Home Games played at Antioch Community Center in Prewett Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. Tickets at: www.brownpapertickets.com/cccds/3689712 Learn more at www.cccdeltastars.com.
“Letters to 87” featuring Hall of Famer Steve Young, and Brent Jones, Eric Wright and Dwight Hicks in Walnut Creek Jan. 16
Presented by the Diablo Regional Arts Association
January 16, 2020 / 7:30PM – 9:00PM (no intermission)
Tickets available at: https://lesherartscenter.showare.com/lettersto87
Celebrate the Legacy of the 49ers with Letters to 87 live!
Football fans will always remember “The Catch” as the moment a dynasty was born. When Dwight Clark caught the touchdown pass that sent the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 1982, an indelible moment was etched into the history of the NFL. Later, as Clark battled ALS, he and sportswriter Matt Maiocco put out a call to friends and fans, asking them to share their memories of this moment. The letters that Clark and Maiocco received tell the story of how the man who wore number 87 brought together a city and a franchise through his sincerity, his loyalty, and his spirit for life and the game.
Join us for a special star-studded evening at the Lesher Center for the Arts presented by the Diablo Regional Arts Association where we will look back on the legacy of “The Catch” and the 49ers in the Bay Area featuring Hall of Famer Steve Young and 49ers greats Brent Jones, Eric Wright and Dwight Hicks in a panel moderated by NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco. Your ticket includes a copy of the commemorative coffee table book, Letters to 87, featuring essays by Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Brian Murphy, and Kelly Clark along with rare photos from Michael Zagaris, Brad Mangin, and John Storey.
Regular admission tickets to the event are $50 with proceeds going to the Golden Heart Fund, a charity that was near and dear to Dwight Clark. The Golden Heart Fund provides emotional, financial, and physical support to former 49ers players in dire need of assistance. A special VIP reception is also available for $187 and includes a ticket to the show, a book, and admission to the VIP reception featuring all panel participants plus some surprise special guests. Space is limited to the VIP reception.
The perfect gift for any football fan!
First Chinese Harlem Globetrotter set to play in Bay Area Jan. 11-20
Rookie Shan “Lucky” Jiang set to make California debut at Chase Center, Oakland Arena, and SAP Center at San Jose
Harlem Globetrotters_Lucky Jiang_Action Shot_2020 Pushing the Limits World Tour. Photo courtesy of Harlem Globetrotters.
The Harlem Globetrotters newest rookie Shan “Lucky” Jiang will make his California debut when he joins his new teammates during their new “Pushing the Limits” World Tour in the Bay Area for seven games from Jan. 11-20.
Jiang and the world famous team will play the new Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., the Oakland Arena (formerly Oracle Arena) on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and SAP Center at San Jose on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m.
Lucky Jiang, a 5-11 ball handling sensation from Beijing, China, is the first Chinese player ever to suit up as a Globetrotter in the team’s 94-year history. Jiang first saw the Globetrotters perform live in 2014, during one of the team’s tours of China, and says he was so “awed” by the performance that he made sure he attended a Globetrotters game every time the team toured China from that point on.
Jiang recently joined teammates Zeus McClurkin and Scooter Christensen to trade tricks with Golden State Warriors rookie Eric Paschall (video is available HERE, courtesy Harlem Globetrotters).
Jiang, McClurkin, and Christensen will spread goodwill in the Bay Area from Jan. 8-10, prior to the games. To request media availability with the Globetrotters, email Eric Nemeth at nemeth@harlemglobetrotters.com.
“Some people said that because I am Chinese, the chance to become a Harlem Globetrotter was always remote, maybe only 1% chance,” said Lucky. “But I was happy with that, because that meant there was always a 1% chance. I always worked hard, and I believe in miracles.”
Tickets for all Bay Area games are now on sale at harlemglobetrotters.com.
On the new tour, Globetrotters’ fans will experience even bigger moments and memories, including a live world record attempt at each game. Plus, many markets will feature a glow in the dark performance.
The “Pushing the Limits” World Tour will up the ante and create even bigger moments and memories for Globetrotter fans. The Hall of Fame team’s 94th consecutive year will feature over 280 games through April in North America.
New to this year’s tour, and never been done before, include:
- Holders of 21 current world records, the Globetrotters will attempt a new world record live at each game on tour this year, hoping to add to their list of impressive accolades and innovations.
- In many markets, the Globetrotters will also perform their legendary pre-game “Magic Circle” ball handling warmups in the dark, using a glow in the dark Baden basketball to provide the illumination.
- The Globetrotters will celebrate their fans by introducing “The Fifth Quarter,” a free interactive post-game autograph session where fans will have the opportunity to meet the Globetrotters stars up close and personal.
As part of the tour, the Globetrotters will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the four-point shot, a shot 30-feet from the basket which they introduced to the sport in 2010. The team will also bring back its popular “Magic Pass” pre-game event, which enables fans to come onto the court, meet their favorite Globetrotters for pictures and autographs, and even learn how to spin a ball on their finger just like the stars.
