PREP NOTES

Jeff Ettinger decided to try a less dangerous sport this fall at El Modena High School. He chose football.

If that sounds odd--and it does--consider that Ettinger’s usual fall event is long-distance water skiing. A sport that involves trailing behind a speed boat that is going 70 to 100 m.p.h.

Ettinger, a senior, has been skiing every fall since he was 7. He has even competed in a 62-mile race from Catalina, which goes to Long Beach and back.

Two years ago, Ettinger finished second in his age group and was 36th overall.

But, even with the success, Ettinger decided to take this year off.

“I just needed a break,” he said. “This is my senior year, so I wanted to be involved.”

Ettinger, who had never played organized football, decided to play after talking with his baseball coach, Jerry Schoenfeld, who also coaches football.

A 6-foot, 200-pound senior, Ettinger plays offensive guard and defensive end.

“The hardest part has been learning the technique,” said Ettinger. “But I like the hitting part.”

And, it’s a lot safer than his other fall pastime.

Ettinger became involved in long-distance water skiing after his mother learned about it from her exercise instructor. Ettinger tried it two weeks later.

“I love the speed,” he said. “In sprint races, we go 95 to 100 miles per hour. The wind and water is hitting. It’s exciting.”

That is, until you fall. Ettinger said he has tumbled only once, during the Catalina race. At the time, he was going about 70 m.p.h.

“It felt like I hit cement,” he said. “The bad part was I was only a mile from the finish. You go 61 miles and then fall, that’s disappointing.”

So, Ettinger got up and finished.

“I figured Jeff would do all right in football,” Vanguard Coach Bill Backstrom said. “After hitting the water at 80 miles an hour, hitting a linebacker should be easy.”