Time Out with Jonathan Roeder: 2017 American Canyon High senior

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

Jonathan Roeder: Competing in athletics throughout my life has had a major impact on myself and the people I choose to be around. Playing only little league baseball as a kid, I was very competitive and wanted to be the best. Though I wanted to be the best, I didn't do the necessary steps to actually be the best. Playing football for the first time my freshman year, I was nervous and wanted to continue playing this sport in the future. I didn't have good grades in junior high, but there was something about the standards of football that drove me to keep my grades up in high school. I soon fell in love with the game of football. This game specifically has changed me from being the most cockiest kid to the humble one. This game has taught me that there will always be someone stronger, faster, and bigger than me but if I give 48 minutes of my perfect effort, no one can beat that.

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

Roeder: After high school I plan on going to a four-year university, hopefully USC. I would love to continue playing football in college, and would love to be a Trojan. Another dream I may pursue after college is joining the Navy. Many of my family members are in branches of the military. I feel as if the Navy has the benefits I want to take to make my college life easier for my parents.

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

Roeder: I am actually not 100% sure of what I want to major in, but it will be something in the medical field. A majority of my family is in any type of medical field, whether it's a registered nurse or a surgeon. Even though a lot of my family is in the medical field, they aren't pressuring me to pursue their work but instead motivating me to pursue my dreams. I am actually very interested in working in the surgeon fields.

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

Roeder: My favorite class at ACHS has been my Junior year humanities (English/US History) class. This class was my favorite in many different aspects. The things we've learned was interesting to me and really caught my eye. But this class wasn't my favorite for that reason only. The relationship I had with the teachers, Mr. Hsu and Mr. Olson was outstanding. They pushed me, and lifted me up when I thought I had nowhere to go. When I gave up, they got on me and really showed me that they cared. They didn't only do this to me, they did this to every student. I feel like that's rare nowadays, for teachers to really show that they care for the students.

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

Roeder: My mother is without a doubt the most influential and most important person in my life. She's raised me by herself from when I was 15 months old to 12 years old. Everything I am today is because of her, and I am so proud of what she has accomplished. Of course we have had our ups and downs but that has only made us stronger. She's raised me to always be respectful and have integrity in my mind, think before I act and to put others before myself. I wish right now I can give everything back that she has sacrificed for me. But the day will come, and I will finally be able to tell her that I made it and that is because of her. Every time I see her at each of my games I thank God for blessing me with the incredible support she gives me. She is the strongest person I know, she is my hero, and she is the person I look up to. Love you, mama.

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?

Roeder: Someone I would really like to meet is Martin Luther King Jr. A lot of racial tension is happening in America and we all want change. But what King did was actually make that change happen. Yes we all hope for change, but what can we do to make that change happen, not only do I want to meet him for what he did but for what he did to make the change happen.

Time Out with Maggie Johnson: 2017 Justin-Siena High senior

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

Maggie Johnson: Volleyball for me has always been something I can count on. I know at the end of a long day at school where I'm stressed out about AP classes, I can rely on volleyball to be there for me. I can go to practice or a match and take my mind off everything else and just do what I love for a few hours and not worry about whatever I'm dealing with at school or in my personal life. I'm also a very competitive person, so I love the competition of playing a sport

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

Johnson: I plan on going to a small, academic four year college, preferably on the east coast. I want to go somewhere where academics is the main focus, but I can still participate in extracurriculars like joining clubs and maybe a sorority, and studying abroad is something I'm really interested in as well. I definitely want to try and play in college. I'm not looking for anything too special when it comes to volleyball, I'm really only looking at D-III and NAIA schools in terms of volleyball. Again I want a school that is all academics first, so I if I do play volleyball, the coach will understand that academics are my top priority and volleyball is a close second.