The Harlem Globetrotters roster showcases some of the most thrilling athletes in the world, including Big Easy Lofton, Hi-Lite Bruton, Hammer Harrison, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard, and Cheese Chisholm – plus female stars TNT Lister, Torch George and more.
The Harlem Globetrotters® are legendary worldwide, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills for the past 93 years. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents – over nine thrilling decades. The Ambassadors of Goodwill are sponsored by Baden Sports, the Official Basketball, Champion, the Official Uniform & Apparel provider, Tum-e Yummies, the Official Fruit Flavored Drink, Carnival Cruise Line, Inc., Heelys, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters’ official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter @Globies.
Antioch Speedway to host Two Day West Coast Nationals this weekend
By Don Martin II
Antioch, CA…This weekend Antioch Speedway will be hosting the biggest Dirt Modified race of the year. It’s the First Annual West Coast Nationals. The A Modifieds and the B Modifieds will both be competing.
Past Modified and Stock Car competitor Chad Chadwick is making his foray into promoting with this big event. He’s hoping not just to offer the racers a big money race, but also to help reclaim Antioch Speedway’s status as one of the top tier dirt tracks in the state. “The fans will be seeing some of the best Modified racing you’ll find anywhere,” said Chadwick. “Some of the best drivers on the West Coast will be here this weekend. We have a format that will give the racers several opportunities to make it into the big race. I’m excited to be bringing this race to Antioch Speedway.”
Bobby Hogge IV #2h will be one of the drivers to beat in the West Coast Nationals at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Kniss Racing Photos.
The event kicks off on Thursday night with a practice, barbecue, cornhole tournament and live music. Both divisions will compete in heat races and Preliminary Features on Friday. The Top 4 finishers in the Preliminary Features will be locked into Saturday’s big money Main Event.
On Saturday, the two divisions will again run heat races as well as B Mains and Last Chance Qualifiers. The night ends with the Main Events offering purses of $25,000 for the A Modifieds and over $5,000 for the B Modifieds.
Antioch Speedway has held some big Modified races during the past 30 years, but this one will be the biggest ever. Just to take the green flag in the A Modified Main Event on Saturday will ensure a driver a minimum $500 payday. To win the show will be worth $7,500, and even second place walks off with a tidy sum of $3,800. The B Modified drivers will be competing for $1,500 to win their feature race with drivers earning $150 just to start.
The money being offered for the A Modifieds was enough to attract the attention of Bakersfield driver Ethan Dotson. Dotson gained national attention by winning the big IMCA Nationals event in Boone, Iowa in early September. He may come in as a top driver to beat, but an all star lineup of competitors is anticipated with the money on the line.
Bobby Hogge IV has a knack for winning some of the biggest races on the West Coast, and he’s won 70 Main Events at Antioch Speedway alone in his impressive career. Hogge picked up the lucrative victory in the Mike Cecil Memorial at Watsonville earlier this year and also left with the big prize money in the Roger Haudenshild Tribute race in Medford back in June.
Kellen Chadwick #83 has already won two of the biggest races of of the season at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Kniss Racing Photos.
When you talk about drivers to beat, Bobby’s name will be found near the top of the list. “These are the races that I look forward to,” said Hogge. “You get some of the best drivers out there, and it makes it a lot more fun and challenging for me. I’m looking forward to this race. We’ve always done pretty well at Antioch.”
Like Hogge, Kellen Chadwick, Troy Foulger and Nick DeCarlo are all past Antioch Speedway champions. Chadwick won both the Donna Soares Memorial and Jerry Hetrick Memorial at Antioch this year. He also won the Wild West Speedweek Series title for the second time this year and the $5,000 R Charles Snyder Salute in Medford.
Foulger is a four-time Antioch champion teaming with Billy Bowers, and he won the Merced Speedway title this year. DeCarlo won the Antioch championship last season and had three wins this year. This second-generation competitor bears the distinction of being the only driver to win Modified championships at Antioch, Petaluma and Watsonville.
This is just a sampling of some of the stars anticipated not just from California but from the Pacific Northwest and even Canada. Local stars such as new champion Buddy Kniss, 2017 champion Bobby Motts Jr, Sean O’Gara, multi-time Late Model champion Jeff Decker and Bob Newberry are among a roster of roughly 50 competitors expected to do battle.
The $1,500 is one of the bigger prizes being offered for the B Modifieds, and that kind of cash will bring some fast competitors to Antioch Speedway. This will include past champion Fred Ryland. Ryland has won over 50 Main Events in his career at Antioch Speedway alone as well as the 2015 championship. He won the Merced title this year. Local star Tommy Fraser, who won the championship this year along with eight Main Events, is anticipated as well.
