CIF PREVIEW : SUNSET LEAGUE : Westminster’s System of Diversity Pays Dividends in Football

The football coaches at Westminster High School don’t subscribe to today’s theory of sports specialization, which states that a high school athlete should strive to excel in just one sport to increase his chances for a college scholarship.

Co-Coaches Jack Bowman and Jim O’Hara don’t ask their players for a year-round commitment. They don’t make them lift weights every month. In fact, their policy is quite the opposite--they actually require that their players participate in another sport besides football.

“Our kids don’t touch a football from December to May,” Bowman said. “We just want to give them a chance to compete, have some fun, and try some other sports.”

Bowman and O’Hara are hoping to enrich their players by expanding their athletic experiences. They’re hoping to produce well-rounded people, not just football players. There are 11 three-sport athletes on this year’s team.

But there are plenty of benefits for the football coaches, too.

Because of their edict, many players who weren’t planning to go out for the track team last spring did. Of Westminster’s 38 football players, 30 participated in track and field. And what better sport to build strength, speed and stamina?

One of the byproducts is a Lion football team that is bigger, stronger and faster than last year’s team, which advanced to the Southern Section Big Five Conference semifinals.

Throw in 14 returning starters, 17 players who weigh more than 200 pounds, and it’s easy to understand why Westminster is ranked No. 1 in the Big Five preseason poll and favored to win the Sunset League.

“Westminster is the team to beat, by far,” Edison Coach Dave White said.

“Everyone has to cast his vote for Westminster,” Ocean View Coach Guy Corrozza said.

Said Bowman: “This is one year I hope all the people who are doing the picking are right.”

The Lions just missed the championship game last year. Trailing Edison, 7-3, in the semifinals, Westminster had the ball inside the Charger 10-yard line three times in the fourth period but failed to score.

“Last year is a big motivator,” Bowman said. “We came so close, and we want to take that last step.”

The Lions have made giant strides in recent years. Before last season’s 8-5 finish, it had been seven years since Westminster had a winning record. Now, the Lions have replaced traditional league powers Edison, Fountain Valley and Marina as the favorite.

Seven starters return on a defense that will be led by linebackers Ray Smith (6-1, 235) and Mark Smith (6-2, 217). Seven starters return on an offense that will feature linemen Keith Covarrubias (6-2, 224), Mike Engen (6-1, 226), Gary Lewellyn (6-4, 255), Jag Sekhon (6-3, 241) and Gilbert Issac (6-1, 232).

Edison, which shared last year’s Big Five championship with Long Beach Poly and opened its season with a 21-0 victory over St. Anthony in Hawaii last week, has the league’s best running back in junior Kaleaph Carter and should challenge Westminster, as should Marina, under first-year Coach Chris Ramsey.

Here’s a closer look at the Sunset League:

EDISON: Key Personnel--Mike Henderson (6-2, 185), QB; Marc Hartman (6-3, 200), LB; Bruce DuBois (5-10, 190), DL; Kaleaph Carter (6-0, 200), TB; Bernie Colacchio (6-0, 215), LB, and Doug Blanchard (6-4, 240), OG.

Top Newcomers--Kevin Fairman (6-2, 250), OT; Mike Prince (6-1, 190), DB; Gunner Wolfe (6-0, 180), CB; David Sherman (6-0, 200), FB; Dan Hughes (6-0, 170), WR; Chip Hanlon (6-4, 185), WR; Mike Markovsky (5-9, 165), DB, and Bill Trujillo (6-0, 175), WR.

Outlook--Kaleaph Carter, who rushed for 923 yards as a sophomore, scored three touchdowns in the Chargers’ easy victory last week, but the defense also was impressive, forcing five turnovers and not allowing St. Anthony past midfield until its last possession of the game. Marc Hartman and Bernie Colacchio give Edison an outstanding pair at linebacker. Mike Henderson, who caught eight touchdown passes as a receiver last year, moves to quarterback. He played there as a freshman and sophomore but his 113-yard passing performance Thursday night was his first as varsity quarterback. Coach Dave White, who takes over for Bill Workman, calls Henderson, a starter on the basketball team, “one of the best athletes on the team.”

