The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Yepez leaving Fremont to join basketball staff at Presentation

By Mike Barnhart

Fremont will have a new girls basketball coach next fall.

Sunnyvale resident Fred Yepez, who coached the Lady Firebirds the past two seasons, resigned in April.

"I will not be returning as head coach next season," Yepez informed the Sun. "I've decided to help my good friend Wade Nakamura over at Presentation next season as a varsity assistant coach."

Yepez, who assisted Nakamura at Leland before taking over the Fremont program following the 2004-05 season, directed the Firebirds to the 2006 El Camino Division championship. In 2005-06, Fremont finished 11-1 in division play and 20-10 overall, including a first-round win in the Central Coast Section Division II play-offs.

After a promotion to the De Anza Division, the Firebirds won just one division game this past season. Although their 6-6 non-league record made the Firebirds eligible for the CCS tournament, they were not selected for the 16-team, Division II bracket.

After a two-year record of 30-27 at Fremont, Yepez will re-connect with Nakamura, a Cupertino Union School District teacher who coached Homestead for three seasons and Leland for six, before accepting the position at Presentation.

"I'm not sure who will take my place, but the new coach will inherit a good, young group of girls," Yepez said. "The future is bright for Fremont."

Middle school champs

For the first time in school history, Sunnyvale Middle School can boast two seventh grade basketball championships in the same school year.

The Sunnyvale boys are the most recent winners, after claiming the Valley Junior High School Athletic League championship with a hard-fought 41-34 victory over Miller on April 5. Coach Shane Reynolds' Spartans capped an unbeaten season and joined the Sunnyvale girls as league champions. The girls won their league crown earlier in the year.

After going 9-0 in league play, the Spartans reached the title game by stopping crosstown rival Columbia, 52-42, in the semifinals. In the finale, Sunnyvale built a 24-13 lead in the first half and improved its advantage to 31-17 in the third quarter. Miller went on an impressive run in the fourth quarter, pulling to within four points, before the Spartans closed out their perfect 11-0 campaign.

Throughout the season Sunnyvale was led offensively by point guard Victor Rodrigo and power forward Abu Tratter, the team's top rebounder. Shane Bond, Mirko Gataric, Brandon Ustaris and Tyler Bond also were key contributors. Other team members were Rokas Cerniauskas, Chris Estrada, Austin Gregory, Matthew Klein and Jesse Tran.

Basketball camp

Fun and fundamentals will be emphasized at this summer's 26th annual Fremont Basketball Camp and Clinics, presented by former Fremont basketball coach Phil Kelly and the Sunnyvale Recreation and Parks Department.

Registration info can be obtained by calling Kelly at 408.253.8779, e-mailing fb-camp@pacbell.net or visiting home.pacbell.net/fb-camp.