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By Loren Kopff
Although there were no league championships won, nor were there any deep playoff runs, the Norwalk and Valley Christian football and girls volleyball teams still had great seasons and are being rewarded for their hard efforts. Norwalk’s football team advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section playoffs for the eighth straight season while the V.C. girls volleyball team had another 20+ win season. The Cerritos and Gahr girls volleyball teams also went to the playoffs but were first-round exits. Listed below are the Los Cerritos Community News 2014 Fall All-Area teams.
FOOTBALL
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Malik Smith (Gahr)
RB-Aaron Conrad (John Glenn)
RB-Jonathan Nicholson (Valley Christian)
RB-Chris Walker (Norwalk)
WR-Justin Garrett (Gahr)
WR-De’Jah Pickett (Gahr)
LT-Joe Castanos (Valley Christian)
LG-Chandler Roth (Norwalk)
C-Gabriel Silva (Norwalk)
RG-Eric Schoonover (Valley Christian)
RT-Rodrigo Sanchez (Norwalk)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Nate Aaronsen (Valley Christian)
DL-Esteban Rosiles (Norwalk)
DL-Enoka Sautia (Artesia)
DB-Will Brines (Valley Christian)
DB-Kevin Cabot (Norwalk)
DB-Leotis Johnson (Gahr)
DB-Kent Running (Valley Christian)
LB-Kirk Brown (Norwalk)
LB-Tyrant Davis (Norwalk)
LB-Rick Pena (Valley Christian)
LB-Latrell Stearns (Gahr)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Jack Struiksma (Valley Christian)
RB-Robert Downs (Valley Christian)
RB-Leotis Johnson (Gahr)
RB-Ki’Jon Washington (Cerritos)
WR-Jaydon Logan (Artesia)
WR-Kyle Westra (Valley Christian)
LT-Jake Kim (Cerritos)
LG-Garrison Coley (Valley Christian)
C-Sean Davenport (Artesia)
RG-Tonatiuh Ocampo (Cerritos)
RT-Roger Ramos (Valley Christian)
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Juventino Liera (Norwalk)
DL-Roger Ramos (Valley Christian)
DL-Michael Partida (Gahr)
DB-Mark Dominguez (Gahr)
DB-De’Jah Pickett (Gahr)
DB-Cristian Rodriguez (Artesia)
DB-Chandler Vos (Valley Christian)
LB-Andrew Castro (John Glenn)
LB-Garrison Coley (Valley Christian)
LB-Ryan McDowell (Norwalk)
LB-Christian Veazie (Cerritos)
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
QB-Jimmy Rodriguez (Artesia)
RB-Kory Boyd (Cerritos)
RB-Carlos Jaurequi (Norwalk)
RB-Ryan McDowell (Norwalk)
WR-Alonzo Davis (Gahr)
WR-Kent Running (Valley Christian)
LT-Ryan Valencia (Artesia)
LG-Vander Ferrer (Cerritos)
C-William Ruano (John Glenn)
RG-Juventino Liera (Norwalk)
RT-Justin Martinez (John Glenn)
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
DL-Neel Patel (Cerritos)
DL-Beau Williams (Valley Christian)
DL-Anthony Varoz (John Glenn)
DB-Remy Harvey (Norwalk)
DB-Gevon Moore (Norwalk)
DB-R.J. Van Kampen (Valley Christian)
DB-Antonio Perez (Cerritos)
LB-Devon King (Artesia)
LB-Troy Orozco (Gahr)
LB-Christian Payton (Artesia)
LB-Ivan Perez (Cerritos)
Offensive Player of the Year-The heart and soul of Valley Christian’s offense began with senior running back Jonathan Nicholson, who led the area with 1,446 yards and 20 touchdowns. He accounted for 56 percent of the Crusader’s rushing yardage and scored all but 18 touchdowns on the ground. He leaves V.C. with 3,382 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Year-Valley Christian senior defensive back Kent Running did exactly that-run all over the place He led the Crusaders with 61 tackles with 38 of them all by himself.
Coach of the Year-After beginning the 2013 season with a 1-5 start, Valley Christian second-head head coach Woodie Grayson nearly reversed the roles this past season. Grayson guided the Crusaders to a 7-4 mark in 2014 and won three of the first four games. The team rebounded from an Olympic League-opening loss to Maranatha to win the final three games of the regular season by outscoring the opposition 135-83.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
FIRST TEAM
S-Lorinet Marquez (Cerritos)
OH-Caroline Hefley (Valley Christian)
OH-Athena Sio (Norwalk)
MB-Jazmin Guzman (Norwalk)
MB-Madison Huizar (Valley Christian)
OPP-Karly Dantuma (Valley Christian)
DS-Annaliza Bustos (Norwalk)
L-Kathleen Perez (Norwalk)
SECOND TEAM
S-Chloe Winter (Valley Christian)
OH-Madison Holmes (Valley Christian)
OH-Lauren Oh (Cerritos)
MB-Crystal Amalu (Cerritos)
MB-Megan Nolasco (Norwalk)
OPP-Ashley Whittall (Norwalk)
DS-Emily McLurg (Valley Christian)
L-Allison Sutherlin (Valley Christian)
THIRD TEAM
S-Frankie DiIorio (Gahr)
OH-Leslie Larranaga (John Glenn)
OH-Sam Yang (Valley Christian)
MB-Katelyn Albani (Valley Christian)
MB-Kaitlyn Bales (Cerritos)
OPP-Tyra Parrish (Gahr)
DS-Naomi Belgrave (Gahr)
L-Kashmir Davies (John Glenn)
HONORABLE MENTION
S-Elena Auwae-Ortiz (Norwalk)
OH-Nicole Cruz (John Glenn)
OH-Martina Kim (Artesia)
MB-Ifeoma Okoli (Cerritos)
MB-Zahory Ramirez (John Glenn)
OPP-Niahni Moultry (Gahr)
DS-Kaylee Westra (Valley Christian)
L-Allison Oh (Whitney)
Co-Players of the Year-Once again, Norwalk senior middle blocker Jazmin Guzman proved why she was among the best volleyball players in the Suburban League. Guzman easily posted double digits in kills in virtually every match as she helped her team to a 12-12 record. Joining her is Valley Christian senior opposite hitter Karly Dantuma, who led the Lady Crusaders with 257 kills from 601 attacks. Dantuma also had a .253 hitting percentage and 46 blocks, both tops on the team.
Coach of the Year-The writing was on the wall for a very successful season when Valley Christian first-year head coach Melody Nua saw her team win 24 of its first 25 sets before falling to Downey in the finals of the Valley Christian-Mayfair tournament. When it was all said and done, Nua had posted a 20-4 mark, the school’s best record since 1998 when the Lady Crusaders went 33-0 and were USA Today National Champions.