In addition to other local stars such as Trevor Clymens and brother Tommy Clymens Jr, Todd Gomez and Kevin Brown, top racers from tracks such as Watsonville, Merced and Marysville are anticipated for this special event. There’s even reports of a few Modified racers bringing two cars to compete in both divisions.
The track has offered some big paying events through the years, and this is the biggest one yet. The West Coast Nationals promises to be a can’t miss event. This two-day event is also the final race of the season until next year. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Walnut Creek tennis player Katie Volynets plays “really well” in first round of U.S. Open against eventual champion Bianca Andreescu
September 3, 2019 – Katie Volynets in victorious action against Carole Monnet in a junior girls’ match at the 2019 US Open. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/USTA)
Katie Volynets. Photo courtesy of USTA.
The “up-and-coming player” also makes it to second round of U.S. Open Junior Championship
By Allen Payton
In the first round of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, local tennis standout, Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek, faced the eventual champion, Bianca Andreescu of Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday, August 27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City. She lost the match 2-6, 4-6 but according to Andreescu played “really well”. (See video highlights of their match, here.)
Andreescu went on to beat six-time U.S. Open Women’s Singles Champion, Serena Williams in the finals on Saturday, Sept. 7 to win the tournament.
Volynets received a wild card into the women’s draw after winning the Billie Jean King USTA National Championships Girls’ 18s singles title earlier, last month. (See related Herald article)
On Tuesday, Sept. 4, Volynets was also able to advance to the second round of the US Open Junior Championships, after defeating Carole Monnet of France, 6-1, 6-3. She failed to advance in that tournament losing the match to No. 4 seed Maria Camila Osorio Serrano of Colombia 6-4, 6-4, who faces American qualifier Alexandra Yepifanova of Florida, in the championship, later today, Sunday, Sept. 8.
Screenshot of Katie Volynets in the first set of her Round 1 match against Bianca Andreescu at the US Open on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
In her match against Andreescu, which lasted 1 hour and 29 minutes, Volynets held her own on many, multiple volley points, forcing the ultimate champion to work hard, running back and forth across the court. Volynets was up 4-3 in the second set, but, Andreescu rallied to bring it to deuce point and then won the game, breaking Volynets’ serve and tying the set at 4-4. She went on to win the next two games against Volynets, securing her victory.
According to the Sporting News, Andreescu had to overcome “32 unforced errors – twice as many as the American Volynets – to win in straight sets.” Another Sporting News article claimed “it was hardly a walk in the park for Andreescu. The Canadian had to overcome some early jitters and sloppy play to claim victory in her first-ever match in the main draw at Flushing Meadows.”
“Committing 16 unforced errors in the opening set, Andreescu gave Volynets plenty of opportunity to stick around in the early goings of a match-up that pitted the 15th-seeded Canuck against the World No. 473 from Walnut Creek, Calif. Fortunately for Andreescu, Volynets’ inexperience shone through and the Mississauga, Ont., native was able to successfully convert three break points en route to a 6-2 first-set win that was more impressive on the scoreboard than the court.”
According to that same article, Andreescu “was visibly frustrated at times, especially with 17-year-old Volynets growing in confidence with each passing point. The young American matched her more fancied opponent for most of the second frame, with both women holding serve through the first eight games without giving up a single break point opportunity.”
To see the complete stats of their match, click here and here.
Screenshot of Katie Volynets congratulating Bianca Andreescu following their first round match.
In a post-match press conference, the 2019 champion had very positive things to say about Volynets.
“It’s my first round, first match of the tournament, so maybe I was a bit rusty at the beginning,” Andreescu said. “I’m also playing someone younger than me, so, that’s not the best scenario. I’m usually the young one. But, it’s nice to see these up-and-coming players play on big stages like this.”
Andreescu is 19 and Volynets, who started playing tennis when she was just five, is 17.
“Katie, my opponent, she was playing really well. She was getting to a lot of balls. She’s an incredible fighter,” Andreescu continued. “That’s what I told her after the match and I’m sure it’s going to get her places.”
“There were long rallies. I was a little bit nervous coming into the match, too. So, I think, maybe that kind of showed,” she said.
When asked by a reporter to “take a moment and talk more about” Katie, Andreescu responded, “I think she has a very bright future. If she works hard and keeps improving her game, I think she can be very dangerous to a lot of the players. She moves really well. She doesn’t show any negative emotion, which is very impressive. Yeah, I think she can do very big things.”
“Because she gets to so many balls, I wanted to hit the right ball at the right time,” she added about playing Volynets.
“Ever heard of a better tennis name?” a reporter asked.
“Oh, volley nets. Oh, yeah. I never even, like put two and two together. Yeah, that’s crazy, Andreescu responded with a laugh. “She has a very nice name. Very ironic.”
Katie Volynets of Walnut Creek wins Girls’ 18s national tennis title, earns U.S. Open main draw wild card spot
Katie Volynets, of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Zachary Svajda of San Diego with their trophies. Photos by USTA.
