Time Out with Alisyn Slinsen (2015 Justin-Siena High senior)

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

Alisyn Slinsen: One of my favorite things about playing in athletics is being apart of a team. There is nothing better than the long bus rides and team bondings. I have met many of my closest friends through sports. I also love being able to go out and compete everyday. There is no better feeling than winning a league title and knowing you earned it because of how much work your teammates invested in it. There is honestly no better feeling in athletics than knowing you made your teammates proud.

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

Slinsen: After high school, I hope to attend either the Napa JC and continue my basketball career or Grand Canyon University.

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

Slinsen: I would love to major in kinesiology and pre physical therapy. I hope to end up as an athletic trainer or physical therapist for a college team.

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

Slinsen: My favorite class at Justin this year is my sports medicine class. I love learning about the body and injuries. Growing up playing sports, I have sustained and witnessed many injuries and I have always been intrigued by the rehabilitation process. This class is great because there is a lot of hands on practice whether it be leaning new tapings or using the rehab equipment.

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

Slinsen: One of the most influential people within my family would be my brother Michael. He was a three sport athlete who understood the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. Growing up, anytime we would play games he would never let me win or go easy on me. Thanks to his tough love I have a competitive drive to always work hard.

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

Slinsen: I would love to meet "Pistol" Pete Maravich because he is one of the greatest basketball players in history. He was an athlete who understood the importance of practice and repetition. He would practice for hours on end and unlike most who practice to be great, he practiced to be perfect.

Time Out with Gianna Trzesniewski (2012 Napa High graduate)

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

Gianna Trzesniewski: It is hard to pinpoint one aspect about athletics that I enjoy the most. Athletes are given so many opportunities to grow and succeed outside of their sport as well as in their sport. Being a part of a team that pushes you to be your best shows you how to learn and grow. Teammates can take place of your family when you need them to and they support your dreams and goals.  Personally, I think athletes grow to be individuals with a strong work ethic that invest their time in being the best.

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

Trzesniewski: Since graduating from Napa High School, I have been pursuing my business degree at California State University San Marcos. I have spent my three years here on the women’s golf team, competing for a spot on the traveling roster.

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

Trzesniewski: In high school I never really found a subject that I enjoyed significantly more over the rest, I just know that my strong subjects do not include any type of math. One of my most memorable classes at Napa High was my junior year with Ms. Walker. Her English class inspired me and truly made learning fun.

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

Trzesniewski: My favorite moment as an athlete at Napa High was when I won Most Improved Player two years in a row. I had put so much time into learning golf and trying to master the sport and winning an award like that, not only once, but twice was such a meaningful accomplishment. I had just started the sport and it was nice to know that my hard work didn’t go unnoticed.

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?

Trzesniewski: It truly amazes me how much you learn and grow when you move out and are on your own. There is so much to experience and a lot of college students get off track their first year. This is why I believe athletics is so important. My first year I had no time to party or go out. Every morning we started practice before the sun came up and we practiced and went to school until sundown. The day doesn’t end after that, you still have to make dinner and meal prep as well as do the rest of your homework. Being a college athlete teaches you so many things on how to be successful in the real world and how to have a good balance in your life. It teaches you how to mature a lot quicker than other students. I am proud of how much I have learned and grown over the last few years and can’t wait to see what else I will learn in the years to come.

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

Trzesniewski: Within my family, my parents have been the most influential people in my life. They have always supported me and my decisions and gave me a solid background to succeed. I used to take for granted where I grew up but after moving away and being exposed to so many different lifestyles I am so thankful that my parents chose this path for me. I still look to them for advice and encouragement when I need it. I would not be the individual I am today without their loving care and support.

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

Trzesniewski: If we are speaking just on golf terms there is no hesitation that I would be honored to meet and talk to Tiger Woods. No matter what he has done in his personal life he has an incredible golf career. I would love to meet him and discuss his training routine and how he become so successful and such an inspiration to the golf industry. Outside of golf I would love to meet Jackie Robinson. I love baseball and have studied his career in the sport and he is such an inspiration. Sports would not be what they are today without him.

Time Machine: 2000 Justin-Siena vs. Sir Francis Drake football

It’s amazing how certain things happen regularly in the present that one takes for granted but you remember when the trend started just how big the achievement was.

