Time Out with Manuel Martinez (2016 Calistoga High senior)

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

Manny Martinez: Throughout the years as an athlete, I have made a lot special relationships with different people. From coaches, parents and other athletes. That's what I enjoy the most as an athlete, the relationships with people.

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

Martinez: After high school I plan to go to college and find a career. I'm not sure what I want to major in but hopefully I can discover it before I graduate.

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

Martinez: I might choose to major in something that relates to sports because I want to be around sport action.

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

Martinez: My favorite class in Calistoga high has been weight lifting. It helps me deal with stress. After that class I feel fresh and ready to deal with the rest of the day.

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

Martinez: My mother has been the most influential person in my life. She taught me self discipline and to give my best to anything I do. She has been with me through ups and downs and when I needed her the most.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Martinez: Bruce Lee is a historical figure that I would like to meet. He is the type of person that has great skills and use them for good. He is like a hero also his personality is what makes him to legendary.

Saints football shines in all phases in win over Knights

The St. Helena High football team’s road to a North Central League I title will involve some defining games in the coming weeks but the Saints played like a focused team that was not interested in looking ahead on Friday in a 41-8 win against an overmatched Kelseyville Knights club.

All three phases of football were on display in the process. The Saints offense tallied 354 yards of total offense (226 rushing, 128 passing) led by the offensive line of Juan Hernandez, Erik Bautista, Tony Macias, Kyle Lemieux and Sage Randall-Darter along with tight end Nathaniel Roth. Jahaiver Otero led the rushing brigade with 118 yards on 19 carries and a 1-yard touchdown run.

Quarterback Dylan Martin completed 6 of 7 passes for 128 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Martin completed two touchdown passes to Alfio Basile from 25 and 55 yards away. He also hit Roth for an 18-yard scoring toss. Basile Also returned a punt 51 yards to paydirt.

The Saints squandered a scoring chance on their first drive when the reached the Kelseyville 5 only to have a holding penalty push them back. Niko Lopez’s 37 yard field goal sailed wide left but from that point on, St. Helena played near flawless. Lopez later added a 12-yard rushing score while Basile scored on a 51-yard punt return.

“We got a little bit derailed by a penalty on the first drive but otherwise we were pretty clean the whole first half,” Saints head coach Brandon Farrell said. “We moved the ball through the air as well the ground. I was really happy with how the kids performed especially on run defense against a scheme like theirs. The guys did well up front. We just have to continue to improve.”

The Saints defense was also equal to the event in allowing just 126 yards on 35 snaps but even that number is inflated because two plays consisted of 79 yards -- a 41-yard connection from Noah Lyndall to Logan Barrick, who later added a 38 yard run.

The Saints defense recorded six quarterback sacks. Randall-Darter had three while Roth added two and Lemieux tallied one. Roth added 2.5 tackles for loss followed by Randall-Darter with 1.5 and Javier Garcia with one.

St. Helena also recorded several impact tackles (gains resulting in 0-3 yards). Mark Martin led the way with 4.5 while linebacker-mate Austin Cia added 2.5. Jake Flood and Randall-Darter each had 1.5. Peyton Rockwood and Macias each added one while Edgar Avalos shared on one.

“I think we saw signs of what we were trying to challenge kids with this week,” Farrell said. “We made some plays on the ball in the air. I thought we got a better pass rush. Those are two areas we wanted to make sure we focused on. I thought we ran the ball well against a lot of guys in the box. Dylan is getting a lot more comfortable in the pocket.”

The Saints will have road games the next two weeks beginning at Lower Lake on Oct. 9 and Middletown on Oct. 16.

Time Out with Dustin Anderson (2016 Calistoga High senior)

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

Dustin Anderson: I didn't play sports for a good portion of my life. When I was younger, I always wanted to play football but didn't because I figured I was too small. It wasn't until sixth grade that I finally got the chance to play and I loved it. I also didn't play in junior high for the same reason; my size. It was my freshman year that I finally picked the sport back up. The thing I've enjoyed most, honestly is the brotherhood and bond formed on a team, especially a football team. Coming into freshman year, I wasn't the most popular kid. I was kind of eccentric and didn't know how to handle myself, so I was sort of isolated. My decision to play football during my freshman year was the best one I ever made. Through this journey of competition, I have gained discipline and have made friendships and bonds that I will never forget.

