It’s complete. It took almost three years, but the Rio Americano High School mural is complete.

“Markos has gone way above and beyond what we expected,” Rio Band Director Josh Murray said.

Late in 2010 Markos Egure of WesKos Images, was sought out to make the outside of the Rio Band rooms look like what it feels like in the inside- full of music, inspiration and passion.

“I wanted it to represent visually as what I felt when I arrived on the campus and listened to the students play, musically,” Markos said. “I see extreme talent here from youngsters. That was my inspiration to make it as best as it could be with all the time and budget allotted.”

The funds to make this project happen came from a Sacramento River Cats grant and money raised by the Rio Band Boosters. That covered the mural agreement, but Markos’ took it further.

“It was much more elaborate and detailed than we expected,” Murray said. “He was wonderful. It really represents the three main aspects of our program- classical, jazz and the pop and modern music side.”

The painting was originally going to be about 25 percent of the size it is now. But after that much of it was complete, Markos just wasn’t satisfied. So he donated his time, his tools and his hard work to make it perfect.

“My art is very clean and neat,” Markos said. “One of my teachers told my mom, she tells the story now- that when I was in the second grade I would re-write my name until it was perfectly written or until I accepted it. And here I am painting, and I still feel the same way. I want to come out here and paint some more.”

The huge mural has been well received by students, staff and the Rio community. The school prides itself on creativity, the arts and especially its band program. So this just fits.

“I’m ready to go around the other side when Rio is ready to go around the other side,” Markos said. “Let this project grow. We have two more sides. It is under negotiation right now. There might be more for Markos and for Rio.”

In other news for the Rio jazz band, for the fourth year in a row, students are headed to The Big Apple to participate in the Charles Mingus Jazz High School Festival & Competition.

“It’s a really incredible opportunity for the students,’ Rio music teacher Max Kiesner said. ‘They get to investigate the place where jazz lives and breathes in New York City.’

Juniors Taylor Mesich (tenor saxophone), Andrew Stephens (trumpet), Joey Cozza (piano), Jeric Rocamora (bass), Emery Mesich (alto saxophone), Harrison Smith (trombone) and seniors Paul Slater (drums) and Henry Lunetta (electric guitar) will represent the high school at the Manhattan School of Music from Feb. 15-18. While the students are there, they will have the chance to tour the city, visit some colleges and mingle with some of the best professional and high school musicians in the country.

Michael Wang // Photo courtesy of the San Juan Unified School District

Michael Wang has put in countless hours over the past six years toward perfecting his passion – jazz trombone – and the hard work is paying off.

This Rio Americano High School graduate has received the Berklee College of Music’s Presidential Scholarship, an elite honor awarded each year to only the seven of the world’s best student musicians.

Wang, a standout jazz trombonist at Rio Americano, will receive a scholarship that funds his entire tuition, housing and fees, valued at about $225,000.

When Wang was a senior at Rio, he was selected to participate in the renowned GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session, an intensive, weeklong program open to only 30 of the most talented youth musicians in the country.

Last February, he traveled to Los Angeles to perform and study with some of the industry’s top musicians – including GRAMMY-winning artists – not to mention also attend the GRAMMY Awards and play at its after-party. Michael said his selection was a big confidence-booster toward his success as a musician.

“Michael lives and breathes music,” Rio Band Director Josh Murray said. “Michael is a young man of few words, but he speaks brilliantly through his music. He’s one of the most unique and amazing people I have ever known.”

Here are excerpts from a Q&A the San Juan Unified School District did with Michael last year:

What drew you to the trombone?
My middle school band director, Ms. Takanikos, had me choose an instrument to play in the beginning band, and I chose the trombone because I was curious about how the instrument functioned.

How often do you practice outside of school?
During the school year I practice for an average of 1-2 hours a day after school, and on weekends and over the vacation I practice for 4-6 hours a day.

Any particular musicians who inspire and influence you?
I try to be broad-minded and listen to as many artists and as much music as I can, but several musicians that I usually run across over and over again include Freddie Hubbard, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny.

Tell me about the process for auditioning for the GRAMMY camp.
Essentially the audition process consisted of a videotaped recording, where every applicant for the band had to play the head (melody) of “Billie’s Bounce”- which is a jazz standard – with a rhythm section; improvise for several choruses; and also record two other tunes of choice.

I recorded the audition at my house last August with bassist Nick De La O, drummer Paul Slater, and pianist Joey Cozza – all of whom are my fellow classmates at Rio Americano High School –  and later uploaded the tape on YouTube and submitted the tape’s link to the GRAMMY Foundation.

Were you nervous before your audition? If so, how did you overcome your nerves?
I wasn’t exactly nervous prior to my audition since I knew that it would take place at my house, and I would just be playing music with my friends.  However, during the days, weeks, and months before my audition I was constantly practicing, recording myself every once in a while to see how I sounded and looking for ways that I can improve, and also seizing every opportunity that I could to play with other musicians.  The only time I felt nervous was while playing the waiting game after submitting my audition.

How excited are you to be selected for this camp? What does it mean to you to be one of so few selected across the country?
To be selected as one of 30 high school jazz musicians in the United States is a way of informing me that all the hard work, time, and effort that I put in my practicing and performing has finally been recognized nationwide.

What do you want to do after high school? Do you want to be a musician?
After high school I am planning to attend college as a jazz studies major, and hopefully establish myself in the jazz scene within the next few years.

How has performing at school benefited you as a musician and as a student?
Having such a great music program at Rio has pruned my musical and leadership abilities by providing me with countless opportunities to play in some of the finest high school instrumental ensembles in the country, travel overseas, get to know more friends, earn accolades and perform in gigs, jam sessions, clubs, school concerts, jazz festivals and much more.  None of this could have been made possible, however, without the support of the Rio Band directors, Mr. Murray and Mr. Kiesner, and I am very much in debt with them.

This piece was reprinted with permission from SJUSD.

“That’s one half step for band, one chromatic scale for bandkind.”

