To use a stock market term, Vintage is trending up

Sometimes a program has that watershed moment. For Vintage (Napa) High football, that time might have come on Friday night at Memorial Stadium with a 28-27 come-from-behind win over the Wood (Vacaville) Wildcats.

The timing of the win could not have been better. For openers, the Crushers improve to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in Monticello Empire League. Vintage has won three of its last four heading into its game against Napa, otherwise known in these parts as The Big Game. With a win, Vintage can earn at least a share of the MEL title for the first time since 2005. That season, the MEL had a three-way tie atop the standings with Vintage, Napa and Vacaville each going 4-1 in league. Vintage generated that deadlock with a 28-7 win over Napa. The mere fact that a shared MEL crown is on the table for the Crushers is significant.

As for the win over Wood, to appreciate the victory, you have to comprehend the process. The Crushers trailed 27-17 with three minutes left. Abdeil Ballines’ field goal made it 27-20 with 2:36 remaining. Vintage forced a three-and-out and took over at the Wood 22.

With 5.3 seconds left in the contest Isaiah Garcia connected with Ryan Salmon for a 9-yard touchdown pass, making it 27-26 Wood. From there, Vintage’s first-year head coach Dylan Leach had a decision to make. Do you kick the extra point to force overtime? Do you go for the two-point conversion, a la Jack Del Rio or Tom Osborne, and go for the win? Leach chose the latter and Triston Schaumkel rewarded him by scoring on the two-point conversion.

Regardless of outcome, Leach’s decision to go for the win that very moment was the best move. I know the narrative is going to be, “OK, Vince, he’s a genius if it works and a dummy if it doesn’t.” That outlook though is short-sighted. When I see a coaching decision, I don’t look at the outcome to decide if it’s good or bad. I look at the reason behind it.

Leach could have opted to kick the extra point and force overtime. Even if Vintage lost, very few would have faulted him. That move would have been considered “playing the percentages. By going for the two-point conversion, he put all of his chips on the table. Let’s be honest, if the Crushers do not succeed on that two-point conversion, Leach would have been railroaded by a segment of people. By making that move, Leach’s message was, “we’re going to win this game right here and have no regrets because I believe in you.”

With decisions like that, players will follow Leach wherever he goes. If Crusher players do not “buy in” now, I don’t think they ever will. However, I believe they do. Those in Napa know Leach’s story. He’s a 1992 Vintage High graduate, all-MEL, member of Vintage’s coaching staff under Les Franco and Billy Smith. Then he donned the Blue and Gold from 2010-2015 as defensive coordinator. When Kyle Hofmann resigned after three seasons amid allegations that he provided supplements (specifically Creatine) to players that can legally be purchased at stores but per the California Interscholastic Federation, coaches are prohibited to provide to players, the Vintage administration reached out to Leach.

One has to understand that culture changes do not happen overnight. Look at Napa, Mott took over a ready-made situation at Napa, which had gone 37-9-2 under Jerry Dunlap from 2002-2005. Since taking over in 2006, Mott has gone 93-33 entering the 2016 version of Big Game. In that same span, Mott has added to that legacy and culture while Vintage has had five coaching changes in 10 seasons including Leach.

It should also be noted that the outward seeds of Vintage’s culture change could be seen on Oct. 14 when Vintage narrowly lost to traditional MEL powerhouse Vacaville 29-20. Despite losing to the Bulldogs by an average margin of 49.7-14.8 since 2006, Leach did not do any gladhand moral victory narratives. I have never believed in moral victories but I do believe some losses are more honorable than others and the Crushers have had plenty of dishonorable ones.

Big Game is next. This event has been a house of horrors for the Crushers. What was once an anticipated event has turned into, how does Napa get tuned up for the playoffs? Make no mistake, Big Game will draw big numbers at the gate. It’s a social event as much as an athletic event. However, on the field, Big Game has not been compelling. Napa has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, mostly in decisive fashion.

To use a stock market term, Vintage is “trending up.” Will that translate into beating Napa? Who knows. Napa is the favorite and has earned that right but Vintage may very well at least narrow the gap.

