JV football celebrates championship season

For many high school teams, a 6-4 record and a 4-1 record in league play might seem like an average season.

For the Richmond High School junior varsity team, it was more than head coach Andy Odisio could have ever expected. “I know for many players, just about 99 percent, it was the first time that they had been involved in football,” Odisio said to his players. “And that for some of you, the scrimmage against Concord was the first time ever competing on an organized team.”

On Wednesday night, in the Richmond high school cafeteria, the more than 40 players on the Oiler roster were congratulated on their successful season. Coaches thanked them for their efforts, certain players received awards for their play, and the team now has a trophy to document it.

Coach Odisio opened up the evening talking about the lessons that he, his fellow coaches and players could take away from the 2012 season. “We learned about the process of winning, like when we beat Salesian for the first time in a long time,” he said. “We learned about finishing when we won a close game against Kennedy and in the win against DeAnza, which gave us the TCAL league title. “

Each player received a certificate for their participation on the team, which was then followed by the presentation of individual awards. The players honored were: Jireh Quiom, the Oiler Award –given to a player who embodies Richmond football– Rolando Ocampo, the coach’s award, Christian Medina, most inspirational, Jovi Hagape, offensive most valuable player, Eric Silva, defensive most valuable player, Ty’Jalon McCray, special teams most valuable player, and Jesus Aguilera, the team’s most valuable player award.

For Aguilera, the team’s quarterback, it was his first time ever playing football. The sophomore said that being a part of the JV team was like a family for him. “It is special to me,” he said. “Because I got a small family here in the United States, so it is very special having a big family like this.”

The experience was much of the same for Hagape. “At first, I didn’t know how to play football,” he said. “I was confused.” The running back was scared when he first got onto the football field, and put on pads, but as the season went on he became more comfortable with the sport. “I had trust in my team. I trusted them to block for me.”

The team was also treated with a more than two-foot tall trophy, donated by one of the player’s parents, with the inscription: “Richmond H.S. ‘Oilers’ JV Football T.C.A.L. (Stone Div.) Champions. 6-4 (4-1). 1st Place.” When the trophy was brought into the cafeteria, before the ceremony, the players mobbed around it, trying to get their hands on it.

For defensive coordinator and line coach Marlyn Baldonado Johnson, the trophy was an opportunity to push his players to get better in the offseason.

“I want you guys to take a long hard look at that,” Johnson said, pointing to the trophy. “Everything you do, from now until August, puts in the bucket towards getting another one of those.

“Don’t be satisfied. Not on the field, not in the weight room, not in the classroom, not in life,” he said. “This does not have to be as good as it gets. This is not the top of the mountain. This is just the first step for all of you, if you believe that. Just like we believe in you. Keep it going. We’ll be here.”

For Silva, a sophomore, the offseason training can’t come soon enough. “I can’t wait,” he said, “to get back on the field.”