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

Anderson: My main goal after high school is to go pursue my passion for music and go to SAE ( the school of audio engineering) and get a diploma in audio technology. With this, I want to get a job working at a recording studio while continuing to go to school somewhere in LA for a degree in the same field.

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

Anderson: As surprising as this may sound, my favorite class has been weightlifting. In the past year or so, maybe two, I have become deeply interested in the fitness world and self improvement. This class, that I took junior year, and am taking now as a senior, helps me in following that path and continuing my journey of lifting. To be honest, I just love seeing how I've improved over the past year and a half and knowing how much more I still can.

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

Anderson: The most influential person in my family to me have to be my parents. Although he passed a couple years ago, I lived with my dad all the way up until sixth grade, and then continued visiting as often as possible and talked to him every day. He is the reason I love music as much as I do. He introduced me to the guitar at a young age -- that didn't last long.  Without him, I wouldn't be as intelligent or as hard headed as I am today. Quite frankly, I wouldn't even be the same at all. Of course I have to give my mother some credit, though. With the help of my stepdad, she has raised me from that point, and was the one who was the most excited for me to play sports in the first place. When I told her I wanted to play football, she was all for it.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Anderson: There are too many historical figures I'd want to meet, both in and out of sports, alive and dead. One of which is Jimi Hendrix. To be clear, he isn't my favorite musician, but I do admire him. He is one of the greats and just, you know, picking his brain a little would be really interesting. I’d love to ask him just about what drove him to play the way he did. Because he was so unique in that way.

St. Helena football on its way to another strong campaign

It was generally assumed that the North Central League I football race would involve three horses (St. Helena, Fort Bragg and Middletown) with another (Cloverdale) ready to make some noise.

Cloverdale is good club in its own right but Friday’s 41-13 loss to the St. Helena Saints proved that while the Eagles are better than the bottom half of the league (Willits, Clear Lake, Lower Lake, Kelseyville), they still have some work to do before reaching the summit in the NCL I. They should have the confidence to beat Middletown because after all, they beat the Mustangs on their homefield 25-7 last season. They also narrowly lost to Fort Bragg 20-14 at home. The Eagles host the former on Oct. 30 and visit the latter on on Nov. 6.

Cloverdale is certainly not going to go quietly but they have a ways to go before catching up with St. Helena. That said, the NCL I title race figures to be a wild ride.

I covered St. Helena pretty heavily for my games between 2004-2014. Since the mid-point of 2010, the Saints have gone 51-7. During that time, the Saints have had once in a generation talent like Richard Hoppe, the Brink brothers (Joey and Danny), Charles Bertoli and Gannon Laidlaw to name a few. Looking at this season’s Saints roster, I see a very solid club but I don’t see anyone that will be playing on Saturdays after their high school career. I don’t say that as a knock against the players but rather a compliment to the culture head coach Brandon Farrell and his staff have cultivated.

Before Farrell arrived in May 2008 from West Carroll High in Savanna. Ill., St. Helena had endured 13 coaching changes in a matter of 28 years. In that time, the Saints had brief spikes of success but nothing that sustained itself as long as the current run.

Farrell had his peaks and valleys to endure when he arrived because he was the program’s third head coach in as many seasons. The Saints were 10-16 in his first 26 games spanning from 2008 until Game 6 of 2010 but have gone 51-7 since that time. Why, you ask?

For openers, Farrell knows the importance of surrounding himself with a knowledge staff. He has that on the varsity side with Sam Licina, Matt Cia and Joe Crean. He also has that dynamic on the JV side with head coach David Bos and assistants Will Densberger, Joe Densberger and Matt Kelly.

This majority of this staff has been together since Farrell arrived. The point of that notion is when you created an established way of doing things, you create a program with a “next man up” mentality. Middletown has had that culture for 31 years, since Bill Foltmer arrived there. Middletown does not win consistently because their athletes are so much better. They win because the program is a well-oiled machine. St. Helena has reached that point.

Going forward, I know Farrell and his staff will take the “one game at a time” mantra. As well they should, they are coaches. Their job is to keep the youngsters confident but grounded. However, as a fan/career-changed media guy turned water truck driver, I can look ahead.

St. Helena should beat Kelseyville at home going away. Kelseyville’s youth programs were undefeated at all levels but they are not in high school yet. The Saints should also beat Lower Lake on the road a week later. Lower Lake has the highest enrollment and very good athletes but seldom any discipline though current head coach Justin Gaddy (1997 Lower Lake graduate) is doing everything he can to change that culture. In his second year, however, that change is not likely to take effect.

