Wednesday, July 26, 2017 www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: C1

Saint Mary’s new Athletic Director is All Airports TAXI BLEU Served 24/7 committed to Gaels’ winning legacy Dispatch: By Nick Marnell 925-849-2222 Direct: 925-286-0064 www.mytaxibleu.com [email protected]

BAD Bay Area INC. Drainage, Inc. Have You Checked Your Crawlspace Lately? New Saint Mary’s AD Mike Matoso at his introductory press conference. Photo Tod Fierner t the two previous universi- er lose sight of the field. most success in conference play — • French Drains Aties that employed new Saint In McKeon Pavilion, he envisions in the Cup’s 16-year history. (Nei- • Underfloor Drains Mary’s Director of Athletics and renovations to the athletic depart- ther has Gonzaga.) • Underfloor Drains Recreation Mike Matoso, he left ment offices and also locker room The new AD insists he will • Downspout Systems his mark with upgraded athletic upgrades. maintain the high academic stan- • Downspout Systems facilities. Sure enough, in addition It was the USD connection and dards that define the 300 Saint • Subdrain Systems to successful sports programs and a return to the West Coast Confer- Mary’s student-athletes. “It’s what • Subdrain Systems the welfare of student-athletes, Ma- ence that drew Matoso to his new makes the school — and the WCC • Sump Pumps toso said that improvements to the job. “One of my first college - in — so unique,” Matoso said. “Win- • Sump Pumps Saint Mary’s facilities will become nings pitched at Cal Poly was on ning the right way is the only way • R etaining Walls a major focal point of his athletic the diamond at Saint Mary’s,” said to do it.” • PavestoneR etaining DrivewayWalls & Walkways department. Matoso, who participated in the James Donahue, school presi- Matoso arrived at Saint Mary’s Division II College World Series. dent, concurs. “His commitment to • Pavestone Driveway & Walkways July 19 after a five-year stint as Matoso always wanted to return to the welfare of student-athletes and A General Engineering Contractor athletic director at Division II Cali- Division I, and he joins men’s bas- their academic success resonates fornia State University, Stanislaus, ketball coach Randy Bennett and strongly with the mission of Saint Locall A Generaly ow Engineeringned and OperatedContractor where he spearheaded nearly $7 baseball coach Eric Valenzuela as Mary’s,” he said. million in facility upgrades, includ- former Toreros on the Moraga cam- Matoso was born in Belmont, Locall Contractory owned LIC and # 762208Operated ing the basketball arena, Warrior pus. and he earned both his bachelor’s Contractor LIC # 762208 Stadium and the baseball and soft- Matoso said his priority is to and master’s degrees from Cal ball fields, with much of the money sit down with all of the coaches Poly. “We are super excited to coming through private donations. and see what they need to continue come to Moraga,” said the married 925•377•9209 “Kids are used to playing in their highly successful programs. father of three. “My family and I 925•377•9209 high-level facilities,” Matoso said. The Gaels boast 19 combined WCC are really excited about getting en- visit our website “At Stanislaus, a lot of kids left championships and 30 NCAA Tour- grained into the community.” www.bayareadrainage.com because they thought we weren’t nament appearances in their history, committed to winning. When we the men’s basketball program is the upgraded and added to the facili- winningest program in California ties, they started to stick around.” over the last decade and the wom- Prior to Stanislaus State, as Se- en’s basketball team has won 20 nior Associate Athletic Director at games for six straight years. Plus, the University of where two Gaels were chosen in the June he oversaw all athletic facilities, Major League Baseball Draft. Matoso played a key role in devel- “How do we capitalize on the Is this too young oping and planning Fowler Park, a success?” said Matoso, who knows y $14 million baseball facility ranked a bit about athletic program success Is thisIs too this oungtoo young by Baseball America as one of the himself. At Stanislaus State, 11 of to go to Cal? top five collegiate facilities in the his 14 teams competed in postsea- country. son play in 2105-16 and 2016-17, to goto to go Cal? to Cal? For Saint Mary’s, Matoso and under his leadership at USD hinted at a change to Louis Guisto the school captured the WCC Com- Field, saying he would like to move missioner’s Cup for five consecu- the tables and concession stands tive years. Saint Mary’s has yet to onto a concourse so that regardless win a WCC Commissioner’s Cup of whatever else they do, fans nev- — awarded to the school with the MCC hosts prestigious tennis tourney By John T. Miller oraga Country Club will $59.63 for singles and $33.00 for Mhost the 31st annual $25,000 doubles. Entries close Aug 1. Heritage Bank of Commerce Open The prize money will be split Tennis Championships from Aug between the top finishers in Men’s Actually, it’s just the right age to get an eye exam at the University of 8-13. singles and doubles, Women’s Actually, it’s just the right age to get an eye exam at the University of The event, also presented by singles and doubles, and mixed California Eye Center.Actually, And it’s againjust the at threeright ageyears. to getAnd an regularly eye exam after at the University of Pine Grove Business Center of doubles. Californiathat. (We Eye developed Center.California waysAnd againEyeto test Center. at kids’three Andeyes years. againwhile And at they threeregularly play!) years. We’reafter And regularly after Orinda, is one of the most pres- Head Tennis Pro at MCC Mark that. (We developed ways to test kids’ eyes while they play!) We’re tigious open events on the West Orwig touts the facility as “one of part of the UC Schoolthat. (We of Optometry, developed ways and offerto test you kids’ LASIK eyessurgery, while they play!) We’re

Coast and attracts a wide range the best viewing facilities for see- partcontact of the lenses,UC Schoolpart and of anof the EyewearOptometry, UC School Center and of withofferOptometry, ayou vast LASIK collection and surgery,offer of you LASIK surgery, of players, from local high school ing tennis competitions live.” standouts, top collegiate players Admission is free to the six- contactdesigner lenses, frames, andcontact too. an EyewearWe lenses, take Center mostand an insurance withEyewear a vast plans, Center collection and with major ofa vast collection of and touring pros. day single elimination event. For designercredit frames, cards. too.designer It’s Wetime takeframes, for mostyour too. wholeinsurance We familytake plans, most to goand insurance Cal! major plans, and major Anyone can apply to play. more information, contact Orwig at The entry fees for the tourney are (925) 376-1314. credit cards. It’s timecredit for cards. your It’swhole time family for your to go whole Cal! family to go Cal!

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