Football in the Napa Valley is rich in tradition from the big schools to the small schools. I have long admired Mott as a coach and his program. I have also developed admiration for American Canyon establishing its mark in a short period of time. The Wolves can win their fifth Solano County Athletic Conference title in six seasons with a win over Vallejo on Friday. However, count me among those that hopes Vintage continues to ascend and if you are a Napa Valley resident that’s what you should want because it is good for local football. You don’t want to have what is happening in Fairfield or Vallejo, where local high school football is a hot mess.

Time Out with Nelson Jarquin Aleman: 2017 ACHS senior

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

Jarquin-Aleman: What I have enjoyed about competing in athletics is being able to express my emotions and being able to give everything I got every play.

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

Jarquin-Aleman: My plans after high school is apply at colleges and maybe be a walk on.

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

Jarquin-Aleman: I might choose engineering or being a mechanic. What intrigues me about engineering is being able to plan out things and know how it works. I am also intrigued about being a mechanic because I enjoy working on cars and it is a lot of fun.

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

Jarquin-Aleman: My favorite class at American Canyon High is hard to choose because all my classes have been really good but I would have to say is ceramics because my teacher was really funny and has made it a fun class.

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

Jarquin-Aleman: My mom and uncle have been the most influential people because they have told that I can do it and to never doubt myself and work hard it'll pay off.

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?

Jarquin-Aleman: I would like to meet Carlos Hyde, the San Francisco 49ers running back, and I would like to ask him some questions about how does it feel playing at this level and other stuff.

Time Out with Brendan Neal: 2017 Napa High senior

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

Brendan Neal: Athletics has given me the opportunity to compete competitively and for fun with my friends and has allowed me to experience activities outside of school. It has allowed me to pursue what I love and has given me a different view about life.

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

Neal: I plan to attend a four year university and go into kinesiology or undeclared.

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

Neal: I plan to choose kinesiology as a major which would allow me to go into sports medicine or physical therapy. My passion for sports made me want to possibly choose this pathway.

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

Neal: My favorite class at Napa High School has been Advanced Placement Chemistry because I love chemistry and it allowed me to be challenged at the subject.

Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Neal: My mother has been the most influential person in my life because she has always been there for me in times of struggle and continues to support and influence me as life moves on.

Time Out with Jacob Castleberry: 2017 Justin-Siena High senior

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

Jacob Castleberry: I have most enjoyed the camaraderie of the teams I have been apart of. Some of my best friends that I have to this day I met on the first day of football in sixth grade. I love the relationship that sports gives a team and seeing the different teams’ personalities throughout the years.

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

Castleberry: After high school I want to go to a school specifically to train to be a paramedic firefighter. Like sports, firefighters have a special bond that no other occupation has and that is something I have always loved in sports.

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

Castleberry: My favorite class at Justin that I have taken is chemistry with Mr. Chappell. I don't know why that is my favorite I just have always liked chemistry.

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

Castleberry: The most influential people in my life has been my dad, my mom, and my grandpa. They have taught me irreplaceable lessons and I will always be grateful for them.

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?

Castleberry: I have always wanted to meet J.J. Watt, the defensive end on the Texans. His work ethic and dominance on the field has always intrigued me about him and I have always wanted to meet him.

Time Out with Hunter LaRue: 2017 Napa High senior

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

Hunter LaRue: What I have enjoyed the most about competing in athletics throughout my life, is seeing how I have transformed as a person on and off the field/mat throughout the years.  

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

LaRue: I have yet to decide on a college but at this point I just want to pursue wrestling no matter where I may attend in the future.

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

LaRue: I plan to take business and law enforcement but have not decided what branch or what exactly I would want to be whether it's a police officer or evan a US marshal.

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

LaRue: My favorite class at Napa High happens to be most kinds of math and I'm lucky enough that all the teachers I've had in the math department were phenomenal.

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

LaRue: My Mom (Jeaneil LaRue) is my biggest inspiration because of how she continues to get through everyday having 3 jobs and still having time to spend with our family and is by my side no matter how deep of a hole  I have dug myself into.

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

LaRue: I would love to meet Conor McGregor (UFC Featherwieght Champion) after hearing his life story and all the dedication he had to become what he is today.

Napa Valley high school football brain droppings

While the Napa Valley has not fully transitioned to fall weather, there has been enough of a change to detect season’s changing.

