Braves’ new chief plans changes

By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor

Brother Robert J. Wickman saw some pretty good football teams when he was principal for four years at De La Salle in Concord in the mid ’90s.

As the new president/principal of Justin-Siena High School, a private, Catholic college preparatory school serving Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, he gets excited and enthused when talking about Braves football, their 3-0 start and their latest win, a 44-27 triumph in a non-league game over Piedmont as sophomore quarterback Kevin Reinell passed for 207 yards and three touchdowns.

“I was talking with some of the seniors today on the football team, and what comes across to me is that they believe in what their coaches are trying to do with them — which is pay attention, focus, work hard together, stay conditioned and never give up,” Brother Robert said Monday.

“Last week’s game is a perfect example of that. They came from behind and outlasted the competition. I give the credit to our coaches. Our coaches have gotten the attention of the kids, and the kids are believing that they can do what the coaches tell them they can do — and that’s where it’s at.”

Football isn’t the only sport that has Brother Robert’s support. He tries to get out to see as many of the teams as he can during the fall — a busy time with  several other programs (volleyball, boys soccer, cross country, girls tennis, girls golf, water polo) all going on at once.

“I’m amazed at how focused the student-athletes are,” said Brother Robert, 55. “They roll up their sleeves and they want to get to work. What more could you ask for?”

He’s working closely with Derek McIntyre, the Braves’ first-year athletic director, and has been getting acquainted with the Marin County Athletic League at board of managers meetings. He’s also taking a close look the school’s facilities masterplan and exploring the possibilities of making some major upgrades to enhance the football and baseball fields. Justin-Siena’s freshman, junior varsity and varsity football teams involve more than 100 players.

“Athletics, when it’s done in the best way, is simply another way to express what we’re doing in the classroom,” said Brother Robert, who watches football games from the sidelines. “Our coaches are out there guiding kids and showing them not just the mechanics of the game or the skills you need and all that, but showing them how to work together.

“The coaches are teaching the same kinds of educational values and vision that our kids hear about in the classroom — hard work always pays off and there are no short cuts.”

Justin-Siena — a school with an enrollment of 650 — has excelled in several different sports in the last few years. In particular, baseball, football and volleyball have all won multiple CIF North Coast Section titles. The Braves, who have been ranked in regional, Northern California and state polls, more than hold their own against larger Class AA and AAA schools in the MCAL.

“We want to provide as good of a sports program for both boys and girls as we can. It frequently is the glue that holds a school together,” said Brother Robert. “A well-run sports program teaches kids how to build and sustain relationships, how to count on other people, and it’s character building.”

School officials are studying whether synthetic-turf playing fields are something that Justin-Siena can maybe one day purchase and install for the use of its baseball, football and soccer teams.

More and more schools across the country are going in that direction — thus eliminating the need for extensive field maintenance and the potential of wear and tear from over-use. It’s possible that an all-weather track could also be built for the Braves, but no decisions have been made about any field or facility improvements.

“I think it’s the practical way to go. It’s also the safest way to go, just for a number of different reasons,” Braves’ football coach Rich Cotruvo said.

Potential donors have approached Justin-Siena officials with the desire to help out the school’s athletic department, said Brother Robert, who started at the north Napa school June 5.

“Everyone these days is talking about turf and there are clearly use advantages to having turf,” said Brother Robert, a native of New York City and member of the Long Island-New England District of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

“The question for us is to sort of crunch some numbers and see what financially we can afford to do and then to look down the line and see what the maintenance needs of turf fields are like and to compare that with the costs that we have incurred the last 10 years in terms of maintaining the natural grass fields.

He said that installing artificial turf is a high priority, but that the school is still in the early stages of researching it.

“We’re not ready to commit to anything right now, but we’re certainly moving aggressively to study the matter and see what we can come up with in terms of overall costs and overall benefit,” he said.

“The advantages to this new generation of turf is so compelling. Every school that I’ve talked to, on this coast and on the East Coast, that’s put it in has raved about it. It’s clear to me that it’s a beneficial product and we’d love to be able to provide it.”

McIntyre saw the immediate benefits of synthetic playing fields when he was the AD at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla (San Diego County). The fields didn’t show the stress of being overused. Drainage also makes them playable in the winter and spring months, where teams don’t have to cancel practices or games or go indoors to work out.

“It would benefit our programs if we did something like that,” said McIntyre. “It’s something we need to look into and explore. If we can do it, it would be great. You’re going to get a lot of use out of it.”

Just as high on the priority list, said Brother Robert, is the need for a performing arts center. A swimming pool is also part of the masterplan at Justin-Siena, which is governed by a board of trustees.

“My goal this year is really to study that facility masterplan and kind of update it and see where we are in terms of long-range planning and funding,” said Brother Robert, who commutes from the brothers’ residence at De La Salle each day. “I’m optimistic about the future of the school.”

Brother Robert has worked in school administration for over 20 years, including as principal/CEO at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. and as headmaster/CEO of Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, N.J.

“If (Brother Robert) says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it to the best of his abilities,” Cotruvo said. “He’s willing to do what it takes to get the best for the students, whether it’s textbooks in the classrooms or computers or athletic facilities.”

Greg Schmitz, who stepped down after 12 years as Justin-Siena’s principal last year, is now the director of instruction and curriculum at De La Salle. Joe Bracco, who worked as the school’s president, is now the executive director of the Justin-Siena Foundation.

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