High school close-ups

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

JULIAN de RUBIRA

Sr., Santa Margarita

* Then: Played only junior varsity soccer as a freshman and sophomore. After an impressive two-mile time trial with his soccer teammates, he was encouraged to try cross-country. He came out at the start of his junior year, a week before the team’s first meet. After a month, De Rubira had lowered his time by more than two minutes. He went on to finish 21st (15 minutes 59 seconds) at the Southern Section Division III final and 31st in state (16:17). His improvement continued into the track season, where he finished third in the 3,200 meters (9:24.24) at the Division III final and fourth in the 1,600 (4:18.92).

* Now: After training over the summer for the first time, including a team trip to Vermont, De Rubira is ready to make another leap. He opened the season by finishing fourth in 15:59.62 at the Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Invitational at Prado Park in Chino, then ran a second faster in winning a dual-meet race against Huntington Beach Edison on Santa Margarita’s home course. In a Serra League preview meet last week, De Rubira posted a 21-second victory to help the Eagles to the team title, ending Bellflower St. John Bosco’s six-year winning streak.

* Quote: “A few of us played soccer and made the merge into cross-country,” De Rubira said. “I didn’t train at all last summer. This is my first year that I’ve had good training.”

Dan Arritt

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GIRLS’ TENNIS

JANE HUH

Jr., Los Angeles Marlborough

* Then: As the No. 1 singles player since her freshman year, Huh has been a key factor in Marlborough’s last two Sunshine League titles. She is playing for the school again after leaving for a semester last spring to try the independent-study route. “I’m glad I experienced that different way, but it wasn’t for me,” Huh said. “I was actually glad to come back to school. It was actually kind of boring and lonely.” Huh won the girls’ 16 singles title of the Lakewood National Open last year and advanced through two rounds of qualifying for a pro Futures circuit tournament in May 2004.

* Now: An admirer of Andre Agassi, Huh has similar deep ground strokes, a heavy forehand and an effective serve. She was invited to age-group intersectional team competition in Louisiana last summer. Her presence has prompted establishing a tougher nonleague schedule for Marlborough. The Mustangs (1-2) have losses to defending Southern Section Division I champion Calabasas and 2004 Division II runner-up Santa Barbara, but Huh (9-0 in sets) helped the Mustangs beat Brentwood, last year’s Division III runner-up.

* Quote: “It’s a one-person game, so the focus has to be there,” Huh said. “I use that outside of tennis as well. I try to apply it to everything.”

Lauren Peterson

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FOOTBALL

FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ

Sr., Los Angeles Belmont

* Then: Fernandez showed flashes of potential as a wide receiver last season, when he caught 39 passes for 532 yards -- an average of 13.64 yards per catch -- and five touchdowns. The highlight was a 72-yard scoring reception against Los Angeles Lincoln. He got better as the season progressed and had 22 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns in the final four games.

* Now: At 6 feet 3 and 180 pounds, Fernandez has become one of the top receivers in the City Section and is a bright spot for a team that has started 0-4. He is among the state leaders with 28 catches, 459 yards and five touchdowns, despite playing quarterback for almost an entire game. He had 13 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns against Bell on Sept. 16 but had only one reception last week against L.A. Lincoln before quarterback Jorge Montano was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with an ankle sprain. Fernandez, who may have to play quarterback again Friday against visiting South Gate South East, has scored five of Belmont’s seven touchdowns this season and passed for another. The Fernandez family is gearing up for some fireworks Oct. 7, when Belmont plays Northern League rival Los Angeles. Fernandez’s father, Raul, is a co-principal at Los Angeles.

* Quote: “Francisco is our offense,” Coach Rob Levy said. “He’s got good hands, good speed and he’s a good athlete.”

-- Peter Yoon