Student-athlete. Athlete-student. Despite what the sports atheists might think, the two
terms co-exist just like socks and shoes -- or Vodka and Bloody Mary mix.
terms co-exist just like socks and shoes -- or Vodka and Bloody Mary mix.
There are several examples nationwide but for now, I focus on two here in the Napa
Valley. On the field, Lucas Gramlick helped sustain a winning tradition American
Canyon High has established since opening its doors in 2010. Similarly but in a
different light, Vintage’s James Robert helped the Crushers to what their fans hope
is the start of re-establishing a winning tradition.
Valley. On the field, Lucas Gramlick helped sustain a winning tradition American
Canyon High has established since opening its doors in 2010. Similarly but in a
different light, Vintage’s James Robert helped the Crushers to what their fans hope
is the start of re-establishing a winning tradition.
Gramlick and Robert will represent Napa County as the outstanding senior lineman
and back at the Northern California Chapter of the National Football Foundation and
College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete awards banquet on Friday, March 2, the Napa Valley
Register reported Monday night.
and back at the Northern California Chapter of the National Football Foundation and
College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete awards banquet on Friday, March 2, the Napa Valley
Register reported Monday night.
The event will be held at the San Francisco Airport Marriott and honors 24 scholar athletes
from 12 counties. The honorees receive a $1,000 scholarship. The student-athletes are
nominated by coaches and selected by local media members. The award is based on a
mixture of academic achievement, athletic achievement along with leadership and
citizenship in school as well as the community.
from 12 counties. The honorees receive a $1,000 scholarship. The student-athletes are
nominated by coaches and selected by local media members. The award is based on a
mixture of academic achievement, athletic achievement along with leadership and
citizenship in school as well as the community.
Besides Napa County, other counties represented are Alameda, Contra Costa, Lake, Mendocino,
Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma as part of the Northern California
Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, an organization of
more than 8,000 members who are active in 119 chapters across the country. The Northern
California Chapter, one of the largest and most active groups, has awarded over $816,000
in scholarships over the course of 50 years and change.
Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma as part of the Northern California
Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, an organization of
more than 8,000 members who are active in 119 chapters across the country. The Northern
California Chapter, one of the largest and most active groups, has awarded over $816,000
in scholarships over the course of 50 years and change.
On the field, both players were instrumental to their team’s success and were Player of the
Year finalists on the all-Napa County football team. Gramlick was an offensive and defensive
lineman for a Wolves team that went 7-4, winning their sixth straight Solano County Athletic
Conference title. Gramlick was the SCAC Lineman of the Year and was first-team all-league.
The Wolves recovered from an 0-3 start that included a 28-14 loss to Vintage and reached
the second round of the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III playoffs.
Year finalists on the all-Napa County football team. Gramlick was an offensive and defensive
lineman for a Wolves team that went 7-4, winning their sixth straight Solano County Athletic
Conference title. Gramlick was the SCAC Lineman of the Year and was first-team all-league.
The Wolves recovered from an 0-3 start that included a 28-14 loss to Vintage and reached
the second round of the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III playoffs.
Gramlick also competes in wrestling and baseball and possesses a 3.307 unweighted GPA
and also takes advanced placement courses. Off the field, Gramlick has been a volunteer
the last five years at a Relay of Life event in Vallejo. Gramlick has also been a Link Crew
leader, which is a leadership position and plays the cello in the school’s string band.
and also takes advanced placement courses. Off the field, Gramlick has been a volunteer
the last five years at a Relay of Life event in Vallejo. Gramlick has also been a Link Crew
leader, which is a leadership position and plays the cello in the school’s string band.
