By Trine Gallegos, Communications/Community Outreach, Antioch High School

The Antioch High Boys Cross Country team is still happily reeling from its victory at the Nov. 9 BVAL meet. Held at Contra Loma Reservoir, the seven-member group went into the race as the only undefeated team and ran away with its first championship in 34 years for a boys’ team.

Coach Willie Berger was nervous as he waited for the announcement. The news of the win bought out an array of cheers and tears from the entire team, family and assistant coach Brenda Gutierrez.

“They’ve worked so hard and are so deserving,” Berger said.

The boys beat out the favored Heritage High by just one point.

A Nov. 9 post on the Antioch Unified School District Facebook page congratulated the team.

“It’s been 34 years in the making. Hearing the news over the mic was followed by joyful cheers, spirited yelling and happy tears by many.  The boys went to the big meet as the only undefeated team.

Berger knows the feeling of being a student athlete. A Class of 2004 grad, he was a cross country team member.

Congrats to these mighty Panthers and the entire team for a great season.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Pearce, Dutra, Holbrook, Brown also winners 

By Candice Martin, DCRR Racing Media

Troy Foulger won the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Saturday night, Sept. 17, 2022, at Antioch Speedway. This was his third win of the season aboard the Bowers Motorsports Modified, and the fact that the five-time champion stole the win from title hopeful Kellen Chadwick meant that Chadwick and Nick DeCarlo ended up tied for the point lead. DeCarlo won the championship on tiebreaker due to four wins to the three that Chadwick had.

Chadwick bolted into the early lead ahead of Bobby Motts Jr, but Foulger slipped past Motts for second on Lap 4. Foulger closed in quickly on Chadwick and made a low pass in Turn 2 on Lap 8 to take the lead. After his own car was broke, incoming leader Nick DeCarlo had to borrow his father’s car and started at the back of the pack. He was trying to make enough passes to at least keep a tie with Chadwick. When Tyler Browne bobbled out of Turn 4 two laps from the end, DeCarlo ended up seventh, which was all he needed to do. Foulger set a rapid pace and brought it home to victory ahead of Chadwick, Motts, Buddy Kniss and Trevor Clymens.

Andrew Pearce won his second-straight IMCA Sport Modified Main Event, but a third-place finish wrapped up the third championship for Fred Ryland. The race was destined to go without a yellow flag. Pearce and Ryland started on the front row with Pearce charging into the lead ahead of Ryland and Jacob Mallet, Jr. Kenny Shrader made an inside pass on the back stretch on Lap 6 to take third and slipped past Ryland on the inside down the front stretch on Lap 10 to take second. However, Pearce had a commanding lead and led the final 10 laps for the impressive win. Shrader settled for second ahead of Ryland, Tommy Fraser and Jason Ryan, Jr.

Travis Dutra wrapped up the 2022 IMCA Stock Car championship with his first win of the season. He started on the front row and led immediately ahead of Jason Robles. Troy Foulger gained second on Lap 8 and held the position until he threw a wheel in Turn 2 on Lap 14 to end his race. At that point, Dutra led Ryland and Robles, but Ryland threw a wheel in Turn 4 on the last lap as Dutra picked up the win ahead of Robles, Dan Gonderman, Dave Hill and Jason Jennings.

Clarence Holbrook III won his fourth Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock Main Event. Despite having a rough last lap, Misty Welborn won the division championship. Jared Baugh took the early lead over Michaela Taylor and they ran that way until Baugh slowed on the back straightaway and pitted in the infield on Lap 8. Taylor led a lap before Grayson Baca took the lead with a low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 9. Aidan Ponciano settled into second and they ran that way until a yellow flag on Lap 16. Holbrook took the lead on the restart with Baca in second. That’s the way they finished over the final laps as Larry McKinzie Jr ended up third followed by Taylor and Kevin Brown.

Dan Brown, Jr. won the 20 lap Xtreme Limited Late Model Main Event and in the process took the point lead in the series. He had won the previous race at Antioch. Matt Micheli jumped into the early lead and built a straightaway advantage within seven laps. As the race hit the midway point, Micheli closed in on slower traffic and had a difficult time getting by. Brown made a Turn 2 pass to take the lead. Two slower cars got together in front of leaders with Jake Dewsbury spinning for a Lap 18 yellow flag. Brown maintained the lead on the restart and went on to victory ahead of Micheli, Kiely Ricardo, Rod Oliver and Dewsbury.