Elementary and middle school musicians are invited to join the Rio Americano High School Band on Friday Nov. 9 for Playathon, a 17-hour musical marathon. / Photo courtesy

Elementary and middle school musicians are invited to join the Rio Americano High School Band on Friday Nov. 9 for Playathon, a 17-hour musical marathon.

This 32nd annual event features all seven of the school’s jazz and concert bands in addition to soloists and combos from the Small Ensemble program. Playathon benefits Rio’s comprehensive music program, serving all levels of musicians. Band students from middle and elementary schools are encouraged to attend from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to play along with Rio Band.

The world of outer space—real and fictional, is the year’s theme. All attendees are welcome to wear costumes representing their favorite outer space characters. A carnival with outer space themed games and food is free to elementary and middle school musicians from 3 to 8 p.m. The community is invited to attend free evening performances scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. in the cafeteria of the school located at 4540 American River Dr.

The Rio Americano High School band program, under the direction of Josh Murray and Max Kiesner, provides the highest quality high school music education.

In September, Rio Band students performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Rio’s 16th appearance at the famed jazz event. This honor is awarded annually to the top 3 high school jazz bands participating in the Monterey Next Generation Festival occurring the previous spring.

In spring of 2012, Rio’s A.M. Jazz Ensemble was among a small number of finalists invited to perform at New York City’s Lincoln Center during the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival, a musical event drawing entries from across the U.S. and Canada, and received high praise from a discriminating panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience of jazz lovers.

Rio’s Honors Concert Band was the first Performing Arts course granted honors status in California. Rio’s bands have performed in Japan, China, Australia, Argentina and Spain, and are planning a tour of Italy in 2014.

Tax-deductible donations to the Rio Americano Band Boosters (Federal Tax I.D. # 680018985) will help with the many band program expenses not covered by the San Juan School District budget.

For more information about the Rio Band program and Playathon, contact Josh Murray at 971-7512, jomurray@sanjuan.edu, or visit www.rioband.net.

Connor Aguilar-Poggetto in action / Photo courtesy Dianna Poggetto

If Nike needs a new spokesperson for their “Just Do It” campaign, they should look no further than 15-year-old Carmichael resident Connor Aguilar-Poggetto.

That’s because when not in class as a sophomore at Rio Americano High School, Connor is on the water perfecting his 360s, 720s, wake fronts and wake backs as a competitive disabled water-skier.

“Water is my nirvana – once I’m around a boat or on the water, I’m calm,” Connor said. “All I think about is what’s on the water right now and what I’m going to go do.”

Facing Challenges
According to his mother, Dianna Poggetto, at the age of 4 Connor was diagnosed with a rare disease called hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP), which normally effects people in their 40s and 50s. “Primarily what that means is that the brain doesn’t know Connor has any muscles from the knees down – it’s not sending the proper signal,” Poggetto explains.

Poggetto says because the disease affected Connor as a child, he has had a number of skeletal issues causing him to have numerous surgeries throughout the years. “There were years where he was sitting in the hospital for a good month just with different body parts broken in order to just straighten out his skeletal system,” she says.

From left, Dianna's sisters Lisa and Andrea; Connor's mother Dianna Poggetto; Connor's brother, Gavin; Connor Aguilar-Poggetto / Photo courtesy Dianna Poggetto

Right now although Connor mainly uses a wheelchair, he does have some mobility. For instance, Poggetto says he can put his wheelchair in their car and walk around it. However, being HSP is a degenerative and progressive disease, some days Connor loses the ability to walk even that short a distance, and at some point he may become completely paralyzed. “As he’s gotten older, we’ve accepted the fact that you’re going to have different challenges with your body and that’s where we are right now,” Poggetto says.

Finding a Passion
Despite her son’s obvious challenges, Poggetto does what she can to give him and her family a sense of normalcy. “Life goes on – he still has chores, he still has the responsibilities of living in a household,” she explains.

Connor also began getting involved in something most kids do – sports. Connor says he first began waterskiing when he was about 6 years old. At first it was just for fun, but about two years ago he started to take it more seriously when he began to train for competition. “I actually said OK, this is what I’m going to do and I’m going to go out and do this,” he adds.

Connor’s specialty is trick skiing, which in competition does not allow repeat tricks. “You have to have a big repertoire of tricks,” he says. Some of Connor’s favorite tricks are the wake 360 where he goes up on a wake, does a 360 in the air and lands. He also enjoys 720s, wake backs and wake fronts.

Rather than standing on his skis, Connor stays in a seated position and uses a standard wakeboard mounted with a special cage that he can sit in. From there, Connor says the tricks are all about a lot of handgrip and body positioning. “If you can hold on to it and you hold your body in the right position, you’re going to land a trick,” he says.

A Winning Spirit
This past August, Connor competed against 26 other skiers from across the United States in the 2012 Disabled Waterski Championships held in Elk Grove, and came in second in his division.

During the Championships, Connor was awarded the Royce Andes Award, which Poggetto says is given every two years to an up-and-coming skier “who really symbolizes what disabled skiing is all about.”

“That is given to the best youngest national skier who has the most potential to go all the way, so that in itself is a huge honor to get,” Connor says.

She explains the award is named for Royce Andes, a former barefoot water-skier who broke his neck and became a quadriplegic, and who created disabled waterskiing. “He lives up in the Live Oak area and so he has seen Connor ski from when he was 6 and actually built him a smaller cage,” she says. “So to receive that award meant more just because we have known Royce through the years.”

And if that wasn’t enough, at the end of the Championships Connor was named one of 11 members of the 2013 US Disabled Waterski Team, which will compete in Milan, Italy, July 1-7, 2013, making him one of the youngest athletes to be named to the team. “I was speechless – it hasn’t even really set in yet for me,” Connor says about being named to the world team.

For the world competition, Connor says he will be ramping up his training – literally – as he’ll be working on jumps and tackling the back flip. “If I can land a back flip pretty quick, then I’ll do a back flip to revert, which is doing a back flip and landing backwards, so I’m super excited to start doing that,” he says.

