Snyder, Washington lead teams into 2000 season
By Dick Sparrer
Chris Snyder was a sophomore quarterback for the Westmont football team that won the 1998 championship in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
And he would like nothing better than to match that feat this year as a senior signal-caller for the Warriors.
Of course, winning a league crown is a bit tougher in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL. Because not only did the Warriors win a title in '98, they also won a trip up to the next rung on the BVAL ladder.
Westmont struggled to a 2-4 finish in the Santa Teresa Division last fall. But now the Warriors have a year of experience at the next level, and the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Snyder will head up a crop of 10 Westmont lettermen who hope to make a run at the title this fall.
Snyder returns for his third season as the starting quarterback for the Warriors, and he's joined in the backfield by talented lettermen Mike Hilbert (5-foot-11) and Bill Stouffer (5-foot-10, 195).
Hilbert, who doubles as a free safety on the defensive side, won second team all-league honors a year ago, and Stouffer, who plays linebacker for the Westmont defense, was picked his team's most valuable running back last fall.
Dave Horner (6-foot-1, 250), an honorable mention all-leaguer as a junior, and Jason Lucas (6-foot-2, 245) are a couple of senior linemen who lead the charge up front for the Warriors.
"We have good size in our offensive and defensive lines," said veteran head coach Tom Sweeney. "And we have a strong secondary and gifted receivers."
Two of those receivers are juniors Todd Bethke (5-foot-11, 175) and Aremon Habibi (5-foot-10, 200). Bethke will join Hilbert in the secondary and Habibi will see action at linebacker alongside Stouffer.
Wide receivers Brian Mazikowski (5-foot-11, 167), Aaron Goldsmith (5-foot-7, 150), Luke Rocheleau (5-foot-11, 170) and Chad Sizemore (5-foot-11, 165) are other senior returners for the Warriors. Goldsmith, Rocheleau and Sizemore could also see action in the secondary.
Senior defensive end Dave Riley (5-foot-10, 168) rounds out the list of Westmont returners this fall.
Sweeney, who is assisted by Bob Gatiss, figures his club for a middle of the pack finish in the tough Santa Teresa Division with Piedmont Hills, Del Mar and Prospect his picks as title favorites.
But the coach is afraid that his Warriors could be at a disadvantage with only two coaches on the varsity staff.
"We only have two varsity coaches full-time," said Sweeney, "and that could--and will--hurt."
However, both Sweeney and Gatiss are veteran area coaches. Sweeney begins the 30th season of his coaching career, that includes stops at Camden, Leigh and San Jose City College. He has spent the last six years at Westmont. Gatiss is a former head coach at Camden and has coached in the area for more than three decades.
Westmont will open the season at home against Fremont on Sept. 8, 7:15 p.m. The Santa Teresa Division season begins Sept. 29 when the Warriors host Prospect.
Washington returns
Saladin Washington returns to the backfield for Prospect this fall, and will lead the Panthers in their quest for a Santa Teresa Division crown.
Washington (5-foot-8, 175) topped the 1,000-yard mark for the Panthers last season and helped Prospect to a 7-3 season and a 4-2 finish in the division.
But 16 of Prospect's 33 players last year were lost to graduation, including talented senior quarterback Jordan Williams.
Still, that means 17 players from the '99 club were eligible to return to the field this fall, led by Washington and quarterback Curtis Wills (6-foot-2, 175).
Ryan Sainsbury (5-foot-11, 175) was a solid running back on last year's club and Chad Holan (6-foot-2, 200) was a force at tight end. Linebacker Richard Tapia (5-foot-11, 175) was another key player for the Panthers along with big offensive lineman Tony Barba (5-foot-10, 270).
Barba was one of three sophomores on the '99 Prospect squad, along with offensive linemen Ryan Schaeffers (5-foot-10, 185) and Justin Askew (6-foot-3, 200).
Wide receivers Rick Johanson, Wolfred Hippolyte and Mike Stephens were other members of the '99 Prospect club along with tight end Jason Pauwels, and offensive linemen Dustin Adams, Chris Kim, Steve Marsh, John Shear and Carl Simien.
Prospect opens the season this week against Gunn on Sept. 7, 7 p.m., at Westmont. The Panthers open the league season in the Sept. 29 test against Westmont.
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