Video: 2012 VCHS Powderpuff Football

Here are the video highlights from the 2012 Powderpuff football game at VCHS, a game that the class of 2012 won, 14-6.

The boys in the class of 2012 put together this cheer routine:


The junior boys in the class of 2013 put together this routine:


Senior QB Sidney Reilly runs the option and pitches to RB Miriam Zabinsky, who runs in for the 1st touchdown of the game.


Junior QB Anndrea Torres hits WR Vinessa Perryman for a big play on this pass.


Senior safety Alex Scoles grabs the ball on a tipped pass for her first (of 4) interceptions in the game.


Senior QB Sidney Reilly rolls out and hits TE Lauren Gilster for a good gain.


Alex Scoles jumps in front of this deep pass for her second interception of the game.


Junior LB Makayla Markey breaks up this pass to stall the seniors' drive.


Senior QB Sidney Reilly runs the option and appears to pitch back to RB Miriam Zabinsky, but the officials say that Reilly's flag was pulled before the pitch. Did she get the ball out in time? You decide...


Junior QB Vinessa Perryman throws deep for WR Melina Heredia, who comes up with a great catch in traffic.


Senior LB Sidney Reilly breaks through the juniors' line to bring down QB Vinessa Perryman for a big sack.


Alex Scoles grabs her third interception of the game.


Senior RB Miriam Zabinsky takes the pitch and breaks off a long run.


Senior RB Miriam Zabinsky gets a good gain on the ground, but right tackle Taylor Yates (#53) gets hurt on the play.


Junior LB Hana Gilbert breaks through the line and gets to QB Sidney Reilly for a big sack.


Junior safety Vinessa Perryman drifts under the deep pass and gets the interception.


Junior QB Anndrea Torres takes off up the middle and runs through a would-be tackler for a good gain.


Alex Scoles grabs her fourth interception of the game and nearly returns it for a touchdown.


Senior QB Sidney Reilly escapes the pressure in the backfield and eludes tacklers on her way to the endzone for what proved to be the game-winning score.


Junior returner Vanessa Heredia brings back the kickoff, but senior Elsie Emanuel goes in for the tackle instead of grabbing the flag.


Junior QB Vinessa Perryman escapes the pressure, weaves her way through the defense and outruns the defenders to the corner for a touchdown late in the game.


Sidney Reilly breaks off a long run to put the game away for the class of 2012.


video by Dan Kidder

Video: Valley Center vs. Brawley, CIF football playoffs

Here are the video highlights of the Jaguars' huge win over Brawley in the CIF Division IV quarterfinals on Friday night.

Due to some technical issues (ie, a video camera with a zoom lens that no longer zooms), we are fortunate to have the video feed from the Jags' official videographer, Brandon Usher, who provided us with all three views (sideline, press box, and end zone) of each VC scoring play. Thanks, Brandon!

Also, further technical issues prevented the upload of the video clips from the VC at Orange Glen game. My apologies.

Garrett Fiehler gets the Jaguars on the scoreboard with a two-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Sideline:


Press Box:


End Zone:



Ryan Kleiman hits Michael McInerny on the slant for a 15-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.
Sideline:


Press Box:


End Zone:



McInerny hits a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Sideline:


Press Box:


End Zone:



Kleiman unleashes the deep ball down the middle, where Damian Stehly hauls it in for an 82-yard touchdown catch.
Sideline:


Press Box:


End Zone:



Fiehler explodes through the line and runs away from the defense for a 64-yard touchdown on the first play of the second half.
Sideline:


Press Box:


End Zone:



Fiehler plows it in from one yard out to put the Jags way ahead in the third quarter.
Press Box:


End Zone:



Dylan Glass slashes through the defense to score from nine yards out in the fourth quarter.
Sideline:


Press Box:


End Zone:



Look out! The Jaguars are fired up for the second half, leaving our intrepid cameraman in the middle of the action. Way to brave the dangers of the stampede, Brandon!

Video: Valley Center vs. Del Norte football

Here are the video highlights from the Jaguars' 42-7 win over Del Norte on Friday night, including some nice runs by Garrett Fiehler and a beautiful touchdown pass from Ryan Kleiman to Michael McInerny.

Video by Kelly Kidder

Kleiman lowers his shoulders and drives in behind his linemen for a one-yard touchdown for the first points of the game.


Kleiman hits Cody Gearhart near the sideline, and the speedy receiver cuts back to the middle of the field to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-ten play.


Fiehler takes the handoff, cuts to the outside and outruns the defense to the corner for a four-yard touchdown run.


Fiehler runs through a gaping hole up the middle to score from 11 yards out.


Fiehler gets a huge gain on first down, running through another big hole to pick up 30 yards.


Kleiman uses the pump fake before delivering a perfect fade pass to WR Michael McInerny in the back corner of the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown pass.


Dylan Glass runs through a defender to score a three-yard touchdown late in the game.

Six months after accident, Conrad Murphy focuses on the positive

Conrad Murphy finds a way to keep smiling in tough times

Click here to see more recent photos of Conrad

By Dan Kidder

Six months ago, Conrad Murphy was clinging to life after he survived a terrible head-on car crash while on his way to baseball practice.

And until just over a month ago, the 2010 Valley Center High School graduate says that he didn’t completely believe that what was happening to him was real.

Murphy says that his memories of the early days of his recovery are like a dream—flashes of clarity mixed with confusing, muddled images that don’t fit together. What brought him back to a mostly-conscious state was the pain of a terrible side effect from all the necessary antibiotics pumped into his system.

“I remember what we were doing two days before the accident, and then I thought I remembered waking up, but it was just a hallucination or a dream or something,” he says. “But the first thing I remember after the accident is waking up in horrible pain. The C-DIF bacteria that I got from the antibiotics was horrible, it was the most pain I’ve ever been in. I honestly thought about suicide, it hurt that bad.”

But even as his physical health improved, he says that he kept expecting to wake up and be back to normal.

