Southland Places Nine in All-Star Game

Nine Southland athletes are scheduled to participate in a national high school football all-star game that will be played Dec. 30 in Dallas.

The Southland contingent, which will play for the West team, includes Norco tight end Lee Burghgraef, Temescal Canyon offensive lineman Bob Cleary, Hacienda Heights Los Altos defensive lineman Shaun Cody, La Quinta linebacker Michael Craven, Ventura running back Tyler Ebell, Beverly Hills defensive back Jibril Raymo, Diamond Bar defensive back Dominic Robinson, Long Beach Poly linebacker Marvin Simmons and San Clemente defensive lineman Justin Tomerlin.

A state CIF rule prohibits football players from participating in all-star games. But Thom Simmons, a Southern Section spokesman, said the rule was waived last month for this game by Jack Hayes, executive director of the state CIF. Simmons said the state CIF would “revisit” the rule next year.

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Steve Esparza didn’t hesitate before making a prediction for his Santa Ana Calvary Chapel High wrestling team for this season.

“The Eagles will win their seventh state title,” he said. “There is absolutely no doubt about it.”

Bold words? Maybe, but consider the source. Esparza, a four-year starter at Calvary Chapel, is ranked first in the state at 130 pounds.

If defending champion Calvary Chapel repeats, it would take sole possession of the state record it shares with Bakersfield.

Last week, Bakersfield made a statement of its own, defeating Calvary Chapel, 34-27, at Bakersfield.

As a freshman, Esparza finished third at the state meet, but as a sophomore, he didn’t qualify after failing to make weight for the Southern Section Masters meet.

Last season, Esparza finished second at the state finals to Huntington Beach Brethren Christian’s Michael Simpson, who now wrestles at Arizona State.

This season there is no Simpson--and no cookies.

“Yeah, they sort of did me in my sophomore year,” Esparza said, referring to his failure to make weight. “I learned that a good diet is one of the keys to a successful season. Cookies? They’re for later.”