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

Johnson: Right now I'm looking to major in English, probably with a focus on creative writing, and a minor in education. Teaching is something that really interests me, and English has always been my favorite subject since I love reading and writing, so I feel like it would be a really good career option for me. Plus, I'm sure my dad would feel good knowing I've followed in his footsteps becoming a teacher :)

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

Johnson: This is tough, I really have enjoyed nearly all the classes I've taken. I think the English class I took last year would have to be my absolute favorite. English last year was really fun, because the course was called Myths and Legends, so we got to look at and study a bunch of Greek, Roman, Norse, and other countries creation myths, God myths, and other myths, and even write our own myths, and then with the legends part of the course we looked a lot at superheroes and did a whole unit on marvel comics, as well as a unit on Plato and the ideal leader which we compared to superman. We also looked at JFK as a legend, and Beowulf. Overall the class was just really interesting and I had a lot of fun with it.

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

Johnson: My dad has probably been the most influential person in my life. He has always pushed me to be my best and supported me in everything I do. It helps that my dad happens to coach volleyball, and I've gotten the chance to both play for him my freshman year and coach with him all four years of high school during the club season. My dad always believed in me, he knew I could do it so he pushed me to do it, no matter what "it" was. I don't know that I ever would have started playing volleyball if it wasn't for my dad, and I don't know that I would have ever found my passion and love for the game that's kept me playing all these years if it wasn't for him.

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?

This one's hard too. I've never really been a history person, and I also don't have many people that I don't know in real life that I look up too. I think it'd be really interesting to meet Obama. He's been a pretty good president from what I've heard, plus I think it's just be really interesting to know what goes through the president's mind and how he feels about everything going on in our country, including the next election.

Orr's caring personality impacted many lives for multiple generations

There are people in your life that make impressions. They can be good, bad or lasting. With Keith Orr, two out of three are true. The good and lasting.

The 85-year old Orr died on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo, CA after an illness. Funeral services were held Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Napa, CA. Orr’s passing sent shockwaves throughout the entire Napa Valley with news travelling at the speed of light in both traditional and social media. News of his death not only ran as an obituary but drew an introspective feature courtesy of Napa Valley Register senior sports reporter Marty James. At Napa High’s home football game against Pleasant Valley (Chico), Orr was honored in a moment of silence. Orr was inducted into the Napa High Hall of Fame in 2000 and taught at the school from 1965-1998. He joined the Napa Valley Unified School District in 1958.  

Orr was 85, which most people consider a full life. Sure, as time goes on, we can put a positive spin on the life he led. Intellectually, we know that no one who lives 85 years gets cheated. However, emotionally, Orr’s passing leaves a void.

Before coming to Napa in 1958, Orr spent his life in Oshkosh, NE, and Caldwell, ID. Orr was part of a generation that learned his work ethic on his family’s farm. He also gained a unique perspective of life on a different layer, serving his country for two years in Korea. After getting his Master’s Degree in Education from Oregon State University, he started his teaching career in Caldwell, Idaho. Shortly thereafter, Orr moved his family to Napa. The rest, as they say, is history.

The man wore many hats. He taught physical education, coached football, track and field, along with both boys and girls basketball. Orr began his teaching and coaching prowess for Silverado Junior High before taking those talents to Napa High. He also coached football at Napa Valley College for one year as well as the Napa Valley Bears, which was a semi-pro football team that played in the California Football League for one season. Orr was also widely known as a dedicated family man as well as to his church.

Orr’s passing is not just a loss to Napa High but to the entire valley. Orr retired from teaching and coaching in 1998 but the term “retired” was a loose definition in his case. He still continued to officiate sporting events and substitute teach. Orr also taught summer school every year.

I have met many teachers and coaches that say they care about youngsters and their well-being but when Orr preached that message, it was gospel.

Seriously, how many career teachers do you know that would have followed Orr’s path after retiring? While not doing so does not make them lesser as people, it speaks volumes about Orr’s humanity.

What I remember about Orr’s personality was that he was always positive. In a world where negativity has become more commonplace and even celebrated, Orr’s personality was a refreshing.

Since I went to Justin-Siena (a private Catholic high school in Napa), I did not know Mr./Coach Orr like the Napa High alums. I first became acquainted with him because he was a frequent customer at my father’s service station, where I worked during my high school year and college years.