“Something happened when I saw my truck,” he says, describing the first time he saw the mangled remains of the vehicle that bore the brunt of the head-on collision. “I don’t know if it was a side effect of my injuries, but for a while, I thought it was all fake, like a hallucination or like The Truman Show or something. But when I saw what was left of my truck, I knew it was all real.”

“Anybody who sees that truck, it just leaves you in awe,” says Murphy’s dad, Jim. “Behind the driver’s seat, you can see where there was a pool of blood, and the effect that has on you, it makes you think twice. I haven’t seen them, but I was told that one of the paramedics took some photos at the scene, and the way the column behind the driver’s door was smashed into Conrad’s head, they were amazed that he was still alive. Once we saw that truck, we realized all over again just how lucky we are that he’s alive.”

That was in September, and now, with six months of recovery behind him since the accident, Murphy says that it’s been a difficult journey, but he’s able to see just how well he’s doing.

“When I first got out of the hospital, I was very discouraged,” he admits. “What keeps me going now is a mixture of hope and rage. I have hope that I’m getting better, but I’m angry that this happened to me just because some guy weaved into my lane. I am getting better though, and that hope keeps me positive. And the rage helps me work harder in therapy. I look at where I was three months ago, and I’m really hopeful about where I’ll be three months from now.”

Murphy acknowledges that his athletic training helped him prepare for the occupational therapy he goes through now, but he also says that there were dark days when he didn’t know how he would make it through.

“God helped me get through it, and it helped that I was too lethargic to follow through on committing suicide,” he says. “But it was really tough.”

Murphy has three sessions a week in occupational therapy and one session in psychology, helping him exercise his brain as it recovers. He says that the injuries to his brain have been the hardest to deal with, both in how his mental processes have changed and in how other people relate to him.

“Most people can understand a disability, but this has been hard because you don’t know how much other people can affect you,” he says. “So many people have been so encouraging, and the whole Valley Center community did so much. But one guy told me not to get my hopes up, and I know that he was trying to be helpful, but it came at a bad time and I took it horribly, and it really discouraged me.

“But that’s part of what a brain injury does,” he continues. “I don’t have any short-term memory issues, but I still deal with a lot of anxiety and fear. It’s really scary sometimes, like you know how you get that feeling like somebody’s right behind you? I’ll get that sometimes. I’m still scared that I’ll get hurt again, so I don’t like going in vehicles.”

But Murphy’s progress has been remarkable—his family was told that he had less than a two percent chance of surviving his injuries, and when it became clear that he would survive, he was told that he would most likely not be able to walk again. And even though his vision has been affected—Murphy went from 20/10 vision before the accident to needing to wear glasses for his 20/30 vision—he was told that his injuries should have left him blind. He still doesn’t have the full use of the left side of his body—a sensation he describes as a feeling “like my arm is asleep, times ten.”—but he is able to walk, talk and see, and still regularly beats his brother at chess.

“I don’t want to brag or anything, but I shouldn’t be doing as well as I am right now,” Murphy says. “I’m setting my own goals, and right now, I want to be able to jog again. I used to jog up the hill behind our house every day, and I loved it. I’ve been approved to lift weights again, so I’ve been able to lift ninety-five pounds in therapy, which is better than lifting PVC pipe like I was a few months ago.”

As he walks around the house, cracks jokes with his family, hangs out with his friends, practices the piano and the guitar, and continues to improve, Murphy says that he’s able to keep a positive outlook through everything.

“I’m blessed, because things could be a lot worse,” he says. “I’ve been through a lot, and in a lot of ways, it’s still miserable. But I can focus on the positive now. I try to look at the good things, like how I have a really cool story and a lot of great sympathy scars. I don’t want to sound dumb or clichéd or whatever, but I really try to stay positive and stay hopeful, because no matter how bad things are, it could always get worse.”

Murphy and his family are also incredibly grateful to the Valley Center community for all the support they’ve received, from the hugs and handshakes to the love and prayers to the tireless efforts of those who organized the fundraiser concert in July.

A fund-raiser golf tournament for Murphy will be held on Jan. 24 at the Fallbrook Country Club.

To pass on your words of encouragement to Conrad, search Facebook for the page “Get Well Soon, Conrad Murphy.”

Video: Valley Center vs. Mt. Carmel football

The Jaguars played tough in a physical game against Mt. Carmel on Friday, coming away with a 48-21 win for their seventh consecutive victory. Here are the video highlights:

Video by Kelly Kidder

Ryan Kleiman goes deep for Michael McInerny, who shows great concentration in turning around, finding the ball and hauling it in for a 40-yard touchdown.


Garrett Fiehler picks up a few yards, but McInerny gets tangled up with Mt. Carmel CB Dominique Nelson in an outburst that had been brewing for a few plays. Both players were penalized on the play.


Fiehler takes the handoff, breaks a tackle and gets in for the touchdown.


The Sundevils pitch the ball wide, but VC CB Cody Gearhart makes the tackle for a big loss.


Kleiman fakes the handoff and finds Damian Stehly for a three-yard touchdown completion.


Fiehler rumbles in for a 3-yard touchdown in the third quarter.


Fiehler pushes the pile to get a one-yard touchdown on fourth down in the fourth quarter.


Sundevil WR Dominique Nelson catches a short swing pass and tries to leap over Anthony Ricks, but instead ends up kicking him in the head, knocking off his helmet. Nelson was penalized for the kick.


Fiehler gets hit in the backfield, but breaks free and dives into the corner of the endzone for a nine-yard touchdown.


The Sundevils, in desperation passing mode late in the game, try to complete a pass near the goal line, but Ricks swoops in to get the interception and returns it 93 yards for a touchdown.

Video: Valley Center at San Marcos football

It was a close game for three quarters, but the Jaguars broke out with 14 points in a span of 23 seconds in the fourth quarter to beat San Marcos 34-17 on Friday night. Here are the video highlights:

Video by Kelly Kidder

he Knights complete a quick pass to the WR, but JD Frankovich drills the receiver for a loss.