Top American juniors Katie Volynets, of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Zachary Svajda, of San Diego, won the USTA Girls’ and Boys’ 18s National Championships this past weekend, each earning wild cards into the main draw of the US Open and headlining the annual USTA National Championships that took place last week.
Katie Volynets returns a volley during her championship match.
The nation’s top junior tennis players competed in eight USTA National Championships across America. In addition to the US Open main draw wild cards awarded to the 18s singles and doubles champions, the singles runners-up in the Boys’ and Girls’ 18s divisions received wild card entries into the US Open Qualifying Tournament set to being on Monday, Aug. 19 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Meanwhile, the Boys’ and Girls’ 16s champions earn wild card entries into the US Open Junior Championships.
Seventeen-year-old Volynets, won the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championship, defeating Emma Navarro (18, Charleston, S.C.), 6-2, 6-4 in the finals at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. Volynets, who will be making her US Open main draw debut, reached the semifinals at the ITF World Tennis Tour W25 events in Florence, S.C., and Norman, Okla., as a qualifier earlier this year. As the runner up, Navarro will compete in the US Open Qualifying Tournament.
Svajda defeated Govind Nanda (18, Loma Linda, Calif.), 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-3, 6-1, to win the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championship in Kalamazoo, Mich. The sixteen-year-old will be the youngest player to compete in the men’s singles main draw since American Donald Young did it in 2007. Nanda, who reached the boys’ 18s singles and doubles finals, received a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament.
Reese Brantmeier (14, Whitewater, Wis.) and Alexander Bernard (15, Bonita Springs, Fla.) won the USTA Girls’ and Boys’ 16s National Championships singles titles, and will receive wild cards into the main draw of the US Open Junior Championships.
Complete results of the USTA National Championships can be found below. The complete draws are available at the USTA National Championships page on TennisLink.
Katie Volynets holds her trophy presented by Billie Jean King (right).
USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships
Barnes Tennis Center, San Diego, August 3-11
Singles: (2) Katie Volynets (Walnut Creek, Calif.) d. (3) Emma Navarro (Charleston, S.C.), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles: (13) Abigail Forbes (Raleigh, N.C.) / Alexa Noel (Summit, N.J.) d. Gabriella Price (Boca Raton, Fla.) / Katrina Scott (Woodland Hills, Calif.), 7-5, 6-1
USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships
Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Mich., August 2-11
Singles: (6) Zachary Svajda (San Diego) d. (5) Govind Nanda (Cerritos, Calif.), 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles: (1) Martin Damm (Bradenton, Fla.) / Toby Kodat (Bradenton, Fla.) d. (3) Brandon Nakashima (San Diego, Calif.) / Nanda, 6-3, 6-4
USTA Boys’ 16s National Championships
Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Mich., August 2-11
Singles: (1) Alexander Bernard (Bonita Springs, Fla.) d. (4) Aidan Mayo (Torrance, Calif.), 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
Doubles: (7) Hugo Hashimoto (San Jose, Calif.) / Benjamin Kittay (Potomac, Md.) d. (11) Lucas Brown (Plano, Texas) / Aidan Kim (Milford, Mich.), 6-4, 6-3
USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 16s National Championships
Barnes Tennis Center, San Diego, August 3-11
Singles: (14) Reese Brantmeier (Whitewater, Wis.) d. (1) Valencia Xu (Livingston, N.J.), 6-2, 6-0
Doubles: (17) Elise Wagle (Niskayuna, N.Y.) / Katja Wiersholm (Kirkland, Wash.) d. Tara Malik (Seacaucus, N.J.) / Nikita Vishwase (Phoenix, Ariz.), 6-3, 6-0
USTA Boys’ 14s National Championships
Mobile Area Tennis Association, Mobile, Ala., August 3-10
Singles: (4) Cooper Williams (Greenwich, Conn.) d. (3) Nicholas Godsick (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), 6-1, 7-5
Doubles: (6) Alexander Razeghi (Humble, Texas) / Dylan Tsoi (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) d. (5) James Lian (Parsippany, N.J.) / Nicholas Mangiapane (Davidson, N.C.), 6-1, 6-1
USTA Girls’ 14s National Championships
Metro Tennis Associates, Rome, Ga., August 3-10
Singles: (3) Theadora Rabman (Port Washington, N.Y.) d. Brooklyn Olson (Mission Hills, Kan.), 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-1
Doubles: (17) Ananya Annapantula (Mason, Ohio) / Maddy Zampardo (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) d. (17) Macy Hitchcock (Eaton, Ohio) / Piper Charney (Prospect, Ky.), 6-4, 6-0
USTA Boys’ 12s National Championships
Mobile Area Tennis Association, Mobile, Ala., August 3-10
Singles: (3) Maxwell Exsted (Savage, Minn.) d. (2) Abhinav Chunduru (Plano, Texas), 7-6(5), 6-0
Doubles: (2) Chunduru / Prathinav Chunduru (Plano, Texas) d. (1) Exsted / Cooper Woestendick (Olathe, Kan.), 6-4, 6-3
USTA Girls’ 12s National Championships
Windward Lake Club, Alpharetta, Ga., August 4-10
Singles: (4) Claire An (New York) d. (1) Bella Payne (Taylors, S.C.), 6-2, 6-2
Doubles: (1) Haylee Conway (Bellevue, Wash.) / Aspen Schuman (Menlo Park, Calif.) d. (5) Kate Fakih (Arcadia, Calif.) / Victoria Osuigwe (Bradenton, Fla.), 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 655,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.
