Mission Valley Athletic League
Encyclopedia
The Mission Valley Athletic League (commonly abbreviated MVAL) is a collaboration of 7 schools in the Tri-Cities area of Fremont
, Newark
and Union City
, California
. The MVAL is part of the Bay Shore Conference in the North Coast Section
(NCS).
For example, in the case of football, out of the seven schools, James Logan High School
and Newark Memorial High School
qualify for the NCS 4-A tournaments in football. Four schools, American High School
, Irvington High School
, Mission San Jose High School and Washington High School are eligible for NCS 3-A tournaments, and one school, John F. Kennedy High School is eligible at the NCS 2-A level.
However, the NCS 4-A, 3-A and 2-A, etc. structure is primarily used for football competition. Under a slightly modified classification system, James Logan, Newark Memorial, American, Washington, Irvington and Mission San Jose all fall under Division I in some playoff structures, such as basketball, while Kennedy is the only school that remains in Division III in these such playoff structures. This structure is utilized in Boy's and Girl's Basketball.
The NCS's newest (2009) designations for Boys Volleyball (spring sport) show up as a seven team MVAL though Newark Memorial and Irvington do not participate. Castro Valley High and Moreau Catholic move in for boys volleyball as Division 1 and Division 3 teams respectively. James Logan, Washington, American, and Mission San Jose are Div 1, and only JF.Kennedy is Div 2. currently. These divisions are developed based on individual school populations.
The current commissioner, Tom Breen, was a 1968 graduate and multi-sport athlete of Newark High School. Tom went on to play football at Ottawa University in Kansas. He returned to coach football and basketball at Memorial High until 1981 when the school combined with Newark High to form Newark Memorial High. He then coached badminton until 1997 when he became the vice principal at Newark Memorial.
The prior commissioner was Frank Gygax. Gygax is an anatomy and physiology teacher at American High School
, and has been the coach of American High's swimming team for the past 30 years. Gygax was selected by the previous commissioner, Robert Vares, Jr, who was selected to be the vice principal of American High School. Vares chose to step down from the post due to the high level of involvement of his new post. Vares remained very prominent in the League however, continuing to guide Gygax, as well as attending MVAL matches until his death in September 2003 after a long battle with cancer.
Frank Gygax announced at the end of 2006 that he would be stepping down after four years in the post of Commissioner. Gygax commented that he will likely remain a figure around the MVAL for the next year.
of Pleasanton. The Newark Memorial girls wrestling team is one of the best in the state, winning NCS in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 season and also placing top 5 in state both years.
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
, Newark
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
and Union City
Union City, California
Union City is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated in 1959, combining the communities of Alvarado and Decoto. Alvarado was the original county seat of Alameda County, and the site of the first county courthouse is a California Historical Landmark . The city...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The MVAL is part of the Bay Shore Conference in the North Coast Section
North Coast Section
The North Coast Section is a part of the California Interscholastic Federation, governing the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, up along the northern coast of the state of California, from Fremont in the south to Crescent City in the north. It also governs the private schools in the...
(NCS).
Sports Affiliations
There are seven participating schools in this athletic league. In autumn the league sponsors football, girl's and boy's cross-country, girl's tennis, girl's and boy's water polo and girl's volleyball. In winter, the league sponsors girl's and boy's basketball, girl's and boy's soccer, and wrestling. In spring, the league sponsors girl's and boy's track and field, baseball, softball, boy's tennis,volleyball, and badminton, as well as girl's and boy's swimming and golf .School Classification
The North Coast Section maintains a classification system based on school enrollment as the primary determinant of qualification for certain sports competitions, specifically the NCS playoffs brackets. This classification system is updated by the NCS Board of Governors every year based on the prior year's CBEDS enrollment report. The sports of baseball, football, soccer, softball, track and field, and boys’ volleyball use these rankings within the NCS playoff structures.For example, in the case of football, out of the seven schools, James Logan High School
James Logan High School
James Logan High School is a public secondary school in Union City, California, United States. The school is administrated by the New Haven Unified School District and has an enrollment of more than 4000 students.-Demographics:...
and Newark Memorial High School
Newark Memorial High School
Newark Memorial High School is a comprehensive high school in Newark, California. It is located to the southeast of Newark's business district, between I-880 and San Francisco Bay.- History :...
qualify for the NCS 4-A tournaments in football. Four schools, American High School
American High School (Fremont, California)
American High School is a public secondary school located in Fremont, California. It is one of five public high schools within the Fremont Unified School District. The school receives its students through the American High School attendance area boundary set by the district...
