7 Prep Gridders Earn National Recognition

Seven South Bay high school football players are listed as preseason honorable-mention All-Americans in Street and Smith’s Football Yearbook. Banning High has two players on the list--offensive lineman Mark Tucker and linebacker Earl Saunders.

Others listed are Gardena running back Brian Brown, Locke quarterback Leon Otis, North Torrance lineman Jim Tulette, Bishop Montgomery linebacker Ken Sales and Serra lineman Rocen Keeton.

Based on the preseason listings, Long Beach Poly should have a powerhouse. Defensive back Mark Carrier is listed among the nation’s elite 50 players while teammates Stacy Elliott, a lineman, and Chris Roscoe, a wide receiver, earned honorable mention. Poly plays Gardena and Banning in nonconference games. Another Long Beach player, lineman Dennis Brown of Jordan, was listed among the nation’s top 50 players.

The only other Californians listed among the top 50 are Claremont quarterback Dan McGwire and linemen Mike Kohlmoos of Redwood High in Visalia and Tim Ryan of Oak Grove High in San Jose.

Two coaches have resigned at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Softball Coach Kathy Strahan, who led the Lady Toros to a school-record 36 victories last spring, has been named head coach at San Jose State, which is starting a program next season. Track Coach Jeff Tribole resigned to concentrate on his running store in Lakewood. The 5-year-old track program had its most successful season last spring under Tribole, producing three Division II All-Americans.