Two of my three sisters and my brother had him as a teacher at Napa High. Since I played football and ran track at Justin, we had an instant connection. He would call me “Brave Stud.” Well, with my athleticism (or lack thereof), “stud” would be a loose definition but I digress. Though our interactions were infrequent, I remember him being very relatable. After I graduated from high school in 1991, I moved away, four of those years were spent in his home state, specifically at the University of Nebraska, where I got my journalism degree in 1997. When I returned to California in 1998 to start an 18-year career in journalism, I learned that he retired.

However, I frequently saw him as a referee or spectator at high school sports events that I covered. When I was in St. Helena and Calistoga as a sports reporter, I frequently saw him as a substitute teacher. We would kid each other but have a good time. I would be walking toward him, Orr would say one of two things, “Man, they let anyone in these parts.” Or he’d quip, “You’re looking good, kid. They must be feeding you well up here.” Without missing a beat, I’d quip in return, “I’ve got to keep doing good things up here or they’ll run me out of town.”

From there, the conversation continued, everything from sports at all levels to family life. I could talk to the man for hours.

In a way it’s a shame that I’m thinking of this now that he is at that sporting event or classroom in the sky but I can think of a way right now that I relate to Orr. He continued to officiate and substitute teach after retiring. As for me, two years after making a career change to route sales representative (fancy term for truck driver) for Alhambra Water, I continue my writing fix through this blog and helping the Register with high school football coverage.

With Orr, impacting the lives of young people was not just a job, it was his passion.

When it came to making a difference in the lives of youngsters, this man had both Orrs in the water. Pun intended.

Time Out with Andrew Rapacon: 2017 American Canyon High senior

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

Andrew Rapacon: The biggest thing that I've enjoyed most in athletics is the bond that I form with my team. I have been playing sports with the same people I've played with when I was little and we have really grown into a family. Having that bond with your friends makes it easier to compete, because when you are losing, they are there to pick you up, and when you're winning, there is no better feeling than winning with your family.

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

Rapacon: After high school I plan to attend college. I'd want to stay close to home somewhere. Any type of offer or scholarship I'd be grateful for. If I don't get a offer for football, then I'd probably walk on, because I can't picture myself not playing football.

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

Rapacon: I want to major in Architectural Engineering. In school, I've always been above average in math and I've always enjoyed creating and designing things. I've been wanting to major in some type of Engineering, but I never knew which one to choose. Then my junior year in high school I took a construction class and we learned about "Green Building", and I was really intrigued. Now I have the chance to do exactly that and I feel like that's a perfect fit for me.

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

Rapacon: My favorite class at American Canyon High has to be Calculus. From PreCalculus, to AP Calculus AB, to AP Calculus BC, it has always been a great class. Calculus is not an easy, but I've always enjoyed having the course. Not only is the subject interesting to learn, but I've had the same group of friends in each class. And we've also had the same teacher all three years and it's been a great experience my whole high school career.

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

Rapacon: My parents have definitely been the most influential people in my life. Everything that I've learned about life has been from them. I am grateful to have them in my life and I hope one day I can pay them back for all they've done for me.

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?

Rapacon: If I could meet anyone, I'd meet Ray Lewis. He was a great player and a phenomenal speaker. I've always looked up to him and his leadership qualities, and I've always admired his inspirational speeches because that's something I need to work on as a leader on my team.

American Canyon High football moving the needle

There are a ton of reasons to feel good about American Canyon High football.

Let’s start with the obvious, the Wolves are 4-0 and have outscored opponents 208-77 but sometimes you have to understand the journey before you can comprehend the success. However, this American Canyon High football ride is very much in progress.

They have beaten two teams that terrorized them last season. In 2015, Inderkum (Sacramento) beat American Canyon 43-6 and Wood (Vacaville) beat the Wolves twice, once in the regular season (70-33) and again in the CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III playoffs (59-33). Flip the script one year later, the Wolves smoked both Inderkum (54-19) and Wood (71-36) like a nickel cigar.

