After a disappointing 2014 campaign, hopes are high among Scotts Valley High School football fans of a strong rebound in 2015. Head coach Louie Walters, the only coach the school has had since its opening in 1999, promises an experienced squad this year, long on athleticism, big enough where they need to be, and with a dedication to sacrifice that’s unusually strong. He also expects Scotts Valley will contend for the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League championship.This is a cohesive group,” Walters says. “They like to hang out together. They’re buddies on and off the field, which is huge in football.”“There’s no down in our practices,” Walters continued. “They’re all about picking each other up when somebody makes a mistake.”Walters expects a stingy defense to once again be a hallmark for the Scotts Valley squad, where the team’s large number of returning seniors is especially strong (nine of the 11 likely starters, including all four defensive backs.) But big things are expected from the offense this year, both from the offensive line and skill position players.Quarterback BattleTwo seniors are jockeying to call signals for the Falcon this year: returning 2014 quarterback Nick Reyes, who also started as a defensive back last year and is a three-time wrestling champion, and Dawson Danner, who is generally acknowledged to be the team’s best wide receiver.As of this writing, Walters said the top slot was up for grabs, praising both for their high football IQ as well as quick feet. Junior Tyler Stow figures to backup the winner as he gets ready to helm the Falcon offense in 2016.Returning all-league running back Troy Menna, who Walters says is one of the strongest players the school has ever had, figures to start at halfback. He will be rested or complemented by two situational runners: last year’s JV MVP Tanner Gilton, known for his great cuts and good field vision, along with the speedy Liam Rapoza.Fullback will likely be handled by a committee approach, including Tristan Leonetti, Tyler Stone and Josh Eskew (Leonetti is one of three team captains, along with Reyes and Menna.) All three are tough, hard-nosed football players who will be playing lots of defense as well, so they’ll be rotated to keep them fresh on both sides of the ball.If he’s not the starting quarterback, Dawson will see plenty of time again at wide receiver along with three-sport Star Tim Wagner and 6 foot- two inch Dalton Locke, a third year varsity player.Walters has historically relied heavily on one or two tight ends in his offensive schemes, and this year will be no different, especially with six foot-seven inch tall 230 pound senior standout Tanner Spence holding down the position. Despite tearing his meniscus in last year’s pre-season, Spence immediately proved to be a force upon his return, and is certain to dominate the thinking of opposing defensive coordinators throughout the season. The NCAA Division I prospect will be complemented in double tight end formations by six foot-four inch tall Matt Murray, who started ably for Spence while he recovered last year. Ethan Emanuelson, recognized as one of the team’s hardest workers in the offseason, will also see playing time at end.Walters expects the offensive line to be a clear strength of the team this year, boasting two league championship wrestlers. Cooper McElrone will start at center, and be flanked much of the time by guards Patrick Conte and Matthew Boe, a junior voted the most valuable offensive lineman on last year’s JV squad. Both McElrone and Conte didn’t play football last year to focus on their IB studies, but Walters says they’re strong and ready for 2015. Tyler Bogner and Bradley Mead will also be in the mix at guard. Tackle will be handled by Thomas Williamson, Chris Wright and Frankie Graves.Defense: Experience and athleticismDefensive Coordinator Jeff Metter, who like Walters began his SVHS coaching career at in 1999, expects to have a well-conditioned, speedy squad again this year, which is perfect for the aggressive, blitzing style he prefers.The team’s front will consist of defensive end Stone, who started ten games for the varsity team last year as a sophomore. Mead will anchor the line as nose guard, while the JV team’s most valuable defensive lineman last year, Jason Bucio, holds down the other defensive line slot. Graves and Bogner will also see plenty of playing time on the defensive line.Walters called three-year starter Leonetti, who was an all-league standout as a sophomore and holds the school’s record for the bench press, the heart and sole of the team’s defense. He’ll be one starter at inside linebacker, Menna the other and they’re backed by Kyle Marriner and Gilton. Spence will star at outside linebacker, with his outsized wingspan, along with Conte, while Emanuelson, Eskew and Evan Carvalheria will rotate in and out regularly. The secondary is led by all-league free safety and track star Kyle Giguiere. Strong safety features Coll Sitton, Ryan Johnston and Trevor Ponos all fighting for the starting slot while all figure to see plenty of action. Returning cornerbacks Jordan Tuck and Rapoza will head that group.Emanuelson will handle both kicking and punting duties, while Danner and Ponos are expected to return kickoffs and punts.His strength on both sides of the ball has Walters feeling optimistic that this year’s team could return to Scotts Valley’s glory days, when the team won four straight SCCAL titles from 2006-2009.“We worked this team harder than any of our previous teams in the off-season because they bought in,” Walters said. “There’s a lot of parity in our league, and if we stay healthy, I love our chances.”

