Jul 24, 2008

Rudolph leads SH Polo to state championship

From Daily News Dispatches

The Sacred Heart Prep boys water polo team sure knows what it has in Paul Rudolph, its Stanford-bound senior-to-be. As far as the rest of the team, which lost five starters to graduation after winning the Central Coast Section Div. II title, this past weekend's first-ever California High School State Championships showed the Gators will once again be a force to be reckoned with.

"It was a club event, so we didn't treat it like a CCS championship or anything," SH Polo club coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. "But it was important that these kids understood they could compete at a high level."

SHP won its six games during the three-day, 32-team USA Water Polo event comprised of club teams. The championship match was played Sunday, a 5-4 win over a Lamorinda club team composed of Miramonte High boys. SH Polo found itself down 2-0 barely two minutes into the game, but was able to manage to tie the game by halftime.

Alex Whittam, who will also be a senior at SHP in Atherton in the fall, scored the game winner. An all-WCAL returnee, Whittam was the team's second-leading scorer behind Rudolph, who cemented his claim as one of the top high school players in the nation - if not the best.

"There were at least 10 college coaches watching the torunament, and I'm sure they were very jealous of Stanford," Kreutzkamp said. "The thing I'm most impressed of is he's making his teammates better. He brought a group of young players into the championship game and then helped them get over the hump and win the game."

SH Polo brought 13 players to the tournament, including junior-to-be goalkeeper Ben Dearborne.

"He was great all weekend," Kreutzkamp said. "Our most consistent player was our goalie."

Two future sophomores, Robert Dunleavy (2-meter man) and Phillip Bamberg (defender) were also standouts for SH Polo, which is now done for the summer.

To reach the finals, SH Polo defeated Harvard-West Lake 6-4 in the semis and Foothill from Orange County 6-5 in the quarters.



Palo Alto shunned by Tour

The Amgen Tour of California professional cycling road race will not make a return trip to Palo Alto this year. The stage hosts were announced Wednesday. It will begin with Stage 1 in Sacramento on Feb. 14 and proceed over nine days through the following stages:

- Stage 2: Sunday, Feb. 15 - Davis to Santa Rosa

- Stage 3: Monday, Feb. 16 - Sausalito to Santa Cruz

- Stage 4: Tuesday, Feb. 17 - San Jose to Modesto

- Stage 5: Wednesday, Feb. 18 - Merced to Clovis

- Stage 6: Thursday, Feb. 19 - Visalia to Paso Robles

- Stage 7: Friday, Feb. 20 - Solvang (individual time trial)

- Stage 8: Saturday, Feb. 21 - Santa Clarita to Pasadena

- Stage 9: Sunday, Feb. 22 - Rancho Bernardo to Escondido



West Bay Nuggets claim title

The 14and-under West Bay Nuggets "A" fast-pitch travel softball team won the recent California "Grapettes" Tournament in Stockton. In three consecutive games on Sunday, the Nuggets defeated the Gilroy Chaos, Fresno Force and Morgan Hill Pride to take the crown. Their defense gave up only four runs, while their offense powered in 16 runs.

The Nuggets team: Bailey Albrecht, Krissy Crawford, Elizabeth Holden and Anne-Marie Palladino from San Carlos; Aurora Stottler from Belmont; Daisy Alvarado-Munoz, Kelly Black, Brooke Ramsey and Isabella Geronimo from San Mateo; Alexis Coulter from Millbrae; Jordan Newell and Michele Pilster from San Bruno; Garcelle Vierra of Burlingame and Caitlin Tirador from Palo Alto. The team is coached by Kevin Holden, who is assisted by Craig Black and Dick Stottle.

Also attending the Grapettes tournament was the 12-and-under West Bay Nuggets coached by Alan McDonough, managed by Kim-Marie Torres and assisted by Mike Peterson and Mike Garcia. The team: Adrienne and Alyssa Coulter from Millbrae; Lorin Hom from Hayward; Shawna McDonough, Christy Peterson, Kristen Yee and Taylor Yzaguirre from Belmont; Ix Chel Mendieta and Alana O'Neill from Pacifica and Emma Stainton from Redwood City.

Both teams played in the ASA NorCal Championships in Sunnyvale at the end of June. The 14U team finished seventh in a field of 20 and the 12U finished fifth in a field of 16, both qualifying for the ASA Regional Championships. The 14U and 12U have received invitations to the ASA Western Nationals in Clovis, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., respectively



NDNU awarded full NCAA Div. II status

Notre Dame de Namur University has been granted full membership in the NCAA Division II, making the university's teams eligible to participate in all NCAA tournaments and its athletes eligible for postseason honors. NDNU, whose campus is located in Belmont, has been a provisional member of the NCAA's Div. II since rejoining the organization three years ago. The NCAA officially notified the University of its change in status Wednesday.

The Argos athletic teams are now eligible to advance to championships on both a regional and national level. As an active institution, NDNU athletes will now be eligible for All-Region and All-American honors.

The Argos' active status in Div. II will begin on Sept. 1, with soccer, volleyball and cross country eligible for regional play. Both the men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the 2008 Regionals at San Francisco State.

"I am excited that this process is complete and that the NCAA recognized the commitment of the University to Division II," Athletic Director Josh Doody said. "It is also a great opportunity for our teams and athletes to have the chance to compete in the postseason."

In addition to NDNU, Dixie State College was also granted full Div. II membership. The addition of both schools as full members allows the Pacific West Conference to move to active status with seven schools eligible for championships.



Serra's Scott chooses Cal

Logan Scott, an All-Daily News choice as a pitcher for Serra High in San Mateo last season, has accepted a guaranteed roster spot to play at Cal.

The Pac-10 school expressed interest in Scott a couple of weeks ago after watching him pitch for the California Smoke at the SoCal Fire-Cracker tournament in which Scott pitched in the championship game. Cal then watched Scott in several games in Stockton, where he pitched in the Northern California Connie Mack championship game.

Scott chose Cal over UC Santa Barbara.



Stanford's Grube to play first-ever PGA tour event

Rob Grube, a four-time All-American who led Stanford to the 2007 NCAA men's golf championship, has been granted a sponsor's exemption into the 2008 Legends at Sparks Marina Reno-Tahoe Open, to be played July 28-Aug. 3 at the Montreux Golf & Country Club.

"I am so excited to compete in the Legends Reno Tahoe Open," Grube said. "With this being my first PGA Tour event, it's almost like a home match for me as it is just up the road from the Bay Area. ... To compete against some of the best players on the greatest tour in the world is a dream come true for me."

Grube, 23, earned his fourth consecutive first team All-Pac-10 Conference Award this past season and was also named the conference's men's golf scholar athlete of the year. A native of Hinsdale, Ill., he posted five top-10 finishes in his 11 tournaments as a senior. Grube, who graduated from Stanford with degrees in political science and history, was a finalist for both the Cleveland Golf Bryon Nelson Award and the Ben Hogan Award.