Rain and wind swept through the valley this past weekend. Though there are likely to be a few more days in October that are balmy and 75 degrees or greater, the July weather appears to have exited Stage Left. As the weather cools down, high school football season heats up on the thermometer. Let’s take the temperature of the Napa Valley’s high school football program’s going from South to North:

American Canyon

While I don’t like saying that a loss is a good thing, for the Wolves, their 24-21 setback to the Vanden Vikings is not necessarily the worst thing. American Canyon fans will have to grit their teeth and root for Benicia to beat Vanden on Friday, winning out in the process to win at least a share of the Solano County Athletic Conference. Stranger things have happened. The Vikings’ emotions were higher than a kite on a windy day after beating the unbeaten Wolves -- and rightfully so. The key going forward is, how does Vanden handle that success and how does American Canyon handle that failure?

I think the win helps Vanden more than the loss hurts American Canyon. Entering the aforementioned contest at Vanden, the Wolves had outscored the opposition 328-118. Perhaps a reality check was needed. American Canyon hosts Bethel (4-3 overall, 2-0 SCAC). Bethel has won four of five after an 0-2 start. The four wins have come against teams with a combined 3-25 record.

Napa

Though its 48-0 win over an overmatched Rodriguez team is not going to move the needle, the Indians did what a perennial winner does against an inferior team. Napa got out in front early scoring all of its points in the first half before downshifting back into first gear. Defensively, the Indians forced five turnovers.

This Friday, however, the light will be shining on Napa with the Indians hosting Vacaville. These two programs have been the behemoths of the Monticello Empire League. Vacaville and Napa enter the contest with 5-2 and 4-3 overall marks respectively, 2-0 in MEL. Vacaville’s losses came against Oak Ridge and Pittsburg (teams with a combined 13-1 record). Napa’s defeats came against Pittman, Rocklin and Pleasant Valley (whose combined records are 15-6.

Vintage

On the surface, the 3-3 Crushers appeared to take a step forward in Friday’s narrow 29-20 loss to annual MEL power Vacaville. On two different occasions, the Crushers pulled within two points only to see Vacaville pull away with a win. However, first-year head coach and Vintage High alum Dylan Leach strongly opposed the moral victory angle.

The Crushers last beat Vacaville in 2001. Since 2006, playing the Bulldogs has been an exercise in futility for Vintage with losses coming by an average margin of 49.7-14.8. I have always believed that while there are no moral victories, some losses are more honorable than others -- and the Crushers have had plenty of dishonorable losses. However, I applaud Leach for wanting his team to have higher standards.

Justin-Siena

The Braves dropped to 2-5 with a 21-14 home loss to Terra Linda. The storyline entering the game was Trojans head coach Rich Cotruvo and defensive coordinator Steve Vargas making their return to Dodd Stadium. Cotruvo coached Justin for 19 seasons (16 with Vargas), leading the Braves to six CIF North Coast Section titles. Long-time Braves assistant Brandon LaRocco took over as the head coach.

Storylines aside, Justin faces an uphill climb in order to reach the postseason. The Braves visit Tamalpais (3-3), Sir Francis Drake (0-6) and host Marin Catholic (5-2). On paper, Drake would appear to be the only layup.

St. Helena

Thanks to a strong second half buoyed by the defense along with running back Niko Lopez, the Saints rallied to beat Winters 32-24. St. Helena trailed 24-16 at halftime but outscored the Warriors 16-8 in the second half. Though it was a nonleague game on paper, it was a Div. IV win for St. Helena, which is a Div. V team.

The Saints are 5-2 and headed for the postseason for the seventh straight year, it’s just a question of where they will get seeded in the NCS Div. V playoffs. St. Helena visits Willits (1-6), Middletown (5-2) and Clear Lake (3-4) to close out the season. The Saints have won four of the last five matchups against Middletown.

Calistoga

Despite a furious rally from Anderson Valley, Calistoga held off the Panthers 28-26 in Friday’s 8-man football contest. With the win, the Wildcats (5-1 overall) secure a spot in the Redwood Bowl for the first time since joining the eight-man football league, otherwise known as North Central League III.