Next week is Championship Night #2, featuring the Wingless Spec Sprints, Mini Stocks, WMR Midgets, a non-point Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock race and the Hardtops. For further information, go to www.antochspeedway.com.

Unofficial Race Results September 17th

Antioch Speedway

IMCA Modifieds 

Heat Winners (8 laps)-Bobby Motts Jr, Kellen Chadwick. Main Event (20 laps)-Troy Foulger, Kellen Chadwick, Bobby Motts Jr, Buddy Kniss, Trevor Clymens, Brian Cass, Nick DeCarlo, Jeff Browne, Paul Guglielmoni, Danny Malfatti.

IMCA Sport Modifieds 

Heat Winners (8 laps)-Fred Ryland, Kenny Shrader. Main Event (20 laps)-Andrew Pearce, Kenny Shrader, Fred Ryland, Tommy Fraser, Jason Ryan Jr, Jacob Mallet Jr, Chris Sieweke, Joseph Pato, Todd Gomez, Dylan Connelly.

IMCA Stock Cars 

Heat Winners (8 laps)-Travis Dutra, Jason Jennings. Main Event (20 laps)-Travis Dutra, Jason Robles, Dan Gonderman, Dave Hill, Jason Jennings, Joe Gallaher, Rob Gallaher, Jeff Bentancourt, Fred Ryland, Troy Foulger.

Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks 

Heat Winners (8 laps)-Clarence Holbrook III Aidan Ponciano, Jon Haney, Jared Baugh. B Main (15 laps)-Danny Aves, James Graessle, Gavin Griffiths. Main Event (20 laps)-Clarence Holbrook III, Grayson Baca, Larry McKinzie Jr, Michaela Taylor, Kevin Brown, Jewell Crandall, Taylor DeCarlo, Misty Welborn, Jon Haney, Adam Kujala.

Xtreme Limited Late Models 

Heat Winners (8 laps)-Matt Micheli, Kiely Ricardo. Main Event (20 laps)-Dan Brown Jr, Matt Micheli, Kiely Ricardo, Rod Oliver, Jake Dewsbury, Jason Ryan Jr, Paul Guglielmoni, Buddy Kniss, Brett Curran.

 

To be honored at annual Hall of Fame Gala October 1st

By Antioch Sports Legends

Congratulations to 2022’s Community Leader inductee, Gloria Martin. Gloria has spent a lifetime giving to the community of Antioch through volunteer work and philanthropy. Gloria has been important part of the Sports Legends program, serving on the executive board for the first ten years of its existence.

To attend Gloria’s induction at the 2022 Hall of Fame Gala. October 1st at Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, for TICKETS call Antioch Sports Legends 925 238 0565 or Louie Rocha Program Coordinator 925 522 1007, TICKETS are $85.00. Tickets MUST BE PURCHASED BY WEEK’S END!

COMMUNITY LEADER RECIPIENT

Gloria Martin graduated from Antioch High School in 1955 and embarked on a lifetime passion of “living to give”. A lifetime resident of Antioch, Gloria married her high school classmate, Jim Martin and raised two children, Jim, Jr. and Marlane all while founding and building Merit USA into a strong international presence over a period of 30+ years.

Since the inception of Antioch Sports Legends Gloria has been an enormous force behind ASL serving on the Executive Board and Chairing the Induction Gala for the first 10 years of the program. Her long list of community service, volunteering and generous financial support has aided numerous community organizations including the Antioch Education Foundation, the Leo Fontana Foundation, Antioch Historical Society, Antioch Senior Center, Police Activities League, Boys and Girls Club of East County, Elderly Wish Foundation and the REACH Program to mention just a few.

Gloria has been an active member of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, Antioch Rotary Club, Holy Rosary Church, Pittsburg Elks Club, Sons of Italy and the Pittsburg Yacht Club among others over the years. She is a two-time Antioch Rotarian of the year including recognition for Lifetime Achievement and a two time recipient of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year and in 2012 received a special recognition for Lifetime Achievement from the Chamber.