Learning tricks like this will take patience, which Connor says is something he’s learned quite a bit about through his competitive waterskiing. “If I rush a trick, I probably am going to mess up on that trick, so smooth and methodical is faster,” he explains. “I’ve brought that into a lot of aspects of my life – doing homework, doing schoolwork in school, doing things around the house. The smoother and easier you flow, the faster you’re going to go.”

Looking to the future, Connor plans to continue to water-ski and study sports medicine once he graduates high school. He plans to just go for it, which is also a message he hopes to give others afraid of trying new things. “Sometimes you have to overcome your fears – just go for it and you can create something out of nothing,” he says.

The 2012-13 school year is back in full swing, and so too are the fall sports programs of Rio Americano and Jesuit high schools. Both schools look to build on progress from last season in order to bring home league titles in various sports. Here’s how the teams stack up for the year.

Rio Americano

Varsity football

The Raiders are off to a 2-2 start to the season thanks to an improvement in the team’s rushing attack. “Our team has played hard all season, but the first two weeks we were not able to run the ball on offense and we were not stopping the run on defense,” said Raiders head coach Christian Mahaffey. “We are starting to run the ball with more authority and the defense is rallying around the run game much better.

Coach Mahaffey said that the team’s goal for the season is to put themselves in position to win the Capital Athletic League and make the playoffs. Among the players to keep an eye on this season are: quarterback Mark Lyon, wide receiver/cornerback Zack Suarez, linebacker/offensive lineman Jordan Vinson, and offensive/defensive lineman Robbie Crandle.

Boys varsity soccer

Despite what coach Alan Posner calls “an average start,” Rio’s boys varsity soccer team has plenty of time to turn it around in upcoming league games. The team sits at 3-3-2 as it prepares to start league play.

The goal every year, according to Posner, is to win the league and section titles. In order to do that, Posner is stressing the ability to score as his team’s main focus going forward. Players to watch on this year’s squad include Mark Ledbetter, whom Posner calls a superior athlete. Alex Rizzo and Hunter Brown were lauded by their coach for their excellent skills with the ball.

Boys and Girls varsity water polo

Both the boys and girls teams are coached by Tyson Frenn, who spoke glowingly of both teams hot starts to their respective seasons. The boy’s team took home the Schmitt Tournament title in San Jose in early September, the second straight season that Rio has done that. They went 4-0 in the tournament and defeated tourney host Bellarmine High School by a score of 10-7 in the championship game. “We had complete control of the game the entire way,” said Frenn of the title game.

Through the first two tournaments of the year, Rio stands with a sparkling 7-1 record. Frenn tabbed senior captains Jack DuBois and John Price among his players to watch this year. DuBois is a returning High School All-American while he called Price “one of the best lock-down defenders in the country.”

The girls team is also off to a great start. They began the season with a win over Lodi before heading off to play in the Acalanes Tournament in the Bay Area. They finished with a 2-2 record in the tournament and brought home a 6th place finish in what Frenn calls “a very competitive tournament.”

The team now sits at 4-2 and looks ahead to league play. Senior goalkeeper Avery Dotterer headlines the players to watch. Frenn said of Dotterer “She’s a big reason why we’re off to such a great start.” Seniors Emmy Savidge and Emily Perry will lead the offensive attack for the Raiders.

Girls varsity volleyball

The Raiders sit at 8-3 on the year, but head coach John Grix expects those losses to be good learning experiences for his team. The Raiders hope to improve their play enough to win their league title and compete in the Division III playoffs.

The aptly named Maddie Cannon tops the list of big-time players for the Raiders this year.

The 6-foot-1 senior, who plays the middle position, is a 4-year starter, and has committed to play college volleyball for Santa Clara. “She lives up to her name as she hits the ball very hard,” said Grix. “She is a tenacious competitor and team leader.” Joining Cannon is 5-foot-10 senior setter Maddie Merlino who is among the state leaders in assists per game, according to Grix.

Girls varsity tennis

In league play, Rio started strong with an 8-1 victory over El Camino. One of the team’s goals, according to head coach Maureen Barnett, is to “stay focused during matches and be patient in setting up the point.” The team’s overall record sits at 3-2.

Barnett said that the senior-heavy team is strong and has good depth, but she doesn’t think any particular players stand out as players to watch. She called all of her players “contributors to the team.” After finishing last year 8-2 in league play, those contributors could lead the team to yet another great season.

Jesuit

Varsity football

After a 5-6 season last year that saw the Marauders lose 24-17 to Bethel in the first round of the playoffs, this year’s team is off to a blistering 3-0 start thanks to a ferocious rushing attack. Jesuit Athletic Director Chris Fahey attributes the fast start to this year’s crop of seniors and a coaching change made before the season.

Jesuit is coming off of a 28-23 victory over Christian Brothers in the annual “Holy Bowl”. Fahey listed senior quarterback Thomas Sperbeck, tight end/linebacker Austin Gates and safety/wide receiver Jason Elenberger as his three players to watch as the season progresses.

Varsity soccer

The Marauders came flying out to a 9-1-1 start in non-league play. Fahey said that because the Delta River League isn’t particularly strong, Jesuit scheduled a tough non-league schedule to get the team ready for the tougher teams they will face in the playoffs.

“Less than a section title would be a disappointment,” said Fahey.

Senior striker Kaba Alkebulan is committed to playing for Cal Poly next year, but first he has one more year to find the back of the net for the Marauders. Fellow senior striker Niko Hansen will play his college ball at New Mexico next fall, while junior midfielder Johnny Boville is another player to watch.

Varsity Water Polo

Jesuit is coming off of two consecutive section championships, but the school lost the top nine performers from last year’s championship team. In what Fahey called “a massive rebuilding year,” the Marauders are still likely to make the playoffs.

The only returning players to play significant minutes last year are seniors Hudson Grieve and Erik Glasky. Four sophomores are on this year’s squad, and sometimes all four of them are in the starting lineup. While this season may be considered a down year when all is said and done, Fahey said that anything can happen if the team fights its way into the playoffs.