Calistoga finishes its regular season with a road game at Los Altos Hills against Pinewood. Though eight-man football is often looked at as an afterthought, reaching the Redwood Bowl is a boon for Calistoga, which has the numbers to play 11-man football but is hard-pressed to find an 11-man league that provides competitive equity and limited travel.

Time Out with Tarantino Pachote: 2017 Justin-Siena High senior

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

Tarantino Pachote: The thing I have enjoyed most about competing in athletics are the relationships that I have built. Some of my closest friends have been made through sports. Nothing brings you closer than tough workouts and long practices. Another thing I have greatly enjoyed is the competition. I am an extremely competitive person and I always want to be the best.

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

Pachote: After high school I plan to attend a junior college and transfer after two years. After school I plan to join the military, specifically the Navy.

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

Pachote: I would be interested in business. I would very much like the opportunity to be successful and have a family, and business is a good way to make money.

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

Pachote: My favorite class at Justin-Siena has been my economics class with Coach LaRocco. It is a challenging course but I understand the concepts very well and it is fun to learn about local and global economies.

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

Pachote: Two of the most influential people in my family have been my father and my grandfather. My father, Francisco Pachote, grew up in Richmond, California, never knowing his father and living with a young, single mother. He has overcome adversity his entire life. From when he was a kid to now, his work ethic is what has defined him. He has worked incredibly hard for my family. Another greatly influential person in my life is my grandfather, on my mother’s side. He has done more for me than I could ever possibly repay. He is a United States Army veteran, former police officer, former professional baseball player, and former professional men's softball team owner. He is the head of a cooking crew that I am also a member of. This crew does fundraising dinners for the Contra Costa Boys and Girls club. To top it all off he pays for all of the food for the dinners, which often serve 100-400 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?

Pachote: A historical figure I would like to meet would be Marcus Lutrell. He is a former United States Navy SEAL who served in the infamous operation Red Wings. His unit was attacked by the Taliban and could get no support of any kind. After witnessing his best friends and brothers die all around him, he was the only survivor. I would like to ask him what it takes to never quit and and persevere in an situation like he was in.

Time Out with AJ Denna: 2017 Vintage High senior

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

AJ Denna: One thing that I've most enjoyed about competing in athletics is the continuous competition. It has shaped me to be the individual I am today. Another is the camaraderie. I have made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. My teammates are my family.

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

Denna: After high school I plan to attend a four-year university and to continue my football career. I've been playing the game since I was 8 years old, and I don't plan on stopping now.

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

Denna: I would like to study Kinesiology. I want to pursue a career in the field of sports medicine, such as a sports med doctor or physical therapist for a collegiate or professional sports team. What intrigues me about going in this direction is I want to stay involved in sports. And who knows, I might become a coach at my alma mater one day.  

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

Denna: Outside of weight training, my favorite class at Vintage High has to be my Race and Social Justice class that I am currently taking with Mr. Oppenheim. The topics we discuss are current, relevant, and important issues that need to be talked about. It gives me great knowledge on what’s going on in the world today.

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

Denna: Without question my parents are the most influential people in my family. They are both the hardest working people I know, and also my No. 1 fans. They are incredibly supportive and I pray I will become parents like them in my future.

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

Denna: One person I would like to meet is motivational speaker and minister Eric Thomas. I listen to his speeches every Friday before my games. His words are truly inspiring and I strive to live my life by them. "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe... then you'll be successful." - E.T.

Time Out with Gamon Howard: 2017 American Canyon High senior

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

Gamon Howard: The thing that I enjoy most about competing in sports is grinding with my brothers in the off season and during season, creating that unbreakable bond.

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

Howard: Play Division I college ball.

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

Howard: I would like to major in business. I would like to have my own business. The idea of owning my own company is appealing.

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

Howard: My favorite class at American Canyon High school has to be chemistry. It's interesting learn something different everyday.

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

Howard: My father has been the most influential. My whole family they are the reason I grind everyday.

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?

Howard: I would like to meet Odell Beckham, because I feel like we have the same personality. He dances a lot so do I so I feel like we would have a lot of fun. And because he's a great athlete also my favorite player.

