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Brentwood Press - BrentwoodPress_10.03.08 - Index

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October 3, 2008
HOMES | DINING | HEALTH | RECREATION | CLASSIFIEDS
Deer Valley golfers on record streak
by Jennifer Birkland
Correspondent
Members of the Deer Valley High School
girls varsity golf team have almost forgotten
what it’s like to lose a Bay Valley Athletic League
match. The Lady Wolverines are 22-0 in the
BVAL since 2006, and have already compiled an
8-0 league record this season.
The team earned its fi rst BVAL crown in
2007 after fi nishing second for eight straight
seasons. Senior co-captain Brittany Edwards,
the team’s No. 1 player, is anticipating another
league title in 2008.
“Winning our fi rst league title last year was
amazing,” Edwards said. “We’ve got another
great team this year and we’re doing really well.
I hope that we can win BVALs again, go on to
NCS and place in the top three and then hopefully
go to sectionals.”
Deer Valley has won every league match
this season by an average of 50 strokes, something
head coach Andria Edwards said refl ects
her players’ drive and determination.
“This team is very committed to golf,”
coach Edwards said. “All of them started playing
as ninth graders, where a lot of other teams
at North Coast have two to three girls that have
played up through the ranks since they were 7 or
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Liberty senior Wyatt Landrum, ranked
No. 2 in the state, won last week’s BVAL
Center Meet with a time of 16:34.
The Deer Valley High School girls golf team is 22-0 since 2006; this season, already
8-0. From left are Tara Nelson, Allison Isaacson, Jennifer Wang, Brittany Edwards,
Haley Edwards and Victoria Leon.
8 years old. Some of those girls have individual
coaches and a lot more playing experience than
our girls. But it’s something we’ve overcome.”
Coach Edwards emphasizes a strong short
game in practice, giving her players drills and
challenges that mimic situations they often face
in a match. “We work an awful lot on short
game,” she said. “It really brings down their
see Golfers page 6B
Photo by Jennifer Birkland
Cross country speedsters
race into season with wins
by Jennifer Birkland
Correspondent
Last week’s preseason Bay Valley Athletic
League Center Meet at Contra Loma
Regional Park in Antioch gave cross country
runners a chance to size up the competition
they’ll face this year in the dual meet season.
Liberty senior Wyatt Landrum, ranked
No. 2 in the state, won the varsity boys race
with a time of 16 minutes, 34 seconds. Landrum,
last year’s individual league title holder,
has set some lofty but attainable goals for
himself in his fi nal season. “Our whole team
is working really hard right now in training.
I’m just going to see what I can pull off this
year,” Landrum said.
Liberty coach Peter Foster said his ace
runner’s goal this season is to defend his
league title, to break the NCS course record
and to not only qualify for state, but win it.
“Based on his workouts and training, I
think he’s really got a shot at doing that,” Foster
said. “I’ve talked to a lot of coaches in this
area and everyone agrees: Wyatt is easily one
of the most talented distance runners in the
history of this area.”
Landrum and seniors Devon Carter and
Derek Gaffet plus junior Joseph Drake are all
hoping to lead a small but talented Liberty
squad to a team title this year.
But unlike the Lions, who are small in
number, the Deer Valley Wolverines are nearly
70 strong. When head coach Chris Ofstad, a
2006 Deer Valley graduate and member of the
school’s fi rst cross country team to qualify for
state, asked his returning athletes to “bring a
friend to tryouts,” the turnout was staggering.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had this kind
of numbers,” Ofstad said. “It’s been a blast
working with this many athletes. It’s actually
the most fun working with the newcomers. To
see how proud they are of themselves and how
amazed they are at what they’ve accomplished
is great.”
Ofstad was himself amazed at one athlete
in particular, who joined the team simply as a
means of staying in shape for another sport.
Freshman Stephanie Siemens, who controlled
the Center Meet’s varsity girls race
from start to fi nish, posted a time of 21:42.
As a competitive soccer player, Siemens joined
the cross country team as a means of conditioning
for her primary sport. Now Ofstad is
working with her on becoming more dedicated
to the sport.
“She came out and completely surprised
everyone,” Ofstad said. “She goes out hard
from the start and fi nishes where she starts
– in fi rst place. I’m hoping she can win an
see Speedsters page 15B
THIS WEEK
For the love
of the game
A special sports program that
emphasizes fun – not winning
and losing – is making every kid
feel like a winner.
Page 4B
Taking high-
tech to heart
Antioch is now home to the Bay
Area’s most advanced cardiovascular
intervention lab.
Page 9B
Marvels in
metalwork
A blacksmith’s tools help one
local artist hammer hard stuff
into beautiful beasts.
Page 14B
Puzzles and
Prophecies
You’ll find divine diversions on
our Sudoku and Horoscope
page.
Page 19B
Classified
section
Looking to buy or sell something?
Looking for a job? Look
no further than our Classifieds,
Home Services and Directory of
Professional Services section.
Page 17B