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
Three Napa Valley College players concluded the 2023 women’s golf season on Tuesday.
As individual qualifiers, Jill Obelleiro, Ping Yang and Ela Ashley wrapped up their freshmen seasons for the Storm by playing in the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association 3C2A Women’s Golf State Championships Nov. 13-14 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course, in Paso Robles.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Hunter Ranch Golf Course, in Paso Robles, provided a stiff test for the field in the first round of the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association 3C2A Women’s Golf State Championships on Monday.
To start with, there were difficult pin placements and fast greens.
On top of that, there were windy conditions.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Bob Freschi has some words of advice for the three Napa Valley College players who are in the field for the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association Women’s Golf State Championships.
Looking ahead to the two-day, 36-hole event, Nov. 13-14 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles, Freschi said:
“Just really take it all in and experience it. So, enjoy the moment. Trust the process of what we're doing and compete like you've been doing all year.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
WOODLAND – It was very emotional for Napa Valley College’s Ping Yang and Ela Ashley as the scores for the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association’s Northern California Regional Championships were posted outside the golf shop at Yolo Fliers Club late Tuesday afternoon.
With darkness descending fast on the course, Yang and Ashley, both freshmen, learned that they were advancing as individuals, along with the Storm’s No. 1 player, Jill Obelleiro, to the CCCAA State Championships, Nov. 13-14 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Coach Bob Freschi said it was a “rough day” for the Napa Valley College women’s golf team as the Storm opened the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association’s Northern California Regional Championships at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland on Monday.
The Storm is in fifth place after shooting a 388-team total in the first round.
“We need to definitely get better than we did today,” said Freschi.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
AMERICAN CANYON – There aren’t any matches or tournaments for the Napa Valley College women’s golf team this week. But there are no days off, either.
Players have been hard at work since Monday – hitting shots on the driving range, spending time on the practice green, and playing at Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards, the Storm’s home course.
As they continue to prepare for the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association’s Northern California Regional Championships, Nov. 6-7 at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland, they are also learning more and more about the importance of the mental game in golf.
“It's part of our Storm system, system philosophy. We're really just emphasizing that this week,” Napa Valley coach Bob Freschi said on Wednesday.
“We have got to be mindful of what's the present shot and how to make it the best shot you can and commit to it. It's easy to have a little anxiety. And so, stick with our program. No moment is bigger than the other. No one shot is going to be bigger than the next.”
Only the top four teams, and six individuals outside of those teams, will advance from the two-day, 36-hole NorCals to the CCCAA State Championships, Nov. 13-14 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles.
Napa Valley would like to be one of those teams that moves on and continues its season one last week.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
The Napa Valley College women’s golf team concluded the Big 8 Conference season on Thursday, Oct. 26, placing fifth in the final tournament of the league season at Turlock Golf & Country Club.
Napa Valley posted a 368-team score. It was the conference’s 10th and final tournament of the fall season.
In addition, the Storm’s Jill Obelleiro was named to the All-Big 8 Conference team.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
The Napa Valley College women’s golf team turned in a fifth-place finish at the Big 8 Conference’s ninth tournament of the fall season on Thursday, Oct. 19.
Jill Obelleiro led the Storm, posting an 84 at Buena Vista Golf Course in Taft. It’s a par-72, 5,480-yard course.
Napa Valley had a 357-team score. There was a field of eight teams.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Jill Obelleiro fired an 82 and the Napa Valley College women’s golf team took fourth place in the Big 8 Conference’s seventh tournament of the fall season on Thursday, Oct. 12, at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland.
Napa Valley posted a 358-team score.
Yolo Fliers is a par-72, 5,300-yard course.
Ping Yang shot an 89 for the Storm.
Also playing for Napa Valley was Mya Brooks, 92; Desiree Berdiago, 95; and Ela Ashley, 96.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
It’s been one of the busiest weeks of the 2023 fall season for the Napa Valley College women’s golf team, with the Storm traveling to Sacramento, Stockton and Paso Robles for events.
Napa Valley was at the Bing Maloney Golf Complex for a dual match against Sacramento City College on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
Jill Obelleiro had a career-low 77 to lead the Storm.
“Jill had a beautiful round. It was nice to see her post a good number,” NVC coach Bob Freschi said.
By MARTY JAMES
martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Coach Bob Freschi calls the Napa Valley College women’s golf team the “Fab Five.”
The Storm, which opens the 2023 season with the Napa Classic, a five-team nonconference event on Aug. 31 at Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park, is led by its two returning players – Mya Brooks and Desiree Berdiago. They are both sophomores.
New to the NVC lineup are three freshmen – Jill Obelleiro, Ela Ashley and Ping Yang.
By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com
Napa Valley College finished 47th in the 2022-23 NATYCAA Cup overall standings, the California Community College Athletic Association announced in a report, at www.cccaasports.org, on June 13.
According to a report from the CCCAA, colleges are awarded points based on their teams’ final positions in postseason competition, with state championships providing the most points. Each school’s top-5 men’s and women’s team results count toward a school’s overall point total, the CCCAA said.
Mario Cendejas’ journey from the Napa Valley to Oakland Roots Sports Club
February 02, 2024By 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.”