Cross Country

As usual, Jesuit brings a strong group of runners to the high school landscape. Last year’s team, which finished fourth in the section championships, returns all six runners from the varsity team. Senior Chris Goode is the team’s number one runner while fellow senior Sam Stoll is the solid and dependable number two.

An influx of incredibly talented freshman make the future look bright for Jesuit, and Fahey expects a number of those freshman to be among the top six runners on the team this season.

The Youth Art & Design Expo at the California State Fair has a number of impressive entries this year, with many from Sacramento County students. / Photo by Susan Laird

For the last 158 years, Californians have proudly celebrated the talent and bounty of this great land at the annual California State Fair.
Whether in good times or tough ones, somehow the good folks of the Golden State manage to “step up to the plate” and show why there is always hope for the future.
Case in point, a number of Sacramento County’s youth artists – those in middle school and high school – submitted art work for the Youth Art & Design Expo. This is juried art show at the State Fair. And the young people did very well.
In fact, there were some 840 entries from Sacramento County’s young people that were judged good enough to win ribbons for first, second and third places, plus honorable mention. Not every entry was awarded a ribbon, so honorable mentions from this juried show are a significant accomplishment.
The titles of the submitted works are lively and imaginative – and seeing the creativity and talent of this younger generation is a great encouragement to fairgoers, as well as fun entertainment.