Contra Costa high school swimmers make All-America top 100 list, Danville girl ranks 1st in 200 Yard Individual Medley
De La Salle High School’s Ryan Iannaccone competes during a meet on April 14, 2019. Photo by Elizabeth Iannaccone.
By Allen Payton
The 2019 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) High School All-America lists have been released and a long list of swimmers from Contra Costa County have made the top 100 in various events. Zoie Hartman, a senior this past year at Danville’s Monte Vista High School, was the nation’s top swimmer in the 200 Yard Individual Medley. She and many other swimmers made the list in more than one event.
BOYS
In the Boys 100 Yard Butterfly, Flanders, a senior this past year, ranked sixth with a time of 47.49 and Iannaccone, also a senior, ranked 94th with a time of 49.55. The top swimmer in the nation in the event was from Southern California and had a time of 46.63. The national record is 45.52 which was achieved by a swimmer in Florida in 2013.
In the 100 Yard Freestyle, senior Niklas Weigelt of Clayton Valley Charter High in Concord ranked 23rd with a time of 44.36. Junior Gavin Wright of San Ramon Valley High ranked 33rd with a time of 44.62. The top swimmer was from Ohio with a time of 43.27 and the record was set in 2011 in Pennsylvania with a time of 42.34.
In the 100 Yard Backstroke, junior Allen Dempster of San Ramon Valley High ranked 20th with a time of 48.44. Senior Andrew Rodriguez of Northgate High in Walnut Creek ranked 54th with a time of 49.16. Senior Mattias Blanco of Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon ranked 81st with a time of 49.66. The top swimmer in the event was from Ohio with a time of 46.28 and the national record of 45.34 was set in 2012 in Florida.
In the 100 Yard Breaststroke, sophomore Jacob Soderlund of Monte Vista High in Danville in Danville ranked 11th with a time of 54.24. Senior Mason Loyet of Campolindo High in Morage ranked 96th with a time of 56.51. The top swimmer in the nation was from Pennsylvania and had a time of 52.52, and the national record in the event of 51.16 was set also in Pennsylvania in 2018.
In the 200 Yard Freestyle, senior Sean Percin of Campolindo High in Moraga ranked 67th with a time of 1:38.80. The top swimmer in the event was from Ohio with a time of 1:32.99 and the nation record was set in 2018 with a time of 1:33.06.
In the 200 Yard Individual Medley, Flanders ranked 30th with a time of 1:48.61. Andrew Rodriguez a senior at Northgate High ranked 64th with a time of 1:49.89. The top swimmer had a time of 1:43.99 and the record was set by a team in Pennsylvania in 2011 with a time of 1:41.39.
In the 50 Yard Freestyle, junior Matthew Muaddi of San Ramon Valley High ranked 37th with a time of 20:37. His teammate, junior Gavin Wright ranked 98th with a time of 20.75. The top time in that event of 19.55 was by a swimmer in Pennsylvania and the national record of 19.29 was set in Florida in 2013.
Five teams in the county made the top 100 list in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. The San Ramon Valley High team of Flanders, Muadi, Wright, and senior Jack Wilkerson ranked 2nd with a time of 1:22.13. Walnut Creek’s Northgate High team of Rodriguez, fellow senior Ledesma, and juniors Adrian Dulay and Kai Welsh ranked 30th with a time of 1:23.92. Close behind was Moraga’s Campolindo High all-senior team of Percin, Richard Zhang, Alec Baker and Jack Larsen ranked 33rd with a time of 1:23.95. De La Salle’s team of Dicks, Iannaoccone, fellow seniors Sean Iritani, and Joseph Grywczynski ranked 47th with a time of 1:24.54. Less than a second behind was the Clayton Valley Charter High team of seniors Cal Brown, Anthony Vizental and Niklas Weigelt, and junior John Parker, which ranked 50th with a time of 1:24.57. The top ranked team in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay from Kentucky had a time of 1:21.96 and the national record was set in 2012 in Florida with a time of 1:19.27.