Ryan Kleiman airs it out for Michael McInerny for a 36-yard gain on the Jaguars' first offensive play of the game.


Garrett Fiehler takes the ball to the outside and runs in for a five-yard touchdown.


The Knights try to run the ball, but Dylan Fredenburg makes a big tackle in the backfield.


Kleiman hits McInerny on a post pattern for a 20-yard gain.


As the Knights try to rally in the third quarter, they pass the ball over the middle, but Tommy Aguilar steps in front to get the interception.


McInerny hits a short field goal to put the Jags up by six in the third quarter.


Kleiman throws it deep for McInerny for a big gain down to the two-yard line.


Fiehler puts the Jaguars up by ten with a two-yard touchdown run.


Kleiman rolls out and tosses it deep for McInerny, who out-jumps his defender for the catch on an 80-yard touchdown pass.


Martin Cunningham jumps in front of this San Marcos pass to get an interception in the fourth quarter.


Kleiman hits Cody Gearhart on a wheel route down the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown late in the game.


The Knights try some trickery with a halfback pass, but Aguilar breaks up the completion for the Jags.

Video: Valley Center vs Escondido football

The Jaguars celebrated Homecoming on Friday night with a 35-7 win over Escondido. Here are the video highlights:

Video by Dan Kidder

The Cougars complete a pass over the middle, but when the receiver fumbles, Matt Preston is there to scoop up the loose ball.


Ryan Kleiman rolls out and finds Damian Stehly for a completion down to the one-yard line.


Garrett Fiehler pounds the ball in for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter.


The Cougars run a toss to the outside and the runner has the ball knocked away, but Escondido comes up with the recovery.


The Cougars get stuffed at the line and fumble, and Dylan Smith is there for the recovery.


Fiehler runs in his second score from one yard out.


Kleiman rolls out and hits Jean-Marc Brierre for a two-point conversion.


The Cougars try to complete a quick pass on the slant, but JD Frankovich jumps the route and gets the interception.


Fiehler runs into his own line, gets hit and fumbles, and the Cougars get the ball.


Fiehler busts through the line and outruns the defense down the middle of the field for a 67-yard touchdown.


Kleiman rolls out and finds Stehly, who works his way down the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown.


The Cougars have trouble on a handoff exchange, leading to a fumble that the offense gets back.


Dylan Glass gets some help from the line to get the ball across the line for a one-yard touchdown run.


The Cougars try to complete the pass on a post pattern, but Tommy Aguilar flips the receiver with a big hit to cause the incompletion.

Video: Valley Center vs. Ramona football

Friday night's game between Valley Center and Ramona was a thriller from start to finish, as the Jaguars came back from a late deficit to beat the Bulldogs 38-24. Check out the video highlights from the game...

video by Everett Bean

Ryan Kleiman hits Michael McInerny on a slant, and the receiver outruns the defense for a 79-yard score early in the first quarter.


The Bulldogs try to connect on a pass near the sideline, but JD Frankovich drops off his man in time to snag the interception.


Kleiman runs the quarterback draw, eludes a few defenders and finds his way into the endzone for a ten-yard touchdown.


On a run by the Bulldogs, Zach Tests flies around the end and delivers a big hit on the runner.


On a post pattern over the middle, VC WR Cody Gearhart dives to make the catch, but the pass is ruled incomplete, even though Gearhart came up with the ball securely in his hands.


Garrett Fiehler drives through the line to score a one-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-goal midway through the second quarter.


The Bulldogs try to pick up a first down through the air, but Gearhart delivers a bone-rattling hit to knock the ball away.


Fiehler has the ball stripped away, but when the Bulldogs recover and try to get away, QB Ryan Kleiman drops the ball-carrier with a solid tackle.


Kleiman puts up a deep pass for McInerny, but the Ramona CB makes a good play and comes away with the interception.


Jean-Marc Brierre breaks through the line to drop the Ramona quarterback for a sack on third down late in the third quarter.


On fourth down, Kleiman rolls out and heaves the ball deep down the middle, where Gearhart out-jumps his defender to come down with the catch that set up the game-winning touchdown.


Fiehler plows into the pile and escapes for a 13-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winning points.


Dylan Fredenburg slips through the offensive line to drop the ball-carrier with a big hit late in the fourth quarter.


Martin Cunningham comes on the blitz, hits the QB hard and forces a fumble late in the fourth quarter.


Shaun Woods gets to the QB on third-and-21 for a sack that forced a desperation fourth-down pass that came up short and all but sealed the win for the Jaguars.


Fiehler hits the hole and takes off for a 67-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left in the game to put the game out of reach.

Video: Valley Center vs. Lincoln football

The Jaguars won their third straight football game with a 24-7 win over Lincoln on Friday night. Here are the video highlights:

video by Dan Kidder

Ryan Kleiman airs it out to Michael McInerny for a 45-yard touchdown on the Jaguars' first offensive play of the game.


Tommy Aguilar slices through the Lincoln blockers to drop the runner for a loss.


JD Frankovich steps in front of a Lincoln pass to knock it away.


Kleiman connects with McInerny on a long pass down the sideline, and the receiver takes it all the way down to the one yard line.


Garrett Fiehler finds a sliver of an opening in the line and slips in for a one-yard touchdown.


Shaun Woods darts through the Lincoln line and drags the QB down on a fourth down try early in the game.


JD Frankovich takes advantage of a tipped pass to come down with the interception in the first half.


Fiehler pushes the pile to score a six-yard touchdown.


Martin Cunningham reads the play, steps in front of the Lincoln receiver and nearly comes away with an interception.


The Hornets go for it on fourth and goal from the one, and after a fumbled snap, VC LB Matt Preston dives on the loose ball to give possession back to the Jaguars.


Anthony Ricks goes up to knock down a Lincoln pass in the corner of the end zone.


Frankovich comes up with his second interception of the game on another tipped Lincoln pass.