On August 26, the annual workshop was held at the Pasatiempo Golf Club for the benefit of all of the girl golfers from the north county high schools. This year marked the 14th workshop. Girl golfers from Aptos, Harbor, Santa Cruz and San Lorenzo Valley high schools can attend for free.PGC donates the facility and The Nine Holes Ladies raise the money for other expenses.Funds will also include the proceeds from the sales of the Pasatiempo Art Show at the Hollins House on Sunday, August 30. 

Levi Stadium started the tradition of Friday Night Lights high school football games at the 49-ers home-field last year, with the double-header at the end of August, 2014.It grew up to be a triple-header this year, with six local schools participating in the Sept 18 event.The middle, 6 p.m. game, will square-off Scotts Valley High School vs. Watsonville High School. The last time these two played was in 2005, when both schools were still in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League, and the Falcons won, 21-0. WHS was realigned in 2006, and play now in the Monterey Bay League.Except perhaps in Texas, it's hard to fill an over 60,000 seat stadium for a high-school football game. The fact that it's a triple-header might help a bit, but reportedly each team guaranteed the Levi Stadium organization to sell at least 500 tickets or 1,000 total tickets. However, WHS has 3,000 tickets for adults and 2,000 for students according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, while SVHS has 1,000 student tickets and 500 adult tickets. If WHS sells 5,000 tickets and SVHS sells only 1,500 tickets then the two teams would have moved 6,500 tickets. That would leave 53,500 seats for other people.In interviews with the Watsonville-Pajaronian newspaper, WHS players spoke about their entire extended families coming, including some flying in from the east coast. Scotts Valley's community has such capability, too.The tickets for the game went on sale Wednesday, August 19, at three locations in Scotts Valley and at least one in Watsonville:Rita’s Italian Ice in Scotts Valley, located at 222 Mount Hermon Road in the Nob Hill shopping centerSVHS main officeSVHS students storeCarmona’s BBQ Deli at 1040 East Lake Avenue in the East Lake Village Shopping Center in WatsonvilleThe adult tickets are $20, students $5, but the best deal is a trip on a rooter-bus. It's for students only, and for $20 includes a round-trip on one of two buses going to Santa Clara, a ticket to the game and a souvenir t-shirt [see image of t-shirt logo above]. A ticket for one of the High School games is good for the entire triple-header. Parking won’t be free, but as of press time, the 49-ers office could not quote a price except to say “it’ll be less than an NFL game parking fee.”

Sunday, August 16 marked the 47th running of Felton’s own ‘Race Thru the Redwoods.’ The race starts in the day-use picnic area of Henry Cowell Redwood State Park and is actually two races: the 10k and the kids’ mile.This year’s 10k had 403 pre-registered runners, plus 40 to 50 people who signed up on race day. The mile had about 100 kids signed up, many of whom had parents running as well.“This is sponsored by the Felton Business Association so many of the people on the board of directors are involved.” says Felton Feed’s own Judy Brown, “This is one of the ways that we raise money to contribute to the community.”This year was Brown’s fourth year volunteering at the race; some of the proceeds from which go back to sports teams at the local high schools including San Lorenzo Valley High School’s track team and Scotts Valley’s High School’s Volleyball team.Although not as well known as the ‘Wharf to Wharf, which draws more than 16,000 runners annually, the ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’ has drawn some international talent.“In the past we’ve had runners from as far away as New York, Mexico and South America, “said Brown. “However they were not just in the area to race.”Sue Sutton has run the race twice before with a best time of 54:23, “I live here in Boulder Creek and I hike here [at Henry Cowell] all the time; it’s beautiful and cool,” says Sutton, “Everywhere in Boulder Creek there’s a hill, so this is nothing.”The community as a whole is very involved in supporting the race. Santa Cruz County ARES ham Radio volunteers, like Mikail Barron, could be found all over the trail on race day. “It’s a pure safety thing; we can communicate better with them here,” says member of the ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’ team Valoree Mills.“This [race] is made possible by our major sponsors: Granite Contruction, the Sereno Group, Union Bank and Liberty Bank,” said Mills. Many of the raffle prizes were also donated by local businesses, like the grand prize of the kid’s raffle: a specialized bike was donated by Scotts Valley Cycle Sport.Scott Rasmann, who has run the race twice, says, “I really like trail runs; trail races are great and there are a couple of challenging hills, plus I support the local high schools which is very important.”Rob Collins, coach of SLVHS’s track and cross country teams could be found at the starting line of the kid’s mile, helping the kids to line up successfully for the 8:10 start time.“Me and my wife are the ones who started the kids’ race,” says Collins, who was inspired by the lack of opportunity for kids to compete in the Santa Cruz Mountains, “One of the biggest enjoyments for me was — [when] my son wanted to run his first race.”The old record, from when the [10k] race began in the New Leaf Market Parking lot, was around 33:20, according to Collins. “The winning time is in the 34 to 36 minute range each year,” now.This year’s winner of the 10k, Jacob Smith, finished with a time of 39:13, but many of the runners finished after about an hour.Up-and-coming runner Ava Mehlenblocher, 6, says she planned to run the kids’ mile, “As fast as the flash.”The winner of the kids’ mile, Cory Nounnan finished with a time of 6:33 with Kai Groleau coming in a close second with the same time. However, both races gave awards by age-group with groups from 6 and under all the way up to 12 for the kids’ mile, and runners from ages 10 to 71 in the 10k.Many runners fueled up for the race with breakfast in the park catered by the Cowboy Bar & Grill in Felton, and the runners’ perks didn’t end there. All pre-registered runners got t-shirts, and all of the kids got ribbons. There were also ‘Race Thru the Redwoods’ water bottles available, and even a face painting table set up in the picnic area.Many of the children running the kids’ mile were so young that parents had to run with them, and some were even carried over the finish line. However, every runner was greeted by a cheering crowd, regardless of their time.