Time Out with Anthony Gobert: 2017 American Canyon High senior

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

I've started playing football at a very young age being influenced by my older, Robert Wilkes, an American High School graduate. He was an outstanding football player, loved to show off his skill on the football field and I couldn't wait to perform just like him. I was very competitive, never liked losing especially hanging around older family members like cousins, uncles, and family friends that usually hung around my brother. I was just the tag along. My older brother had been my only opponent until I was old enough to join a team, therefore that came with a lot back and forth trash talk, while playing the game or whatever it was that we battled. When I finally became of age, I joined the same youth football team, and that’s where I found myself. I built great friendships, also brotherhoods with many different people, I learned how to take a lost and move on to the next opponent during the football season, and I definitely became a lot more open-minded and outspoken also being a three sport athlete playing baseball, and basketball too. So one of my favorite things about competing in athletics all my life was competing with the same guys I work my butt off with throughout the week until game-time and coming together the day of the game to fight together, better yet, win.

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

Gobert: After high school, the one thing I look forward to is continuing my education at a college that fits me, academically, environment wise, and also has a football team with a coaching staff & brotherhood willing to welcome me on to the team, and push me like I've been there for years.

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

Gobert: Although I have just walked into my senior year and time does fly, I have not made a choice on exactly what I want to major in. I've recently asked a bit about psychology knowing that I can comfort others, being a very respectful young man with a kind heart who hates to see people down, even at their lowest peak, I still make effort to reach out and bring someone up if I could. I know psychology has a lot to do with talking to others, maybe even counseling so I thought about looking into that.

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

Gobert: My favorite class has got to be my 10th grade humanities class. That year, my two teachers Mr. Brown, and Mrs. Devincenzi had took their time with me, helped me manage my time, pushed me to get the work done and to stop being lazy, and expected nothing but my best effort the whole year. Mr. Brown had became something like a mentor for me, when I felt like I couldn’t do it, or I felt like I couldn’t make it being at my lowest peak in life, he made sure to reach out to me and let me know that there are possibilities, and that it isn't the end to your journey.

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

Gobert: With the little family I have here where I stay, the only one's making an effort to stay on top of me and make sure I’m headed down the right path is my mother first and foremost, my grandmother secondly who has been their just as much. My uncle Douglas Young, Vintage High School graduate, also quarterback of the football team around 1993-94 has always made sure to communicate by phone offering me all these different things he'll make sure to get me if I did what he asked in school. That was a great way to push me because I loved getting new things. My uncle Troy and his wife, my beautiful Auntie Monique Bell also gave me words of motivation making sure I stayed on top of my school work and everything else that came along with 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?

Gobert: I'd like to meet rap artist Nipsey Hussle, I am inspired by this guy not because of what he does but what he's been through and the strength he's managed to build up over time. He was raised in a rough environment, ended up gang banging, but later down the line found himself. He was his own person, he ended up investing in his own clothing company, and believed in everything he started, and hustled to finish it. That’s a strong-minded individual and I want to know what gave him the strive and momentum and boost in confidence.

Time Out with Jake Van Zandt: Napa High 2017 senior

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life? Jake Van Zandt: I love the competitive nature. It has always been a thrill to me. When it's game day for either football, basketball, or track I always strive to do my best and give it all. I also love the people that I've met throughout the years; both coaches and friends. Great people with bonds that'll last in the future. D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school? Van Zandt: I plan to go to college, with hopes of getting into Cal Arts in LA; which is a liberal arts school. D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction? Van Zandt: As a major, I wish to go to into animation, since it's a liberal arts school, but the specific major I would like to learn there would be: character design. Animation has always intrigued me, ever since I was a little kid I loved cartoons. Then I found out I wasn't half bad at drawing and over the years I've developed that skill more and just love to do it. My dream is to have my own cartoon show. D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Napa High? Van Zandt: My favorite class at Napa High has been Honors English 10, my sophomore year. Along with that class helping me get better at writing, it also taught me important life lessons. It also includes my favorite teacher at Napa High, Mr. Paterson. D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people? Van Zandt: My mom, my great grandma Sybil, and my Grandma Margaret. They've always been well involved with everything I do and always give me the best support. D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. Van Zandt: I would love to meet Dwayne Wade, because he is my favorite athlete in all sports and he seems like a chill guy.

