2012 FALL ALL-AREA TEAMS: Norwalk football, volleyball teams lead the way in fall accolades

By Loren Kopff

Seven points was all that separated the Norwalk football team from an undefeated regular season and a tie for second place in the Suburban League. On the court, the Norwalk girls volleyball team was one game out of a tie for second place and pulled off a couple of historic league victories to send the team into the playoffs for consecutive seasons. Those were a few of the highlights from this past fall football and girls volleyball teams in the area as the Los Cerritos Community News 2012 Fall All-Area Teams are announced.
FOOTBALL
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Francisco Galan (Artesia)
RB-Alex Kline (Gahr)
RB-Rashaad Penny (Norwalk)
RB-Cristian Rodriguez (Artesia)
WR-Christian Pabico (Gahr)
WR-Cyrus Villena (John Glenn)
LT-Dillon Faamatau (Norwalk)
LG-Tionte Woods (Artesia)
C-Gabriel Silva (Norwalk)
RG-Maurice Davis (Gahr)
RT-Isheiko Mclaine (Norwalk)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Aaron Armendarez (Norwalk)
DL-Daniel Hernandez (Artesia)
DL-Rodney VanDenBerg (Valley Christian)
DL-Davonte Williams (Norwalk)
DB-Brandon Bynum (Valley Christian)
DB-Kendahl Jordan (Valley Christian)
DB-Cristian Rodriguez (Artesia)
DB-Tytus Simmons (Artesia)
LB-Clayton Granch (Valley Christian)
LB-Martin Jimenez (Norwalk)
LB-Malcom McAllister (Norwalk)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Caleb Baumann (Gahr)
RB-Malcom McAllister (Norwalk)
RB-Steven Reed (John Glenn)
RB-Bryan Sullivan (Norwalk)
WR-Kendren Pitchford (Gahr)
WR-Tytus Simmons (Artesia)
LT-Joseph Castanos (Valley Christian)
LG-Aaron Armendarez (Norwalk)
C-Fidel Palomo (Artesia)
RG-Adam Gonzalez (Norwalk)
RT-Daniel Hernandez (Artesia)
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL-Xavier Fuery (Norwalk)
DL-Lene Lauti (Artesia)
DL-Michael Limon (Valley Christian)
DL-Jorge Zamudio (John Glenn)
DB-Cesar Arzate (John Glenn)
DB-Jacob Hulbert-Munson (Gahr)
DB-Jose Soto (Artesia)
DB-Bryan Sullivan (Norwalk)
LB-Caleb Jackson (Gahr)
LB-Raymond Mosley (Gahr)
LB-Kyle Westra (Valley Christian)
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
QB-Jacquise Hooper (Norwalk)
RB-Eric Hall (Cerritos)
RB-Jonathan Nicholson (Valley Christian)
RB-Matthew Ortega (Norwalk)
WR-Patrick Enewally (Gahr)
WR-Clayton Granch (Valley Christian)
LT-Lene Lauti (Artesia)
LG-Brandon Penesa (Gahr)
C-Nikko Baeza (Gahr)
RG-Jorge Zamudio (John Glenn)
RT-Troy Orozco (Gahr)
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
DL-Salvador Cruz (John Glenn)
DL-David Garibay (Artesia)
DL-Eduardo Limon (Norwalk)
DL-Felipe Velasquez (John Glenn)
DB-William Brines (Valley Christian)
DB-Rene Gaytan (John Glenn)
DB-Jaydon Logan (Artesia)
DB-Daniel Moreno (Norwalk)
LB-Trent Coates (Gahr)
LB-Devon King (Artesia)
LB-Anthony Paul (Valley Christian)
Offensive Player of the Year-It was a record-setting season for Norwalk’s Rashaad Penny. The junior wingback rushed for 1,872 yards and scored a school record 30 touchdowns on the ground. In addition to the seven receiving touchdowns he caught, Penny now has a school record 53 career touchdowns and has one more season to go.
Co-Defensive Players of the Year-Most may know Norwalk senior Malcom McAllister as a bruising fullback. But McAllister is equally dangerous as an outside linebacker. There, he was second on the team with 51 tackles and led the team with 12 ½ sacks and two fumble recoveries. McAllister shares this honor with Valley Christian’s Clayton Granch. Although V.C. finished 3-7 with only two on the field victories, the senior linebacker led the Crusaders with 52 tackles, six and a half sacks and five passes deflected.
Coach of the Year-Although Artesia didn’t go to the playoffs, head coach Joe Veach turned the Pioneers from a one-win team in 2011 to a four-win squad in 2012. Had it not been for a missed extra point and a missed field goal against Mayfair, the Pioneers would have tied for second place in the Suburban League.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
FIRST TEAM
S-Dayna Moreno (Norwalk)
OH-Arnelle Duru (Cerritos)
OH-Aaliyah Heckard (Gahr)
OPP-Morgan Haner (Valley Christian)
MB-Bali Leffall Young (Cerritos)
MB-Jazmin Guzman (Norwalk)
DS-Jordan Resner (Valley Christian)
LIB-Cayla Palmer (Valley Christian)
SECOND TEAM
S-Allyson DeKruyf (Valley Christian)
OH-Brenae Brown (Norwalk)
OH-Mariah Gonzalez (Cerritos)
OPP-Ronawell Touch (Norwalk)
MB-Daisy Briseno (Artesia)
MB-Olouma Okaro (Gahr)
DS-Viviana Gomez (Norwalk)
LIB-Rachel Fitterer (Cerritos)
THIRD TEAM
S-Gabby Cruz (John Glenn)
OH-Jewelyn Sawyer (Gahr)
OH-Maggie Streelman (Valley Christian)
OPP-Karly Dantuma (Valley Christian)
MB-Amanda Chamberlain (Valley Christian)
MB-Michelle Macias (Norwalk)
DS-Madison Lee (Cerritos)
LIB-Kathleen Perez (Norwalk)
HONORABLE MENTION
S-Kaitlyn Bales (Cerritos)
OH-Faith Devera (Artesia)
OH-Denisse Miranda (John Glenn)
OPP-Kashmir Davies (John Glenn)
MB-Myra Gomez (John Glenn)
MB-Kyla Kelly (Artesia)
DS-Christy Ortiz (Norwalk)
LIB-Dymond Johnson (Gahr)
Player of the Year-Even though the team struggled through more adversity than in recent seasons, Cerritos senior outside hitter Arnelle Duru helped keep the Lady Dons in the upper half of the Suburban League and alive for a playoff spot. In a season that saw major injuries and players quitting, Duru was among the consistent players that kept Cerritos from completely falling apart.
Coach of the Year-In his first season as head coach of Norwalk, Jesse Gonzalez turned the Lady Lancers into a threat in the Suburban League. Gonzalez guided Norwalk to a 9-8 overall record, 8-4 in the league and a third place finish. It’s the first winning record for Norwalk since 2005 and the highest the program has finished since 2001.