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Wedemeyer Classic returns for 27th year
Local players are among all-stars
By Dick Sparrer
Millard Hampton, Doug Cosbie and Ken Caminiti followed very different paths in their athletic pursuits. Hampton was a gold-medal winner at the Olympic Games, Cosbie an All-Pro tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, Caminiti an all-star third baseman for the San Diego Padres.
But while the three headed in different directions athletically, they still share a common bond ... all three played in the summer football game now known as the Silicon Valley Youth Classic Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game.
Hampton, Cosbie and Caminiti are just three of the talented athletes who have competed in the "Best Game in Town" and have gone on to success in other arenas.
And as the annual classic returns for a 27th time this summer, the question is who will be next?
The rosters for the 2001 summer game have just been released, and a talented crop of graduating high school seniors are set to play in this year's game on July 25, 7:30 p.m., at the Independence High School stadium in east San Jose.
Among the local players set to play in the summer game are wide receiver Gabe Candelaria of Willow Glen; wide receiver Clinton Wu and fullback Dan Yoder of Bellarmine; and offensive lineman Josh McDonnell and defensive back Tim Scheffer of Pioneer.
Cosbie (St. Francis) is just one of more than a dozen all-stars who have gone on to play in the National Football League. Jeff Garcia represented Gilroy High in the summer classic and is now the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
Don Schwartz (Mitty/St. Louis Cardinals), Jeff Toews (Del Mar/Miami Dolphins), Rich Campbell (Santa Teresa/Green Bay Packers), Carl Monroe (Overfelt/49ers), Greg Woodard (Silver Creek/Oakland Raiders), John Tuggle (Independence/New York Giants), Ben Bennett (Peterson/Chicago Bears), John Faylor (Mitty/49ers), Erik Howard (Bellarmine/Giants), Randy Kirk (Bellarmine/49ers) and Pat Tillman (Leland/Arizona Cardinals).
Caminiti (Leigh) and Bill Haselman (Saratoga) each played in the summer game, then went on to play baseball in the major leagues. Caminiti was an all-star for the Padres, and is currently starting at third base for the Texas Rangers. Haselman has been a catcher for the Boston Red Sox and the Rangers.
Rotary Sponsorship
The Almaden Valley Rotary Club sponsors the football game each summer, with proceeds going to the Rotary charity and scholarship programs. And it all started because members of the Almaden Valley Rotary Club had an idea.
"Three Rotarians came to the police department and met with me at the PAL office," said game chairman Jim Guido, now a Rotarian himself but at that time the head of the San Jose Police Activities League. "They said, 'We have an idea for an all-star football game.'"
So Guido, his PAL staff and the Rotarians went to work to make the idea a reality.
"We had a marriage of sorts," said Guido of the relationship between the Rotary and the PAL. "They came up with the idea which was a good one, and we had the expertise to put the game together."
The first game was played in the summer of 1974. With the exception of 1976, the game has been played every summer since, and Guido has been involved in every one of the 27 games.
Football Banquet
The players and coaches selected for the 2001 game were invited to a banquet in their honor on May 14 at Three Flames restaurant in Willow Glen.
Guest speaker at the event was Lucy Wedemeyer, wife of the venerable coach Charlie Wedemeyer who lends his name to the summer classic. Robert Braunstein, director of KICU-Channel 36's High School Sports Focus show, served as the master of ceremonies.
The Wedemeyers are expected to make their appearance at this summer's game, greeting players as they are introduced prior to the game.
Wedemeyer is the former Los Gatos High School football coach stricken with the dreaded Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS. Despite the effects of the debilitating disease, Charlie and Lucy have gone on to create the Charlie Wedemeyer Foundation.
North Team
Leigh's Ken Padia will lead the North team in the all-star game. Padia, who stepped down as the Leigh coach after last season, will be assisted by Scott Cunningham and Brent Irick of Leigh, Hector Flores of Prospect, Bob Blaschke and Ed Howard of Lynbrook, and Dan Brown of Del Mar.