From 1987-1999, Justin-Siena High football had just one homecoming win. Keep in mind, the program struggled mightily from 1987-1996, going 27-69-1 in an era that saw four head coaching changes before Rich Cotruvo arrived in 1997. Yours truly played on some of those bad teams. Believe me, we were bad.

Setting the scene: Cotruvo had an accomplished head coaching career at Monte Vista High (Danville) before coming to Justin to become its head coach shortly before the 1997 season. From 1997-1999, the Braves went 14-17 with one postseason appearance. Through the program was not what most people know it as now, one could tell that a new era had dawned at Justin. Before 2000, Cotruvo strengthened his coaching staff with Steve Vargus, Steve Hatton and Jim Costan. All three joined the Braves staff after resigning (or getting pushed out, depending on who one believes) from Vintage High.

That season would also be the dawning of a new era because the Braves would be going from the CIF Sac Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section. The Superior California Athletic League disband and Justin would join the Marin County Athletic League. The MCAL consists of schools twice Justin’s size in enrollment.

On a mid-October night in 2000, Justin entered its homecoming game with a 4-1 record and seeking a rare homecoming win at least in recent memory. Thanks to John DiMichele’s 32 carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns along with timely defense, the Braves escaped with a 21-19 win over the Sir Francis Drake Pirates.

The 2000 season also dealt a curveball to the Braves because starting quarterback Steve Andres broke the femur bone in his leg in the season-opener against St. Helena. Mike McNamara then took over as Justin’s signal-caller.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: The Pirates struck first and took a 7-0 lead before Justin scored 21 unanswered points with McNamara rushing for one touchdown and DiMichele adding two more. Drake, however, did not go quietly as quarterback Todd Hauserman threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

One of the extra points were blocked, which then meant after Drake cut the lead to 21-19 with 1:53 left in the game, the best the Pirates could do was tie the game. Therefore, Drake was forced to go for the two-point conversion. On the two-point conversion, Hausermann rolled right but was under heavy duress. Zac Dollar, Justin’s outside linebacker playing what is known as the “strike backer” in Vargus’ system sacked Hausermann.

The Braves, however, were still not out of the woods but Matt Hamilton recovered the onside kick. Four plays later faced with fourth and 3 from the Drake 40, Cotruvo could have either punted and forced the Pirates to drive the length of the field or gone for the first down. He chose the latter and DiMichele iced the game with a six-yard run.

What it meant: As far as the short-term, not much because Justin went on to lose three in a row to drop to 5-4 heading into the season finale at Tamalpais. The Braves needed to win that game to secure a playoff spot.

Justin destroyed Tamalpais 38-0 to improve to 6-4 and earn the No. 5 seed in the NCS Class A playoffs. The Braves went on to defeat John Swett (Crockett) 28-7, top-seeded Kelseyville 34-21 and Ferndale 16-14 to win what would become the first of six NCS titles in a 14 year span under Cotruvo.

Two years later, Costan rejoined Vintage’s coaching staff as an assistant under Les Franco while Hatton joined Napa High’s staff as an assistant for Jerry Dunlap and now Troy Mott. Vargus (aka “Varg”) remains a mainstay on Cotruvo’s staff.

Emilee Murphree (2002 Vintage High graduate)

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

Emilee Murphree: Competing in athletics offered so many unique opportunities - I got to travel across the country, I learned so many valuable skills and I met lots of wonderful people.

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

Murphree: I attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri on a wrestling scholarship and competed through the end of my freshman year. I graduated in 2007 with degrees in English and Theatre and moved to St. Louis where I currently live with my boyfriend, Noah, and our rescue dog, Barley. After working at The Fabulous Fox Theatre for six years I am now the Marketing & Communications Manager at Scottrade Center and Peabody Opera House (an arena and performing arts venue in downtown St. Louis).

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

Murphree: I had a lot of wonderful classes and teachers and it's hard to name just one!  I'd have to include sophomore English taught by Jennifer LaMonte, Harris Nussbaum's psychology class and physics taught by Paul Brochard.

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

Murphree: My favorite athletic memory is competing in the Napa Valley Girls Classic wrestling tournament my senior year. The tournament had its start at Vintage my freshman year and it was rare to have an all-girls event at that time. I remember sitting on the bleachers at the inaugural tournament and just feeling really inspired by it. I'd been thinking about joining the team, but that tournament was the reason I decided to wrestle. As a sophomore and junior I placed at the tournament, but didn't win, so it meant a lot to finally take take first in my weight class as a senior.