Here are a few of the schools in the Valley Community Newspapers readership area that are represented at this year’s fair:
West Campus High School
Pocket resident Isabel Moniz won first place for “Ode to Nature” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking) and a third place ribbon for “Feathers” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking). Arden Middle School
Jessica Allen received an impressive seven ribbons for multiple entries in different art categories at this year’s fair. Her 3D sculpture, “Googlie,” received an IMCO Ceramics Award and a second place ribbon. Two more 3D sculptures, “Chicken” and “Peace of Pie” received honorable mentions. Jessica received two third place ribbons for “Lucid Mindset” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking) and “Glow” (Photography). She received an additional honorable mention for “Tree of Life” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking).
Sam Brannan Middle School
Erinn Wong won a second place ribbon for “My Memory of Grandma Po Gee Lo” (Scrapbooks & Collections).
California Montessori Project
Sarah Bauer won two first place ribbons for her photography in the age 5 to 9 category. Her images of “Graffiti Wall” and “One Lonely Light” are on display. She received an honorable mention for “Chinese Restaurant.”
Christian Brothers High School
Morgan Gable won a second place ribbon for “Moon and Sun” (Wood items) and an honorable mention for “Cabin Sweet Cabin” (Any Other Craft or Hobby).
Julia Grajeda won the Best of Class trophy and a first place ribbon for her “Travel Backpack” in the Any Other Sewing Project category. She won two additional first place ribbons for “Plaid Sweatshirt” (Single Clothing Item) and “Pretty Pink Pillow” (Any Other Sewing Project). Julie also won a red ribbon for “Tie-Dye Tote Bag” (Any Other Sewing Project) and a third place ribbon for “Purple Skirt” (Single Clothing Item).
Crocker Riverside Elementary
Annabelle Long won a first place ribbon for her watercolor painting, “Hungry,” and an honorable mention for her painting, “Awe.”
Del Dayo Elementary
Ressa Eliza Artz received three ribbons at the fair: first place for “The Call of Autumn” (Quilts), first place for “Carmelo Mission” (Digitally Manipulated Photography) and an honorable mention for “Pondering Woodpecker” (Photography).
Nathaniel Heron received a third place ribbon for his entry, “Frosty Friend” (Mixed Media).
Mary Deterding Elementary
This local school had a significant number of entries at this year’s fair.
Liliana Adkins won a second place ribbon for her Mixed Media category entry, “Transformation.”
Azul Baker received an honorable mention for “Wild Warrior” (Any Other Craft or Hobby).
Christopher Chang won third place for “Eagles’ Eye” (Paintings).
Harper Colby won a first place ribbon for his “Sea Turtle Seascape” (Paintings).
Benjamin Davis received an honorable mention for his “Ramshead Still Life” (Watercolor).
Sophia Deboer received an honorable mention for “New York” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking).
Mark Elliott won a second place ribbon for his Pastel & Charcoal entry, “Chimera.”
Bella Espinosa won two first place ribbons for “Pastel Piece” (Pastel & Charcoal) and “Plants in the Sunlight” (Watercolor).
Kailey Hall won the Prismacolor Art Excellence Award and a first place ribbon for “Leaves And Caterpillars” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking).
Jack Harris won third place for “Still Life In Spain” (Watercolor).
William Heron won first place for his “Self Portrait” (Watercolor).
Tucker Marlin received an honorable mention for his Mixed Media entry, “The Super Gumball Machine.”
Ethan McHugh won two third place ribbons for “Monsters at Sea” (Mixed Media) and “Red Eyed Bird” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Ashley Poole won a second place ribbon for her 3D Sculpture entry, “The Spirit Of The Walrus.”
Levi Rankin won the Fay Schusterman Award and first place for his Mixed Media work, “Dragons Of The Sun.”
Hunter Witham received an honorable mention for “Pastoral Seraffito” (Mixed Media).
Hallie Yong received an honorable mention for her Pastel & Charcoal entry, “Cupcakes for Sale.”
Vivian Zerkle won a second place ribbon for “Washington Monument” and a third place ribbon for “Cherry Blossom” both in the Photography category. She received honorable mentions for “Sinningia bullata” (Photography) and “Botany And A Bug” (Watercolor).
Genevieve Didion Elementary
Derek Yuan won a first place ribbon for “Pacific Fair” (Mixed Media), second place ribbons for “Sunset On The Shore” (Watercolor) and “After Snow” (Pastel & Charcoal). He received honorable mentions for his Pastel & Charcoal entries, “What A Blossom!” and “Enjoy The Vacation, Enjoy The Life!”
Evan Yuan won a first place ribbon for his Mixed Media entry, “Three Pals.”
John F. Kennedy High School
Kelly Peng received honorable mentions for her Pastel & Charcoal entries, “Chinese Orchid” and “Spring Bird.”
Briana Santiago won a first place ribbon for “No Two Alike” (Mixed Media).
Casey Wong won a third place ribbon for her 3D Sculpture entry, “Scenic Lantern” and received an honorable mention for “Bridge Of Hope” (Wood Items).
Matsuyama Elementary
Gabriela Ham won two third place ribbons for “Cherry Blossom Hills” (Mixed Media) and “Spring Fountain” (3D Sculpture). She received an honorable mention for “Easter Bunny” (Paintings).
Lauren Ham won second place for “A Day In Fruit Garden” (Pastel & Charcoal). She received honorable mentions for “Rose And Butterflies” (Watercolor) and “My Neighbor’s Dog” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Janice Ng won a first place ribbon for “Myths of Dragon” (Mixed Media) and a third place ribbon for “Birds’ Paradise” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking).
C.K. McClatchy High School
Maxwell Bauer’s photography was well received at the fair. Maxwell won first place for “Primary Houses,” a third place ribbon for “A Modern Concert” and an honorable mention for “Rows.”
Sierra Brown won a blue ribbon for “Spirals of Smoke” (Photography) and a second place ribbon for “A Cat Always Nose” (Photography). Sierra received honorable mentions for “Another Day on the Farm” (Photography) and “Jack the Rabbit” and “Overflowing” (both 3D Sculpture).
Mira Loma High School
Sarah Liu received honorable mentions for “Two Orchids in Bloom” and “Hibiscus With Leaves,” both in the Pastel & Charcoal category.
Mission Avenue Open School
Jake Reuter received an honorable mention for “Crysanthimum” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Tina Reuter won a first place ribbon for “Your Heart Is In My Hands” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School
Caroline Crowley received an honorable mention for her Watercolor entry, “Penguino.”
Cecilia Crowley won a first place ribbon for “Birch Trees” (Paintings) and two honorable mentions for “Beaded Garden” (3D Sculpture) and “Time” (Wood Items).
Presentation School
Jake Melavic won first place for “Coit Tower In Spring” (Watercolor).
Megan Melavic received two honorable mentions for “Owl” and “Sea Life” (both Pastel & Charcoal entries).
Rio Americano High School
Aaron Boulger won first place for “New Orleans Entertainer” and third place for “Domino Sugar” (both Photography). He received an honorable mention for “Mather Bunkers” (Photography).
Leah Curry won a second place ribbon for “Water Drop Rose” (Watercolor).
Austin Hicks won Best of Class and first place for “Taxi Tails” (Photography). Austin also won first place for “You Caught Me” and second place for “A Warning in Red” (both Photography).
Saint Francis High School
Always a powerhouse in the world of the arts, the Troubadours proved that they continue to have “the right stuff” at the State Fair. Art is just a one semester requirement at St. Francis, but over 80 percent of the student body take additional art classes.
Tessie Berghoff won third place for “The Dark Rose” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Katie Chappelle won third place for her untitled work in Photography.
Jessica Cosca won second place for “I’m Thirsty” (Photography).
Megan Daly won first place for “Synesthesia” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Morgan Finegan won second place for “Tears” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Megan Foy received an honorable mention for “Maya” (Paintings).
Jessica Gutierrez won third place for “Flora” and received an honorable mention for “Laconsentida” (both Photography).
Grace Hollingsworth won first place for “Angel” (Photography).
Clarissa James won third place for “Above Bunny Falls” (Paintings).
Jinyan Li received an honorable mention for “Blessed Mother” (Paintings).
Victoria Ogorodnikov received an honorable mention for “Spence In The Kitchen” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Bianca Quiroz received an honorable mention for “True Beauty & Snow Queen” (Digitally Manipulated Photography).
Gabriella Riegos won second place for “Tomassy” (Digitally Manipulated Photography).
Melanie Rogers-Mantel received honorable mentions for “Venice In Blue” (Paintings) and “Self Portrait” (Pastel & Charcoal).
Natalia Smith won third place for “Tiger” (Pen, Pencil & Printmaking).
Kenall Spector received an honorable mention for “The White Moon” (Digitally Manipulated Photography).
Danielle Villaluna won first place for “A Bus In London” (Pastel & Charcoal) and received an honorable mention for “Gypsy” (Mixed Media).
Sydney Wall won a third place ribbon for her “Self Portrait” (Photography).
Frances Wiese won a third place ribbon for “Native To The Sun” (Mixed Media).
Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish School
William Legrand received an honorable mention for “Foothill Cottage” (Paintings).
Kaj Olson won a third place ribbon for “Velvet Two” (Photography).
Saint Mary Elementary School
LeeAnn Matthews received much recognition for her sewing talents. LeeAnn won first place ribbons for “Blue Dot Skirt” (Single Clothing Item) and “Pillow Fight Pack” (Any Other Sewing Project), second place ribbons for “Calico Flower” (Quilts) and “It’s a Hoot” (Quilts) and a third place ribbon for “Groovy Dot” (Single Item Clothing).
Amelia Ross received an honorable mention for “Hearts On A String” (3D Sculpture).
Fiona Ross won a third place ribbon for “Green Scarf” (Needlecraft).
Shalom School
Oliver Black won first place for his 3D Sculpture entry, “Folding Cup.”
Daniel Levine won third place for “Hamburger” (3D Sculpture).
Zoe Osorio received an honorable mention for “Blooming” (3D Sculpture).
Sutter Middle School
Benjamin Bauer won a third place ribbon for “Tic-Tac-Toe” and an honorable mention for “Patterns” (both Photography).
Santana Garcia won two third place ribbons for “Puddle of Youth” and “You Make Beautiful Things” (both Photography). Santana also received an honorable mention for “Nature’s Heart” (Photography).
Caitlin McLaughlin won third place for “Beautiful Treasures” and received an honorable mention for “Unique” (both Pen, Pencil & Printmaking).
Aaron Won won first place for “Escape” and received honorable mentions for “Mysterious Garden” and “Reflection” (all Watercolor).
The California State runs through July 29 at Cal Expo, located at 1600 Exposition Boulevard in Sacramento. Fair hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Visit www.bigfun.org for admission and Midway information.