Gloria has served on many boards over the years including the Antioch Sports Legends Executive Board, Umpqua Bank Advisory Board, Young Ladies Institute, Antioch Women’s’ Club and the Antioch Scholarship Committee. In 2016 Gloria received the very distinguished Woman of the Year from the State of California, District 11.

Gloria’s example of humility and service in an exemplary manner is greatly admired and respected by all who have had the opportunity of serving next to her.

 

To be honored at annual Hall of Fame Gala October 1st

By Antioch Sports Legends

Deer Valley High School Track & Field Coach, Bernard Stephens, has been selected Antioch Sports Legends, Class of 2022 Outstanding Coach.

Bernard’s teams won nine Girls’ NCS Tri Valley Championships he was awarded the California Coaches Association, Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2014. Read his Bio below.

Join Bernard at his induction, at the 2022 Hall of Fame Gala. October 1st at Lone Tree Golf & Event Center. For TICKETS call Antioch Sports Legends 925 238 0565 or Louie Rocha Program Coordinator 925 522 1007, TICKETS are $85.00.

Bernard Stephens Bio

Bernard Stephens, this year’s Outstanding Coach Inductee became the Head Track and Field coach at Deer Valley High School in 2000. Arriving with 24 years of prior coaching experience he immediately began to change the culture and expectations of what it meant to be a Deer Valley track and field athlete.

For the next 16 years Bernard would guide both the boys’ and girls’ programs to heights never before achieved sending 60 athletes to the California State Track and Field Championships. During a remarkable span from 2007 to 2015 one girls’ team would finish seventh and 19 athletes and relay teams would place and score points for the Wolverines in the State Finals. That included triple jump champion, Hammed Suleman and three runners up, Chizoba Okodogbe and Briana Guillory in the 400 meters along with his 2015 girls 4×400 meter relay team. Suleman, Okodogbe and Guillory would each go on to become multiple-time College All-Americans at CAL, Oregon, and Iowa respectively.

The single most remarkable State Meet performance by one of Bernard’s athletes may have been turned in by Taiwan Jones who in 2007 placed in both the 100, 200 and both relays. Only one of two NCS male athletes ever to place in all 4 events they entered.

Stephen’s teams won nine Girls’ NCS Tri Valley Championships. He was voted Contra Costa Times Girls Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2012, North Coast Section Honors Coach in 2010 and received the California Coaches Association, Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2014.

Beyond the athletic honors and championships Bernard Stephens worked to create a safe and caring environment for his athletes. He taught young men and women the importance of sportsmanship and quality work habits while instilling in them the competitive drive to be the best they can be both on the track and in the classroom.

The Antioch Sports Legends wing is part of the Antioch Historical Museum located at 1500 W. 4th Street.

 

Kicks off tonight! “Yoc Boys” get new head coach

By Jason Metz

The 2022-23 high school football season for both the Deer Valley Wolverines and Antioch Panthers kicks off, tonight, August 26, 2022. Deer Valley will face the Northgate Broncos in Walnut Creek and Antioch travels to Danville to face the Monte Vista Mustangs. Both games begin at 7 p.m. The two teams’ first league game will be the crosstown Mayor’s Cup class at Wolverines Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Wolverines

Coach Matt Mills

Q. So, how long have you been coaching?

A. Six years of high school football.

Q. Which coaches were your greatest influence?

A. John Wooden and Bob Ladouceur – former De La Salle head coach.

Q. Who is your star player?

A. Ayanfe “Ace” Adediran, Jr., the team’s quarterback.

Q. And what is your expectation for this year?

A. Be disciplined and physical.

Q. What does the rivalry with Antioch mean to you?

A. The very battle for the city!

Quarterback Ayanfe Adediran, Jr.

Q. Why do you want to be a quarterback?

A. I feel like I’m good enough to be a leader for our team and you push yourself on and off the field.

Q. Who is your quarterback inspiration?

A. Michael Vick.

Q. And what is your aspiration in life and in general what do you want to be when you get older?

A. I want to be successful in this world.

Q. What’s the rivalry with Antioch like to you?

A. It means a lot to me. I want to make sure we bring the trophy home to Deer Valley.

See the entire team roster.