Late in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars punt the ball away, and after the return, VC LB Jacob Beason is hit late with a vicious shot to the head, well after the whistle is heard. Beason left with an apparent concussion, and no flag was thrown on the play.


Jean-Marc Brierre gets to the Lincoln QB on a third-down play late in the game.


Brierre lays a big hit on the Lincoln QB to get the sack on the second-to-last play of the game.

Video: Valley Center at La Jolla football

The Jaguars won their second straight lopsided game with a 53-14 win over La Jolla on Friday, behind huge efforts from QB Ryan Kleiman (which is not pronounced "KLEE-man"--see below for more), WR Michael McInerny (also not pronounced "Mick-IN-rey" or "Mick-LEARN-ey") and RB Garrett Fiehler (not pronounced "FILE-er"). Maybe we can get a memo out to visiting team's announcers...and perhaps the Prep Pigskin Report, who decided to not even bother trying to pronounce "MACK-in-er-ney" or "KLY-man"...



And if his name really is pronounced "KLEE-man," then apparently this also applies:



Now, on to the real highlights from the game:

video by Kelly Kidder

Kleiman to McInerny for 10 yards:


Fiehler plows in for 2-yard TD:


Matt Preston makes a big tackle for a loss:


Kleiman to Gearhart for 65 yards:


Fiehler draw play for 10-yard TD:


Fiehler one-yard TD plunge:


Kleiman to McInerny 78-yard TD:


Fiehler 2-yard TD run:


Martin Cunningham lays a big hit on the La Jolla returner:


Kleiman hits McInerny for a 35-yard TD just before halftime:


La Jolla run stuffed by Jacob Beason:


Dylan Glass runs in a six-yard TD:


Fiehler recovers a fumble on a La Jolla kick return:


Kleiman rolls out and hits Damian Stehly for a 10-yard TD:


Zach Tests puts a big hit on La Jolla's kick returner:

Video: Valley Center at Imperial football

The Jaguars got their first win of the season by beating Imperial 47-14 on Friday night. Here are some of the big plays that helped the Jags get the win:

video by Kelly Kidder

Imperial screen pass blown up by the VC defense:


Garrett Fiehler runs in a 14-yard touchdown:


Tommy Aguilar runs in the 2-point conversion:


Ryan Kleiman hits Cody Gearhart for a big gain:


Aguilar deflects the Imperial pass and Gearhart makes the diving interception:


Kleiman hits Damian Stehly for a 45-yard touchdown:


Kleiman's pass for Gearhart gets intercepted:


Kleiman throws deep for Michael McInerny, who takes it down to the five:


Fiehler runs in a five-yard touchdown:


Kleiman finds McInerny again, this time for a 68-yard touchdown:


Fiehler plunges in for a one-yard touchdown:


Dylan Glass runs in a nine-yard touchdown:


Anthony Ricks gets the second of his two interceptions in the game:

Video: Valley Center at San Pasqual football

The Jaguars opened the 2011 football season at San Pasqual and couldn't get the offense they needed in a 28-7 loss. Despite the lopsided score, there were a number of exciting plays in the game. Here are the video highlights:

Ryan Kleiman hits Cody Gearhart on the post for a nice pitch-and-catch.


Garrett Fiehler picks up good yardage, dragging tacklers along the way.


Kleiman hits John Watkins for a big first down.


Fiehler plows in for a seven-yard touchdown.


Kleiman fumbles the ball on a rollout in the second quarter.


Kleiman rolls out and fumbles again, but recovers it himself this time.


The Jaguar defense forces an incomplete pass on fourth down.


Fiehler slashes through the line for a good gain.


Kleiman hits Watkins on a hitch, and Watkins breaks a tackle for a good gain.


Kleiman fumbles the ball on a fake handoff, but recovers the loose ball.


Kleiman hits Watkins on the slant for a nice gain.


Kleiman hits Damian Stehly on a quick pass that turns into a big gain.


video by Dan Kidder

Video: VCHS football scrimmage vs. Chula Vista

The Valley Center varsity football team hosted Chula Vista for a scrimmage on Friday night, and although no official score was kept, the Jaguars came away with two touchdowns while holding the Spartans scoreless.

Click here to see photos from the scrimmage, courtesy of Gabriel Santana.

Here are some video highlights from the action:

Garrett Fiehler scores on a 65-yard touchdown run:


Jean-Marc Brierre sacks the Spartan QB:


Anthony Ricks intercepts a deep pass:


Matt Preston gets the second of his two sacks in the game:


Cody Gearhart makes a big tackle for a loss on a Chula Vista reverse:


Damian Stehly, Jacob Beason and Jean-Marc Brierre combine for a sack:


Jacob Beason picks off a screen pass:


Garrett Fiehler bounces off tacklers for a great gain:


Garrett Fiehler takes the handoff in for a 7-yard touchdown:


Ryan Kleiman drops off a screen pass to Fiehler for a good gain:


video by Dan Kidder

Athlete of the Year: Coaches' Thoughts

Our 2011 Athlete of the Year, Kevin Murphy, has had a lot of different coaches in his life.
In his senior year at VCHS, Murphy had five different coaches from five different varsity sports, and they all had plenty of good things to say about such a versatile, hard-working athlete.
Here are their thoughts:

