Time Out with Isabel Jennings (2015 Justin-Siena High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life? Isabel Jennings: I have enjoyed the competition itself the most. I love the action and physicality of sports, and the unmatched feeling of a win or a new personal record. D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school? Jennings: I will not be pursuing basketball or track in college, but do plan to join intramural or a club sports team. I am considering Boston College, UC Berkeley, or University of San Diego. Not sure where I will end up yet! D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction? Jennings: I am going in undecided, but am leaving toward sociology or international relations. I am very interested in social change and development because of the service work and government classes I was involved in throughout high school. D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Justin-Siena High? Jennings: My Senior Service class has ended up to be my favorite class while at Justin-Siena. I have been able to go twice a week to Snow Elementary where I work with a third grade class. Many of these children come from low-income families or deal with other difficulties and setbacks. I loved being able to spend time with them and hopefully be a mentor to them. D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people? Jennings: Along with my parents, who have always been very supportive, my sister has been a big influence. She and I have always pushed each other to do better, and have a constant healthy competition going over everything. She is very driven and dedicated, and I look up to her for that. D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. Jennings: Hmmm. Hard question. It would be crazy to get to meet Babe Didrikson, a multi-Olympic medalist, who broke a lot of boundaries for women in sports. She even competed against men in some events!

Time Out with Morgan Malloy (2015 Justin-Siena High senior)

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

Morgan Malloy: Competing in athletics has been something that I have done my whole life. For me, it is just something that I love to do. My favorite part about doing this is getting the opportunity to go out and work as hard as I can to find success.

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

Malloy: My plans after high school are to attend Saint Mary's College of California and major in business. I chose business because there is always a job out there that accompanies this particular major.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Justin-Siena High?

Malloy: My favorite class at Justin-Siena has been psychology.

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

Malloy: My mother has been the most influential person within my family. She was a competitive athlete while growing up and she was able to take her skills to the Division 1 college level. She is an inspiration for me in so many ways. Not only does she work hard in everything she does, but she also finds a way to stay calm when facing adversity. I admire this characteristic of her because it shows me that even when things go wrong, with patience and level-headedness, I can still get through it.

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

Malloy: Ghandi, he worked to find peace in the world, and sometimes I, personally, get overwhelmed by everything going on so I think it would be interesting to meet someone that was able to control his emotions and work to help others find peace without violence.

Time Machine: 2005 girls soccer playoffs -- St. Helena vs. St. Vincent

Sometimes the best way to conquer your playoff demons are to take a “nothing to lose, everything to gain” approach.

Great games involving sports such as football are easy to remember because there is only one game per week. In every other sport, games become a blur because there are multiple contests during the course of the week.

However, if there is one girls soccer game I regularly think about, it is a 2005 CIF North Coast Section Class A playoff game between the St. Helena Saints and St. Vincent (Petaluma) Mustangs. The Saints won that contest 3-2 in overtime but it was the way they won which will always stand out because St. Helena conquered its recent postseason shortcomings by rallying to win a game that appeared lost.

Never has a team had so many historical trends going against them -- yet they win anyhow. When the Saints players and coaches charged the field to celebrate, I don’t think I have ever seen head coach Milton Gallegos run so fast or jump so high.

Setting the scene: The 2005 version of St. Helena girls soccer entered the NCS Class A playoffs with a recent history of good regular seasons followed by a postseason flamout.

The Saints missed the postseason in 2004 despite an 11-9-1 regular season record in which they won six of their last seven games.

Any postseason win is satisfying but this one was even more fulfilling because the Saints lost their previous three playoff games in decisive fashion to St. Vincent (5-0, 2001), Mendocino (9-2, 2002) and St. Vincent (8-1, 2003).

To top it off, St. Vincent had beaten St. Helena twice in the 2005 regular season by scores of 2-1 and 3-2. In addition, St. Vincent had won section titles four section titles between 1997-2004 while the Saints had yet to win a playoff game.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: The Mustangs scored two well-placed goals in the first half against a St. Helena defense that has been superb throughout the 2005 season. The Saints not only had a strong back-line but a stout goalkeeper in Alice Plant.

Gabrielle Siragusa (10 yards) and Rachel Beauchamp (20 yards) put the Mustangs ahead 2-0 at halftime. St. Vincent not only led at halftime but Gallegos felt the Mustangs were more aggressive than his Saints in the opening half. Coaches frequently utter adages to the effect of “losing is one thing but lacking effort is another.”

The Mustangs lead remained 2-0 with 14 minutes left in the game before St. Helena got on the board with 14 minutes left in the contest with Martha Mora finding the back of the net from 15 yards out.With the Saints on the brink of elimination, Viri DeLoera fired a corner kick that Kelsea Jimenez headed into the net to even the score at 2-2 with four minutes remaining.

In watching the game unfold, one had the feeling that despite all of the historical trends going against the Saints that if the game went to overtime -- it was advantage St. Helena.

The game remained tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation. Gallegos told his players that if there was a cavity in the St. Vincent defense, let it fly.

Brittany Johnston followed that recommendation as the Saints recorded their first postseason win ever in the sport of girls soccer by conquering their postseason past against a team that has been a thorn in St. Helena's side in recent years.

Johnston booted the game-winning goal from about 15 yards out with less than a minute gone by in overtime. The Saints players then stormed the field in enormous jubilation. The emotions ranged from tears of joy to euphoria. I specifically remember Gallegos, just a year or so removed from knee surgery running on to the field like he was Eric Dickerson celebrating with his players.

In fact, there were Johnston twins (Brittany and Fallon) on the team. While neither one lit up the record books like say Ashley Boydston, they were terrific players to have in a program because they had every quality that a coach would admire beginning with great work ethic and great attitude that can take a team a long way.

What it meant: Like most high schools in Northern California, girls soccer was not offered as an organized sport until the mid-1990s. At St. Helena, girls soccer began in the fall of 1997 starting with Dennis Belisle coaching the first season followed by Peter Weber from 1998-2000. Gallegos took over in 2001 and coached until 2010 before becoming the Saints boys soccer coach.

The Saints went on to beat Rincon Valley Christian 4-1 three days later before falling to Mendocino 1-0 in the NCS Class A title game. St. Helena has continued to be a regular postseason participant and reached the Section title game again in 2011, falling 1-0 to St. Vincent. The Mustangs have also won section crowns in 2006 and 2010.

In fact, in 2006, St. Vincent defeated St. Helena 1-0 en route to its section title and again in 2010 by the score of 3-1. Though St. Vincent has returned the favor on a few occasions, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2005, was an unforgettable day if you are a Saints girls soccer fan.

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.