Hell Week language is scary. The drill descriptions are strong enough to put the fear of retribution into any young football player’s heart. Found on the coach’s advisory web site are these Hell Week ‘two-a-days’ drills:Discipline: Up downs, Suicides, Running (a lot, like 2 miles non stop), Death valley bear crawl (bear crawling with someone on your back)Hard hitting: Bull in the ring, Hitting tackling dummyBlocking: Pushing the sled, One-on-ones So the lingo is often scary. If you were in some other location where the coaches might have a ‘drill-sergeant’ like attitude and a ‘what-won't-kill-you-will-make-you-stronger’ mentality, those deadly terms were often prophetic.In 2003, heat-exhaustion deaths made the National Collegiate Athletic Association prohibit ‘two-a-days’ on consecutive days during the first five days of practice. NFL eliminated them all-together.In local high schools, the first few days are without helmets and padding, to ease dehydration.Both San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley high schools started football practices on Monday, August 10. Led by head coaches, respectively, Dave Poetzinger and Louie Walters, both teams prepare for the first competition – Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League's 2015 ‘FOOTBALL JAMBOREE’, to be held on Friday, August 28 at 5:30 pm at the Cabrillo College.Scotts Valley has a really ambitious preseason schedule, highlighted by the September 18 game at the 49’s Levi Stadium vs. Watsonville HS.On a sad note, it seems the Falcons’ new sports complex won't have the stadium lights as planned, due to a threatened lawsuit by the neighboring residents. In the past, Santa Cruz High School faced a similar predicament when their lights were to be installed. They solved their problem by using lower poles and special lighting with modifiers that prevent excessive light-spillage outside of the stadium. Perhaps not all is yet lost for the Falcons.

Two championship games for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows San Lorenzo Valley Men's division Softball League were played last Wednesday at the Highlands Park in Ben Lomond.In division B, two underdogs – third at the regular season's end, the Sharks met the fourth place Mountain Mechanics, who held a seemingly comfortable lead through the championship game's first 6 1/2 innings, and went into the bottom of the seventh with a five points lead. But then the Sharks, known for the last inning rallies, loaded bases twice and, with fewconsecutive single runs, started chipping away at the Mountain Mechanics lead. With two out and some outstanding last ditch defense, though, the latter prevailed, 15 - 14, and claimed the championship.Chris Amos was a winning pitcher, Sharks' Robert Smith the losing one.In the division’s A game, Mud Dogs beat the Flingers 12 - 9.

As the school year approaches, San Lorenzo Valley High School’s water polo teams are being whipped into shape. This abrupt end to the tranquility of summer comes in the form of Hell Week, five days of intense practices to prepare for the upcoming season.

In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' San Lorenzo Valley Softball Men's Summer League two semi-final games, played last Wednesday at Highlands Park, there were two, contrasting patterns.In the first game, Mountain Mechanics jumped to an early lead and were never threatened, as they hammered the Nailers, 20-6. During the regular season, a 10-point lead would kick-in a mercy rule and the game would be over, but in the playoffs the teams must play 7 full innings (unless there are extra innings).In the evening game, between the Sharks and the Woodpeckers, the game was close until the last inning. Tied at 20-20, the Sharks scored a run at the bottom of the 7th inning, and so they will meet the Mountain Mechanics in the championship game next Wednesday, August 12, at 6 p.m. at Highlands Park.The August 12 game has a “Shakespearean-like” family’s conflict side to it. There will be a first-ever grandfather/grandson duo on the Mountain Mechanics team. Chris Currier and his grandson, Ben Knudson, will be pitched against a “Father with Three Sons” (Mark Mullins with his sons Billy, Robert and John, all former jocks at SLVHS) on the Sharks team.