Though the revenge angle can be an overplayed narrative, being a Wolves fan is a much better feeling than last season at this time, when American Canyon was 0-4. Granted, the Wolves were breaking in some new faces at the skilled positions as well facing four teams in that span that were playoff teams that finished with a combined record of 32-15.

The Wolves were also breaking in their third head coach, Larry Singer, in as many seasons. While Singer has been with American Canyon since the school opened its doors in 2010, it generally takes time for a new head coach to establish his culture. Singer, however, appears to have grown into his role as varsity head coach very well after five years as the JV head coach and one as the freshman head man. Since the aforementioned 0-4 start to 2015, the Wolves have gone 9-2 heading into Friday’s game at Wolf Den Stadium against Armijo. Like any successful head man, Singer knows the value of having good assistant coaches. Like Singer, American Canyon assistant coaches Joe Beachum, Chris Rapacon and Chris Yepson have been Wolves assistants from Day One. Previous head coaches Ian MacMillan and Ernie Lawson also have sweat equity in the Wolves current success.

The Napa Valley has extensive football tradition with Napa, Vintage, Justin-Siena, St. Helena and Calistoga all having various pockets of success either currently or previously. American Canyon has established a tradition of its own. The Wolves are in their sixth varsity season. In its first five, American Canyon has won or shared the Solano County Athletic Conference four times. The only time the Wolves did not reach the postseason was 2011, when they went 4-6 but even with a truckload of injuries, they were in SJS Div. III playoff contention until the final week.

Unless the team gets hit by a blimp, the Wolves appear well on their way to another league title (outright or shared) with a chance to make noise in the postseason. American Canyon’s last three wins, the aforementioned victories over Inderkum and Wood along with Vintage (42-14), have moved the needle in these parts and beyond. In fact, the Wolves have received coverage on Sacramento’s FOX-TV affiliate. Inderkum is a traditional powerhouse and the Sacramento area has many of them. Beating a school from that area will resonate. The Wolves not only beat the Tigers, they boat-raced them.

Though the Monticello Empire League has been dominated by Napa and Vacaville, Wood has climbed the league’s hierarchy. Though Vintage has been fair-to-middling, beating an in-county team will move the needle.

Another layer to American Canyon’s 4-0 start, Vintage and Wood are MEL teams with Armijo being another. Yours truly made it no secret that the Wolves belong in the MEL in a previous blog entry:

http://vincedadamo.blogspot.com/2016/04/american-canyon-high-would-be-good-fit.html

I could expound on that more but I cannot think of any new ways to say it though I will probably revisit that topic extensively sooner rather than later.

Going forward, the Wolves two biggest hurdles will be SCAC foes Benicia (at home Oct. 7) and Vanden (on the road Oct. 14). Though most people did not see Benicia struggling to a 24-16 win at traditionally lowly Armijo. However, you cannot just assume that one game will transfer to the next.

Offensively, the Wolves running game is like an octopus, if one arm doesn’t grab you, the other one will. You have fast and shifty running backs like Anthony Gobert and Kama Aalona. Though the former is 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, he is also a physical runner. You have a bruiser with speed like Andrew Rapacon and the hub of the wheel is quarterback Darren Antes. Anytime you have a returning starter with command of the offense like Antes, that is a huge advantage. Most people don’t think of a run-based offense with quarterbacks reading defenses but the veer involves exactly that element. While some plays are pre-determined, there are many that are not. Antes makes the right read far more often than not.

Defensively, the Wolves have improved enormously. Though they yielded 36 points and over 400 yards of offense against Wood, you have to have perspective. Unlike their previous three foes that are run-oriented, the Wildcats offense will pass first and ask questions later. Though the Wolves offense scored on 10 of 11 possessions, the defense got just enough stops to where Wood was not in danger of surpassing American Canyon.