Four of the five teams from the same schools also made the top 100 list in the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Flanders and his teammates, Muaddi and fellow junior Allen Dempster, and sophomore Grant Watson from San Ramon Valley High ranked 25th in the event, with a time of 1:31.69. The Northgate High team of Rodriguez, Ledesma, Dulay and Welsh ranked 51st in the same event, with a time of 1:33.16. San Ramon’s Dougherty Valley High School team of Blanco and fellow senior Chaitha Dasari, junior Clifford Yao and sophomore Bryson Huey ranked 82nd in the event, with a close time of 1:33.76. Close behind them was Moraga’s Campolindo High team of Loyet and fellow seniors Matteo Lanzara and Richard Zhang, and sophomore Zach Le-Nguyen with ranking of 87th and a time of 1:33.83. Just a fraction of a second behind was the De La Salle High team of Iannaccone, Iritani, Grywczynski, and Dicks which ranked 98th with a time of 1:34.04. The nation’s top team in the event was from Ohio, with a time of 1:28.48. The national record of 1:27.74 was set in 2014.
In the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, the San Ramon Valley High team of Wright, Dempster, senior Jack Wilkerson and sophomore Grant Watson ranked 11th with a time of 3:01.87. The Campolindo High team of seniors Baker, Zhang, Larsen and Percin placed 15th with a time of 3:03.18. The top team was from Indiana with a time of 2:58.75 and the national record of 2:53.81 was set in 2018 by a team in Pennsylvania.
GIRLS
In the Girls 100 Yard Freestyle, senior Sophia Kosturos of Miramonte High in Orinda ranked 4th with a time of 49.03. Senior Zoie Hartman of Danville’s Monte Vista High School ranked 15th with a time of 49.62. The top swimmer in the event was from Southern California with a time of 48.63 and the national record of 47.09 was set in 2015, also in Southern California.
In the 100 Yard Butterfly, Kosturos ranked 20th with a time of 53.56. Sophomore Alexis DePaco of San Ramon Valley High ranked 53rd with a time of 54.51. Junior Maddie Smith of Campolindo High ranked 91st with a time of 55.15. Senior Ashleen O’Brien, also of Campolindo, ranked 99th with a time of 55.22. The top swimmer in the event was from Virginia with a time of 51.29 and now holds the national record previously set at 51.53 in Southern California in 2015.
In the 100 Yard Backstroke, Kosturos ranked 9th with a time of 52.92. Sophomore Jessica Davis of Carondolet High School in Concord ranked 41st with a time of 54.53. Close behind with a time of 54.78 was Junior Margaux McDonald of Miramonte High, who ranked 50th. Sophomore Maile Andresen of Northgate High ranked 71st with a time of 55.11. The top swimmer in the event was from Tennessee with a time of 51.57 and the record of 51.43 was set in 2012 in Illinois.
In the 100 Yard Breaststroke, Hartman ranked 5th with a time of 59.92. Sophomore Shelby Suppiger, of Acalanes High in Lafayette, ranked 53rd with a time of 1:02.72. Sophomore Ana Jih Schiff of San Ramon Valley High ranked 63rd with a time of 1:02.87. Just 1/100th of a second behind was sophomore Channing Hanley of Campolindo who ranked 65th with a time of 1:02.88. The best swimmer in the event was from Indiana with a time of 58.91 who also holds the national record of 58.40 was set in 2018.
In the 200 Yard Individual Medley, Hartman ranked 1st with a time of 1:55.29. Smith ranked 49th with a time of 2:01.50 and Schiff was close behind ranked 50th with a time of 2:01.55. Suppiger ranked 66th with a time of 2:02.15, followed by McDonald who ranked 67th with a time of 2:02.20. The national record of 1:53.82 was set in North Dakota in 2009.
Hartman and Kosturos tied for 39th with the same time of 23:08 in the 50 Yard Freestyle. The top swimmer with a time of 21.95 was from Virginia and the record of 21.64 was set in Southern California in 2015.
Five teams from the county made the list in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. Those include the Acalanes team of Suppiger, seniors Emily Gebhardt and Nicole Edwards, and junior Jewel Roemer ranked 43rd with a time of 1:35.13. The Northgate team of Andresen, seniors Caraline Levy and Toria Stahl, and freshman Alyssa Lund ranked 58th with a time of 1:35.48. Close behind was the San Ramon Valley High team of Schiff, DePaco, fellow sophomore Kailen O’Rell and freshman Caroline Wight ranked 63rd with a time of 1:35.57. They were followed by the Campolindo team of O’Brien, junior Lola Ciruli, and freshmen Amber Van Meines and Lexi Fok ranked 67th with a time of 1:35.63. Then came the Monte Vista team of Hartman, fellow senior Gillian Flath, junior Jenna Seaman and freshman Madeleine Kan who ranked 71st with a time of 1:35.70. The top team in the nation from Tennessee had a time of 1:31.29 and the record of 1:30.72 was set in 2015 in Indiana.
