Manoukian gives up coveted all-star team spot
By Dick Sparrer
Matt Manoukian is an all-star caliber football player.
But the outstanding defensive lineman from St. Francis won't be on the field for the North team in the 27th annual Silicon Valley Youth Classic Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game on July 25.
Thanks to his selfless efforts, though, someone else will be.
Manoukian was a definite all-star selection after winning all-league honors in the West Catholic Athletic League and earning an honorable mention berth on the All-Bay Area team.
But because an untimely bout of strep throat led to a case of mononucleosis, he eventually had to have his tonsils removed in April.
His illness led the following letter to the game's sponsor, the Almaden Valley Rotary Club:
"I was deeply honored and very excited when I was notified of my selection to play in the Silicon Valley Youth Classic Football Game. Football has always been my passion and I have enjoyed playing football at St. Francis for the past four years."
He went on to say, however, "I am not able to engage in contact sports for a period of time and I do not feel that I would be in top shape and able to fully participate in the football game on July 25. I believe that it is important to give another football player this wonderful opportunity."
Because of Manoukian's unselfish act, the selection committee could allow another football player to enjoy the all-star experience when the North meets the South at 7:30 p.m. on July 25 at Independence High School in east San Jose.
And what an experience it is. Nearly 2,500 high school football players have participated in "The Best Game in Town."
The game has featured over a dozen players (Doug Cosbie, Don Schwartz, Jeff Toews, Rich Campbell, Carl Monroe, Greg Woodard, John Tuggle, Ben Bennett, John Faylor, Erik Howard, Randy Kirk, Tim Ryan and Pat Tillman) who have gone on to the NFL, and a couple more (Ken Caminiti and Bill Haselman) who have gone on to play major league baseball.
Countless players have gone on to succeed at the college level with a number of them playing in major bowl games, and many players have gone on to become successful football coaches.
One, Millard Hampton, even went on to strike Olympic gold.
"The great thing about this game is that there are no politics involved," said game chairman Jim Guido of the Almaden Rotary Club. "This game is for the kids."
Local "kids" who will play in the summer classic this year John Hart and Jon Moshier of Saratoga, Gordon Hawley and Shawn Dormishian of Lynbrook, Dave Horner and Billy Stouffer of Westmont, and Saladin Washington and Carl Simien of Prospect.
Former local star to participate in the summer classic include:
Blackford
1976-- Sean O'Carroll; 1978-- Guy Gandengerge; 1981-- Greg Hershberger, Vinnie Daniel; 1982-- Ed Conley, John Aimonetti; 1983-- Greg Campodonico, Joe Lynam, Don Teague; 1984-- Mike Guerrero; 1985-- Scott Fitzgerald; 1986-- Todd Kaanapu; 1987-- Floyd Foreman; 1990-- Ryshiem Henderson, Roelof Ytsma, Bert Gomez; 1991-- Jeff Frederick.
Lynbrook
1976-- David Halliday; 1979-- Bill Nicholas; 1981-- Don Handley, Mike Nicholas; 1982-- Doug Bloyd, Jim Cooke, Stephen Hopkins; 1983-- Archie Rodich; 1984-- Brian Hays, Steve Andris, Chris Saxen; 1985-- Joe Urban; 1986-- Dave Gillen; 1987-- Chris Hart, Charlie Bostic, Dean Bambrick; 1988-- Travis Lee Boeck; 1989-- Daryl Rogers; 1991-- Brian Martinez; 1992-- Scott Schneider, Mike MacPherson; 1993-- Ted Cocoles, Kevin Berns; 1994-- Jeff Menold; 1995-- Joel Rogers; 1996-- Dan Sullivan; 1997-- Steve Horner; 1998-- Jason Chiang, Tony Klabo; 1999-- Vik Rajagopal.
Prospect
1979-- Phil Rebboah, Randy Chase; 1980-- Dave Maloney, Greg Kent; 1983-- Mike Bosco; 1984-- Greg Bernarding; 1985-- Kirk Niemeyer, Steve Walker; 1986-- Mike McRoberts, Dean Crew, Steve Bosco, Kerrall Robinson, Donny Togisala; 1987-- Dean Witkin; 1988-- Ken Begnal; 1989-- Jason Snodgrass, Eric Stafford; 1991-- Steve Augenstein; 1992-- Derrick Barnes; 1993-- Brandon Peterson; 1994-- Erwin Reyes, Jermaine Walker; 1995-- Rich Curtis; 1996-- Craig Nomura, Honeya Ordoubadi; 1997-- Brandon Morgan; 1998-- Matt Heling, Brad King.
Saratoga
1975-- Larry Worman, Kyle Heinrich, Mike McKenna; 1976-- Mike Heinrich, Travis McNulty, Bob Walter, George Zimmerman; 1978-- Steve Worman; 1979-- Rob Orlando, Jeffrey Lane, Mike Meteer; 1980-- Lindsey Meggs, Dave Lynch, Don Kern; 1981-- Kevin Tanner, Kurt Heinrich, Rick Worman, Mike Stypula, Greg Stangland; 1982-- Matt Currie, Marshall Howard, Pat Sende; 1983-- Kyle Druey, Ted Macauley, Vince Casarez, Phil Daggett, Darin Franklin; 1984-- Bob Gatiss, Bill Haselman, Steve Fisher, Mike Bates; 1985-- Gary Batiss, Mike Schroeder, Gary Wilberding; 1986-- Kevin Grant, Keith Wilson, Greg Mount; 1987-- Joe Fragiadakis, Marshall Lee, Ken Henderson; 1988-- Steve Mollin, Dave Rossi, Sam Meteer, Tim Hall; 1989-- Dan Edson, Dan Pacheco, Jim Wild; 1990-- T.J. Summers, Matt Donati; 1991-- Mark Coleman, Brian Gaspar, Jason Balogh; 1992-- Marc Hall, Peter Feng; 1993-- Bill Hagman, Chris Byrer; 1994-- Matt Jones, David Silberstein, Carl Martin; 1995-- Kyle Goni, Chris Kron, Chris Varnell; 1996-- Gabe Calebotta, Joel Reikes, Johnny Taylor, Mike Wayne, Mike Whitcanack; 1997-- David Goni, Brennan Carroll; 1998-- Tyler Hooper, Jeremy Devich, Michael Black, Matt McKenna, Cory Schwaderer; 1999-- Ryan Bernard, R. Daniel Goñi, Lou Petrossi.
Westmont
1976-- Eric Stark, Rocky Pena; 1979-- Gregory Gorman, Steve Moore; 1980-- Tod Devlin, Paul Hamill; 1981-- Steve Cisowski; 1982-- Brett Dawson, Russ Cooper, Scott Athearn; 1983-- Ken Roberts, Gregg Skarmas; 1984-- Matt Allison; 1985-- Wesley Denton; 1986-- Kelly Bailey, Pat Connell; 1989-- Troy McFadden, Mike Zimmerman, David Jamison; 1990-- Eric Liljenstople; 1991-- David Seo; 1992-- Ronnie Rogers; 1993-- Beau Fernald; 1994-- Eric Glader; 1997-- Mat Meade; 1998-- Dan Butler; 1999-- Ryan Brando, T.J. Aimonetti.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
