A Troubled Player Gets Star Status

For 28 years, being selected to play in the West Torrance Lions All-Star football game has been a reward for the South Bay’s high school standouts.

But does a player who violated eligibility rules deserve to be rewarded?

That was the question posed to Hawthorne football Coach Dan Robbins, who will coach the West in the Lions all-star game Aug. 6 at El Camino College.

Robbins has selected Inglewood defensive back Lester Church to the West squad. Church was named to the All-Bay League second team last season, but he should not have been allowed to play because he was later discovered to be academically ineligible.

Church, who failed five classes during his final semester at Hawthorne in the spring of 1991, transferred to Inglewood for his senior year and gained eligibility with a transcript that was found to have been forged--it was the transcript of his twin sister, Leslie, a Hawthorne student. Lester Church’s photograph was superimposed over his sister’s and one of her credits--pep squad--had been deleted.

It was never discovered who doctored the transcript, but an investigation into the Church case and two other eligibility violations led to the Southern Section placing Inglewood’s football program on probation.

Robbins explained that he selected Church for the Lions all-star game because he was instructed by game organizers that every school within the West team’s boundaries should be represented by at least one player.

Unable to reach Inglewood Coach Angelo Jackson, Robbins said he asked Church to play in the all-star game. Robbins coached Church on Hawthorne’s sophomore team in 1989. Church played varsity football for Hawthorne in 1990.

“Lester played for me and he was always a good kid,” said Robbins, who became Hawthorne’s varsity coach last season. “I left at least 10 messages for Jackson, but he never returned my calls. I couldn’t get any information on any other (Inglewood) players.”

Robbins said Inglewood running Na’il Benjamin, the Bay League back of the year and a California recruit, has committed to play in another all-star game.

Since the Lions all-star game is contested by recent graduates, Robbins said it never occurred to him that asking Church to play might be considered inappropriate. He said Church is attending night school in an effort to obtain his high school diploma.

“It’s not a CIF (sanctioned) game, so it’s not like they’re going to be upset,” Robbins said. “It’s a situation where I love the kid and want to help him. It breaks my heart to see what he’s gone through.”

A total of 28 players who were named to The Times’ South Bay All-Star first and second teams have been tentatively selected for the Lions game.

The East team will be coached by Morningside’s Ron Tatum, The Times’ South Bay Coach of the Year. Standouts for the East include Banning running back Shayzar Hawkins, the City Section 4-A Division co-player of the year; All-City wide receiver Theron Hill of Carson; Banning offensive lineman Fitu Toomalatai, The Times’ South Bay Lineman of the Year, and Morningside wide receiver/defensive back Keith Long, the Ocean League defensive player of the year.

The West team will be led by All-Southern Section running backs Morell Ollis of Hawthorne and Koury Clark of Bishop Montgomery and all-section linebackers Chris and Corey Long of Serra, the Camino Real League co-most valuable defensive players.

Tentative rosters

West

Wide receivers--Twan Garrett (Hawthorne), Cameron Kissel (Mira Costa), Kenny Henderson (Hawthorne), Jason Orpe (West Torrance).

Tight ends--Victor Glusac (Peninsula), Jeremy Veasey (Redondo).

Offensive linemen--Adan Torres (Hawthorne), Sam Ward (El Segundo), Ryan Buxton (Peninsula), Jake Howard (El Segundo), Jesse Herrera (Hawthorne), Matte Zovich (Bishop Montgomery), Shane Daywalt (South Torrance), Tyson Schlitz (Redondo), Cory Yamaguchi (West).

Quarterbacks--Ted Silva (Redondo), Steve Sarkisian (West), Greg Gilmer (Mira Costa).

Running backs--Morell Ollis (Hawthorne), Brian Durbin (Peninsula), Koury Clark (Bishop Montgomery).

Defensive linemen--Frank Taormina (El Segundo), Jason Blanchard (West), Damon Sewell (Hawthorne).

Linebackers--John Hogrelius (Redondo), Ryan Brady (South), Matt Mohon (West), Jim Hurley (El Segundo), Jabari Magnus (Westchester).

Defensive backs--Damion Thomas (St. Bernard), Lester Church (Inglewood), Shannon Gadson (Westchester), Marcus Thompson (St. Bernard).

East

WR--Ralph Martinez (Torrance), Theron Hill (Carson), Shawn Hollyfield (Banning), Keith Long (Morningside).

TE--Mike Coppola (San Pedro), Nate Severson (Chadwick).

OL--Art Arizpe (Mary Star), Naeem Mills (Banning), Fitu Toomalatai (Banning), Ernesto Gamboa (Banning), Pauliasi Taulava (Morningside).

QB--Larry Roberts (Gardena), Rino Marconi (San Pedro).

RB--Shayzar Hawkins (Banning), Scott Hagerman (Torrance), Orlandes Fletcher (Narbonne), Montres Gords (Morningside), Jesse Swayze (Morningside).

DL--Eric Taulua (Carson), Tawan Hall (Banning), Jimmy Irby (Banning).

LB--Louis Page (Gardena), Eran Taulua (Carson), Mac McKinnie (Chadwick), Chris Long (Serra), Corey Long (Serra), Marvin Brooks (Morningside), Eric Walker (Morningside), Matt Arnold (North Torrance).

DB--Darren Johnson (Narbonne), Sean Battle (Serra), Chris Smith (Banning), Jason Jassmann (North).