Panthers

Coach Brett Dudley

Q. How long have you been coaching?

A. I have been coaching for 17 years. This is my 13th year at Antioch, first year as head coach.

Q. What are your expectations for this year?

A. I think we will be a competitive and physical football team.

Q. Who is your coaching inspiration?

A. His coach he had in high school inspired him.

Q. Who’s your star player?

A. Isaiah Pino

Q. What is your rivalry with Deer Valley like?

A. It’s good. The kids are really into it and they when to middle school with their players.

Q. What is your rivalry with Pittsburg like?

A. Big time. Very intense. The big difference is that for the adults, Pittsburg is more their rival.

Isaiah Pino

Q. What position do you play and why?

A. Tight end and defensive end. I like the position because I like to hit people, he said with a laugh.

Q. Who is your inspirational player?

A. Patrick Willis, for his toughness and his leadership

Q. What are your expectations and what do you want to be when you grow older?

A. A fighter and an electrician.

Q. What’s the rivalry like with Deer Valley?

A. It’s a fun time going against kids you know.

Q. What’s the rivalry with Pitt, like?

A. It goes back for a while. Very competitive.

See the entire team roster.

Season Schedules

DVHS Wolverines

8/26 7:00p @ Northgate (Walnut Creek)
9/3 1:00p @ Saint Mary’s (Albany)
9/9 7:00p @ Kennedy (Fremont)
9/17 2:00p @ Balboa (San Francisco)
9/23 7:00p Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) Location: Deer Valley High
9/29 7:00p Antioch Location: Deer Valley High
10/14 7:00p Pittsburg Location: Deer Valley High
10/20 7:00p @ Heritage (Brentwood)
10/28 7:00p @ Liberty (Brentwood)
11/4 7:00p Freedom (Oakley) Location: Deer Valley High

AHS Panthers

8/26 7:00p @ Monte Vista (Danville) Game Details: TV Ch 32 Comcast Ch 99 AT&T Co Co County
9/2 7:00p Vintage (Napa) Location: Antioch High
9/9 7:00p Rocklin (Rocklin) Location: Antioch High
9/16 7:00p California (San Ramon) Location: Antioch High
9/23 7:00p Marin Catholic (Kentfield, CA) Location: Antioch High
9/29 7:00p @ Deer Valley
10/14 7:00p Heritage (Brentwood) Location: Antioch High
10/21 7:00p Liberty (Brentwood) Location: Antioch High
10/28 7:00p @ Freedom (Oakley)
11/4 7:00p Pittsburg – 104th Big Little Game – Location: Antioch High

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

By Candice Martin, DCRR Racing Media

Antioch, CA…After holding a practice night last weekend, Antioch Speedway returns to championship point racing this Saturday night. What some refer to as the “classic lineup” returns with IMCA Modifieds back in action along with IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks. There is just this race and the September 17th point finale for these divisions before special events take place in October and November.

The IMCA Modified battle has been a classic showdown between 2018 champion Nick DeCarlo and 2006 title winner Kellen Chadwick. DeCarlo tipped his hand as to his interest in winning this championship as he brought his car to practice last Saturday to fine tune things. Nick has four wins to his credit this season, keeping him just four points ahead of Chadwick in a very tight race. Chadwick was the winner of his third Main Event of the season last time out.

Past champion Bobby Motts, Jr. had been in this battle, but a series of unfortunate breaks finds him just 10 points ahead of Trevor Clymens and 12 over Terry DeCarlo, Jr. in the race for third. Clymens and DeCarlo also have a battle going for top rookie honors, and Clymens is coming off of back-to-back podium finishes, which enabled him to take the lead over DeCarlo. DeCarlo had a sixth-place finish last time out to keep the point damage to a minimum. Rather than come practice with his brother, he headed to Medford, Oregon for a big money event last weekend.

Two-time reigning IMCA Sport Modified champion and current point leader Fred Ryland was also in Medford, Oregon. In his case, he was picking up the $3,000 win in the 69 lap Dwayne Melvin Memorial race. Last time out, his championship rival Andrew Pearce was leading with a few laps to go when he had a mechanical failure send him pitward. Four-time feature winner Ryland leads Pearce by 13 markers and could take a step closer to the championship just by having a strong outing this week. State point leader Jacob Mallet Jr has a first and a second in his last two starts, keeping him just seven points behind Pearce for the runner-up spot.