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series featuring high schools in the Arden-Carmichael News publishing area.  In this article, we highlight Rio Americano, El Camino and Del Campo high schools.

IT’S GAME TIME. Local high school football teams have put in lots of hard work and dedication during the off season. This fall, each team will see the results of its labors. No matter the outcome, it is character building. / Photo iStockphoto

All across the country the stadium lights are clicking to life on Friday nights. For Rio Americano, El Camino and Del Campo, the sweat and grind of the offseason is about to pay off. It’s game time.

Rio Americano Raiders

Rio Americano comes into this season looking for a taste of the playoffs after just missing out last year. The Raiders (4-6 in 2010) will depend on a young group of mostly juniors to try and get the team over the playoff hump. Head coach Christian Mahaffey talked about his goals for the team in 2011.

“We have only nine seniors, the rest are juniors. We’re young and talented,” he said. “We don’t have a defined goal this year other than to play hard week-to-week.”

There’s no question that the next logical step for the Raiders is a playoff spot in the Capital Football League.

“I think (the playoffs) is a definite possibility,” said Mahaffey.

Rio will rely heavily on a strong run game in 2011. Last season the Raiders averaged 248.5 yards per game on the ground.

Star running back and cornerback Basil Okoroike is an undeniable team leader according to Mahaffey. Last season Okoroike ran for 573 yards and eight touchdowns and also caught eight passes and added another score through the air.

Mahaffey named Bobby Keenan (offensive tackle/defensive end), Alfonso Castro (offensive tackle/defensive end) and Bob Roseberry (offensive guard/defensive tackle) as other players to watch this year.

The biggest rival for Rio is now and has always been Jesuit High School. If you stand at the corner of either school and peer around the corner, you can quite literally see the other school. They are so close together that a rivalry has brewed deep within the student bodies for generations.

In 2010 the Raiders defeated the Marauders of Jesuit in a wild game by the score of 34-33. This year, however, Rio fell to their archrival in a scoreboard busting season-opener by the score of 52-38 on Sept. 3.

In the game, Okoroike rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned five kicks in the game for a total of 72 yards; Keenan amassed seven tackles (including a sack) and junior quarterback Mark Lyon threw for 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss.

Rio shares the Capital Football league with Whitney, Mira Loma, Antelope, Cordova and El Camino high schools. Last season the Raiders went 1-3 against league opponents. Rio begins league play on Oct. 8 against Cordova.

El Camino Eagles

El Camino comes into the season with a similar goal – improving on a so-so season in 2010. The Eagles (4-6 in 2010) will take into the season a young team that lost five senior starters on the offensive line. Head coach Adam Reinking thinks his team has what it takes to climb back into the playoff picture.

“Our strength is in our offense and our specialty players,” he said. “We have to give maximum effort in every rep, practice and game. If we do that, wins should take care of themselves. Our team goal is to win league and make the playoffs.”

The Eagles haven’t made it to the postseason since 2006, but just a slight upgrade in league play could have them back in the hunt this season. The team averaged 255.1 yards on the ground last season, making them a vaunted rushing attack that should continue this year.

Coach Reinking named Will McGehee (running back), Jonah Lessard (quarterback), Dee Kuwabara (wide receiver) and Cameron Marcum (cornerback) as players to watch this season.

El Camino’s geographical rivals are Rio Americano and Mira Loma. All three happen to reside in the same conference, so those rivalries hold a little extra meaning for the teams involved. The three schools are separated by only a few miles.

The season has started out on a sour note for the Eagles as they have lost their first two games of the season to non-league opponents Colfax and Union Mine. So far on the season, McGehee has rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown; Lessard has thrown for 246 yards and a pair of scores; Kuwabara has 155 yards receiving along with two scores and Marcum has racked up seven tackles and two passes defended.

The playoffs only take into account league games, however, so the Eagles have some time to correct themselves before league play begins on Oct. 6 against Antelope.

Del Campo Cougars

Del Campo (8-3 in 2010) is coming off a successful season that saw the Cougars reach the playoffs. And while they lost the playoff game against Rosemont High School, the team remains confident that another playoff run is within its grasp.

“I love my team, but we are very young and not as talented as in the past,” said head coach Mike Dimino. “We are working hard right now. We have 32 juniors and 14 seniors. Our juniors as a JV team went 4-6 last year.

While the team appears to be raw in the early going, Dimino has been impressed with how his defense has played thus far.

For a team that has won 51 games in the past five seasons (and won two section titles), this year of rebuilding is something the school isn’t used to in recent years.

“I have never coached a team to less than a .500 record,” Dimino said. “This might be the first. Hopefully we get better each week and be ready for league play next month. As it is now, we have a lot of improving to do.”

The team captains for the Cougars are Adrian Garcia, Sam Perez, Anthony Rodigo and Danny Newman.

The Cougars play in the Capital Valley Football Conference along with Bella Vista, Rio Linda, Oakmont, Christian Brothers and Casa Roble high schools. Dimino identified Casa Roble as the team’s biggest rival.

“They are the only team to win a league championship other than us,” he said.

The Cougars will meet the Rams of Casa Roble on Oct. 14. Del Campo currently holds a 1-1 record on the year after a loss against Enterprise (17-10) and a win against Rancho Cotate (15-14). League play begins for Del Campo on Oct. 7 against Rio Linda.

It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game. There is no “I” in team. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. These are some of the mottos that could apply to the College Greens Gators recreational swim team in East Sacramento.