Members of the North team include:
Del Mar-- quarterback Jason Campbell, fullback Heavi Williams; Cupertino-- defensive back Jeff Almendarez; Monta Vista-- linebacker Justin Douglas, running back Shamel Ferguson, cornerback Bryan Tompkins; Saratoga-- center John Hart; Los Gatos-- wide receiver Brian Edwards, guard Nick McAlpine, linebacker Nick Skrabe; Lynbrook-- kicker Gordon Hawley, running back Josh Huizar; Westmont-- lineman Dave Horner, linebacker Bill Stouffer; Prospect-- tackle Carl Simien, running back Saladin Washington; Leigh-- running back Antwon Guidry, tight end Derek Marquardt, defensive lineman Kasey Padia, wide receiver Byron Taplin; Fremont-- lineman Jorge O'Connor; Homestead-- lineman Adam Russell; St. Francis-- lineman John Abramo, defensive lineman Matt Manoukian, linebacker Sione Taufoou; Mitty-- guard Leo Carcamo, quarterback Shawn Epidendio, linebacker Nate Guido, linebacker Marcus Rehbein; Milpitas-- running back Mike Collins, fullback R.J. Espitia, Jack Valera; St. Lawrence-- running back Mike daSilva; Santa Clara-- wide receive Paul Garces, linebacker Rui Martins; Los Altos-- linebacker Vernis James, tight end Sai Pela; Gunn-- running back Dustin Steward; Palo Alto-- wide receiver Timi Wusu; Wilcox-- tight end Jacob Tucker, wide receiver Evan Wallace, strong safety Lyle Wesley.
South Team
Silver Creek head coach Eric Luescher will head up the South squad for the summer game. Members of his staff include Arsalan Niazman, offensive coordinator; Vince Sunseri, offensive line; Chris Lundy, defensive backs; Scott Stone, defensive line; Harlan Harman, special teams; Jacob Sandoval, running backs; Victor Avelar, defensive line; Greg Louie, wide receivers; and Vernon Brooks, offensive line.
Members of the South team include:
Gunderson-- linebacker Greg Barttels, tailback Jason Harrison; Valley Christian-- kicker Justin Basanese, fullback Heath Ferreira, quarterback Jack Galante, offensive lineman Tom Weldon, defensive back Cameron Wright; Leland--linebacker Brian Bugarin; Willow Glen-- wide receiver Gabe Candelaria; Live Oak-- cornerback Joel Casey, offensive lineman Mike Garcia; Silver Creek-- quarterback Izayas Castillo, defensive lineman David Dirkmaat, linebacker Terrell Howard, defensive back Hakeem Lee, offensive lineman Matt Mendez; Piedmont Hills-- linebacker Nick Fennell, running back Victor Jones, linebacker Andrew Rodriguez; Gilroy-- tailback Dan Gallo, defensive tackle Roel Ramon; Santa Teresa--tailback Ben Gamble, quarterback Fred Ramos; Independence--defensive lineman Ricky Green Jr., defensive lineman Jamal Jordan; Mt. Pleasant-- offensive lineman Jesus Guerrero; Oak Grove-- defensive back Donnie Gupton, linebacker Jamaal Jackson, defensive back Lee McLaughlin, offensive lineman Jon Muniz, defensive lineman Tommie Pratt; Lincoln-- fullback Tim Higbee, wide receiver Jason Lauro; James Lick-- offensive lineman Gerardo Martinez; Pioneer-- offensive lineman Josh McDonnell, defensive back Tim Scheffer; Yerba Buena-- defensive back Jermain Monroe; Andrew Hill-- wide receiver Ryan Quarles, offensive lineman John Terrell Jr.; San Jose-- tight end Manuel Tapia; Overfelt--offensive lineman Tipi Soli; Bellarmine-- wide receiver Clinton Wu, fullback Dan Yoder.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