Back in third is past champion KC Keller. He leads Chuck Golden by one marker, Kenny Shrader by 11 and Mark Garner by 14. Golden has been on a bit of a run lately after picking up his first Main Event win of the year in Quincy, California and then heading to Watsonville for a second-place finish last weekend. This is an interesting battle for Top 5 point positions that will go down to the final checkered flag on September 17th.

Jason Robles brought his IMCA Stock Car to practice last time out. He’s been concerned with not moving forward in the pack enough in recent races, so he was making some laps trying to figure it out. Robles has two wins to his credit, but some bad finishes leave him 20 points behind reigning champion and current point leader Travis Dutra in the championship chase. Dutra has yet to win this season, but he’s racked up five second place finishes.

The consistent Jason Jennings has his eyes on third in the standings as well as top rookie honors. He leads Dave Hill in the third-place battle by 21 points. Hill was on hand for practice last week as he and chief mechanic Jim Reid were dialing a few things in. Two-time winner Fred Ryland still holds fifth in the standings by 22 points ahead of Jeff Bentanourt and 24 over Dan Gonderman. Gonderman has a new car and has picked up a pair of Top 3 finishes in his most recent starts.

Misty Welborn hit the Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock championship race like a hurricane, winning three of the first four events. Unfortunately, she’s had trouble making a return to the Winner’s Circle, and just getting a Top 10 finish has been a solid night for her. She was at practice trying to find a little bit more speed. The red hot Jared Baugh has moved into second in the standings, trailing Welborn by 50 points and leading Michaela Taylor by 12. Taylor does have a podium finish this year, but she’s still in search of her first feature win. A few weeks back, she needed to win a B Main to make it into the show, and she’s had a bit of bad luck in recent races.

Top rookie Taylor DeCarlo leads the resurgent Grayson Baca by 20 points in the race for fourth with Jewel Crandall 30 points back. Baca had a feature win earlier this season and finished third last time out. DeCarlo has battled back from a couple of really bad nights and has managed to lead several Main Event laps as she tries to close in on her first career win.

This lineup of divisions should offer some great racing for the fans this Saturday night. The grandstands will open at 4:00pm with the first race starting at 6:00pm.

Adult tickets are $20, Senior/Military $15, Kids (5-12) $15 and kids four and under free.

For further information, visit www.antiochspeedway.com.

“I Remember ‘72” offers her perspective of what happened to cause Fastest Human, World Record Holder to be disqualified

By Allen D. Payton

Following publication of the book “Disqualified” by Pittsburg resident Eddie Hart and longtime Bay Area sports reporter Dave Newhouse about Hart’s experience leading up to and at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, his wife, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Hart has penned her own book to offer her perspective. (See related article)

In her book entitled “I Remember ’72: The Road to Munich (My Voice)” Gwen, wife of the Olympic Gold Medalist, World’s Fastest Human at the time, and World Record Holder, speaks from a woman’s point of view. After 50 years of silence, she now voices her held in feelings of what happened to her then boyfriend, now husband on the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Summer Olympics.

About The Book

As it has been said, behind every great man stands a strong woman. I Remember ’72, The Road to Munich (My Voice) tells that kind of story of love, admiration, anger and frustration through shared life experiences of a woman standing, not necessarily behind, but beside her man. It’s the perspective of a supportive girlfriend, then wife, of the life, tragedy experienced, and dignity displayed by the one-time, Fastest Man in the World and Olympic Gold Medalist, Eddie Hart. The book adds her own life experiences – telling the story of how they came to be, and her own reaction to that fateful day at the 1972 Olympic Summer Games – to the story Eddie tells in his own book, Disqualified.

It’s a fun, real-life, yet serious story, of two Godly people, working through the good times and tough times, enduring, and outlasting them both. The two books must be read together to fully understand what it is to be someone who rose to the pinnacle of his craft, to only have his dreams dashed, and for her, half a world away, not able to do much but watch, listen, pray and be there for him when he returned. It’s a story of enduring love with life lessons for us all to learn and apply to our own lives.

Get an autographed copy of Gwen Hart’s book and meet Eddie Hart on Saturday, August 27 at 1 p.m. at the Pittsburg Historical Society Museum located at 515 Railroad Avenue.

Book Purchase Information:

Cost: $23.00

Shp/Hld. $4.00

Payment Options:

Cash App: $ghbooks2music

By Check: Top Performance

640 Bailey Rd. #170

Pittsburg, CA 94565