The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Homestead makes a run at volleyball title

Mustangs claim key win over Wildcats

By MIKE BARNHART

Forgive Homestead's boys volleyball team for being a bit selfish. After sharing the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championship with Los Gatos last spring, the Mustangs are looking to claim the 2006 crown for themselves.

And, after surviving a five-game match at Los Gatos on March 28, the Mustangs certainly are a very large step closer to achieving that goal. Led by middle blockers Ryan Dedrick and Sam Kridl, Homestead rallied from a two-game deficit to win three straight and remain unbeaten in SCVAL play.

The 26-28, 19-25, 25-17, 25-23, 15-12 triumph, coupled with a victory at Saratoga two nights later, improved the Mustangs' record to 6-0 in league play and 16-4 overall. Los Gatos finished the week at 5-1, a half game behind Mountain View (6-1).

After visiting Mountain View on April 4, the Mustangs will host Fremont on April 6. The next Homestead-Los Gatos clash is set for April 27 in the Mustangs' gym.

Homestead has just three seniors: Kridl, setter Steven Rogers and outside hitter Louis Kim. Dedrick, setter Ryan Bridge and outside hitter Weston Buckner, all starters last season as sophomores, are three of the squad's eight juniors. The others are Bryan Nguyen, defensive specialist Nhan Nguyen, outside hitters Dale Park and Andrew Blazensky and Paul Wadensweiler. Rounding out coach Matt Hoffman's team is freshman Luke Rosener.

The Mustangs were coming off of a fine showing at the Leland Charger Classic when they entered the Los Gatos clash. After losing to Serra of San Mateo in pool play, the Mustangs finished the tournament with a 5-1 record. Although they lost to the Padres, the Mustangs beat their other Pool C foes, Palma and Westmont, then won three straight in the Silver Bracket. Homestead defeated Oak Grove, Aptos and Mt. Madonna en route to the consolation championship.

Fremont, after going 2-3 in the Leland tourney, dropped a couple of league matches last week. The Firebirds, despite fine play from senior Mark Pariaszevski, could not win a game at Saratoga or at home against visiting Mountain View. Fremont finished the week 2-4 in the SCVAL and 6-11 overall.

Team members on coach Michelle Wagner's Firebirds include seniors Mike Alpers, Darren Campos, Gil Perez, Ryan Cayanan, Elio Virrueta and Tommy Duong, juniors Michael Batryn, Jonathan Briones, Jae-ar Cabilatazan, Manuel Escobedo, Daniel Feliciano, T.K. Martin, Joe Marquez, Krish Patel and Nate Son, and sophomores Dean Catungal and Jesus Perez.

The King's Academy split a pair of three-game matches, dumping Prospect in a non-league affair, but bowing to Private Schools Athletic League rival Harker. The decisions left the Knights' record at 2-1 in league play and 10-8 overall. Juniors Colin Foshay and Kevin Brown were the kill leaders for the Knights last week.

Other members of coach Philip Wang's squad are senior Nathan Yi, juniors Steven Lim and Chris Cichon, sophomores Spencer Nolet, Joe Sereda and Jeremiah Auer, and freshmen Peter Vinnicombe and John Westwood.

Schneider is second

Fremont senior Kevin Schneider ran 9:17.5 to place second in the 3,000-meter race at the St. Francis Invitational held March 25 in Mountain View. Teammate Elijah Carrillo placed seventh in the mile run, clocking 4:39.

Meanwhile, Homestead sophomore Sarah Engle pole-vaulted 10 feet to win at the West Valley Relays.

Engle and junior Jennifer Garnett came up double winners for the Mustangs in an SCVAL-El Camino dual meet at Saratoga, but the Falcons won 79-38. Engle captured the 100 hurdles and the high jump, Garnett won both distance events, and freshman teammate Emily Evans won the 300 hurdles.

In the boys competition, Homestead senior William Tsai delivered impressive marks while winning both throwing events, but the Mustangs lost 65-59. Tsai's winning discus throw of 176-5 was only about 3 feet shy of his CCS-leading effort of 179-1, and he impressed in heaving the shot put 49-1.

Other Homestead winners were junior Rishi Agrawal in the 800, senior Derrick Okamura (19-7) in the long jump, senior Derrick Wong in the high jump and junior Kevin Quock in the triple jump and 400.

Mustangs dunk Fremont

Except for two wins each by Fremont senior Aly Meyer and sophomore teammate Ellen Umeda, Homestead captured first place in every event contested during the El Camino Division swimming event held March 31 at Fremont. Homestead's girls won 95-78 and the boys rolled 120-17.

Meyer claimed the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly for the Firebirds, while Umeda took firsts in the 100 free and the 100 breaststroke.

Michelle Camburn touched the wall first for Homestead in the 200 individual medley and the 500 free, and she swam the lead leg of both freestyle relays. Yoshiko Shimizu also swam on two victorious relays, in addition to winning the 50 free.

Paul Chen and Alex Romanko led the charge for Homestead's boys. Chen won the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke, and Romanko was first in the 50 free. Also, both Chen and Romanko helped win a pair of relays.

Mustangs are all-league

The De Anza Division girls basketball coaches selected three Homestead juniors to their all-league team. Elan Kim and Kate Moore were second team picks, and Cheryl Ichikawa was tabbed honorable mention.

Kristina Roomb and Taylor Bunula, members of Homestead's girls soccer team, were named to the all-De Anza second team.