Times Names Top Grid Stars for Glendale Area

The record will show that Hoover High’s football team had a record of 0-10 in the 1985 season.

The Tornadoes, who were to have made their third straight appearance in the Southern Section playoffs, had to forfeit all their victories because they used an ineligible player.

While the sting of that will remain with the players for some time, they will also remember that, on the field, they had an 8-2 record, the best in the school’s history since 1951.

Eight players who led Hoover to its sparkling season have been honored by being selected to The Times’ 1985 All-Glendale area first team.

Forty-six players from nine Glendale area high schools are on the first and second teams of the all-star squad, determined primarily by a poll of area coaches.

Honored at Brunch

The 23 players on the first team, their parents and coaches will attend the annual Times High School Football Brunch and Awards Presentation at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way.

The guest speakers will be Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, superintendent of the Air Force Academy, and Bruce Johnson, defensive coordinator for the academy’s football team.

Scott and Johnson will present The Times’ traditional golden helmet trophies and certificates to 230 all-star players, representing the first teams from the Glendale area and nine other Times circulation areas.

Additionally, silver trophies will be awarded to the lineman, back and coach of the year to be announced for each circulation area at the presentation.

The first-team Glendale all-stars:

Hoover’s Tom Konjoyan (5-10, 160) and Verdugo Hills’ Arnie Preheim (6-1, 170) are the receivers.

Second Time Selected

Konjoyan is a repeater on the first team. This season, the senior played in just seven games but still caught 33 passes for 518 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Preheim made The Times’ second-team as a defensive back last season. This season, the senior had 33 receptions for 355 yards and 2 scores. He also rushed the ball 97 times for 335 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Two players each from Hoover and Franklin anchor the offensive line.

Franklin’s Rene Williams (6-5 1/2, 275) made the first team as a lineman last year. He repeated after a banner year, according to Franklin Coach Rick Gamboa.

Is Aggressive

“He’s definitely major college material,” Gamboa said. “He has the aggressiveness needed for it.”

Jose Guerrero (6-2, 220) is the other lineman from Franklin. Guerrero, a senior, played mostly on defense last season before switching to an offensive guard spot.

Jamie Marin (6-4, 235) and Ed Suarez (5-8, 220) are the linemen from Hoover.

Marin, a senior tackle, was the best blocker on the Tornadoes, according to Coach Fred Cuccia. Marin was the main reason Hoover gained more than 2,500 yards rushing.

Suarez, a junior, was described by Cuccia as a “very solid blocker who was never beat.”

Eagle Rock’s Jose Nunez (5-10, 220) is the last lineman on the first team. Nunez, a junior, was named first-team All-Northern League. He also started on the defensive line.

Quarterback Repeats

Hoover’s John Alaimo (6-2, 170) repeats as the first team quarterback.

Cuccia called Alaimo the best player in the area. The senior threw for 1,066 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also ran for 452 yards and 8 scores.

Additionally, Alaimo finished his Hoover career with a school record of 22 interceptions. As a punter, he averaged 39.1 yards a kick.

Alaimo is being heavily recruited by several schools, including South Carolina, Arkansas, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Washington and Washington State.

Al Roberson (5-10, 190), a senior from Hoover, was one of the area’s top running backs. Roberson collected 1,096 yards and 6 touchdowns on 155 carries.

La Canada’s Rob Myers (6-2, 212) made the first-team as a kicker last season. This year, the senior had an outstanding season as a rusher, gaining more than 1,000 yards.

68-Yard Punt

Myers also continued as one of the best punters in the Southern Section, averaging 43.7 yards a kick, with his longest being 68 yards.

Marshall’s Teamer Melton (5-10, 175) missed three games with a bad knee, but still rushed for 563 yards on just 67 carries.

Melton, a senior, scored 10 touchdowns rushing and 3 receiving. For the year he caught 25 passes for 287 yards.

Crescenta Valley’s Mike Muhlethaler (6-2, 175) is the first team’s kicker. Muhlethaler set a school record this season with a 48-yard field goal.

Muhlethaler, a junior, also played defensive safety.

Linemen Selected Again

The four defensive linemen all are repeaters from last year’s first or second team.

Hoover’s Steve Hieber (6-2, 190) was a first-team member in 1984 as a sophomore.

This year, the junior defensive end drew high praise from opposing coaches, as well as his own.

“Teams would not run at him,” Cuccia said.

Crescenta Valley’s Jose LaPorte (6-2, 210) was the second team kicker last year.

LaPorte, a senior, made first team All-Pacific League as a defensive end this season.