FOUNTAIN VALLEY: Key Personnel--Derek Tuescher (5-11, 180), RB; Doug Van Lare (6-2, 235), DT; Warren Taylor (6-3, 235), OT/LB; Rob Briggs (6-1, 175), DB; Chris Neria (5-8, 170), WR/DB; Paul Heidesch (6-0, 180) C/LB; Tom Hartshorn (6-1, 195), OG/DE; Rick Brand (6-2, 200), TE/DB, and Mike Douglas (6-2, 195), DE.

Top Newcomers--David Henigan (5-10, 170), QB; Steve Stafford (6-3, 195), QB; Ray Luckey (5-10, 180), RB; Dave Wroan (5-10, 190), FB; Andy Fisher (5-10, 205), FB; Chris Bishop (5-9, 160), WR/DB; Josh Young (5-8, 160), DB; Matt Novak (5-8, 160), DB; Darin Harris (5-9, 155), DB; Ed Fisher (6-3, 230), OT/LB; Lance Lunnetta (6-0, 215), OG; Glen Justice (6-2, 220), OT; Mike Wyngaarden (6-3, 235), OT; Reza Mehdizadeh (6-2, 200), DT, and Beau Arnold (5-9, 175), DE.

Outlook--Last year marked the first time in seven years that Coach Mike Milner has had a losing record (4-6). It also was the first time the Barons, under Milner, failed to make the playoffs. Things don’t look much brighter this year. Fountain Valley returns only two starters (Derek Tuescher and Doug Van Lare) and will be very inexperienced. A nonleague schedule of Mater Dei, El Toro, Mission Viejo, Servite and Long Beach Poly won’t help. “We don’t know what to expect,” Milner said. “We’re an unknown commodity.” Sophomore David Henigan, son of Baron athletic director and line coach Mike Henigan, will be the quarterback, and Tuescher gives Fountain Valley a strong running back. The defensive line, led by Van Lare, should be good. Another plus is the team’s attitude. “They’re very hungry, very competitive,” Milner said. “I’m gonna have a great time coaching these kids.”

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Key Personnel--Dan Brummett (6-3, 220), C; Todd Little (6-1, 255), OG; Dan Goodman (6-7, 290), OT; Ken Rehling (6-0, 185), DB/FB; Dean Cunningham (6-2, 185), WR, and Darryl Skinner (5-11, 170), DB.

Top Newcomers--Jeff Noble (6-0, 205), LB; Steve Orrico (6-4, 260), DT; Carlos Ochoa (6-3, 220), DT; Tom Nygard (5-11, 190), LB/TE; John Apostle (6-2, 180), TE; Kevin Lewis (6-2, 250), DT; Nick Davenport (5-8, 170), CB/TB; Skip Murray (5-9, 150), TB, and Jason McGehee (6-0, 185), FB/LB.

Outlook--The Oilers, coming off a 3-7 season, will have a strong offensive line behind Dan Brummett, Todd Little and Dan Goodman. The defensive line, which features Steve Orrico and Carlos Ochoa, is huge. Coach George Pascoe believes that Ken Rehling, who played safety last year, will develop into an excellent running back. About the only question mark appears to be at quarterback. Senior Sean Picquelle may have the edge over junior Brett Brummett, but neither has impressed Pascoe that much. “They both have to develop,” the third-year coach said. “They’re skilled, and they’re learning, but neither has taken a snap in a varsity game. If they develop, then our team will develop.”

MARINA: Key Personnel--Sean Magula (6-0, 185), FB; Rick Vanderriet (6-0, 190), QB; Tyler Aldous (6-1, 185), DB; Todd Destatte (6-0, 200), LB; George Smith (6-1, 200), DE, and Brian Sterzer (5-10, 170), WR.