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: Quite a bit, but I will always feel like there's room for growth and I think a lot of that mindset comes from participating in athletics. It also comes from having great coaches who taught the value of self-improvement. As an athlete, you're never really done practicing a skill, you just keep finding ways to do it better - that mindset sticks with you.

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

Murphree: Truly, each member of my family has had some important influence on my life - they've all taught me something valuable.

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

Murphree: There are so many people on this list. I think it would be fun to meet Julia Child, though. She's such a fascinating person and had so much personality.

Time Out with Michelle Lack (2015 Calistoga High senior)

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

Michelle Lack: Sports have always been a big part of my life. What I have enjoyed the most are all the friendships created throughout playing a sport I’m passionate about. Sports allows me a time out from the daily life. As soon as I step on the court nothing else counts  more than putting all my energy into my play. Of course it’s a great feeling to celebrate a victory and to know that your hard work paid off. But even more important is to have fun and always give 110%.

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

Lack: I’m here in Calistoga as a Rotary exchange student. I still have two more years of high school when I return home to Switzerland. After that I plan to take a break from school for a year. I want to travel through South America to learn about the different cultures and to improve my Spanish. After travelling around for a year I want to go to college. I don’t know where I want to go, but I know I want to study one year somewhere abroad during my college time.

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

Lack: I’m considering either economics or law as a major. I really like the idea of becoming a lawyer but I also like the opportunities and options you have if studying economics. At the moment it’s too early for me to decide but I’m sure I will figure out the best direction for me to go.

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

Lack: I really enjoy my drama class at Calistoga High. It is my first year in drama but I really like how different it is compared to all the other classes. Instead of taking notes and tests we’re acting on stage. I had a lot of fun in this class, especially performing in the play and knowing the audience loved it - what a great feeling.

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

Lack: My parents have been the most influential people in my life. They have always supported me no matter what it was. They always believed in me and pushed me to give my best effort in everything I did. They taught me not to give up and to believe in the good things in life.

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

Lack: I would love to meet Martin Luther King Jr. I really admire that he risked his own life to make the life of other people something better. He didn’t only fight for his own rights but he fought for the rights of others. He was one of the most courageous people in history and he never gave up. He made our world to a better place.

Time Out with Joe LeMasters (2003 Napa High graduate)

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

Joe LeMasters: The thing that I enjoyed most about competing in athletics at every level, from college all the way down to little league, were the relationships that I developed along the way. I enjoyed the camaraderie with my teammates. All of my best friends have come through athletics. All of the hard work that goes into practices doesn't feel like hard work when you have your buddies running right alongside of you.

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

LeMasters: After graduating from high school I went on to play Division II college baseball in West Virginia. I am now married with an 8-month old daughter.  We are living here in town and I am working for Treasury Wine Estates.

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

LeMasters: It's hard for me to remember my favorite class in high school, but I certainly remember some of my favorite teachers. Mrs. Shouse's Spanish class was great because she was so passionate about teaching. She was a very inspirational teacher because her energy was so contagious. Mr. Ingram's history class was great for a lot of the same reasons. I just remember looking forward to going to his class, rather than dreading it like some others.

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

LeMasters: My favorite athletic moment at Napa High was winning the MEL championship in football my senior year. We won it on the last game of the season by beating Vintage, which also happened to be on my 18th birthday.

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?

LeMasters: I've grown up a lot since high school, especially after the birth of my daughter. Athletics can be attributed to a lot of that growth. Athletics teach you about working hard to improve your skills, time management between classes and practices, and how to work as a part of a team. I am fortunate to have had great coaches and parents to make sure I learned those lessons early on.

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

LeMasters: Within my family the most influential people in my life would have to be my parents. They've always been there for me, whether it be to offer advice or an encouraging word.

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

LeMasters: A historical figure that I would love to meet would be coach John Wooden. I read any book that I can get my hands on about him or by him. He was a great coach, but more importantly he was a man of character.

Time machine: 2005 softball playoffs (Calistoga vs. College Prep)

You hear the adage that says, “adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals character.” If there was ever a high school softball that comes to my mind that defines such that I had the chance to cover, it was a 2005 CIF North Coast Section Class B playoff game between College Prep (Oakland) and the No. 2 seeded Calistoga Wildcats.