Four teams from three of those same schools made the list in the 200 Yard Medley Relay. The Monte Vista team of Hartman, Flath, sophomore Kendall Johansson and freshman Anna Ryan ranked 8th with a time of 1:41.90. The Campolindo team of Van Meines, O’Brien, Hanley, and fellow senior Elizabeth Follmer ranked 40th with a time of 1:43.74. They were followed by the Miramonte team of Kosturos, McDonald and seniors Katie Lyons and Eloise Engs which ranked 49th with a time of 1:44.03. The San Ramon Valley High team of Wight, Schiff, DePaco, and fellow sophomore Abby Muaddi ranked 83rd with a time of 1:45.24. The fastest time of 1:39.91 was by a team in Tennessee and the national record of 1:38.13 was set in Colorado in 2018.
Three teams made the list in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. The Miramonte team of Kosturos, Engs, Lyons and McDonald ranked 17th with a time of 3:25.21. Close behind with a time of 3:25.54 and ranked 18th was the Monte Vista team of Hartman, junior Jenna Seaman, and freshmen Kyla Kelly and Taylor Christian. The Campolindo team of O’Brien, Smith, Van Meines and freshman Lexi Fok ranked 53rd with a time of 3:27.65. The top team with a time of 3:20.32 was from Southern California and the national record of 3:15.38 was set in 2015 by an Indiana team.
Many of the swimmers who graduated this year, will be attending Division I colleges as a member of the swim team. Hartman will be attending the University of Georgia on a full-ride scholarship.
Curran, Motts, Rosa win at Antioch Speedway, more races Saturday night during County Fair
Brent Curran #132 moved further up the B Modified point list with his second win. Photo By Paul Gould
Bobby Motts Jr #13 celebrates his Hobby Stock win with his daughter Madison Motts. Photo By Paul Gould
By Don Martin, II
Brent Curran won his second 25 lap All Star Series B Modified Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The race had three yellow flags during the first four laps as Kenny Shrader set the early pace. An inside pass in Turn 4 of the fifth lap gained Curran the lead from Shrader. Curran continued to set the pace through a pair of yellow flags during the next 10 laps, and point leader Cameron Swank pitted on lap eight. As Curran pulled away to win by about a straightaway, Shrader won a good battle with Todd Gomez to finish second. Previous winner Tommy Fraser and reigning champion Trevor Clymens completed the Top 5.
Bobby Motts Jr won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. Motts was driving the car that he built for his daughter Madison, who was riding passenger with him in this race. Motts raced into the lead at the start with point leader Chris Sorensen and Josh Leach running closely behind him. Second changed hands a couple of times after restarts on laps four and seven, but Motts continued to set the pace. The lead three cars ran closely until Sorensen and Leach hooked bumpers briefly in Turns 1 and 2 on the 15th lap. They broke free on their own, and Sorensen closed in on Motts on the final lap. However, Motts took the checkered flag ahead of Sorensen, Leach, Breanna Troen and Ken Johns.
David Rosa’s Dwarf Car win was the 60th of his career at Antioch Speedway. Photo By Paul Gould
David Rosa won the 20 lap Dwarf Car Main Event. This was the 60th career feature win for the two-time Street Stock champion. Chuck Conover led early, and it wasn’t long before David Michael Rosa and father David Rosa were running closely behind in a good battle for the lead. A low pass in Turn 2 of the 11th lap gained David Rosa second from his son, and he made an inside pass on the front stretch to take the lead from Conover on lap 14. Moments later, David Michael Rosa’s race came to an end with a Turn 1 crash. David Rosa continued to lead the race as 10th starter Scott Dahlgren and Devan Kammermann settled into second and third. With Dahlgren pressuring him in the remaining laps, David Rosa kept his cool and scored a well-earned victory. Dahlgren settled for second, followed by Kammermann, Chuck Conover and Toby Brown.
Richard Papenhausen #4p rolled to his third straight DIRTcar Late Model win. Photo By Paul Gould
Richard Papenhausen won his third-straight DIRTcar Late Model Main Event. Papenhausen ran second for one lap before leader Mike Hynes spun in Turn 4. Papenhausen led Rod Oliver and Danny Malfatti on the restart and would rapidly pull away from everybody. Malfatti and Kimo Oreta had a good battle going for third until Malfatti pitted on lap 13. Papenhausen lapped second place Oliver late and won the race easily. Oreta settled for third, followed by Malfatti and Hynes.
Saturday night, the Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars will run special races during the Contra Costa County Fair. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Unofficial Race Results
Antioch Speedway All Star Series
B Modifieds
Heat Winners (6 Laps)-Tommy Fraser, Mark Garner. Main Event (25 Laps)-Brent Curran, Kenny Shrader, Todd Gomez, Tommy Fraser, Trevor Clymens, Mark Garner, Kevin Brown, Kelly Campanile, Dennis Gilcrease, Tommy Clymens Jr.
Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (6 Laps)-John Wacht, Josh Leach. Main Event (20 Laps)-Bobby Motts Jr, Chris Sorensen, Josh Leach, Breanna Troen, Ken Johns, Jacob Mallett Jr, John Wacht, Will Buirch, Jeff Betancourt, Dalton Jewel.