As a freelance writer/fan/water truck driver, I can look ahead and say 10-0 is in play for the Wolves. However, Singer and the coaches will take the “one game at a time” approach because it’s their job to keep the players grounded even with the enormity of their success.

Singer has a point though. Look no further than 2012. The Wolves entered SCAC play 5-0 against an 0-5 Vallejo team at Corbus Field. Vallejo knocked off American Canyon 33-28. Though the Wolves won their last four regular season games to win the SCAC, plus two playoff games (37-8 over River Valley and 28-20 over Cosumnes Oaks) before falling in the semifinals at Oakdale, you don’t want to put yourself in position where you are out of mulligans.

Much like the Duran Duran song, the key now is for American Canyon to stay “Hungry Like a Wolf.” While Singer did not use that exact reference, he emphasized that the team will have a target on its back. With that means every opponent will give American Canyon its best shot going forward.

Time Out with Shannon Rankin: 2010 Napa High graduate

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

Shannon Rankin: My favorite part of playing sports would be not only the opportunity to consistently compete, but also the lifelong friends I have made along the way. I have friends that I met playing on travel teams in middle school that I still talk to till this day.

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

Rankin: Since graduating, I have gone on to graduate college at San Francisco

State in 2014, and I am currently a Sales Representative for Gallo Sales Co.

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

Rankin: This is a hard one. I'd have to say it's a tie between my English class with Mrs. (Cindy) Watters my senior year or my history class with Mr. (Steve) Hatton and Mr. (Paul) Gassner. There was never a dull moment in either of those classes. Hands down my favorite teachers.

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

Rankin: Probably anything related to Big Game. There's nothing that can compare to the feeling you got before those games. Also, I'd have to say the tournament we played in over the summer going into senior year in San Diego. It's an unforgettable experience and I'm so happy I got to do it with some of my favorite people.

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?

Rankin: I feel I have grown immensely since high school. So much has changed for the better. Sports have always been a huge part of my life and have shaped me into the person I am today. My mentality is very sports oriented even till this day. I think that has played a huge factor in my growth as person and the decisions I make on a day to day basis.

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

Rankin: My parents, of course. They are everything to me. They have given me the utmost support in everything I do in my life, and have always had my back. I can't thank them enough for that.

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

Rankin: Kobe Bryant, Adele, Heath Ledger, Abraham Lincoln, Pablo Escobar, Paul Rudd.

Time Out with Jason Westerberg: 2007 Napa High graduate

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

Jason Westerberg: I enjoyed the preparation process with my coaches and teammates. The countless hours spent with my friends preparing and developing game plans for our opponents. Most of all, I enjoyed putting on a uniform and grinding out wins with my team.

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

Westerberg: After high school I moved down to the Peninsula to go to school at Santa Clara University (go Broncos!). I was fortunate enough to continue playing baseball as a recruited walk-on pitcher. I had four amazing years at SCU and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Marketing (Technology). I had a successful baseball career as a utility bullpen pitcher (short and long relief, setup and a couple spot starts) but unfortunately ended my athletic career after injuring my elbow which required Tommy John surgery.

After graduating I landed my first full-time job in Sales Operations at a fast growing software start-up called Wildfire Interactive. A year later Wildfire was acquired by Google where I worked for two years until I got the itch to learn more and gain new experiences at another startup. I'm now working at a company called Showpad in San Francisco and live in the East Bay with my fiancé.

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

Westerberg: My favorite class was Economics with Mr. (Mike) Warrington. I learned a lot about decision making, process and problem solving through real and fictional scenarios. This course forced us to think strategically and to be confident in our beliefs. These skills are invaluable and I use them regularly in my day to day job.

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

Westerberg: In baseball, winning our last four games to clinch the 2007 MEL Championship for the first time in several years.

In basketball, hitting a game clinching 3-pointer against Wood my junior year.

In football, recovering a fumble the second play of scrimmage in Big Game my senior year or being called up to JV as a freshman and starting two games on the offensive line.

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?

Westerberg: Exponentially. I've matured, gained new experiences, learned new skills, and met a lot of influential people in my life. Athletics shaped me into who I am today by improving my discipline, focus, time management, work ethic and so much more.