Kyle Kline, varsity boys water polo coach:
I think Kevin is a great choice for Athlete of the Year. I only had the pleasure of coaching Kevin for one season. I have had many athletes show up senior year and decide they want to play water polo and I was skeptical when I heard about Kevin and his desire to join the team. He showed up with confidence and I really didn’t expect him to last more than one day.
Kevin proved me wrong and exceeded my expectations. He was definitely behind on experience and conditioning in the water but that didn’t discourage him one bit. He worked through the tough practices and absorbed as much as he could to try to catch up. This is definitely one of the most coachable athletes I have had and he put everything I tried to teach him to use. I would only have to tell Kevin something once, and I would see him working on whatever it was throughout the rest of practice and the whole season. Kevin is also a natural athlete. He is aggressive and gives 110% with everything he does.
Something else that really defined Kevin was his willingness to face a tough challenge. He never backed down from a tough swim set that would give seasoned swimmers a tough time. What really set him apart was his decision to take on one of the toughest positions in the pool as two meter defense. This position involves defending usually the biggest and strongest player on the opposing team. When I described this position Kevin’s eyes lit up. He knew this was his spot and he wanted to make sure he earned the starting position. He worked hard and earned the starting spot and again exceeded my expectations. This position does not usually get the stats that the offensive two meter player gets. It does not get nearly as much attention or glory as other positions. Kevin was not in it for those things. He was in it for the challenge and to help his team. He handled athletes that had many more years experience than him and did an excellent job.
What makes Kevin a successful athlete is a combination of things. His work ethic is exceptional. He is confident but not over confident. He faces challenges head on and with an enthusiasm that I don’t often see. He is a positive role model for younger athletes and a team leader. He leads by example but is outspoken when necessary. He is extremely coachable and has a great attitude. All of these things are beneficial to a team. He made a huge contribution to my team this season and I can only imagine the water polo player he would have been with a few more years experience.
I am sure Kevin will apply these characteristics in the future and it is these that will ensure success in anything he chooses to pursue.
Kevin’s senior year stats: nine goals, 16 assists, 31 steals, and four blocks.
Thanks for giving recognition to a great athlete, student, and individual!

Clay Clifford, varsity wrestling coach:
Kevin was a three-year varsity letterman for wrestling and was a contributor to our second place finish at the San Diego CIF Division IV Championships. Kevin is good-natured and was a pleasure to have on the wrestling team. He made many sacrifices for the team when called upon, and always gave his best effort. I expect that Kevin will one day be a very good coach, hopefully in the sport of wrestling.

Rick Darland, varsity boys golf coach:
Kevin is a great kid and a team leader, and I had a lot of fun coaching him this season. To be able to do that many things that well shows you what kind of an athlete and what kind of a person he is.
Because of the nature of golf, you can’t just pick up your sticks after taking all winter off, but somehow Kevin showed up this spring and was better than he was last year. He progressed further than I thought he would this year.
He’s a well-rounded person who enjoys life, and he knows what it takes to be successful in whatever he wants to do.

Rob Gilster, varsity football coach:
He played football all four years, and he was thinking about just doing water polo his senior year, but he was such a strong long snapper that we found a way to make it work out for him to do both this year. He’s a really good long snapper, and I’m sure he could have helped us out at some other positions on the football field, but he was really passionate about water polo. He was able to get in some practice time and work with Davey [Last, the football team’s kicker] on his own. And he was able to get to all our games on time, even though he had other games on the same day.
He was also one of my ASB students this year, so I got to work closely with him on a lot of school activities. He’s a great kid, a hard worker, and very dependable. You know he’s going to get the job done.
He’s very responsible, and as a student and as a player, same thing. I know he had a lot of other responsibilities in his life, but he’s committed to doing what he needs to do to be a good teammate, a good student and a good person.
I think the balance and time management that he’s learned through sports and ASB in high school are important skills he will carry with him. That’s what so much of life is—we don’t always get to focus on just one thing, we have to be able to handle a lot at a time, and Kevin is definitely prepared to do that.
And he was good, too. He’s a great athlete.

Laura McCaulley, varsity swim coach:
Kevin did really well this year for the swim team. He fit in well with the boys and helped us out a lot, especially in the relays. He went to league for the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays and got better throughout the year.
His experience with the water polo team helped him be successful because he was already training really hard. During the swim season, he would come to the morning workout because he had golf in the afternoon, so he had a lot of long days.
But it paid off because he did such a great job in the league finals, where he placed in both the relay events as well as the 200 freestyle.
He’s a really hard worker, and that’s only going to help him with whatever he does in life. His work ethic is unreal!

2011 Roadrunner Athlete of the Year: Kevin Murphy

To see more photos of Kevin Murphy, click here to visit the gallery on Facebook.