The last name Tamagni is not only synonymous to Calistoga High athletics but also the community of Calistoga. Ted Tamagni, who graduated from Calistoga High in 1977, is widely recognized as one of the best and physically toughest athletes in school history. Jason Tamagni, who graduated in 2002, was also a three-sport athlete. He established the Wildcats single-game rushing record with 255 yards in 2001 before Dylan Alvarado shattered the record in 2013 with 407 yards. Then there was Jessica Tamagni, who graduated in 2006. She too played three sports but the one she established her most meaningful legacy was softball. Interestly enough, Ted Tamagni would become the Wildcats softball head coach from 2005-2007.

In the first round of the 2005 NCS Class B playoffs, Jessica Tamagni’s walk off two-run triple to score Megan Yant and Alyssa Smith capped Calistoga’s 10-9 win over the Cougars in eight innings. Calistoga overcame a six-run deficit to win in a game that saw both teams combine for 10 errors.

Setting the scene: Three years earlier, Calistoga softball began a string that is still active of making the playoffs 11 times in 12 seasons, with 2009 being the only year in that span where the Wildcats failed to reach the postseason.

Calistoga had reached the postseason the previous two years only to get ousted by eventual champion Ferndale, 10-0 in 2003 and 20-3 in 2004. Both times, the team would have to make do without key senior plays because the annual Grad Night trip to Disneyland would conflict with the softball playoffs. That theme would recur in subsequent years though given the decisiveness of the losses, it likely would have not mattered.

Ted Tamagni entered the season as the Wildcats new head coach, replacing Ron Smith, for whom Tamagni helped as an assistant. Though the Wildcats finished that season with a pedestrian 12-9 record, they finished solidly. The Wildcats started the season 5-6 but won seven of their last ten games.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: Calistoga had a difficult first inning as College Prep scored five runs as Claire Blakey and Karen Du each had RBI singles and Aron Feingold added a sacrifice fly RBI. Feingold delivered an RBI single in the second to put the Cougars ahead 6-0 before Calistoga began its comeback.

The Wildcats tallied one in the bottom of the second and four more in the third with Julia Hoff and Tara Pelter each helping the rally with RBI singles. Calistoga, however, got back in the game with aggressive baserunning. The Wildcats had four of their nine stolen bases in that inning.

College Prep scored a run in the fourth to go in front 7-5 before Calistoga answered with a run in its half of the fifth on Pelter's RBI single.

The Cougars scored a run in their half of the sixth to go ahead 8-6 but the Wildcats forced extra innings with a two-run bottom of the seventh. Tamagni singled, stole second then third and scored on the subsequent errant throw. Lauren Hunt then doubled and scored on Julia Hoff's RBI single.

College Prep scored in the top of the eighth when Joanna Schimmel scored on an error.

Then came one of, if not the most, clutch hits in Calistoga softball history when you take into account the magnitude of the game. Yant got on base with a single and Smith reached on an error. Then Tamagni belted her walk off two-run triple. What I remember most about that hit was that as one who doubled as a reporter and photographer, I would usually shoot my pictures in the early part of the game so I could focus on taking better notes as the game progressed. However, I remember moments before Tamagni walked into the batters box, I whipped my camera out of my bag in anticipation of players celebrating the win. Sure enough it happened.

What it meant: Calistoga softball has had many seasons like this one: a) have a solid regular season that usually involves getting bested in league play by say Middletown or St. Vincent, b) win a playoff game or two, c) have the playoffs interrupted by the senior trip to Disneyland.

On the “C” part of the equation I can’t think of a year in which Calistoga definitely would have won the section title if it had its seniors but it would have been nice to find out.

To that end, this game did not have any program altering ramifications but if you like moments of overcoming deficits and mistakes, this is a good one to revisit.

Time Out with Alivia Trzesniewski (2015 Napa High senior)

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

Alivia Trzesniewski: My favorite thing about competing in athletics is how many great friends I have made. Many closest friends are the people I play sports with and I love being competitive with them. Sports have taught me so many life lessons and they keep me in shape which is a plus. They have also taught me how to overcome many obstacles in my life and they have showed me how much dedication it takes to be a professional athlete, and now I have major respect for those you can do it because I know how much work and focus it takes. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for sports.

