Athlete of the Issue:Mirador 14 Sports 11/6/09

James Kingby Brian Friel

During his freshman year, James King signed up to play his first year of organized football. Little did he know that three years later, he would be the face of Miramonte football.

“I would always play pickup games and watch it on TV, but before high school I never played organized football,” said King.

King has started at both wide receiver and defensive back for the Mats since his sophomore year. He exploded onto the scene in 2007 by earning 2nd team All DFAL honors at defensive back.

Since then, King has been one of the most dominant players in the area. As a junior, he amassed over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to garnering 1st team All DFAL honors at both wide receiver and defensive back. He was also named team MVP and served as a captain, feats rarely accomplished by a junior.

This year has proved no different as King continues to be a force on both offense and defense. Despite the Mats’ new veer offense, which is primarily used for running, he is currently among the top three league leaders in all major receiving statistics. As a result of the new offense, King has also begun to see more time at running back.

“I don’t mind running the ball at all,” said King. “I’ll do

whatever it takes to win.”Defensively, King primarily plays as an outside

linebacker, but has also seen time at both defensive end and safety. He averages five tackles per game and has three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

However, King’s success was not granted to him instantaneously. To reach the point where he is now, King

had to dedicate countless hours to improve all aspects of his game. Last spring, he ran track for Miramonte while keeping a rigorous weightlifting regimen.

“For off-season training last year I would lift with the football team and then go to track practice. The track workouts were new to me so I was really out of shape in the beginning, but it got easier as we went. Then on the weekends I’d go to Raw and workout with Raymond Gervasi and try to out-lift him, which is almost impossible,” said King.

While running track, King competed in the 100, 200, and the long jump, and was a member of the 4x100 relay team as well.

“I started track because I knew I needed to get faster and learn how to open up my stride,” said King. “I really

liked it, it helped a lot and was challenging and fun.”King’s hard work has paid off as he already holds offers

from Navy, Army, UNLV, and Sacramento State. “As far as college goes, I’m still undecided for where I

want to go. There are so many incredible football players out there, so I just hope I can find a place to fit in,” said King.

Although the Mats are currently 3-5, King believes that things are on the rise.

“We can still get a good seed in the playoffs and if we play every team the way we played Campo I definitely think we can do it,” he said.

by Eric Hass

Miramonte cross-country has won and lost in a competitive league and is looking to their formidable invitational record to prove themselves as a team, and possibly win NCS for the first time since 2002. Head Coach Brian Henderson has to keep his team safe from the flu as well, which has hurt league performance.

In DFAL competition, Miramonte has run in three meets. At the Sept. 30 Martinez meet against Las Lomas and Alhambra, the Mats lost in both varsity boys and girls against Las Lomas, but won against Alhambra.

On Oct. 14, Dougherty Valley, Campolindo, and Miramonte ran on Miramonte’s course. Both Miramonte teams lost against Campo, but won against Dougherty Valley.

For the final league meet before the championship, Acalanes, Dublin, and Miramonte faced off at Dublin on Oct. 28.

“The meet is against Acalanes, primarily, because we have to get 4th or better in the NCS race, and Acalanes is one of the six teams competing for those four spots, so it’s important we show we can make state,”

said Peter Buscheck ‘10.Boys won against Acalanes and Dublin.

Girls beat Dublin and lost to Acalanes.The DFAL championships are tomorrow

at Hidden Valley Park. NCS is on Nov. 21.Besides league competition, Miramonte

has competed in several invitational meets. In the Ed Sias Annual on Sept. 12, varsity boys took fourth place and varsity girls took second place. At the Lowell Invitational in Golden Gate Park on Sept. 19, girls and boys placed third. At the Clovis Invitational on Oct. 10, boys came in second to a “Division IV powerhouse [McFarland High School],” according to Henderson, and girls placed seventh. On Oct. 23, Miramonte went to the Mt. San Antonio College invitational. The boys won, and the girls placed second.

Top runners on the boys’ team include Peter Buscheck ‘10, Christian Britto ‘10, Nick Vedovi ‘10, and Jamie Fehrnstrom ‘12.

Some of the fastest girls are Caitlin Heffley ‘10 and Lauren Henderson ‘11.

This year’s especially disastrous flu season has cut cross-country’s ranks. In fact, “We haven’t run our full boys’ or girls’ team in any meet,” said Henderson.

Cross Country Prepares For NCS Tennis Servin’ It Up in PlayoffsPhoto: M. Dolbec Photo: M. Dolbec

Photo: D. Louie

by James Boudreau

The Miramonte varsity women’s tennis team crushed competition all season long. The Lady Mats finished the regular season with a 12-0 record in DFAL and a 22-1 record overall. They have not lost a match in over two months.

The team worked hard all year long to achieve their high ranking and outstanding record.

“The success of the team is due to years of hard work by the individual players as well as a great team spirit,” said head coach Mark LeHocky.

So far the team has only lost one game, against Mission San Jose, 5-4, on Aug. 27.

On Oct. 27, the team defeated Acalanes 9-0, and clinched the DFAL championship. They will now be automatically invited to the NCS playoffs later this month. However, they will still be participating in the DFAL playoffs.

“Our team is really strong and I think we have a very good chance at doing well in NCS,” said Alyssa Wendt ‘11.

Miramonte’s main competition for NCS includes Monte Vista, Carondelet, Northgate, Piedmont, and last year’s

champion, Foothill. Miramonte has not played Foothill yet this year. But they have played games against most of the other teams and won all that they played.

“I think we can definitely make a run in NCS,” said Wendt.

NCS championships begin on Nov. 10. Miramonte has won NCS four times, most recently in 2003.

Miramonte boasts an outstanding roster, including eight of the top 15 players in DFAL, statistically, and nine undefeated players this season. Michaela Kopecka ‘12, a foreign exchange student from the Czech Republic, is number one in singles in DFAL. Miramonte also has six out of ten of the best doubles pairs in DFAL.

“This year I think they put it all together,” LeHocky told the Contra Costa Times.

“All the girls have played tennis for years and years, but also the way they’ve come together as team and their team chemistry has been a driving force to their success.”

If they can continue their dominance over the teams in NCS as they had over the teams in the DFAL, winning shouldn’t be a problem for the team. Look for the streak to continue in the playoffs.

Left: James King ‘10 shrugs off a defender. Above: King is the star of the Mats football team. Right: King sprints downfield in a recent game.

Fun Facts About James King

Height: 6’2Weight: 19540 time: 4.56Food: ChickenMovie: RudyActor/Actress: Steve CarellClass: PsychologySuper Smash Bros. Character: “CHU!!!”Musical Artist: EminemSport (other than football): TrackRandom fact: “I’m part Cherokee”