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

Westerberg: My dad coached me in all sports up until high school and he always urged me to dream big. I've always admired his work ethic and willingness to learn. He taught me that these are two traits don't require talent, only the right attitude.

My family has always supported me and enabled me to be successful with my education, sports and work. I feel very fortunate and wouldn't be where I am today without my family or friends.

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

Westerberg: Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most influential inventors of all time. I would give anything to share a meal with him and talk about his creative process and inventions.

Time Out with Lenny Dinov: Vintage High assistant football coach

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

Lenny Dinov: Football and other sports taught me the meaning of hard work, dedication and, discipline. I apply those values to what I do today as well.

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

Dinov: I opened a restauraunt in 1997 and we are going on 19 successful years. But I've decided to make my move back home and help take care of my mom. Napa is where the heart is so it feels good to be home.

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

Dinov: My favorite class at vintage had to me my TA class I had with my favorite teacher/coach Bill Nunes.  

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

Dinov: My favorite moment would probably be voted to all-league (Monticello Empire League) for football and playing in the East/West All-Star game at Memorial Stadium.

D’Adamo: You have since joined the Vintage High coaching staff with your former teammate (Dylan Leach) being the head coach. What lessons do you hope kids that you coach learn?

Dinov: I would love to pass on that Crusher Pride that I remember and I would like them to learn that hard work pays off. I especially want them to cherish each and every moment because these young years fly by.

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

Dinov: By far my dad has been the most inspirational. He came to this country with nothing and built his own little bit of paradise here in the Napa Valley.

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

Dinov: The historical figure I would like to have met would have to be Ronald Reagan because boy does this country need someone like him at this time.

Time Out with Cecilia Tapia: 2014 American Canyon High graduate

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

Cecilia Tapia: I definitely enjoyed making new friends while competing in athletics, I was always really shy but through volleyball, basketball, and track I made a lot of great friendships. There's also a lot to learn about responsibility with athletics, and I'm glad I was able to learn those lessons and just grow as a person before moving away to college.

Tapia: What have you been up to since graduating from high school?

Tapia: After graduating in 2014 I started school at the University of California, Irvine. I major in Public Health and have been working at UCI Catering and the UCI Department of Medicine in the Hematology/ Oncology Department. I have also joined extracurricular activities such as TEDxUCIrvine, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, and intramural sports.

D’Adamo: What was your favorite class here at American Canyon High?

Tapia: My favorite class at ACHS was Fitness for Life High Impact because the whole basketball team was in that class and it was always fun. Sports Medicine was also one of my favorite classes because it was a hands on learning experience and I was able to wrap/ tape up teammates before games if necessary.

D’Adamo: What was it like being part of history at American Canyon High as the school opened?

Tapia: It was a completely different high school experience than most people have had. When I moved to Irvine and talked about high school stories with new friends they always had a lot of tradition and more structure compared to us. It's really great knowing that I had a part in shaping the traditions and structure at ACHS, but I do wish there were more resources available to help me understand the little things like how AP classes transfer to certain classes in college or how different colleges/ universities will impact your learning experience.

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

Tapia: I feel like I have grown immensely as a person since my graduation. A lot of it has to do with me moving away from home and just figuring out what I want to do with my life, but the responsibility and time management skills I have trace back to athletics in high school. I think athletics also helped a lot with my confidence and social skills and without that I wouldn't have done a very good job of meeting people out in Irvine.

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

Tapia: My parents are definitely the most influential people in my life. They have always been supportive, but with me moving away they pushed me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone while also giving me enough space so that I'm able to just figure life out on my own. I'm slowing finding myself doing things that remind me of my parents and my relationship with them has grown a lot.

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

Tapia: I would have liked to meet Aristotle, just because I recently took a class about his works and I find his philosophy very interesting so it would be cool to be able to talk to him or just learn from his first hand.

Time Out with Darren Antes: 2017 American Canyon High senior

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

Darren Antes: The close bond I have within my teammates and coaches.

