Players Show Their Staying Power

One year after being selected to The Times’ All-Ventura County team, 21 of the 23 players are still in football.

Here’s where those all-stars are now:

* Jason Arredondo, Sr., OL, Royal: The county’s most dominating offensive lineman attended Valley College but did not play football. He hopes to play for the Monarchs next season.

* Ben Baumer, Sr., LB, St. Bonaventure: Although his family moved to Texas, Baumer stayed in Southern California and played at Claremont-Mudd, becoming a starting linebacker midway through the season.

* Shane Brogdon, Sr., LB, Moorpark: A ferocious tackler who spearheaded Moorpark’s Southern Section Division X championship title was a redshirt at Cal State Northridge.

* Travis Campbell, Jr., DB, Westlake: This repeat selection, a two-way starter who led the county in 1997 with eight interceptions, had four interceptions and 45 catches for the Warriors.

* Brian Crain, Sr., LB, Newbury Park (lineman of the year): The rangy linebacker and guard did not play this season. He leaves this month on an 18-month Mormon mission to Venezuela.

* Joey Cuppari, Sr., WR, Westlake (back of the year): A three-sport athlete for the Warriors, he was a football redshirt at Colorado State.

* Nick Czernek, Jr., QB, Newbury Park: Pass-happy Newbury Park was again led by Czernek, who passed for nearly 3,000 yards to become a repeat all-county selection.

* Desmond Davis, Sr., RB, Oxnard: A season after rushing for 1,640 yards and 17 touchdowns, Davis was a redshirt defensive back at Utah.

* Albert de la Rocha, Sr., DB, Buena: De la Rocha, who had six interceptions for the Bulldogs in 1997, was a reserve defensive back at Cal Lutheran.

* Bo Espinosa, Sr., OL, Rio Mesa: Espinosa was a walk-on linebacker as a freshman at Hawaii. Primarily a special teams player in 10 games, he made six tackles, including one sack.

* Jake Farrel, Sr., WR, Newbury Park: A versatile athlete, Farrel is trying to make the baseball team at New Mexico after a redshirt season in football.

* Jaredd Galloway, Sr., DL, Oxnard: Speedy lineman was moved to linebacker at Moorpark College, where he was named Western State Conference defensive player of the week after the Raiders’ 17-14 overtime win against Santa Monica.

* Karl Holley, Sr., DL, Westlake: Set a school record with 17 sacks his senior season with the Warriors and received a scholarship to Fresno State, where he was a redshirt defensive tackle.

* Andrew Jones, Sr., OL, St. Bonaventure: The Ventura County small schools lineman of the year was a redshirt at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

* Aaron Kleefisch, Sr., RB, Buena: Kleefisch, an offensive catalyst for the Bulldogs in 1997, played defensive back at Moorpark College.

* Joe Martinez, Sr., LB, Ventura: A two-time all-county selection, he was a redshirt linebacker at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

* Brian Montesanto, Jr., DL, Royal: Had 16 sacks for the Highlanders this season, tying a school record set by Ryan Nielsen, who is now at USC.

* Bryant Phipps, Sr., DB, Royal: A two-way player for the Highlanders who rushed for 1,151 yards in his senior season, Phipps was a reserve running back at Moorpark College.

* Chad Pierson, Sr., RB, Oxnard (player of the year): Played virtually every down for the Yellowjackets in 1997. He was a redshirt fullback at USC.

* Mike Seidman, Jr., TE, Westlake: The sure-handed secondary receiver as a junior became Westlake’s go-to guy in 1998, catching a team-high 54 passes for 806 yards and six touchdowns.

* Brian Smith, Sr., OL, Thousand Oaks: As a walk-on at Hawaii, Smith was the long snapper and a second-string guard.

* Chris Soury, Sr., OL, Newbury Park: An excellent pass blocker, attended Moorpark College but did not play football. He plans to transfer to Cal Lutheran and try out for the football team next season.

* Mark Weaver, Sr., K, Moorpark: A kicker and defensive back for the Musketeers, walked on at Northridge and was a redshirt. Weaver has gained weight in the last year and Matador coaches expect to move him to outside linebacker.