‘Class of the Area’

“Hieber and Jose were the class of the area,” Crescenta Valley Coach Jim Beckenhauer said.

Max Ventura (6-0, 220), a senior from Hoover, was a second-team lineman in 1984.

The play of the senior this season elevated him to the first team.

Glendale’s Richard Thomassian (6-1, 250) was a second team offensive lineman as a junior last season.

Thomassian, an all-leaguer, also started at center for Coach John Brennan’s team.

The linebacker corps are led by two first-team returners.

Hoover’s Cody Swenson (5-10, 188) was called by Cuccia the best inside linebacker in the area. The senior was first team all-league the last two years.

The other first team returner from last season’s Glendale team is Vince Moss (6-2, 209), a senior from St. Francis.

‘Physical Player’

St. Francis Coach Terry Terrazone described Moss as a “very physical player” who was tough on the run.

Glendale’s Tim Hull (6-3, 200) is the final linebacker. Hull, a senior, also played offensive tackle, earning first team all-league honors.

“He was our top player,” Brennan said.

Mike Betance (6-3, 190) of St. Francis was a star for Terrazone at quarterback and outside linebacker. He made the first team at a defensive back position.

Betance, a senior, has 4.7 speed and was the team captain.

Julio Carballo (5-8, 170) and Jeff Ojeda (5-11, 180), both of St. Francis, occupy two of the defensive back spots.

Carballo, a senior, was a first team All-Del Rey League performer this season. Ojeda, a junior, made the all-league’s second team.

Marshall’s Jeff Togneri (5-10, 160) earned the final defensive back spot on the team. Togneri, a second team all-leaguer, is a junior.

First Team Offense

Pos Name,School Ht Wt Yr WR Tom Konjoyan, Hoover 5-10 160 12 WR Arnie Preheim, Verdugo Hills 6-1 170 12 OL Jamie Marin, Hoover 6-4 235 12 OL Ed Suarez, Hoover 5-8 220 11 OL Jose Nunez, Eagle Rock 5-10 220 11 OL Rene Williams, Franklin 6-5 1/2 275 12 OL Jose Guerrero, Franklin 6-2 220 12 QB John Alaimo, Hoover 6-2 170 12 RB Al Roberson, Hoover 5-10 190 12 RB Rob Myers, La Canada 6-2 212 12 RB Teamer Melton, Marshall 5-10 175 12 K Mike Muhlethaler, Crescenta Valley 6-2 175 11

First Team Defense

Pos Name,School Ht Wt Yr DL Jose LaPorte, Crescenta valley 6-2 210 12 DL Steve Hieber, Hoover 6-2 190 11 DL Max Ventura, Hoover 6-0 220 12 DL Richard Thomassian, Glendale 6-1 250 12 LB Cody Swenson, Hoover 5-10 188 12 LB Vince Moss, St. Francis 6-2 209 12 LB Tim Hull, Glendale 6-3 200 12 DB Mike Betance, St. Francis 6-3 190 12 DB Julio Carballo, St. Francis 5-8 170 12 DB Jeff Ojeda, St. Francis 5-11 180 11 DB Jeff Togneri, Marshall 5-10 160 11

Second Team Offense

Pos Name, School Ht Wt Yr WR Bryce Brett, Marshall 5-11 150 11 WR Mike Maher, Verdugo Hills 6-0 173 12 OL Drew Paul, La Canada 5-9 170 11 OL Anthony Navarro, Franklin 6-3 245 11 OL Jeff Thran, Crescenta Valley 6-1 190 12 OL Axel Hernandez, Marshall 6-1 180 12 OL Ken Golovko, La Canada 6-1 180 12 QB Daren Fitzgerald, V.H. 6-0 170 10 RB J.J. Gish, La Canada 6-1 175 12 RB Raul Torras, Marshall 6-2 180 12 RB Torace Ragland, Franklin 5-7 145 11 K Armando Toscano, Franklin 5-6 145 11

Second Team Defense

Pos Name, School Ht Wt Yr DL Sleiman Addullah, Marshall 5-8 180 12 DL Steve Woodring, Franklin 5-11 195 11 DL Eddie Zamudio, Eaglle Rock 6-0 166 12 DL Jim Johnston, La Canada 6-3 205 12 LB Eddie Fernandez, Marshall 6-0 185 12 LB Ken Cortez, Hoover 5-10 195 12 LB Danny long, Franklin 5-10 175 12 DB Sergio Lopez, Franklin 6-0 195 11 DB Mario Provenzano, Eagle Rock 5-8 204 12 DB Manny Galvez, Marshall 5-8 170 11 DB Jim Dansby, La Canada 5-10 195 11