The Heavy Weights

Throughout Orange County, many high school football players have improved their performances through weight training. The following is a rundown of players who have stood out in their respective leagues thanks in great part to lifting:

ANGELUS LEAGUE: Todd Marinovich, Mater Dei, 6-4, 190-pound quarterback. Marinovich, a sophomore, added 20 pounds from his freshman year, and through weight training he is throwing the ball farther. He also is more difficult to bring down in the pocket.

CENTURY LEAGUE: John Fischbeck, Foothill, 5-10, 185-pound running back. According to Ted Mullen, Foothill coach, Fischbeck is a more durable and a powerful runner thanks to his off-season weightlifting. “Running backs take such a pounding that they have to develop their strength and resilience,” Mullen said.

EMPIRE LEAGUE: Bob Entrican, Esperanza, 6-1, 250-pound tackle. Considering Entrican entered high school as a 5-8, 160-pound freshman, he has probably made the largest gain of any player in the county thanks to a strict regimen. The winner of many weightlifting competitions, Entrican was an all-league defensive tackle last season as a junior and stands a good chance at playing major college football because of his physical development.

FREEWAY LEAGUE: Chuck Weatherspoon, La Habra, 5-8, 190-pound running back. With his size, it would seem that Weatherspoon would strictly be a speed back. With his upper body development, however, Weatherspoon is one of the county’s few running backs who punishes the defense when he runs at them. Not many defensive players, regardless of size, can bring him down one-on-one.

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE: Darrell Crain, La Quinta, 5-6, 175-pound running back. He’s in the same mold as Weatherspoon. But last Thursday in the Aztecs’ 47-3 win over Gahr, Crain proved that not even weightlifting can do much about knee injuries. Crain took a helmet in the knee and is expected to be out four to five weeks. Most coaches believe that weight training may help prevent neck injuries but not knee injuries.

ORANGE LEAGUE: Andy Ruscitto, Valencia, 6-3, 215-pound linebacker. Ruscitto, who can bench press 315 pounds, is a product of a school that stresses weight training. Ruscitto’s strength also was evident last spring when he set a county home run record in baseball.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE: Art Carranza, Saddleback, 5-8, 165-pound guard. Said Jerry Witte, Saddleback coach: “We can’t make him 6-4, but we can make him stronger.” Carranza, Saddleback’s strongest player, bench press 350 pounds, 15 more than running back Glenn Campbell, who is considerably larger.

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE: Rex Vollmer, Capistrano Valley, 6-2, 222-pound tackle. It’s unusual for a sophomore to start on the defensive line, according to Cougar Coach Dick Enright, but Vollmer’s size makes him one of the team’s biggest players.

SUNSET LEAGUE: Franco Pagnanelli, Huntington Beach, 6-0, 225-pound lineman and Lance Zeno, Fountain Valley, 6-4, 255-pound lineman. Both players are products of schools that have stressed weightlifting long before it became a fashionable. Both players are expected to play major college football.

SMALL SCHOOLS: Lou Simon, Southern California Christian, 5-10, 165-pound running back. Simon leads the county in rushing with 727 yards, including 250 yards last week against Los Angeles Lutheran. “Louie’s running, strength and endurance are all improved because of lifting,” SCC Coach Dave DeWoody said. “He’s even eight pounds heavier than last year.”