By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – Before going out to play one of their final practice rounds of the spring season, the players on the Napa Valley College men’s golf team got a pep talk from their coach, Bob Freschi, on Wednesday.
It went like this:
“We have what it takes to win a state championship, so let's shock the state, do what we're capable of doing. Just be grateful and be excited to play at a beautiful course, at a beautiful part of the world.
“We're built for this moment. Everything we do is built for a big environment.”
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
WOODLAND – Brayden Dixon said he struggled with his game – in particular, with his chipping and putting – at Carlsbad High School.
That’s not the case anymore for Dixon, now a freshman on the Napa Valley College men’s golf team. Since the start of the season, he has put a ton of work in with his short game.
“I’ve really focused on that,” said Dixon. “I did really good on those (Monday).”
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – Jaxen Perryman and Tyler Momono are having the time of their life playing on the men’s golf team at Napa Valley College.
As freshmen, they have gone about helping the Storm win the Big 8 Conference North Division championship. Along the way, the Storm has also won seven tournaments during the conference season and have emerged as one of the top teams in Northern California.
“It's been great. Not playing competitive golf all last semester and being able to come here, being able to kind of show what I can do out on the golf course, it's been a lot of fun for me,” said Perryman, a mid-semester transfer from Cuesta College-San Luis Obispo.
“And just on top of all of that, winning the Big 8 Conference (North Division), helping out with that, it's pretty cool. It's been a good time. I'm excited to come back next year and do it again, and to finish out strong this year, too.”
It’s been a great experience – all the work that has gone into the spring season – for Momono.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – At the end of a very long day, head coach Bob Freschi and players on the Napa Valley College men’s golf team made their way out of the clubhouse at Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards and stood for photos, not far from the 18th green.
They were all together in the 6 p.m. hour on Wednesday – proudly showing off the Big 8 Conference’s 2023-24 North Division championship plaque. A team photo – taken much earlier in the season, when the Storm was just starting out its spring season – will be added to the trophy.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
The Napa Valley College men’s golf team clinched the Big 8 Conference North Division title at Monday’s tournament, played at Elkhorn Golf Club in Stockton.
“Going into it, they knew what was at stake,” said Bob Freschi, the Storm’s head coach. “It was a tough day for us. But we grinded and we did what we had to do overall. Our goal was to come in first in our North Division and that's what we did.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – Nick DeBellis was looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life. He was looking forward to going away to college, to attending San Jose State. He wasn’t thinking about playing sports anymore.
“I wanted to experience that college atmosphere,” said DeBellis, who is from El Cerrito. “I went there, thinking it would be a fun time.”
At some point last fall, something changed for DeBellis.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Nick DeBellis was the co-individual low medalist, firing an even-par 72 at Wildhorse Golf Club in Davis on Wednesday, and the Napa Valley College men’s golf team finished in second place in a Big 8 Conference-North Division tournament.
Napa Valley’s 379-team score was highlighted by five players in the Storm’s lineup posting scores in the 70s.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – Markus Nanpei tied for low individual medalist honors with a 3-over-par 75 and the Napa Valley College men’s golf team took third place in a Big 8 Conference tournament on Monday at Turlock Golf & Country Club.
It was the ninth North Division tournament of the Big 8 Conference’s spring season. Turlock is a par-72, 6,700-yard course.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Three players posted scores in the 70s for the Napa Valley College men’s golf team and the Storm won the Big 8 Conference North division’s seventh tournament of the spring season on Monday, March 25, at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland.
The Storm’s Markus Nanpei was the individual low medalist, firing a 4-over-par 76.
Napa Valley won with a 395-team score.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
With three players shooting in the 70s, the Napa Valley College men’s golf team finished in fifth place at the State Preview Invitational on March 18 at Sandpiper Golf Club, in Goleta (Santa Barbara County).
Playing in a field of 18 teams, Napa Valley posted a 394-team score on a very challenging par-72, 7,100-yard course.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
The Napa Valley College men’s golf team continued to play very well, winning a dual match over Modesto Junior College on Wednesday at Turlock Golf & Country Club.