Robert’s contributions as a running back and linebacker led Vintage to a 7-3 season, best
since 2000. Besides the aforementioned win over American Canyon, the Crushers defeated
crosstown rival Napa 14-7 for their first Big Game win since 2005. In that contest, Robert
was named NVR’s MVP. The Crushers reached the SJS Div. II playoffs before losing to
Inderkum 35-22. Robert was second-team all Monticello Empire League. Robert is also
a captain on Vintage’s wrestling team.
since 2000. Besides the aforementioned win over American Canyon, the Crushers defeated
crosstown rival Napa 14-7 for their first Big Game win since 2005. In that contest, Robert
was named NVR’s MVP. The Crushers reached the SJS Div. II playoffs before losing to
Inderkum 35-22. Robert was second-team all Monticello Empire League. Robert is also
a captain on Vintage’s wrestling team.
On the academic front, Robert carries a 3.64 unweighted GPA and leads an active volunteer
life. On the latter front, Robert has been to Napa elementary schools several times as the
leader of the team’s Field Day that involves players going to the schools and teaching physical
activities during recess. He also volunteers time in the Crushers’ “Read to the Kids” program
where players also visit schools and read to students.
life. On the latter front, Robert has been to Napa elementary schools several times as the
leader of the team’s Field Day that involves players going to the schools and teaching physical
activities during recess. He also volunteers time in the Crushers’ “Read to the Kids” program
where players also visit schools and read to students.
Robert also played a role in helping Napa residents during the dastardly wildfires in October.
Robert led the way to organize teams help residents evacuate their possessions and at a local
farm that had animals that were evacuated.
Robert led the way to organize teams help residents evacuate their possessions and at a local
farm that had animals that were evacuated.
In my 18 years as a sports reporter with Napa Valley Publishing, I had the chance to attend
this event on numerous occasions. My most memorable time came in 2008 when Calistoga’s
B.J. Schlieder and Napa’s John Boyett were Napa County’s representatives. The former was
the keynote speaker. That evening, I had the pleasure of riding with Calistoga coaches Mike
Ervin and Scott LeStrange.
this event on numerous occasions. My most memorable time came in 2008 when Calistoga’s
B.J. Schlieder and Napa’s John Boyett were Napa County’s representatives. The former was
the keynote speaker. That evening, I had the pleasure of riding with Calistoga coaches Mike
Ervin and Scott LeStrange.
It is a treat because for openers, the food is really good. Every time I attended this event, I
came away thinking, “Those that are caught up in the ‘dumb jock’ narrative are clueless.”
If your interest does not lie in sports, that’s fine, I respect your wishes.
came away thinking, “Those that are caught up in the ‘dumb jock’ narrative are clueless.”
If your interest does not lie in sports, that’s fine, I respect your wishes.
Those people simply show their true colors in that they are so insecure that they feel the
need to denigrate others to feel better about themselves.
need to denigrate others to feel better about themselves.
Are there athletes that are not academically inclined? Sure there are. It’s just that stereotyping
all of them in that category is ignorance.
all of them in that category is ignorance.
I have also found that there are two kinds of people. There are those who say, “Who cares
about sports? School is more important” and there are those who say, “We’ve got to have
a strong sports program.”
about sports? School is more important” and there are those who say, “We’ve got to have
a strong sports program.”
The truth of the matter is that athletics and academics can indeed co-exist.
There’s no reason they cannot or should not. I know grade-point averages do not tell the
full story, because you can argue by saying, “Does this kid or that kid have hard classes?”
full story, because you can argue by saying, “Does this kid or that kid have hard classes?”
That’s a subjective and somewhat elitist question. Granted, I’ll give more credence to a
student whose GPA is 3.5 with an AP biology and a calculus class thrown in than the
one without. However, if a youngster is getting a 3.0 GPA or above, he or she is at least
demonstrating that they understand the importance of mixing academics and athletics.
student whose GPA is 3.5 with an AP biology and a calculus class thrown in than the
one without. However, if a youngster is getting a 3.0 GPA or above, he or she is at least
demonstrating that they understand the importance of mixing academics and athletics.
Point being, athletics and academics belong together.
It’s just a matter of getting them to work in concert with each other.
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