Jared Hook, a member of the College Greens Swim Team, strives for a personal “best” in the 25 yard breaststroke event. / Photo courtesy, College Greens Swim Team

The Gators, founded in 1965, are the smallest team in the eight-team Sacramento Suburban Swim League. And while the relatively small size of the team may keep the Gators from scoring as many points as the larger squads, the 162 members at College Greens (roughly half of which reside in East Sacramento, the others come from Arden and the surrounding area) continue to thrive in the water while setting different goals beyond just winning and losing.

“This year the team is much better,” said Coach Pat Daniels. “There are more things in place to improve the team.”

Daniels, who is in his second year as coach of the Gators, said that the team has been able to retain more swimmers than in past years. The team has had problems in the past with members quitting the team.

The Gators may not pose a significant threat to the teams with 300-400 members, but Daniels has implemented ways for his swimmers to be successful.

“What we take away (from competition) is individual improvement,” he said. “We may also shoot to score a certain amount of points in a certain age group.”

He also said that he and swimmers will set goal times rather than worry about the competition.

“If we reach our goal times, it will result in scoring points.”

College Greens swimmer Taylor Monette. / Photo courtesy, College Greens Swim Team

He also posts the “Top 10” times in the previous year’s championship meet in different events so that the kids have something to shoot for that they can see.

Daniels swam in the very same league when he was a child (for the El Dorado Hills Tazmanian Devils, nicknamed the “Taz”) before moving on to swim for the Sierra Marlins Swim Team (SMST) year round when he was 14. He went on to swim at Oak Ridge High School and for two years at UC Davis.

After each team faces off head to head with the other seven team in the league, the season ends with a league championship meet at Sierra College that includes all eight teams competing together. With less than half of the members of some of the other teams, the Gators simply cannot score enough points to come out on top as a team, but that doesn’t mean that the team is without gifted swimmers.

One such swimmer, whom Daniels said consistently wins her races, is 15-year-old Morgan McClure. McClure, who recently finished her freshman year at Rio Americano High School, has been in the water since she was only four years old. She learned how to swim with the Gators up until the age of eight. She competed with the Arden Hills Swim Team, a USA Swimming team, from ages eight to 14 and is now in her second year back with the Gators.

College Greens Gators Jane Gregory and Megan Schirmer wait for their events to be posted at a recent swim meet. / Photo courtesy, College Greens Swim Team

McClure still holds four all-time team records in her age group from when she was eight years old and younger and holds six records in the 13-14 age group.

While she may very well be one of the best swimmers on the team (if not the best), McClure is quick to push away any praise heaped in her direction.

“I just go to practice and work hard,” she said. “I guess I have some natural ability, but (success) comes from training.”

She also enjoys the social aspect and family atmosphere of the College Greens Swim and Racquet Club where the team practices.

“It’s a really nice community. Everyone is friendly and no one is ever left out,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of friends in my time here as well.”

McClure’s mother Linda was a member of the Gators from ages  of 10 to 18. Linda said she moved to Sacramento when she was nine or ten and swam all the way up until the age cutoff at 18. She also remarked on the family vibe at the club and that it has a nice community atmosphere.

The team does a few fundraisers throughout the year in order to pay for some team expenses, according to team president Tom Monette.

There is no “I” in TEAM. The College Greens Gators focus on individual achievement and personal best times. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a strong bond as a team. Friendships made on the team can last a lifetime. Left to right, Alice Urkov, Anne-Marie Barbour, Poppy Ruyak, Taylor Monette, Annabella Rolleri. / Photo courtesy, College Greens Swim Team

“We have an adult social for the parents as well as a Swim-a-thon where kids swim as many laps as they can in a certain amount of time and there are pledges made per lap,” he said.

This year’s Swim-a-thon took place on July 6.

Many of the current team members have parents and siblings who swam for the team years ago. The Gators are made up of seven different age levels (6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18).

For information on the College Greens Swim Team, visit www.leaguelineup.com/collegegreens. The club is located at 2707 Notre Dame Dr. in Sacramento. The other teams in the league are the Broadstone Barracudas, El Dorado Hills Taz, Folsom Sea Otters, Granite Bay Gators, Loomis Dolphins, Park Terrace Penguins and Sierra Sharks.

benn@valcomnews.com

The 38-acre Howe Park features many scenic views, including this view of Chicken Ranch Slough. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

And due to its age, the district, which is bounded by major traffic arteries with Arden Way to the south, Watt Avenue to the east, Auburn Boulevard to the north and Business 80 to a point where it joins Arden Way, has grown up with the community.

Bill Murray, park supervisor of the district, which features seven parks, including the 38-acre Howe Park, remembers when the area was a much different place.

“I remember when Fulton Avenue and Morse Avenue and Cottage (Way) and all these roads here were gravel roads,” said Murray, a 1969 graduate of Rio Americano High School. “When I was a kid, there were goats and sheep here (on the property that became Howe Park). It was a sheep ranch, basically. There was also a house near the corner of Cottage (Way) and Bell (Street). When I started working (for the district) here in 1978, this (property) was undeveloped. There weren’t any trees out here (besides) willow trees on one side of the pond. And there used to be a sign (at the pond) that (read), ‘No fishing, wading, swimming.’”

Mike Grace, general manager of the district, said that the district was formed as a result of the growth of the area from its rural roots.

Cottage Park at 2201 Cottage Way is shown on the day of its groundbreaking. / Photo courtesy, FECRPD

“This was a rural area,” Grace said. “You had horses, chickens, goats and sheep. It’s the typical story of how a city or community expands. You had the city of Sacramento and then you had the outlying area. Well, (the district was) in the close (part of the) outlying area (and) it was very popular to live out in the country. That’s where they came up with Town and Country Village. It was a town in the country outside the city. As property developed, you had people moving into the area. It was the early 1950s, the war was over, the economy was starting to build, people needed affordable housing and they moved into the suburbs. As people were moving into the area, they had recreational needs that weren’t being attended to by the county. The county’s focus was on large regional parks, but local recreation was not addressed. So, as the population grew, there was a need for recreational services.”

