Photograph by Jeff Kearns
Talented running back Saladin Washington, turning the corner in a game against Westmont this past season, was Prospect's only representative on the all-league first team in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
Van Hoesen named top soph
Meyer is hockey MVP in Santa Teresa Division
By Dick Sparrer
Brian Edwards wasn't a triple threat in the classic football sense.
But make no mistake about it... Edwards was definitely a triple threat for the Los Gatos football team this past fall.
In the days of football past, a triple threat was an athlete who could run, pass and kick.
Well, Edwards didn't pass or kick for the Wildcats in 2000. But he ran the ball, caught passes and returned kicks well enough to lead the Cats to a 13-0 season.
And the senior wide receiver performed well enough in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League to win the league's most valuable player award.
The speedster starred as a receiver and a free safety for the Gatos team that won the De Anza Division title and backed that up with a Central Coast Section Division III championship.
Edwards was one of seven Wildcats to win a special award on the De Anza Division all-league team. Running back Derek Smith was named the outstanding senior; junior quarterback Trent Edwards was the outstanding offensive back; senior Nick McAlpine was the outstanding offensive lineman; senior Joey Warren was the outstanding wide receiver; senior Nick Skrabe was the outstanding linebacker; and junior John Espe was the outstanding defensive lineman.
Rounding out the list of special award winners: guard-linebacker Greg Van Hoesen of Saratoga, outstanding sophomore; wide receiver Marquis Henderson of Wilcox, outstanding junior; senior running back Mike Collins of Milpitas, outstanding offensive player; senior linebacker Justin Douglas of Monta Vista, outstanding defensive player; senior guard Jack Valera of Milpitas, outstanding lineman; senior running back Shamel Ferguson of Monta Vista, outstanding back; senior Jacob Tucker of Wilcox, outstanding tight end; senior Lyle Wesley of Wilcox, outstanding outside linebacker; and senior Timi Wusu of Palo Alto, outstanding defensive back.
Winning all-league first team honors for the Wildcats were junior offensive lineman Nick Crafford, junior tight end Geno Gingery, senior defensive backs Markus Willard and Scott Soucy, junior defensive linemen Matt Newell and Kenny Heimer, and senior linebacker Mike Vyhnal.
Monta Vista was well-represented on the all-league list with four players on the first offense and two players on the first defense. Senior offensive linemen Albert Tao and Bryan Tompkins, junior running back Ryan Katz and senior utility player Matt Garlow won first team honors offensively, and senior noseguard Jesse DeWathe and junior linebacker Drew Rogers were picked to the defensive first team.
Saratoga players named to the all-league first team included senior offensive linemen Scooter Hart and John Moshier, junior wide receiver Devin Shrock, junior tight end Troy Follmar, and junior place-kicker A.J. Weisman.
Senior offensive lineman Adam Russell, senior wide receiver Jaye Sumpter and junior defensive back Steve Nichols were Homestead players named to the all-league's top squad.
Rounding out the all-league first team were: Milpitas-- Kyle Jones and Henry Ott (offensive line), R.J. Espitia (fullback), Dustin Guglielmelli (quarterback), Derek Bonds (wide receiver), Jebiaus Brown (defensive back), Mike Macias (defensive lineman), and Jeremy Yount, Ryan Wood and Jeff Kruskamp (linebackers); Palo Alto-- Julian Gibson (utility player); and Wilcox-- Josh Tracy and Sean O'Brien (offensive line), Ardell Briggs (running back), Josh Murphy (quarterback), Evan Wallace (wide receiver), Matt Velo and Carl Wright (defensive backs), Carl Lawrence (defensive lineman), and Jerome Iese, John Lombardo and Phillip Arroyo (linebackers).
Winning all-league second team honors in the De Anza Division were:
Homestead-- Shaka Dixon (linebacker), Scott Alexander (place-kicker);
Los Gatos-- Casey Sargent and Adam Toeniskoetter (offensive line), Jason Rosa (linebacker);
Milpitas-- Eli Ledesma (offensive line), Johnny Vogel (defensive back), Jason Norton (defensive line), Harley Halseth (linebacker);
Monta Vista-- Griffin Taylor (tight end), Artist Battle (defensive back), Nick Pierce (linebacker);
Palo Alto-- Pat Justman (offensive line), Kevin Cook (quarterback), Mike Hnilo and Jesus Garcia (defensive backs), Dan Ocenad (linebacker);
Saratoga-- James Lii (running back), Scott Moran (quarterback), Ryan Helmuth (defensive back), Connor Peck (defensive line), Jeff Swanberg (linebacker);
Wilcox-- Andrew Martin (offensive line), Blake Bridges (running back).
Huizar Top 'D'
Lynbrook's Josh Huizar was named the defensive player of the year on the El Camino Division all-league team. The senior linebacker was joined on the squad by senior place-kicker Gordon Hawley, who won first-team honors.
Stouffer Best LB
Bill Stouffer of Westmont won a special award when the coaches in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League got together to select their all-league team.
Stouffer, a senior linebacker and running back for the Warriors, was picked the division's outstanding linebacker.
Senior running back Mike Hilbert and senior defensive back Todd Bethke were other Westmont players selected to the all-league first team in the division.
Talented senior running back Saladin Washington was the only Prospect player named to the all-league's top squad.
Field Hockey
Saratoga dominated the Santa Teresa Division and Stephanie Nichols of Prospect was named the sophomore of the year in the Mount Hamilton Division when BVAL coaches convened to select their all-league field hockey teams for the 2000 season.
Saratoga senior Keala Meyer was named the most valuable player by Santa Teresa coaches. Allison Dunn was selected as the freshman of the year in the division and Cortney Kelly of Saratoga was tabbed the coach of the year.
Winning all-league first team honors for the Falcons were seniors Courtney Miyamoto, Liana Huie and Lynn Chouw and juniors Alice Sheng and Rachel O'Gara.
Juniors Rosie MacKenzie and Gabby Laux won all-league second team spots for Saratoga.
Nichols was named the sophomore of the year in the rugged Mount Hamilton Division, topping a list of three Prospect players named to the all-league list.
Joining the sophomore on the squad were seniors Amber Madsen and Kate Rainey, who each won second-team honors.
Lynbrook seniors Meredith Lee and Stacey Benzing also won places on the all-league second team in the division.
Westmont players earning all-league first team recognition in the West Valley Division were junior forward Karly Brownridge and sophomore defender Lauren Luque. Junior goalkeeper Petra Rossek and junior forward Nicki Baughman won second-team spots.
Girls Volleyball
Westmont senior setter Emi Uenaka won top honors as the league's most valuable player in the Santa Teresa Division.
Westmont outside hitter Stefani Carver was selected as the junior of the year in the division, and senior outside hitter Jen Brownridge won all-league second team honors.
Over in the Mount Hamilton Division, two Prospect players nailed places on the all-league second team-- junior outside hitter Cassie Gilford and senior middle blocker Jessica Mumper.
Ruby Lagasa and Ruby Mark of Lynbrook and Laura Rabinowetz and Audrey Wong of Saratoga were locals players will all-league honors over in the SCVAL.
Lagasa and Mark were picked to the all-league first team in the De Anza Division, and Rabinowetz and Wong won all-league plaudets in the El Camino circuit.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