By: Dan Kidder

They say that a jack of all trades is the master of none.
But Kevin Murphy is the rare kind of athlete who defies simple sayings.
Murphy, like the Jim Thorpes and Bo Jacksons before him, was never content with the challenge of just one athletic endeavor.
He grew up playing Little League baseball, Boys & Girls Club basketball, Pop Warner football and youth soccer. He tried his hand at motocross for a while (“Just for fun,” he says).
His older sister, Erin, ran cross country in high school and earned a scholarship to UNLV. Since the middle school didn’t offer very many sports at the time, Murphy decided to follow in his sister’s footsteps and joined the cross-country team. He continued playing flag football and basketball while waiting for his chance to show his stuff at the next level—high school.
His freshman season, Murphy played football, basketball and golf, a sport he picked up on a whim and ended up playing at the varsity levels all four years of high school.
“We became members of the country club,” he says. “And I totally fell in love with golf.”
In his sophomore season, he once again played football and golf, but switched to wrestling in the winter season.
“I loved playing basketball,” he says. “I grew up playing with Beau [Reilly], Stehly [Reden] and AJ [Broomell] on a lot of travel teams. But I wanted to try something a little different. One of my favorite sports to watch is MMA [Mixed Martial Arts], and I’ve always wanted to try to get into that. But in wrestling, you work so hard, especially with the guys around you, it’s like a brotherhood of wrestlers.”
Murphy’s sports schedule remained unchanged for his junior year, but things really picked up for him this year.
In his senior year, he played football and water polo in the fall season, wrestling in the winter season and both swimming and golf in the spring.
“My buddy Ian Macfarlane said I should come swim with him because it’s a great workout,” Murphy says. “It totally changes your body. I used to lift weights to bulk up for football, but swimming really leaned me out while keeping me really strong.”
Not only does Murphy play so many different sports, he plays such unique positions that usually require specific skills beyond the pick-it-up-as-I-go-along mentality.
Growing up, he played middle infield and pitcher on the baseball diamond, as well as point guard in basketball.
Although he grew up playing different positions in football, by the time he got to the varsity level, Murphy was so good as a long snapper that he was able to work out his own practice schedule that allowed him to play both water polo and football this season. He worked out with the special teams unit on Thursdays and found time with kicker David Last to keep his game at the highest level.
On the water polo team, Murphy quickly carved out a spot at two-meter defense, despite his relative inexperience.
“I’ve played so many sports, and water polo is a combination of so many sports, it just came to me,” Murphy says. “I played against the other team’s best offender. I like playing defense, and if the team needs something, I’m willing to do whatever.”
He wrestled somewhere in the 140-pound range, posted a golf index of four (which basically calculates how many strokes above par a player is, on average), and swam the 100 freestyle, the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke for the swim team this year.
“I love the camaraderie with my teammates,” Murphy says. “I love winning, and for me, there’s nothing like trying to be the best you can. I was never the quarterback, never scored the most goals, never was the biggest guy on the field, but I always want to work hard and try as many different things as I can.”
To try so many different sports takes a unique approach, and Murphy says that each sport he has played carries its own mentality.
“It’s different for each person,” he says. “For example, a football player isn’t as methodical as a golfer. Before he gets to the first tee, a golfer knows where he wants to put the ball and he has a plan for that hole. A football player walks on the field and he has all his coaches worrying about the bigger picture. He just has to go out and make a play.
“In wrestling, it’s just you against one other guy,” he adds. “You don’t really need the whole team to do your job—it’s a team sport, but so much is placed on the individual. It’s all about self-motivation. In water polo, it’s a lot of work and a lot of swimming, but that sense of brotherhood is big. You work so hard with these other guys that you really appreciate each other. And in swimming, it’s a pretty small group but it’s really tight-knit. It takes a lot of work to do swimming, but it pays off when you start to see your times drop. The coaches were great—they know they work us hard, but we know it’s for our benefit.”
Murphy didn’t earn any scholarships for his play on the field, and even though he will always enjoy playing sports for fun, he doesn’t have any plans to pursue college athletics.
“My sister’s boyfriend is a division one football player—he’s six-two, runs a four-six forty and he plays free safety,” Murphy says. “I love playing sports, but I know I can’t reach that kind of level. To play college sports, you have to be so naturally gifted. I look at Stehly [Reden] and that’s the kind of natural athlete you have to be. But even if I’m not playing, I still love working my body to the point where it feels like it’s breaking down and exceeding my goals. We’ll see where life takes me, and what God’s plan is for me.”
Murphy’s father, Sean, was a Navy pilot, his grandfather was a Blue Angel, and his uncle is an F-4 pilot, and Murphy says that he would love to join the ranks of his fellow naval aviators. But he also says his faith plays a central role in his life, and that he’s willing to pursue other directions as well. As a core team member at St. Stephen’s church, Murphy says he wants to honor God’s plan for his life.
“I definitely have an interest in the military, but I want to go where God leads,” he says. “You don’t know where God’s going to take you, but if you love Him and serve Him, wherever He takes you will be wherever you’re supposed to be. For me, if that’s the Navy, then that’s great. But I’m open to whatever.”
Wherever he goes next, Murphy says that he will never forget the years he spent playing sports with his friends here in Valley Center.
“There are so many great memories,” he says. “Like rushing back from a water polo game at Poway to make it to our home football game—I walked in with no shirt on, my pads in my hands and my eyes still watering from the pool, but I made it in time. And I’ll always remember winning league with the golf team this year—we came through a lot. All the practices, working hard and messing around with the guys, those are the things I’ll remember.”
Kevin Patrick Murphy grew up in Valley Center with his family—his father, Sean, a retired Navy pilot who works for Computer Protection Technology; his mother, Colleen, an aide for the Valley Center/Pauma Unified School District; and his siblings, Erin, John and Bridget.
Befitting his Irish heritage—his grandmother is from Ireland—Murphy is a fan of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, and Notre Dame football. He and his father are planning a trip to Dublin, Ireland, to see Notre Dame play against Navy next year. He also likes Duke basketball and has been following the emerging career of PGA golfer Rory McElroy, lamenting that “I was a Tiger Woods fan, but…you can’t really do that anymore.”
When he’s not playing sports, Murphy says he’s working, working out, participating in church activities or sleeping.
After his high school athletics experience, Murphy has some encouragement for young athletes.
“To all the little guys out there, don’t ever stop working hard,” he says. “You may not be a stud, but you mean just as much. A team is a well-oiled machine, and it needs every part to work. So never give up, and don’t be afraid to go out and try a new sport. You never know if you’ll like it, so even if it’s hard, keep pushing through.”

Conrad Murphy goes home Friday

Conrad Murhpy, the seriously injured Valley Center high school athlete who has been hospitalized since his April head-on collision, is scheduled to be sent home tomorrow (7/8/ 2011) where he will begin a lifetime of rehabilitative therapies.

This follows a three month stay at Palomar Medical Center that began when he was hit by a car on his way to baseball practice early in the morning of April 23. Murphy remained in a coma for several days thereafter and then in critical condition for weeks as he clung to April.

His diploma was presented to him in his hospital room by school Supt. Lou Obermeyer and VCHS principal, Ron McCowan. Murphy's return home marks a triumph for both he and his family and the communities of Valley Center and Fallbrook-one where he attended school and one where he lives.

A benefit concert to raise money for Conrad Murphy's future is being held at Bates Nut Farm on Saturday July 16, 4-9 p.m.