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

Antes: Go to college to become a firefighter.

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

Antes: Fire technology. My dad intrigues me going to that direction because he is also a firefighter for almost 20 years.

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

Antes: My favorite class here at American Canyon is Mansearch for Meaning.

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

Antes: My mom and dad has been the most influential people.

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?

Antes: A historical figure I would like to meet is the lady on the Statue of Liberty. It intrigues me to meet her because I would want to know what she did in order to be up there holding the torch.

Examining a deeper meaning of the First amendment

Even though something is written as a law, sometimes you have to examine the caveats.

If there is one topic that has rankled many nerves lately is the notion of the first amendment in lieu of the controversy surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. I’m not going to make this a rehash Kaepernick column but rather take the conversation of free speech to another layer of society.

To refresh your memory, Kaepernick sat during the National Anthem of the 49ers preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. Kaepernick later explained his reason.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

The reactions were varied with many arriving at the conclusion that they supported Kaepernick’s first amendment right to express his views but that he chose the wrong way to do it. One week later, Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem against the San Diego Chargers and also pledged that he would donate $1 million dollars to charities that aid communities in need. Within reason, the reaction subsided but is still a heavy talking point.

However, I do not want this post to be about rehashing Kaepernick but rather examine what freedom of speech really means. In a nutshell, the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, prohibiting Congress from interfering with freedom of religion, speech, assembly, or petition. I believe this freedom is a good thing because without it, the USA becomes North Korea and is that what you really want?

While the first amendment protects your right to express what you want, there is also caveat. It may protect you from going to prison but it does not absolve you from other ramifications such as criticism. You can also lose your job. People have suffered such consequences for social media posts. Is it right? You can interpret as you wish.

The example that I keep pointing out is that as a white male, I “can” go into any predominantly black neighborhood with a white supremicist flag and utter racial slurs that rhyme with word trigger but does that mean I “should” do it? Well, using common sense, if I did it, the outcome would not be good. Therefore, I will choose not to do so.

With social media’s explosion, what someone says now, sparks reaction by the millions. What totally cracks me up is when I hear people scream, “stop talking politics on social media or I’ll unfriend you!”

I have Facebook friends of various political leanings that regularly post their views on such matters. There was a time I did it on occasion not anymore. While I occasionally respond to political posts others make, I haven’t made one on my page in over two years. The tipping point for me came in November 2014, I made a simple, honest, innocent post -- or so I thought -- to the effect of “whatever your political leanings are, exercise your right to vote.” The next thing I know, I have Facebook friends on both the right and left getting into pissing matches. It was getting vicious, like name-calling vicious. I deleted the post and from that point decided not to post anything political on social media.

In a sense, you can make a case that even though there are outspoken zealouts on both sides, there is not enough discourse because for every zealout there are cynics that avoid the topic like the plague. I’m definitely cynical when it comes to politics but I pick my spots and forums when discussing them. If you are passionate about the matter, it is your right to be that way but if you are going to post it in a public forum such as social media, just remember you are going to get blowback as well as attaboys. If you can deal with that, have at it, who am I to say you can’t or shouldn’t do it? My reason for not posting anything political on my Facebook page is not because I can’t deal with the blowback I get for my views but rather, I don’t have the time or energy to deal with the immaturity that responders to the post bring. I could unfriend them but I’m not that petty.

I have no problem with other people posting political items on their page because if I don’t like it, I don’t have to read it. As far as in person conversations, I don’t actively seek them but I take a “read the room” approach. If I’m talking to someone with dissenting views and we’re going more than 10 minutes of just rebutting viewpoints, it’s time to shut it down on that topic and move to another. The reason why a “read the room” approach is best is because for every one person you find that is willing to listen to you or even engage, there will be another that quite honestly does not want to listen to you get on your soapbox. If you encounter the latter, it’s best to take a hint.

When it comes to freedom of speech, understand that what you can do and should do are two different things. Translation, say or express at your own risk.