Time Out with Austin Connolly: 2013 Justin-Siena High graduate

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

Austin Connolly: The greatest aspect of playing sports while growing up was the friendships I made and mentors I learned from. I began playing football at seven years old and continued to play every fall for the next 11 years up to winning the North Coast Section (Div. IV) championship my senior year of high school. I believe the relationships I created on the field with teammates and coaches had one of the greatest impacts on creating the person I am today but of course while growing up I didn’t view these relationships as such. They were simply my best friends who I could compete with in practice, and next to in the games. The bonds created while going through drills and conditioning are unlike any other relationships I have had outside of sports.

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

Connolly: After graduating from Justin-Siena I have attended the University of Redlands where I am currently in my senior year. I am majoring in Global Business with a minor in Mathematics and a focus on Chinese language.

In the spring of my senior year, my mother and I launched a patented plush toy where one squeezes the stomach called NightBuddies. Our first trade show was at the San Francisco Gift fair but since then we have attended tons of trade shows including the New York Toy Show, the largest toy trade show in the world. During my junior year, I designed the toys on adobe illustrator while conferring with the factory in Shenzhen, China for months until we had the opportunity to visit the manufacturing site. That day was where I knew I wanted to return to China to learn the language and culture.

During my sophomore year, I applied for and received a scholarship to fund a language intensive summer program as well as a petition to study abroad my entire junior year of college. As a result I left from San Francisco on June 10, 2015 and spent the next fourteen months in Beijing, China studying Mandarin Chinese. During the summer in 2015 I studied at the Duke in China language intensive program, then in the Fall and Spring I studied at Beijing Foreign languages university with IES study abroad program. In the spring, I received an opportunity to work part time in the Foreign Commercial Services at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China while intensively studying Chinese. Through my hard work, I was invited to continue working at the Embassy full time this past summer. My experiences abroad in China have shaped my life and the way I view the world immensely. The ability to be a student as well as work full time gave me a greater understanding of the culture, and language of China as well as business practices and international relations.

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

Connolly: I will have to say any of the three classes I had with Mr. Carpenter, the math teacher. Prior to having him as a teacher, I thought mathematics was the most difficult subject in the world but the way he taught math changed my world. His teaching style of demanding attention from students, offering retakes during study time, and explanation of topics allowed the subject to click in my brain. My experiences in his class opened up opportunities to continue studying mathematics in college.

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

Connolly: My athletic favorite moment at Justin-Siena was probably one of the worst plays I committed during my time on the field. It was late in the North Coast Section Championship game my senior year with the score still close. I was soaked from the rain and stood around our twenty yard line to return the punt from the opposing team.

After a great punt by the other team’s kicker that sent the ball into the air for what seemed like forever and I dropped the ball through my arms. The other team recovered it on our twenty or thirty yard line. It was such a great mistake to me at that moment that I was numb to what actually had just happened. I got up and the coaches pulled me in and don’t worry, just keep grinding at the rock. I went to the defensive huddle and my teammates looked at me and said we’ll get it back. The other team pushed us back to around the two yard line but we held them up to a fourth down. On this fourth down play, the running back came out to my side where I contained him and forced him inside into the pile. At some point he fumbled the ball and we recovered. My teammates held me up when I was at my lowest. That is what Justin-Siena football was about. The coaches of that team taught us more than just a sport. They taught us how to hold your friends up in a time of need. They taught us to shrug off a mistake and to keep working at your goal with relentless effort. They taught us to trust and to love.

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?

Connolly: Would it be crazy to say that I am a completely different person? Not in the way of opposite to my prior personality in high school but the way I view life and the world has either changed or become more permanent in my beliefs (not to say that nothing is up to change). My experiences in college and more recently in China has allowed me to mature into a person with a greater appreciation of the support and opportunities I have been given. I believe with a constant appreciation of what I have has allowed me to stay motivated to give the same support and opportunities to my own family one day.

Family, friends, and football is the foundation of who I am today. The habits I learned from football growing up has propelled me to where I am today. Some of the greatest lessons I have learned through football include a relentless work ethic, respect for all others, preparation is the key to success, learn from your mistakes, and to love “the game”. “The game” after high school football is now simply my life.

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

Connolly: I can’t choose just one person. Every person in my family both immediate and more distant has had an influence on me for the better.