Conrad Murphy's graduation

Valley Center High School celebrated its graduating seniors on Tuesday night, June 14, and one senior couldn't be there in person.
But he sure was there in spirit.
Conrad Murphy survived a horrific car crash on April 23 while driving to baseball practice. His life-threatening injuries included a broken pelvis, two fractured vertebrae and massive head trauma. But just short of eight weeks later, Conrad is awake, speaking, and working through rehabilitation every day.
Because he's still in the hospital, Conrad couldn't make it to his high school graduation ceremony. His older brother, Clark, received his diploma on his behalf to a standing ovation from the Valley Center crowd.
And the following day, VCHS administrators and faculty brought graduation to Conrad with a small diploma presentation ceremony at the hospital.
Here are some videos from the ceremony:
(To see more photos from this ceremony on the Valley Roadrunner's Facebook page, click here.)

Clark Murphy accepts Conrad's diploma at VCHS graduation:


Conrad answers some news reporters' questions before his diploma presentation:


Conrad shows off his diploma:


Conrad plays a little tune on the piano:


Conrad gets wheeled down the hall to say hi to the VCHS administrators and teachers:


Conrad receives his diploma from VCHS Principal Ron McCowan and VCPUSD Superintendent Dr. Lou Obermeyer:


Conrad was given a baseball bat signed by the class of 2011:


Conrad spends a few minutes talking with the teachers and students who came to visit him:


VCPUSD Superintendent Dr. Lou Obermeyer gets interviewed by the San Diego TV stations:


Clark Murphy gets interviewed by the TV reporters:

photos and videos by Dan Kidder

VCHS Powder Puff Football 2011

In a thrilling defensive battle, the class of 2011 defeated the class of 2012 by a score of 6-0 in this year's Powder Puff Football Classic at Valley Center High School.
The seniors scored early in the first half when tailback Kelly Hagadorn took a pitch from quarterback Victoria Navarro and rumbled in from four yards out for the touchdown, bowling over defenders and stretching the ball across the goal line for the score.
Check out some of the video highlights from the action:
(Scroll down to the bottom to see the boys' cheer routines at halftime)
(And click here to see more videos on my YouTube channel)

Bailey Hall returns the opening kickoff:


Victoria Navarro keeps the ball and gets upended:


The Juniors run a reverse:


Navarro runs another keeper, but gets stopped for a loss:


Sidney Reilly picks up some good yardage down the sideline:


Raelyn Rodriguez runs a QB keeper and gets hit hard:


Tyler Carr almost intercepts a pass from Navarro:


Kate Richards gets a good gain running to the outside:


Kelly Hagadorn cuts back for a good gain as the 1st half ends:


Hagadorn (on defense this time) busts up a short pass play in the backfield:


Hall brings back a punt return and gets knocked down:


Hagadorn flashes a fierce stiff arm on an inside run:


Hagadorn weaves through the defense for a good gain:


Navarro hits Morgan Marcon on a slant for a nice completion:


Navarro runs the option with Hagadorn, and they take the ball down inside the 10 yard line:


Touchdown! Navarro pitches to Hagadorn, who barrels her way into the endzone for the game's only score:


The seniors kickoff to Sidney Reilly, who doesn't find much room to run:


Rodriguez zips a pass in to Erica Kiesow for a first down:


Rodriguez's pass is almost intercepted by Amanda Nealis:


Big hit! Hagadorn makes the catch over the middle and gets leveled by Taylor Yates. (Note: both players were ejected for the extracurricular physicality):


Navarro runs another QB keeper and shrugs off tacklers left and right:


Hall tries to run to the outside, but gets wrapped up by Laura Glennie (Note: this would have been a perfect tackle had the game not been flag football, and Glennie was summarily ejected for the play):


Reilly pitches to Zabinsky for a nice cutback run:


The Juniors run a final play, but can't beat the clock, as time runs out and the seniors celebrate the win:


The Senior boys halftime dance:


The Junior boys halftime dance:


Video by Dan Kidder

Friends of Conrad Murphy share their thoughts

Valley Center High School senior baseball player Conrad Murphy remains in critical condition after a head-on collision on Hwy 76 on Saturday morning (click here for the full story).

To contribute your own story about Conrad, as well as any comments, encouragements or anything, click here to visit the Get Well Soon, Conrad Murphy page on Facebook.

Here are some stories shared by some of Conrad's friends at VCHS:

David Last
My favorite memory of conroid (some of us in 2nd period Mr.Chews last year called him conROID because we all knew he could jack the baseball so we just liked messing around with him and mixing the word steroid in with his name) was in 2nd period Chew when he would always finish Mr. Chews sentences because he already knew mostly everything about history.
Conrad is a great guy and i cant wait for you to teach me some sign language so i can sign back to you know who haha

Eric Brothers
Conrad correcting Mr. Chew in US history last year and signing spider always made me laugh. He knows how baseball needs to be played and how a team needs to act together. If I could talk to Conrad I would tell him we know he is a fighter and that he is going to pull through this.

Taylor Oshinski
Last year in Mr. Chew's class Spider attempted to play Conrad in chess and in (no exaggeration) two minutes she had given up. Conrad is very intelligent and stumps the teachers more than anyone I know. Conrad is never in a bad mood and always has something comical to say. He is eager to help in class and will not hesitate to correct the teachers if they have dates in history wrong. My favorite story about Conrad is when the life skills class put bird feeders up, Conrad saw the opportunity to get a quick snack and took a bite out of the pine comb filled with seeds. Conrad we miss you buddy. Can't wait for you to get back to strength and we have your seat on the bench cleared off waiting for u.