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

Trzesniewski: I will most likely be attending Solano Junior College to continue my basketball career.

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

Trzesniewski: I will attend Solano for two years and then hopefully transfer to UC Davis to continue my schooling in hopes of becoming a Veterinarian. I am not ready to stop playing basketball because has been such a huge part of my life.

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

Trzesniewski: I don’t have a favorite class but I have a most memorable class. Junior year when I took Honors Spanish 3 is a memorable class because that’s where I met my current boyfriend. We have been dating for over a year and it’s a nice memory to look back and realize how lucky I was to be put into the same class as him.

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

Trzesniewski: I’ve always looked up to my sister because she’s very smart and she is attending college on a golf scholarship. She is a very determined person and she makes me want to be better every day because she works so hard to be a better golfer every day. She taught me that hard work pays off and to never give up, even when it’s the easiest thing to do.

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

Trzesniewski: I’d love to meet Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors point guard, because he is such an amazing player and athlete. I’d love to ask him how he got to where he is today and what obstacles he had to overcome.

          

Cole Cavalli (2015 Justin-Siena High senior)

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

Cole Cavalli: What I enjoyed most was just an opportunity to play a sport that I have passion for. Going to school is something we have to do, but playing a sport is something we want to do. Going out to the baseball diamond almost everyday and playing with friends, some for almost 12 years now, is something I look forward every morning.

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

Cavalli: After high school I plan to attend the California Maritime Academy. I came to this decision based off of the great things I've heard about their academics, the hands-on education and the beautiful location.

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

Cavalli: The major I committed towards is mechanical engineering. Why I felt that major was fit for me as I enjoy math and science, as well as understanding how things work.

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

Cavalli: At Justin-Siena, my favorite class would have to be my Senior Service class. In this course, a student is paired with another to find a site around Napa to provide service to. I was paired with a classmate and together we worked for an hour a day, twice a week, at a pre-school down the road (St. Johns Lutheran). It was my most enjoyable class as it gave me a break from class and an ability to help other educators and young children while making me realize how amazing and fun life outside of the classroom can be.

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

Cavalli: Within my own family, the most influential person in my life has been my mother. We have been living on our own for the past six years and has pushed me to do better in everything I do whether that's with my education or on the field.

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

Cavalli: A historical figure I would like to meet would have to be Leonardo da Vinci. I'd like to have a conversation with him or even to work with him. Just to be in the presence of such an advanced mind would be an awesome experience for me.

Time Out with Jon Foreman (2001 Justin-Siena High graduate)

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

Jon Foreman: There are few things as fulfilling or valuable than team sports for children and young adults. The camaraderie, discipline, unity, trust, problem solving, and conquering of fears that occur as a result of competing with your friends (and sometimes enemies) is completely unparalleled. I can’t name many things that feel better than celebrating a season (or lifetime) worth of hard work with a victory in a big game or witnessing progress, personal and as a group, at the end of a successful season. Facing your fears head on with faith in not only yourself, but your on-field or on-court family is quite an important lesson I would not have learned without athletics.

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

Foreman: I briefly considered playing baseball in college, but after I made the decision to accept my academic scholarship to the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communications (turning down Stanford University’s acceptance letter), I realized I wanted to expand my horizons beyond sports to see what I could accomplish without a year round commitment to playing Pac 10 baseball. I majored in Communications with a double emphasis in Entertainment, Media & Society and Advertising/Marketing. I did my semester abroad in Amsterdam. After moving back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles, I began a decade worth of work in real estate, working for Pacific Union International/Christie’s Great Estates in Sonoma and San Francisco before starting my own Bay Area culture blog dedicated to positive social change. I have been working for the past few years, after moving back to the North Bay from San Francisco, working as Marketing Director for the top producing real estate agents in Sonoma County at Coldwell Banker Petaluma.

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

Foreman: If I had to choose just one, it would be Yearbook. I was Head Copywriter for 3 years and Copy Editor for one. I was able to express myself creatively and learn the responsibility of managing others, with the complete confidence of my advisor, Mr. Rob Hampton. I felt appreciated, and was taught the responsibility of meeting deadlines and managing others.