, Irvington High School
Irvington High School (Fremont, California)
Irvington High School is an American public high school located in Fremont, California. It is one of five public high schools in the Fremont Unified School District.-Campus:...
, Mission San Jose High School and Washington High School are eligible for NCS 3-A tournaments, and one school, John F. Kennedy High School is eligible at the NCS 2-A level.
However, the NCS 4-A, 3-A and 2-A, etc. structure is primarily used for football competition. Under a slightly modified classification system, James Logan, Newark Memorial, American, Washington, Irvington and Mission San Jose all fall under Division I in some playoff structures, such as basketball, while Kennedy is the only school that remains in Division III in these such playoff structures. This structure is utilized in Boy's and Girl's Basketball.
The NCS's newest (2009) designations for Boys Volleyball (spring sport) show up as a seven team MVAL though Newark Memorial and Irvington do not participate. Castro Valley High and Moreau Catholic move in for boys volleyball as Division 1 and Division 3 teams respectively. James Logan, Washington, American, and Mission San Jose are Div 1, and only JF.Kennedy is Div 2. currently. These divisions are developed based on individual school populations.
League Play
In football, cross-country, wrestling, swimming, and track and field teams face each other once during the MVAL season. In all other sports, teams face off twice during the MVAL season. The school with the best record in MVAL play in a sport ends up with an automatic berth to whatever tournament it qualifies for. If there is a tie at the top of the standings, then a playoff usually decides the winner.MVAL Commissioner
The MVAL Commissioner is usually selected by the previous commissioner, and generally holds office until he or she decides to step down. The Commissioner holds the final discretion in all MVAL League matches, and is responsible for holding meetings with MVAL coaches and athletic directors of the individual schools from time to time. The Commissioner also works with the schools and the coaches to develop a schedule for league play every year.The current commissioner, Tom Breen, was a 1968 graduate and multi-sport athlete of Newark High School. Tom went on to play football at Ottawa University in Kansas. He returned to coach football and basketball at Memorial High until 1981 when the school combined with Newark High to form Newark Memorial High. He then coached badminton until 1997 when he became the vice principal at Newark Memorial.
The prior commissioner was Frank Gygax. Gygax is an anatomy and physiology teacher at American High School
American High School (Fremont, California)
American High School is a public secondary school located in Fremont, California. It is one of five public high schools within the Fremont Unified School District. The school receives its students through the American High School attendance area boundary set by the district...
, and has been the coach of American High's swimming team for the past 30 years. Gygax was selected by the previous commissioner, Robert Vares, Jr, who was selected to be the vice principal of American High School. Vares chose to step down from the post due to the high level of involvement of his new post. Vares remained very prominent in the League however, continuing to guide Gygax, as well as attending MVAL matches until his death in September 2003 after a long battle with cancer.
Frank Gygax announced at the end of 2006 that he would be stepping down after four years in the post of Commissioner. Gygax commented that he will likely remain a figure around the MVAL for the next year.
Successful Programs
In the latest years, the MVAL has shown its greatest strength in football, wrestling, track and field, and badminton. Some of the more successful schools have been James Logan, in arrogance. Newark Memorial has been successful in girl's and boy's basketball, girl's and boy's wrestling, girl's and boy's soccer, baseball and softball. American High has excelled in cross country, boy's and girl's basketball, girl's soccer, boy's tennis and golf. Irvington has been successful in baseball, softball and cross country. Mission has excelled in girl's and boy's tennis, girl's golf, wrestling, badminton, girl's and boy's waterpolo, girl's and boy's volleyball and swimming. Washington has been exceptional in cross country, football, girl's volleyball, girl's and boy's soccer, baseball, softball, boy's volleyball, and girl's basketball. Kennedy High the only Division III school in the league, has been competitive in boy's basketball and football, but not too competitive in other sports. Has not really found many strengths, leaving it as the cellar team of the league, most likely because of its low enrollment. Mission's Boys Volleyball team ranked 2nd in NCS in 2009, only losing to Foothill High SchoolFoothill High School (Pleasanton, California)
Foothill High School is a four-year secondary school in Pleasanton, California. It was built in 1973. It is one of two comprehensive high schools and one alternative high school in the Pleasanton Unified School District. The current enrollment is 2,343 students. The school mascot is the falcon...
of Pleasanton. The Newark Memorial girls wrestling team is one of the best in the state, winning NCS in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 season and also placing top 5 in state both years.