Martin Cunningham
Conrad is definately that guy you dont find every day. He is definately a down to earth kind of guy and will eat anything healthy and edible haa.The first year here got here me and him were just buds and had the most respect for eachother. He had to play jv baseball as a junior even tho he was way good enough to play varsity, but since he transfer thats what happened. The funniest thing that would always make me laugh a tad bit was when he would make fun of drama or put him in the most awkward situations. Conrad is really good at keeping a straight face and you can never tell when he was serious. The other thing that we always do when we see eachother is just compliment eachother until one of us stops, and it all started when he came up to me one day and said with the straightest face, " Martin how come your so cool?" and i laughed a little bit and said " na conrad you got it all wrong man your the cool one" haa just stuff like that. We always ask eachother for advice but the most times it is for odd reasons like the day he shaved his chest hair into an arrow and the words that said hi, i was the first person he said he would listen to when he asked me and i told him go for it. The next day he shows up to school with his chest/stomach hairs in the shape of an arrow and the word hi hahaa Conrad is my boy and i hope he never forgets that... The rest of this season I am playing for him and i will pray for him every night until he is back and healthy. I have been praying every night since saturday and dont plan on stopping and i ask all my other brothers out there to pray every night too and dont forget because he needs it... I know Conrad will pull through this because some people know how to battle but we know how to war!!! haa inside joke with my boy kidder... get well conrad

Ryan Gerlach
my favorite story with conrad by far was when us baseball guys put a dead rat in his cleat and he didnt notice so he came out of the clubhouse with half his foot out of the shoe. He said "i think my right foots bigger than my left because my shoe doesnt fit anymore." Qualites that make conrad a great friend and teammate is the fact that he is super smart and is really down to earth. If i could talk to conrad right now itd be that there r too many people out there praying for anything else to happy to him and conrad is my main man and i got his back on everything. Get well conrad im praying night and day

Garrett Fiehler
ya i know conrad from working out with him and he is one of the most hard working guys in the weight room and hes always down to do anything you need. hes a great guy and iknow he can get though this and i will be praying for him as long as it takes. we all will

Tom Aguilar
My favorite story from Conrad would have to be, him always bagging on kyle or the time he shaved "HI" and an arrow on his stomach. The random things he would say to all make us laugh was hysterical. it seemed like he always had a HUGE smile on his face and just all around a happy kid.
what makes Conrad a good friend is that no matter what he always has your back. if someone was picking on me he would always be the first one to step in and ask me if i wanted him to beat them up hahaah . . . . and what makes him a good Team mate, he would always cheer me up when i was down. that's what i good team mate does... and of course he always wanted to win!
if i could tell Conrad something, i would tell him to always stay strong and fight thru this struggle. i would also say , God has a plan for you so trust in him.....

John Jensen
My favorite Thing about Conrad is that he always has something funny to say. For example: when I accidentally broke his cheek while hitting him grounders, the only thing he had to say was, "Does it look cool?". Conrad is a very positive person, and he always has a smile on his face. When Conrad wakes up, I know he's going to have that same smile and funny personality. I know Conrad can do this, and I can't wait until he's back to health. Get Well Conrad.....

Cole Howard
conrad is the warmest and nicest person i have ever met.. he is like a big teddy bear.. he knew what to say to make me laugh after a bad at bat or things to say to help my swing.. any question i ever came to him with he always had an answer to.. ever since i have been one the team with conrad i have thrown with him. every practice and every game for almost a year. he has made such a huge impact on so many people and it shows through this tragedy. his smile was contageous just like his laugh. one of the last things he said to me before the accident was when i told austin that he was my brother and conrad turned to me and said if hes ur brother who am i? andi replied that he was my cave bear. i look up to conrad as a person and as an athelete. the first day i met him. i asked him how high up i was on his friendship scale.. he told me i was the number i.. which is the square root of negative one. hahahhah since then i have made it up to a 99.7 was my last check point. there is so many things id like to say to conrad if i could.. but one thing especially is id like to hug him, and thank him for being such a great person on and off the baseball field.. i miss him so much and baseball doesnt feel the same. i pray every time i have a new thing to say and i know my cave bear will pull thru this tragic accident. miss you conrad come back to us soon

Zach Dewey
Conrad is the mos unique person I know. He has many hidden talents, such as an incredible piano player and he is brilliant at chess. He is very humble and suprises us all sometimes at things we didnt know he could do. At the end of the year party last year Conrad off the top of his head made up a song for me called Silly Dewey. For making it up in a couple of minutes it was really good and i hope i get to hear it again someday. I know my cave bear will get through this he strong and has a lot of will. Get well Conrad you are in our prayers.

Ricky Eldridge
Conrad is a very funny, talented, and loyal person. Conrad and I were always able to talk candidly about baseball from hitting techniques to different teams we played on. I talked to Conrad everyday and if always tell him that he's "looking like a stud" and he'd say "thanks but I think you are." me him and Brett would have long conversations about everything from physics to the apartheid to how to pronounce words. Conrad was always funny and always wanted to play baseball. Conrad was a great friend and I hope he gets well soon

Morgan Boberg
Hey Dan! I got your message about Conrad and I wanted to write you some stuff about him.
Conrad always has a smile on his face. If you didn't know Conrad, you would be able to find him on the bench eating his lunch people watching! He's quiet and funny like that! He's such a sweet guy with the best smart ass (smart aleck) comments. He always put a smile on your face on the worst of days with his comments.
I want his family to know that Conrad is missed at school. It just wasn't the same today not seeing him in his usual spot and talking as we pass each other in between classes. All we can do is pray and be optimistic! We all need him back at school and to graduate with us. We miss you Conrad.

Nikki Paredes
Conrad, always had a smile or a smirk on his face, as if he had something clever to say back to any comment or whatever. He has a MASSIVE appetite- about 5 peanut butter and honey sandwiches on rye, and a few 7 handfuls of pecans and apricots(or brazilian fruit by his standard) make up his lunch! It was also really quite comical when we had about a half an hour Lon convo about where the Vikings came about( Conrad is a history genius). Another memorable moment is when he confessed that he was scared to go night fishing because he was afraid he was gonna fall in (he claimed he'd fallen in previous times). Anyone who missed out on a convo with this clever fellow surely does not know what's in store. You have a lot of support and many people who are rooting for you to recover as quickly as YOU can. Stay Strong!

VCHS spring sports photos

Be sure to check out our Facebook page for new galleries of photos from VCHS spring sports. We've got plenty of baseball and softball photos up now, and will have lacrosse, volleyball and golf coming shortly.

Click here to see the photo galleries.

And be sure to send us your sports photos, either by e-mail to sports@valleycenter.com or by uploading them on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/valleycenter/