Returners bolster Vikes' hopes for strong season
By Dick Sparrer
It's been half a decade since the West Valley Community College football team last won a conference title.
But can the Vikings win one more before the decade comes to an end? Well, West Valley has nine returning sophomores from last year's winning team.
The Vikes last won a conference crown in 1994, but John Hancock's crew posted a 6-4 season record a year ago and he has a solid crop of returners from that team.
Quarterback Mark Little (6-foot-2, 185 pounds), running back David Wyatt (6-foot, 210) and wide receiver Reggie Watkins (6-foot-1, 185) are top skill players returning to the West Valley offense this season.
Leading the charge up front offensively is comeback center Joe Guinane (6-foot-2, 260).
Linebackers Jim Grassi (6-foot-1, 230) and Jake Wirt (6-foot-2, 222), defensive backs John North (6-foot-1, 175) and Bobby Madu (6-foot, 180) and down lineman Jay Chandler (6-foot-3, 260) are talented sophomores returning to the West Valley defensive unit. Wirt is out of Leigh High School, and Chandler played for Los Gatos.
Joining the cast of returning sophs are transfers Tim Hare (5-foot-10, 155), a solid wide receiver, and Terrence Goodwin (6-foot-4, 340), a big offensive lineman.
Running back Charles Boughton (Wilcox), defensive back Adam LeBare (Leigh), linebacker Darius Crouther (Del Mar), linebacker Grant Murdock (Pioneer), lineman Steve Frank (Piedmont Hills), defensive lineman T.J. Aimonetti (Westmont) and wide receiver Ryan Brando (Westmont) are new Vikings who all played in the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game this past summer.
Kyle Padia (Leigh), DeWitt Willis (Willow Glen), Craig Malloy (Prospect), Mat Meade (Westmont), Ben Curry (Prospect), KiJuan Fuselier (Leigh), Roger Whinery (Monta Vista), Brian Cavanaugh (Saratoga), Sasha Garnicki (Cupertino), Ryan Cole (Westmont), Sean Nagy (Leigh), Garnet Emery (Prospect), Anthony Stelmach (Pioneer) and Kevin Gray (Pioneer) are other area players on the West Valley squad.
The Vikings play the home opener when they host the City College of San Francisco Sept. 17, 3 p.m., in Saratoga.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