Top Newcomers--John Simms (6-0, 180), RB; Ken Barker (5-11, 210), OG/C; Mike Jepsen (6-3, 240), OG; Bobby Dunn (5-9, 170), NG; Bruce Schmidt (5-11, 160), DB; Scott McGlinchey (6-4, 210), LB, and Jeff Robbins (6-2, 190), TE/DB.

Outlook--Chris Ramsey, the former Georgia Tech assistant who became Viking coach after Dave Thompson resigned during the summer, isn’t quite sure how to size up his team. “I don’t know what’s considered standard here,” he said. League championships and strong playoff showings are considered the norm at Marina. The defending league co-champion has reached the Big Five semifinals three straight seasons, just missing the 1985 title game when the Vikings lost to Long Beach Poly, 7-6, in last year’s semifinals. Rick Vanderriet, who passed for 1,024 yards and 10 touchdowns, returns at quarterback, and Sean Magula, who rushed for 1,128 yards and 10 touchdowns, is back at fullback. Vanderriet missed the first week of practice because of a cut on his foot but will be ready for the season opener.

OCEAN VIEW: Key Personnel--Mike Spence (6-3, 185), QB; Kurt Szuba (5-11, 180), RB/DB; Larry Stuppy (6-3, 210), OL/DL; Matt Bertram (6-0, 205), C/LB; John Beaubien (5-10, 175), RB/DB, and Jim Davis (6-1, 185), TE/DE.

Top Newcomers--Dave Keiser (6-0, 180), RB/LB; Phil Bowen (5-10, 170), WR/DB; Roger Rios (6-0, 180), LB/C; Noah Fehfer (5-11, 170); Tom Wind (5-11, 160), WR/DB, and Bob Kuehn (6-2, 210), OL/DL.

Outlook--Guy Corrozza, who spent the past eight years as an assistant at Fountain Valley, replaced Karl Gaytan as Seahawk coach and overhauled the offense. Ocean View will be more of a passing team this year behind quarterback Mike Spence, a transfer from Texas who started two games last year until it was learned that he didn’t live within Ocean View’s attendance area and was declared ineligible. Spence’s main target will be speedy receiver Phil Bowen, and Kurt Szuba will be the Seahawks’ leading running back. Ocean View has only 40 players, so many will be counted on to play both offense and defense. The Seahawks, 2-8 in 1985, should be improved, but Corrozza isn’t predicting any championships. “It would be nice to challenge for the playoffs, but there are a lot of very tough teams in this league.”

WESTMINSTER: Key Personnel--Mark Smith (6-2, 217), LB/TE; Todd Weaver (6-2, 224), LB/TE; Mike Austin (6-2, 195), QB/DB; Mike Cover (6-3, 207), DE/TB; Gary Lewellyn (6-4, 255), OT; Keith Covarrubias (6-2, 224), DT/OG; Mike Engen (6-1, 226), DT/OG; Paul Toulouse (6-3, 242), OT; Ray Smith (6-1, 235), OT/LB; John Trani (6-1, 211), TE/DT; Dean Eddy (5-8, 165), DB/WR; Jim Rubalcava (6-0, 208), FB/DE; Jag Sekhon (6-3, 241), C; Gilbert Issac (6-1, 232), OT, and Robbie Turner (6-1, 217), FB.

Top Newcomers--Brian O’Hara (6-0, 185), DB/TB; Tom Leach (5-11, 160), DB/WR; Corey Dickson (5-10, 165), RB/DB; Dax Hammers (5-8, 165), TB/LB; Ben Mendoza (5-10, 165), DB/WR; Chris Chiasson (6-1, 185), WR/DB, and Matt Jones (6-4, 190), WR.

Outlook--All but one of the Lions competed in a spring sport last year, but once summer hit, everyone hit the weight room. Westminster should be one of the county’s most physical teams with huge offensive and defensive lines and linebackers. About 60% of the Lions’ offensive plays last year were passes, but co-Coaches Jack Bowman and Jim O’Hara hope to be able to run the ball more this season with fullback Robbie Turner and tailback Corey Dickson. Mike Austin, who started at defensive back last year, will be the quarterback. He has some varsity experience at the position, having started three games last year when Steve Gulley was hurt.