PD Editorial: A tribute to local star competitors

"

&‘I am an Olympian,' said Stafford, pausing to absorb the power of that word." — From "Ex-Santa Rosa star Stafford an ideal Olympian," (July 25) by Press Democrat columnist Bob Padecky.There's something about watching the Olympics that has a tendency to make the nation smaller and more tightly knit. This summer, the games have felt closer to home than ever, and it's not just because of those prevailing English accents. It's those impressive performances of some home-spun athletes that are giving us all pause.First there were the efforts of runner Sara Hall (formerly Bei), decathlete Jake Arnold, the former Maria Carrillo star, and Maya DiRado, the former standout swimmer from Mario Carrillo High School who is now a student at Stanford University. All narrowly missed earning a trip to London, with Arnold finishing 16th in the decathlon and Hall finishing eighth in the steeplechase during the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. in June. DiRado, meanwhile, made a strong run at the swimming trials in Indianapolis but ultimately finished third and fourth in both the 400-meter and 200-meter individual medleys, races that required a top-two finish to advance to London.And there were the gutty performances of Kim Conley, who like Hall was a standout runner at Montgomery High, and Santa Rosa High School track star Silas Stafford, who both qualified for the Olympics, overcoming overwhelming odds in the process.Stafford and teammate Thomas Peszek, who wove a compelling tale in just making it to England, narrowly advanced to the semifinals in pairs rowing by finishing third in a 2,000-meter heat on Monday. But that was as far as they would go, as they finished fourth — by a mere two seconds — on Wednesday and were left out of the finals.Meanwhile, Conley shocked many, including her family, with her third-place finish at the Olympic trials in the 5,000 meters. Conley's race at Olympic Stadium is scheduled for Tuesday.While we're at it, let's also recognize the Petaluma National Little League team, which is competing today at the Western Region tournament in San Bernardino in hopes of eventually earning a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. later this month.It's not the Olympics, but for 12-year-old ballplayers there's no bigger stage than this one.As with the other local Olympic stories, theirs comes with a come-from-behind tale. The Nationals trailed in their Northern California title game Saturday before taking the title 12-11 in extra innings. If they advance from this round-robin tournament, they would be the first local team to make it to Williamsport. The last local team to reach the regionals was Petaluma Valley in 1995.Hats off to all of these competitors. Regardless of whether they end up wearing a medal some day, they and their families deserve recognition for their hard work and accomplishments.You've not only brought the Olympics and these other top-notch contests closer to home, you've brought Sonoma County closer together in the process — and given us something to cheer about.

— From "Ex-Santa Rosa star Stafford an ideal Olympian," (July 25) by Press Democrat columnist Bob Padecky.

There's something about watching the Olympics that has a tendency to make the nation smaller and more tightly knit. This summer, the games have felt closer to home than ever, and it's not just because of those prevailing English accents. It's those impressive performances of some home-spun athletes that are giving us all pause.

First there were the efforts of runner Sara Hall (formerly Bei), decathlete Jake Arnold, the former Maria Carrillo star, and Maya DiRado, the former standout swimmer from Mario Carrillo High School who is now a student at Stanford University. All narrowly missed earning a trip to London, with Arnold finishing 16th in the decathlon and Hall finishing eighth in the steeplechase during the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. in June. DiRado, meanwhile, made a strong run at the swimming trials in Indianapolis but ultimately finished third and fourth in both the 400-meter and 200-meter individual medleys, races that required a top-two finish to advance to London.

And there were the gutty performances of Kim Conley, who like Hall was a standout runner at Montgomery High, and Santa Rosa High School track star Silas Stafford, who both qualified for the Olympics, overcoming overwhelming odds in the process.

Stafford and teammate Thomas Peszek, who wove a compelling tale in just making it to England, narrowly advanced to the semifinals in pairs rowing by finishing third in a 2,000-meter heat on Monday. But that was as far as they would go, as they finished fourth — by a mere two seconds — on Wednesday and were left out of the finals.

Meanwhile, Conley shocked many, including her family, with her third-place finish at the Olympic trials in the 5,000 meters. Conley's race at Olympic Stadium is scheduled for Tuesday.

While we're at it, let's also recognize the Petaluma National Little League team, which is competing today at the Western Region tournament in San Bernardino in hopes of eventually earning a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. later this month.

It's not the Olympics, but for 12-year-old ballplayers there's no bigger stage than this one.

As with the other local Olympic stories, theirs comes with a come-from-behind tale. The Nationals trailed in their Northern California title game Saturday before taking the title 12-11 in extra innings. If they advance from this round-robin tournament, they would be the first local team to make it to Williamsport. The last local team to reach the regionals was Petaluma Valley in 1995.

Hats off to all of these competitors. Regardless of whether they end up wearing a medal some day, they and their families deserve recognition for their hard work and accomplishments.

You've not only brought the Olympics and these other top-notch contests closer to home, you've brought Sonoma County closer together in the process — and given us something to cheer about.