Last week, eight Gilroy football players – representing both Christopher and Gilroy high schools as well as Mitty High School – attended the Elite Offensive-Defensive Football Camp in San Diego. The week-long camp was taught by former NFL players and coaches as well as college football coaches – including Matthew Hatchette, former wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, Jason Reyes, quarterbacks coach at Chapman University and Binky Benton, the former San Diego State running back. Not only was it the largest contingent from one city, four individuals won awards for their achievements. Mills (Christopher) was named the Most Valuable Player of Camp Super Bowl, Goldstein (Gilroy) earned the top defensive back honors, McMurray (Mitty), took home the top running back award and Jones (Gilroy) received the top defensive lineman award. Those four athletes, along with other award winners from the 33 other OD camps, were invited to play in the All America Showcase Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas in December.
A pair of Hawks fly high
Gilroy Hawks wrestling club members Joe Barnes and Adam Mena had quite an action-packed week last month in their journey toward Orem, Utah and the ASICS Kids Freestyle/Greco-Roman National Championships.
The teammates first wrestled at the Western Regionals in Idaho – a tournament that distinguishes the top wrestlers to come out of Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.
Making it through that challenge, Barnes (Novice) and Mena took on the nation’s best youth in Utah.
Barnes continued a stellar youth wrestling record and added a fourth national championship to his resume with a first-place finish in the freestyle tournament. Barnes picked up a technical fall victory over Jake Hendricks of Pennsylvania in the 105-pound championship match. Barnes also took second in the Greco-Roman tournament.
Barnes’ training partner Mena, used his time in Utah as a learning experience, and vowed to return stronger and healthier.
