This Sunday when the 49ers host the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park in San Francisco Turlockers will be able to see two local faces if they watch closely, Colin Kaepernick and Mya Sanchez.

Kaepernick will undoubtedly be on the sideline as he has all year, watching his team go for their 10th win and waiting for his chance to play. Sanchez, on the other hand, will be in unfamiliar territory; taking the field during halftime for the Punt Pass & Kick competition. Although Sanchez will be in an unfamiliar setting on Sunday she will still be able to find encouragement and a familiar face in Kaepernick, a close family friend whose mother helped with Sanchez’ delivery.

Sanchez, a second grader at Medeiros Elementary School, earned her spot on Candlestick field by blowing away her competition at the local and sectional competitions. She won the local competition with a total of 80 feet, beating her closest competitor by 27 feet. Sanchez did even better at sectionals, finishing with 99 feet, 1 inch, a full 32 feet, 1 inch ahead of the runner up. Sanchez’ goal for the competition this Sunday is 120 feet — 21 feet shy of her best practice score.

“We’ve been out here practicing since she won the local competition,” Mya’s father Phillip Sanchez said.

Sanchez will face two other girls in the 6-7 year old bracket; Kylie Barber of St. George, Utah and Kimberly Ortiz of Gilroy. 

The local Punt Pass & Kick competition was organized by Mrs. Hendrix of Medeiros Elementary.

To contact Frankie Tovar, e-mail ftovar@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.