|
|
|
Uploaded: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 11:52 AM
Local 'Heisman' award goes to Nottingham
|
Photos
 
View all photos (4)
| Monte Vista High quarterback Brett Nottingham was given this year's prestigious Pete Villa Award, the San Ramon Valley's version of the Heisman Trophy, at the Danville Rotary luncheon Monday.
First runner-up was Dave Wilkerson from Monte Vista; second runner-up was Giovanni Javier from California High School.
For the past 13 years, the Danville Rotary Club has honored the work of Pete Villa, founder of the Thunderbird youth football program, by selecting the top football player from the Valley's high schools and honoring them and their parents at the annual Pete Villa Awards luncheon.
The winner of the Pete Villa Award has his name inscribed on a perpetual trophy that resides at the winner's high school for the entire year. In addition, each high school's athletic department receives a donation from Danville Rotary for its athletic programs.
This year's awards luncheon, held Monday, featured nominees from Monte Vista High School, San Ramon Valley High School, California High School and, for the first time, Dougherty Valley High School.
Guest speaker Gordon Gravelle, a former player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and LA Rams, welcomed the players, their coaches and parents. Gravelle noted that he was on one of the first Thunderbird teams, in 1961, and he thanked Pete Villa for getting him started on a rewarding career in the NFL, which included two trips to the Super Bowl.
Gravelle noted that the boys being honored were the future of tomorrow and he commended them on striking a healthy balance between being good athletes and good students.
Nominees for the 2009 Pete Villa award were:
California High School
Giovanni Javier
Trevor Morrison
Zach Preuss
Dougherty Valley High School
Robert Camozzi
Rico Dixon
Jeremy Sites
Monte Vista High School
Bryce McGovern
Brett Nottingham
Dave Wilkerson
San Ramon Valley High School
Brandon Grinstead
Kyle Kragen
James Garrett Robinson
At the end of the luncheon, Bob Beaton, Danville Rotarian and a Pete Villa Award committee member, announced the winners.
Danville Rotary member and Pete Villa Award organizer Gary Cappelletti also thanked the athletes and their coaches for a great year of football. And he commended Pete Villa on starting the Thunderbirds program, which introduces young players to the discipline and the camaraderie of team sports and provides them with the lessons of good sportsmanship at a very early age. Former State Assemblyman Guy Houston, who played football for San Ramon Valley High, presented Pete Villa with a special proclamation recognizing his 50 years of service.
For membership or more information about Danville Rotary and the work the club is doing in our community, contact club president Barbara Jewell at bjewell@gagenmccoy.com.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
|
|
| Comments
|
Posted by cardfark, a resident of the Diablo neighborhood, on Dec 17, 2009 at 8:25 am Congrats to the young man.
Separated at birth? Web Link
|
|
Posted by Julie, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Dec 17, 2009 at 8:48 am Congratulations Brett on your award and all of your success, we are so happy for you!
|
|
Posted by Susan, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Dec 17, 2009 at 9:34 am As usual, De La Salle is left out of the mix, even though they are the only team out of all of the above mentioned going to the Open Championship, and have outstanding players, some of whom should have been considered for this award as well. So many of the students that go to De La Salle live in Danville, Alamo, and our local community, yet do not get recognized as being a part of the community.
|
|
Posted by Parent, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Dec 17, 2009 at 10:01 am Susan, I believe the award is for the San Ramon Valley. I am sure the Concord area has a Rotary. Maybe you could contact them and find out if they do anything like this, and if not make a suggestion to them. I am a DLS and former Carondelet Parent, and truly our kids get LOTS of chances at awards! We also must remember that many of our DLS and Carondelet students are not from the San Ramon Valley or the Concord areas, and these awards were for SRV area schools.
|
|
Posted by Sports R Great! Books R Gay!, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Dec 18, 2009 at 8:50 am FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL! FOOTBALL!
|
|
Posted by Tom Cushing, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Dec 18, 2009 at 9:28 am Apparently the previous poster likes books AND football.
Good for you, kid.
|
|
Posted by Diane, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Dec 18, 2009 at 2:50 pm Tom, I think the previous poster is actually limited to just loving the sport of football. "Books R Gay" I'm pretty sure is not akin to books are happy - much as I would love to interpret it that way.
Congratulations to Mr. Nottingham!!
|
|
Posted by Tom Cushing, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Dec 18, 2009 at 4:37 pm Diane:
Next you'll try to tell me there's no Santa. Sheesh.
|
|
Posted by LO, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Dec 19, 2009 at 9:18 pm Susan-
Why would De La Salle get included in these awards?
There going to the open championship?? Cool thats because they have players from all over the area thanks for your comment
|
|
Posted by Diane, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Dec 20, 2009 at 8:45 am Sorry Tom! Santa IS real - life is good.
|
|
|
| |
|
Send this story
Print this story
