Gauchos’ Cesta, Vedder Honored

Joe Cesta, Saddleback’s talented middle linebacker, was a J.C. Grid-Wire first-team All-American pick and Saddleback quarterback Justin Vedder made the second team.

Cesta, from Los Angeles Loyola High, led the team with 111 tackles in the regular season. Vedder, from Laguna Hills High, threw 22 touchdowns passes and helped lead the team to an 11-0 record and a No. 2 ranking in the nation behind Blinn (Texas), which was 12-0.

Local honorable mention selections were: defensive lineman Gage Oetgen (Saddleback), linebacker Tony D’Amato (Rancho Santiago) and kickers Chris Diaz (Fullerton) and Brett Thompson (Saddleback).

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Moving on: Mike Freeman, a sophomore fullback at Orange Coast, has made an oral commitment to attend California, Coach Bill Workman said.

Freeman averaged 5.6 yards per carry and caught 11 passes for 79 yards.

Autumn Gwinner, a second baseman for the Cypress softball team, has signed to attend New Mexico State starting in the fall of 1997.

Gwinner hit .350 and was an All-Orange Empire Conference pick last season.