Thousands crowded the street from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove to the Santa Cruz Wharf.This year’s annual Wharf to Wharf race took place on July 26th. The six-mile race that was run from the Santa Cruz Wharf to the finish at Capitola’s Wharf Road began at 8:30 a.m.Other racers were there to do their best while enjoying a fun atmosphere. Many wore costumes or carried flags, like San Lorenzo Valley High School graduate Kaila Gibson who raced with the elites and was decked out in Superman running gear.Organized by expected finish time into corrals of runners, the competitors chatted, prepared, and warmed up with the help of upbeat music and warm-up dancers.It was 43 years ago when Santa Cruz’s Wharf to Wharf was only able to claim 273 runners. “I was here at the very first one in 1973,” said Ken Thomas, President of the race’s Board of Directors, “Today we’ve registered 16,000 runners.”This year’s race was especially important to the race’s future. “We are evaluating start and finish lines to see if we can add more people or if it’s going to stay the same,” said Race Director Scott McConville.“The elite athletes are really fast this year,” said McConville, “The depths of the men’s field is probably it’s strongest in the past ten years.”Elite level competitors come from around the globe to compete in Santa Cruz’s Wharf to Wharf, and many are hosted by local families. “The country that’s had representatives with the most success has been Kenya,” according to Thomas.One of these international runners, Shadrack Kosgei, hails from Kenya. This year’s race was not Kosgei’s first run in Santa Cruz, “I’ve won three times, second two times it’s going to be my sixth time [racing],” Kosgei said while warming up in front of the Boardwalk Bowl.Kosgei came in second behind Sam Chelanga, just missing what would have been his record-winning fourth win.Kosgei, Chelanga, and Risper Gesabwa, the women’s winner, all come from Kenya.Local volunteers play a huge part in making this race happen. Many of them come from the county’s high school sports teams. In the spirit of giving back, some of the proceeds from the race are given to help fund our local high school’s sports programs including San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, Scotts Valley’s Middle School and many other schools.The race also sponsors two scholarship funds. Two students are awarded scholarships annually from each fund; one fund is for two-years and the other for four years. Scholarships are awarded to high school scholar-athletes. Two recent recipients are San Lorenzo Valley’s Claire McMillan in 2014 and Scotts Valley’s Vanessa Fraser in 2013.Whether running for gold or to have a good time, the festive atmosphere of the race brings runners back year after year.

Every year in mid-July a group of over 30 teenagers make their annual pilgrimage to Mammoth Lakes, California for the Fall Creek Running Club’s high altitude training camp. From s’mores around the campfire to movie nights and hot springs, these kids enjoy the best that nature can offer while training for their upcoming cross country and track season.This year’s camp was held at the Shady Rest Campground from July 18 to 24 and hosted 34 teens and 12 parents.“I’d have to say getting to experience different trails and new places to train was really cool,” says first year camper Sophia Zachau, “Being able to do other things like going to the hot springs and June Lake while we were there was also nice; that way we were able to take a break from training constantly.”Brendan Fitzgerald, another camper, described his experience by saying, “Mammoth is a beautiful place with sun and flat land, a great town, lakes, hot springs, and many more things to do.”Rob Collins, coach of the Fall Creek Running Club and SLV track team, has been going on the trip since 1999. “A lot of the parents actually run it, I just show up and enjoy myself,” says Collins.The Fall Creek Track Club is not the only training group to have fallen in love with this location and all it has to offer. The Mammoth Lakes area is also the favorite training grounds of many of the nation’s top Olympic marathoners like Meb Keflezighi and Shalane Flanagan, and as many as two dozen other high school and college teams from across California.SLV alumni Anna Maxwell, one of the many returning runners, said “From dealing with the bears every night, to ghost stories and jokes around the campfire, to listening to the stories from battered and hairy Pacific Crest Trail hikers in the local volcanic hot springs; it’s all part of the experience. It’s a great place to get quality summer training in, but it is also a place that brings kids together and helps foster the team mentality that has lead the legacy of successful runners Coach Collins has produced.“Some of the campers are not even runners. Collins says, “We’ve had other kids from other sports — you don’t have to be a distance runner to do this; it’s just kind of a camping trip.”More information about the Fall Creek Running Club can be found at www.fallcreekrunningclub.org.