The Saints visit Middletown on Oct. 16. The Mustangs are 1-2 but one of those losses was to perennial power Salesian (41-19). With the Valley Fire devastating the community, one has to wonder if that turn of events has had a cumulative effect. Perhaps so but I don’t think the players will have any difficulty being ready for a Saints team that has beaten them three of the last four years. Will it be enough to win? Who knows.

St. Helena then plays Fort Bragg sandwiched in between a home game with Clear Ladke and Willits. The best case scenario has the Oct. 30 showdown against Fort Bragg being a battle of two 8-0 teams meeting in St. Helena. That would be a high school version of Ali vs. Norton.

There are still some hurdles to clear but the 2015 Saints have the makings of another strong team.

Time Out with Manny Vassos (Vintage High 2016 senior)

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

Manny Vassos: Throughout my life athletics have been along side me to guide and push me. I've completely enjoyed being around others that are honed to the same goals and interests as me while we all compete. Athletics in my life have always created a tight bonded community feeling that goes along anywhere, from Napa's Garfield park when i was young, all the way now to Vintage High School. I still to this day love realizing that my teammates and I are completely embodied with a huge, widespread community of fans and loves ones that are constantly cheering us on.

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

Vassos: After high school I plan to attend a four-year university. I will also be playing the sport of rugby. After playing the sport of rugby now for two years,  I've already formed a very tight knit bond with the game and lifestyle which I plan without a doubt to continue working at. Almost any college campus has some kind of rugby team closely affiliated with them, and I'm very excited to find a team to play on.

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

Vassos: In college I am planning to study some field of engineering or computer science. I have my eyes set on these majors because I want to push my mentally capacities to their fullest as I become good at something my brain and heart already love to do.    

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

Vassos: At Vintage High, I've loved many classes but as of last year one has absolutely topped my charts. Last year Mr. Paul Brochard offered AP Computer Science and it was an amazing class. This class opened up my mind to the world of computer programming and I plan to stick with it as my life progresses.

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

Vassos: Within my family, my mother and my uncle have been the most influencing to my life. They both have taught me so much throughout my seventeen years of life. My uncle pushed me to succeed in football and was a huge reason why I became so involved in the sport to begin with. Even though now we are facing each other on opposing sides of the fields as he coaches his Napa players, nothing will ever change the connections I hold to him.

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

Vassos: If I could meet any historical figure in my lifetime I would love to meet Carl Sagan. I love the things which he taught and it would fascinate me beyond belief to sit and listen to someone of his caliber talk about astrology and the sciences.

Time Machine post: 1999 high school football Calistoga at Upper Lake

When a team enjoys a championship season, we often remember the game followed by the postgame celebration but we often forget the journey. In 1999, the Calistoga High football team won the CIF North Coast Section Class B title for its first Section crown since 1978. Before it could accomplish that feat, however, the Wildcats had to clear three significant hurdles in a matter of as many weeks. Calistoga needed to beat Upper Lake on the road, Tomales at home and a to be determined opponent in the first round of the NCS Class B playoffs. That foe wound up being Anderson Valley, which Calistoga beat 20-2. Tomales, meanwhile, beat the Wildcats 25-0 in the previous year’s NCS Class B title game.

Calistoga would go on to complete its journey in 1999 by defeating the St. Bernard (Eureka) Crusaders but its 30-19 road win over Upper Lake was also a crucial step in that direction.

Setting the stage: The Wildcats entered the game 5-2 but with one of those losses being a 7-6 setback to North Central League II foe Middletown, Calistoga was out of mulligans. What was unique about this era of Wildcats’ football was their work ethic, commitment and mental toughness. Heading into the 1999 campaign, every mile the Wildcats ran and every hour spent in the weight-room came with one thing in mind -- win the NCS Class B title that eluded them the previous season.

This Wildcats team had both vocal and “lead by example” of leadership. The one that personified the latter more so than anyone was Juan Mora, who anchored the offensive line at the center position and was also a solid defensive player. What I remember most about the pregame was that as the team was going through its stretches, the intensity was lacking. Mora shouted, “Come on, guys! I didn’t come all the way up here to lose!”