The Storm shot a 384-team score. Markus Nanpei led the Storm, shooting a 1-under-par 71.
“Markus played a magnificent round,” said Napa Valley coach Bob Freschi. “It was nice to see him go under par. That's what he’s been striving to do.”
Nanpei had two looks at eagle opportunities, but both putts lipped out. Brayden Dixon also played well, posting an even-par 72.
“What an excellent round by Brayden Dixon,” said Freschi.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – It was cloudy and cold, with temperatures in the low 50s.
There was a light rain early in the day.
There was standing water in spots at Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards, Napa Valley College’s home course.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Nick DeBellis is having the time of his life playing on the Napa Valley College men’s golf team.
DeBellis, a freshman from El Cerrito, said it’s been “super fun” joining the Storm program, getting out for practice rounds, working on his game at the driving range, playing in matches and tournaments, and learning all he can about the game.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
The goal for the Napa Valley College men’s golf team going into Monday’s Big 8 Conference tournament at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, in Stanislaus County, was to break 390.
“We were six strokes away from doing that,” said coach Bob Freschi.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
The Napa Valley College men’s golf team opened its spring season with a second-place finish in the Big 8 Conference’s first tournament.
Playing at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club in San Joaquin County, on Feb. 12, Napa Valley posted a 391-team score, finishing just one shot behind first-place San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton, which had a 390-team total.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – There are a number of things that head coach Bob Freschi likes when he looks at the Napa Valley College men’s golf team. There is the abundance of talent and depth.
There is all the work that the players have put in over the last six months. There is the leadership that both Markus Nanpei and Matthew Commander, the team’s only sophomores, bring to the program.
There is the excitement of working with the freshmen class and getting them ready and prepared for the dual matches and tournaments that are coming up.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Each day, on his way to work as the Social Media Manager for the Oakland Roots Sports Club, Mario Cendejas takes time to think about his journey in life – including his years at Napa Valley College and also Napa Valley 1839 FC, a men’s semi-pro soccer team.
For Cendejas, there is a lot to reflect on – which goes back to getting his start as a photo intern with Napa Valley 1839 FC and then taking on more and more duties, such as sports marketing and videography.
“Despite having to leave home and working in my backyard, had it not been for 1839 FC, I don't think I would be where I'm at now,” Cendejas said, recently. “And that's why, on my way to Oakland, my commute during the week, it’s a time of reflection for me. I get to reflect and realize how much I've accomplished. I had no idea where I was going with this. But now, I've gotten somewhere.”
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Napa Valley College’s Markus Nanpei had a very busy summer of golf.
He played in a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying, shooting an even-par 72 and tying for 16th place at Yolo Fliers Club on June 5 in Woodland.
He played in the Guam Amateur Golf Championship, June 17-18 and June 24, at the Country Club of the Pacific, in Ipan, Talofofo. He finished in third place in the 54-hole event, shooting rounds of 81, 83 and 72.
By MARTY JAMES
martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Markus Nanpei put an exclamation mark on his final round at the Antioch City Amateur Championship on Sunday, as he drove the green in regulation and made the eagle putt from five feet on the par-4 18th hole, capping a spectacular 6-under-par 66 round as he won the championship flight at Lone Tree Golf Club.
Nanpei, a sophomore at Napa Valley College who plays on the Storm men’s golf team, shot a 10-under-par 134 total for the two-day (Aug. 19-20), 36-hole tournament, and won by a two-shot margin over Easton Doyle.
NVC heads to Sandpiper Golf Club for CCCAA State Championships, May 12-13
May 09, 2024By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com AMERICAN CANYON – Before going out to play one of their final practice rounds of the spring season, the players on the Napa Valley College men’s golf team got a pep talk from their coach, Bob Freschi, on Wednesday. It went like this: “We have what it takes to win a state championship, so let's shock the state, do what we're capable of doing. Just be grateful and be excited to play at a beautiful course, at a beautiful part of the world. “We're built for this moment. Everything we do is built for a big environment.”
