Piner boys' soccer isn't all about winning

In what has been a turnaround season, the Piner High School boys' soccer team also is providing an emotional lift for a pair of teachers who lost spouses during the school year.

Wearing black armbands, the Prospectors are honoring Bert Stevens, late husband of Sharon Stevens, and Beverly Ann Gregg, who was Michael Gregg's wife.

“I think it's quite an honor,” said Gregg, who teaches physical education at Piner.

Both Gregg and Stevens, back on campus to resume teaching, said the soccer team's gesture adds to support from students and faculty, helping ease their pain.

“It really touches me that they care about you. They care about what you're going through,” said Stevens, who teaches economics and world history.

Prospectors' players hopefully gain a broader perspective in their young lives, that there is more to life than the outcome of a soccer game, said Piner head coach Matt Dold.

“It just really opened the boys' eyes. It helps them just come out and have fun and leave it all on the field,” Dold said.

The soccer teams move helps strengthen the Piner family, Gregg said.

“I think it's a fantastic thing that the kids are doing. It shows that the school is not just a school, it's a family. I'm real proud of them,” he said.

Dold told the faculty members about the team's decision to wear the armbands before the recent home game against Santa Rosa High School.

“I choked up,” Gregg said.

“It was an emotional day for me,” Stevens said.

With 11 varsity and junior varsity soccer players in her classes, Stevens already had a strong bond with the program. Both Stevens and her husband attended Piner soccer games, as well as other Piner sports events.

The school also has started a memorial scholarship fund to honor Bert Stevens by providing college funds to immigrant students. A native of the Netherlands, Bert Stevens moved with his family to the United States as a young boy.

“The whole school and especially the students have really made it easier to cope with this sudden loss,” Stevens said.

After starting the season 11-1, the Petaluma volleyball team looked legit.

But last week the Trojans left little doubt about their potential this season.

Petaluma beat Analy 25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18 to snap the Tigers' 35-match Sonoma County League winning streak. Analy, which has won five straight SCL titles, hadn't lost a league match since Oct. 10, 2006 when it was swept by Windsor.

The Trojans, who entered the week 13-1 and 5-0 in the SCL, are led by a pair of college prospects and team captains in senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Dunaway and senior setter Hayley Ross.

Dunaway had 18 kills and 17 digs against Analy (8-6, 4-1) and Ross added five kills, 16 digs and 27 assists.

But the Trojans' all-Empire tandem had plenty of help — senior outside hitter Maddison Eshoo added 12 kills, senior middle blocker Holly Bacon had 10 kills and senior defensive specialists Jenna Bailey and Sarah Biasi had 22 digs and 16 digs, respectively.

Petaluma's only loss this season was against El Camino in a preseason tournament. The Trojans, who have won 11 straight matches, will visit Analy on Oct. 22 in the second and final regular-season meeting between the schools.

The Windsor High football team is finally coming home.

After playing their first two home games at Santa Rosa High, the Jaguars will play the first game on their new synthetic turf field on Oct. 23 when they host El Molino for homecoming. Windsor will be the only Sonoma County League school with a turf field.

Windsor's stadium, which will also be used for soccer, will also feature an all-weather track. The project cost more than $2 million and was paid for by bond funds. Construction began in early June.

The game against El Molino will start at 7:30 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held about 15 minutes before kickoff.

“We're looking forward to it,” Windsor athletic director Gene Sandwina said. “The whole campus will be abuzz.”

For more Empire high school sports coverage, please visit Eric Branch's prep sports blog at prepsports.blogs

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