Though the game was played in early November, the weather in the Northern Lake County town was closer to summer time with temperatures approaching 90 degrees.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: The biggest play of the game was not a scoring play, nor did it lead to a score. However, it subdued the Cougars momentum. Calistoga had built a 23-0 lead at halftime but went scoreless in the third quarter while Upper Lake cut into the lead with two touchdowns, both touchdown passes from quarterback Daniel Gonzalez to Kelly Summers, who had 168 yards receiving on seven catches.

With Calistoga still clinging to a 23-13 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Upper Lake was on the move but safety Mike Batdorf’s 61-yard interception return to the Upper Lake 25. Though the Wildcats did not convert that takeway into a score, it changed field position and kept the Cougars momentum at bay. Calistoga clinched the victory with 2:27 left in the contest when Ben Alfaro scored on a 2-yard run to give the Wildcats a 30-13 lead.

Alfaro and backfield-mate Ernesto Marron combined for 35 carries for 187 yards and three touchdowns.

After the game, the team huddled with head coach Dan Conner addressing the team followed by assistant coaches Frank Giammona and Travis Bounsall. Shortly thereafter, quarterback Jake Blakeley said to the team, “Guys, we owe Tomales after last year.”

What it meant: Watching the game unfold, you never thought Calistoga was in danger of losing but without Batdorf’s aforementioned interception return, things would have gotten interesting.

Though it’s easy to remember the championship postgame celebration that would take place four weeks later, it is also important to remember that with this win over Upper Lake and the 36-31 win over Tomales one week later, there is no 22-18 win over St. Bernard.

Brandon LaRocco (1997 Justin-Siena High graduate)

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

Brandon LaRocco: I think the thing I enjoyed the most about athletics was the relationships you build with the guys you play.  Many of my closest friends are still guys that I really got to know through athletics.  Competition helps create bonds that last long after the season or your career is over.

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

LaRocco: I spent a few years at Solano Community College playing football before I transferred to U.C. Davis.  Right around the time I graduated from Davis I got my first experience coaching which eventually led me to wanting to become a teacher. In 2012, I got married to my beautiful and supportive wife, Miranda, and in 2013 my daughter Payton was born.

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

LaRocco: Mr. (Robert) Morrish's English class both my junior and senior year.  Mrs. (Daphne) Birkmeyer's Human Physiology class is a close second.

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

LaRocco: When I played football at Justin we didn’t have the same kind of program that we do now, so I never got to play in a playoff game or for a league championship.  On the other hand our Track team was very good, we were SCAL champions in 1996 and 1998.  Beating Vanden in the league championship meet both of those years ranks pretty high for me since they were the only championships I won in high school.

D’Adamo:  You have served a variety of different roles with Justin athletics since graduating, how much do you enjoy staying connected?

LaRocco: I love it.  Justin-Siena athletics has been such a major part of my life for so long and I appreciate all that I have gotten out of it.  One of the things I enjoy the most is connections you build with your athletes.  Whether it was football or track I have built some really good friendships with kids that have remained strong long after many of them go off to college.  I also love watching them compete and succeed at the next level.  I have been fortunate enough to have a lot of the guys I coach be successful in college and there is a real satisfactions knowing you had some part, even if it's a small one, in their success playing college sports.  

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?

LaRocco: I feel I have grown a lot since graduating high school, but in a lot of ways I am the same guy.  I think most parents would agree that having a kid is the single most life changing experience you will have.  Getting married has also helped me grow tremendously.  My wife and I have opposite personalities so being together has really helped bring balance to both of our lives.  Outside of family, my continued involvement in athletics has affected a lot of growth and change in my life.  To be a successful coach you have to hard-working, organized, intelligent, and compassionate.  My growth in all these areas can be directly attributed to all the time I have spent working with young athletes over the last 12 years.  

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

           

LaRocco: My mom with regard to me teaching and coaching career, she just retired after 25 years as a teacher in the FSUSD (Fairfield Suisun Unified School District).  I spent many hours working in her classroom as teenager (filling those Justin-Siena service hours) and she always encouraged me to become a teacher.  Since teaching and coaching are really the same thing she is the person most responsible for me being where I am today.

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

LaRocco: Hard to choose one so I will give you two.  I am originally from Chicago so I grew up a Bears fan, so to me there is no greater football player in history than Walter Payton.  I admire the way the man approached the game and life.  For a non-athlete I would have to pick President Theodore Roosevelt.  Another man I admire for the way the he never backed down from a challenge and stood up for what he believed was right.