My father has always shown me how to get ahead in life through hard work and respect. The line he has always told me is to be respectful and gentlemanly. My mother has shown me how to follow my dreams with passion and hard work. As an entrepreneur she has shown me a window into the business world. I have seen how much of a grind the entrepreneurial world is but through the lessons my mother has taught me I know it is a viable path in life.

My brother is the combination of my parents teachings in a younger, more relatable person. He has shown me a work ethic unparalleled to peers as well as a work life balance. During my sophomore year of college, I had the opportunity to watch him work part time at Matthew’s Real Estate firm while completing an accelerated MBA at Chapman University.

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

Connolly: Ralph Lauren. He’s taken so many risks, a true american icon who’s lived the American dream.

As league play beacons, Wolves can clear big hurdles early

It is often said that when a high school or college team enters league and/or conference competition, that is the time where seasons get defined as successes or failures.

With regard to the 2016 version of American Canyon High football, the Wolves will have a chance to define themselves right away as they enter Solano County Athletic Conference games. American Canyon, which is 5-0 and has outscored its foes 265-97, will face its two biggest hurdles the next two weeks to win another SCAC title. The Wolves are in their sixth varsity football season and have won four straight SCAC titles (solo or shared). The smart money here says there’s a good chance the Wolves make it five, be it shared or sole possession.

American Canyon will host Benicia on Friday, Oct. 7, and will visit Vanden one week later on Oct. 14. Benicia and Vanden are both 2-3 but don’t be fooled, both are a genuine threat to the Wolves. To use a baseball analogy, American Canyon has not only hit the ball out of the park, it has reached the upper deck with tape-measure shots. Highlighting the five wins were blowout victories over reigning CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III runnerup Inderkum (54-19) and Wood (71-36). Both teams tormented the Wolves last season with Inderkum beating American Canyon 43-6 and Wood getting the upper hand twice, 70-33 in the regular season and 59-33 in the SJS Div. II playoffs.

The Wolves aforementioned 5-0 record has come against foes that have amassed a 12-13 record. Armijo’s 1-4 mark, however, skews that record. Benicia and Vanden are each 2-3. The former has been outscored 106-84 against teams that have compiled a 11-14 record. Vanden, however, has outscored its opponents 141-67 against teams that have a combined 16-9 mark. The Vikings are no joke.

When you’re 5-0, there are far more things to celebrate than lament. Keep in mind, the Wolves were 1-4 last season at this time. However, it was the Wolves last game on Sept. 23 that had head coach Larry Singer see enough negative things to get his team’s attention during the bye week. Yes, American Canyon blew Armijo’s doors off 57-20 but you can’t just look at the final score and assess a team’s performance.

Though Armijo recorded its first win of the season on Saturday, 30-0 over Fairfield in a battle of two winless clubs, the Indians are struggling for a reason. However, on the first drive Armijo marched right down the field and scored to go ahead 6-0 over the Wolves. The Indians lined up in the wishbone formation and ran right at the Wolves. American Canyon, however, more than recovered in scoring 29 unanswered points. Watching that game, one came away with the feeling that American Canyon played down to Armijo’s level. Wolves head coach Larry Singer said as much after the game.

“We could have played better today,” Singer said. “The bye comes at a perfect time. It doesn’t matter how many points you score. 57 is great but we left a lot out there. I didn’t do a good enough job getting the defense ready for facing a team running right at us. They put up 20 points running the wishbone. I thought I was watching old Big 12 games again.”

Being a Kansas State alum, Singer would know what an old Big 12 game looks like. As a Nebraska alum, so would I. Such an effort does not matter against a subpar team like Armijo, a similar performance though probably gets you beat against Benicia or Vanden. However, things things are equally true: a) One game does not always transfer to the next, b) Each game is its own entity and c) The Wolves were playing at such a high level before the Armijo contest that they were bound to take a step back.

Never mind that Benicia and Vanden are both 2-3, these are high alert games where as a fan/media member as a hobby/truck driver for a living, I encourage you to take a “pump the brakes” approach. I’m not just saying this because I cover the Wolves during football season but I believe they are superior to both teams. However, both are good enough to beat American Canyon if it is not on point but coming out of a bye. I expect a well-prepared Wolves team on Friday and against Vanden. What that translates into the win column who knows but I think you’ll see a different team than the one that played Armijo.