Dwarf Cars
Heat Winners (6 Laps)-Travis Dutra, Mario Marques, Toby Brown. Main Event (20 Laps)-David Rosa, Scott Dahlgren, Devin Kammermann, Chuck Conover, Toby Brown, Troy Stevenson, Jerry Doty, Travis Dutra, Giovanni Bertolli, Mario Marques.
DIRTcar Late Models
Heat Winner (6 Laps)-Richard Papenhausen. Main Event (20 Laps)- Richard Papenhausen, Ron Oliver, Kimo Oreta, Danny Malfatti, Mike Hynes, John Soares.
Student from Brentwood at Antioch’s Givans Taekwondo on track for 2020 Olympics
Heritage High denies him opportunity to graduate with class due to on-line schooling during training
CJ Nickolas with gold medal from the 2018 World Taekwondo Federation competition in Greece. Photo courtesy of Ed Givans.
C.J. Nickolas, a senior in high school, is headed to Taekwondo Senior World Championships in Manchester, England in May 2019. He had to withdrawal from Heritage High School two days into his Senior year because he was one of eight athletes in the United States picked up by the United States Taekwondo (USAT) to train full time abroad and enter the European Taekwondo Open circuit. The intention was to get these athletes ready for 2024 or 2028 Olympics.
However, Nickolas has defied the odds, outperformed the initial expectation, and is headed to the World Championships this year setting him on a track for the 2020 Olympics. A few other things have to fall into place for him to make it, as well, but he’s definitely on track.
Nickolas is the son of Edward Givans, owner of Givans Taekwondo in Antioch, where Nickolas trains, and Denise Nickolas of Brentwood.
“His mom and I are very proud of C.J.,” the elder Givans said. “It’s been exciting to see him advance in his skills and the competitions.”
Arriving at this place in his life was not happenstance or luck for Nickolas. He has put long hours, and extensive time into training over the years. Nickolas has made many sacrifices to get where he is and says that even in the setbacks and losses and injuries, he knows he has to continue the grind. He says he digs deep when it’s tough and keeps pressing his way.
Nickolas is finishing out his high school through an on-line school (CAVA) while he continues to train full time. His travels in the past six months have taken him to compete in Greece, Poland, France, Croatia, Africa and Spain among other places. He has one stop in Bulgaria before he heads back to England to train for Worlds. CJ has been in Brentwood schools (Ron Nunn, Adams and Heritage) and has many ties to the community.
Sadly, he says, “I will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony with my peers and I will be at Worlds during the Prom.”
Heritage High Principal Carrie Wells provided the reason Nickolas is not being allowed to graduate with this year’s class.
“He actually is not enrolled in our district, currently. In order to be enrolled in our district, he would have had to re-enroll in January, before the current semester,” she said. “His only option would be to enroll in Independence High School in our district. There would be seat time each week and check-in with the teacher.”
“It’s not that we don’t want him to graduate with us. But, board policy is pretty specific about that,” Wells added.
Nickolas puts that in the column of sacrifices and will continue his grind to get to the coming Olympics.
Allen Payton contributed to this story.
Alabama loses championship to Clemson in Antioch High grad Najee Harris’ Bay Area return
Screenshot from ESPN2 of Najee Harris, #22 Alabama, stretching for the goal line during the 2nd Quarter of the National Championship game against Clemson Monday night, Jan. 7, 2019.
Najee Harris. Courtesy of rolltide.com
By Luke Johnson
“When he gets the ball, watch out,” said Shaun Alexander, former All-Pro running back.
Alexander was referring to Alabama running back Najee Harris when they bumped into each other at media day Saturday.
However, Harris did not get the ball too often come gametime.
Alabama lost to Clemson, 44-16, in the CFP National Championship at Levi’s Stadium.
In his Bay Area homecoming, Harris rushed for 59 yards via nine carries Monday evening.
“I just have a feeling that I didn’t do a very good job,” said Nick Saban, Crimson Tide head coach, in the postgame press conference. “I always feel that way. Even sometimes when we win, I think there are things that we could have done better or that I could have done better.”
Screenshot of Najee Harris falling just one yard short of the goal line. Alabama scored a touchdown on their next play.
With Alabama facing a large deficit in the second half, its offense ran mostly passing plays. Harris last touched the ball with 8:19 remaining in the third quarter. His 6.6 yards per carry led all rushers.
The Antioch-hometown running back had not played in the Bay Area since December 2016 – his final game in high school.
Harris was vital in Alabama’s comeback victory during last year’s national championship. His 64 rushing yards in the fourth quarter helped the Crimson Tide overcome a 13-point deficit.
He finished second on his team for rushing yards this season with 783. Senior Damien Harris had the most with 876.
Since Najee Harris won’t be eligible to enter the NFL draft until 2020, he could be the featured back for Alabama next season.
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