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

Foreman: My junior year of baseball, we went 25-1 and won the section championship. I set the JSHS pitching records for lowest ERA in a season (0.82 in 162 innings pitched) and strikeouts in a season. But the greatest feeling of all was the final pitch in a 3-pitch strikeout to finish out a complete game 3-hitter to end the season. Getting tackled by the entire team on the mound to celebrate our record setting season was one of the greatest moments of my life until that point.

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?

Foreman: Leaps and bounds. I am a completely different person than I was back then. I have experienced the complete polar opposite sector of life than the one in which I was raised – not in privilege, but in poverty. USC being the richest school on the West Coast in arguably the biggest ghetto in the United States introduced me to the responsibility I feel the wealthy have to do as much as they can to ensure the social justice of the less fortunate, and USC’s outreach programs inspired and informed that belief. I learned to open my eyes to the fact that there are good people everywhere if you are truly looking for it. Athletics certainly didn’t teach me everything I know, not by a long shot, but it did give me the strongest foundation I could imagine for getting me to where I needed to be. I learned a strong sense of discipline, a belief in myself above all else, a faith in humanity and in others, and the benefits of hard work and dedication, and the value of never giving up.

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

Foreman: I was named after my father Jon, and my grandfather, Joseph, and ironically they have both been the two to teach me the most about life. My dad was always my coach throughout T-Ball and Incrediball and even Minors Little League. My grandfather has been my biggest and proudest supporter through all of my ups and downs in life. The two of them have given me the gift of belief in the lesson that nothing is over in life until you say so, and to never stop striving to make yourself better, and to get what you want. The only thing standing between you and your dreams is the BS you keep telling yourself about why you can’t have it. I am so proud of them as they are of me.

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

Foreman: I would love to meet JFK or Abraham Lincoln - the only two real Presidents we have had in this country who actually tried to shake things up and change the status quo in action, not just political promises. I bet they would have some crazy stories.

Time Out with Brandon Smith (2003 Vintage High graduate)

Vince D’Adamo: What did you enjoy most about competing in athletics throughout your life? Brandon Smith: I enjoyed the days of preparation with my teammates.  There are so many stories that took place at practice.    D’Adamo: What have you been doing since graduating from high school? Smith: Since graduating in 2003 I have been relatively busy.  I started by joining the U.S. Air Force in 2005. I was stationed in Florida throughout my four year military career.  I was deployed to Iraq in 2007. Following the completion of my commitment I followed my dreams of being a Firefighter. I became a Paramedic and worked in Stockton.  In August of 2013 I was hired with Los Angeles County Fire Department. I am currently working as a Firefighter/Paramedic for the department. I am living in Venice Beach currently. D’Adamo: What was your favorite class at Vintage High? Smith: My favorite class would probably have to be Shakespeare as odd as that may sound.  It was a smaller class where everyone was friends.  We had a lot of fun our senior year taking that class.  The teacher was generally a pretty good sport about the whole thing.   D’Adamo: What was your favorite athletic moment at Vintage High? Smith: My favorite athletic moment of high school would probably have to be the Vacaville game my junior year at Memorial Stadium. That is a week I will remember the rest of my life. It started on Monday when we found out a friend of myself and many of my teammates, Chris Jones had passed away. On Tuesday 9/11 happened in New York City. Many of the players including myself missed practice throughout the week leading up to the Friday night game. Coach (Les) Franco and his staff really had their hands full that week with everything happening. On Friday, the week of emotion just all came out on the field. Our fullback, Mark Carducci, broke off a long touchdown run early in the game and I just remember all of the emotion that was felt after that one play. We played that game with an invincibility I don't think I have felt since. We went on to beat them by a pretty good margin. 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? Smith: I believe I have grown a lot through the years and much of can be traced back through athletics.  Playing sports your whole life makes you accountable to a team.  It teaches you a responsibility while instilling a work ethic into you.  My career now functions as a team and I believe the lessons I learned early on contribute to my current successes. D’Adamo: Within your family, who have been the most influential people? Smith: My mom has been a huge influence on me.  She was the single mother of four kids and she did her best to raise us and provide us with everything we needed to succeed.  She taught me that if there is a will there is a way. D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports you would most like to meet. Smith: I would want to meet the FDNY firefighters who passed away on 9/11.  I would like to sit down have a beer and pick their brain of what was going through their brain as the events of day unfolded.