Although the district was established in 1956, its history dates back to Nov. 2, 1955, when a notice was officially filed with the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors for the creation of the Fulton-El Camino Park, Recreation and Parkway District, which was the district’s original name.

The initial board members of the district were: William G. Fritz, W. Thomas Holden, Betty M. Forry, Bidwell W. Jumel and M. Guy Fairchild., and Donald W. McMurchie served as the district’s legal counsel.

The first meeting of the district was held in the library of Cottage School at 2221 Morse Avenue on Feb. 2, 1956.

During the meeting, Fairchild was elected president, Forry was elected secretary-treasurer, and it was resolved that McMurchie would earn $50 per month.

Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District board members meet in this c. 1958 photograph. / Photo courtesy, FECRPD

During its more than half-century existence, the district, which developed its first parks under its first master plan, which was approved in April 1958, has grown to include 72.8 acres existing park and open space areas.

Cottage Park

The district acquired its first property for the construction of a park in 1957. This property at the present day address of 3097 Cottage Way was developed into today’s Cottage Park.

Amenities of this 7.5-acre neighborhood park include a community center, the only remaining swimming pool of the district’s original, four pools (the Cottage Park pool was dedicated in May 1960), a children’s playground, tennis courts, picnic and barbecue areas and a natural water feature, known as Strong Ranch Slough.

Santa Anita Park

The second property acquired by the district for the development of a park was a 7.7-acre site, which became Santa Anita Park at 2000 Bell St.

Howe Park

Amenities of this community park include the Richard T. Conzelmann Community Center, a natural water feature, which is also part of Chicken Ranch Slough, a ballfield, soccer field, tennis courts, a walking path, a picnic and barbecue area and a shade shelter.

The park is also home to the district office, which is located inside the community center.

Creekside Nature Area

The only property of the district that is not a developed park is the 1.9-acre Creekside Nature Area at 2641 Kent Ave.

This property was acquired by the district on June 27, 1963 and features its nature area with a natural water feature.

Bellview Park

The history of the 4.3-acre Bellview Park at 2600 Howe Ave. dates back to November 1963, when the property of this park was acquired by the district.

This picnic shelter is among the many features of Bohemian Park at 3131 Wright St. / Photo courtesy, FECRPD

Attractions at this neighborhood park include a children’s play area, a basketball court and picnic and barbecue areas.

Bohemian Park

The 8.2-acre Bohemian Park at 3131 Wright St. is the district’s second largest park. Property for this neighborhood park was acquired in 1966.

Amenities of this park include a children’s play area, a basketball court, tennis courts, picnic and barbecue areas, a natural water feature and a shade shelter.

Seely Park

Property for today’s 5.2-acre Seely Park at 3000 Pope Ave. was acquired in November 1966.

This neighborhood park includes such amenities as a children’s playground, a splash park, a basketball court, barbecue and picnic areas and a shade shelter.

A history of public activities

In addition to providing facilities for recreation and leisure, the district has also consistently offered a wide variety of activities for people of all ages during its long history.

A sunset beautifies an evening at a ballfield at Howe Park. / Photo courtesy, FECRPD

Some of the past activities that seem to date themselves by mention alone occurred in the 1960s with Northern California Duck Calling Championships at Cottage Park and weekly district-sponsored “Charm and Grooming” classes with Jeanne Venables, Miss Sacramento of 1963, at Creekside School at 2641 Kent Drive.

Of course, a schedule of much more modern activities can be obtained through the district’s Web site www.fecrecpark.com or by calling (916) 927-3802.

The district now and into the future

In operating a more than half-century-old park district, Grace said that much emphasis is being placed on maintaining the district’s present facilities.

Children ride their bicycles at Howe Park during the park’s early years. / Photo courtesy, FECRPD

“The park district is 55 years old and, like a 55-year-old person, is starting to feel its age,” Grace said. “We went through the early years with the excitement of establishing and developing the parks and meeting the needs of the community when it was younger. (The district) is now middle aged and we’re starting to show the wear and tear of the years and we’re going into a phase where there (are) going to be more resources needed to maintain what we have rather than establishing new facilities. Our challenge is to honor the past in taking care of that which has been brought forth to this day. And we’ll look forward to the future by making sure the existing facilities are taken care of and we’ll try to stay current with new recreation trends and needs for new facilities.”

“Spaghett!” a jazz combo comprised of Rio Americano High School students Zachary Darf, Zach Giberson, Victor San Pedro, Nathan Swedlow, Jarrett Tracy, and David Williams was selected in early January to participate in the Charles Mingus High School Competition and weekend festival at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City February 12 – 15, 2010.

Pictured here in 2009 with fellow Rio Americano High School band members, Nathan Swedlow, second from left, Zachary Darf, center, and Zach Giberson, far right, were among the students in the band program chosen to participate in the Charles Mingus High School Competition and weekend festival at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City February 12 – 15, 2010. (File photo courtesy Leslie Barger)

Sponsored by Let my Children Hear Music/The Charles Mingus Institute, a New York City-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to expanding and promoting the legacy of Charles Mingus, the festival will include master classes, clinics, lectures, and concerts in connection with Mingus music.

The event will culminate in a “battle of bands” between twelve top big bands and combos from around the country. In the Regular Combo Category, the Rio group is one of only three combos selected nationwide, and one of the first groups ever selected to participate from outside of the New York Tri-State area.

For more information on the Charles Mingus High School Competition and Festival, visit www.mingusmingusmingus.com/jazzeducation.  

The Rio Americano High School band program, under the combined direction of Josh Murray and Kiesner, provides high quality music education to over 180 students in four levels of concert band and three jazz ensembles. Rio Americano High School bands have toured in Australia, Europe, Japan and China and won national recognition at such prestigious events as the Essentially Ellington and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Plans are currently underway for a summer 2010 performance tour of Argentina.

For additional information on the Rio Americano High School band program, visit www.rioband.net or contact Josh Murray (jomurray@sanjuan.edu or 916-971-7512).