big family, I had both my parents to look up to and my two older siblings. My parents both had great work ethic and influenced me at a young age. My siblings success in sports gave me the drive to achieve all my athletic goals. In my adult life, my husband has been at the core of helping me set and achieve a high level of success for myself. Since the age of 20, he has been at my side giving me the strength to conquer all life's obstacles.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet.

Hunsaker: I would like to meet William Wallace. The bloodline on my mother's side is Scottish. William Wallace is a national hero to Scotland and was a central figure to secure their freedom from England. Also, I just loved the movie Braveheart! Who doesn't?!

Time Machine: 2001 Vintage at Bethel football

When we revisit games that took place years and decades ago, we often think of close games that were decided on the last possession. However, games do not always need to have such ramifications to be remembered. In fact, there are times when a great individual performance makes you remember a game.

One such high school football game that I come back to is a contest that took place on Oct. 27, 2001. On that day, the Bethel (Vallejo) Jaguars defeated the Vintage (Napa) Crushers 59-38 at Corbus Field in which running back Dallas Bernstine rushed for a Northern California record 553 yards on 21 carries and five touchdowns. The previous record (350 yards) was set by the late Tonnell Grant of Wood (Vacaville) in 1998. Bernstine’s performance was the second best in California history behind Ronney Jenkins’ 619 yards in 1995 for Oxnard High and at the time, the eighth best nationally. Jenkins went on to play in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers.

Setting the Stage: It was Week 8 of the regular season. The Monticello Empire League had eight teams and four playoff berths. Both teams entered the game 3-3. Vintage was reeling from losses of 45-10 and 46-7 to Vallejo and Fairfield respectively. Bethel had lost to intracity rival Vallejo 35-14 one week earlier.

Vintage High opened in 1968 and was the established school. Bethel opened its doors in 1998 and was the new kid on the block. The MEL had four allotted playoff spots. Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville were the top three teams in the league that season. In which case, this contest between Bethel and Vintage would amount to an elimination game.

The previous season, Vintage had one of the best turnaround seasons one will witness under head coach Les Franco, who returned to coaching after an 11-year absence. Vintage went from 2-7-1 in 1999 to 8-3 in 2000. Bethel went 2-8 in 2000 in its first season as a varsity program but 2001 was its first campaign with seniors. The Jaguars would also get a boost with the arrival of Vallejo High transfers Dallas Bernstine and Andrew Green.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: Watching the game unfold on the opening possession, you knew it would be a long day for Vintage, which entered the game with a defensive line already thin on depth because of injuries. Bernstine’s 76-yard run gave the Jaguars a first-and-goal at the Vintage 7 to set up a Victor Reyes touchdown. Bernstine later scored touchdowns of 78, 23, 67, 72 and 60 yards. He also started that game at safety.

What was even more amazing about Bernstine’s performance was that they were in no way padded yards that took place in a blowout. Bethel needed all of those yards to secure the win. The Jaguars took a 32-0 lead midway through the second quarter before Vintage pulled within 52-38 with two minutes left in the game. Granted, Bethel was never in danger of losing but the game got close enough to where it was not signed, sealed and delivered.

Another subplot to this game was that it took place two years before Fieldturf, which has become commonplace at many high schools, was installed at Corbus Field. Especially in its later years, the grass field at Corbus had so many divots you would have thought a bunch of sand wedge shots took place there.

What it meant: In my 18 years of sports journalism, it’s hard for me to rank athletes but I definitely put Bernstine in a very select category. Jeff Turner is the only football head coach that Bethel has known and while the Jaguars came up short in their only appearance in a Sac-Joaquin Section title game (2007), the program has been a consistent playoff participant.

However, I point to the arrival of Bernstine that put the program on the radar. Bethel lost to Vacaville one week later, 65-54, and beat what was a winless Benicia team 46-14 on a Thursday night to improve to 6-4. Bethel, however, needed a Fairfield win over Armijo to secure a playoff berth. The Jags had lost to Armijo 21-14 earlier in the season. Bethel got the help it needed with Fairfield beating Armijo 26-7.

The reward? An all expenses paid trip to perennial power Elk Grove. Bethel got behind 22-0 before falling short 22-15 to a Thundering Herd team that would go on to win the SJS D-I title. More on that game in a separate Time Machine blog.

Vintage would rebound to beat Benicia (51-6) and Napa (21-16) to finish 5-5 but out of the playoffs.